European Games

Maryanyan, Chekhirkin Headline Greco Semifinalists at European Games

Friday, June 28, 2019 - 11:28 By United World Wrestling Press

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MINSK, Belarus (June 28) - A pair of returning world champions for Russia were among the dozen wrestlers to reach the semifinals on the opening day of Greco-Roman competition at the European Games in Minsk, Belarus.

Russian wrestlers Stepan MARYANYAN (60kg) and Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (77kg), world champions in Budapest, advanced to tonight's semifinals in Greco-Roman. 

Maryanyan, a European Games champion in 2015, faced some stiff competition in the opening session. In his first match, he wrestled returning world silver medalist and European champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA). The 27-year-old Russian proved to be too much for Ciobanu as he picked up a 9-1 technical superiority in the first period. 

Next up for Maryanyan was two-time junior world champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR). Maryanyan grinded out a 5-2 victory over Kamal. Tonight in the semifinals he will face Zhora ABOVIAN (UKR), who defeated 2013 world champion Ivo ANGELOV (BUL) in the quarterfinals.  Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO), a 2016 junior world champion, will battle Erik TORBA (HUN) in the other semifinal at 60kg.

Chekhirkin was pushed in his first match against Daniel ALEKSANDROV (BUL), but prevailed 3-3 on criteria. He then shut out world No. 8 Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) 6-0 I the quarterfinals. Chekhirkin faces Yunus BASAR (TUR) in the 77kg semifinals.

Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), a 2012 Olympic silver medalist and three-time world medalist, reached the semifinals at 77kg with a 10-2 technical superiority in his first match followed by a 3-1 quarterfinal win over Pavel LIAKH (BLR).

At 67kg, Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO), a U23 world champion and junior world champion, earned his spot in the semifinals with a 2-0 win in the quarterfinals over world No.7 Mate NEMES (SRB). He meets Karen ASLANYAN (ARM), a gold medalist at the Henri Deglane Challenge, in the semifinals. 

Zaur KABALOEV (RUS) edged Soslan DAUROV (BLR) on criteria to reach the semifinals at 67kg, where he will face Oleksii KALINICHENKO (UKR).

Russia has the most semifinalists on Friday with three. Ukraine, Hungary, Georgia and Armenia all have a pair of semifinalists, while Turkey has one. 

SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS

Greco-Roman

60kg
Zhora ABOVIAN (UKR) vs. Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS)
Erik TORBA (HUN) vs. Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO) 

67kg
Oleksii KALINICHENKO (UKR) vs. Zaur KABALOEV (RUS)
Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) vs. Karen ASLANYAN (ARM)

77kg
Yunus BASAR (TUR) vs. Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) 
Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) vs. Karapet CHALYAN (ARM)
 

#Grappling

Alshinbay defends crown in Grappling Gi; Poland wins team title

Friday, October 17, 2025 - 14:09 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 16) -- Coming into the World Grappling Championships, Alikhan ALSHINBAY (KAZ) had one goal -- two become a two time world champ.

But he had disappointing start to competition, losing the No-Gi semifinal in Novi Sad, Serbia. He later bounced back to win the bronze medal but his goal was still not achieved.

Alikhan ALSHINBAY (KAZ)Alikhan ALSHINBAY (KAZ) celebrates after winning the 58kg final in Grappling Gi. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

A day later on Thursday, Alshinbay began his title defense at 58kg in Grappling Gi and won his first bout via submission Samir BEN BELKACEM (FRA) to take step closer to the final.

Next up was Joseph DIEHL (USA) in the semifinals but Alshinbay, unbothered, controlled the match from the start and defeated the American grappler 9-3 to book a spot in the final against former U20 world champion ABYLBEKOV (KGZ).

Using his experience, Alshinbay made the final one-sided and used a bow-and-arrow choke to defeat Abylbekov via submission in just three minutes. He claimed his second straight gold medal in Grappling Gi, having won the 2024 world title in his home country Kazakhstan.

At 62kg, after dropping a close final in No-Gi Grappling, Magomedbek TEMEEV (UWW) bounced back and made sure he did not make any mistakes in Grappling Gi. Temeev was facing Rafayel KOSTANYAN (ARM) in the final and got the opening control when Kostanyan decided to start in grounding. The control gave Temeev two points.

Temeev decided to keep his control on top even as Kostanyan tried various moves. The referees called Temeev passive twice which costed him two points but he held a 2-2 criteria lead and won the final.

Two more UWW grapplers, Abduragim MAGOMEDOV (UWW) and Idris OMAROV (UWW), won gold medals on Thursday. MAgomedov defeated Jakub NAJDEK (POL), 5-0, in the 77kg final while Omarov defeated Christian FRILLICI (ITA), 5-2, in the 84kg final.

Youngster Giovanni SUAREZ ARTILES (ESP), who had a disappointing outing in 2024, made amends and defeated Magomed MAGOMEDOV (UWW), 5-3, at 66kg to win the gold medal.

The final began with Magomedov scoring a stepout in standing for one point before Saurez hit a throw to get Magomedov out in standing to make it 1-1 and lead on criteria. Magomedov kept getting control of Saurez who kept stepping out in standing and Magomedov's lead swelled to 3-1.

In the last 30 seconds, Saurez managed to come in a back mount and score via a rear-naked-choke. Though Magomedov did not submit, Saurez got four points for his control which made him a 5-3 winner.

At 92kg, Mateusz MAZUR (POL) was crowned world champion after Ruslan ISRAILOV (KAZ) submitted three minutes into the final.

RESULTS

Men's Grappling Gi

58kg
GOLD: Alikhan ALSHINBAY (KAZ) df. Zhyldyzbek ABYLBEKOV (KGZ), via submission (6-0)

BRONZE: Razmik MISAKYAN (ARM) df. Jerzy IZDEBSKI (POL), 2-0
BRONZE: Joseph DIEHL (USA) df. Samir BEN BELKACEM (FRA), via submission (1-0)

62kg
GOLD: Magomedbek TEMEEV (UWW) df. Rafayel KOSTANYAN (ARM), 2-2

BRONZE: Ruslan RADZHABKHANOV (UWW) df. Kiryl AHEIKA (UWW), 1-0
BRONZE: Asher URBAN HOYER (USA) df. Mark BODO (HUN), via submission

66kg
GOLD: Giovanni SUAREZ ARTILES (ESP) df. Magomed MAGOMEDOV (UWW), 5-3

BRONZE: Adlan ASUEV (KAZ) df. Giorgi RAZMADZE (GEO), via submission
BRONZE: Artur AGASHIRINOV (UWW) df. Mayis NERSESYAN (ARM), via submission (2-2)

77kg
GOLD: Abduragim MAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. Jakub NAJDEK (POL), 5-0

BRONZE: Hector SEPULVEDA PALMA (ESP) df. Darkhan TOLYBAYEV (KAZ), 6-4
BRONZE: Dumitru CEBAN (MDA) df. Pavlo MAKSYMCHUK (UKR), 8-4

84kg
GOLD: Idris OMAROV (UWW) df. Christian FRILLICI (ITA), 5-2

BRONZE: Cristian TUGULEA (MDA) df. Kacper ROT (POL), 5-2
BRONZE: Dzhabrail ISRAPILOV (UWW) df. Adlan MADAYEV (KAZ), 5-2

92kg
GOLD: Mateusz MAZUR (POL) df. Ruslan ISRAILOV (KAZ), via submission (1-3)

BRONZE: Alibek SULEIMANOV (UWW) df. Mantas DAUBLYS (LTU), 3-2
BRONZE: Pablo ESTEPA NIETO (ESP) df. Antonio SALTUPS CARETTO (ITA), 6-2

Women's Grappling Gi

58kg
GOLD: Alina KOPEIKINA (UWW) df. Magdalena GIEC (POL), via submission (0-2)

BRONZE: Breanna STIKKELMAN (USA) df. Tetiana ASTAKHOVA (UKR), 2-0
BRONZE: Rachel GUTIERREZ (USA) df. Minerva MONTERO PEREZA (ESP), 6-0

64kg
GOLD: Mia MONTESINOS PERDOMO (ESP) df. Alsu IANSHINA (UWW), 5-2

BRONZE: Sheliah LINDSEY (USA) df. Adrianna MAZUR (POL), 9-0
BRONZE: Sylwia WIERZBOWSKA (POL) df. Renata IAKUBOVA (UWW), 3-2

71kg
GOLD: Alycia QUENEE (FRA) df. Maja SALAMON (POL), via submission (2-2)

BRONZE: Anna REMNEVA (UWW) df. Christina HANSEN (USA), via submission (0-2)
BRONZE: Valentina PAVLOVA (UWW) df. Sandra TRIEBEL (GER), 2-1