#WrestleWarsaw

Record Breaking Euro Title Wins for Stadnik, Maee

By Vinay Siwach

WARSAW, Poland (April 22) --- Mariya STADNIK (AZE) has been unbeaten in Europe for the last 11 years. Ever since the 32-year-old began competing at the senior level back in 2009, Stadnik has yet to drop a bout.

Day Four women's wrestling photo gallery.

She extended her unbeaten record to one more year as she captured her ninth senior-level continental title (Championships and Games) and 11th overall at the European Championships in Warsaw on Thursday.

Her performance in Warsaw could well be the trailer of what the three-time Olympic medalist can do at the Tokyo Olympics later this year as she continues her search for a long-awaited gold medal at the Games.

In a disappointing finish, Russia could manage only one gold medal despite having four wrestlers in five finals on day two of women's wrestling.

Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) at 59kg, who won her fourth European title at the senior level, Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) at 68kg and Epp MAEE (EST) at 76kg snatched the gold medals from Russia's hands at the spectator-less Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa COS Torwar stadium.

After skipping the 2019 and 2020 editions of the continental championships and being off the mat for 581 days, Stadnik stormed to the 50kg final on Wednesday in dominating fashion, beating Oksana LIVACH (UKR) 10-4. A day later, the two-time world champion put on a show of defense and experience to beat Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) 7-2.

The Bulgarian caught Stadnik by surprise at the beginning with a huge lock-and-lift to get two points. But Stadnik bounced back with a single leg to level the score. She scored a takedown and a stepout to lead 5-2 after the first period. She got another single-leg takedown in the second period to make it 7-2.

No attack from Selishka was strong enough to stop the Azerbaijani from winning a record 11th title and celebrating with childlike enthusiasm with the national flag.

In the bronze medal bout, two world bronze medalists clashed as Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS) and Oksana LIVACH (UKR) put on a show. In a back-and-forth bout that went down to the wire, Poleshchuk edged Livach 10-9 to claim the bronze medal.

The bout began on a slow note as it was a 1-0 lead for Livach but 18 points were scored in the second period with Poleshchuk winning the battle of takedowns.

The second bronze medal went to Anna LUKASIAK (POL) as she defeated Emilia BUDEANU (MDA) 10-0. It was a special moment for her as she had failed to reach the European podium in her previous seven attempts. The 33-year-old finally captured her long-away continental medal and she did so in her home country.

Anna LUKASIAK (POL) European Championships 2021
 Anna LUKASIAK (POL) after winning the bronze -- her first-ever medal at European Championships -- at 50kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In a record-breaking performance, Maee became Estonia's first-ever senior-level gold medalist in women's wrestling and ended an 82-year wait for her country to have a senior champion in all styles.

Johannes Kotkas was Estonia's last Euro champion back in 1939 when he won the gold medal at 87kg Greco-Roman weight category at the Oslo Championships.

Maee spoiled the party for Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) as she hung on for a 1-1 victory in the 76kg final over the two-time Olympic medalist. With the win, the ever-tough heavyweight category got one more gold medal contender for the Tokyo Games.

Maee gave up a point for passivity in the first period but she got one for the Russian inactivity in the second period. With 1:18 left, Maee played the clock and claimed her first-ever gold medal at the senior European Championships since she first competed in 2011.

Young star Larroque showed that she is ready for the Tokyo Games as she claimed her first European title at 68kg in the fourth attempt. After qualifying for the Games in Budapest last month, the French wrestler pulled off a thrilling 3-2 win over Khanum VELIEVA (RUS).

The two should have met in the Olympic Qualifying tournament final but Velieva injury defaulted. The highly anticipated bout between the two young stars began with Larroque taking a 3-0 lead in the first period, all points scored via stepouts and passivity.

Velieva, who also qualified Russia for Tokyo from Budapest, scored two stepouts of her own to make it 3-2 but could not get at least one more point to win the gold medal.

Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS) was the third Russian wrestler to finish with a silver as Dudova managed to win her fourth European title with ease. It was her focus to win the fourth title that helped her claim a 5-1 win at 59kg.

Bilyana Dudova Euro Championships 2021
Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) won her fourth European title on Thursday. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

"The Russian was a very tough wrestler but I told myself to concentrate hard and not lose focus in the final," Dudova said. "It's great to win the fourth title for my country and I have shown who I am.

"I was telling myself that I will be a European champion again. I did it today."

The only Russian wrestler to win the gold on Thursday was Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) as she claimed the 55kg title against Roksana ZASINA (POL) after a tight 2-2 win in the final.

The bronze medals at 55kg went to Khrystyna DEMKO (UKR) who defeated nJessica BLASZKA (NED) 9 - 4 while Andreea ANA (ROU) won the second bronze by beating Katsiaryna PICHKOUSKAYA (BLR) 12-0

Defending champion at 59kg Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) came back after her semifinal loss on Thursday to defeat Elif YANIK (TUR) via fall and claim the bronze medal. The second bronze went to Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU) who just managed to pull off against Yuliya PISARENKA (BLR) 3-3.

Alina MAKHYNIA (UKR) got a fall over Nesrin BAS (TUR) while Individual World Cup silver medalist Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) completed a victory by technical superiority over Ilana KRATYSH (ISR) to claim the bronze medals at 68kg.

In a fierce battle of 76kg rivals, Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) beat Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) 4-0 to win the bronze medal while Cynthia Vanessa VESCAN (FRA) completed a 13-0 win over Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE) to win the second bronze at the weight category.

Aline FOCKEN European Championships 2021

Ukraine's field day

If Russia had a field day on Wednesday, it was the turn of Ukraine on Thursday as the European nation sent three of their wrestlers in the final out of the five remaining weight categories of women's wrestling.

Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) and Alla BELINSKA (UKR) made it to the finals of the 62kg, 65kg and 72kg weight categories.

At 53kg, Rio Olympian Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) set up a final against Euro champ at 55kg Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS). The two had dominating semifinal wins as both won by a nine-point difference.

Prevolaraki stopped Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) from advancing to the final while Khoroshavtseva almost had a technical superiority win over Iulia LEORDA (MDA) but finished one point short to win 9-0.

While Vynnyk lost a one-sided bout, her compatriot Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) had almost made it to the final but was stunned by Anhelina LYSAL (POL).

A month after qualifying Ukraine for the Olympics at 57kg, Akobiia was looking good for another finals appearance but Lysak, who was trailing 1-8, got Akobiia in a front headlock and exposed her for two points. She continued the hold and got the pin to reach the final, ending Akobiia's dream of a first European gold medal at senior level after she finished second last year.

Lysak will now face Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) who will look to build on her gold medal-winning performance at the Individual World Cup in December last year in Belgrade, Serbia.

As other wrestlers had a tough day on the mat, Kurachkina absolutely dominated her three bouts, winning all of them via technical superiority.

At 62kg, ever since her silver medal-winning performance in the Rio Olympics, Valeria KOBLOVA (RUS) has found it difficult to regain her form and Thursday was no exception.

The multiple-time Europe champion fell 5-2 to Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), who was one of the four Ukraine wrestler who qualified her country for the Tokyo Games.

Before her semifinal, Koliadenko had won her two bouts with ease and in similar fashion had little to no trouble against Koblova. She will now wrestle multiple-time European medalist Marina SASTIN (HUN).

The veteran from Hungary did not step on the mat on Thursday and reached the final at 62kg as both her opponents forfeited. She will be looking to win her first European gold medal on Friday.

In what will be a rematch of the 65kg final at the Individual World Cup from last year, Irina RINGACI (MDA) will face Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) on Friday and will try to avenge her loss from Serbia.

Rizhko had dominated Ringaci in the final in Belgrade by winning the gold medal 14-4. But both looked a notch above everyone else in Warsaw, winning their semifinals by technical superiority.

In the final weight category of women's wrestling that was in action on Thursday, Alla BELINSKA (UKR) set up a final against Yuliana YANEVA (BUL).

With the win in the semifinal against Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS), Belinska confirmed herself a first senior-level European medal. She will like to win the gold but standing in her way is Bulgari's young talent and World Cup winner at 72kg Yaneva, who won 3-1 in the semifinal against Dalma CANEVA (ITA).

Apart from the women's wrestling finals, Greco-Roman action will begin on Friday in Warsaw with five weight categories  --  55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, and 130kg -- in action.

Epp Maee Euro Championships 2021
Epp MAEE (EST) won her first European Championships gold medal in Warsaw. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Final Results Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD- Mariya STADNIK (AZE) df. Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL), 7-2

BRONZE- Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS) df. Oksana LIVACH (UKR), 10-9
BRONZE- Anna LUKASIAK (POL) df. Emilia CIRICU BUDEANU (MDA), 10-0

55kg
GOLD - Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) df. Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL), 2-2

BRONZE - Khrystyna DEMKO (UKR) df. Jessica Francisca BLASZKA (NED), 9-4
BRONZE - Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) df. Katsiaryna PICHKOUSKAYA (BLR), 10-0

59kg
GOLD - Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL) df. Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS), 5-1

BRONZE - Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Elif YANIK (TUR), via fall
BRONZE - Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU) vs. Yuliya PISARENKA (BLR), 3-3

68kg
GOLD - Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA) df. Khanum VELIEVA (RUS), 3-2

BRONZE - Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR) df. Nesrin BAS (TUR), via fall
BRONZE - Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) df. Ilana KRATYSH (ISR), 10-0

76kg
GOLD - Epp MAEE (EST) df. Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS), 1-1

BRONZE - Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) df. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR), 4-0
BRONZE - Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE) vs. Cynthia Vanessa VESCAN (FRA), 13-0

Finals matchups Friday

53kg
GOLD - Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) vs. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)

SEMIFINAL - Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) df. Iulia LEORDA (MDA, 9-0 
SEMIFINAL - Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 11-2

57kg 
GOLD -Anhelina LYSAK (POL) vs. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR)

SEMIFINAL - Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS), 11-0
SEMIFINAL - Anhelina LYSAK (POL) df. Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR), via fall

62kg
GOLD - Marianna SASTIN (HUN) vs. Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR)

SEMIFINAL - Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Valeria KOBLOVA ZHOLOBOVA (RUS), 5-2
SEMIFINAL - Marianna SASTIN (HUN) df. Katarzyna MADROWSKA (POL), via injury

65kg
GOLD - Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) vs. Irina RINGACI (MDA)

SEMIFINAL - Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) df. IrIna Petrovna NETREBA (AZE), 11-1
SEMIFINAL - Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL), 13-2

72kg
GOLD - Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. Yuliana YANEVA (BUL)

SEMIFINAL - Yuliana Vasileva YANEVA (BUL) df. Dalma CANEVA (ITA), 3-1
SEMIFINAL - Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS), via fall

#WrestleTirana

Ghasempour buries ghosts of past to win Tirana gold; Yoshida stuns Snyder

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 27) -- "Today when I was standing on the podium, I remembered it."

Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) replays the match in his mind as he speaks. He remembers the move and the loss clearly. At the World Championships in October last year, Ghasempour was four seconds away from upsetting Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) but the latter pulled off an incredible move to beat Ghasempour in the semifinal. While Sadulaev won the gold, Ghasempour returned empty-handed after losing his bronze-medal bout to David TAYLOR (USA).

Ghasempour may not be able to completely erase the memories of that loss with the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series gold medal he won on Thursday, but he says it will help him move on.

"Last year, in this very hall, it was a very bad scene for me," Ghasempour said. "Even today when I was standing on the podium, I remembered it. I should have gone to the Championship podium [at the World Championships]. The regret remained. But well, it's wrestling, and that's part of the events in sports. I tried to forget it and continue on my path."

On Thursday, Ghasempour returned to Tirana at 92kg and showed once again why he is one of the best at 92kg in the world. Wrestling in three bouts, he did not give up a single point [28-0], and scored two technical superiority wins including the final.

"The competition went well," he said. "I was able to wrestle with three good opponents in this tournament and fortunately, I managed to achieve first place. The wrestler [in the final] was a good competitor. I had watched his matches beforehand and planned well. My goal was to put on a good performance, and thankfully, I succeeded."

Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI)Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) sees off Alan BAGAEV (UWW) in the 92kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In his first bout against world silver medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), Ghasempour ran to an 8-0 lead before moving to defense. He then gut-wrenched Feyzulla AKTURK (TUR) and in the final, he broke Alan BAGAEV (UWW) with ease to win with two minutes remaining.

"I've been wrestling in the 92 kg weight class for several years," he said. "Despite that unfortunate result [last year], this arena was a good field for me. I'm trying to increase my readiness and participate in the next competitions."

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) defeated Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (UWW) 10-0 in the 125kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Paris Olympic silver medalist Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) added a second gold medal to Iran's tally on Thursday as he defeated Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (UWW) in the 125kg final.

Leading up to the final Zare, who had his elbow tapped, looked shaky in his movements on the mat but come the final, he made sure Khizriev wasn't much of a problem.

Zare scored a step out to open the final and then got a point for Khizriev's passivity. A takedown and turn later, Zare was up 6-0 and by the break, Zare had Khizriev struggling with conditioning. As soon as the second period began, Zare was not having any of Khizriev's flamboyance and scored a takedown and a gut to finish it in no time.

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) blocks an attack from Erfan ALIZADEH (IRI) in the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

A third Iranian wrestler could have won gold medal but Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), who had perhaps his biggest day in international wrestling, denied Erfan ALIZADEH (IRI) in the 97kg final.

Yoshida led 1-1 on criteria at the break in the final after he scored the stepout after Alizadeh's stepout. In the second period, Yoshida got the point for Alizadeh's passivity and then scored a stepout to lead 3-1 with 90 seconds left on the clock.

Alizadeh managed to score a stepout with seven seconds on the clock but Yoshida closed it out to win 3-2 to cap off a remarkable day of wrestling for him.

"I can say that it was a great day because I won at 97kg category," Yoshida said.

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) scores a takedown against Kyle SNYDER (USA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

This final, however, was not Yoshida's biggest win of the day. Earlier in the semifinals, he defeated former world and Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) 5-5, his biggest win of the career.

Yoshida, however, dismissed that.

"That was kind a win by luck," he said. "Good technique at good timing but it was by chance I think."

Yoshida, who seems small for 97kg, was in all sorts of trouble for five minutes and 30 seconds of the match. Snyder clearly overpowered Yoshida and scored a takedown on the edge and as Yoshida was trying to sneak out of the hold, Snyder scored a pushout, all while Yoshida was on activity time.

Snyder led 4-0 before giving up a stepout and as both wrestlers maintained the intensity in the second period, Snyder's strength and positioning didn't let Yoshida get his on his attacks.

However, Yoshida managed to get a cut-back and a turn to lead 5-5 on criteria with 30 seconds on the clock. Despite Snyder's efforts, Yoshida managed to remain in contact and not get scored on to complete a top-class win.

"I compete in Bulgaria. I tried my best to prepare perfectly for this tournament also, but yeah I can say I still have tiredness from that," he said.

Despite the win over Snyder, Yoshida will continue training in his usual style to remain calm for big tournaments.

"I train like I always do," he said. "When I’m preparing for tournaments I become nervous but I think it’s important to do usual things to keep calm"

 

At 79kg, Gadzhimurad ALIKHMAEV (UWW) managed a perfect final to beat Paris Olympian Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 4-1, and claim the gold medal.

Alikhmaev as wrestling only at the his second Ranking Series event of the career, having wrestling last at the Yasar Dogu in 2022. Since, he has been out of action for three years.

Japan dominated Women's Wrestling as usual winning two golds on offer on Thursday.

Umi ITO (JPN), who suffered her first international loss at the U23 World Championships in Tirana last year, made sure she took home better memories, winning the gold medal at 50kg.

Wrestling Paris Olympian Oksana LIVACH (UKR) in the final, Ito needed just 33 seconds to get a 10-0 technical superiority win, her fourth of the day.

Barring the quarterfinal against Nadezha SOKOLOVA (UWW) who threw Ito for a four-pointer using a headlock, the Japanese was in complete control of her bouts.

"In October, I lost at the U23 World Championships in Tirana and I felt extremely frustrated," Ito said. "But I'm very happy to be able to talk about that frustration on the same stage. After the U23s ended, I learned that I make small mistakes and give chances to my opponents, and that those kind of mistakes can affect the outcome of a match."

Despite her impeccable record internationally, Ito has not representated Japan at the senior World Championships as she is stuck behind Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN).

"Both Sasaki and Yoshimoto are opponents I have to defeat in order to participate in the Olympics," she said. "I believe that if I don't win at home first, we won't be able to win at the World Championships. So even after I return to Japan, I'll continue to practice and overcome the challenges so that I can win the Meiji Cup next June."

Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN)Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) defeated Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) in the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan won its second gold medal in Women's Wrestling through three-time world champion Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO (JPN) defeated Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) 5-0 in the 55kg final.

She opened the day on a slow note, winning only 2-0 against Karla GODINEZ (CAN) but blanked former world silver medalist Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) 10-0.

In the final, Khoroshavtseva was cautioned when Maruyama scored a stepout. With a 2-0 lead, Maruyama was content to keep the lead but Khoroshavtseva used open hands on the face and was cautioned again which gave one more point to the Japanese. A takedown late in the bout made it 5-0 for Maruyama.

RESULTS

Freestyle

79kg
GOLD: Gadzhimurad ALIKHMAEV (UWW) df. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 4-1

BRONZE: Ahmad MAGOMEDOV (MKD) df. Evan WICK (USA), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN) df. Hayk PAPIKYAN (ARM), 5-2

92kg
GOLD: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Alan BAGAEV (UWW), 11-0

BRONZE: Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA) df. Ahmed BATAEV (BUL), 3-1
BRONZE: Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), via inj. def.

97kg
GOLD: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Erfan ALIZADEH (IRI), 3-2

BRONZE: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Dato PIRUZASHVILI (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE: Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) df. Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK), 4-0

125kg
GOLD: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (UWW), 10-0

BRONZE: Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) df. Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO), 4-0
BRONZE: Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) df. Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR), via inj. (8-6)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Umi ITO (JPN) df. Oksana LIVACH (UKR), 10-0

BRONZE: Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (UWW) df. Katie DUTCHAK (CAN), 10-0
BRONZE: Erin GOLSTON (USA) df. MEIDUOLAJI (CHN), 4-2

55kg
GOLD: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) df. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW), 5-0 

BRONZE: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) df. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 10-0
BRONZE: Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) df. Karla GODINEZ (CAN), 3-1