#WrestleNoviSad

Russia Leads Georgia Heading into Final Day of Freestyle Competition

Saturday, March 9, 2019 - 19:40 By Eric Olanowski

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (March 9) – Razambek ZHAMALOV and Radik VALIEV claimed Day 6 freestyle gold medals and helped the Russian Federation carry a 25 points lead over Georgia into the final day of wrestling at the U23 European Championships. 

Zhamalov barreled past Poland’s Patryk OLENCZYN and scored the 13-0 technical superiority victory in the 70kg finals. The Russian pocketed his impressive 13 points from a five-point fireman’s carry, a four-point throw, and a pair of takedowns, and claimed his first-ever continental medal. 

Radik Valiev didn’t have much trouble with Turkey's Ramazan SARI in the 79kg finals, where he scored the 7-2 victory and won his second consecutive U23 European title.

Russia also collected 20 points from their pair of Day 6 silver medalists Amirkhan GUVAZHOKOV and Shamil MUSAEV. 

Guvazhokov fell short to Ukraine’s Andrii YATSENKO in the 57kg gold-medal bout. Yatsenko was behind in the closing minute but scored a takedown and a leg lace to gain the 8-8 lead on criteria with under a minute to go in the match. The Ukrainian wrestler tacked on an exposure and another point for a failed Russian challenge and won the 57kg title, 11-8.

Yatsenko’s win on Saturday night gave him his first European title since he won the 2013 Cadet European Championships. 

The second Russian who dropped his finals match was Shamil Musaev, who fell to Turkey’s Ibrahim CIFTCI, 7-4 in the 97kg finals. 

The fifth gold medal of the day came at the only weight that did not feature a Russian competitor, 65kg. Armenia’s Vazgen TEVANYAN scored a late downtown in the first period, which ultimately turned out to be the match-deciding scoring sequence, as he defeated Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO), 2-1. 

RESULTS 
Team Scores 
GOLD - Russia (94 points)
SILVER – Georgia  (69 points)
BRONZE - Turkey (66 points)
Fourth – Ukraine  (52 points)
Fifth – Moldova (36 points)

57kg 
GOLD - Andrii YATSENKO (UKR) df. Amirkhan GUVAZHOKOV (RUS), 11-8 
BRONZE - Saban KIZILTAS (TUR) df. Razvan KOVACS (ROU), 7-5
BRONZE - Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) df. Mikyay Salim NAIM (BUL), 5-4

65kg 
GOLD - Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO), 2-1 
BRONZE - Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 3-1
BRONZE - Roman ASHARIN (HUN) df. Fati VEJSELI (MKD), 14-2

70kg
GOLD - Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) df. Patryk OLENCZYN (POL), 11-0 
BRONZE - Daud IBRAGIMOV (AZE) df. Vasile DIACON (MDA), 6-5 
BRONZE - Mihail Iliev GEORGIEV (BUL) df. Daniel CHOMANIC (SVK), 5-0

79kg 
GOLD - Radik VALIEV (RUS) df. Ramazan Ishak SARI (TUR), 7-2 
BRONZE - Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO) df. Uladzislau YELISEYEU (BLR), 4-0 
BRONZE - Adlan BATAIEV (UKR) df. Simon Christian HARTMANN (AUT), 10-0 

97kg
GOLD -  Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) df. Shamil Alievitch MUSAEV (RUS), 7-4 
BRONZE - Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR) df. Simone IANNATTONI (ITA), 11-0 
BRONZE - Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) df. Aleksandar PANTELIC (SRB), 10-0 

#WrestleAthens

Uzbekistan closer to Women's Wrestling history at U17 Worlds

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 14:55 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (July 30) --  Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) is on the verge of creating history for Uzbekistan in Athens.

Wrestling at the World U17 Championships on Wednesday, Rakhimjonova became the first wrestler from Uzbekistan to reach the final of U17 Worlds.

 On Thursday, she will try to become the first wrestler to win a gold medal at any World Championships for Uzbekistan in Women's Wrestling.

She reached the 65kg final after beating European silver medalist Feenja HERMANN (GER), 6-1. In her earlier bouts, she had defeated Zuzanna HORBIK (POL), 6-4, and Alexandra MOISEI (MDA), 12-1.

Standing between her and the historic gold medal is Asian U17 champion Ashvini VISHNOI (IND), who was one of India's four finalists on Wednesday.

Vishnoi, who outscored her opponents 41-0 in four bouts, defeated European U17 champion Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW), 7-0, in the semifinal. After a slow start, Vishnoi got two takedowns in the second period, adding to her two stepouts and one passivity point in the match.

Former world U17 champion KAJAL (IND) will get a chance to avenge her loss from Asian Championships after she reached the final against Asian champion Wenjin QIU (CHN) at 73kg.

Qiu had humbled Kajal 10-0 in the final of the Asian U17 Championships a month ago in Vietnam. But if Kajal is in the form she showed on Wednesday, her chances to avenge that loss are high.

She defeated Pan-Am champion Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), 11-0, giving no chance to Poalillo. Kajal hit a couple of double-leg as counters to take down Poalillo.

Qiu pinned Deborah GARCIA (MEX) in the other semifinal when the Mexican tried to outside trip her. Qiu stood her ground and slammed Garcia before securing the fall.

Another Asian U17 Championships final will be replayed on Thursday, at 57kg, as champion MONI (IND) and silver medalist Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) won their respective semifinals and book their spots in the gold-medal bout.

Usmanov used a four-pointer against Sayuki TANADA (JPN) and secured the fall in two minutes and 36 seconds. With the loss of Tanada, Japan was left with only one finalist on Wednesday when five weight classes were in action.

Moni, like she had done all day, kept her defense and scored takedown whenever she could find an opening. After a passivity point, Moni scored three takedown to beat Alina BAROEVA (UWW), 7-0, in the semifinal.

At 43kg, RACHNA (IND) and Xin HUANG (CHN) made it to the final after contrasting wins. Rachna defended her 1-1 criteria lead over Madison HEALEY (USA) to win and make the final, Huang put on a takedown masterclass to beat European champion Raniia RAKHMANOVA (UWW) 8-0.

Turner closer to second world title

She is already a world U17 champion but there has been no lack of motivation for Morgan TURNER (USA) as she chases another at U17 level.

Morgan spent only two minutes and 24 seconds on the mat to win her three bouts on Wednesday and reach the final at 49kg in Athens.

A gold medalist from 2023 and bronze medalist from 2024, Morgan will face Yu KATAOKA (JPN) for the gold on Thursday. Like in typical Japanese style, Kataoka used five different takedowns to win 10-0 in her semifinal against Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW).

Morgan used a cradle to secure a fall over Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW), a returning bronze medalist and European champion.

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD: RACHANA (IND) vs. Xin HUANG (CHN)

SF 1: RACHANA (IND) df. Madison HEALEY (USA), 1-1
SF 2: Xin HUANG (CHN) df. Raniia RAKHMANOV (UWW), 8-0

49kg
GOLD: Morgan TURNER (USA) vs. Yu KATAOKA (JPN)

SF 1: Morgan TURNER (USA) df. Anhelina BURKINA (UWW), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Yu KATAOKA (JPN) df. Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW), 10-0

57kg
GOLD: Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) vs. MONI (IND)

SF 1: Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) df. Sayuki TANADA (JPN), via fall (5-0)
SF 2: MONI (IND) df. Alina BAROEVA (UWW), 7-0

65kg
GOLD: Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) vs. Ashvini VISHNOI (IND)

SF 1: Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) df. Feenja HERMANN (GER), 6-1 
SF 2: Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) df. Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW), 7-0

73kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) vs. Wenjin QIU (CHN)

SF 1: KAJAL (IND) df. Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), 11-0 
SF 2: Wenjin QIU (CHN) df. Deborah GARCIA (MEX), via fall