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Georgia Inserts Four into Day 2 U23 European Finals

Monday, March 4, 2019 - 19:43 By Eric Olanowski

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (March 4) – Georgia, led by defending U23 world and European champions Nugzari TSURTSUMIA and Zviadi PATARIDZE inserted four wrestlers into Tuesday night’s Greco-Roman U23 European finals. 

At 55kg, Tsurtsumia and his finals opponent Florin TITA (ROU) scored first-period technical superiority victories and will meet in Tuesday night's gold-medal bout.  

Tsurtsumia, the returning 55kg U23 world and European champion, quickly scored the 11-2 victory in his semifinals match to breeze past Russia's Viktor VEDERNIKOV.

His finals opponent Tita pounced Hungary's Bence KOVACS 12-2 and locked up his 55kg finals spot, improving on his bronze-medal finish from the 2018 U23 European Championships.

Zviadi Pataridze, the six-time age-group world champion, easily handled Estonia's Artur VITITIN and picked up the 9-0 technical superiority victory. Pataridze's Monday night win helped insert himself in his second consecutive U23 European finals and gave the Georgian big man his third overall U23 European medal. He also finished with a bronze medal back in 2017.

To win his second straight U23 European gold medal, Pataridze will have to defeat Romania’s Lenard BEREI (ROU) in the 130kg gold-medal match. Berei trailed 3-0 in his semifinals bout against Russia’s Oleg AGAKHANOV but used a four-point throw to reach the finals with the 4-3 advantage.

Georgia’s third finalist Levani KAVIARADZE will meet Armenia's Slavik GALSTYAN for the 63kg gold medal. 

Kavjaradze scored the 7-2 victory over Erik TORBA (HUN) to seal up his spot in the 63kg finals. He’ll wrestle Slavik Galstyan, who trailed 2-0 in his semifinal bout, but outscored Ukraine’s U23 world bronze medalist Oleksandr HRUSHYN 13-2 and locked up his spot in the 63kg finals with a 13-4 victory.  

Gurami KHETSURIANI was the fourth and final Georgian who reached Tuesday’s finals. He did so by stopping Martynas NEMSEVICIUS from becoming the second ever Lithuanian wrestler from reaching the U23 European finals with a 4-0 win.

Khetsuriani will have to defeat Russia’s Gazi KHALILOV in the gold-medal bout if he hopes to walk away as the 87kg champion. Khalilov trailed 6-3 in his semifinals bout against Ivan HUKLEK before catching the Croatian wrestler on his back and picking up the fall. 

The only Day 2 finals matchup that won’t feature a Georgian wrestler is at 77kg, where Russia’s reigning junior world champion Islam OPIEV (RUS) will take on Turkey’s Serkan AKKOYUN (TUR) for the gold. 

Opiev was awarded a passivity point in his semifinal bout and edged Beka MAMUKASHVILI (GEO), 1-1. His finals opponenet Akkoyun used a four-point second period to stop Tamas LEVAI (HUN), 5-1, to reach the 77kg gold-medal bout.  

Wrestling resumes on Tuesday at 11:30 (local time). The Day 2 finals are set to begin at 18:00. 

SCHEDULE
Tuesday (March 5) 
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
14:30 - Draw WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
16:45 - Opening Ceremony
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18: 00 - Finals GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg

Wednesday (March 6) 
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
9:45 -  Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Repechage GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
14:00 - Draw WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
18: 00 - Finals GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg

Thursday (March 7)
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
11:30 - Repechage WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
14:00 - Draw FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
18: 00 - Finals WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg

Friday (March 8) 
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
11:30 - Repechage WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
14:00 - Draw FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
17:15 - Semi Final FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
18: 00 -  Finals WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg

Saturday (March 9) 
9:30 - Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
11:30 - Repechage FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
17:15 - Semi Final FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18: 00 -  Finals FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg

Sunday (March 10) 
9:30 - Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
16:00 - Repechage FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18:00 - Finals FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg


RESULTS 
55kg 
GOLD - Florin TITA (ROU) vs. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)
SEMIFINAL - Florin TITA (ROU) df. Bence KOVACS (HUN), 12-2
SEMIFINAL - Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Viktor VEDERNIKOV (RUS), 11-2 

63kg
GOLD - Levani KAVJARADZE (GEO) vs. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM)
SEMIFINAL - Levani KAVJARADZE (GEO) df. Erik TORBA (HUN), 7-2 
SEMIFINAL - Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) df. Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR), 13-4 

77kg 
GOLD - Islam OPIEV (RUS) df. Serkan AKKOYUN (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Islam OPIEV (RUS) df. Beka MAMUKASHVILI (GEO), 1-1 
SEMIFINAL - Serkan AKKOYUN (TUR) df. Tamas LEVAI (HUN), 5-1 

87kg 
GOLD - Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO) vs. Gazi KHALILOV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO) df. Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU), 4-0 
SEMIFINAL - Gazi KHALILOV (RUS) df. Ivan HUKLEK (CRO), via fall 

130kg 
GOLD - Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) vs. Lenard Istvan BEREI (ROU)
SEMIFINAL -Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) df. Artur VITITIN (EST), 9-0 
SEMIFINAL - Lenard Istvan BEREI (ROU) df. Oleg AGAKHANOV (RUS), 4-3 

#WrestleNoviSad

U23 World Championships 2025 Greco-Roman Day 2 Highlights

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - 08:11 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 21) -- The U23 World Championships continue on second day in Novi Sad, Serbia. Greco-Roman will continue in 55kg, 67kg, 72kg and 97kg.

WATCH CENTER | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

15:10: Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) with a reversal when Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) got a turn which gives the Georgian a 5-4 lead and gives him the win and a place in the 67kg semifinals.

15:00: Alibek AMIROV (UWW), U23 European champion, is into the semifinals at 55kg at the U23 Worlds after a 9-0 victory over Vikramjit MORE (IND). Two defensive fouls from More in that match.

14:45: Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) has no mercy on Nurbolot BERDIKULOV (KGZ) as he rolls to a 13-3 technical superiority win at 55kg. Shamsipour, a 2024 U17 world champ, used his incredible gut-wrench to score his points.

14:30: Darius KIEFER (GEO) cannot survive the Maksim AVERIN (UWW) test! Kiefer, who has looked off color today, did well in the first period to be down only 1-0 but gives up two points in the second period to Averin who wins 3-1 to advance to the semifinals at 97kg

14:25: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) with a 5-3 victory over Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) at 72kg. He scores two front headlock turns from par terre while Nurullayev only scored a turn. 

14:00: Big match on Mat B as U20 world champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) takes on returning silver medalist Abubakr KHASLAKHANAU (UWW). The first points are scored by Khaslakhanau with a go-behind takedown for a 2-0 lead. Just before the break, Yakushenko with a cartwheel takedown to lead 2-2 on criteria. Khaslakhanau takes takes the lead back as Yakushenko called passive in the second period but he fails to score any points from par terre. Yakushenko has two minutes to make a comeback. He complains of a shoulder pain. Yakushenko with a stepout as the bout restarts and he takes a 3-3 criteria lead. He keeps his criteria lead and wins the bout 3-3 on criteria to advance to the semifinals.

13:55: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) scores a 7-1 victory at 67kg against Azat SARIYAR (TUR). Mohsen Nezhad is a two-time world U20 champion and making his U23 debut.

13:30: Andrea SETTI (ITA) with a four-pointer late in the match against Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) but the Georgian remains unfazed by the move and wins his 67kg bout 6-5.

13:20: World U20 champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) with a dominant win over Luka GABISONIA (GEO) at 97kg. He goes for a big four before getting a stepout to lead 5-0. A stepout and takedown to finish the bout 8-0 in the first period.

13:15: Returning silver medalist at 97kg Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (UWW) with a technical superiority win over world U20 silver medalist Mohammad SEYDI (IRI) as he wins 9-1. Three stepouts in that bout for him. He will face world U20 champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) next.

12:55: Darius KIEFER (GER) with a comeback in his 97kg bout against Tomislav BRKAN (CRO). Kiefier was down 3-2 but gets a par terre and turn to lead 5-3 before beating Brkan 7-4 and advance to the quarterfinals at 97kg.

12:30: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI), a two-time world U20 champion, gets a good warm-up with an8-0 win over Ardit ZENELI (ALB) in just a minute and 14 seconds at 67kg.

12:05: Mate VEGH (HUN) scored four points on Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) but the Iranian was just too too good for him. Mohammadi with 10 points in the match to beat Vegh 10-4 and advance at 72kg.

11:50: Hleb MAKARANKA (UWW) brings down world bronze medalist Daniial AGAEV (UWW) at 67kg. He gets four points from par terre while giving none as Makaranka wins 5-1 to advance at 67kg.

11:35: Vikramjit MORE (IND) gives India a win at 55kg as he beats Denis MIHAI (ROU). Mihai was up 1-0 but More pressures him towards the zone when Mihai tries a arm-throw but More blocks it for a takedown. He turns him for another two points to lead 4-1. Romania challenge for a slip throw but it is not and the challenge is lost. Mihai gets a point in the second period for par terre but More sails through 5-3.

11:20: Richard KARELSON (EST), senior European silver medalist, has no trouble in beating Javokhir SHODIYAROV (UZB) at 97kg. He scores the takedown 44 seconds in the second period to win 9-0.

11:05: U20 World silver medalist Hadi SEYDI (IRI) off to a good start as he scores a 10-0 win over Dorian TREJO OLGUIN (MEX) at 97kg. His next bout is against returning silver medalist Abubakr KHASLAKHANAU (UWW).

10:55: Darius KIEFER (GER), a U20 world silver and bronze medalist, off to a slow start as he beats Juan DIAZ BLANCO (VEN) 5-3 at 97kg. He scored a counter after Diaz's takedown and led 5-2. However, Kiefer defended his par terre for the win. 

10:30: Former Asian champion Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) opens his U23 Worlds campaign with a 6-0 win over Oleh KHALILOV (UKR) at 72kg.