European Championships Greco-Roman preview

Wednesday, April 5, 2023 - 17:48 By Jimmy Pawelski

ZAGREB, Croatia (April 6) — Greco-Roman wrestling has a long-standing history at the European Championships since the tournament’s inception in 1898, being the second-longest running tournament in history, only behind the Olympic Games. That legacy will continue in Zagreb, Croatia, as the 2023 European Championships are scheduled to take place April 17-23.

Greco-Roman wrestlers will close out the tournament on the last three days of competition with the following schedule:

55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg

April 21 - 13:00 local time: Qualification rounds
April 21 - 7:00 local time: Semi-finals
April 22 - 14:30 local time: Repechages
April 22 - 19:30 local time: Finals

60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg

April 22 - 13:00 local time: Qualification rounds
April 22 - 17:00 local time: Semi-finals
April 23 - 15:30 local time: Repechages
April 23 - 17:15 local time: Finals

Even more Greco-Roman history may be made at the 2023 European Wrestling Championships as Riza KAYAALP (TUR) will be attempting to win his 12th European title, which would tie the most-decorated Greco-Roman wrestler of all-time, Aleksandr KARELIN (RUS), for the most European titles.

Statistically, a remarkable 40% of reigning 2022 Greco-Roman world champions and all 10 returning 2022 European champions will seek to defend their titles in this year’s tournament. From a team-race perspective, Azerbaijan will aim to repeat their 2022 European Championships first-place finish after placing second at the 2022 World Championships behind Turkey, who was last year’s European Championships second-place finishing team.

Weight-by-Weight Preview

55kg
The returning gold, silver and bronze medalists of the 2022 European Championships will all be back to compete in this year’s 55kg bracket. The bracket will feature world No. 1 and No. 2, Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), who faced off in last year's world and European finals.

Azizli won that match over Tsurtsumia, and all of his 2022 World Championships matches, by way of technical superiority.

Meanwhile, Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM) will seek revenge over Azili after losing to him 7-3 at last year’s European Championships and ultimately placing third.

60kg
The 60kg bracket also features three returning 2022 European Championships medalists, including returning finalists Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and Edmond Armen NAZARYAN (BUL). Despite a 5-0 decision loss to Kamal in the European finals last year, Nazaryen ultimately placed second at the 2022 World Championships, while Kamal failed to reach the podium.

Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM), a 2020 European champion and last year’s bronze medalist, will be wrestling for his third total podium finish.

63kg
In a deep 63kg bracket, No. 1 ranked reigning European champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) leads the way. The Georgian ultimately placed second at the 2022 World Championships behind Sebastian NAD (SRB), who is bumping up to the Olympic weight of 67kg this season.

Abuladze’s key challengers include No. 3 ranked returning world bronze medalist Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) and 2021 world champion at 60kg Victor CIOBANU (MDA).

Both returning European bronze medalists are also registered to compete, Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR) and No. 5 ranked Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM), who fell just one match short of placing at last year’s world and European Championships.

67kg
All four 2022 European Championships medalists at 67kg are registered to compete in this year’s tournament: Murat FIRAT (TUR), Krisztian Istvan VANCZA (HUN), Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), and Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), who is the only returning world medalist of the group.

It’s only one of two weight classes that returns all four medalists.

What’s unique about 67kg is that the highest-ranked wrestler currently isn’t included on the list above. Fourth-ranked Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) holds that claim, as he’s coming off a top-5 finish at the 2022 World Championships.

Notably, No. 1 ranked Mate NEMES (SRB), the weight’s reigning world champion from Serbia, will wrestle off the aforementioned Nad before the European Championships for the starting spot at the Olympic weight.

72kg
The 72kg bracket features six total wrestlers ranked in the world's top 10.

Ali ARSALAN (SRB) is the headliner at 72kg. The Iranian transfer is one of the Serbian Fab Four who shocked the wrestling world en route to winning world titles a year ago in Belgrade. He’ll be looking to improve on his bronze-medal finish from last year’s European Championships, where he fell to eventual champion Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN).

Returning world silver and bronze medalists, respectively, No. 3 Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) and No. 2 Selcuk CAN (TUR), will also be in action.

Despite not reaching the podium at the worlds, 2022 European champion and current No. 6, Fritsch, will seek to defend his continental title at this year’s tournament.

Other wrestlers ranked in the top 10 include No.4 Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) and No. 5 Valentin PETIC (MDA).

77kg
The depth of world champion contenders representing Europe is clear at 77kg.

As the only other weight with all four returning 2022 European Championships medalists, the bracket also features No. 1 Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), who didn’t place at last year’s tournament but earned a silver medal at the 2022 World Championships. It's also highlighted by returning 2022 European finalists No. 3 Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) and No. 4 Yunus Emre BASAR (TUR), who each ultimately earned bronze medals at worlds.

Other contenders include Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) and Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), who are each returning European bronze medalists.

82kg
Reigning world champion and No. 1 ranked Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) is the star to watch in the 82kg bracket.

However, his road to win his first European gold will be bumpy as the bracket also contains three additional wrestlers ranked in the top six at 82kg.

Though they each fell one match short of claiming a medal at worlds, world and European champion Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) and silver-medalist Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) will attempt to repeat as medalists this year.

Meanwhile, Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR), who upended Bolkvadze for world bronze in 2022, will aim for his first podium finish at the European Championships.

87kg
Multiple-time world champion and Tokyo Olympics champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) was set to return to the Continental Championships for the first time in two years, but decided to forfeit his starting spot to Artem MATIASH (UKR) after saying he did not feel ready to compete in Croatia.

Without Beleniuk, the bracket also features three 2022 world medalists and three 2022 European Championships medalists. Top-ranked Turpal Ali BISULTANOV (DEN) is the prevailing European champion and placed second-place finisher at worlds a season behind Serbia’s Zurabi DATUNASHVILI, the two-time world champ, who was a late entry into the field.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old rising star David LOSONCZI (HUN) will make his senior European Championships debut after placing third at senior worlds in 2022.

The other returning world bronze medalist, No. 3 Ali CENGIZ (TUR), will also be competing.

Other notable contenders include returning European Championships medalists Nicu OJOG (ROU) and Islam ABBASOV (AZE), who missed the 2022 World Cup after undergoing shoulder surgery.

97kg
In the bracket with the most registrations (21), the world No. 1 and No. 2 ranked wrestlers at 97kg control the spotlight.

Reigning European champion Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL) will seek revenge from his World Championships loss against Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM).

Aleksanyan, who didn’t compete in last year’s European Championships, will look to add his sixth European Championships title to his resume in addition to being a four-time world champion, Rio Olympic gold medalist and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist.

Also in contention are 2022 world bronze medalist Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), returning European bronze medalist Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) and No. 7 Giorgi MELIA (GEO).

130kg
All eyes will be following reigning world champion Riza Kayaalp, as he’ll be competing in Zagreb to win his 12th European title. If he’s able to accomplish such a feat, his title will tie arguably the Greco-Roman G.O.A.T, Aleksandr Karelin, for the most European Championships of all time.

He’ll face stiff competition with both returning world bronze medalists registered to compete, current No. 1 ranked Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) and No. 4 Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU).

Additionally, returning European medalists Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA) and Dariusz Attila VITEK (HUN) will also be taking the mat at heavyweight.

How to Follow Along
Fans can follow the action every throw of the way on United World Wrestling's mobile app or www.uww.org. Download #TheHomeOfWrestling, United World Wrestling's mobile app today to access real-time match center data, get regular updates on tournaments and receive all the latest wrestling news in a flash.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open: Tynybekova beats Motoki again, Zhou rules 68kg

Saturday, January 13, 2024 - 00:56 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 12) -- For the last two years, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) has begun her seasons disastrously. She suffered first-round losses in Istanbul and Zagreb in 2022 and 2023 Ranking Series events respectively.

But the world champion has begun 2024 with a gold medal at the first Ranking Series event -- winning the 62kg weight class at the Zagreb Open on Friday.

After winning her third world title in Belgrade last year, Tynybekova traveled to the Asian Games in October 2023 but finished with a bronze medal. There, she had said that a break from wrestling for some time would help her for the new season.

It appears that the break did help Tynybekova as she won five bouts on Friday albeit taking them notoriously close. After winning close bouts against Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA), Yaru WU (CHN) and Alina KASABIEVA (AIN), Tynybekova set up a World Championships rematch against Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) in the semifinal.

Unlike the World Championships final, it seemed that Motoki had a plan. She moved much quicker and remained at a distance from Tynybekova. The first point on the scoreboard came as Tynybekova was called for passivity. Motoki then added a takedown to lead 3-0 at the break.

"In the first period I wrestled passively because I was tired," Tynybekova said. "Motoki was leading 3-0 but during the break time the coach told me to wrestle actively right from the beginning to score two points and finish the match 3-3 winning on criteria."

That's what Tynybekova did. Motoki was hit with a passivity call with 50 seconds remaining. During Motoki's activity time, Tynybekova got the opportunity to hit a single-leg attack and she got exposure to lead 3-3 with 10 seconds on the clock.

"The semifinal and those six minutes seemed to be endless for me," she said. "I thought the time would never end."

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) defeated Kayla MIRACLE (USA) in the final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the final, Tynybekova faced a familiar opponent in Kayla MIRACLE (USA) and won with the largest margin of victory in her five bouts, beating her 7-0.

"I wasn’t thinking about winning the gold," she said. "The main thing was to come here and try myself against international athletes. We knew that the strongest ones would come here to compete. The coach Nurbek Izabekov said that we should come here and just wrestle as if we were at home. It didn’t matter for me to win or lose, the main goal was to wrestle."

But compared to the World Championships, Tynybekova said that she is still recovering physically and will assess her future tournaments depending on the same.

"In comparison with the World Championships, this tournament in Zagreb was harder for me because I am not in good health now," she said. That’s why all the matches today were really difficult. [Next], I think we will be wrestling at all the Rankings Series as well as the Asian championships that will be held in our country in Kyrgyzstan."

Feng ZHOU (CHN) dominated the 68kg weight class in Zagreb. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

In the other Women's Wrestling weight class, veteran Feng ZHOU (CHN) clinched the 68kg gold medal after a close 2-0 win over Forrest MOLINARI (USA).

But it was total domination from Zhou in the morning session as she took out world champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) in the opening match and world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in the semifinals.

Rolling back the years, Zhou showed that strong gut wrench that the Chinese wrestlers are famous for. Tosun had no answers to Zhou's grip and suffered a 10-0 loss.

Zhou was in trouble in the second bout against Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) when the Polish wrestler scored a takedown with 10 seconds remaining to lead 3-1. But Zhou hit exposure with three seconds on the clock to win 3-3. A lost challenge gave her an extra point.

After beating RADHIKA (UWW) 13-0 in the quarterfinal, Zhou used the gut wrench to build a 9-0 lead against Enkhsaikhan in the semifinal before the Mongolian close the gap to 9-5. However, it did not give her the win.

Molinari was hit with two passivity calls on either side of the break which gave Zhou a 2-0 lead which was enough, along with her defense, to get her the gold medal.

In the non-Olympic weight classes, Ukraine won two gold medals with Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) clinching the gold medal at 59kg and Alla BELINSKA (UKR) winning the 65kg gold after dominating the round-robin.

Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) completes a throw on Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Alirzaev shines

In a bracket that had five World Championships medalists including world champion David LOSONCZI (HUN), Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) emerged as the best at 87kg, winning the gold after beating Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI), 4-2, in the final.

After a few easy matches early on, Alirzaev was tested by Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) in the quarterfinals. Alirzaev hit a big throw from par terre to lead 5-1 but Komarov got two turns from par terre in the second period to make it 5-5. Alirzaev led 5-5 on criteria thanks to the four-point technique which helped him win as well.

In the semifinal, Daniel GREGORICH (CUB) mounted a comeback from 7-0 to make it 7-7 and lead on criteria. However, Alirzaev scored a reversal with 30 seconds remaining to win 8-7.

The final saw Mohmadipiani get the par terre advantage and he managed to throw Alirzaev but failed to get a correct throw. Alirzaev blocked him during the throw to score two points, a decision which Iran challenged and lost, giving Alirzaev a 3-1 lead.

Mohmadipiani scored a stepoutn in the stepout but that was after Alirzaev was awarded a point for par terre. The final score remained 4-2 as Alirzaev won the gold.

The bronze medals were won by Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) who beat Daniel GREGORICH (CUB), 9-0, while Alan OSTAEV (AIN) beat Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) via fall. Ostaev had earlier knocked out world champion Losonczi in the opening bout.

At 77kg, world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) won the gold after Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), a world silver medalist from 2022, pulled out injured during the match.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

59kg
GOLD: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR)
SILVER: Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA)
BRONZE: Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)

62kg
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Kayla MIRACLE (USA), 7-0

BRONZE: Veranika IVANOVA (AIN) df. Ana GODINEZ (CAN), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Alina KASABIEVA (AIN) df. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), via inj. def.

65kg
GOLD: Alla BELINSKA (UKR)
SILVER: Kadriye AKSOY (TUR)
BRONZE: Anne NUERNBERGER (GER)

68kg
GOLD: Feng ZHOU (CHN) df. Forrest MOLINARI (USA), 2-0

BRONZE: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (TUR), 5-1
BRONZE: Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) df. Qian JIANG (CHN), 11-6

Greco-Roman

77kg
GOLD: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) df. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), via injury (5-0)

BRONZE: Yunus BASAR (TUR) df. Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR), 2-1
BRONZE: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) df. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), 8-7

87kg
GOLD: Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) df. Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI), 4-2

BRONZE: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) df. Daniel GREGORICH (CUB), 9-0
BRONZE: Alan OSTAEV (AIN) df. Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO), via fall

European Championships Greco-Roman preview

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Zagreb Open: Tynybekova beats Motoki again, Zhou rules 68kg