European Games

Mattsson, Sadulaev Strike Gold Again at European Games; Aliyev Dominates

Thursday, June 27, 2019 - 20:21 By United World Wrestling Press

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MINSK, Belarus (June 27) - On Thursday, Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) captured their second European Games gold medals in as many tries.

One was pushed to limits, while the other did not break a sweat. 

Mattsson, a six-time world medalist and Olympic bronze medalist, held on to defeat Yulia KHAVALDZHY (UKR) 6-4 in the gold-medal match at 53kg. 

The 29-year-old Swedish wrestler raced out to a 6-0 lead at the break after picking up three takedowns in the first period. Khavaldzhy got on the scoreboard with a takedown early in the second period. Trailing 6-2 late the in the match, Khavaldzhy fired off a shot and scored a takedown and put Mattsson in trouble. She was initially awarded four points for the exchange, which would have given her a 6-6 win on criteria. But Mattsson challenged the call and it was overturned. Two points were taken off the scoreboard, giving Mattsson the victory.

Sadulaev, a 2016 Olympic champion and three-time world champion, added second European Games gold medal to his list of accomplishments after getting an injury default against Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE) in the gold-medal match at 97kg. Gadzhiyev walked out on to the mat with a heavily bandaged leg and Sadulaev was given the injury default victory. Sadualev's European Games gold medal in 2015 game at 86kg. 

In a battle of world champions, Haji ALIYEV (AZE) dominated Olympic champion Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) 10-2 to claim the gold medal at 65kg. Aliyev, a three-time world champion and three-time European champion, used a takedown and exposure to grab an early 4-0 lead. He added an additional point after a failed challenge to go up 5-0 at the break. Khinchegashvili inched closer with two one-point scores in the second period, but Aliyev then turned it up. He countered an attacked from the 28-year-old Georgian for a takedown. He added a step out and another takedown to win by eight. 

Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT), a two-time world bronze medalist, defeated two-time European champion Anastasiia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) 5-3 to win the gold medal at 68kg. It's her second European Games medal after winning a bronze medal in 2015. Grigorjeva was in control most of the match. She scored her first point off a passivity and then added a takedown to lead 3-0 after the opening period. She built her lead to 5-0 in the second period after a takedown. Bratchikova put herself back in the match by scoring a step out followed up by takedown in the final 30 seconds to make the score 5-3. But Grigorjeva would hang on for the win.

Two-time world medalist Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) picked up a bronze medal at 65kg with an 8-5 victory over Andrei PERPELITSA (MDA). Hor OHANNESIAN (UKR) also won a bronze medal at 65kg, beating Valodya FRANGULYAN (ARM), 8-2.

World No. 4 Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) and world No. 8 Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) won the bronze medals at 97kg. Odikadze shut out Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR), while Hushtyn earned a 3-1 victory over Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD).

Nina HEMMER (GER) topped Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) 2-0 to earn a bronze medal at 53kg. The other bronze medal at 53kg was won by Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS), who dominated Mercedesz DENES (HUN) 10-0. 

Sofia GEORGIEVA (BUL) and Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) finished with bronze medals at 68kg.

RESULTS

Freestyle 

65kg
GOLD - Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO), 10-2
BRONZE - Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) df. Andrei PERPELITSA (MDA), 8-5
BRONZE - Hor OHANNESIAN (UKR) df. Valodya FRANGULYAN (ARM), 8-2

97kg
GOLD - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df. Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE) Injury
BRONZE - Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) df. Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), 3-1
BRONZE - Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) df. Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR), 5-0

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD - Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) df. Yulia KHAVALDZHY (UKR), 6-4
BRONZE - Nina HEMMER (GER) df. Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), 2-0
BRONZE - Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) df. Mercedesz DENES (HUN), 10-0

68kg
GOLD - Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) df. Anastasiia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS), 5-3
BRONZE - Sofia GEORGIEVA (BUL) df. Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU), 4-1
BRONZE - Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) df. Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), 6-2
 

Saravi, Hedayati win gold to cap Iran's dominance at ISG 2025

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 - 17:36 By Vinay Siwach

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 19) -- If there was battle for the most dominant wrestler among the Iranian wrestlers, it would be a close one. Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) won Asian and World Championships and a Ranking Series gold before winning the gold medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 on Tuesday.

Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) won gold at Zagreb Ranking Series, gold at senior and U23 World Championships and like Esmaeili, gold at ISG 2025.

On Wednesday, Olympic and world champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) also joined that list as he won gold medal at 97kg at ISG in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Saravi has been unstoppable this year, just like Esmaeili and Farokhi, winning Ranking Series gold, and gold medals at the Asian and World Championships. In Riyadh, he showed why he has been so good this year.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI)Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) turns Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) from par terre in the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In one of the marquee matches of the night, Saravi held his own to beat world bronze medalist Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) in the 97kg final.Saravi and Ahmadiyev were clearly a notch up the field in Riyadh in their weight class and reached the final with ease. But when the two clashed, Saravi clearly had a gameplan to not get caught in any upset.

Ahmadiyev had pinned Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) at the World Championships after a block when the Armenian was trying a gut wrench. So when Saravi got the chance in par terre in the final, he only tried a gut wrench once and then let the referee call neutral.

Saravi went into the break leading 3-0. He was called passive in the second period and put in par terre but he defend the position and gave only one point. As Ahmadiyev struggled with his conditioning, Saravi managed to score two stepouts and win the gold medal with a 5-1 score.

The Iranian has now not lost since the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade, extending his winning run to over two years.

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) prepares to throw Mohamed ABDELLATIF (EGY) during the 130kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 130kg, rising star Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) too has a great winning run. Since his U20 World Championships final loss in 2022, Hedayati has not lost an international bout and capped his 2025 season with gold medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025.

Placed in Group A of the Nelson bracket, Hedayati topped his group before winning the semifinal with ease. In the final, he faced Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY), who the Iranian defeated in the first group bout 3-0.

If that was a warm-up win, Hedayati showed what he is capable of, winning the final in just 35 second via fall against Abdellatif. He began with a four-point throw which was challenged by Egypt only to lose the challenge.

Leading 5-0, Hedayati hit an arm-throw for two points before dragging Abdellatif for another takedown with his back on the mat. Hedayati held the Egyptian in that position and secured the fall to end the match and capture the gold medal.

Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) celebrates after winning the 50kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Three women's wrestling weight classes were also in action on Wednesday in Riyadh and three different countries won gold medals.

At 50kg, Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) needed a hip-toss in the last 30 seconds to score four points against Miesinnei GENEISI (NGR) and take a 5-1 lead. The Uzbekistan wrestler led 1-0 at the break after Geneisi's passivity. But the Nigerian took an 1-1 criteria lead in the last minute when Keunimjaeva was called passive.

Desperate to find an opening, Keunimjaeva locked both of Geneisis' arms and tossed her for four points, taking a 5-1 lead and defending it to win the gold medal.

Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR)Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) won the gold medal at 53kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The winning country was reversed in the 53kg final as Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) defeated Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB), 11-1, to win the gold medal.

Akhmedova failed to match the power of Ogunsanya who kept scoring with counter takedowns. She scored a takedown and a turn using lace to win the bout 11-1.

The final gold medal of the night went to former U23 world champion Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) who defeated European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) in the 57kg final.

Aliyeva, who had defeated Suleyman in Round 1 bout as well, faced the Turkish wrestler again and kept it simple. She scored three takedown before giving up one in the final few seconds. She managed to hold on to her 6-2 lead for the win.

Photo

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

97kg
GOLD: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE), 5-1

BRONZE: Beytullah KAYISDAG (TUR) df. Mohamed GABR (EGY), 3-1
BRONZE: Rouabah FADI (ALG) df. Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA), 8-0

130kg
GOLD: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY), via fall (9-0)

BRONZE: Fatih BOZKURT (TUR) df. Roman KIM (KGZ), 11-2

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) df. Miesinnei GENEISI (NGR), 5-1

BRONZE: Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Chebila CHEIMA (ALG), 7-0

53kg
GOLD: Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) df. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB), 11-1

BRONZE: Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) df. Yusma DESWITA (INA), via fall (3-0
BRONZE: Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) df. Vatansulton SHAKARSHOEVA (TJK), 14-3

57kg
GOLD: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) df. Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR), 6-2

BRONZE: Tekouk ACHOUAK DJAMILA (ALG) df. Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), via fall (14-3)