#WrestleZagreb

Monday night's semifinals set

Monday, April 17, 2023 - 08:08 By Eric Olanowski

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ZAGREB, Croatia (April 17) --- The final details are being made to the Arena Zagreb before the start of today's European Championships. We're just over 90 minutes away from the beginning of freestyle action 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 92kg.

FULL EUROPEAN C'SHIP SCHEDULE:
- 11:30 - Qualification rounds
- 17:15 - Opening Ceremony
- 18:00 -  Semifinals

Monday's semifinal matches:

57kg 
Suleyman ATLI (TUR) vs. Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) 
Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) vs. Simone Vincenzo PIRODDU (ITA) 

65kg
Mikyay Salim NAIM (BUL) vs. Stefan Ionut COMAN (ROU) 
Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) vs. Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) 

70kg​​​​​​​
Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR) vs. Ramazan Eldarovitch RAMAZANOV (BUL)
Vasile DIACON (MDA) vs. Haji ALIYEV (AZE) 

79kg
Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) vs. Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) 
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) vs. Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE) 

97kg​​​​​​​
Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN) 
Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) vs. Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) 

2:20: That'll do it for the morning session. We'll see you back at the Arena Zagreb at 18:00 for tonight's semifinals.

2:10: World bronze medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) just scored a step out with less than a second left to beat Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR), 4-3. He'll wrestle Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) in the 97kg semifinals. 

1:43: What a battle between Atli and Vangelov.

Atli led 5-0, but Vangelov fought back and cut the Turkish wrestler's lead to one point. He was in a shot as time expired, but failed to pick up any more points. He'll now have the winner of  Razvan Marian KOVACS (ROU) and Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO).

1:32: Three-time world medalist Suleyman ATLI (TUR) is making his way to Mat C to take on Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL). 

1:24: Arsamerzouev just upset returning world bronze medalist Micic to reach the quarterfinals. He'll wrestle Coman for a spot in tonight's semifinals.

1:11: That's why you wrestle until the last whistle. Stefan Ionut COMAN (ROU) just took Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL) down with .08 seconds left on the clock to win, 3-2. 

Coman will wrestle the winner of Khamzat Timourovitch ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) and Stevan Andria MICIC (SRB), who are wrestling now on Mat C. Currently, Arsamerzouev leads 2-0 after the first period.

12:54: U23 world champion Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) leads Muhammed AKDENİZ (TUR), 6-0, on Mat B. 

12:30: Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Benjamin Konrad HONIS (ITA) were in a tight race on Mat B but the reigning European champion blew the match open with a takedown and four leg laces. The Azeri will wrestle  Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) next. 

12:18:  Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) just upset returning world silver medalist Batyrbek TCAKULOV (SVK), 6-4, and punched his ticket to the 97kg quarterfinals. He'll wrestle the winner of  Erik Sven THIELE (GER) and Sergey SARGSYAN (ARM). 

12:14: Cabolov and Micic both pick up technical superiority wins and continue their quest for Euro gold. 

12:00: World bronze medalist Stevan Andria MICIC (SRB) is wrestling Carlos ALVAREZ IGLESIAS (ESP) over on Mat C. Micic is up from his world bronze-medal weight of the 57kg.
On a side note regarding Micic: He's fresh off a two-week training camp in Japan, where he was invited by world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) and Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN).

11:50: Former world champion Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) is up now against  Kreso SKUGOR (CRO) on Mat B. The Russian-turn-Serbian is up at 79kg for the first time in his career. 

11:38: Aliyev is on an 8-0 run after giving up the opening point of the match. He closed out the first period with his patented single leg and a trapped arm gut wrench. In the second, he ended the bout early with three takedowns and a leg lace. He'll wrestle  Kevin Christopher HENKEL (GER) in the 70kg quarterfinals. 

11:31: The wait is over. Wrestlers are being called to the mats. We'll kick things off at 70kg across the board. The biggest star on the elevated stage is up on Mat B as three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) is taking on Gianluca TALAMO (ITA).

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open: Six Paris medalists in action; Blades drops to 68kg

Saturday, February 1, 2025 - 17:26 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 1) -- With a couple of factors determining her decision, Kennedy BLADES (USA) will be moving down to 68kg, six months after winning the Olympic silver medal at 76kg in Paris.

Blades will make her 68kg debut at next week's Zagreb Open which coincides with her college wrestling season in which she wrestles at 160 pounds (around 72kg).

"Since I am in the middle of the college wrestling season and I am close to the weight (160lbs), I wanted to see how I felt," Blades told UWW.

Zagreb Open has a two-kilogram weight allowance and Blades revealed that she weighs around 72kg-73kg which makes it ideal for her to wrestle at 68kg in Zagreb. Even in Paris, Blades was wrestling under 76kg.

"I was naturally 2-4 kilograms under 76kg," she said. "So I wanted to see how I feel at my natural weight. Depending on how I feel, I'll determine if I want  to stay at 68kg or go back to 76kg."

Over her international career, Blades has never wrestled below 69kg, winning gold at the U17 Pan-Am Championships in 2018. She moved to 73kg for the U17 World Championships a year later and 72kg for the U20 World Championships in 2021. For her senior debut, Blades moved up to 76kg for the Henri Deglane in 2023 and competed at all tournaments for two years at that weight.

At 68kg in Zagreb, Blades will have to face a few long-timers.

World silver medalist from 2023 Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) and world bronze medalist Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) will be her biggest challenge. Former Asian silver medalist RADHIKA (IND) is also in the mix.

The United States will bring a solid team in Women's Wrestling with Blades, former world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), Michaela BECK (USA), Sofia MACALUSO (USA), Skylar GROTE (USA) and Yelena MAKOYED (USA).

PRIYA (IND)PRIYA (IND) is a U20 world champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

India has a full squad going to Zagreb with a few young stars. Former U17 and U20 world champion PRIYA (IND) will be at 76kg, along with Asian medalist MANISHA (IND).

Azerbaijan will be pinning hopes on its first-ever U23 world champion in Women's Wrestling Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) to shine in the 57kg which also has Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN), Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) and TAPSYA (IND). It also has Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE), Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) and Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) wrestling in Zagreb.

Paris Olympian Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) will be at 62kg a week after winning the Dan Kolov tournament in Varna. She will face challenges from Ameline DOUARRE (FRA), Nikolett SZABO (HUN), Bhagyashree FAND (IND) and Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA).

Freestyle

A battle of two Olympic medalists at 57kg is on the cards as Spencer LEE (USA) and AMAN (IND) are registered for the tournament. Lee won a silver medal at the Paris Games while Aman came home with a bronze medal.

While these two are the biggest achievers in the field, former European champion Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) will pose a significant challenge as he continues to find his space since he changed his nationality to Serbia. Paris Olympian Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) is also in the fray, giving a mouth-watering clash for the U.S. fans between him and Lee.

Iran is debuting Ahora KHATERI (IRI) at the senior level. He won the 2023 U17 World Championships at 45kg but moved to 60kg in one year and finished eighth at the U17 World Championships in 2024.

Iran's struggle at the lower weights has continued over a decade now and Khateri is touted as the most promising of the new lot. It is also trying its new batch at 61kg, sending Ahmad JAVAN (IRI), Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) and Reza Hossein MOMENI (IRI) to Zagreb.

But the star of the Iran line-up will be Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) who won the U20 and U23 World Championships gold medals at 125kg. He is likely to go unchallenged in Zagreb but the field includes Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO), Hayden ZILLMER (USA) and Mason PARRIS (USA) to name a few.

More closely contested battles will be on display at 92kg as Aaron BROOKS (USA) moves up from 86kg, a weight class he won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. He will have his hands full with Asian champion Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) and former U20 world champion Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI).

World silver medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) will be among the favorites for the gold along with former world silver medalist and Paris Olympian Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) who is returning to 92kg and will be joined by compatriot Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE). Boris MAKOEV (SVK) is also listed at 92kg for the competition.

Former Olympic and world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) will kick off his season in Zagreb and hope to reclaim the gold he lost in 2024 to Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI). The field at 97kg is a little thin but still has Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI), Radu LEFTER (MDA) and Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) among others.

Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) is entered at 70kg for the Zagreb Open. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

2023 world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) is entered at 70kg. He finished fifth at the same tournament in 2023 but will be the most experienced wrestler in the field this year. He will have a few known rivals in the field including James GREEN (USA), Alec PANTALEO (USA) and Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE).

Iran has gone with 2022 U17 world champion Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) and Sina KHALILI (IRI), a 2023 U17 world champion who finished seventh at the World Championships in Tirana last year.

Greco-Roman

Azerbaijan is all out with their Greco-Roman team in the first Ranking Series of the year. Three recent world champions, Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) and Uvli GANIZADE (AZE) are part of a 22-member strong squad that also has Paris Olympic bronze medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), Tokyo bronze medalist Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE), Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) among other younger stars.

Jafarov will be back in action at 67kg and hopes to start his season on a high. The wrestlers trying to stop him include teenager Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI) and U20 world champion Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI). The field also has former world champion Sebastian NAD (SRB) and Morten THORESEN (NOR).

At 60kg, defending champion Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) leads the field, followed by Mammadli, the newly crowned world champion at 63kg. However, as Azerbaijan's first choice at the Olympic weight class, he is moving down to 60 kg. Paris Olympian Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) is also entered, along with U23 world champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB), who is known for his big moves.

Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) will face a tough challenge from the Iranian duo of Danial SOHRABI (IRI) and Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI). World champion Ganizade is the defending champion at 72kg but Geraei will be keen on getting on top of the podium at an international event, a feat he hasn't achieved since winning gold at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup in June 2022. Sohrabi too has blown hot and cold since winning gold at the U23 World Championships in 2022.

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)Zagreb Open will be a big test for Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) at 77kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The two of the highly competitive weight classes in Greco-Roman are 77kg and 87kg and the Zagreb Open will be no different.

At 77kg, Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) will be back in action, facing a few of the mainstays of this weight class. Suleymanov will be looking to shake off his disappointment of missing a medal in Paris with a better showing in Zagreb.

But there are a few challenges. Paris Olympians Amin KAVIYANI (IRI) and Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) are competing in Zagreb and so is Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) who continues to build his profile. Gutu narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Paris Olympics but is one of the most dynamic wrestlers in the weight class. Surprisingly, former U17 world champion and Gutu's teammate Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) is also at 77kg.

Hungary has also sent Robert FRITSCH (HUN) and Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) at 77kg while Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) is a dark horse.

Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) is likely to have his Olympic bronze-medal bout rematch against David LOSONCZI (HUN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The 87kg weight class will see Paris bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) and a few other Paris Olympians as well. Bisultanov may have a rematch of his bronze-medal bout against David LOSONCZI (HUN) who is one of three Hungarian wrestlers entered. Tamas LEVAI (HUN) and Istvan TAKACS (HUN) will also try to claim their stake for the spot on the Hungarian national team in this weight class.

Aues GONIBOV (AIN) and Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) are the two neutral athletes with decorated resumes. Former world champion Huseynov is also entered along with Ivan HUKLEK (CRO), Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), Marcel STERKENBURG (NED), Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB).