Beach wrestling

Romania Sweeps Women’s Division; Pakistan’s Inam Repeats on the Beach

Sunday, October 7, 2018 - 21:39 By Marc Berman

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SARIGERME, Turkey (October 7) --  The 2018 Beach Wrestling World Championships wrapped up Sunday in the coastal Turkish city of Sarigerme with wrestlers from Romania sweeping the women’s division, and Pakistan’s Muhammad INAM the lone wrestler to successfully defend his 2017 world title.

In all, 159 wrestlers from 17 nations took to the sand with a number of nations medaling in United World Wrestling’s fastest growing style.

Stefania Claudia PRICEPUTU (ROU) set the standard for her Romanian teammates early, besting Sevil ALIOGLU (TUR) 3-0 in the 50kg division gold medal final. Priceputu had defeated teammate Maria Alexandra CIOCLEA (ROU) in the semifinal on her way to the finals.
Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU)
In the 60kg finals it was Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU) stopping Francesca INDELICATO (ITA) to win Romania’s second gold. Indelicato had been cruising past opponents all weekend, but it was Incze who found a last-minute takedown to earn her first world title and Romania’s second-straight gold.

Adina Elena POPESCU (ROU) kept up Romania’s winning ways upsetting returning champion Charlotte SKAUEN (NOR). Skauen found herself down 2-0 halfway through the match but was able to fight onto the board with a hard-won takedown. Despite Skauen’s late flurry of activity Popescu found an opening, attacked and sealed her first world title, 3-1.

Catalina AXENTE completed Romania’s sweep of the women’s division defeating Aikaterini Eirini PITSIAVA (GRE) in the +70kg final, 2-1. With her victory, Romania became the first women’s team to ever win all weight divisions at the Beach Wrestling World Championships.
Muhammad Inam of Pakistan celebrates after defending his 90kg title against Irakli Mtsituri (not in photo) of Georgia during the second and final day of the UWW Beach Wrestling World Championships in Serigerme, Turkey on October 7, 2018 (Photo: Dean Treml)

Back on the men’s side it was Pakistan’s Inam who would inspire the local crowd on his way to making history. The young wrestler had already became the first from Pakistan to win a Beach Wrestling world title, but in besting Irakli MTSITURI (GEO), 3-1 he was also the first to repeat, and the first Pakistani wrestler to win any world title back-to-back.

Konstantine KHABALASHVILI (GEO)

At +90kg Baki SAHIN (TUR) was Turkey’s lone representative in the men’s final and didn’t let down the home crowd, upsetting former Olympian Rares Daniel CHINTOAN (ROU). Sahin was down early, but was able to score a late takedown for the win.

Georgia took the other two gold medals, winning the 70kg and 80kg titles. Konstantine KHABALASHVILI (GEO) defeated the returning champion Semen RADULOV (UKR) in the highly anticipated 70kg final. Khabalashvili, who is a medalist at the Europeans in freestyle wrestling, took down Mehmet Emin OGUT (TUR) in the semifinal before defeating Radulov in the finals match, 3-1.

Teammate Jakob MAKARASHVILI (GEO) defeated Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) 2-0 to bring home a second gold medal for Georgia. Makarashvili represented Georgia at the 2016 Olympics and was dominant all weekend capping his weekend with a dominant 3-0 victory in the finals.

There were more than 300 matches competed at the Beach Wrestling World Championships, with 20 overall champions coming from the Cadets, Juniors and Senior divisions.

The 2018 Beach Wrestling World Championships also served as a qualifying event for the 2019 Beach Games, a quadrennial sporting event held next summer in California’s San Diego, USA while Beach Wrestling will expand its offerings in 2019 with a tentatively approved global tour capped by an annual prize event.
 

Men's Beach Wrestling


70kg
GOLD: Konstantine KHABALASHVILI (GEO) df. Semen RADULOV (UKR), 3-1
BRONZE: Mehmet Emin OGUT (TUR) df. Gheorghe Constantin CONSTANTIN (ROU), 5-0

80kg
GOLD: Jakob MAKARASHVILI (GEO) df. Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), 2-0
BRONZE: Jumber KVELASHVILI (GEO) df. Efe Sami UNAL (TUR), 3-1

90kg
GOLD: Muhammad INAM (PAK) df. Irakli MTSITURI (GEO), 3-1
BRONZE: Pedro Jacinto GARCIA PEREZ (ESP) df. Grigorios KRIARIDIS (GRE), 3-0

+90kg
GOLD: Baki SAHIN (TUR) df. Rares Daniel CHINTOAN (ROU), 5-1
BRONZE: Irfan METE (TUR) df. Niazi IMPIS (GRE), 3-0

Women’s Beach Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Catalina AXENTE (ROU) df. Aikaterini Eirini PITSIAVA (GRE), 2-1
BRONZE: Diana Elena VLASCEANU (ROU) df. Adina Ionela IRIMIA (ROU), 4-1

60kg
GOLD: Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU) df. Francesca INDELICATO (ITA), 4-0
BRONZE: Jeannie Agnes KESSLER (AUT) df. Camila FAMA TRISTAO (BRA), 0-0

70kg
GOLD: Adina Elena POPESCU (ROU) df. Charlotte SKAUEN (NOR), 3-1
BRONZE: Beatrice DUKOV OANCEA (ROU) df. Cesilie Hoeivik MAGNUSSEN (NOR), 3-1

+70kg
GOLD: Catalina AXENTE (ROU) df. Aikaterini Eirini PITSIAVA (GRE), 2-1
BRONZE: Diana Elena VLASCEANU (ROU) df. Adina Ionela IRIMIA (ROU), 4-1

#WrestleBratislava

European Championships Day 2: Sidakov beats Salkazanov 4-2

Monday, April 7, 2025 - 21:37 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 8) -- The European Championships enters day two with five Freestyle weight 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg. Olympic champions Zavur UGUEV (UWW), Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) and Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS | SAITIEV TRIBUTE

Semifinals

61kg
SF 1: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) vs. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
SF 2: Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW) vs. Zavur UGUEV (UWW)

74kg
SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE)
SF 2: Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) vs. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW)

86kg
SF 1: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) vs. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL)
SF 2: Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) vs. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW)

92kg
SF 1: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) vs. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
SF 2: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) vs. Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR)

125kg
SF 1: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) vs. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW)
SF 2: Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) vs. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL)

14:05: In the final match of the session, Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) beats European U23 silver Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA). Naifonov is given a par terre advantage after Magamadov is cautioned for fleeing out-of-bounds on his knees. But Magamadov stunningly escapes from par terre with no damage. He is put on the activity clock and Naifonov gets another point for a 2-0 lead. Naifonov seems to have hit Magamadov in the head as he tried escaping a leg-attack. Magamadov calls for a medical timeout. In the second period, Naidonov gets a stepout and takedown to lead 5-0 and wins. He will face Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) in the semifinals.

13:56: Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) puts in the work and beats Benjamin HONIS (HUN) 12-2 to enter the 92kg semifinal and will face Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) for the place in the final. 

13:48: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) had to wait three hours for his first bout at 61kg but he makes sure to not get any surprises from Andrii DZHELEP (UKR). Uguev wins 11-1 to enter the 61kg semifinal.

13:46: Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) books his spot in the 86kg semifinal with a 10-0 victory over Matthew FINESILVER (ISR).

13:40: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) got Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) in a lace and led 9-0 at the break in their 61kg quarterfinal. Novruzov tried getting back with a takedown but Abakarov sails through with an 11-2 win. He will face Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) for a place in the final.

13:30: No problems for Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) as he laces Leomid COLESNIC (MDA) and wins 12-2 to enter the semifinal at 61kg.

13:25: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) pulls off a 4-2 win over four-time European champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK). The 74kg marquee match saw Salkazanov begin with a bodylock but Sidakov was quick and defended it. Only a stepout for Salkazanov. Sidakov hits the leg attack which Salkazanov tries to defend with a chestwrap. Sidakov breaks it for takedown and two points. Sidakov leads 2-1 at the break. Second period is off to a flyer -- a leg-attack from Salkazanov, Sidakov with the defense. Both in a tangle and referee calls for the center. After dull phase, Sidakov hits a single leg attack and drives Salkazanov out of bounds which is called par terre but Sidakov challenges and get the stepout point for a 3-1 lead with a minute left.

Sidakov defends his lead but Salkazanov pushes his opponent towards the zone and gets a stepout as the time runs out. He challenges for fleeing but it's a normal defense. Sidakov gets a point for lost challenge and he wins 4-2 to enter the semifinal at 74kg.

13:17: Olympic bronze medalist and the favorite to win gold at 125kg Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) blanks Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN) 5-0 and moves on to the semifinals.

13:10: Olympic bronze medalist Chermen VALIEV (ALB) scores a quick 10-0 technical superiority win over Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) at 74kg. We now have the big match between Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) and Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK).

13:05: Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) takes out Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (UWW) 7-2 at 125kg. This weight class will have a champion not named Taha AKGUL (TUR) or Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) for the first time since 2012. 

12:50: Former European champion Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) is up against European  U23 champion Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE). Naifonov gets the 1-0 lead after Dzhioev is put on the clock and he fails to score. Dzhioev is put on the clock in the second period as well and Naifonov's lead swells to 2-0. Dzhioev gets a point when Naifonov is put on the clock in the final minute. With 18 seconds remaining, Dzhioev tries to get a move on but Naifonov defends well and scores a 2-1 win.

12:35: Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA) stuns Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) with an arm-throw for four at the start of the bout but Kadzi throws him off for exposure and two points in the same scramble. Kadzimahamedau seems a little hurt from Mihalcean throw and comes out blazing with a takedown and turn. He then adds a crafty throw for four to lead 10-4 at the break. A takedown and turn to finish the bout 14-4 and he moves into the 86kg quarterfinals.

12:20: Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) defends and defends to beat Benjamin GREIL (AUT) 4-2 at 92kg. Viskhanov must thank Greil who challenged for an extra exposure from takedown but lost which put the French wrestler in a safe position of two-point lead in the final minute.

12:17: Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) and Osman GOCEN (TUR) go head-to-head in the 86kg pre-quarterfinals. Ramazanov gets the first point as Gocen fails to score when put on the activity clock in the first period. Ramazanov was about to be hit with passivity call in the second period but he scores a takedown just on time to stretch his lead to 3-0. Gocen slowly slips in keeping up with Ramazanov and gives up a takedown before going down 5-0.

12:15: World silver medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) takes his own time but wins 11-0 against Cezary SADOWSKI (POL) to advance at 92kg.

12:11: Olympic 86kg bronze medalist Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) at his best in defense he opens his European campaign with an 5-0 win over Ahmed BATAEV (BUL). He scored a stepout and point for activity in the first period. A stepout and takedown in the second period and won 5-0 at 92kg.

12:10: Andrii DZHELEP (UKR) with a beautiful suplex for five against Besir ALILI (MKD) and quickly rolls Alili to win 10-0 at 61kg. We will get the video of the move soon.

12:07: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) is brutal when it comes to the lace. He marches on at 61kg with a 11-0 victory over Stilyan ILIEV (BUL).

12:00: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), a world 92kg silver medalist in 2023, starts off with a 11-0 victory over Denys SAHALIUK (UKR) and moves into the quarterfinals.

11:50: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) is at his first European Championships up at 86kg and faces Theodoros SINGIRIDIS (GRE) in first bout. Despite giving up a takedown, Kadzimahamedau looked strong at the weight as he gut wrenched Singridis for a 9-2 lead at the break. He made to work for the rest of the points but he manages to finish 13-2 for a technical superiority win.

11:42: In the first match at 61kg, former world champion Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) rolls to a 10-0 win over Nils LEUTERT (SUI) in just two minutes.

11:30: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW), world champion at 74kg in 2023 and wrestling only at his second European Championships, begins with a 11-0 technical superiority win over Rasul SHAPIEV (MKD). He gets on the board with a point from activity clock and scored a takedown to lead 3-0 at the break. He needed only a minute in the second period to finish the match. He shoots deep and laces Shapiev for an three turns to win 11-0.

11:22: Mohsen SIYAR (GER) holds his head in his hands but he falls 8-8 to Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (UWW) at 125kg despite a resounding comeback and crash into the digital scoreboard. Khizriev led 5-2 and Siyar had him struggling for conditioning. Siyar scored a stepout and both wrestlers crashed into the scoreboard which delayed the action. That proved to be a lifeline for Khizriev who bounced back, scored a out-of-bounds point, a takedown and held on to his 8-8 criteria lead for the win.

11:10: Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) brings down Azamat ZAKUEV (UWW) in the 92kg opening round. Viskhanov got countered every time he scored a takedown but he hangs on for a 7-6 win, thanks to two successful challenges.

11:00: Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN), a mainstay at 97kg, has moved up to 125kg for the European Championships. He begins with a 8-2 victory over European U23 champion Gerogi IVANOV (BUL).

10:30: Welcome to the second day of European Championships. We have three Olympic champions wrestling. After the morning session, the semifinals will begin at 16:45 local time and then the medal bouts will begin at 18:00 local time.