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
 

#WrestleAthens

Iran survives Uzbekistan scare to win Greco title at U17 Worlds

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 16:59 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (July 30) -- Four gold medals were not enough for Uzbekistan as they fell short in what could have been a generational team title in Greco-Roman at the World U17 Championships.

Iran, which won one gold medal out of 10, was crowned team champions as it performed well in placing their wrestlers in the weight classes. It finished with 125 points while Uzbekistan finished seven short at 118 points. Kazakhstan finished third with 113 points.

Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan were not far behind and finished fourth and fifth respectively, tied on 100 points. Both countries had one gold medal each but Kyrgyzstan had two silver medals to Azerbaijan's one to finish ahead of them.

Read More: Uzbekistan closer to Women's Wrestling history in Athens

Iran had eight wrestlers in the medal-bouts and six of them returned with one. Iran finished with one gold, one silver and four bronze medals. Uzbekistan, on the other side, had only those four golds to show. Four of its wrestlers did not contribute points to the team race.

In one head-to-head bout on Wednesday, Abolfazl ZARE (IRI) secured a 7-5 win over Humoyun ERKINOV (UZB) in 60kg bronze-medal bout which proved crucial. A win for Erkinov would have seen Uzbekistan win the title.

Then it was the gold medal of Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) at 92kg which helped Iran jump from fourth place to first. He wrestled Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW) for the gold medal and began with three stepouts. Kasyan was called passive and put in par terre. Mohammadi turned him twice and won the final 8-0 in 1 minute and 12 seconds.

Uzbekistan's two gold medals came at 51kg and 71kg.

Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB)Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB) won the gold medal at 51kg in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Asian U17 bronze medalist Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB) added a third Greco gold of the World U17 Championships for Uzbekistan after he defeated Hikmat HAGVERDIYEV (AZE), 4-1, in the 51kg.

Hagverdiyev was about to be called passive and put in par terre but he scored a stepout to avoid that call and lead 1-0. Tursunov answered with a stepout of his own and made 1-1. However, the criteria remained with Hagverdiyev as United World Wrestling is testing a new rule, where in Greco-Roman, if the score is 1-1, the criteria will be with the wrestler who got the first point.

Tursunov, however, got the par terre position in the second period and a 2-1 lead over Hagverdiyev. He defended his lead for the final minute and as the Azerbaijan wrestler tried a throw, he blocked him and landed on top, earning two more points.

Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB)Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) upgraded his bronze from 2024 to gold in 2025. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 71kg, Asian U17 champion Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) denied the hosts a gold after he defeated Dimitrios SOULIS (GRE), 3-1, in the final.

Valiev seemed to have taken the burnt from a few tough bouts from Tuesday as he struggled with his attacks against Soulis, who was egged on by vocal home fans.

However, he found enough inside him to turn from par terre and defend from that position in the second period to win the fourth gold medal of the tournament for Uzbekistan.

Ali NAZAROV (AZE)Ali NAZAROV (AZE) scored a 6-1 victory over Amangeldi YSAKBAEV (KGZ) in the 60kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Ali NAZAROV (AZE) showed why gut-wrench is still one of the best techniques to score points in wrestling as he rolled Amangeldi YSAKBAEV (KGZ) two times from par terre using gut wrench and win the world title at 60kg.

He later defended his par terre position, winning the final 6-1 and handing Azerbaijan the first gold medal for the World U17 Championships in Athens.

An action-packed match kicked off the medal bouts with Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ) and Nurkerim KUMARBEKOV (KGZ) did not hold back their attacks as soon as the final began.

Zhangazhol did not waste much time to get going in the final against Kumarbekov as he used an arm throw to score the first four points but it was removed after he was warned for using his leg.

But he scored a takedown for a 2-0 and then hit a front headlock throw to make it 6-0. Kumarbekov answered with a four-pointer as well and both wrestlers used arm-rolls in the same sequence to score points. When they broke off at the break, Zhangazhol led 8-6.

After the blazing first half, both wrestlers had a subdued second and no more points were scored despite desperate attempts from Kumarbekov. Zhangazhol celebrated his win a split-second early but there was no harm done.

Kyrgyzstan challenged for fleeing in the final five seconds and on review, Zhangazhol was it with a caution for defensive foul, it only got Kumarbekov a point, making Zhangazhol's winning score 8-7.

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ) df. Nurkerim KUMARBEKOV (KGZ), 9-6

BRONZE: Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) df. Tymur MAHARRAMOV (UKR), 9-0
BRONZE: Vadim TARELUNGA (MDA) vs. Benyamin KHEZLI (IRI), 8-3

51kg
GOLD: Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB) df. Hikmat HAGVERDIYEV (AZE), 4-1

BRONZE: Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM) df. Polat KARADENIZ (TUR), 11-0
BRONZE: Abu Bakar SAGA (NOR) df. Islam KURBANOV (KGZ), 5-3

60kg
GOLD: Ali NAZAROV (AZE) df. Amangeldi YSAKBAEV (KGZ), 6-1

BRONZE: Abolfazl ZARE (IRI) df. Humoyun ERKINOV (UZB), 7-5
BRONZE: Zaven MEZHLUMYAN (ARM) df. Denys SEREDIN (UKR), 5-2

71kg
GOLD: Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) df. Dimitrios SOULIS (GRE), 3-1

BRONZE: Hossein KAZEMI (IRI) df. Yusif AHMADLI (AZE), 4-3
BRONZE: Marlen MEIRBEKULY (KAZ) df. Imre KOLOMPAR (HUN), 7-1

92kg
GOLD: Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW), 8-0

BRONZE: Ahmet UZUN (TUR) df. Said PASHAYEV (AZE), 5-0
BRONZE: David CALKINS (USA) df. Ionut PATRU (ROU), 4-0