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
 

#WrestleTirana

European Championships 2026 Greco-Roman Highlights

Sunday, April 19, 2026 - 19:02 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 20) -- The European Championships in underway in Tirana, Albania with five Greco-Roman weight classes -- 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg. The big question is if Riza KAYAALP (TUR) will be successful in breaking Aleksandr KARELIN's record of 12 European gold medal.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | GRECO-ROMAN BRACKETS | UWW PREVIEW

Semifinals

55kg
Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) vs. Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM)
Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) vs. Omer RECEP (TUR)

63kg
Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) vs. Kerem KAMAL (TUR)
Mairbek SALIMOV (POL) vs. Sergey EMELIN (UWW)

77kg
Robert FRITSCH (HUN) vs. Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)
Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) vs. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)

87kg
Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) vs. Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR)
Islam ABBASOV (AZE) vs. Semen NOVIKOV (BUL)

130kg
Darius Attila VITEK (HUN) vs. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE)
Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW) vs. Riza KAYAALP (TUR)

13:25: Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) books his spot in the semifinals at 87kg after an 8-0 technical superiority win over Dogan KAYA (TUR). Novikov with a big throw for four to start the bout before he scores a takedown to go 6-0 up at the break. He takes 36 seconds in the second period to score two stepouts and win.

13:20: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) is into the 87kg semifinals at the European Championships after a technical superiority win over Ihar YARASHEVICH (UWW). Bisultanov with a takedown to start the match before he is awarded the par terre position. He manages exposure points to lead 5-0. A stepout in the second period makes it 6-0. Yarashevich tries a front headlock throw but Bisultanov blocks him and lands on top for the match-winning two points.

13:15: Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR), a returning bronze medalist, is into the semifinals with a 3-1 victory over Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) at 87kg. No last second problems for Filchakov like last year in which Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) defeated him with 2 seconds remaining.

13:10: Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) is in total shock after Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) throws him twice using the front headlock for four-pointers and finishes the match 10-2. Yilmaz scored the first takedown but Gutu answered quickly with one of his own. He then continued the scramble for the two big throws.

13:00: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) goes big from par terre and scores a four-point throw to make it 7-0. He then scores an takedown to complete a 9-0 victory over Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR) and advance to the semifinals at 77kg.

12:53: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) may have crossed his biggest hurdle towards winning the 13th gold medal as he holds off Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) in the 130kg quarterfinals, 1-1. Kayaalp gets the first par terre and manages half turns so no points. Kamparov gets the second par terre which gives him the point but Kayaalp holds the criteria. The Turkiye wrestler was struggling in the final minute but manages to stop Kamparov's attacks.

12:40: Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW) with two four-pointers against Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA) and he advances to the 130kg semifinals. Hlinchuk looking good for a medal here

12:35: World champion at 55kg Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) goes all big and fast and he wins Stefan GRIGOROV (BUL), 9-0. Two takedowns and two turns from par terre were his scoring action

12:30: Defending champion at 63kg Kerem KAMAL (TUR) shows up big time in the quarterfinals and takes out U23 world champion Ziya BABASHOV (AZE).

12:20: Olympic champion and returning silver medalist Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) gets his second victory at 87kg as he beats Marjan KOLA (ALB), 9-0, and advances to the quarterfinals.

12:15: Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) continues his good form from Dan Kolov Nikola Petrov tournament in which he won gold, and beats Alan OSTAEV (UWW), 1-1, to start his campaign at 87kg

12:05: An emotional moment for world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) after his opening round loss to Ihar YARASHEVICH (UWW). Komarov dropped his match 5-2 and was about to take off his shoes, a sign of retirement, but the Serbian coaches run and pull him off the mat and stop him from retiring, for now.

11:55: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) with three stepouts in his 9-0 technical superiority win over Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM). When he scored the last stepout for an 8-0 score, Armenia challenged but lost it which added one more point to Bisultanov's score

11:50: Four-time European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) with a controlled 4-0 win over Edvin BAFF (SWE) at 77kg. He got the par terre in the first period before scoring a throw for two points. He got the par terre in the second period as well to win 4-0.

11:48: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) went murder-mode on Vilius SAVICKAS (LTU) from par terre, scoring two massive reverse throws and wins 10-0

11:33: Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) holds off for a 1-1 criteria victory over Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) in his 130kg bout. Next up for him is Riza KAYAALP (TUR). Can Kamparov stop Kayaalp from making history?

11:30: No rust from 12-time European champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) as he uses an arm-throw to pin Albert VARDANYAN (ARM) and start his quest for a historic 13th title at 130kg.

11:22: Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), a former U23 world champion at 97kg and still looking small for 130kg, gets three turns from par terre and beats Jacob LOGAARD (SWE), 7-1 at 130kg.

11:15: Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR), a former U20 world champion, with a massive arm throw for four and holds Apostolos TSIOVOLOS (GRE) for a victory via fall at 130kg.

11:02: Defending champion at 63kg Kerem KAMAL (TUR) with a technical superiority victory over Maksym LIU (UKR). Kamal with turn from par terre to lead 3-0 and Liu is called for a defensive leg foul. Ukraine challenges but the foul is confirmed and Kamal leads 6-0 and the bout restarts in par terre. A side throw for four to finish the bout 10-0

10:58: Paris Olympic bronze medalist and former European champion Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) with a technical superiority victory over Matej MANDIC (CRO). He scored four turns from par terre to win 9-0

10:50: Looking for his first European medal, U23 world champion Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) starts off with a 4-0 victory over Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) at 87kg. He gets the stepout and par terre in the first period and then a takedown to win the match.

10:42: Returning silver medalist medalists at 77kg Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) begins his 77kg campaign with a 8-2 victory over Marcos SANCHEZ (ESP).

10:30: Welcome to the Albanian capital Tirana as the European Championships kicks off with Greco-Roman weight classes.