#WrestleBelgrade

Russia Claims 4 More Gold Medals to Cap Dominant GR Performance

Monday, December 14, 2020 - 21:00 By Andrew Hipps

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Day 3 Photos
Day 3 Final Highlights
Interview with Kristian FRIS (SRB)

BELGRADE, Serbia (December 14) -- Russia capped off a dominant Greco-Roman performance at the Individual World Cup Monday night in Belgrade, Serbia, by claiming four more gold medals to finish with seven of the 10 Greco-Roman gold medals.

Zhambolat LOKYAEV (63kg), Milad ALIRZAEV (82kg), Musa EVLOEV (97kg) and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg) won gold medals for Russia on Day 3 of the event. 

Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS) won gold at 63kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Lokyaev earned the gold medal at 63kg with a 4-1 victory over world No.5 Erik TORBA (HUN). Torba, a 2020 European bronze medalist, scored first off a step out before Lokyaev scored a point off passivity to take the criteria lead. Lokyaev added another point in the second period off passivity to go up 2-1 before scoring a takedown late in the match off a desperation attempt from Torba.

Alirzaev, a 2019 U23 world champion, was dominant in the 82kg final, winning by technical superiority over Salih AYDIN (TUR). The young Russian star scored first off a passivity and then used two turns to go up 5-0 at the break. Alirzaev extended his lead to 7-0 after Aydin was hit with a caution. Needing just one point to end the match, Alirzaev ended the match in style by executing a four-point throw to win 11-0.

Musa EVLOEV shut out Alex SZOKE (HUN) to win gold at 97kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

The two-time world champion Evloev blanked Alex SZOKE (HUN) 3-0 in the 97kg final. He scored his first point off a passivity and added a takedown in the final period.

Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) scored with a big throw on his way to a victory at 130kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Semenov, a 2018 world champion and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, topped Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) 7-1 to win the gold at 130kg. The Russian heavyweight used a big throw in the first period to build a 5-0 lead before adding an additional two points late in the match off a caution. 

World silver medalist Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) prevented Russia from sweeping the gold medals on Monday night by coming from behind late to defeat 2018 world champion Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) in the 60kg final. 

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) celebrates after winning gold at 60kg (Photo: Kadir CALISKAN, UWW)

Maryanyan looked strong early, going up 4-0 at the break. But Sharshenbekov battled back in the second period, scoring first with a step out and then getting a passivity point to make the score 4-2. But it was in the par terre position where Sharshenbekov won the match. After getting the passivity point, Sharshenbekov was able to lock up a gut wrench and turn Maryanyan with a minute and 20 seconds left to take the criteria lead and eventually hold on for the victory.

Host nation Serbia added another bronze medal when Kristian FRIS (SRB) shut out Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN) 2-0 at 60kg. 

Three Belarusians earned bronze medals on Tuesday: Maksim KAZHARSKI (60kg), Soslan DAUROV (63kg) and Radzik KULIYEU (82kg).

Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) edged Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) 7-6 to pick up a bronze at 63kg. 

Roland SCHWARZ (GER) was impressive in his bronze-medal match at 82kg, earning a 9-1 technical superiority over Oldrich VARGA (CZE).

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) and Artur OMAROV (CZE) won the bronze medals at 97kg.

Mykola KUCHMII (UKR) scored a takedown in the closing moments to edge David OVASAPYAN (ARM) 4-2 to earn a bronze medal at 130kg. The other bronze medal at 130kg went to Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), who won by technical superiority over Rafal Andrzej KRAJEWSKI (POL).

Greco-Roman Medal Match Results

60kg
GOLD: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) by VPO1, 4-4
BRONZE: Kristian FRIS (SRB) df. Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN) by VPO, 2-0
BRONZE: Maksim KAZHARSKI (BLR) df. Ahmet UYAR (TUR) by VPO1, 3-3

63kg
GOLD: Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS) df. Erik TORBA (HUN) by VPO1, 4-1
BRONZE: Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) df. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) by VPO1, 7-6
BRONZE: Soslan DAUROV (BLR) df. Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG) by VPO1, 5-1

82kg
GOLD: Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) df. Salih AYDIN (TUR) by VSU, 11-0
BRONZE: Roland SCHWARZ (GER) df. Oldrich VARGA (CZE) by VSU1, 9-1
BRONZE: Radzik KULIYEU (BLR) df. Mihail BRADU (MDA) by VPO1, 5-1

97kg
GOLD: Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN) by VPO, 3-0
BRONZE: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Kiril MILOV (BUL) by VPO, 3-0
BRONZE: Artur OMAROV (CZE) df. Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) by VPO1, 4-1

130kg
GOLD: Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) df. Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) by VPO1, 7-1
BRONZE: Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) df. Rafal Andrzej KRAJEWSKI (POL) by VSU, 9-0
BRONZE: Mykola KUCHMII (UKR) df. David OVASAPYAN (ARM) by VPO1, 4-2

#WrestleNoviSad

U23 World Championships 2025 Day 1 Highlights

Monday, October 20, 2025 - 08:07 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 20) -- The eighth edition of the U23 World Championships begins in Novi Sad with around 700 wrestlers participating.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | U23 WORLDS PREVIEW

14:25: Razmik KURDYAN (ARM) hangs on a 3-2 win over Artur SARKISJAN (CZE) at 130kg and reaches the semifinals. Sarkisjan with a challenge, asking for a foul but reviews show no foul. The lost challenge gives Kurdyan a clear 3-2 lead.

14:20: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), bronze medalist at the World Championships, makes his way to the semifinals at 63kg. He needs only three minutes and 26 seconds to beat Adham ELSAYED (EGY).

14:00: Yassine BEN LABED (POL) has surprised everyone with his performance here in Novi Sad. After beating Ruben GEVORGYAN (ARM) and Deni NAKAEV (GER), he now beats Brian RUIZ MARIN (VEN) 2-1 and marches into the semifinals at 87kg.

13:55: A 41-second technical superiority win for Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) at 130kg. He scores a takedown and three turns from par terre to win 9-0

13:50: Levente LEVAI (HUN) into the semifinals at 77kg after a 3-1 win over Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM). A turn from par terre gave him a 3-0 lead and he escaped easily when he was put on par terre.

13:40: Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) with a strong defense in the final minutes against Ahoura BOUVEIRI PIANI (IRI) and hands him a 2-1 loss at 77kg. Nakibov did not allow Bouveiri Piani any openings.

13:25: A quick win for world champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) against Leon RIVALTA (ITA) at 87kg. He works on a reverse lift before controlling Rivalta on the mat for the fall. He enters the semifinals.

13:02: Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) hands Iran its first loss of the tournament as he beats Mohammad ABOUTALEBI NAVID (IRI) 3-1 at 63kg. Aboutablebi Navid failed to score any points from par terre.

13:00: Defending champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) scores three turns par terre after taking a 3-0 lead to start his campaign with a 9-0 technical superiority win at 130kg against Saba CHILASHVILI (GEO).

12:40: Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA) moves into the quarterfinal at 87kg with a 3-1 victory over Maksat SAILAU (KAZ). He got the turn from par terre while Sailau did not.

12:20: Levente LEVAI (HUN) looks unstoppable at 77kg. He posts his second win, 9-0, against Benjamin HANSEN (NOR) after using a trap-arm and finish the match

12:00: Ahoura BOUVEIRI PIANI (IRI) gets the first par terre against Yeldos KAMELOV (KAZ) and scores a turn to lead 3-0 but he steps out when trying to lift Kamelov again. Iran challenge the call but lose the challenge. Bouveiri Piani scores a takedown and stepout next but Kazakhstan challenge for a foul. Kazakhstan lose the challenge and Bouveiri Piani leads 7-2 at the break. A scramble but Kamelov scores the stepout. Bouveriri Piani answers with a takedown to lead 9-3, before going up one. A stepout makes it 10-5 and he hands on to his lead to win at 77kg.

11:55: Big match at 77kg as Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) faces Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO). Solovei cannot score from par terre but Orjonikidze hits a four to lead 5-1 in the second period. Solovei scores back to back takedown to make it 5-5 but Orjonikidze leads on criteria with a minute left. Solovei with a stepout to make it 6-5. Georgia challenges the call, and on review, it is actually Solovei who stepped out and Orjonikidze who wins 6-5

11:20: Recent world bronze medalist Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) rolls Nurdaulet KAPAS (KAZ) four times from par terre and gets a 9-0 win at 63kg.

11:05: European U23 silver medalist Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA) failed to score from par terre but he manages a takedown before the break to lead 3-0 against Mahmoud IBRAHIM (EGY). He counters Ibrahim from par terre in the second period and holds his 6-1 lead to win at 87kg.

10:55: World 82kg champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) makes his debut at 87kg and rolls to a 8-0 technical superiority win over Lachin VALIYEV (AZE).

10:35: Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM) took a 5-0 lead and was going to hang on to it before Isami HORIKITA (JPN) mounted a comeback. But the Japanese wrestler could score only four points and Terteryan won 5-4 at 77kg

10:25: European champion at 72kg Levente LEVAI (HUN) begins with a 5-0 blanking of Davud MAMMADOV (AZE) at 77kg in Novi Sad.

10:00: Welcome to day one of the U23 World Championships in Novi Sad. Greco-Roman action will kick off with 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg.