#WrestleSofia

Mammadli defeats returning World champion to earn spot in Greco-Roman finals at #WrestleSofia

By Taylor Miller

SOFIA, Bulgaria – Nihat Zahid MAMMADLI (AZE) advanced to the Cadet World finals for the second time in his young career and will wrestle for a gold medal at 55 kg on Saturday.

Mammadli, who is a 2017 Cadet World silver medalist, knocked off returning World champion Abror ATABAEV (UZB) with a dominant 7-0 victory.

A 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival bronze medalist, Mammadli will face Pravin Pandurang PATIL (IND), who won Cadet Asian bronze earlier this summer.

Also from Azerbaijan, Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) cruised to the finals at his first World Championships, outwrestling 2018 U15 Asian silver medalist Rupin RUPIN (IND) in the 48 kg semifinals.

For gold, Babashov will challenge 2018 Youth Olympic Games champion Amirreza Mohammadreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI), who scored an 8-0 tech fall in his semis match over Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ).

Iran also put a second wrestler in the finals as 2019 Cadet Asian bronze winner Shahrokh Abouzar MIKAEILI (IRI) moved onto the gold match at 110 kg.

Waiting for him in the finals is Razmik KURDYAN (ARM), who was fifth at the Cadet European Championships. He defeated European champion Mate GOKADZE (GEO) to earn a chance at gold.

At 65 kg, Asian bronze medalist Sheroz OCHILOV (TJK) upset Asian champion Hojat REZAEI (IRI) in the semifinals, 3-1.

In Saturday’s final, Ochilov will go head-to-head with 2019 Cadet European bronze medalist Dzmitry BONKA (BLR).

For the title at 80 kg, 2018 Balkan champion Gabriel LUPASCO (MDA) will battle Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR).

Lupasco shutout Asian champion Maskat SAILAU (KAZ) in the semis, while Alieksieiev took out Kamran ARGHASH (IRI).

The finals will take place on Saturday at 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Finals matchups                   
48 kg: Amirreza Mohammadreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) vs. Ziya BABASHOV (AZE)
55 kg: Pravin Pandurang PATIL (IND) vs. Nihat Zahid MAMMADLI (AZE)
65 kg: Sheroz OCHILOV (TJK) vs. Dzmitry BONKA (BLR)
80 kg: Gabriel LUPASCO (MDA) vs. Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR)
110 kg: Razmik KURDYAN (ARM) vs. Shahrokh Abouzar MIKAEILI (IRI)

#WrestleBucharest

European Championships Day 3 women's wrestling semis set

By United World Wrestling Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 14) -- After two breathtaking days of Greco-Roman, the European Championships enters day three with women's wrestling. Five weight classes in action will be 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 REPORT

Semifinals for the evening session

50kg
Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) vs. Miglena SELISHKA (BUL)
Oksana LIVACH (UKR) vs. Mariya STADNIK (AZE)

55kg
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) vs. Roksana ZASINA (POL)
Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) vs. Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)

59kg
Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) vs. Patrycja GIL (POL)
Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) vs. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

68kg
Buse TOSUN (TUR) vs. Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Tetiana SOVA RIZHKO (UKR) vs. Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL)

76kg
Enrica RINALDI (ITA) vs. Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR)
Yasemin ADAR YIGIT (TUR) Bernadett NAGY (HUN)

13:00: Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) locked both of Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) arms and tried a pin. However, Nichita with a great defense to avoid the fall. She controls the remaining bout to win 7-2. 

12:40: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) falls to Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) in the 68kg quarterfinals. In a low-scoring bout, Hristova beats Larroque 3-2 at 68kg.

12:30: A fall for Bose TOSUN (TUR)! Khanum VALIEVA (AIN) thought she had a chance but failed to stop Tosun's attacks and got pinned. Tosun moves into the 68kg semifinal against Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)

12:22: Mariya STADNIK (AZE) rolls to a technical superiority win over Milana DADASHAEVA (AIN) and moves into the semifinals at 50kg. She is going for her 10th European title, already a record

12:15: Home favorite and defending champion at 55kg Andreea ANA (ROU) uses leg lace against Sezen BELBEROVA (BUL) and moves into the quarterfinals for Romania.

12:00: Defending champion at 59kg Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) begins with a technical superiority over Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) and she moves into the quarterfinals in which she will face Tamara DOLLAK (HUN)

11:45: Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) with a big upset at 76kg as she defeats former European champion Epp MAE (EST) 3-2 in the 1/8 finals Mae led 2-0 but was called passive before Gaucaite scored a stepout. Mae challenged the call but it was confirmed and a lost challenge made it 3-2 for Gaucaite.

11:30: Returning silver medalist Oksana LIVACH (UKR) scores four points in the first period and then holds Anna LUKASIAK (POL) in the second period for a 4-1 win at 50kg. She was cautioned for a hair pull which cost her a point.

11:15: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) has a slow start but she controls her opening bout against Noémi SZABADOS (HUN) well to win it 3-0 and advance to the quarterfinals at 68kg.

11:00: The qualification round of women's wrestling will begin with 68kg. Khanum VELIEVA (AIN) beats Laura GODINO (ITA), Tetiana SOVA RIZHKO (UKR) beats Eyleen SEWINA (GER) and Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) is pinned by Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE).

10:45: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO), in the Greco-Roman repechage at 82kg, gets a big 9-0 win over Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE).

10:30: Welcome to the third day of the European Championships and we have women's wrestling in five weight classes.