Bulgaria Bags Three Women’s Wrestling Finals Spots

Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 20:05 By Eric Olanowski

BUCHAREST, Romania (April 10) - The first set of women’s wrestling gold-medal matches were settled on the third day of wrestling at Bucharest’s Polyvalent Hall. Bulgaria, led by 2018 world runner-up Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), led the way with three semifinal winners. The other two Bulgarian women who reach the finals were Miglena SELISHKA and Evelina NIKOLOVA.

Reigning 57kg world finalist Bilyana Dudova was the first Bulgarian women’s wrestler who celebrated her finals birth after she defended fellow Budapest world runner-up Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR).

Dudova picked up the matches only two points, which came from a takedown in the first 10 seconds of the match.

Dudova will take on Russia’s Svetlana LIPATOVA for the 59kg gold on Thursday night. Lipatova, last year’s European bronze medalist, got back to the finals for the first time since 2013 with a 6-5 win over Ukraine’s Anhelina LYSAK.

Bulgaria's second finalist, three-time junior European champion Miglena Selishka, handled Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR), 11-2, and made the 50kg finals. She’ll wrestle Ukraine’s 2018 world bronze medalist Oksana LIVACH in the finals.

Livach, who shed tears of joy as she departed the mat, was awarded a pair of inactivity points and defeated 2017 U23 world champion Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR).

Livach’s win on Wednesday night made it two straight European Championship wins over the 24-year-old Turkish wrestler. Livach fell to Demirhan in Kaspiisk last year, but stopped Demirhan, 10-9, at last year’s U23 European Championships.

The final Bulgarian woman competing on Thursday night will be Evelina Nikolova, who capped off her finals run by blanking Andreea ANA (ROU), 3-0. Nikolova will wrestle Ukraine’s Iryna HUSYAK for the 53kg gold medal. Husyak upset reigning world runner-up Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), 8-4, and earned her first continental medal since her 2013 bronze-medal finish.

Meanwhile, at 68kg, reigning world champion Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) put five points on the board in the opening period, then tacked on another six points in the second period, and upended 2018 world bronze medalist Iryna NETREBA (AZE), 11-0.

Her finals opponent will be Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE). Hanzlickova cruised to a 7-2 victory against Budapest world bronze medalist and last year’s European runner-up Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT).

The last gold-medal match will be at 76kg where Yasemin ADAR (TUR) will meet Martina KUENZ (AUT).

In a battle of world champions, 2017 world champion Yasemin Adar scored a convincing 5-2 victory over 2014 world champion Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER). The Turkish wrestler scored an inactivity point, and a takedown, and commanded the 3-0 lead into the final period. In the final three minutes, Adar surrendered a takedown but scored two exposure and brought the score to 5-2.

With her win over Focken on Wednesday night, Adar has won two of the pair's last three matches. Focken won their Yasar Dogu finals meeting, But Adar got her revenge, sticking the German wrestler at the Dan Kolov earlier this year, then picked up her second straight win on Wednesday night.

Adar will wrestle 2018 world bronze medalist and 72kg Martina Kuenz, who closed out her semifinals match against 2017 European runner-up Zsanett NEMETH (HUN) with a massive four-point throw. Kuenz ultimately won her semifinals match, 9-3.

Thursday night’s women’s wrestling finals begin at 18:00 (local time) and can be followed on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

SCHEDULE
Thursday (April 11)
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg page4image2914979424 page4image2914979968
14:00 - Repechage WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
14:00 - Draw GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
18:00 - Finals WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg / Award ceremonies

Friday (April 12)
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
11:30 - Repechage WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
15:40 - Draw GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
18:00 - Finals WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg / Award ceremonies

Saturday (April 13)
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
11:30 - Repechage GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18:00 - Finals GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg / Award ceremonies

Sunday (April 14)
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
16:00 - Repechage GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18:00 - Finals GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg / Award ceremonies

RESULTS
50kg
GOLD - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) vs. Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL)
SEMIFINAL - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 2-0
SEMIFINAL - Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR), 11-2

55kg
GOLD - Evelina Georgieva NIKOLOVA (BUL) vs. Iryna HUSYAK (UKR)
SEMIFINAL - Evelina Georgieva NIKOLOVA (BUL) df. Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU), 3-0
SEMIFINAL - Iryna HUSYAK (UKR) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), 8-4

59kg
GOLD - Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) vs. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL) df. Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR), 2-0
SEMIFINAL - Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) df. Anhelina LYSAK (UKR), 6-5

68kg
GOLD - Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) vs. Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
SEMIFINAL - Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) df. Iryna Petrovna NETREBA (AZE), 11-0
SEMIFINAL - Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) vs. Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT), 7-2

76kg
GOLD - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) vs. Martina KUENZ (AUT)
SEMIFINAL - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER), 5-2
SEMIFINAL - Martina KUENZ (AUT) df. Zsanett NEMETH (HUN), 9-3

Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 Day 3 Highlights

Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 07:01 By Vinay Siwach

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 20) -- Freestyle and Women's Wrestling will be in action at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 on day three in Riyadh. Freestyle will be in 57kg and 65kg while women's will be in 62kg, 68kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | PHOTOS

13:15: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) secures her spot in the 76kg final after a dominant technical superiority win over Elmira YASIN (TUR). She will face Damola OJO (NGR) for the gold after the NIgerian defeated Wilita PELAGIE (CMR) 10-0 in the other semifinal.

13:00: Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) beats world bronze medalist Nigina SABIROVA (UZB) 6-0 to enter the 62kg final. Mammadova will face Esther KOLAWALE (NGR) for the gold.

12:55: Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) ends Sayed ZAZAI (AFG) dream run with a 10-0 victory in the 57kg semifinals. Bazarganov got the trap-arm gut and turned Zazai four times. Zazai will still have a chance to win a bronze medal

12:45: World silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) gets a four-pointer in the second period to take a comfortable 7-0 lead against Elmira SYZYDYKOVA (KAZ) at 76kg. She scores a stepout and takedown to finish with a 10-0 win and enter the semifinal at 76kg,

12:35: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) has not trouble to see off Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE), 7-0 and enter the final at 65kg. A lot of stepouts in this match from Amouzad as he has done all day

12:30: Damola OJO (NGR) gets a good win over Samar HAMZA (EGY), 8-2, at 76kg. Hamza was returning to the mat after a long break and after becoming a mother. Ojo moves into the 76kg semifinals.

12:20: Sayed ZAZAI (AFG) is on a dream run here! He first took out Yusuf DEMIR (TUR) and now he beats African champion and Olympian Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS), 13-10, at 57kg to reach the semifinals. Incredible

12:05: Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) is cautioned for slamming Nigar MIRZAZADA (AZE) when she was trying to pin the Azerbaijan wrestler. But that is the only mistake she makes in the semifinal. Zhumanazarova reaches the final at 68kg.

11:55: Esther KOLAWALE (NGR) gets the lace going to beat Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) at 62kg, 10-0. Kolawale, a U23 world bronze medalist, is one of the favorites to win gold here.

11:50: Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) takes out Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) at 65kg. Kudiev had a 3-0 lead, thanks to a takedown but Sharip Uulu got a takedown in the final 15 seconds and as he was trying to turn Kudiev, the Tajikistan wrestler went out of bounds and referee blew the whistle which cancelled his final turn. Kudiev scores a late takedown to win 6-2

11:33: Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) with some good defense against Ali MOMENI (IRI) to win a hard-fought 57kg bout 4-2. Momeni gave up a stepout to transfer criteria 2-2 lead to Bazarganov and was then hit with a caution which made it 3-2. Momeni pushed Bazarganov out but in par terre in the final 10 seconds. Iran challenged for a stepout but lost it.

11:28: Nigar MIRZAZADA (AZE) was in some trouble after Desi SINTA (INA) threw her for five and then a exposure to lead 7-0. But Mirzazada scores two four pointers and survives to win 12-7 at 68kg.

11:15: Upset in 68kg! World silver medalist and U23 world champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) began was looking to cradle Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) but the Kazakhstan wrestler moved her over her back and then held Bas on the mat to secure a shocking fall. Bas is dumbfounded!

11:10: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) does not have the fight in him for six minutes this time. He drops his 57kg bout against Abdumalik KARACHOV (KGZ), 10-2, majorly because of the conditioning.

10:55: World champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) keeps a strong underhook on Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) who is unable to find an opening and drops the 65kg bout 4-0. Amouzad did not engage much but Jalolov was supremely passive as well.

10:35: World and Olympic bronze medalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) survives a late flurry from Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK) who scored two takedowns in the final minute but Abdullaev, who led 5-4, stops the gut wrench attempt and gets two points for exposure to win 7-4 at 57kg.

10:25: World champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) with two four-pointers in his 11-0 victory over Najib HASSANI (AFG) at 65kg. Next up for him is world bronze medalist Umidjob JALOLOV (UZB), who also won silver at U23 World Championships.

10:22: Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) gets the fall over Halima AKTER (BAN) at 68kg. She is the favorite to win the gold medal here.

10:20: Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) has to battle hard against Farouk JELASSI (TUN) but eventually prevails 20-8 at 65kg. Jelassi managed to hit a couple of four-pointers to make a match out of it.

10:15: A 10-0 technical superiority for world bronze medalist Nigina SABIROVA (UZB) against Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY) at 62kg. Too many half attacks from the Egypt wrestler who got countered by Sabirova.

10:10: Quick finishes everywhere! Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) opens the 57kg competition with a quick 10-0 win over Abdullah ASSAF (PLE). In the next bout, world bronze medalist Umidjon JALALOV (UZB) uses the lace to beat Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK) 10-0 at 65kg.

10:05: Early news that Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) is not wrestling at the Games. He has given a walkover in his first bout.

10:00: The third day of Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 will see action in Freestyle 57kg and 65kg and women's 62kg, 68kg and 76kg.

Bulgaria Bags Three Women’s Wrestling Finals Spots

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Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 Day 3 Highlights