Perfect Russia Puts Five Wrestlers in Finals at U23 Euros

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - 00:24 By Vinay Siwach

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 9) -- Five wrestlers took the mat for Russia on day one of the U23 European Championships in Zrenjanin, Serbia on Monday and all five reached the final.

The first continental championships of 2026 began with Freestyle competition in 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg at the Kristalna Dvorana Arena and Russia emerged as the best team.

Led by Takhir KHANIEV (RUS), fresh off his win against world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) in Tirana, Russian wrestlers dominated on their way to the finals, to be played Tuesday.

Khaniev, a U23 world silver medalist at 92kg, wrestled former U17 world champion Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals and won 14-4, his second victory via technical superiority of the day.

Petriashvili scored the first point when he blocked a throw from Khaniev and got two points. He then scored exposure points during an exchange to lead 4-2. But Khaniev managed to push Petriashvili and eventually broke the Georgian to complete the victory.

He will face former U20 European champion Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) for the gold medal after the Ukrainian defeated Zafar ALIYEV (AZE), 6-2. Prymachenko never seemed in danger of losing the bout against Aliyev.

Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) will wrestle for the 79kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Khaniev's brother Ismail also made it to the final at 79kg after he outscored his opponents 30-0 in three bouts. He led 9-0 in his semifinal against Mateusz PEDZICKI (POL) before the Poland wrestler complained of a shoulder injury that forced him to abandon the semifinal.

For the gold medal, Khaniev will face Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE) who secured a close 4-1 victory over Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO) in the other semifinal.

Defending champion at 70kg Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) booked a final against U20 world silver medalist Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) after the two dominated their way to the final.

Eltermirov scored a 11-0 victory over Marcel WAGIN (GER) while Gaidarli managed to beat Mykyta SARIIEV (UKR), 10-0, in the semifinals. Both are yet to give up a point in the tournament so far.

Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) squares off against Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM) in the 65kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In a battle of U20 world bronze medalists at 65kg, Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) defeated Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM), 9-6, and enter the final against Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS).

Magamedkhanov fell behind 2-0 early in the bout before he closed the gap to 4-3 at the break. In the second period, he scored from a front chest-wrap twice to lead 7-4. When he attempted it for the third time, Musikyan blocked it and scored two points to cut the lead to 7-6.

The Armenian was close to scoring a takedown which would have given him the lead but Magamedkhanov scrambled out of the hold and countered Musikyan for a takedown in the final 10 seconds to win 9-6.

Kizinov was in more control of his semifinal against Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), blanking the Ukrainian 6-0. He scored a point when Borohan was put on the activity clock before a stepout made his lead 2-0. A takedown and turn made it 6-0 before the break. No points were scored in the second period as the Russian entered the final.

Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) will wrestle for the 57kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 57kg, former U17 world champion Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) will face Aiandai ONDAR (RUS) for the gold medal.

Baghirov, with his stealthy defense, kept Nikoloz BOTCHRISHVILI (GEO) at a distance and led 3-1 with 15 seconds to go. But the Georgian managed to hit a single-leg takedown and dump him outside the zone. However, it was scored only one point for Botchrishvili.

Georgia challenged the call but lost it to add one more point to Baghirov's score. A late takedown sealed his 6-2 victory.

Ondar took 56 seconds to beat Artsiom PAULIUCHENKA (BLR), 10-0, using a trap-arm gut.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) vs. Aiandai ONDAR (RUS)

SF 1: Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) df. Nikoloz BOTCHORISHVILI (GEO), 6-2
SF 2: Aiandai ONDAR (RUS) df. Artsiom PAULIUCHENKA (BLR), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) vs. Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS)

SF 1: Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) df. Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM), 9-6
SF 2: Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS) df. Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), 6-0

70kg
GOLD: Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) vs. Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA)

SF 1: Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) df. Marcel WAGIN (GER), 11-0
SF 2: Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) df. Mykyta SARIIEV (UKR), 10-0

79kg
GOLD: Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) vs. Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE)

SF 1: Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) df. Mateusz PEDZICKI (POL), via inj. def. (9-0)
SF 2: Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE) df. Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO), 4-1

97kg
GOLD: Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) vs. Takhir KHANIEV (RUS)

SF 1: Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) df. Zafar ALIYEV (AZE), 6-2
SF 2: Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) df. Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 14-4

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Day 1 Results & Highlights

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - 08:23 By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 15) -- The last stop for the Ranking Series in Budapest will kick off with Freestyle. Wrestlers in 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg will take the mat and aim to win the medals.

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86kg semifinals: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) moves into the 86kg final after a 10-0 win over Nan CAO (CHN) using leg lace to score his points. He seemed injured at the end and needed medical assistance. He will, if healthy, wrestle Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) for the gold medal after the Georgian defeated compatriot Tornike SAMKHARADZE (GEO), 12-4.

74kg semifinals: Feng LU (CHN) with a stepout in the final second of the 74kg semifinals against Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) to complete a stunning, 2-2, criteria win and advance to the final. He will now face former 70kg world champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) who got the better of Muhammed BESIR (TUR). Besir led 2-2 on criteria but Kaipanov got on the legs and scored exposure for two points, a counter from Besir made it 4-4 criteria lead for Besir. However, Kaipanov did not let go off his hold and exposed Besir again to win 6-4. Besir challenged the scoring but lost it to add one more point to Kaipanov's score.

70kg semifinals: Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) stuns world silver medalist Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), 3-2, in the semifinals. He will face Ridge LOVETT (USA) for the gold medal after the American pinned U23 world champion Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE).

65kg semifinals: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) reaches his second straight Ranking Series final after a 10-0 win over Mohit KUMAR (IND). He used a strong gut-wrench and leg lace to complete a 10-0 win over Kumar. He will now try to claim the gold medal when he faces Abbas EBRAHIMZADEH (IRI) who got the better of Vishal KALIRAMANA (IND), 5-5 on criteria. Up 2-1, Ebrahimzadeh gave up a takedown and turn but countered the next attempt and scored two points. He also scored a turn to take the criteria lead and the win.

61kg semifinals: Tolga OZBEK (TUR) gives Turkiye a finalist in Budapest after beating Adilet ALMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ), 15-7, in a high-scoring semifinal. Ozbek with constant takedowns that rattled Almukhanmedov. Ozbek will now try to beat another Kazakhstan wrestler for the gold medal when he takes on Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) in the final. Aitakyn reached the final after beating DEEPAK (IND), 2-1, in the other semifinal. Deepak, who won gold at the Ulaanbaatar Open, failed to find any opening in the second period in which Aitakyn scored a takedown for two points.

57kg semifinals: An 11-0 victory for AMAN (IND) over European champion Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) in the 57kg semifinals. Aman works stepouts in the first period and Bazaganov is called passive as well. A takedown and turn make it 7-0 for Aman at the break. He comes back to score a takedown and one turn using Figure 4 to win

For the gold medal, Aman will take on Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) who blanks Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ), 4-0, in the others semifinal. He scored two points in each period for the win.

Semifinals will start soon after the last quarterfinals.

13:30: Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) scores eight points in the second period and beats Sagar JAGLAN (IND), 8-1, at 74kg. He scored a stepout before getting a point for Jaglan's passivity to add to the takedown he scored. He then comes out with big throw for four points to make it 8-1 and secure the win.

13:15: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) blanks Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ), 10-0, at 65kg. No trouble for Mamedov as he scored five different takedowns for an easy win advance to the semifinals

12:52: Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) scored the opening takedown on AMAN (IND) in their 57kg bout he could not sustain the pressure and counter Aman's relentless attacks. Aman eventually wins 10-3

12:43: At 70kg, Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) and Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) traded four pointers but it was Tumur Ochir who did it in the last minute and pinned Muszukajev. Tumur Ochir led 2-0 after two activity clock points but Muszukajev hit a four-pointer soon after to make it 4-2. He challenged asking for more points but there were none in that sequence, losing the challenge. Tumur Ochir, lead 4-3 now, scored a stepout but Muszukajev still had a 4-4 criteria lead. Then both went in a bear hug position and Tumur Ochir hit the throw for four and the fall.

12:38: A huge win for Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) as he takes out European champion Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 5-0, at 74kg. Kuramagomedov blocked out Salkazanov who failed to find any scoring moves.

12:30: European champion Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) with scores off two counters to beat RAHUL (IND), 5-3, at 57kg. Both were called passive but it was Bazarganov who scored a stepout and takedown to maintain a lead.

12:25: Sagar JAGLAN (IND), who won gold medal at the Ulaanbaatar Open, produces the leg lace and rolls to a 10-0 win over Sangho HAN (KOR) at 74kg.

12:22: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) and his conditioning gave up against Tornike SAMKHARADZE (GEO). Leading 5-0 in the 86kg bout, Savadkouhi dropped the match 15-5 and 15 seconds remaining.

12:15: Peiman BIABANI (CAN) got two points for Quentin STICKER (FRA) passivity and then stuck to that lead despite giving up a point. Sticker, down 2-1, tried a few moves late in the bout but Biabani managed to counter it and score four points and win 6-1 at 65kg.

12:10: Farhad NOURI (UWW), a refugee wrestlers and European bronze medalist, starts his 74kg campaign with a technical superiority 10-1 win over Jorge GATICA (CHI). Here's Nouri's story.

12:05: Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ) manages to secure a fall over U23 European champion Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) using a cradle and advance at 65kg.

12:00: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) moves into the next round at 86kg after Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) abandons the bout due to injury. It seemed that Sakayev hit head first on the mat that caused the bleeding. Magamdov was leading 4-0 when the stoppage occured.

11:50: Stunning result for Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO) as he pins Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) at 61kg. Abakarov had a comfortable 6-0 lead but Goniashvili used a head pinch for four points and then pinned Abakarov who tried find a foul in the move but there was none.

11:30: Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) stuns Asian champion ABHIMANYOU (IND) at 70kg. Elahi scores a takedown and then rolls Abhimanyou four times for a technical superiority win.

10:45: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) begins with a technical superiority win over Adil OSPANOV (KAZ) at 65kg. Mamedov competed at the Ulaanbaatar Open and reached the final. He was on the verge of upsetting Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in the final as he led 8-0. But Amouzad mounted a comeback and won 17-10.

10:45: Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ) controls the first match against Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI) throughout and wins 13-2 at 65kg. Khorramdel opened a few attacks but Kuular never looked in trouble. He even had a solid cardio

Perfect Russia Puts Five Wrestlers in Finals at U23 Euros

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Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Day 1 Results & Highlights