Kayaalp Wins 10th Euro Title; Evloev Leads 3 Russians Into GR Finals

Saturday, April 24, 2021 - 20:46 By Vinay Siwach

WARSAW, Poland (April 24) -- Normally, teams wait until the tournament finishes to click their group photos after they finish on the podium. But Saturday was not a normal day for Turkey and no one wanted to wait another day.

As soon as the medal ceremony for 130kg finished, Turkey team jumped on the stage to take pictures, with every member showing the number ten with their hands.

It was a tribute as Riza KAYAALP (TUR) won his 10th senior European Championships title on Saturday at the Sportowa COS Torwar stadium in Warsaw, Poland.

Greco-Roman action continued on day six of the Championships as five gold medals were decided with Russia capturing two of them. Hungary, Serbia and Turkey claimed the remaining three.

Kayaalp had to wait until the final match of the day to claim his historic title. The Turkey legend had dominated his competition on Friday to reach the final against Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO), same wrestler he had defeated to win the 2019 European title.

For the record, Kayaalp won the final 3-1 against Kajaia after scoring a takedown and one point for Kajaia's passivity. He gave up a point for his own inactivity in the second period but that did not mean much as he claimed the gold medal with ease.

The 31-year-old the value of winning a gold medal in an Olympic year, especially given how unpredictable the 130kg weight category is around the world.

“It feels great to win 10 gold medals in 11 [European Championships] finals,” Kayaalp said. “In Greco Roman it is much more difficult to win it. It is good step for Tokyo as well.”

With 90 days still left for the Games, the two-time Olympic medalist feels he can still improve and will return to Warsaw to compete at the Poland Open Ranking series event.

“I will continue to improve. I will compete in Poland to see how well prepared I am for Tokyo,” he said.

Another world champion and Olympic medalist who added to his European Championships count was Tamas LORINCZ (HUN). His last European title came way back in 2014, since then winning two bronze medals at the 2017 and 2018 Championships.

Wrestling in the final of 77kg, Lorincz made little work of one of the three finalists from Turkey on Saturday Yunus BASAR (TUR), completing a technical superiority 8-0 win.

Turkey's Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) also finished with a silver medal at 55kg as Emin SEFERSHAEV (RUS) claimed the gold medal with a 7-0 win.

Beginning on a slow note, Sefershaev waited for Ozturk's passivity but failed to capitilise on the par terre position. He later scored his second point via a pushout to extend his lead to 2-0.

To Ozturk's surprise, he was once again called for passivity in the second period and Sefershaev did not make any mistake this time with a huge four-point throw to make it 7-0. Any tries of Ozturk's were denied as the Russian gave his country the first of the two gold medals.

Russia captured the title at 63kg as well with Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS) defeating Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) 5-0 in the final. It was their second bout in four months as the Individual World Cup winner Lokyaev had defeated Mammadov 2-0 in the quarterfinal in Belgrade.

After getting warned for passivity, Mammadov failed to stop Lokayev from a lift from the par terre position and gave up four points. It was enough for the Russian to hold on to the lead until the final whistle.

The surprise of the day came at 87kg as Friday's star performer Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR) fell in the final against Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) 5-1 as the Serb avenged his 3-10 loss to Maskevich at the Individual World Cup in December.

Maskevich has defeated a world medalist, a world champion and secured a come-from-behind fall on Friday but looked off color a day later. He got the advantage when Datunashvili was warned for inactivity but Belrussian failed to capitalize.

In turn, he gave up four points from par terre when he was warned for passivity, giving the Serb a 5-1 lead.

He got another chance late in the second period when he got Datunashvili in par terre again but could not complete his signature body lock throws, ending his roller-coaster campaign with a silver medal.

Datunashvili, a transfer from Georgia, broke out in a celebration with his coach after winning the gold medal, a first for the country in Greco-Roman after four years.

Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) df Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR) — Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) defeated Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR) in the 87kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the bronze medal bouts at 55kg, former world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) defeated Fabian SCHMITT (GER) 8-0 with two big throws in the first period while Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM) claimed the second bronze by beating Artsiom KATSAR (BLR) with a similar scoreline.

History was created in 63kg weight category as Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT) won his country first senior European medal since 1938. He ended the 83-year wait by capturing the bronze medal with a 7-5, come-from-behind victory over Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM).

Leri ABULADZE (GEO) was quick to finish his bronze medal bout against Mihai MIHUT (ROU) 9-1 to claim the third spot.

At 77kg, Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) hung on for 5-1 win over Michael WIDMAYER (GER) and Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) won the bronze medal by beaten Dmytro PYSHKOV (UKR) 6-0.

Former and current world champions at 87kg Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) and Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) won the bronze medals. The Russian claimed a big win over Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) 8-1 while Beleniuk had a close bout against fellow world medalist Denis KUDLA (GER), winning it 1-1.

The 130kg bronze medals were settle with just one point difference in both bouts as world medalist Eduard POPP (GER) overcame Oleksandr CHERNETSKYY (UKR) 2-1 and Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RUS) won 3-2 against Romas FRIDRIKAS (LTU).

Evloev shines as Russia reach 3 finals

After sending two wrestler to the finals on Friday, Russia improved and entered three on Saturday, led by two-time defending world champion Musa EVLOEV (RUS).Just like the freestyle 97kg category is dominated by Russia, the Greco-Roman is no different, thanks to Evloev.

Close to two months after winning the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series in Rome, Evloev was back on the mat, demolishing his opponents in his usual calm and composed manner.

He began with a 4-0 win over Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) and followed it with a technical superiority win over Yevhenii SAVETA (UKR). In the semifinals, he met Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA), a silver medalist from last year's European Championships.

Evloev was the first to go into a par terre position and gave a 1-0 lead to Kakhelashvili. But the Italian's flee in gave Evloev two points and a 2-1 lead. He later got another point for Kakhelashvili's inactivity. The 3-1 score was enough to take him to the final.

Evloev will look to reclaim the title he had won in 2019 but skipped the 2020 tournament where the gold medal was won by Armenian legend Artur Aleksanyan (ARM).

Trying to stop him in the final will be 38-year-old Balazs KISS (HUN). He won the semifinal against Mikalai STADUB (BLR) with an identical score of 3-1.

With the entry into the final, Kiss has confirmed atleast a silver medal, a first for him in 11 attempts at the European Championships. His previous three medals have all been bronze.

Saturday was the first time he reached the finals of the tournament since began competing at the senior level dating back to 2003. In the last 18 years he has competed at 11 Championships, including this year, and one Games.

2018 World Champion and 2019 runner-up Sergey EMELIN (RUS) will look to add to Russia's tally of gold medals in Warsaw as he reached the final at 60kg.

Emelin was at his brutal self as he finished all his bout well before time, winning all three of them via technical superiority.

His wins include a 9-0 scoreline over Grzegorz KUNKEL (POL) in the qualification round, 8-0 over Jozsef ANDRASI (HUN) in the quarterfinal and 9-0 over Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) in the semifinal.

But the final may not see the same as he wrestles two-time junior world champion and European silver medalist Kerem KAMAL (TUR) on Sunday. Kamal will like to change the colour of his medal from last year as he finished with a silver and a bronze in 2019.

Kerem KAMAL (TUR) Senior European Championships 2021

His road to the final was unlike Emelin as he had to work harder for his wins. In the quarterfinal he defeated Viktor PETRYK (UKR) 5-1 before beating Hleb MAKARANKA (BLR) 7-2 in a closely contest semifinal.

Kamal scored a point via pushout before Makaranka gave up another for inactivity. He went for big throw but could only get two points after a successful challenge. Makaranka got one for reversal but still trailed 1-4.

The Belarussian was awarded a point for Kamal's passivity but he failed to complete a throw from par terre, instead giving exposure to Kamal for two points. It was challenged by his corner but was unsuccessful as Kama secured a 7-2 win.

At the Olympic weight category of 67kg, Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) delighted the home country as he reached the final with a thrilling 5-4 win over Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM).

By assuring himself atleast a silver medal, Bernatek claimed his first European medal at the senior level, and deservedly so.

Galstyan ran to a 4-0 lead with a slip by and roll within the first period of the bout. But he was warned for passivity and Bernatek got him him in a front headlock lift for two points. While going for the second one, he was failed and Galstyan grabbed the opportunity to pin him.

Poland corner challenged the call for a leg foul and they did it successful. That gave Bernatek two more points and a 5-4 lead over Galstyan which stayed till the end.

Mateusz Lucjan BERNATEK (POL) Senior European Championships 2021 — Mateusz Lucjan BERNATEK (POL) after winning his semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

He will wrestle Mate NEMES (SRB) who defeated Murat FIRAT (TUR) 3-3 on criteria in the other semifinal at 67kg.

Firat was leading 3-1 after a passivity and gut wrench points but committed a leg foul in the second period which gave Nemes a 3-3 lead, based on the caution Firat had received.

Junior World and European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) made it to the final at 72kg and will face Olympic bronze medalist Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO).

The Armenian defeated Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series gold medalist this year Robert FRITSCH (HUN) 3-1 while the Georgian was quick to stop another local wrestler from reaching the final by beating Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL) 6-0.

With Pacurkowski's defeat, world medalist Selcuk CAN (TUR) and former world champion Frank STAEBLER (GER) will return empty-handed from Warsaw. Can lost 3-11 in the quarterfinal after he had defeated Staebler 6-6 in the pre-quarters.

At 82kg, Adlan AKIEV (RUS), who is participating in a European Championships after four years, reached the final against Radzik KULIYEU (BLR).

The finals of 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, and 97kg will be held on Sunday, the final day of the 2021 senior European Championships in Warsaw.

Greco-Roman Finals Matches

63kg
GOLD - Sergey EMELIN (RUS) vs. Kerem KAMAL (TUR)

SEMIFINAL - Sergey EMELIN (RUS) df. Razvan ARNAUT (ROU), 9-0
SEMIFINAL - Kerem KAMAL (TUR) vs. Hleb MAKARANKA (BLR), 7-2

67kg
GOLD - Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) vs. Mate NEMES (SRB)

SEMIFINAL - Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) df. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), 5-4
SEMIFINAL - Mate NEMES (SRB) df. Murat FIRAT (TUR), 3-3

72kg
GOLD - Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) vs. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)

SEMIFINAL - Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN), 3-1
SEMIFINAL - Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL), 6-0

82kg
GOLD - Adlan AKIEV (RUS) vs. Radzik KULIYEU (BLR)

SEMIFINAL - Adlan AKIEV (RUS) df. Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO), 6-1
SEMIFINAL - Radzik KULIYEU (BLR) df. Rajbek Alvievich BISULTANOV (DEN), 1-1

97kg
GOLD - Musa EVLOEV (RUS) vs. Balazs KISS (HUN)

SEMIFINAL - Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA), 3-1
SEMIFINAL - Balazs KISS (HUN) df. Mikalai STADUB (BLR), 3-1

Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) Senior European Championships 2021 — Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) won his fourth European title on Saturday. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman Medal Bouts Day 6

55kg
GOLD - Emin SEFERSHAEV (RUS) df Ekrem OZTURK (TUR), 7-0

BRONZE - Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Fabian SCHMITT (GER), 8-0
BRONZE - Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM) df. Artsiom KATSAR (BLR), 8-0

63kg
GOLD - Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS) df. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE), 5-0

BRONZE - Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df. Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU), 9-1
BRONZE - Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT) df. Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM), 7-5

77kg
GOLD - Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) df. Yunus Emre BASAR (TUR), 6-0

BRONZE - Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) df. Michael Felix WIDMAYER (GER), 5-1
BRONZE - Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) df. Dmytro PYSHKOV (UKR), 6-0

87kg
GOLD - Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) vs. Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR), 5-1

BRONZE - Milad Valerikovitch ALIRZAEV (RUS) df. Turpan Ali Alvievich BISULTANOV (DEN), 8-1
BRONZE - Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) df. Denis Maksymilian KUDLA (GER), 1-1

130kg
GOLD -Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO), 3-1

BRONZE - Eduard POPP (GER) df. Oleksandr CHERNETSKYY (UKR), 2-1
BRONZE - Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RUS) df. Romas FRIDRIKAS (LTU), 3-2

#wrestlebishkek

Badaghimofrad Claims Historic Asian Gold for Qatar

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 - 18:37 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 8) -- Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) continued to make history for his adopted homeland, and this time it came at the expense of his real one.

Iranian-born Badaghimofrad gave Qatar its first-ever gold medal at the Asian Championships, coming from behind for a 4-3 victory over Amin HOSSEINI (IRI) in the Greco 82kg final on Wednesday in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

“I won a bronze medal at last year's Asian Championships, and this year I'm very happy that I managed to take a bigger step and win a gold medal,” Badaghimofrad said.

On a night when five different countries struck gold to finish up the Greco competition, Alisher GANIEV (UZB) ended a recent run of runner-up finishes with a victory at 60kg, and world and Olympic champion Hadi SARAVI (IRI) won his third straight title and fourth overall at 97kg.

Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ), who had settled for the silver medal the past two years, made it to the top step of the podium at 67kg to give the host nation its fourth gold, and Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ) handed Iran another defeat in a final to take the 72kg crown.

Despite going two for seven in gold-medal matches, Iran cruised to the team title by medaling in every weight class for the first time since 1983. The wrestling powerhouse finished with 195 points to outdistance host Kyrgyzstan, which had four champions and compiled 153 points. Uzbekistan, with two gold medalists, was third with 136.

Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) turns Amin HOSSEINI (IRI) during the 82kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Badaghimofrad, who had been a world cadet (U17) silver medalist and world junior (U20) bronze medalist, was competing for Iran when he first appeared at the Asian Championships three years and 15 kilograms ago, placing fifth in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

A native of Khuzestan Province in southeast Iran, he changed his allegiance after 2023 and debuted for Qatar in February 2025 at the Tirana Ranking Series, where he could only manage a seventh-place finish. But a month later, he placed third at the Asian Championships in Amman, Jordan, marking Qatar’s first ever medal in Greco and just its second overall.

Badaghimofrad’s more recent results were not exactly awe-inspiring – an 11th place at the World Championships in Zagreb, then back-to-back seventh places at Ranking Series tournaments in February this year.

And the outlook did not appear much better in Wednesday’s final when Hosseini, the winner of this year’s Tirana Ranking Series tournament, opened the scoring with a gut wrench for a 3-0 lead in the first period.

In the second period, Badaghimofrad got his chance in par terre and, breaking down stiff resistance from Hosseini, managed to roll him over. An Iranian challenge for a potential leg foul was unsuccessful, putting the Qatari up 4-3, which is how it ended.

“I had wrestled my opponent before, so we were both familiar with each other’s styles,” Badaghimofrad said. “Knowing I could apply my move on the ground, I approached the match without any stress. When the referee gave the passivity warning, I was able to execute my move and emerge as the winner.”

Badaghimofrad knows he still has a way to go if he wants to achieve similar success on the bigger global stages.

“My wrestling isn’t perfect yet, and I’m gradually trying to improve it … so I can get thebest result at the World Championships and the Olympics,” he said.

Alisher GANIEV (UZB) defeated Se Ung RI (PRK) in the 60kg final to claim his first-ever Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Ganiev finally got the result he was looking for, escaping from second-place purgatory by avenging a loss in last year’s 60kg final with a victory by fall over world and Olympic bronze medalist Se Ung RI (PRK).

Ganiev went up 2-1 when he stepped over and gained an exposure on Ri’s gut-wrench attempt from par terre. In the second period, he increased the lead with a passivity point and a challenge point, but made the score moot when he pancaked Ri to the mat and held on for a fall at 5:06.

“The plan was not to rush, to wrestle patiently, wait for the right moment in par terre,” Ganiev said. “However, during the match, things changed. I managed to score points [from bottom] in par terre. In the second period, I continued with my approach. We prepared specifically for this opponent.”

Ganiev finished second at the Zagreb Ranking Series in February 2025, and again at this year’s. In between, he lost in last year’s Asian final to Ri and in the final of the World Championships to Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ).

“I had been waiting for a long time,” Ganiev said. “This is my second Asian Championship. In the first one, I finished in second place. Now in 2026 I finally took first place. Today, all the hard work paid off. In the 2025 final, I made mistakes, but this time I corrected them.”

Hadi SARAVI (IRI) defended his Asian title with a 7-1 win over NITESH (IND). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

While a number of Saravi’s teammates faltered at the final hurdle, the two-time Olympic medalist proved to be a rock of stability in claiming the 97kg gold with a solid albeit not overwhelming 7-1 win over NITESH (IND).

“I managed to finish the competition with the gold medal,” Saravi said. “After the World Championships, I set aside some time for recovery to get my body back in shape. The coaches decided to send me to the Asian Championships. I arrived at this competition with only a relative level of readiness, but thankfully I managed to achieve the best result and claim gold.”

Saravi, whose long list of laurels also includes four world medals, reeled off two rolls from par terre in the first period to lead 5-0. After being put on the bottom in the second but never budging, Saravi added a pair of stepouts to beat Nitesh for the third time in as many career meetings and clinch his fourth Asian gold over a seven-year span.

“The final was tougher [than the previous matches] because I’d suffered a knee injury before arriving, which was bothering me a bit and meant I couldn't keep up with my training properly or come to the competition fully prepared,” Saravi said. “Because of that I was a bit unsettled.”

Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ) tries to pin Javad REZAEI (IRI) during the 72kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 72kg, Amanbek capped his senior Asian debut with a stunning victory by fall over Javad REZAEI (IRI), which more than avenged a 3-2 loss to the Iranian in the quarterfinals of the Tirana Ranking Series that Rezaei won.

“It’s the first time I’ve taken first place in the 72-kilogram category,” said Amanbek, who moved up from 67kg this year. “It’s been an incredibly emotional day.

“I’d give myself a ten out of ten. I did really well. Everything went exactly as I’d planned. I can give myself a pat on the back.”

The quick succession of moments that led to Amanbek’s victory started with him on the bottom of par terre. When Rezaei tried to force a gut wrench, Amanbek stepped over, scooped Rezaei’s head and held him down for a fall in 1:50.

“I know that Iranian wrestler, we faced each other at a ranking tournament in Albania,” Amanbek said. “I lost there. Today I got my revenge. I was in good spirits. We went out there and stuck to our tactics and our game plan. That’s why we won.”

Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) scores a four-point throw on Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN) during the 67kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 67kg, Beishekeev wrapped up a strong Greco outing for the home team by soundly defeating former world bronze medalist Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN) 8-2.

“I can say that this victory means a lot to me,” Beishekeev said of triumphing in front of the home crowd at Zhastyk Arena. “I truly felt the strong support of my people, it gave me strength and motivation. Thanks to that, everything came together today and I became a champion.”

Beishekeev all but put the match away in the first period, when he not only completed a gut wrench from par terre, but added a 4-pointer by lifting Shimizu and dumping him onto this back.

In the second period, Beishekeev gave up a passivity point but nothing from the bottom of par terre, and received a point himself when the Japanese side unsuccessfully challenged for a leg foul. A late stepout by Shimizu only changed the margin of victory.

In the three previous Asian Championships, Beishekeev’s results had been: bronze, silver, silver.

“Behind this success is a lot of hard work,” he said. “I worked patiently, step by step, never forgetting my goal and constantly pushing forward. If we continue working with the same determination, I believe a gold medal at the World Championships is also possible. “

Iran Iran won the team title in Greco-Roman at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Entire Iranian team comes away with medals

In the bronze-medal matches, Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) and Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) both picked up their first major senior medals and assured that nobody on the Iranian Greco team would be leaving Bishkek empty-handed.

Ahmadi Vafa, who won world titles at each of the three age-group levels from 2022 to 2024, secured a bronze medal at 60kg with a 10-0 rout of Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ).

After a 4-point throw from par terre, Ahmadi Vafa tossed Kamaliyev again, although he didn’t get the necessary exposure and it was ruled a 2-pointer. But the Iranian continued the move and forced Kamaliyev to his back for 2 more to end it at 1:49.

The other bronze at 60kg went to Yu SHIOTANI (JPN), who was back on the Asian scene for the first time since winning the 55kg gold in 2022, the same year he won a world bronze.

Shiotani hit a 4-point throw from par terre, good enough for a 5-1 win over two-time former Asian U23 champion Haodong TAN (CHN).

At 67kg, Mohsen Nezhad, a 2025 world U23 bronze medalist, gained his bronze without a fight, as he received a victory by default from world silver medalist Hanjae CHUNG (KOR), who had suffered an elbow injury in his quarterfinal loss to Beishekeev on Tuesday.

Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND) captured his second career 67kg bronze when he fought back from behind three times to eventually come away with a 6-5 win over Abdumalik AMINOV (UZB).

A drag-by takedown in the final 30 seconds finally put Sahrawat over the top, after he had trailed 1-0, 3-2 and 5-3 during the match.

At 72kg, Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) saw his bid for a place in wrestling history harshly ended by Shakhzod KUCHKOROV (UZB), who needed less than a minute to uncork a pair of 4-point throws in a 9-0 romp.

Narikuni, the 2022 champion at Freestyle 70kg, was looking to join the select group of wrestlers with Asian medals in both styles – a group that compatriot Kaisei TANABE (JPN) joined the previous day by taking a bronze at 63kg.

Ironically, last December, Narikuni had pipped Tanabe in each’s bid to become the first wrestler in 52 years to complete the Freestyle-Greco double at the All-Japan Championships. Narikuni did it by also winning the Freestyle 70kg title, while Tanabe fell short by finishing third at 65kg.

Narikuni will be returning to the Bishkek mat on Friday for the Freestyle 70kg qualification rounds as he attempts to bounce back from his Greco disappointment. Narikuni also won the world gold in Freestyle in 2022, but his attempt to repeat that feat in Greco last year in Zagreb ended in the first round.

Dongyu LI (CHN) took the other bronze at 72kg on Wednesday with a somewhat odd victory by fall over Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ).

After breaking out to a 5-0 lead with two rolls from par terre, Li secured double underhooks and pancaked Ismailov to his back for 4 points.

Having achieved a win by technical superiority, Li stood up and thrust his fists in the air in triumph, only to notice that Ismailov was still lying on his back. Li then hopped on top of his prone opponent for an easy fall in 2:40.

At 82kg, Kakabay KAKABAYEV (TKM) became the third wrestler from Turkmenistan to make it to a bronze-medal match in Greco and have a chance to become the country’s first medalist since 2018, and the third to come up short.

Kakabayev never really had a chance against PRINCE (IND), who reeled off four rolls in a row from par terre en route to a 10-1 victory. That gave Prince a senior Asian bronze a year after winning one on the U20 level.

The other 82kg match saw veteran and former Asian champion Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) earn his fourth straight Asian medal and second straight bronze with a 5-3 victory over Rui LIU (CHN).

Magomadov, the 2023 champion at 72kg and a bronze medalist last year at 77kg, hit a 4-point throw from par terre in the first period, then held on after giving up a 2-point penalty in the second.

At 97kg, Zagreb Ranking Series silver medalist Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), the 2024 world U20 champion at 82kg, never gave Minho LEE (KOR) a chance, spinning behind for a takedown then chalking up a combination of exposures and rolls for a 9-0 victory in 1:27.

Zegang WANG (CHN) was equally dominant in taking the other 97kg bronze with an 11-1 victory over Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ) in his Asian debut.

Day 3 Results

Greco-Roman

60kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Se Ung RI (PRK) by Fall, 5:06 (6-1)

BRONZE: Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) df. Haodong TAN (CHN), 5-1
BRONZE: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) df. Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ) by TS, 10-0, 1:49

67kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN), 8-2

BRONZE: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) df. Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) by Inj. Def.
BRONZE: Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND) df. Abdumalik AMINOV (UZB), 6-5

72kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ) df. Javad REZAEI (IRI) by Fall, 1:50 (2-1)

BRONZE: Dongyu LI (CHN) df. Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) by Fall, 2:40 (9-0)
BRONZE: Shakhzod KUCHKOROV (UZB) df. Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) by TS, 9-0, :48

82kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) df. Amin HOSSEINI (IRI), 4-3

BRONZE: Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) df. Rui LIU (CHN), 5-3
BRONZE: PRINCE (IND) df. Kakabay KAKABAYEV (TKM) by TS, 10-1, 2:06

97kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Hadi SARAVI (IRI) df. NITESH (IND), 7-1

BRONZE: Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) df. Minho LEE (KOR) by TS, 9-0, 1:27
BRONZE: Zegang WANG (CHN) df. Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ) by TS, 11-1, 4:11

Women’s Wrestling

50kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Son Hyang KIM (PRK) df. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), 12-8
SF 2: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ) by TS, 8-0, 2:00

55kg (8 entries)
SF 1: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) by TS, 10-0, 1:33
SF 2: Yuxuan LI (CHN) df. Hansika LAMBA (IND) by TS, 11-1, 5:54

59kg (8 entries)
SF 1: Mengyu XIE (CHN) df. NEHA (IND), 12-5
SF 2: Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) df. Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) by TS, 10-0, 4:00

68kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Zelu LI (CHN), 1-1
SF 2: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL), 7-0

76kg (9 entries)
SF 1: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) by TS, 11-0, 1:03
SF 2: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ), 7-2

Kayaalp Wins 10th Euro Title; Evloev Leads 3 Russians Into GR Finals

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Badaghimofrad Claims Historic Asian Gold for Qatar