European Games

Russia Advances 3 to European Games Finals, World Champ Uguev Falls

Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - 17:14 By United World Wrestling Press

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MINSK, Belarus (June 25) - Russia advanced three freestyle wrestlers to the gold-medal finals on the opening day of the European Games in Minsk, Belarus. 

Russian wrestlers Zaurbek SIDAKOV (74kg), Dauren KURUGLIEV (86kg) and Anzor KHIZRIEV (125kg) claimed victories in Tuesday's semifinals.

Sidakov, a returning world champion, trailed late in his semifinal match, but came back to beat Azamat NURYKAU (BLR) 6-4.

In the first period, Nurykau countered an attack from Sidakov and picked up two points off an exposure. He took a 2-0 lead into the break. The score remained that way until the final minute of the match. With under a minute remaining, Sidakov scored off a passivity to cut the deficit to 2-1. He then secured a late takedown, which led to a flurry and resulted in Nurykau taking a 4-4 lead on criteria. Sidakov challenged the call, which was overturned, giving the Russian world champion an additional two points with six seconds remaining. He held on for the 6-4 win to reach the gold-medal match.

Sidakov will face Olympic bronze medalist Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) in the the finals. Demirtas earned his finals spot by winning a hard-fought match over Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), 5-2. 

Demirtas scored off a passivity and step out in the first period to grab a 2-0 lead at the break. He extended his lead to 3-0 in the second period after another passivity point. Mykhailov picked up a takedown with 45 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Ukranian was in on a shot late in the match, but Demirtas was able to fend it and score a point off a step out. The call was challenged and upheld, giving Demirtas a three-point lead and ultimately the victory.

Kurugliev, a two-time Yarygin champion, used a strong first period to pace him to a 6-3 victory over Alexander GOSTIYEV (AZE) in the 86kg semifinals. The 26-year-old Russia scored a takedown and then used a gut wrench to go up 4-0. He added another first-period takedown to take a 6-0 lead into the break. Gostiyev scored early in the second period off a step out and added a late takedown, but Kurugliev held on to win by three.

Opposing Kurugliev in the 86kg finals will be four-time world medalist Ali SHABANAU (BLR), who shut out Ahmed DUDAROV (GER) 3-0 in the semifinals.  Shabanau used a step out in the first period to go up 1-0. He would add to his lead in the second period, scoring off a passivity and another step out with 22 seconds remaining in the match.

Russia's third finalist, Khizriev, defeated Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR) 7-1 in the semifinals at 125kg. Both wrestlers won bronze medals at this year's European Championships. The Russian heavyweight went up 1-0 off a passivity point in the first period. He then scored three takedowns in the final period to pull away. 

He will face U23 world champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO), who scored a late takedown to defeat two-time world bronze medalist Jammaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) 4-2 in the semifinals. Matcharashvili led 2-0 at the break. Maomedov battled back to take the 2-2 criteria lead in the final minute of the match. With 30 seconds remaining, Matcharashvili fired off a shot and converted it to a takedown for the go-ahead points. 

At 57kg, Mahir AMIRASLANOV (AZE), a European bronze medalist, knocked off returning world champion Zavur UGUEV (RUS) 3-2 to reach the gold-medal finals. Uguev led 1-0 after the first period, but Amiraslanov came back to win.

The other semifinal winner at 57kg was Stevan MICIC (SRB). He defeated U23 world bronze medalist Taras MARKOVYCH (UKR). Earlier in the day, Micic stunned world No.1 Suleyman ATLI (TUR). 

Wrestling at the European Games is scheduled to resume on Wednesday at 11:00 local time with repechage matches at 57kg, 74kg, 86kg and 125kg, which will be followed by the final two freestyle weight classes (65kg and 97kg), as well as two women's wrestling weight classes (53kg and 68kg). 

Results

57kg
GOLD - Stevan MICIC (SRB) vs. Mahir AMIRASLANOV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Stevan MICIC (SRB) df. Taras MARKOVYCH (UKR), 7-4
SEMIFINAL - Mahir AMIRASLANOV (AZE) df. Zavur UGUEV (RUS), 3-2

74kg
GOLD - Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) vs. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) df. Azamat NURYKAU (BLR), 6-4
SEMIFINAL - Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) df. Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), 5-2

86kg
GOLD - Ali SHABANAU (BLR) vs. Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Ali SHABANAU (BLR) df. Ahmed DUDAROV (GER), 3-0
SEMIFINAL - Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) df. Alexander GOSTIYEV (AZE), 6-3

125kg
GOLD - Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) vs. Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) df. Jammaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE), 4-2
SEMIFINAL - Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) df. Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR), 7-1
 

#WrestleNoviSad

U23 World Championships 2025 Day 6 Freestyle Highlights

Saturday, October 25, 2025 - 08:17 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 25) -- The U23 World Championships 2025 in Novi Sad will see four Freestyle weight classes -- 57kg, 70kg, 79kg and 125kg -- in action on day six.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 5 RESULTS

14:00: Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI), a world U20 silver medalist, reaches the semifinals at 125kg in Novi Sad after an 8-0  win over Khachatur KHACHATRYAN (ARM).

13:40: Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) got taken down by Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) for the opening score in their match but Lilledahl comes back and scores three takedowns to lead 6-2 at the break. He keeps the momentum going in the second period and beats Valizadeh 11-5 at 57kg.

13:25: Levi HAINES (USA) is on a mission here. He blanks Aykan SEID (BUL), 10-0, in the 79kg quarterfinals and powers his way into the semifinals.

13:10: PJ DUKE (USA) was challenged a little by Kaito MORITA (JPN) but he uses a big four-pointer to win 7-3 and advance to the semifinals at 70kg.

12:55: Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) had to wait for it but he beats Luka GVINJILIA (GEO), 12-2, at 57kg. Solid gut-wrench from Valizadeh to win his bout.

12:40: U20 world champion Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) needed four minutes and 25 seconds to see off Honghang LIAO (CHN) at 57kg. Lilledahl is the favorite to capture the gold here in Nvoi Sad. 

12:30: Yuta KIKUCHI (JPN) stars off with a 7-2 win against Vladyslav ABRAMOV (UKR) at 57kg. Very controlled win from the Japanese who has world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) and Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) in his corner.

12:15: In a match between world silver medalist Levi HAINES (USA) and U20 world champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI), Haines comes out on top 7-0. Yousefi completely shut down there in this 79kg bout.

11:45: Sina KHALILI (IRI) with a 12-2 technical superiority win over Naveen KUMAR (IND) at 70kg. That gu-wrench was very effective for Khalili.

11:40: PJ DUKE (USA) with a huge 10-0 win over Rostislav LEICHT (GER) at 70kg. He looks in top form and better than his run in Samokov where he won gold at the U20 World Championships. 

11:25: Luka GVINJILIA (GEO) with an excellent strategy against recent U20 world silver medalist Sumit MALIK (IND). Gvinjilia scored a double leg attack and turned Malik twice to lead 6-0. Despite his strong efforts, Malik could only score 5 points and lost his 57kg bout 6-5

11:00: Sina KHALILI (IRI) hangs on to beat Omar OMAROV (UWW) 6-5 at 70kg. Both Omarov led 5-4 when Khalili forced a stepout with 24 seconds left. Omarov challenged the call for a par terre position but the challenge was lost, giving a 6-5 lead to Khalili. Omarov then tried two pushouts which were both called pushouts. Khalili survived there to win 6-5

10:50: Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO) with a brilliant fireman's carry for four points against CHANDERMOHAN (IND) before he adds a huge reverse slam for a five points. A pushout to end the match 10-0 in two minutes and 18 seconds at 79kg.

10:35: U20 world champion PJ DUKE (USA) up against Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB) at 70kg. He gets a point for Kuldashev's passivity before scoring a takedown for two points and lead 3-0 at the break. A point for Kuldashev in the second period but Duke hits two takedowns and then defends to win 7-1.