#Rome2018

Nine Nations Qualify Wrestlers for Tuesday's European Junior Greco-Roman Finals

Monday, July 30, 2018 - 21:22 By Eric Olanowski

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ROME, Italy (July 30) - The opening day of the 2018 European Juniors kicked off today in Rome, Italy and nine nations qualified a wrestler for tomorrow’s Greco-Roman finals. Russia was the lone nation to put more than one wrestler in the finals, as Oleg AGAKHANOV (RUS) and Egor KADIROV (RUS) each reached the finals of their respective weight classes. 

Oleg Agakhanov gave Russia their first finalist after he outscored Artsiom SHUMSKI (BLR), 10-0 to make the 130kg finals. 

Agakhanov, the 2017 Vantaa Painicup will go head-to-head with Germany’s Cerro Pelado International bronze medalist, Franz RICHTER for the heavyweight title. In the semifinals, Richter blasted through Beka MAKARIDZE (GEO), 8-2 to make his way to the European Junior gold-medal bout. 

Egor KADIROV (RUS) is one of two Russian wrestlers who made the Greco-Roman finals on the opening day of the 2018 European Junior Championships. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

Egor KADIROV (RUS) was the second Russian wrestler to make the finals, shutting out 2016 Cadet World team representative, Vahe POGHOSYAN (ARM), 9-0 to make the 77kg championship match. 

In the finals, Kadirov, the 2016 Vantaa Painicup champion will wrestle Bulgaria’s 2016 Cadet World team representative, Zahari ZASHEV. 

Nearly all of the finalists have previous age-level European Championship experience, but none have reached the gold-medal bout, meaning five first time continental champions will be crowded tomorrow. 

The day two Greco-Roman finals are scheduled to begin on Tuesday at 6:00 PM local time. (Click HERE for full schedule)

Finals Match-ups   
57kg - Giovanni FRENI (ITA) vs. Tigran MINASYAN (ARM)
63kg - Maksim NEHODA (BLR) vs. Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR)
77kg -  Egor KADIROV (RUS) vs. Zahari Rosenov ZASHEV (BUL)
87kg Temuri TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO) vs. Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN)
130kg - Oleg Kahaberovitch AGAKHANOV (RUS) vs. Franz RICHTER (GER)

#Grappling

Grappling in 2024: Asian Championships in Philippines, Great Britain's first gold

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 - 08:32 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 10) -- Tagaytay, Baku and Astana were the three cities that saw major Grappling action in 2024. The Asian Championships were in the Philippines, the European Championships in Azerbaijan and it all came down to Kazakhstan for the World Championships.

Grappling also lost an important figure in 2024, as United World Wrestling World Grappling Committee President Rizvan BOCHKEV passed away in May at the age of 59.

In a historic year, Grappling hosted its second Asian Championships in Tagaytay, with six countries participating. The tournament was held in May, and 222 competitors participated in various age groups. Grappling powerhouse Kazakhstan dominated the tournament, winning the senior and U20 team titles, but hosts the Philippines displayed great skills and won the U17 titles. India, Singapore, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan were the other participating nations.

The European Grappling Championships were held in Baku, and 405 participants in various age groups participated. Poland outplayed others and emerged as the best team in most of the categories. Only Ukraine was able to stop Poland in some age groups, and Ukraine claimed team titles at the U17 and U20 levels.

The big event was the World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan in September. While there were moments of brilliance from Kazakhstan, Poland and the Individual Neutral Athletes, Elizabeth GENGE (GBR) stole the show with her double gold, the first-ever for Great Britain; the country had not participated in the World Grappling Championships for the last 16 years.

Participating in her first Grappling World Championships, the 20-year-old Genge won all her bouts in two competitions via submission. Only Veronika KARAKHONOVA (AIN) could hold Genge to a decision victory. Genge is the British champion in wrestling and has participated in the Faltz Open as well, finishing fifth this year.

Another star attraction at the World Grappling Championships was Kendall REUSING (USA) who won the Grappling gold in 90kg. The Jiu-Jitsu black belt world champion won all her bouts via submission.

Overall, the Individual Neutral Athletes dominated the competition. They were so good that they won six out of the nine gold medals in the men's grappling. But in teams, Poland emerged as the best as it won the women's team gold in Women's Grappling Gi and the title in Men's Grappling. However, the United States clinched its first-ever team title as it won the gold in Women's Grappling. Kazakhstan was the best team in Men's Grappling Gi.