Berber adds to growing reputation with U23 Euro gold

Thursday, March 13, 2025 - 20:16 By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (March 13) -- Alperen BERBER (TUR) came jogging on the mat, gave the umpire a high-five and shook hands with his opponent Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA). Once the niceties were out of the way, he put his mean game face on, completely transforming himself.

As the reigning senior European champion and a world U23 medalist, Berber’s reputation of being a serial winner precedes him. And perhaps that also plays a role in the minds of his opponents. Karchaidze, at times, looked like giving too much respect to his opposite number. And so, when the moment presented itself, he couldn’t show the killer instinct.

Threatening to go off script, after a minute and 27 seconds, Berber – the odds-on favorite to win the 87kg gold medal bout – was put in a par terre position. But the young Frenchman, only in his second year of international wrestling, could not make the most of it as Berber returned to his feet without conceding a point from that position, except for the one penalty point for passivity.

Immediately after restart, he put Karchaidze under pressure. As Karchaidze tried a bear-hug throw, he fell back-first on the mat. Berber reacted fast as he got on top of his opponent and pinned him. In a blink of the eye – 20 seconds in the second period – the 19-year-old pocketed his first U23 European title.

Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW) won the gold medal in the 77kg weight class. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

He wasn’t the only wrestler to win this crown for the first time.

For four years after winning the U20 World Championship gold medal, in 2021, Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW) may have been away from action. But on his comeback, he hasn’t shown any signs of rustiness.

The 23-year-old dropped just one point en route to the 77kg final, showing he was the one to beat. And if Aaron BELLSCHEIDT (GER) harbored any hopes of scripting an upset, he was dealt a harsh reality check only 20 seconds into the match.

Starting aggressively, Baidusov got a firm grip on his opponent in the first big move of the gold medal bout and used an underhook throw for a takedown. He gripped Bellscheidt's elbow to turn and race to a 4-0 lead. Bellscheidt challenged for a stepout before the action but it was deemed continuous action and the lost challenge made it 5-0.

It set the tone for the rest of the bout and with 45 seconds still left in the first period, Bellscheidt lost his balance while defending. Baidusov leapt on his opponent’s mistake and closed the tie with a simple takeover, winning by technical superiority.

Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) won his third U23 European gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 130kg, Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) won his third U23 European Championship gold medal, beating Magomed ALICHUEV (UWW) on technical superiority.

The semifinal against Saba CHILASHVILI (GEO) was the only major hurdle on his way to a dominant gold medal. Vyshnyvetskyi executed a big four-point throw using double-arm locks inside the opening 90 seconds. From that moment onwards, it was always going to be a daunting task for Alichuev. So much so that he did not even get time to regroup.

Within seconds of his first big move, Vyshnyvetskyi launched another locked-arm throw send Alichuev over his head and slamming him on his back for four more points, which settled the gold medal bout in just two minutes and six seconds.

U23 world champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) won U23 European gold after silver and two bronzes in previous attempts. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

For three years, Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) has been striving to step on to the top of the podium at the U23 European Championships. In 2022 and 2023, the 22-year-old won bronze medals. Last year, he upgraded to silver, faltering at the final hurdle but the U23 World Championship title softened that blow.

On Thursday, as he returned to the arena where he won his only international title -- the U23 Worlds last year -- Eriomenco looked like a man on a mission. Having reached the final largely trouble free, the Moldovan wrestler didn’t allow Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) a sniff of the gold in the 63kg final as he won his first-ever U23 European title at fourth attempt.

During the first period, Babashov was put in par terre and Eriomenco managed to get a turn for a 3-0 lead. In the second round, Eriomenco was handed passivity but he defended from par terre position to escape Babashov’s tight grip and emerge unscathed from the position of disadvantage. He controlled the remainder of the bout masterfully to be crowned the champion.

He, thus, avenged his 3-2 loss against Babashov in the final of the U23 Europeans last year.

Alibek AMIROV (UWW) celebrates after winning the 55kg final in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 55kg, Alibek AMIROV (UWW) ended his gold medal bout via technical superiority at the start of the finals session, beating Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO) 8-0 to win the U23 European title.

Amirov led 2-0 at the break but he scored arm throw for four which stunned Karumidze and Amirov finished the bout with two stepouts and win 8-0.

Historic final day

On the final day of the competition, Ukraine could add more gold medals to its tally when 19-year-old Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) takes on Richard KARELSON (EST) in the 97 kg final. Yakushenko won the U20 World Championships last year and is competing in this age category for the first time. A win for Karelson will make him the first winner from Estonia in Greco at U23 European Championships.

Melkamu FETENE (ISR), too, will be eyeing his first gold medal at U23 Europeans when he faces Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO) in the 60kg final. A win for Fetene will make him only second Israel wrestler to win an European Championships title in Greco at any level.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Alibek AMIROV (UWW) df. Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO), 8-0

BRONZE: Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) df. Filip BARTOSIK (CZE), 8-0
BRONZE: Arayik TOPALYAN (ARM) df. Hanifi SARP (TUR), 10-1

63kg
GOLD: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Ziya BABASHOV (AZE), 3-1

BRONZE: Alexander VAFAI (SWE) df. Miroslav EMILOV (BUL), 5-2
BRONZE: Romeo BERIDZE (GEO) df. Davit JOTYAN (ARM), 8-2

77kg
GOLD: Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW) df. Aaron BELLSCHEIDT (GER), 8-0

BRONZE: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Karl BAFF (SWE), 5-1
BRONZE: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) df. Michal ZELENKA (CZE), 9-1

87kg
GOLD: Alperen BERBER (TUR) df. Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA), via fall (3-1)

BRONZE: Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) df. Hamza SERTCANLI (SWE), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Baskhan SAIDOV (UWW) df. Ivan CHMYR (UKR), 3-1

130kg
GOLD: Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) df. Magomed ALICHUEV (UWW), 8-0

BRONZE: Cemal BAKIR (TUR) df. Artur SARKISJAN (CZE), 8-3
BRONZE: Saba CHILASHVILI (GEO) df. Razmik KURDYAN (ARM), 1-1

Semifinals

60kg
GOLD: Melkamu FETENE (ISR) vs. Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO)

BRONZE: Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO) df. Bohdan HRYSHYN (UKR), 10-0
BRONZE: Melkamu FETENE (ISR) df. Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM), 7-5

67kg
GOLD: Hleb MAKARANKA (UWW) vs. Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO)

SF 1: Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) df. Azat SARIYAR (TUR), 6-5
SF 2: Hleb MAKARANKA (UWW) df. Daniial AGAEV (UWW), 5-5

72kg
GOLD: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) vs. Danil GRIGOREV (UWW)

SF 1: Danil GRIGOREV (UWW) df. Vasile ZABICA (MDA), 8-7
SF 2: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) df. Oleh KHALILOV (UKR), 4-2

82kg
GOLD: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) vs. Gamzat GADZHIEV (UWW)

SF 1: Gamzat GADZHIEV (UWW) df. Frederik MATHIESEN (DEN), 7-1
SF 2: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) df. Elmin ALIYEV (AZE), 8-0

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) vs. Richard KARELSON (EST)

SF 1: Richard KARELSON (EST) df. Luka GABISONIA (GEO), 9-0
SF 2: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Muhittin HELVACI (TUR), 5-2

#WrestleTirana

Masterful Uguev Repeats as European Champion

Sunday, April 26, 2026 - 23:12 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (April 26) -- Zavur UGUEV (UWW) became a two-time European champion in Tirana on Sunday. For a wrestler of Uguev's pedigree, the number looks bleak.

But the 31-year-old, who will turn 32 on May 21, doesn't rue the missed golds but says those were the experiences that helped him win gold later.

"Last year I won my first European gold medal," Uguev said. "My first two or three medals, I was still young and things didn’t work out. There were very experienced athletes competing, and I gained experience from them."

In his two appearances at the European Championships in 2017 and 2018, Uguev suffered losses to Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE). In the 2018 final, Edisherashvili scored a takedown in the last seven seconds to win.

"[From] losing in the finals in the last 7 seconds in Kaspiysk, I gained great experience," he said. "But last year, I was in great shape and I’m happy that in my career I now have two European Championship gold medals."

His second gold in Tirana may have gone under that radar given the return and dominance of Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW), who won his sixth European gold on Saturday and first in six years.

However, if there was an award for the most outstanding wrestler of the tournament, Uguev would handsomely beat all others wrestlers to it.

On Sunday, Uguev defended his 61kg gold medal in Tirana with rather ease after defeating former world champion and home-favorite Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB). The 4-0 win over Abakarov consisted one activity clock, one stepout and a two-point takedown from Uguev.

Even the low-scoring final was a masterclass from Uguev, one of the few who still mixes the art of defense and positioning to win bouts.

At one point, Abakarov would keep trying the two-on-one on Uguev's arm and instead of panicking, Uguev would casually block Abakarov using his head. After the two-minute mark in the match, Abakarov had a similar grip and Uguev was blocking using his head and grip one of Abakarov's wrist.

Abakarov moved to a position from which he could either whizzer or wrist snap Uguev. However, as soon as Abakarov moved sideways, Uguev placed his foot behind Abakarov and let go off his grip, quickly switching to a leg-attack. He scored a stepout to lead 2-0 after one activity period point.

Uguev set up his takedown in the second period when Abakarov took a shot from space and Uguev blocked it using a chest wrap. Instead of scoring exposure from front, Uguev jumped behind and locked Abakarov who tried to break the grip. But Uguev scored a takedown on the edge to lead 4-0, his winning score.

Zavur UGUEV (UWW) pins Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) in the 61kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

It was in the semifinals against Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), Uguev fell behind 3-2 but he brought down Harutyunyan in danger for two points before holding the Armenian in such a grip that he failed to move despite having split hands. Eventually, he gave up to Uguev's pressure who won via fall.

"The final is always a tough contest, both last and this year," Uguev said. "Last year it was Harutyunyan, a four-time European champion, and this year it’s Abakarov, the world champion. It’s a real pleasure to compete against them. I’ve come here solely to compete against them."

Two months ago, Uguev was in Tirana and he put on a wrestling masterclass, winning the 61kg gold medal. However, it was in Tirana that he lost to phenom Masanosuke ONO (JPN) and Vitali ARUJAU (USA) and finished fifth at the World Championships.

"I was here at the start of February for the ranking tournament, and I suppose I had some thoughts about it [losing World Championships in Tirana]," he said. "But I managed to win that tournament, and I came here with the sole intention of winning. The first attempt [2024 World Championships] didn’t go to plan."

Zavur UGUEV (UWW) after winning the 61kg gold medal in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The three-time world champion and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist at 57kg has been competing at 61kg for three years now. While he will eventually move to 57kg for a run at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Uguev says he is enjoying wrestling at a higher weight and not dieting during competitions.

"I’ll be wrestling in 65kg soon," he said jokingly. "I’ll probably be dropping down to 57kg. I’ll probably compete for another year or so [at 61kg], and then I’ll keep dropping down. I’m not actually that heavy to begin with, and I reckon anyone competing at 57kg is roughly the same weight as me. For now, I don’t see the point in cutting weight, and I think it’s better to stay as I am for the time being, compete for another year or so. I think that this year, or early next year, we’ll start thinking about which weight class to move to.

"Now that I’ve moved up to 61kg, I’m really enjoying the competition. When I was competing at 57kg, I struggled so much. Now, when I watch the wrestlers like Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (UWW), for example, I’m reminded of my own days on the mat. It’s just that when you’re on a diet, you don’t want to think about anything else. All you can think about is food. Now I feel comfortable. I’m not dieting; I enjoy wrestling and I’m managing to do well at it."

As for European Championships golds, Uguev isn't stopping.

"I'm not going to stop here," he said. "I'm not chasing numbers, I'll keep wrestling as long as I have the strength."

Berber adds to growing reputation with U23 Euro gold

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Masterful Uguev Repeats as European Champion