BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 8) -- David BAEV (UWW) began his international career in Slovakia when he won the cadet [U17] world gold medal in 2014 in Snina, a small town in west Slovakia. Who would have thought that Baev's long awaited international return will also be in the same country.
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Baev returned to Slovakia after 11 years, ending his six-year absence from international competitions, winning the gold medal at 70kg at the European Championships, his first-ever.
"Honestly, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time, and I enjoyed every second of it," Baev said after the final "I’ve so badly wanted to see those blue and purple banners from UWW Worlds and Europeans [respectively]."
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The 28-year-old last competed internationally at the 2019 World Championships in Astana where he won the 70kg gold medal. He tried moving to the 74kg weight class with a hope to make Olympic but with little success.
He moved back to 70kg and began winning again. On Tuesday, despite his long layoff from international scene, Baev hardly made it look like he was away for long.
David BAEV (UWW) wrestles Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) in the 70kg final at the European Championships in Bratislava. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)
Baev denied Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) his second straight title at 70kg, beating the Armenian 4-1 in the final at his first international competition since winning the gold medal at the 2019 World Championships.
The first point of the bout was from Andreasyan's passivity and Baev scored a takedown in the second period for a 3-0 lead. A stepout made it 4-0 before he gave up a stepout for one point.
Baev celebrated winning his gold medal by spreading his arms and looking up to the skies with a sigh of relief. He later said that he did the same celebration when he won the gold in 2014 and decided to stay with the that celebration since then.
"My first victory where I celebrated was 11 years ago, also in Slovakia," he said. "Since then, after every win — and even after losses — I do the same celebration."
He recalled his first visit to Slovakia in 2014 and called the country in which he only has good memories.
"I was 16 years old when I traveled abroad for the first time — it was Slovakia," he said. "My first international competition [U17 Worlds], at 58 kilograms. I won, so I have only good memories of Slovakia. I have friends here, and some of my close friends even compete for the Slovak national team. I’ve visited them here, stayed with them."
David BAEV (UWW) on the podium after receiving his gold medal at the European Championships. (Photo: Untied World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)
Baev wore a "Buvaisar SAITIEV" tee shirt after his bouts and dedicated his gold medal to the three-time Olympic champion who passed away in March aged 49.
"Saitiev is a legendary wrestler," he said. "His name has practically become symbolic. It’s like when someone talks about basketball, they mention Jordan. Or when it’s football, they bring up Ronaldo or Maradona. In wrestling, it’s Saitiev. What he showed on the mat… no one has ever shown before, and probably no one ever will."
Remembering Saitiev, Baev said he met Saitiev once when he was four years old. However, he never got a chance to meet him again.
"I actually met him once as a kid," he said. "My father’s friends took me to the Akhmat Kadyrov Memorial tournament. I was very young, but I remember sitting at the same table with him — I even have a photo.
"Honestly, I’ve always wanted to ask him if he remembers that little boy sitting at the table with him in that café… But sadly, I never got the chance."
Baev was not the only one wearing the Saitiev shirt. Three other "UWW" wrestler won gold on Tuesday and dedicated their medals to Saitiev.
Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW), blue, defends against Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) in the 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)
At 57kg, Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) earned his first-ever European gold medal after he defeated Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB), 7-4, a closely contested final.
Tuskaev, hoping to become Serbia's first-ever European champion in Freestyle, fell behind early with a point for his passivity and then a stepout. Mongush added a takedown to make it 4-0.
With time running out, Tuskaev made desperate attempts and got two for a takedown. A scramble was awarded two points each with Mongush still leading 6-4. In the final 10 seconds, Tuskaev was about to score a go-behind but Mongush blocked him and secured the win and his first-ever European gold.
France was looking for its first Freestyle European champion as it had two finalists on Tuesday but the drought is set to continue as both wrestlers failed to cross the hurdle to win gold.
At 65kg, Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) suffered a 3-0 defeat to Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) who had a dominant run to the gold medal. Ibragimov's win was similar to his 6-2 win over Arsamerzouev in the 2024 European U23 Championships final.
Arsamerzouev was hit with a passivity call in the first period and he failed to score, giving Ibragimov a 1-0 lead. While the French wrestler did make some inroads in the second period, Ibragimov managed to score a takedown for a 3-0 lead.
Two-time European silver medalist Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) will have to wait for his gold medal as former world champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) posted a 9-1 win in the 79kg final which also included a massive front headlock throw for four.
Usmanov now has back-to-back European gold medals while Khadjiev has third silver as had finished with silver medals at the 2018 and 2019 European Championships.
Matcharashvili hat-trick
Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) completed a hat-trick of European gold medals after he defeated Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) in the 97kg final.
Maintaining his perfect record of wins at European Championships, Matcharashvili pulled out his signature move of front headpinch and scored two points against Kurbanov to win 3-2, making a comeback after giving up a activity clock point and a stepout.
"This European Championships is important for me," Matcharashvili said. "I am a three-time champion now. I love wrestling and wrestling is my life."
Asked about his comeback against Kurbanov using a front chest wrap throw to take the lead, Matcharashvili said he knows that he will aways win that position
"This is my personal move," he said. "When I am in this position, 100 percent I will win the points."
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