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
 

#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