#WrestleZagreb

European Championships freestyle preview

Tuesday, April 4, 2023 - 15:20 By Mark Pickering

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ZAGREB, Croatia (April 4) -- Europe’s elite wrestlers will descend to Croatia to compete in the continental showpiece from April 17 to 23 in Zagreb.

Out of 10 gold medalists from 2022, nine are returning to defend their titles, illustrating the importance of the must-see seven-day event. A star-laden field of champions and emerging European hopefuls will assemble in Zagreb, which successfully hosted the season-launching Ranking Series event in February, as wrestling embarks on its road to the Paris 2024 Olympics in April.

In men's freestyle, the highlight will be Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) returning to the mat since the World Cup in December. He is entered at 61kg, a weight class which will also see defending champion Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and 57kg European champion Vladimir EGOROV (MKD).

Abakarov, 30, made history by dethroning reigning world champion Thomas GILMAN (USA) to win his country’s first-ever World Championships gold last year.  

Harutyunyan shone on all fronts in 2022 by winning his second European Championships, a second world bronze medal and the U23 world to finish the year. Tokyo 2020 Olympian Harutyunyan, 24, earned bronze at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament in February.

Egorov produced a career-best display in Budapest to become his country’s first gold medalist at the showpiece event in 23 years. Egorov, 28, is part of the 61kg line-up this year having won his gold medal and 2019 bronze in the 57kg category.

The second world champion wrestling in Zagreb will be Taha AKGUL (TUR), the defending champion bidding for a 10th European title.

Rio 2016 Olympic champion and Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Akgul, 33, opened his 2023 calendar by taking gold at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament.

The gargantuan Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) will be aiming to avenge his European Championships final loss he suffered in Budapest last year to arch-rival Akgul if the two meet.

The 29-year-old three-time world champion, who also saw Olympic gold slip away at the last hurdle at Tokyo 2020, topped the European Championships podium in 2016 and 2020.

At 65kg, defending champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) will look to collect a second straight gold medal but in his path will be Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE). The two met in the final last year and Muszukajev dominated Aliyev, winning a one-sided final in front of his home crowd.

But Aliyev will be well rested for the tournament as he last performed at the world championships last year, finishing fifth after losing to Muszukajev in the bronze medal bout.

The two should be wary of Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) as he continues his rise at 65kg. He won the U23 World Championships last year after finishing seventh at the World Championships in Belgrade.

Young star Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) and Andre CLARKE (GER) could prove to be the dark horses.

Two-time reigning European champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), who also took world silver last year, will be installed by many as the favorite in the 74kg category.

The 27-year-old world number three, however, will be hoping to banish memories of his first visit to the Croatian capital this year having lost two contests at the Ranking Series event in February. His biggest challenger will be Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) who lost to Salkazanov by one point in the final in Budapest.

Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) will be another top name on the list. Still 21 years old, he has the caliber to win against any of the top wrestlers and claims the gold medal.

Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU) won the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series event and is the dark horse of the weight classes with his speed and skill combination.

Veterans Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) and Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) will look to finish on the podium.

History-maker Myles AMINE (SMR) will look to defend his gold medal in Zagreb despite the likes of Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), Boris MAKOEV (SVK) and Fatih ERDIN (TUR) entered.

Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Amine, 27, his country’s third Olympic medallist and first in wrestling, finished fifth at the 2023 Zagreb Open.

At 57kg, it will be a test for Suleyman ATLI (TUR) as he continues his stay at 57kg after winning the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series gold medal in February.

But the competition in Zagreb will be on the higher side as his weight class has former U23 world champion Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE), Horst LEHR (GER) and former U17 world champion Andrii YATSENKO (UKR) who lost to Atli in the Alexandria finals.

In-form Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) started his season by capturing the top prize at Ibrahim Moustafa at 86kg but reverts to 79kg duty in Zagreb. The 28-year-old world number five converted his 2020 European bronze into world bronze last year.

But he will face a familiar for in defending champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) who will be keen on winning his second European title after winning back-to-back gold medals at the U23 level.

In the final of the U23 Euros, he defeated Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) by one point and would like to repeat the result with a bigger margin.

Iman MAHDAVI (UWW) will be part of the UWW Refugee team and compete in the 74kg weight class in Zagreb.

European powerhouses Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), who stood side-by-side on the World Championships podium in September as bronze medallists, will renew acquaintances at 92kg.

World number four Nurmagomedov, 25, is aiming for his third successive piece of continental championships hardware (bronze in 2021 and 2022) and has form on his side after picking up bronze at the 2023 Zagreb Open.

World number two Maisuradze, 24, made a senior continental breakthrough last year as he won bronze in Budapest. The highly-active Georgian opened his 2023 season by earning silver at the Zagreb Open and followed up three weeks later with bronze at the Ibrahim Moustafa.

Continental kingpin Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) starred in Budapest last year with a career-making first gold on the senior stage as he surged to European Championships glory in the 92kg category.

Akturk, 25, who has now won continental gold at the U20, U23 and senior level, comes into the event on the back of a bronze medal at the Ibrahim Moustafa.

Three current world medalists from the 97kg category will grace the division on the European stage.

World silver medallist Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) is joined by bronze medalists Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO).

Slovak Tsakulov secured Ibrahim Moustafa gold in February to underline his European title ambitions. Reigning European champion Magomedov clinched bronze at the Zagreb Open while Matcharashvili made an early exit in the round of 32 at the Ibrahim Moustafa.

Vladislav BAITSAEV (HUN) can go deeper in the tournament with improved conditioning but that remains to be seen.

The action from the European Championships can be seen live at uww.org and on the UWW App.

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: Iran, Moldova split Greco golds

Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 05:48 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (October 23) -- Iran and Moldova emerged as the top nations on the third day of the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania with them winning two gold medals each. Iran won the team title with 149 points with yet another incredible performance. Georgia followed with a second-place finish with 121 points and Armenia was third with 93 points.

Iran's first gold medal of the day came from U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) as he added the U23 world title to his growing resume. He won the U17 world title in 2022.

The 19-year-old was up against European silver medalist Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE) in the final but apart from par terre in the first period, he never looked in trouble. Mammadov got two points for a correct throw to lead 3-0 at the break.

Ahmadi Vafa got the par terre in the second period and scored two turns to lead 5-3. He went into defensive soon and was hit with the third passivity. But it proved fatal for Mammadov who was stopped in the middle of a turn from Ahmadi Vafa. With a 7-3 lead, Ahmadi Vafa hit a huge four-pointer on the edge to win the bout 11-3 and his third age-group gold medal.

"It was decided by the coaching staff to compete at the U23 World Championships after the U20 one," Ahmadi Vafa said. "Thank God, I was able to participate and return to Iran with a gold medal"

Ahmadi Vafa credits his training this year and his study of his opponents as the major factors for his improvement after suffering close losses in the age-group World Championships last year. 

"I worked really hard this year," he said. "I spent a full year in training camp and put in a lot of effort. A thorough analysis with the coaching staff made me win. I was able to reap the rewards of all my hard work over the past year."

In the 45-day break between the U20 and U23 World Championships, Ahmadi Vafa trained with the senior team. 

"A few days after we returned to Iran, we went to the senior camp," he said. "We were under a lot of physical strain, so the coaching staff decided to make our training sessions a bit lighter than the others.

"Our bodies responded well. I always felt deep inside that I could do it. I always say that I’m the best in my weight class."

To be on Iran's senior team, Ahmadi Vafa would have had to go through Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) who is the senior team member. However, the Iran federation has asked him to move to the 60kg weight class.

"He has a senior medal, and I have a lot of respect for him," he said. "We are from the same hometown. We’ve trained together several times at the senior camp, and he’s a really good opponent for me, and I might be a good opponent for him too.

"But the decision of the coaches is that I have to move up to the new weight category of 60kg, which will be a lot tougher. But I need to work harder to be able to win the gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics."

Multiple-time age-group world champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) added the U23 world title with a dominant run in Tirana. With three technical superiority victories, Hedayati won the final 6-0 against Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN).

Hedayati, in which typical style, began attacking relentlessly and soon scored a couple of stepouts. He was also awarded the par terre but he could not score any points. After leading 6-0, Hedayati scored a takedown to finish the bout 8-0 but Baboryko challenged. On review, Hedayati was warned for pushing and the score was reversed to 6-0.

The 21-year-old managed to hang on to that lead and win the gold medal.

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) scores two points over Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) in the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

For Moldova, Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) defended his U23 world title at 77kg and Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) denied Japan's Komei SAWADA (JPN) in the 63kg final to win the gold medal.

Gutu, who has a U17 world title as well, was competing at his fourth U23 World Championships and has won medals in three of them with two golds. Wrestling Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) in the final on Wednesday, Gutu used his signature front headlock to score exposure. That remained the difference as he clinched a 3-1 victory.

The win gave Gutu something to cherish after a disappointing season in which he failed to qualify for the Olympics and finished with only a bronze medal in four tournaments.

"This championships is very important for me," Gutu said. "As everyone knows, I lost at the Olympic qualifiers. I couldn’t even win the European Championships. This was the last tournament of the year. I needed to show a good performance here. I am really happy that I’ve won."

After dealing with the disappointment of failing just one win short of winning a ticket to the Paris Olympics, Gutu took some time to motivate himself to return to the mat.

"After the qualifiers in Baku, it was difficult to recover," he said. "I can’t even describe it. I was not just one step away, I was one percent away from that spot. It was very disappointing. 

"I’ve always had that motivation. The younger generation looks up to me. My family and my coaches are always there for me. I can’t let them all down. I will keep working until I get what I want."

Eriomenco added to the party with the 63kg gold as he defeated Swada in a very one-sided final. He got two turns from par terre to lead 5-0 at the break. Swada opened the second period with a stepout and then a point for par terre. As he was trying the gut-wrench, Eriomenco got out of the hold and scored a reversal to make it 6-2. Two easy turns made it 10-2, ending the match with technical superiority.

"I’ve been working so hard to reach this," Eriomenco said. "I’ve finished third three times at the European Championships and last year I was third at the Worlds. I was motivated to win this gold. I’ve never won even the European championships, but now I have won the World gold. I came here only for gold."

The difference between the physicality of the two wrestlers stood out and Eriomenco acknowledged that it worked to his advantage.

"From the beginning, I could feel that I was physically stronger," he said. "That’s when I got the confidence that I could win. The first match was the toughest one, then it was a bit easier. The final match was the most difficult. It was mentally tough to get ready for that match, because I really wanted the gold medal and no less."

Eriomenco is scheduled to compete at the Non-Olympic Weight Classes World Championships and is keen to leave an impression.

"It’s definitely going to be difficult to compete at two competitions in a raw," he said. "I won’t let the weight go up a lot. I will keep it down. I think everything is going to be ok. I know all my competitors. We’ve been training together at camps, we’ve been wrestling each other at competitions."

Fellow gold medalist Gutu also praised his compatriot and friend for his gold medal. 

"Eriomenco is my best friend," Gutu said. "I am so happy for him, because he was always so close, but he could never win. He became the World champion, I am really happy for him and it motivated me a lot to win my gold medal as well."

Anes GONIBOV (AIN)Anes GONIBOV (AIN) defeated Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) in the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) had the chance to add a second title to his U20 one from 2021. However, he fell short and dropped his 87kg final against Anes GONIBOV (AIN) 4-0.

Gonibov got par terre position in both the periods which made his lead 2-0. Sterkenburg tried desperately for a takedown but failed and Gonibov managed to score and lead 4-0. The win for Gonibov gives him his second world tittle to along with his gold medal at the U23 World Championships at 82kg.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) df. Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE), 11-3

BRONZE: Vishvajit MORE (IND) df. Adam ULBASHEV (AIN), 14-10
BRONZE: Kohei YAMAGIWA (JPN) df. William SULLIVAN (USA), 11-1

63kg
GOLD: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Komei SAWADA (JPN), 10-2

BRONZE: Erfan JARKANI (IRI) df. Arman VARDANYAN (ARM), 8-0
BRONZE: Mairbek SALIMOV (POL) df. Bekir ATES (TUR), via fall

77kg
GOLD: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER), 3-1

BRONZE: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) df. Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO), 
BRONZE: Ali OSKOU (IRI) df. Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), 6-4

87kg
GOLD: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) df. Marcel STERKENBURG (NED), 4-0

BRONZE: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. Payton JACOBSON (USA), 9-0
BRONZE: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Yasin YAZDI (IRI), 4-4

130kg
GOLD: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN), 6-0

BRONZE: Giorgi TSOPURASHVILI (GEO) df. Albert VARDANYAN (ARM), 1-1
BRONZE: Koppany LASZLO (HUN) df. Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN), 9-1

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Natalia PUDOVA (AIN) vs. Sage MORTIMER (USA)

SF 1: Natalia PUDOVA (AIN) df. Natallia VARAKINA (AIN), 8-2
SF 2: Sage MORTIMER (USA) df. Umi ITO (JPN), via fall (4-12)

55kg
GOLD: Zeltzin HERNANDEZ GUERRA (MEX) vs. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE)

SF 1: Zeltzin HERNANDEZ GUERRA (MEX) df. Amani JONES (USA), via fall (4-5)
SF 2: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) df. Ekaterina KARPUSHKINA (AIN), 7-0

59kg
GOLD: ANJLI (IND) vs. Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)

SF 1: ANJLI (IND) df. Aurora RUSSO (ITA), via fall (4-0)
SF 2: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN), 5-2

68kg
GOLD: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) vs. Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)

SF 1: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN), via fall (3-0)
SF 2: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Xinze DU (CHN), 10-0

76kg
GOLD: Shuiyan CHENG (CHN) vs. Yelena MAKOYED (USA)

SF 1: Shuiyan CHENG (CHN) df. Zsofia VIRAG (HUN), 10-0
SF 2: Yelena MAKOYED (USA) df. Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN), via fall (13-2)