#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 

Development

Successful Level 1 Coaching Course held in Bulgaria

By United World Wrestling Press

PAZARDZHIK, Bulgaria (November 6) – The Bulgarian Wrestling Federation organized a Level 1 Coaching course to help improve and provide training for their coaches.  This 5-day course was held in conjunction with Olympic Solidarity, Bulgarian Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling. 

The Level 1 course was led by UWW Certified Educator Mr. Georgi Sredkov (BUL).

The course was held from 15-20 October and was attended by 40 coaches and 6 athletes. “I point to my many years of experience to emphasize that, from a professional point of view, the seminar held by G. Sredkov was indeed at a very high professional level, with enormous benefit for all participants and especially for young coaches. The selection of the topics and issues in the sport of wrestling, the arrangement of the topics and the inclusion of free discussions submitted by the participants, greatly increases the quality and effect of this seminar.” said Mr. Georgi Kalchev (European Champion and World Medalist). 

This course focuses on the foundational skills to be a great coach.  The topics included: key factor analysis, introducing new techniques, communication skills, improving coaching skills, risk management and safety, and athlete safeguarding.  The participants learned and practiced their skills through theoretical and practical evaluations throughout the course. “Thanks to Georgi Sredkov for the seminar. Everything he offered us in the seminar was completely useful and beneficial.” said Emil Budinov (Olympic Coach).

Additional Comments from Participants

My participation was extremely useful for me as a coach. We exchanged experiences and I learned new practices with which I can upgrade my coaching activity.” – Miroslav Geshev (European Medalist and National Coach)

“I am personally very pleased that I had the opportunity to attend this seminar. I managed to learn many interesting things that will be useful for the development of our wrestling.” – Georgi Dumkov (Club Coach)

“Thanks for the fruitful seminar, especially the way of presentation. Special thanks to Georgi Sredkov - 5-day seminar full of content, excellently structured - balance between theory and practice.” – Vasil Popov (European Champion)