#WrestleDortmund

Georgia Wins GR Title with Two Gold on Final Day at #WrestleDortmund

Sunday, July 4, 2021 - 20:01 By Vinay Siwach

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DORTMUND, Germany (July 4) --- After having subdued day at the junior European Championships on Saturday, Russia came up with two gold medal winning performances on Sunday to regain some lost ground in Dortmund, Germany.

Winning the title at 82kg and 97kg, Russia managed to climb up to the second spot in the team title race with Georgia winning the title as it won three gold and two silver. Turkey, with one gold, silver and bronze each in Dortmund, finished third.

Amirkhan TSECHOEV (RUS) was the first gold medalist for Russia as he claimed the 82kg title by beating Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR) in the final. This was the second title for Russia for the event after Pavel REKLIN (RUS) won gold at 55kg on Saturday.

Tsechoev took the momentum in the 82kg final and was awarded a point for Alieksieiev's passivity. From the par terre position, he got two points for a throw. He was awarded two more points for another throw but Ukraine challenged tha call. Ukraine won the challenge but Russia still led 4-0.

In rush of adrenaline, Alieksiesiev went for a body lock but Tsechoev used that momentum to convert it into a four point throw. In just one minute 49 seconds, the Russian captured the gold medal with a technical superiority win.

A historic moment was witnessed at 82kg as Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) became the first ever medalist for Netherlands at the junior European Championships. He defeated Mikhail KHACHATURAU (BLR) 9-3 in a tense bronze medal bout.

Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS)Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) won the 97kg title at junior European Championships in Dortmund. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) was the second Russian to win the gold medal on Sunday. He ended the hopes of local wrestler Anton VIEWEG (GER) by beating him 5-0 in the 97kg final.

Mileshin, a cadet World Championships silver medalist, got a point for Vieweg's passivity. He used a throw from par terre to increase the lead to 3-0. In the second period, he scored a takedown and hung on to the 5-0 lead to win the top medal.

Georgia also had two European champions on Sunday as Pridon ABULADZE (GEO) won the 60kg title while Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) won the 72kg title.

In the 60kg final, Abuladze scored a come-from-behind victory over Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS). Bammatov was leading 4-0 but Abuladze scored five unanswered points to win 5-4. A disappointed Russian expressed his displeasure at the end and even his coach showed a protest.

Bammatov used a chest wrap to gut wrench to lead 4-0. But it all changed in the second period, he was called for passivity and Abuladze scored a step out. Russia challenged the call but lost and the difference was reduced to 4-3.

After a warning, the referee cautioned Bammatov for using aggressive force on Abuladze's arm and the judges confirmed it which gave the Georgian a 5-4 lead. The clock expired at the same score.

But Abuladze's biggest win came in the semifinal when he defeated former senior European champion Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) 3-2. The Bulgarian, a cadet world champion, was the favourite to win the title.

At 72kg, Chkhikvadze defeated Attila TOESMAGI (HUN) 4-1 in the final. The Youth Olympic Games champion led 1-0 after the Hungarian's inactivity. He added two more points with a throw from par terre.

Toesmagi, a bronze medalist at cadet Worlds, could not take advantage after the Georgian was called for inactivity. Toesmagi challenged for a leg foul but lost. The score changed to 4-1 but remained in Georgian's favour.

Azerbaijan won a gold medal on Sunday with Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) defeating Serhat KIRIK (TUR) in just one minute and 39 seconds.

It only needed a passivity from Kirik as Jafarov pounced on the opportunity and combined a throw and gut to lead 4-0. It looked like Kirik would defend the next attack from the Azerbaijani but Jafarov's strength was unmatched.

He scored two more throws for four points and secured a 9-0 win in the 67kg final.

RESULTS GR

60kg
GOLD: Pridon ABULADZE (GEO) df Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS), 5-4

BRONZE: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df Hleb MAKARANKA (BLR), 4-0
BRONZE: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) df Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL), 12-7

67kg
GOLD: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df Serhat KIRIK (TUR), 9-0

BRONZE: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df Vilius SAVICKAS (LTU), 10-1
BRONZE: Luka OCHIGAVA (GEO) df Adam POHILEC (HUN), 10-0

72kg
GOLD: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df Attila TOESMAGI (HUN), 4-1

BRONZE: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) df Luka MALOBABIC (CRO), via fall
BRONZE: Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) df Omer DOGAN (TUR), 8-3

82kg
GOLD: Amirkhan TSECHOEV (RUS) df Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR), 8-0

BRONZE: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) df Mikhail KHACHATURAU (BLR), 9-3
BRONZE: Samet YALDIRAN (TUR) df Kevin GREMM (GER), 8-3

97kg
GOLD: Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) df Anton VIEWEG (GER), 5-0

BRONZE: Marcus WORREN (NOR) df Lasha TVILDIANI (GEO), via fall
BRONZE: Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR) df Antti HAANPAEAE (FIN), via fall

#WrestleTirana

Proud to Break Karelin's Record: Says Kayaalp After 13th European Gold

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - 21:34 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 21) -- Soon after he broke Aleksandr KARELIN's record of 12 European Championships gold medals, Riza KAYAALP (TUR) was asked to go through the journey of winning 13 European gold medals in his career.

Kayaalp gave a smirk before going on to replay his journey from his first European Championships title in 2010.

"When you look back, you realize you’ve made 15 finals," Kayaalp said after winning the 130kg gold medal in Tirana. "Back then, I was just thinking whether I could win one or two medals. But then, making the final every time at the European Championships, it’s like a child being born and growing up to 15 years old.

"That’s how long this journey has been. It’s difficult. It requires great consistency. It requires respect for what you do."

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READ MORE: Kayaalp's 13 - New Gold Standard in Europe

Kayaalp's consistency led him to 15 European Championships finals from which he won 13, taking him past Karelin's record. Apart from 2026, Kayaalp won gold in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2010.

"It’s an incredible feeling," he said. "This was my 15th final, and in my 15th final, I achieved my 13th title. I truly believe I’ve set a record that will be very difficult to break. This title is especially valuable to me because achieving such long-term and consistent success -- especially in Europe, where there are very strong nations -- is not easy. I’m very proud to have broken such a big record."

READ MORE: Riza KAYAALP Breaks Karelin's 26-Year Old Record 

Wrestling Tirana for the record, Kayaalp won four bouts, including a 1-1 criteria win against Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW) bruised Kayaalp with aggressive wrestling.

"The matches were not easy. I had tough matches," he said. "One of my matches ended 1–1. In the semifinal, I can say I was subjected to some disrespect from a strong opponent in a very intense bout. But compared to those, the final match was more meaningful for me."

WATCH: All of Kayaalp's 13 European Gold Medals

But the final followed a different script as Kayaalp used his gut-wrench to beat Darius VITEK (HUN), 7-1, and finally claim the gold after falling short in 2024 and missing the tournament in 2025.

"When it became 7-0, well, I’m an athlete who doesn’t like to concede points," he said. "I don’t like giving points away, so I managed to protect that score. I can say I went through the second period quite comfortably, and having a 7–0 lead helped."

The 16-year dominance in Europe has taken a big part of Kayaalp's career but the five-time world champion believes that his commitment sets an example for the young wrestlers in Turkiye. 

"This comes from the respect I have for wrestling," he said. "If I’m going to do this, I have to do it at the highest level. I believe this success came because I always aimed to be the best. I’ve always done it with love.

"There are tens of thousands of wrestlers in Turkiye. We’ve been able to set an example for them. That’s very important. There are also many people around the world who look up to us."

WATCH: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) vs Darius VITEK (HUN)

Though they were not present in Tirana, Kayaalp dedicated his title to his wife and daughter. He shared that when he was away from wrestling, his daughter would pray for his return to the mat.

"[I want to dedicate this medal] to my wife and daughters, who have always been by my side through both good and bad times," he said. "To my family, to my father, to everyone who loves us, to my coaches, my fellow athletes, and to the Turkish people. I dedicate this great success to all of them."