#kaspeuro2018

PREVIEW: 2018 Euro C'Ships

Saturday, April 28, 2018 - 13:25 By Eric Olanowski

KASPIISK, Russia (April 28) - Steered by Olympic champions Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) and Roman VLASOV (RUS), the Greco-Roman field at the European Championships is littered with Olympic medalists and returning world champions. Five of the six defending world champions will take to the mat on the opening days at the Palace of Sport and Youth for the 2018 European Championships in Dagestan, Russia.

Artur “The White Bear,” Aleksanyan will be seeking to repeat as champion with hopes of winning his fourth European title. Aleksanyan has suffered two defeats in the past five seasons, both coming at the European Championships. The Armenian last won a European title in 2014 but has won three world titles and an Olympic gold medal during his continental lull.

2017 world champion, Viktor NEMES (SRB).

The four-time world and Olympic champion Roman Vlasov will compete at 77kg, joining 2017 world medalists Viktor NEMES (SRB), Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) and Elvin MURSALIYEV (AZE).

Nemes has a world title on his resume but has yet to win a European gold medal. His best finish came in 2015 when he lost to Elvin Mursaliyev in the finals, 5-1.

Other returning champions that’ll make the trek to Dagestan include Tarek MOHAMED (BUL), Riza KAYAALP (TUR), Balint KORPASI (HUN), Viktor LORINCZ (HUN), and Artem SURKOV (RUS).

2017 world champion, Metehan BASAR (TUR).

Of those returning champions looking to uphold their crown, Mohamed will have the toughest road. To defend, he’ll have to knock off reigning world champion Metehan BASAR (TUR) and Rio bronze medalist Denis KUDLA (GER).

Riza KAYAALP (TUR) returns to action next week in Dagestan -- the Rio Olympic silver medalist and three-time world champion hasn’t lost a match at Europeans since 2011. He’ll be looking for his eighth European title, but will have to outdo last year’s runner-up Balint LAM (HUN) and 2018 Yarygin champion, Muradin KUSHKHOV (RUS).

2017 world champion, Yasmin ADAR (TUR).

Women's Wrestling
Returning world and European champions, Yasemin ADAR (TUR) and Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) lead a strong women’s contingent into Kaspiysk, with seven of eight defending champions taking the mats.

Defending champion Adar leads leads the way in the 75kg bracket, in what could be the most fascinating bracket. Depending on how the action wraps up on the first day of women’s wrestling, Adar could see Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR), which would be a rematch of the 2017 world finals that Adar took, 6-5.

Also expected to be in the mix at 75kg is two-time world medalist Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS), 2017 world silver medalist at 69kg, Aline FOCKEN (GER) and world bronze medalist, Epp MAE (EST).

Seven-time European champion, Mariya STADNIK (AZE).

Another highly anticipated weight class to pay attention to is 50kg, where Mariya STADNIK (AZE), the Olympic silver medalist will be looking for her eighth European championship. Stadnik has never suffered a defeat at a European Championship, but Emilia VUC (ROU), the world finalist from a year ago will be looking to change that stat.

The other four reigning champions that’ll be in action are Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS), Grace BULLEN (NOR), Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) and Monika MICHALIK (POL).

Three-time world and Olympic champion, Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS).

Freestyle
Headed by a quartet of Olympic gold medalists, Taha AKGUL (TUR), Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO), Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS), and Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE), freestyle returns seven of eight champions from 2017

Three-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist, Haji ALIYEV (AZE), defending champion, Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) and the two-time world and Olympic champion, Vladimer Khinchegashvili all take part in what is sure to be a dynamic, action-filled 65kg bracket.

Aliyev will be searching for his first European crown since 2014 while Khinchegashvili and Bekbulatov are on quests to capture back-to-back crowns.

A victory for Khinchegashvili, who hasn’t lost at a European Championship since 2013, would give the Georgian his fourth title, while Bekbulatov is in pursuit of his second overall.

Four-time European champion, Taha AKGUL (TUR).

Taha AKGUL (TUR) has his sights on winning his fifth European title; but the 2016 Olympic champions will most likely have to upend longtime rival and 2017 world champion, Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO). Akgul and Petriashvili have accounted for every world or Olympic gold medal dating back to 2014, and every European title dating back to 2012. The pair’s 2017 world finals in Paris is considered the greatest freestyle heavyweight wrestling match in history.

2012 Olympic champion, Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE). Photo by Tony Rotundo.

At 92kg it’s Olympic champions in Abdulrashid Sadulaev and Sharif Sharifov vying for top honors. The last time these two met was in the semifinals of the 2016 Olympic Games where Sadualev came out on top with an 8-1 victory.

Sharifov, the 2012 Olympic champion followed up his London performance with a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Games.

A victory for Sadulaev, the two-time world champion, and Olympic gold medalist would give the hometown favorite his fourth European Championship.

Two-time world champion, Frank CHAMIZO (ITA).

Other wrestlers looking to defend their titles include Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) and Riza YILDIRIM (TUR).

At74kg, the safe medal selections have to be two-time world champion, Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), world and Olympic bronze medalist, Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), and Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS).

Both Chamizo and Demirtas have multiple European titles under their belts, with Italian having a trio of golds and the Turk with a pair of championships. Meanwhile, Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS), 2017 world runner-up has never competed in a European Championship.

SCHEDULE:
Sunday - April 29
5:30 PM - Qualification rounds for GR 55kg,63kg, 77kg,87kg, and 130kg

Monday - April 30
11:00 AM - Qualification rounds for GR 55kg,63kg, 77kg,87kg, and 130kg
3:30 PM - Qualification rounds for GR 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, and 97kg
6:00PM - Semifinals for GR 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, and 130kg

Tuesday - May 1
11:00 AM - Qualification rounds for GR 60kg,67kg,72kg, 82kg, and 97kg
3:30 PM - Qualification rounds for WW 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg
4:45 PM - Opening Ceremony
5:15 PM - Semifinals for GR 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, and 97kg
6:00 PM - Finals for GR 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, and 130kg

Wednesday - May 2
11:00 AM - Qualification rounds for WW 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg
11:00 AM - Repechage for GR 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, and 97kg
2:00 PM - Qualification round for WW 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg
5:15 PM - Semifinals for WW 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg
6:00PM - Finals for GR

Thursday - May 3
11:00 AM - Qualification round for WW 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg
11:00 AM - Repechage for WW 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg
2:00 PM - Qualifications for FS 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg
5:15 PM - Semifinals for WW 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg
6:00PM - Finals for WW 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg

Friday - May 4
11:00 AM - Qualifications for FS 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg

11:00 AM - Repechage for WW 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg
2:30 PM - Qualification for FS 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 125 kg
5:15 PM - Semifinals for FS 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg
6:00PM - Finals for WW 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg

Saturday - May 5
11:00 AM - Qualification for FS 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 125 kg
11: 00 AM - Repechage for FS 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg
5:15 PM - Semifinals for FS 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 125 kg
6:00PM - Finals for for FS 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg

Sunday - May 6
4:00 PM - Repechage for FS 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 125 kg
6:00PM - Finals for FS 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 125 kg

#WrestleSamokov

Shkarin, Javadov complete Worlds and Europeans U20 golden double

Friday, August 22, 2025 - 16:31 By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 22) -- Mikhail SHKARIN (UWW) managed to pull off a continental and world double by winning the gold medal at the World U20 Championships on Friday. He won the gold medal at the European U20 Championships in July.

This is the second straight year that Shkarin has done that as he won the world and European U17 last year.

Wrestling Dias SEITKALIYEV (KAZ) in the 82kg final, Shkarin came out with his best defense in par terre to defend his 4-1 lead and win the gold medal.

"Last year I won Worlds and Europeans U17s, now Worlds and Europeans U20s," Shkarin said. "I don’t see anything supernatural in this. Everything is just working out for me."

Shkarin was in top form throughout the tournament with three technical superiority wins in three bouts and it was only in the final that he was test and did not manage to finish his bout before time.

In the semifinals, Shkarin blanked Martik PETROSYAN (ARM) while Seitkaliyev defeated Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) in the other semifinal. However, Shkarin was hoping to get a rematch against Yoshida who had defeated Shkarin in the 2023 world U17 final.

"The motivation for me at this World Championship was that I really wanted to take revenge on the Japanese wrestler," Shkarin said. "I even told my friends that I could leave this championship upset only if I lost to the Japanese again. Nothing else would upset me as much. But it’s not my fault, it’s his -- he didn’t reach the final."

With the World U20 gold won, Shkarin will look to move to the Olympic weight class -- 87kg -- next year and plan his journey towards winning the Olympic medal in the future.

"Next year I want to move up to the 87 kg weight category," he said. "I’ll start working on my physical shape, try to gain muscle mass, and gradually settle into the 87 kg weight class. I want to try competing at seniors level."

Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) celebrates after winning the gold medal at 60kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The last time the World U20 Championships were held in Bulgaria, Azerbaijan won crowned three champions in Greco-Roman. However, at the next two editions, the country failed to win gold.

The 2025 edition of the U20 Worlds, back in Bulgaria, seems to have brought luck back for Azerbaijan as the nation won its first gold in Greco-Roman in the first final.

European U20 champion and two-time world U17 champion Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) added a gold at the U20 level in his first year by beating Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM) in the 60kg final.

The 18-year-old showed no signs of discomfort in the new age-group and won three out of his five bouts via technical superiority or fall. In the final, he maintained a good lead throughout and defeat Mkhitaryan, also 18 years old, 12-5.

Javadov was put in par terre in he first period and Mkhitaryan scored two turns using gut0-wrench for a 5-0 lead but as he was trying to complete the third one, Javadov blocked him and scored two points. Armenia challenged the call but it was clear block and two points and Mkhitaryan led 5-3 at the break.

Javadov got the par terre in the second period but he failed to score any points. It was the third passivity with which the momentum of the final changed. Javadov asked for par terre after third passivity, which doesn't award any points. But Javadov managed to turn him for two and then a reverse lift for another two points to lead 8-5.

Mkhitaryan tried to jump over the head but it did not work out as Javadov controlled him and slammed him on mat for four points. He ultimately won 12-5.

"Since childhood I have been very self-confident," Javadov said. "Age makes no difference, I always believe I deserve first place."

Javadov has now not faced defeat for three years and the gold medal in Samokov. But the debut at U20 Worlds made him a little nervous.

"I couldn’t fully prepare mentally for the final bout, most likely my opponent wasn’t that good either," he said. "I made a couple of mistakes and gave up points, but then I managed to pull myself together. In the second period I realized that my opponent was very tired, and I understood that I could take the advantage and win."

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) df. Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM), 12-5

BRONZE: Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) df. Omer ALTAS (TUR), 9-0 (victory via cautions)
BRONZE: SURAJ (IND) df. Lucas LO GRASSO (FRA), 1-1

82kg
GOLD: Mikhail SHKARIN (UWW) df. Dias SEITKALIYEV (KAZ), 4-1

BRONZE: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) df. PRINCE (IND), 11-0
BRONZE: Azimjon SOATULLAEV (UZB) df. Martik PETROSYAN (ARM), 8-0

PREVIEW: 2018 Euro C'Ships

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Shkarin, Javadov complete Worlds and Europeans U20 golden double