#WrestleFaenza

Makaranka Ends Khachidze's Hopes of Repeating as European Champion

By Eric Olanowski

FAENZA, Italy (June 17) – Hleb MAKARANKA (BLR) came into Faenz, Italy, for the 2019 Cadet European Championships relatively unknown, but established himself as a huge threat to win the 55kg title when he upset defending European champion Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO) in arguably the biggest match of his career. Now, Makaranka will have an even bigger test when he meets cadet world runner-up Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) in Tuesday’s 55kg Greco-Roman gold-medal bout. 

Makaranka opened up his day with a blistering 10-0 win over Nordic bronze medalist Kasper Nikolai OEVERBY (NOR). Then, Makaranka picked up one of the most impressive wins of his young career in the second round when he stopped Georgia’s Dimitri Khachidze from winning his second consecutive European title. The Belarusian used a left-sided gut wrench after an inactivity point to carry the three-point lead into the second period. After surrendering an inactivity point himself, Makaranka moved into the quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory. 

Makaranka easily handled Germany’s Aaron BELLSCHEIDT (GER), 8-0 in the quarterfinals. Makaranka's shutout win against the German top-ten finisher from the 2018 Cadet World Championships set up a semifinals match against Ukraine’s four-time European representative, Eduard STRILCHUK (UKR)

Makaranka scored his second 3-1 victory of the day and inserted himself into the continental finals. In the 55kg finals, Makaranka will square off with one of the few cadet world medalists in this year’s competition, Nihat Mammadli.

Mammadli, the 2017 cadet world silver medalist, scored three wins on his road to his first European finals. He started his day with a 3-1 win against Artem KOLESNIK (RUS). Then, Mammadli ended two-time Balkin champion Seyitcan BEYTEKIN’S (TUR) run to a European title with an 8-0 shutout win. Finally, in the semifinals, the Azeri grabbed his second straight shutout with a 4-0 win over Varuzhan ANTONYAN (ARM). 

The Day 2 finals begin at 18:00 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org

RESULTS 

48kg 
GOLD - Damir KALAKUTOK (RUS) vs. Malik ALIYEV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Damir KALAKUTOK (RUS) df. Karapet MANVELYAN (ARM), 9-7
SEMIFINAL - Malik ALIYEV (AZE) df. Maksim STUPAKEVICH (BLR), 4-1 

55kg 
GOLD - Hleb MAKARANKA (BLR) vs. Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Hleb MAKARANKA (BLR) df. Eduard STRILCHUK (UKR), 3-1 
SEMIFINAL - Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Varuzhan ANTONYAN (ARM), 4-0 

65kg
GOLD - Imran BABOCHIEV (RUS) vs. Muslim BARGA (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Muslim BARGA (TUR) df. Dzmitry BONKA (BLR), 4-2 
SEMIFINAL - Imran BABOCHIEV (RUS) df. Khasay HASANLI (AZE), 5-0 

80kg
GOLD – Vasile Daniel COJOC (ROU) vs. Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM)
SEMIFINAL - Vasile COJOC (ROU) df. Alexander JOHANSSON (SWE), 4

SEMIFINAL - Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) df. Umut CELEM (TUR), 2-1 

110kg
GOLD - Said MUSAEV (RUS) vs. Mate GOKADZE (GEO) 
SEMIFINAL - Said MUSAEV (RUS) df. Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR), 13-4 
SEMIFINAL - Mate GOKADZE (GEO) df. Omer AYGUL (TUR), 4-2 

Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 Day 2 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 19) — The Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 will enter the second day with two Greco-Roman weight classes, 97kg and 130kg, and three women’s wrestling weight classes — 50kg, 53kg and 57kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

13:15: Miesinnei GENEISI (NGR) with a fall over Chebila CHEIMA (ALG) in the 50kg semifinal and enter the final in which she will face Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

13:05: Mohamed ADELLATIF (EGY) scores a takedown in the second period to survive a passivity call and win his semifinal at 130kg against Fatih OZTURK (TUR) 3-0. He will face Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) for the gold medal

12:45: Tekouk ACHOUAK DJAMILA (ALG) with some strong counters after Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) scored the first four points. Djamila made it 6-4 before Suleyman scored a go behind and led 6-6 and a turn to lead 8-6. The Turkiye wrestlers defends the late attacks from Djamila and wins 10-6 to enter the 57kg final.

12:30: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) reaches the final at 130kg after an 8-0 pounding of Roman KIM (KGZ) in the semifinal. He scored four points using a suplex. Kim was called for a leg foul which gave two more points to Hedayati. A takedown and he finishes with technical superiority.

12:05: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) has not trouble in his semifinal against Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA), beating him 9-0 with four turns from par terre and advance to the final at 97kg.

11:45: World bronze medalist Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) gets a solid 5-1 win over Beytullah KAYISDAG (TUR) to advance to the final at 97kg. The big question is can Ahmadiyev challenge Saravi?

11:30: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) looks unstoppable at 130kg. He scores a takedown and three turns to beat Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) 8-0

11:25: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) gets another dominant win at 57kg. She pins MIM (BAN) and moves into the semifinal with the top spot in the group.

11:10: World and Olympic champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) was in some trouble when put in par terre and Rouabah FADI (ALG) almost turned him but Saravi manages to defend that. Saravi then scores a takedown, gets par terre and scores two turns to lead 7-1 and also win with that score.

11:00: Miesinnei GENEISI (NGR) gets hold of a struggling Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) in Round 2 at 50kg and finishes with a 12-2 win. Mammadova clearly struggling with a knee injury

10:55: Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) began well again Mohamed ABDELLATIF (EGY), taking a 3-0 lead. However, the Egyptian managed to make a comeback and beat Kandelaki 4-3 at 130kg.

10:40: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) and Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) went neck-to-neck before the former stepped up her game and secured a five-point lead 13-8. Suleyman scored a four-point and two counters to score her 8 points while Aliyeva kept coming back every time Suleyman scored. But soon, Aliyeva scored two counter lifts to win the match 15-10 at 57kg.

10:25: Two quick finishes in Round 1 at 57kg in women’s. Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) laces MIM (BAN) for a 10-0 win while Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) beats Veronica AYO (UGA) 10-0 as well.

10:15: World U23 champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) squares up against the Mohamed ABDELLATIF (EGY) in Round 1 at Greco 130kg. He begins with a stepout before securing the first par terre advantage. He scores one more point to win 3-0.

10:05: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) takes little time to secure the fall over Chahd JELJELI (TUN) in the first bout at 57kg. The former world U23 champion is the favorite to win gold here.

10:00: Day two of the Islamic Solidarity Games and we have Olympic and world champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI), Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) among other stars in action.