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

#WrestleSamokov

U.S. puts 2 in U20 Worlds finals; Kurugliyev closer to title

Monday, August 18, 2025 - 15:01 By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 18) -- Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) earned himself a chance to win his first U20 world title after he made it to 92kg final Monday in Samokov, Bulgaria.

Kurugliyev, a former world U17 champion, has made the trip to World U20 Championships twice before this year but finished fifth in 2023 and won bronze in 2024, both at 97kg. He moved down to 92kg for this year's tournament and already upgraded his medal.

In a tough semifinal against returning bronze medalist Anar JAFARLI (AZE), Kurugliyev won a close bout 9-6, thanks to an early four-pointer move which gave him a huge advantage. Jafarli got a couple of takedowns but never seemed to trouble the Kazakhstan wrestler.

Kurugliyev will now face Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) in the final after the Uzbekistan wrestler pinned Gadzhimurad GADZHIBATYROV (UWW) in the other semifinal at 92kg.

Poyonov, the Asian U20 champion, blocked Gadzhibatyrov in one of the attacks and then kept him on the mat, pinning his shoulders for the win. Poyonov will look to become the first Uzbekistan wrestler to win gold since 2022.

The U.S. got two finalists on Monday at 65kg and 79kg. At 65kg, Luke STANICH (USA) defeated European U20 and U23 champion Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) with some of the best wrestling in Samokov. Stanich kept his positions and defense and ultimately managed to score a takedown in the second period to beat Dzhandubaev 3-1 in the semifinals.

He will face Reiji UCHIDA (JPN) for the gold medal after the Japanese wrestler blanked Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), 10-0, using a series of stepouts and lace. Uchida is a product of the Yamanashi Gaikun University, the same university that produced world champion Masanosuke ONO (JPN) and Asian champion Takara SUDA (JPN).

Pan-American U20 champion William HENCKEL (USA) defeated Asian U20 champion AMIT (IND), 5-4, using a takedown and gut-wrench in the first period. He scored a stepout when put on activity period and then added a takedown and turn. Amit blocked the second turn attempt for two points but Henckel led 5-2 at the break.

Amit managed a stepout and point for passivity from Henckel but that was all for him as the U.S. wrestler moved into the final in which he will face returning bronze medalist and senior Asian champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI).

At one point in the semifinal, Yousefi was down against European U20 bronze medalist Said SAIDULOV (UWW). But he managed to score takedowns at regular intervals to defeat Saidulov 15-7.

At 57kg, Sumit MALIK (IND) dominated his semifinal against Ion BULGARU (MDA) and won 11-3 and booked place in the final against Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) who held on to a nervous 3-1 win over Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ) in the other semifinal.

Malik got on board first when he scored a stepout during his activity clock. He added a stepout and takedown to make it 4-0 at the break. He kept his attacks and got another takedown and stepout in the second period to build a 7-0 lead.

Bulgaru finally hit back with a takedown on the edge to cut the lead to 7-2 but Malik kept relentless forward pressure, scoring a stepout and takedown to lead 10-2. Both wrestlers were cautioned for open hands on faces but that did not affect Malik, who won 11-3 win.

Ozdamirov, who showed some crafty wrestling throughout the day, denied Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ), 3-1, thanks to a takedown in the second period.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) vs. Sumit MALIK (IND)

SF 1: Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) df. Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ), 3-1
SF 2: Sumit MALIK (IND) df. Ion BULGARU (MDA), 11-3

65kg
GOLD: Luke STANICH (USA) vs. Reiji UCHIDA (JPN)

SF 1: Luke STANICH (USA) df. Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW), 3-1
SF 2: Reiji UCHIDA (JPN) df. Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), 10-0

79kg
GOLD: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) vs. William HENCKEL (USA)

SF 1: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) df. Said SAIDULOV (UWW), 15-7
SF 2: William HENCKEL (USA) df. AMIT (IND), 5-4

92kg
GOLD: Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) vs. Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ)

SF 1: Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) df. Gadzhimurad GADZHIBATYROV (UWW), via fall
SF 2: Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) df. Anar JAFARLI (AZE), 9-6

Bulgaria Bags Three Women’s Wrestling Finals Spots

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U.S. puts 2 in U20 Worlds finals; Kurugliyev closer to title