#kaspeuro2018

Olympic Champ Vlasov, Silver Medalist Kaayalp Punch Ticket to Euro Finals

Monday, April 30, 2018 - 20:18 By Tim Foley

KASPIYSK, Russia (April 30) – As youngsters looked to emerge on day one of wrestling in Dagestan, it was the Old Guard, led by Rio Olympic champion Roman VLASOV (RUS) and silver medalist Riza KAYAALP (TUR), showing fans they were still to be considered among the continent's best.

Vlasov had one of the day’s tougher semifinal matchups, facing 2015 European Games champion Elvin MURSALIYEV (AZE) at 77kg. The two-time Olympic champion used plenty of veteran savvy to earn the one-point passivity early and then immediately tack on two more points for a successful lift at the edge of the mat.

The Russian earned a pushout late in the first to make it 4-0 heading into the second period, which proved to be the last points scored. The win avenged a 20176 loss Vlasov suffered to Mursaliyev, 2-2. Vlasov will face defending world champion Viktor NEMES (SRB) who beat Alex Michel BJURBERG KESSIDIS (SWE), 2-0 in the night's other 77kg semifinal.

Kayaalp standing tall during early round action at the 20187 European Championships in Kaspiysk. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

For Kayaalp the night’s on-the-mat activity seemed rote as he plodded through opponents with his bullying style of aggressive heads up wrestling. The barrel-chested Kayaalp came out firing in in his seminal match against Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) earning a quick go behind takedown, followed only moments later by a gut wrench. He would take the lead the rest of the way and head to the finals with a 4-0 victory.

Kaayalp, who is looking for his eighth European titles, will face 2017 European bronze medalist Vitalii SHCHUR (RUS) in Tuesday’s finals. The Russian made his way to the finals on the back of an early four-point throw against Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO). The move propelled Shchur to a 5-4 and his first European finals.

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) survived this five-point throw to climb back for an impressive 9-7 semifinal victory. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) took a curious route to the 55kg finals, finding himself down 7-0 to Vasilil TOPOEV (RUS) within the first :45 seconds of the 55kg semifinals. Topoev opened the match with a quick slide by takedown and then immediately lifted his Azerbaijani opponent for an incredible, picturesque five-point throw.

Azizli scored a single point in the first period, but in the second came back with eight unanswered points off a two-point takedown, two-point gut wrench and the decisive four-point front headlock with 1:30 remaining in the bout.

Azizili will face Estonia’s Helary MAEGISALU (EST) tomorrow after he bested Ekrem OZTURK (TUR), 4-4 in the night’s other 55kg semifinal.

Stig-Andrew BERGE (NOR) returns to the European finals for the first time since 2007. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

At 63kg it was Rio bronze medalist Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) who used a second period arm drag to top Donior ISLAMOV (MDA), 2-1. Berge will meet Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU) in the finals after the Romanian bested Russia’s Zaur KABALOEV, 7-5.

Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO) dominated Mikita KLIMOVICH (BLR) at 87kg. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

In the 87kg semifinals Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO) made easy work of Mikita KLIMOVICH (BLR) earning the 8-0 technical fall with 2:20 left in the match, largely through a series of first-period gut wrenches. The young Georgian will face Bekkhan OZDOEV (RUS) in the finals after the Russian edged Azerbaijan’s Islam ABBASOV, 4-3 in a heart-pounding semifinal.

Finals for the first five Greco-Roman matches will begin Tuesday at 7pm local time.

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Greco-Roman, 55kg

GOLD: Helary MAEGISALU (EST) vs. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)

Semifinal: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. VasilII TOPOEV (RUS), 9-7

Semifinal: Helary MAEGISALU (EST) df. Ekrem OZTURK (TUR), 4-4

Greco-Roman, 63kg

GOLD: Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) vs. Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU)

Semifinal: Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU) df. Zaur KABALOEV (RUS), 7-5

Semifinal: Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) df. Donior ISLAMOV (MDA), 2-1

Greco-Roman, 77kg

GOLD: Roman VLASOV (RUS) vs. Viktor NEMES (SRB)

Semifinal: Viktor NEMES (SRB) df. Alex Michel BJURBERG KESSIDIS (SWE), 2-0

Semifinal: Roman VLASOV (RUS) df. Elvin MURSALIYEV (AZE), 4-0

Greco-Roman, 87kg

GOLD: Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO) vs. Bekkhan OZDOEV (RUS)

Semifinal: Bekkhan OZDOEV (RUS) df. Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 4-3

Semifinal: Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO) df. Mikita KLIMOVICH (BLR) by TF, 8-0

Greco-Roman, 130kg

GOLD: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) vs. Vitalii SHCHUR (RUS)

Semifinal: Vitalii SHCHUR (RUS) df. Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO), 5-4

Semifinal: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU), 4-0

#WrestleTirana

Olympic medalists in strong field set to light up Tirana

Monday, February 24, 2025 - 12:21 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 24) -- After he won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) was asked his wrestling journey. He replied that he "had many problems" but will go through it again without second thoughts.

Taking his first step in the new Olympic cycle for 2028 LA Olympic, Novikov won the prestigious Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament in January and is now wrestling his first Ranking Series event of the year -- the Muhamet Malo in Tirana.

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Novikov is the only Paris Olympic champion who has returned to a UWW tournament since winning gold in August last year. He will be up against a top 87kg Greco-Roman field at the second Ranking Series of the year.

The tournament will be held in Tirana from February 26 to March 2 with important Ranking Series points up for grabs. The Zagreb Open, held two weeks ago, and Muhamet Malo will be crucial for wrestler hoping to get seeded at the continental championships that begin in March.

Novikov will be expecting rematches with David LOSONCZI (HUN) and Alireza MOHAMADIPIANI (IRI), both of whom he beat in Paris. Losonczi has Istvan TAKACS (HUN) and Tamas LEVAI (HUN) to watch out for as Hungary to second its pick for the European Championships.

Georgia is doing the same with Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO), Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) and Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) entered at 87kg while other strong contenders include Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB).

Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) is hoping to be Iran's mainstay at 60kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake KIRKMAN)

Despite the dropouts in other weight classes across styles just days before the tournament, it still throws quite a strong field.

At 60kg, Iran is pushing for Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) as it's flagbearer after struggling to find a world-beater. His first senior test will see him go up against a few stars including world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA), Olympian Enes BASAR (TUR) and Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) among others.

Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) was at 60kg earlier and was about to retire after Paris Olympics. However, he is wrestling at 63kg in Tirana and Turkiye's Kerem KAMAL (TUR) is also returning to action.

At 72kg, Levente LEVAI (HUN), who surprisingly won Zagreb Open gold, will look to continue his run but has hurdles in the name of former world champion Ali ARSALAN (SRB) and European champion Selcuk CAN (TUR).

Paris Olympic bronze medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is warming up for the Asian Championships and will be the favorite to win the gold medal at 130kg. He has Tokyo silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) and age-group world champion Hamza BAKIR (TUR) in the bracket as well.

Chermen VALIEV (ALB) is a Paris Olympic medalist at 74kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Freestyle

Albania's star Freestyle trio of Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), Islam DUDAEV (ALB) and Chermen VALIEV (ALB) are wrestler in front of their home crowd. All three are returning to action since the Paris Games in which Dudaev and Valiev won bronze medals.

Abakarov will be tested by former European champion Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) and Artem GOBAEV (UWW) at 61kg.

Dudaev will have tougher challenges at 65kg. He is likely to have a Paris rematch with silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) who is expected to be Iran's representative at the Asian Championships.

U23 world champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) is also entered and is always the biggest threat for the gold medal. Amouzad and Dudaev will be cautious of the rising star.

For Valiev, Yones EMAMI (IRI) and Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) could be the trouble-makers at 74kg, a weight class he is expected to dominate. Valiev and Salkazanov match for styles but Valiev seems to always find a way to score points while Salkazanov is more of a tactical wrestler who can play the clock well.

Naychn KUULAR (KAZ) Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ), a former U23 world champion, wrestling in Bundesliga. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 70kg, former U23 world champion Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ) is turning up for UWW competition after six years, this time for Kazakhstan. Kuular, who represented Russia previously, has kept himself in the news with a win over Olympic champion Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) in the Bundesliga, albeit at 71kg.

Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) won't have great memories of Tirana as he lost the World Championships semifinal to Abdulrashid SADULAEV in the last second and returned empty-handed. But he is back in Tirana with less expectations and pressure at 92kg as he begins an Olympic cycle in which he may finally get to be at the Olympics.

At 125kg, Olympic silver medalist Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) will be in action and the favorite to win gold medal as well.

Kyle SNYDER (USA) will be wrestling at back-to-back Ranking Series events. He won the gold medal in Zagreb and is expected to be in Tirana as well. A second gold medal this year will push him to the top of the ranking at 97kg.

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) is the world champion at 55kg but wrestling at 53kg in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling

Japan is sending its six Emperor's Cup winners to Tirana. The six include two world champions from last year as Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) and Ami ISHII (JPN) return to Tirana for another trip.

Others include former age-group world champion Umi ITO (JPN) who finished with a bronze at the U23 World Championships, will also be returning to Tirana. Former world champion Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) [nee OKUNO], is registered at 55kg, U20 world champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) is at 59kg, world bronze medalist Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) at 65kg and Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) is at 76kg.

China too is sending a strong but a relatively new team. It will be led by former 59kg world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) who is moving up to 62kg for this tournament. She will be wrestling for the Asian Championships spot as well against teammate LILI (CHN) who won world bronze medal in 2023.

Grace BULLEN (NOR) is returning to action at 62kg after Paris. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

However, Paris Olympic bronze medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) will be the favorite in this weight class which also Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) and Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL). Bullen will be wrestling at her first competition since winning the first Olympic medal for Norway in Women's Wrestling in Paris.

62kg silver medalist at Paris Olympic Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) is wrestling at 65kg for the Ranking Series. She will be up against former world champions Irina RINGACI (MDA) and Morikawa in her bracket which will be divided into two groups as the weight class has only seven wrestlers. There is a chance that all three wrestler end up in the same group.

Another loaded weight class is the 55kg in which Zagreb Open champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) will be looking to add a second gold medal of the Ranking Series. In Zagreb, she wrestled only one match -- final -- but Albania has a bigger bracket which also includes Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW), Okuno, Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) and Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR).

At 72kg, three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) will hope to win gold in Tirana as she lost the World Championships final here last year despite leading it at one point.

Her compatriot and former Asian champion Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) is registered at 76kg but her path to gold medal may not be as easy. The weight class also has Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) who will look to confirm her spot at 76kg for Ukraine in the new Olympic cycle.