#Grappling

Poland Steals Grappling Team Title from Russia

Monday, June 1, 2026 - 05:12 By Vinay Siwach

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YEREVAN, Armenia (May 28) -- Led by former world medalist Justyna SITKO (POL), Poland pipped Russia by a point to win the the women's Grappling team title at the European Championships in Yerevan, Armenia.

In five weight classes in action, Poland and Russia both won two golds but the former had better results in the weight classes it did not win the gold to score 89 points to Russia's 88 points. The fifth gold went to Spain as world champion Carlota PRENDES (ESP) won at 53kg.

Sitko, in a round-robin bracket with four other grapplers, began with a 9-2 victory over Kseniia BUSHKOVA (RUS) before submitting Sara BORTOLAMIOL (ITA) in Round 2. A 7-3 win over Vlada BOIAKHCHIEVA (RUS) and then a submission of compatriot Maja SALAMON (POL) sealed the gold medal for Sitko at 90kg.

The second gold medal for Poland was won by Martyna KAPUSCINSKA (POL) at 71kg after she secured a victory by decision over Snezhana MORAR (UKR) in the final.

Until the last two weight classes, Russia on a rampage. After dominating through the rounds, Olesia ZHURAVLEVA (RUS) met world champion Daria BRZOZOWSKA (POL) in the semifinals and won 2-1. She defeated Emma ROSINI (ITA), 6-2, in the final to win the 58kg gold medal.

Soon after, Alsu IANSHINA (RUS) worked on a submission on Liudmyla TSALAI (UKR) in the 64kg to win in just over four minutes and claim the second gold medal for Russia.

Carlota PRENDES (ESP)World champion Carlota PRENDES (ESP) is now a European champion as well. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman) 

At 53kg, Prendes once again dominated on the mat, winning yet another gold medal in a United World Wrestling competition. Her loss came in 2023 but since then, she has won four world titles, two each in Grappling and Grappling Gi.

At the European Championships, she won all four of her bouts via submission including a 51-second submission from Giulia ANGIOLINI (ITA) in the final.

Russia Wins Six Golds

In men's Grappling at the European Championships, Russia dominated its way to the team title. It scored 190 points and won six gold medals to finish at the top. Poland was second with 121 points while Spain was third with 86 points.

The Russian team with a mix of experience of youth, ran through its opposition especially two teenagers Shamil GUSEINOV (RUS) at 71kg and Aleksandr KARPENKOV (RUS) at 77kg, both winning gold.

But the gold rush began at 62kg, when Ruslan RADZHABKHANOV (RUS) won gold with a 3-0 decision over compatriot Igor KUZURGASHEV (RUS) in the final. In a low-scoring final, Radzhabkhanov controlled the bout for the entirety of the match.

At 66kg, Magomed SHAKHBANOV (RUS) was up against Yurii CHERKALIUK (UKR) in the final and after getting three points for Cherkaliuk's passivities, Shakhbanov scored a takedown for two points before being awarded three points for control in his 8-0 victory.

Guseinov was facing former world champion Iker CAMARA (ESP) in the final and rocked the arena with a 46-second fall over the Spaniard. He used a front headlock to secure the fall and claim the gold medal at 71kg.

Karpenkov at 77kg had to fight it out against Gazimagomed GAZIEV (RUS) in the final. He opened a 3-0 lead but was penalised twice for stalling as Gaziev closed the gap to 3-2. But as the clock expired, Gaziev challenged for control points but lost it which gave two more points to Karpenkov as he won 5-2.

World champion Mukamed URUSOV (RUS) gave no chance to Aleksandre TEVZADZE (GEO), winning the 100kg final 7-0 with ease. He scored three pushouts in standing to lead 3-0 before score two control takedowns to earn four points and the victory.

A world champion in Grappling Gi, Bilal KURBABAGAMAEV (RUS) earned the title of European champion at 130kg in Grappling after winning gold in Yerevan. After running through the Nordic bracket, he got a walkover from Eldar RAFIGAEV (MDA) in the final.

The remaining three golds were shared by Poland and host Armenia. Former European champion Mateusz MAZUR (POL) won the 92kg title with a 5-2 victory over Alibek SULEIMANOV (RUS) while Sebastian PATYK (POL) won 6-0 against Davud MAGOMEDOV (RUS) in the 84kg weight class.

Armenia's golden grappler was Razmik MISAKYAN (ARM) who held on for a tight 2-0 win over Alejandro REYES RODRIGUEZE (ESP) in the 58kg final.

RESULTS

Men's Grappling

58kg
GOLD: Razmik MISAKYAN (ARM) df. Alejandro REYES RODRIGUEZE (ESP), 2-0

BRONZE: Jakub BARDEN (POL) df. Zakhar DREMLIUHA (UKR), 6-5

62kg
GOLD: Ruslan RADZHABKHANOV (RUS) df. Igor KUZURGASHEV (RUS), 3-0

BRONZE: Mateusz HALAS (POL) df. Andrii TSVYK (UKR), 6-3
BRONZE: Loris ZANOLINI (ITA) df. Dmytro BARANOV (UKR), via submission (7-2)

66kg
GOLD: Magomed SHAKHBANOV (RUS) df. Yurii CHERKALIUK (UKR), 8-0

BRONZE: Mykhailo KAZYMERCHUK (UKR) df. Narek AYVAZYAN (ARM), via decision
BRONZE: Magomed KHIRAMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Maximilian REIFF (GER), via submission

71kg
GOLD: Shamil GUSEINOV (RUS) df. Iker CAMARA DOMINGUEZ (ESP), via submission (0-0)

BRONZE: Dzhimsher RAZMADZE (GEO) df. Avelino SANTOS RODRIGUEZ (ESP), via submission (5-3)
BRONZE: Kurban KADIEV (RUS) df. Artur GHERGHILINIC (MDA), 4-0

77kg
GOLD: Aleksandr KARPENKOV (RUS) df. Gazimagomed GAZIEV (RUS), 5-2

BRONZE: Jakub NAJDEK (POL) df. Illia SUKHODIEIEV (UKR), 5-2
BRONZE: Ouassim ADREUACH IDRISSI (ESP) df. Nahapet EKIZYAN (ARM), 7-4

84kg
GOLD: Sebastian PATYK (POL) df. Davud MAGOMEDOV (RUS), 6-0

BRONZE: Cristian TUGULEA (MDA) df. Suren KHURDAYAN (ARM), via submission
BRONZE: Christian FRILLICI (ITA) df. Roger DOMINGUEZ LOPEZ (ESP), 2-1

92kg
GOLD: Mateusz MAZUR (POL) df. Alibek SULEIMANOV (RUS), 5-2

BRONZE: Muslim MALSAGOV (RUS) df. Amirani SVIMONISHVILI (GEO), 8-0
BRONZE: Pablo ESTEPA NIETO (ESP) df. Joris ROOKHUIJZEN (NED), 4-2

100kg
GOLD: Mukhamed URUSOV (RUS) df. Aleksandre TEVZADZE (GEO), 7-0

BRONZE: Antonio SALTUPS CARETTO (ITA) df. Misha DILANYAN (ARM), via submission (6-0)

130kg
GOLD: Bilal KURBABAGAMAEV (RUS) df. Eldar RAFIGAEV (MDA), via decision

BRONZE: Aleksander KOLDOVSKI (UKR) df. Liviu MALUDA (MDA), 5-3

Women's Grappling

53kg
GOLD: Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) df. Giulia ANGIOLINI (ITA), via submission (2-0)

BRONZE: Natalia JAKUBOWICZ (POL) df. Sylwia WELC (POL), via submission (7-0)
BRONZE: Viktoriia ISAIEVA (UKR) df. Evelina FLORIAK (UKR), via submission (6-2)

58kg
GOLD: Olesia ZHURAVLEVA (RUS) df. Emma ROSINI (ITA), 6-2

BRONZE: Daria BRZOZOWSKA (POL) df. Alicja STYPULKOWSKA (POL), via submission (10-0)

64kg
GOLD: Alsu IANSHINA (RUS) df. Liudmyla TSALAI (UKR), via submission (5-1)

BRONZE: Raluca ROSCA (ITA) df. Mendy MACATIS (GER), 6-2

71kg
GOLD: Martyna KAPUSCINSKA (POL) df. Snezhana MORAR (UKR), via decision

BRONZE: Anna REMNEVA (RUS) df. Valentina PAVLOVA (RUS), 3-2

90kg
GOLD: Justyna SITKO (POL)
SILVER: Maja SALAMON (POL)
BRONZE: Vlada BOIAKHCHIEVA (RUS)

World Grappling Championships, #Grappling

Three golds for U.S. in women's Grappling World Championships

Tuesday, August 22, 2023 - 09:56 By Vinay Siwach

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WARSAW, Poland (August 23) -- The United States put on a dominant performance in the women's Grappling competition at the World Championships in Warsaw, entering six grapplers in six finals.

With three winning gold and three silver medals, the U.S. won the team title with 115 points while host nation Poland finished second as it won one gold and two silver medals for 75 points. Spain with its three bronze medals managed 51 points to finish third in the team race.

The session began with Faye CHERRIER (USA) upsetting European champion Pnina ARONOV (ISR), 4-2, in the 53kg gold medal bout. Aronov pulled Cherrier down but it was the American who controlled and scored the two points.

Aronov tried different submissions but Cherrier got out of the lock with ease. A point was awarded to Aronov as Cherrier stalled and a scramble led the two grapplers out of bounds. Resuming in neutral, Cherrier landed another takedown with control to lead 4-1 and was cautioned for one more point but that did not harm her chances to win 4-2.

Alexandria ENRIQUEZ (USA) continued the streak as she defeated returning bronze medalist Adrianna WOJARSKA (POL), 8-0, in the 58kg final. Opening the scoring with a stepout, Enriquez controlled a takedown behind the arms to add two more points. Never letting go of her grip, Enriquez scored exposure and controlled two blank Wokarska 8-0 in the final.

Meshy ROSENFELD (ISR) denied the U.S. three out of three gold medals as she defeated Sheliah LINDSEY (USA), 7-6, in a thrilling final at 64kg.

Rosenfeld began at the bottom and Lindsey scored two points early in the final. But the Israel grappler reversed and controlled for a brief second, enough to get two points. Lindsey instantly got control on top and led 4-2. Locking Lindsey's leg, Rosenfeld got on top and was awarded two points with 50 seconds left on the clock.

Lindsey scored two points by getting on top again to lead 6-4 with 35 seconds left in the match. Rosenfeld gave it a last shot, locking Lindsey's legs and rolling to get the top position. Lindsey lost balance and gave up two points which made Rosenfeld a 6-6 winner on criteria. The U.S. challenged the call but lost.

Former European medalist Magdalena LOSKA (POL) won by submission over Christina HANSEN (USA) to give the host country a gold medal at 71kg.

Tara WHITE (USA) won a bronze medal last year but upgraded to gold this year, beating Janina CZYCZYN (POL), 6-2, in the 90kg and ended the day on a high for the United States.

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Faye CHERRIER (USA) df. Pnina ARONOV (ISR), 4-2

BRONZE: Zhanna KASKINOVA (KAZ) df. Martyna IWAT (POL), 2-0
BRONZE: Carlota PRENDES (ESP) df. Maria RATCLIFF (PHI), 8-2

58kg
GOLD: Alexandria ENRIQUEZ (USA) df. Adrianna WOJARSKA (POL), 8-0

BRONZE: Janette GLOGER (GER) df. Botakoz YELDOSKYZY (KAZ), 7-2
BRONZE: Melissa BENEDINI (ITA) df. Tina BARANTAR (GRE), via submission (0-2)

64kg
GOLD: Meshy ROSENFELD (ISR) df. Sheliah LINDSEY (USA), 7-6

BRONZE: Janine MUTTON (CAN) df. Julija STOLIARENKO (LTU), via submission (2-0)
BRONZE: Anna CASTELLS (ESP) df. Snezhana MORAR (UKR), 0-0

71kg
GOLD: Magdalena LOSKA (POL) df. Christina HANSEN (USA), via submission (1-3)

BRONZE: Alycia QUENEE (FRA) df. Giulia RODIO (ITA), via submission (2-0)

90kg
GOLD: Tara WHITE (USA) df. Janina CZYCZYN (POL), 6-2

BRONZE: Claudia FORNES (ESP) df. Magdalena ZASZCZUDLOWICZ (POL), 11-1
BRONZE: Tammy GRIEGO (USA) df. Assel KABDYGALYMOVA (KAZ), via submission (6-0)