LIVE BLOG: European Olympic Qualifier, Day Three (Session Two)

Saturday, March 20, 2021 - 10:08 By Eric Olanowski

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 19) --- The third day of wrestling at the #WrestleBudapest European Olympic Qualifier is underway in Hungary.

Day Two Finals Recap: Belarus Crowns Three Champs, Armenia’s Tevanyan Keeps Hot Streak Alive
Day Two Semifinals Recap: Four Nations Earn Pair of Olympic Berths on Friday

19:50: Kiril MILOV (BUL) earns an Olympic berth for Bulgaria at 97kg after walking to a 9-0 semifinals shutout win over Artur OMAROV (CZE).

19:19: Thanks to wins from Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) and Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO), Georgia has punched two tickets to the Olympic Games through tonight's Tokyo qualification round.

19:00: Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) and Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) are leaving everything they have on the mat. What a match with an Olympic spot on the line.

18:38: Balint KORPASI (HUN) has world medals trickled throughout his resume, but the one thing the former world champion's resume was missing was an Olympic appearance. At 33-year-old, that's all going to change. The Hungarian dominated Donior ISLAMOV (MDA), 6-0, and booked Hungary's ticket to the Olympics at 67kg.

18:25: That was insane! That's not something you see every day. Etienne KINSINGER (GER) trailed Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) with nine seconds left when he left his feet and locked up a side headlock. He threw everything he had into it and scored four points. He won the match 5-4 and punched Germany's ticket to the Olympic Games.

18:14: Next up at 60kg is Etienne KINSINGER (GER) and Murad MAMMADOV (AZE).

18:12: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) had to dig deep in the 60kg semifinals, but the 21-year-old sparkplug earned the narrow 5-4 win over Erik TORBA (HUN) and handed Turkey a berth to the Olympic Games.

Start of the Greco-Roman Tokyo Qualification Matches

17:14: That'll do it for the women's wrestling medal matches. We'll take a short break and see you back here at 18:00 for the Greco-Roman Tokyo Olympic Qualification round.

17:05: No much to talk about in the final two gold-medal matches. Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) claimed gold after Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) injury defaulted out of the finals and Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) beat Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR), 2-0.

16:45: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) was the Perfromer of the Tournament. She destroyed everyone she competed against -- including Rio silver medalist Maryia MAMASHUK (BLR) and European champion Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT).

16:28: Bulgaria got a second gold of the night via injury default victory. At 57kg, Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) claimed gold after her Ukrainian finals opponent Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) injury defaulted out of the gold-medal match.

16:21: That was quick! What a dominating performance by Mattsson as there was still 90 seconds left on the clock when she ended the match with the Belarusian two-time world champion, 10-0.

16:13: It's a battle of world champions for 53kg gold as Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) and Sofia Magdalena MATTSSON (SWE) are going toe-to-toe.

16:08: Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) is your 50kg European Olympic Games Qualifier champion. Her finals opponent Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) injury defaulted out of the gold-medal match.

Greco-Roman Semifinal Matchups (as they come in):

60kg
SEMIFINAL - Etienne KINSINGER (GER) vs. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Erik TORBA (HUN) vs. Kerem KAMAL (TUR)

67kg
SEMIFINAL - Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) vs. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM)
SEMIFINAL - Balint KORPASI (HUN) vs. Donior ISLAMOV (MDA)

77kg
SEMIFINAL - Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) vs. Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO) vs. Oldrich VARGA (CZE)

87kg
SEMIFINAL - Ramon BETSCHART (SUI) vs. Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) vs. Milad Valerikovitch ALIRZAEV (RUS)

97kg
SEMIFINAL - Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL) vs. Artur OMAROV (CZE)
SEMIFINAL - Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) vs. Arvi Martin SAVOLAINEN (FIN)

130kg
SEMIFINAL - Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) vs. Adam VARGA (HUN)
SEMIFINAL - Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) vs. Rafal KRAJEWSKI (POL)

15:38: Smart challenge from Kamal. He asks for an additional two for exposure and wins the challenge. He'll wrestle in tonight's semifinals after collecting the 9-1 victory over the Moldovian.

15:32: Turkey's Kamal was just down 1-0. In the blink of an eye, he's up 7-1 on European champion Ciobanu.

15:16: Switzerland's Ramon BETSCHART (SUI) downed Mihail BRADU (MDA), 10-2, and moved into the semifinals. He's one match away from punching Switzerland's ticket to Tokyo. If he wins his next match, he'd be the 12th wrestler from his country to qualify for the Olympic Games.

15:06: '19 world champ Lasha Gobadze is coming up next on Mat B. Last round, the Georgian defeated Turkey's two-time world champion Metehan Basar

15:00: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) is an interesting guy to watch wrestle. He's at least a head taller than everyone else at 67kg but he's learned to use to height and leverage to his advantage. The Armenian is up now against Islambek DADOV (AZE) on Mat A.

14:50: Chekhirkin just earned a reversal point after he stopped a gut attempt from Nemes. He's leading 3-1 with short time left. It looks like he's going to move into tonight's semifinals.

14:46: That loud scream you just heard was from Oldrich VARGA (CZE). He edged Evrik NIKOGHOSYAN (FRA), 3-2, and is one match away from sending the Czech Republic to the Olympic Games at 77kg. He'll meet Bozo Starcevic in tonight's semifinals.

14:39: Rio Olympian Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO) and Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) are tied over on Mat C. The Croatian was just awarded an inactivity point but he's down in par terre with less than a minute to go.

14:32: Coming up next on Mat C, it'll be a battle of world champions Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) and Viktor NEMES (SRB).

14:28: Here we go! The quarterfinals are underway in Budapest. These wrestlers are only two matches away from earning Olympic berths.

14:06: We'll hold the quarterfinal matches until the final pair of 1/8 matches wrap up. It'll probably be 15 minutes until the quarterfinals kick-off.

14:05: Hungarian wrestlers are ruining Norway's day. First, it was Korpasi knocking out Thoresen, now it's Torba taking down Berge.

13: 52: World champ sighting on Mat C. Sergey Semenov is up 4-0 in the first period against Luca GODINO (ITA).

13:52: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) trailed 1-0 but just put up five straight and leads Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO), 5-1.

13:38: Norway has been having a rough few days. Their Rio Olympic bronze Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) has an opportunity to change that. He's wrestling Hungary's Eric TORBA on Mat A in two matches.

13:37: Ciobanu moves through to the quarterfinals with a 7-1 win over Daurov.

13:30: European champion and world runner-up Victor CIOBANU (MDA) is leading Soslan DAUROV (BLR), 4-0, at the break. That match is taking place on Mat B.

13:15: Gobadze hangs on to defeat two-time world champion Basar, 1-1.

13:04: World champions Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) and Metehan BASAR (TUR) are wrestling on Mat B. Gobadze is up from his '19 world-title winning weight of 82kg.

12:58: Not much to say about that match. Nemes and Galkinas traded inactivity points, but the Serbian scored last so he moves into the quarterfinals. He'll meet fellow world champion Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) for a spot in the semifinals.

12:47: Serbian world champion Viktor NEMES will wrestle Paulius GALKINAS (LTU) next on Mat A.

12:40: Thoresen falls to Korpasi, 4-1, ending the European champ's quest at earning an Olympic berth for Norway through this week's qualifier.

12:39: Thoresen gets the inactivity point but is unable to score from par terre. Korpasi's lead is cut to three points with one minute left.

12:35: Korpasi and Thoresen is heading to the second period. The Hungarian picked up four points in the first period and heads into the closing period leading 4-0.

12:31: Chekhirkin pulls out the late 2-1 comeback! Bolkvadze held the criteria advantage but surrendered a stepout with 11 seconds left.

12:28: There's a tight race going on over on Mat C. Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) just received an inactivity point with less than two minutes to go, as he leads '18 world champion Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS), 1-1.

12:17: Keep an eye out for '18 world champion Sergey SEMENOV (RUS). He'll be wrestling on Mat C (Bout 274).

The last time the Russian big man was in Budapest, he had the top performance of his career. He won four matches, one of which was a fall, then outscored his other three opponents 21-0. He closed out the competition with a first-period 9-0 shutout win over Adam Jacob COON (USA).

Semenov will wrestle Italy's Luca GODINO.

11:45: Balint KORPASI (HUN) will make his debut down at 67kg in four matches (Bout 225) on Mat B. It'll be the first time Korpasi has competed below 71/72kg since '12.

If you're not familiar with Korpasi, he's built one of the world's best Greco-Roman resumes since '16. He's medaled at four consecutive World Championships -- including winning a non-Olympic weight world gold at the '16 World Championships.

Korpasi will wrestle reigning European champion Morten THORESEN (NOR).

11:27: Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) is coming up next on Mat A. He's a '17 world champion that's "stepping in" for two-time Olympic champion Roman VLASOV (RUS), who was scratched earlier this week. Chekhirkin will square off with European champion Pascal EISELE (GER) in the opening round.

Side note: Eisele fell to Vlasov in the second round at the Individual World Cup in a tight 8-6 battle.

11:10: Top of the morning to you, wrestling fans! Greco-Roman action takes over today. We'll run through a few women's wrestling repechage matches before kicking off the Greco-Roman portion of the competition.

#WrestleBudapest

Russia, Georgia Win Two #WrestleBudapest GR Titles; Ukraine Shines on Day 6

Saturday, July 24, 2021 - 18:53 By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST (Hungary) July 24 --- The celebrations were subdued and all Daniil CHASOVNIKOV (RUS) could think of after winning his first world title was about his parents.

The 17-year-old Russian lost his parents when he was five and Saturday, he wished they were alive to see him win the cadet World Championships gold with a stunning win in the 110kg final.

"I made my mother and father happy," he said after the final, controlling his emotions as he spoke.

Chasovnikov was in a destructive mood as he hammered Nikita OVSJANIKOV (GER) 9-0 in the first period. After getting awarded for the German's passivity, Chasovnikov added eight points from par-terre in quick succession and claimed the win.

His victory was an improved performance from the cadet Euros final in which the Russian had won 5-3. He later said that the final was exactly like he planned.

"My final match went very well. I have done everything as I planned. Rolled him in par-terre," he said. "I beat the same guy at the European championships final as well 5-3. Now 9-0. I have given it all."

He revealed that it was his confidence in Budapest that allowed him to win so strongly against the German wrestler.

"Last time at the European Championships I was scared, it was my first international tournament, I didn’t believe in myself. But this time I concentrated well and everything went well," he said.

Chasovnikov was raised by his grandparents and after some training in football, it was his uncle, a former Greco-Roman wrestler, who put him in the same sport.

"I don’t have a mother and father," he said. "Since I was five, I was brought up by my grandmother and grandfather. My uncle is a former Greco-Roman wrestler. I started training in football, but I didn’t like it. My weight was already 45 kg when I was five years old. My uncle told me to start wrestling training. I didn’t like it in the beginning, then I started winning the competitions.

"I made my mum and dad happy. I dedicated the victory to my parents and all those people who supported me."

Valerii MANGUTOV (RUS) won the gold medal at 55kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The second Russian to win the gold Saturday was Valerii MANGUTOV (RUS) at 55kg as he beat Cory LAND (USA) 8-0 in the final.

Mangutov was in no mood to let his American opponent get any openings as he scored four points in each period to claim the victory and his world title.

“I am glad that I won the gold medal. It’s been a long way,” Mangutov said. “During the day I was trying to get ready morally. I prepared a plan on how to wrestle and everything went well [in the final].

His world title is even sweeter as he had lost in the first round of the 2019 Worlds in Sofia. In fact, his opponent Saturday, Land was also there but had failed to medal as well.

“I have corrected all the mistakes I had back in 2019, and today I got my gold,” he said and also revealed that it was his grandfather who introduced him to wrestling when he was five-years-old.

“My grandfather brought me to wrestling and since then my father comes to training every day.” he said. “I find inspiration in my close people, my parents who believe in me, all those people who support me. I am very grateful to all of them.”

Despite winning two gold medals, Russia trails Georgia in the Greco-Roman team title at the tournament. Georgia also won two gold and also a bronze to lead the race.

Luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO) celebrates after winning the 45kg gold medal in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

For Georgia, Luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO) should not have been in Budapest, let alone the podium. He had lost the Georgian national championships and his name was struck off the World team. It was only after the national winner failed to make the weight that Javakhadze's name was added again. On Saturday, he made the most of the lucky break.

Javakhadze claimed his first world title at the cadet level on the penultimate day, opening the country's account by winning the 48kg world title, beating cadet European silver medalist Servet ANGI (TUR) 7-5 in the final.

After leading 3-0 at the break in the final, the Georgian gave up five points in the second period but scored four for himself to win 7-5.

While he had all the luck he needed to be on the team and win, his teammate, Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) did not.

Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR) won the world title at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Putkaradze was wrestling in the 65kg final and was up 6-0 in the first 40 seconds of the bout against Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR). The two had met in the cadet European Championships final just two months back with Khudzhadze winning 9-4. But this time, Putkaradze had it figured out. Or so he thought.

Khudzhadze scripted an incredible comeback from 0-6 down to level it 6-6 and hold the criteria to beat his Georgian rival and win the cadet World Championships gold medal at 65kg, giving Ukraine it's first title.

"I can’t express what I feel. It was a very tough match," Khudzhadze said. "I was losing 6-0, but the will to get this belt helped me to score six points and win the match.

"Honestly, I didn’t expect the Georgian to be so assertive. He scored 6 points in the first 40 seconds of the match."

He also praised his opponent's skills despite knowing that he had lost to Khudzhadze just a couple of months back.

"I think I would not be able to concentrate that way against the guy I lost," he said. "The Georgian wrestler is unbelievable. I wish him all the best, I wish him a lot of victories, but not in my weight category."

Khudzhadze is a Georgia native with his father, who was born in Georgia, also being a wrestler. It was his father who put him in the sport.

After his loss, Putkaradze was unable to control his emotions, ruing the chance of joining his two other teammates who won gold medals Saturday as Greco-Roman got five new world champions in Budapest. Russia claimed the remaining two titles.

Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) defeated Kamaludin MAGOMEDOV (RUS) via fall at 80kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 80kg, a Georgia-Russia final saw Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) defeat Kamaludin MAGOMEDOV (RUS) via fall which made a big difference in the title race.

The cadet European champion Bolkvadze held a slender one point lead at 3-2 going into the break but was warned for passivity in the second period. At 3-3, the Georgian scored two points and then held Magomedov to his back to get the pin.

Ukraine puts three in final

After just one wrestler in the final Saturday, Ukraine managed to send three in the five finals that will take place Sunday – the final day of the World Championships in Budapest. Kyrgyzstan and Iran also improved their performances and sent two wrestlers each to the finals. Moldova, Belarus and Uzbekistan also marked their presence with one wrestler each in the final.

Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR) reached the final at 45kg in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 45kg, cadet European silver medalist in 2021 Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR) made his way to the final after a dominating 10-0 win over Nurbolot BERDIKULOV (KGZ) in the semifinal. He was flawless Saturday apart from the quarterfinal against as he claimed the win 1-1.

He will take on Ozodbek KHALIMBOEV (UZB) in the final. The Uzbek was in a class of his own as he won his first two bouts via fall and the semifinal via technical superiority. Combined, he outscored his opponents 24-0.

Yurii TOVT (UKR) was the second Ukrainian to reach the final and he will take on Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) at 51kg.

Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) defeated Beso MAKHARADZE (GEO) in the 51kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Tovt won the semifinal against Hayk LYUDVIGYAN (ARM) via fall, his second of the day while Suiorkulov, 16, defeated Beso MAKHARADZE (GEO) 8-3 in the semifinal.

“I feel no difference between 2019 and now at all, it feels the same,” Suiorkulov, who finished 12th at the 2019 Worlds, said. “I’ll prepare for the final well. I am ready to wrestle the final match even now.”

Another Kyrgyzstan wrestler who booked his spot in the final was Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ). In a close semifinal, he managed to hang on to a 10-0 victory over SUMIT (IND). It was his aggressive start in the first period that gave him a 10-6 lead at the break.

While Sumit did try to make a comeback and scored two points, he was not able to stop his Kyrgyz opponent from reaching the 60kg final in which he will wrestle Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI).

Seyyedmostafa Seyyedjafar REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI) Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI) will wrestle for the 60kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The Iranian wrestler completed a 3-0 win against Rati KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO). Rezaei Daryakenari was first awarded a passivity point which he carried into the break. Then he scored a takedown in the second period to complete the win.

His teammate at 71kg Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) also marched into the final with a 7-2 win over Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) in the semifinal.

He will take on Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) who defeated Dimitar RACHEV (BUL) 7-0 in the semifinal. Solovei was wrestling at the cadet Worlds in 2019 but was in his first year as cadet. His experience now helped him reach the final.

Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) made it to his first cadet Worlds final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

“In 2019, I was the youngest athlete there, my goal was just to get some experience on the international event,” the 17-year-old said. “I train hard, that’s why I could win the semifinal.”

Incidentally, in 2019, Solovei, who trains and studies in Kishinev, Moldova, had lost to an Iran wrestler and now wants to avenge the first-round loss to Hojat REZAEI (IRI) from 2019.

“I hope to become a world champion. It’s important not to make any mistakes,” he said.

In a rematch of the 2021 cadet European Championships final at 92kg, Vladyslav LUB (UKR) wrestled Timur CHERNYSHEV (RUS) in the semifinal in Budapest and won 2-1. It was Lub who won at the Euros as well.

He will now wrestle Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) in the final. The Belrusian notched up a 12-3 win over Harutyun KIRAKOSYAN (ARM) in the semifinal.

Lub, who trains in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, said that he has wrestled Khaslakhanau before, referring to his 8-5 win at the cadet Euros semifinal.

“I have wrestled against that guy from Belarus before as well,” Lub said. “With the help of God, everything will work out.”

Despite previously beating his Russian rival, Lub had his doubts of another win due his illness before coming here.

“When I stepped on the mat, I had some doubts that I would win again,” he said. “One week before the tournament I was staying in bed with a very high temperature.”

But he is now just one win away from being crowned a world champion on Sunday.

RESULTS GR Medal Bouts

48kg
GOLD: Luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO) df Servet ANGI (TUR), 9-5

BRONZE: Yussuf ASHRAPOV (KAZ) df Pavel BONDAR (RUS), 12-1
BRONZE: Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) df Otto BLACK (USA), 4-2

55kg
GOLD: Valerii MANGUTOV (RUS) df Cory LAND (USA), 8-0

BRONZE: Tamazi GLONTI (GEO) df RUPIN (IND), 5-1
BRONZE: Berati INAC (TUR) df Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ), 8-0

65kg
GOLD: Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR) df Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO), 6-6

BRONZE: Ankit GULIA (IND) df Tair AMANGELDI (KAZ), 9-0
BRONZE: Nihat KARA (TUR) df Karl BAFF (SWE), 10-0

80kg
GOLD: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df Kamaludin MAGOMEDOV (RUS), via fall

BRONZE: Ivan TSYBANEV (UKR) df Hamza SERTCANLI (SWE), 5-5
BRONZE: Joju SAMADOV (AZE) df Beibit KORGANOV (KAZ), 8-0

110kg
GOLD: Daniil CHASOVNIKOV (RUS) df Nikita OVSJANIKOV (GER), 9-0

BRONZE: Rafail GKIRNIS (GRE) df Artur BOICHUK (UKR), 9-4
BRONZE: Artur SARKISJAN (CZE) df James MULLEN (USA), via fall

RESULTS GR Semifinals

45kg
GOLD: Ozodbek KHALIMBOEV (UZB) vs Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR)

SF 1: Ozodbek KHALIMBOEV (UZB) df Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 11-0
SF 2: Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR) df Nurbolot BERDIKULOV (KGZ), 10-0

51kg
GOLD: Yurii TOVT (UKR) vs Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ)

SF 1: Yurii TOVT (UKR) df Hayk LYUDVIGYAN (ARM), via fall
SF 2: Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) df Beso MAKHARADZE (GEO), 8-3

60kg
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) vs Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI)

SF 1: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df SUMIT (IND), 10-8
SF 2: Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI) df Rati KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 3-0

71kg
GOLD: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) vs Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI)

SF 1: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) df Dimitar RACHEV (BUL), 7-0
SF 2: Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) df Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE), 7-2

92kg
GOLD: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) vs Vladyslav LUB (UKR)

SF 1: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) df Harutyun KIRAKOSYAN (ARM), 12-3
SF 2: Vladyslav LUB (UKR) df Timur CHERNYSHEV (RUS), 2-1

LIVE BLOG: European Olympic Qualifier, Day Three (Session Two)

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Russia, Georgia Win Two #WrestleBudapest GR Titles; Ukraine Shines on Day 6