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 Worlds: Japan, China end gold droughts; Iran completes Greco sweep

Thursday, October 23, 2025 - 22:52 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 23) -- Japan had been searching for a Greco-Roman gold medalist at the U23 World Championships for six years. Shota OGAWA (JPN) won the country's last gold at this tournament in 2019, while Komei SAWADA (JPN) reached the final last year.

The wait ended on Thursday in Novi Sad after Koto GOMI (JPN) clinched the gold medal at 60kg with a technical superiority win over Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI) in the final.

Gomi, a product of the Ikuei University, became only the fifth Greco U23 world champion for Japan but none of the earlier four champions dominated the field as he did. He opened his tournament with a 10-2 win over former U20 world champion Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM), defeated Melkamu FETENE (ISR), 13-4, before winning his semifinals 9-0 against Maxwell BLACK (USA).

Facing Abbaspour in the final, Gomi made sure he won his fourth bout with technical superiority as well. He got the first point when Abbaspour was put in par terre. Soon after, Gomi turned Abbaspour for two more points before adding a throw which got him one point and a 4-0 lead.

When the second period began, Abbaspour tried to get Gomi in par terre with some aggressive wrestling. He managed to body lock Gomi, but as he tried to force the Japanese towards the mat, Gomi tossed him using the momentum for four points to clinch the victory. Iran challenged the call only to lose it and add one more point to Gomi's score.

Despite the loss of Abbaspour, Iran won the Greco team title, completing a sweep of all world team titles in Greco this year. It won the U17 in Athens, U20 in Samokov, senior in Zagreb and the U23 in Novi Sad.

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) won the 82kg final in Novi Sad. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 82kg, Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) won a gold medal for a third straight year. While his first two gold medals came at 77kg, he moved up to 82kg this year but still managed to win the world title.

Gutu, known for his big throws, had to be satisfied with a 1-1 victory against Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR) in the final. He got the first par terre point to lead 1-0. In the second period, Gutu was put in par terre twice but defended both times to win the gold medal.

Mixed show for U.S.

In women's wrestling, the United States had three wrestlers in the finals of three weight classes but it managed to win only one gold. China and Kyrgyzstan denied the U.S. in the other two finals.

One of the best matches of the night came at 72kg between former U20 world champion Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) and senior world bronze medalist Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ).

Robinson was off to a blazing start in the final, leading 10-3, but she tried two risky throws that cost her the match. The first was a chestwrap which was blocked by Nurtaeva who managed to bring Robinson to danger. It was initially scored four points for Robinson and two for Nurtaeva but Kyrgyzstan challenged the call and it was awarded four points to the Kyrgyzstan wrestler.

With a 10-7 lead, Robinson once again attempted a double underhook throw which was easily defended by Nurtaeva who managed to land on top of the U.S. wrestler and get another four points. She defended her 11-10 lead to become the country's second U23 world champion in Women's Wrestling and first since 2021.

Jinyue LIANG (CHN)Jinyue LIANG (CHN) tries to pin Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) in the 50kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The second loss for the U.S. came at 50kg, as Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) was once again defeated in a World Championships final, her fifth defeat.

She began her final well against Jinyue LIANG (CHN), taking a 2-0 lead. But the China wrestler bounced back and made it 2-2 when Jimenez missed a sweep single and Liang scored a go-behind to lead.

Liang then pulled off a crafty move to put Jimenez in danger. Both wrestlers were locked in double underhooks with knees on the mat. Liang then pulled one of Jimenez's arms and put her hand on the knee across to trip her and hold her on the mat, trying to get a fall.

Jimenez committed a defensive foul by putting her fingers on Liang's face which costed her two more points. She survived the pin attempt but trailed 6-2 at the break. There were no points scored in the second period as Liang went into defensive mode and did not give Jimenez any openings.

This was China's first gold medal in Women's Wrestling at U23 Worlds in six years as Liang became only the third wrestler to win gold at this level. Earlier, two wrestlers had won three golds for China with PAHILA (CHN) winning golds in 2017 and 2018.

The U.S. did crown a champion on Thursday as 72kg champion Kylie WELKER (USA) won gold at 76kg in dominant fashion. She controlled an evasive Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) and finished the final 10-0 inside the first period.

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

60kg
GOLD: Koto GOMI (JPN) df. Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI), 9-0

BRONZE: Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) df. Ilkin GURBANOV (AZE), 5-4
BRONZE: Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) df. Maxwell BLACK (USA), 8-0

82kg
GOLD: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR), 1-1

BRONZE: Abolfazl MOHMEDI (IRI) df. Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO)
BRONZE: Omar SATAYEV (KAZ) df. Ibrahim TABAEV (BEL), 8-6

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Jinyue LIANG (CHN) df. Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), 6-2

BRONZE: Munkhgerel MUNKHBAT (MGL) df. Natalia PUDOVA (UWW), 5-4
BRONZE: Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) df. Nohalis LOYO JIMENEZ (VEN), 9-7

72kg
GOLD: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) df. Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), 11-10

BRONZE: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) df. Laura KOEHLER (GER), 8-0 (via fall)
BRONZE: Veronika VILK (CRO) df. Haticenur SARI (TUR), 8-0

76kg
GOLD: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW), 10-0

BRONZE: PRIYA (IND) df. Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX), 8-1
BRONZE: Elmira YASIN (TUR) df. Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ), 6-3

Semifinals

55kg
GOLD: Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) vs. Tuba DEMIR (TUR)

SF 1: Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) df. Amory ANDRICH (GER), via fall
SF 2: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. NISHU (IND), 6-4

57kg
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (UWW)

SF 1: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 10-0
SF 2: Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (UWW) df. Emine CAKMAK (TUR), via fall

65kg
GOLD: Yuqi RAO (CHN) vs. Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (UWW)

SF 1: Yuqi RAO (CHN) df. Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR), 6-5
SF 2: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (UWW) df. PULKIT (IND), 9-6

68kg
GOLD: Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW) vs. Nesrin BAS (TUR)

SF 1: Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW) df. SRISHTI (IND), 10-6
SF 2: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ), 8-6