#WrestleBelgrade

Russia Goes 5-for-5 in Sunday's GR Semifinals

Sunday, December 13, 2020 - 19:41 By Andrew Hipps

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BELGRADE, Serbia (December 13) -- Russia continued its dominance in Greco-Roman at the Individual World Cup, going 5-for-5 in Sunday's semifinals, a day after advancing four to the finals.

Russia's five semifinal winners Sunday were Stepan MARYANYAN (60kg), Zhambolat LOKYAEV (63kg), Milad ALIRZAEV (82kg), Musa EVLOEV (97kg) and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg).

Maryanyan, a two-time world champion at 63kg, has looked strong in his move down to the Olympic weight category of 60kg. He claimed an 8-3 victory in the semifinals over 2017 European champion Kristian FRIS (SRB). He used a step out and passivity to go up 2-0 before scoring with two gut wrenches to extend his lead to 6-0 at the break. He would add a takedown in the second period.

He will meet 2018 world silver medalist Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) in the 60kg finals. Sharshenbekov overcame a slow start to earn a 5-1 victory over Ahmet UYAR (TUR).

Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS) advanced to the finals at 63kg (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Lokyaev used a big first period to help him earn a 6-0 shutout over 2016 junior world champion Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) in the 63kg semifinals. The Russian scored a takedown to go up 2-0 before scoring with a four-point throw. Neither wrestler scored in the final period and Lokyaev moved into the 63kg finals.

World No.5 Erik TORBA (HUN), a 2020 European bronze medalist, trailed 1-0 at the break in his 63kg semifinal match against Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG), but battled back in the second period, scoring a takedown and gut wrench to earn a 4-1 victory.

Alirzaev, a 2019 U23 world champion, claimed a 7-4 semifinal victory over Mihail BRADU (MDA) at 82kg. He led 5-0 at the break and added a takedown in the final period.

In the other 82kg semifinal, 23-year-old Salih AYDIN (TUR), a 2017 junior world bronze medalist, advanced to the finals with a 4-1 victory over Roland SCHWARZ (GER). 

At 97kg, the two-time world champion Evloev hung on to defeat world No. 4 Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) 5-3 in the semifinals. The first period belonged to Evloev as he raced out to a 5-0 lead. Saravi battled back in the second period, getting on the scoreboard with a caution before locking up a gut wrench and turning Evloev to cut the deficit to 5-3.  The Russian star would hang on to win by two. 

Alex SZOKE (HUN) was one of two Hungarian wrestlers to earn victories in the semifinals (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Alex SZOKE (HUN) gave Hungary another finalist in Greco-Roman when he shut out Artur OMAROV (CZE) in the other semifinal match at 97kg. Szoke built a 2-0 lead after scoring twice of passivity. He added a late two off a caution to win by four. 

Semenov, a 2018 world champion and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, was dominant in his semifinal match at 130kg, earning a first-period 8-0 technical superiority over David OVASAPYAN (ARM). After Semenov scored with a step out and passivity, he showcased his strong par terre game, scoring with a gut wrench, which he followed up with a two-point throw and another gut wrench to end the match early.

The other semifinal winner at 130kg was Osman YILDIRIM (TUR), who rolled to a 9-1 technical superiority over Beka KANDELAKI (AZE). Kandelaki scored the first point of the match off passivity to take an early 1-0 lead. But the Turkish heavyweight came back with a takedown and three gut wrenches to go up 8-1. He then finished the match with a step out.

Greco-Roman Semifinal Results

60kg
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Ahmet UYAR (TUR) by VPO1, 5-1
Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) df. Kristian FRIS (SRB) by VPO1, 8-3

63kg
Erik TORBA (HUN) df. Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG) by VPO1, 4-1
Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS) df. Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) by VPO, 6-0

82kg
Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) df. Mihail BRADU (MDA) by VPO1, 7-4
Salih AYDIN (TUR) df. Roland SCHWARZ (GER) by VPO1, 4-1

97kg
Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Artur OMAROV (CZE) by VPO, 4-0
Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Mohammadhadi Abdollah SARAVI (IRI) by VPO1, 5-3

130kg
Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) by VSU1, 9-1
Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) df. David OVASAPYAN (ARM) by VSU, 8-0
 

Development

More Than Medals Americas wraps up in Rio de Janeiro

Tuesday, July 8, 2025 - 14:07 By United World Wrestling Press

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (July 8) — With young athletes at the center of United World Wrestling’s development strategy, the 2025 edition of *More Than Medals Americas* was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 23rd to 29th, following the U17 Pan-American Championships.

Over the course of seven days, 46 wrestlers and 10 coaches from 11 countries came together for a full program of training sessions, educational workshops, cultural excursions, and recreational activities making this a comprehensive experience beyond the mat.

Held at the state-of-the-art facilities of CEFAN (Centro de Educação Física Almirante Adalberto Nunes), the camp kicked off with a vibrant opening ceremony, attended by Brazilian Wrestling Federation President Flavio Cabral and UWW Education Director Zach Erret. The schedule included three daily meals, on-site accommodation, and seamless logistics that contributed to the event's success.

Among the educational highlights were sessions on safe sport, mental health, injury prevention, and anti-doping each delivered by expert facilitators in a format designed to foster active participation from the athletes. These workshops aimed to equip young wrestlers not only with athletic tools but with life skills as well.

The technical sessions were held on four official mats, strength training, and physical conditioning. Coaches collaborated in a joint planning meeting to create an integrated training environment, where athletes learned from each other’s styles and backgrounds.

Outside the gym, participants explored the iconic city of Rio de Janeiro. They visited Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, and the historic Maracanã Stadium. An ecological outing to Copacabana Beach was also part of the program, emphasizing environmental awareness—even if a planned cleanup was rendered unnecessary thanks to local conservation efforts.

This edition of *More Than Medals* once again demonstrated the transformative power of sport. Participants described the experience as “great,” and organizers emphasized that the success of the program lies in its ability to holistically nurture the next generation of wrestlers not just as athletes, but as global citizens.