#WrestleNoviSad

Georgia Grabs Greco-Roman U23 European Team Title

Wednesday, March 6, 2019 - 21:05 By Eric Olanowski

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (March 6) – Georgia (178 points) wrapped up the Greco-Roman team title at the U23 European Championships, 11 points ahead of second-place Russia (167 points). They closed out the final day of Greco-Roman wrestling with a solo gold medalist and brought their tournament championship total to five. 

Ramaz ZOIDZE was Georgia’s fifth overall gold medalist. He won the 72kg title with a controlling 7-1 victory over Russia’s Magomed YARBILOV (RUS). 

Georgia’s second Day 3 finalist was Giorgi MELIA (GEO). Melia fell to Finland’s Arvi SAVOLAINEN, 4-1, in the 97kg gold-medal match. The Georgian led 1-1 on criteria but gave up a late takedown and a lost challenge dropping the match, 4-1. Although he didn’t leave as a titleholder, Melia’s silver medal still helped Georgia win the team title by claiming his 20-second place points. 

Meanwhile, second-place Russia had a trio of Day 3 finalists but only walked away with a single champion. 

Alen MIRZOIAN claimed Russia’s second overall gold of the tournament, blowing out the host nation’s Sebastian NAD, 10-0, in the opening period of the 67kg gold-medal bout. 

Mirzoian grabbed the 1-0 lead with a passivity point, then quickly went to work in the par terre position. The Russian picked up two points from a leg foul and added a point from a failed Serbian challenge, which brought the score to 4-0. The returning U23 European champion closed out the match 10-0 with a four-point throw and a gut wrench for good measures. 

In the 82kg finals, Zotlan LEVAI (HUN) trailed 1-1 on criteria before picking up the match's first takedown to steal the gold medal from Russia’s third finalist Vaag MARGARIAN, 3-1. 

Levai's Wednesday night win gave him his second U23 European title. He also won the 2017 U23 European title. 

The final gold medal of the day went to Kerem KAMAL, who defeated Romania’s Razvan ARNAUT in the 60kg gold-medal bout and helped Turkey finished in third place in the team race. 

In the finals, Kamal scored the first passivity points, but a Romanian reversal evened the match at 1-1. The Turkish wrestler scored a late period step out and regained the lead, 2-1, heading into the closing period.

Kamal started the second period with a pair of step outs, extending his lead to 4-1. Kamal stopped an arm throw attempt and wrapped up his second consecutive U23 European Championships with a gold medal, bringing his overall age-group European gold medal bout to five. 

Georgia won the Greco-Roman team title with 178 points. Russia had 167 points and finished in second place. Turkey, Romania, and Ukraine rounded out the top-five respectively.

Greco-Roman 
Team Scores 
GOLD – Georgia (178 points)
SILVER – Russia (167 points)
BRONZE - Turkey (141 points)
Fourth – Romania (78 points)
Fifth –  Ukraine (70 points)

60kg
GOLD - Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Razvan ARNAUT (ROU), 5-1 
BRONZE - Ivo Krasimirov ILIEV (BUL) df. Zhora ABOVIAN (UKR), 4-2 
BRONZE - Sadyk LALAEV (RUS) df. Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO), 7-0 

67kg
GOLD - Alen MIRZOIAN (RUS) df. Sebastian NAD (SRB), 10-0 
BRONZE - Artur POLITAIEV (UKR) df. Valentin PETIC (MDA), 8-0
BRONZE - Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (BLR) df. Alexandru SOLOMON (ROU), 7-4

72kg
GOLD - Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) df. Magomed YARBILOV (RUS), 7-1 
BRONZE - Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) df. Juan Sebastian AAK (NOR), 9-5
BRONZE - Stoyan Stoychev KUBATOV (BUL) df. Islambek DADOV (AZE), 4-2

82kg 
GOLD - Zotlan LEVAI (HUN) vs. Vaag MARGARIAN (RUS), 3-1 
BRONZE - Hasan Basri YILDIRIM (TUR) df. ltun VAZIRZADE (AZE), 2-0 
BRONZE - Stanislau SHAFARENKA (BLR) df. Svetoslav NIKOLOV (BUL), via fall 

97kg 
GOLD - Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) df. Giorgi MELIA (GEO), 4-1 
BRONZE - Ibrahim TIGCI (TUR) df. Ruslan BEKUZAROV (RUS), 5-0
BRONZE - Vladen KOZLIUK (UKR) df. Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), via fall 

#WrestleBratislava

Prevolaraki steps closer to historic European gold; Bullen vs Ringaci final at 65kg

Thursday, April 10, 2025 - 08:31 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 10) -- Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) has got a chance to end her search for the elusive European gold medal. 

The 33-year-old entered her fifth European Championships final and with a hope of becoming the second wrestler from Greece to win the gold medal in Women's Wrestling. The four-time Olympian made her first finals' appearance in 2013 but finished with a silver medal. She earned the same medal in 2014, 2021 and 2022.

Prevolaraki defeated Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) via fall after building a 12-4 in the 53kg semifinal and booked her spot against former European champion Andreea ANA (ROU).

Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) gave Ana a big scare in the other semifinal, leading 3-2 with just 15 seconds remaining. But Ana hit a takedown for two points and got the lead back. Malysheva tried getting a reversal but the time ran out.

Sweden made sure it has one finalists in Women's Wrestling, a streaking dating back to 2022. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) made it to three successive finals, winning two golds and a silver last year.

On Thursday, it was Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) who reached the final at 62kg with a dominant win over Paris Olympian Lucia NIEMESCH (GER). Lindborg has a bronze medal from 2020 but finished fifth in 2023 and 2024.

Against Niemesch, Lindborg scored a stepout and takedown to lead 3-0 before she blocked a headthrow from Niemesch for two points, added a turn to lead 7-0. Germany challenged the call for a slip throw but lost, making it 8-0 for Lindborg.

Niemesch completed an attack in the second period and scored two points but Lindborg defended her 8-2 lead for the win.

Standing between her and the gold medal is world U23 champion Iryna BONDAR (UKR) who survived a late attack from Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) and won her semifinal 8-4. Bondar, who has almost won everything at the age-group level, is making her senior European debut.

At 65kg, two Paris Olympic medalists from 62kg were entered. However, only one made it to the final.

Paris bronze medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) pinned her way to the gold medal bout, spending only eight minutes on the mat of her 18 for three bouts. In the semifinal, she pinned Olha PADOSHYK (POL) after a 6-0 lead.

In the other semifinal, Paris silver medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) was no match for former world and European champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) who once again countered the leg-attacks with ease. Ringaci moved into the final with an 11-0 win.

Returning champion at 72kg Nesrin BAS (TUR) will defend her title against Alla BELINSKA (UKR) on Friday. Bas defeated Daniela TKACHUK (POL), 11-3, in the semifinal while Belinksa took out Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA), 8-2.

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Andreea ANA (ROU) vs. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)

SF 1: Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), via fall (12-4)
SF 2: Andreea ANA (ROU) df. Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW), 5-3

57kg
GOLD: Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) vs. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW)

SF 1: Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) df. Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), 9-4
SF 2: Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) df. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), via inj. def. (4-2)

62kg
GOLD: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) vs. Iryna BONDAR (UKR)

SF 1: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) df. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), 8-4
SF 2: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), 8-4

65kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA) vs. Grace BULLEN (NOR)

SF 1: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), 11-0
SF 2: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Olha PADOSHYK (POL), via fall

72kg
GOLD: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) vs. Nesrin BAS (TUR)

SF 1: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA), 8-2
SF 2: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Daniela TKACHUK (POL), 11-3

Qualification bouts blog follows below

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

The semifinals will begin at 16:45

53kg
SF 1: Andreea ANA (ROU) vs. Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW)
SF 2: Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) vs. Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)

57kg
SF 1: Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) vs. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)
SF 2: Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) vs. Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)

62kg
SF 1: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) vs. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW)
SF 2: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) vs. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)

65kg
SF 1: Olha PADOSHYK (POL) vs. Grace BULLEN (NOR)
SF 2: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) vs. Irina RINGACI (MDA)

72kg
SF 1: Nesrin BAS (TUR) vs. Daniela TKACHUK (POL)
SF 2: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) vs. Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA)

12:30: Paris Olympic silver medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) led 10-3 and was lacing Beyza AKKUS (TUR) when the Turkiye wrestler called for medical and was announced injured, giving Koliadenko the win and a spot in the 65kg semifinals.

12:25: Big four and a fall for Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) over Amina CAPEZAN (ROU) at 62kg. Capezan took a 6-5 lead but Lindborg answered with a double-leg attack and the fall to enter the semifinal.

12:22: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) takes out Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) at 62kg. Bondar with a takedown before Dudova tried to bounce back but Bondar counters and turns Dudova for a 7-1 lead. A lost challenge from Dudova which gives Bondar a 8-1 lead which is the final score.

12:14: No time wasted by world U23 champion Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) who pancakes Magdalena GLODEK (POL) for a fall at 57kg and enter the semifinal.

12:12: A heartbreak for the local fans! Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK) had it all under control, leading 5-3 and about to pin Daniela TKACHUK (POL). But the Polish wrestler reverse the fall position and scores two points in the final second to win 5-5 on criteria.

12:10: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) survives a final second scare and wins 5-2 over Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) at 53kg. Yetgil led 4-0 and attempted for the leg hold to defend the lead in the final five seconds. But Krawczyk spun behind and added a roll but it was after the time.

12:05: Grace BULLEN (NOR) books her spot in the 65kg semifinals with an 11-0 win over Dinara KUDAEVA (UWW). A big four-pointer to finish off the bout.

12:00: Defending champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) hangs on for 2-1 win against returning silver medalist Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) in what was a rematch of the final from last year. Bas led 2-0 at the break before being called passive in the second period. But Anghel failed to score one more point for win.

11:55: Andreea ANA (ROU) and Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) in a tense battle at 53kg. Malanchuk with an early takedown to take a 2-0 lead but Ana answers with a takedown and leads 2-2 on criteria. Single leg takedown in the second period for a 4-2 lead for Ana. Malanchuk fires double-leg attack and claim a 4-4 criteria lead with a minute and 40 seconds left. With 15 seconds left, Malanchuk gets cautioned for hair pulling and point for Ana who wins 5-4.

11:48: How did Irina RINGACI (MDA) tangle Eniko ELEKES (HUN) and secure the fall there? Ringaci blocks the lower part of Elekes with her leg and has her arm locked. There is no way Elekes can move. Ringaci wins inside one minute.

11:40: Veteran Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), searching for her first European title, has a good start with a 5-0 win over Viyaleta REBIKAVA CHYRYK (UWW) at 53kg. She get a point for Rebikava's passivity before adding a takedown and two more points in the second period.

11:30: Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) is into the semifinals at 57kg! She works up a 6-0 win over Evelina HULTHEN (SWE) and will wrestle for a spot in the final later tonight

11:20: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) gets the benefits of Lydia PEREZ (ESP) who is passive and Dudova wins 3-0 at 62kg. The four-time champion moves a step closer to her fifth title.

11:14: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) gives Sweden its first win of the day! She works hard for her 11-2 win over Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) at 62kg but controls it throughout the six minutes.

11:12: Grace BULLEN (NOR) needs only 40 seconds to roll over Marta OJEDA NAVARRO (ESP) and win her first bout at 65kg. Great start for the Paris Olympic bronze medalist

11:00: World U23 champion and senior European debutant Iryna BONDAR (UKR) starts off at 62kg with a 10-0 technical superiority over Nikolett SZABO (HUN).

10:55: Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) scores seven points in the second period and beats world U20 champion Aryna MARTYNAVA (UWW) 7-1 at 57kg.

10:50: Quick finish on Mat B as defending champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) pins Elvira ERSSON (SWE) and moves on at 72kg. Bas recently on the European U23 gold medal at 68kg but she is going at 72kg here in Bratislava.

10:45: Age-group European champion Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) with a 10-0 victory over Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) in just over two minutes to start her campaign at 57kg.

10:30: The fourth day at the European Championships in Bratislava and its all women's wrestling. Paris Olympic medalists Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) and Grace BULLEN (NOR) are both in 65kg and competing for gold.