#BudaWrestle2018

Evloev Leads Russian Trio to Finals, Lorincz Defeats Kim in London Finals Rematch

By Andrew Hipps

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 27) -- Musa EVLOEV (RUS) knocked off Olympic champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) on Saturday in the semifinals at 97kg to lead a Russian trio to the Greco-Roman finals at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

Russia's other two semifinal winners on Saturday were Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (77kg) and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg).

Evloev, a returning world silver medalist, scored first off a passivity before lifting Aleksanyan and scoring two points off a correct throw. The Armenian had a chance to get back in the match after scoring a point off a passivity, but was unable to score from par terre and Evloev held on for the victory. He will meet Kiril MILOV (BUL) in the gold-medal match at 97kg.

Milov shut out Mihail KAJALA (SRB) 3-0 in the other semifinal match at 97kg. It looked to be a fast start for Kajala as he was awarded a takedown and two-point gut wrench turn. However, the takedown was challenged and overturned, keeping the match scoreless. Milov scored first off a passivity before adding a takedown to lead 3-0 at the break. A scoreless second period gave Milov a three-point victory.

Chekhirkin rolled to the gold-medal match at 77kg with an 11-0 first-period technical fall over Alex KESSIDIS (SWE). The Russian was dominant from the start, scoring with a step out then a passivity to go up 2-0. Chekhirkin scored a takedown with 30 seconds left in the first period, then added another one a short time later, which he followed up with an exposure to close out the technical fall. Awaiting him in the gold-medal match at 77kg is a crowd favorite, returning world medalist Tamas LORINCZ (HUN). 

Lorincz topped 2012 Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) 3-1 in a rematch of the 2012 Olympic gold-medal match. Lorincz led 1-0 at the break after scoring off a passivity. Kim took the lead in the second period on criteria, scoring a point off a passivity. But Lorincz was able to score a late point and another off a failed challenge to win by two.

Semenov became the third Russian to reach the gold-medal match as he topped two-time world champion Heiki NABI (EST) 2-0 at 130kg, scoring both of his points off passivity calls. Nabi had a win earlier in the day over three-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (Turk). He will meet Adam COON (USA) in the gold-medal match.

Coon has been on a roll in his first World Championship appearance, picking up four falls to reach the finals. The American faced Minseok KIM (KOR) in the semifinals. After taking a 3-0 lead, Coon used a body lock to throw Kim to his back and secure his fourth fall. 

Semifinal Results

Greco-Roman

77kg
Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) df. Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) by VPO1, 3-1
Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) df. Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) by VSU, 11-0

97kg
Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL) df. Mihail KAJALA (SRB) by VPO, 3-0
Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) by VPO1, 3-1

130kg
Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) df. Heiki NABI (EST) by VPO, 2-0
Adam COON (USA) df. Minseok KIM (KOR) by VFA, 7-0
 

2026 U23 European Championships

Three Golds Power Belarus to First U23 Euro Women's Team Title

By Vinay Siwach

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 13) -- Three golds medals on Friday propelled Belarus to win its first-ever Women's Wrestling team title at the U23 European Championships. Belarus finished with 171 points to claim the top spot while Russia was second with 141 points. Ukraine finished third with 140 points.

After winning one gold medal on Thursday, Belarus added three through Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (BLR), Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR) and Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR). It also won one silver and one bronze while all 10 wrestlers contributed points to the team score.

European champion Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR) claimed the 68kg gold medal on Thursday and the gold rush on Friday began with Martynava scoring a tough win over Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) in the 57kg final, a repeat from last year's edition.

In what turned out to be one-move match, Martynava scored a double-leg head-outside takedown in the first 10 seconds of the bout. She then sat on her two-point lead for five minutes and 50 seconds. In the second period, Martynava was called passive and Filipovych was given a point.

But the Ukrainian failed to score two more points that were needed for a win that would have avenged her loss from last year's final which Martynava won 8-2.

The Belarus wrestler now has two U23 European gold medals to go with her silver at the U23 World Championships and gold medal at the U20 World Championships.

The second gold for Belarus was won by Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR) after she defeated Ekaterina KOSHKINA (RUS), 4-2, in the 65kg final. Tsiarenia controlled the match giving little chance to Koshkina to score.

It was only in the dying seconds of the match that Koshkina managed to score a harmless takedown for two points.

The third gold medal for Belarus was won by Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR) who denied Veronika VILK (CRO) a chance of winning a historical gold medal at 72kg. Radzkova opened the scoring when Vilk was called passive. Vilk then tried an arm-throw but Radzkova blocked her and scored two points to lead 3-0 at the break.

Vilk tried a headlock in the second period but Radzkova was ready for it and again blocked Vilk's attempt to score two points. A turn for exposure added two more points for Radzkova that extended her lead to 7-0.

Perhaps ready for another throw from Vilk, Radzkova stood up and when Vilk tried the throw, she once again blocked and landed on top. The two points plus two more points for the turn gave Radzkova an 11-0 win with a minute nine seconds left.

Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) was also trying to achieve a historic gold for Spain but was denied as Anastasiia POLSKA (POL) used a fireman's carry to secure a fall in just a minute and 17 seconds and win gold at 53kg.

Senior world bronze medalist Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) claimed the 62kg gold medal after beating Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 5-3, in the final.

Tandelova, who won silver at U23 Europeans in 2023, used a beautiful arm-throw to score the first four-pointer. The first point for Tandelova was from the activity period of Mammadova in which the Azerbaijan wrestler failed to score.

Mammadova scored a takedown and activity clock point to cut the lead but it was still not enough to overturn the result.

Photo

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) df. Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP), via fall (4-0)

BRONZE: Sevval CAYIR (TUR) vs. Nargiz SAMADOVA (AZE)
BRONZE: Ekaterina KARPUSHKINA (RUS) df. Kseniya KOSTSENICH (BLR), via inj. def.

57kg
GOLD: Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (BLR) df. Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR), 2-1

BRONZE: Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN) df. Amory ANDRICH (GER), 7-5
BRONZE: Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) df. Romaissa EL KHARROUBI (FRA), 5-0

62kg
GOLD: Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) df. Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 5-3

BRONZE: Iris THIEBAUX (FRA) df. Gulsum BINGOL (TUR), 4-0
BRONZE: Alicja WOJEWODZKA NOWOSAD (POL) df. Naemi LEISTNER (GER), 5-1

65kg
GOLD: Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR) df. Ekaterina KOSHKINA (RUS), 4-2

BRONZE: Maria PANTIRU (ROU) df. Bianca CONTRAFATTO (ITA), via fall (8-0)
BRONZE: Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR) df. Saga SVENSSON (SWE), 11-1

72kg
GOLD: Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR) df. Veronika VILK (CRO), 11-0

BRONZE: Karolina JAWORSKA (POL) df. Daniela BRASNAROVA (BUL), 5-0
BRONZE: Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) df. Greta TVERSKYTE (LTU), 3-3