#kaspeuro2018

Russia Reels in Trio of Greco-Roman Golds on Third Day of Euro C’Ships

Wednesday, May 2, 2018 - 19:30 By Eric Olanowski

KASPIISK, Russia (May 2) - The Russian national anthem was on replay during the final day of Greco-Roman action at the Palace of Sport and Youth as the host nation claimed three of the five possible gold medals, bringing their tournament gold medal count to four.

“If you're comparing this year's performance to last years, we were better all around. We were much more prepared, which is why we have three champions. Hopefully one more is coming” said 67kg champion, Artem SURKOV (RUS). That “one more” Surkov mentioned came from Adam KURAK (RUS) in the 72kg gold-medal bout.

In addition to Kurak and Surkov, Sergey EMELIN (RUS) won a gold medal for the Russian Federation on the third day of wrestling in Kaspiisk, Russia.

At 60kg, 2017 U23 world runner-up Sergey Eemelin faced a 5-0 deficit against the U23 world champion, Murad MAMMADOV (AZE). Mammadov, the 23-year-old held an early 5-0 lead after a four-point throw and a lost challenge from the Russian corner. Emelin rebounded with a takedown and two guts, closing out the match on a 6-0 run. Emelin, who was competing in his first senior-level European Championship defeated Mammadov, 6-5.

When asked if there was any hesitation while facing the five-point deficit, Emelin said “No, because of my mental preparation. I was ready when I stepped on the mat…We’ve wrestled three times, so I knew coming into that match that he was a strong opponent.”

Artem SURKOV (RUS) gets his hand raised after sticking Olympic bronze medalist, Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO). (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

In the 67kg finals, Surkov, who was already up 8-0 stuck 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) in the opening period. After the match, Surkov added, “I dedicate this win to the President of the Russian Wrestling Federation, my country, all my coaches, my family and especially to my twin brother who has spent every single minute training with me.”

Adam KURAK (RUS) celebrates after defeating Olympic bronze medalist, Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) to win the 72kg gold medal.

Adam Kurak was the third Russian to capture gold on final day of Greco-Roman wrestling. The 2014 European champion found himself down 5-1 to 2015 world champion and clear crowd favorite, Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE).

“I knew that Chunayev was the favorite, but I was sure that I had a chance to win. If you’re on the mat and not sitting in the stands or in front of the television, you have a chance to win.”

Midway through the match, Kurak cracked Chunayev’s puzzle and scored the remaining eight points of the bout, winning the 72kg gold-medal bout, 9-5.

“I wish I could divide my gold medal into pieces and give a piece to everyone who has supported me. If I did that, I’d only have a tiny piece of the medal because so many people have been there for me….But, these European Championships gave me a taste of victory. My next step is hopefully world and Olympic gold medals.”

Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) defeated Mikheil KAJAIA (SRB), 7-0 to win his fourth European Championship.

Armenia’s Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) and Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) closed out the Greco-Roman portion of the tournament, claiming the remaining two gold medals.

Artur “The White Bear,” Aleksanyan reclaimed European gold for the first time since 2014 by routing Mikheil KAJAIA (SRB), 7-0 in the 97kg gold-medal match.

“I feel very proud that I could become a European champion for the fourth time, and that I could bring one more gold medal to our country.”

Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM), the 2017 world champion claimed his first gold medal by earning the 9-0 technical superiority victory over Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR). The 2018 European gold medal was the Armenian’s first continental championship.

Russia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan are the top-three finishers in Greco-Roman at the 2018 European Championships. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

Team Results
GOLD - Russia (169 points)
SILVER - Georgia (127 points)
BRONZE - Azerbaijan (113 points)
Fourth Place - Armenia (97 points)
Fifth Place - Hungary (71 points)
Sixth Place - Turkey (65 points)
Seventh Place - Germany (57 points)
Eighth Place - Serbia (56 points)
Ninth Place - Bulgaria (49 points)
Tenth Place - Belarus (46 points)

RESULTS
60kg
GOLD - Sergey EMELIN (RUS) df. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), 6-5

BRONZE - Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO) df. Etienne KINSINGER (GER), 1-1
BRONZE - Jacopo SANDRON (ITA) df. Maksim KAZHARSKI (BLR), 8-1

67kg
GOLD - Artem SURKOV (RUS) df. Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO), 8-0

BRONZE - Enes BASAR (TUR) df. Fredrik Holmquist BJERREHUUS (DEN), 5-4
BRONZE - Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) df. Dawid KARECINSKI (POL), 7-2

72kg
GOLD - Adam KURAK (RUS) df. Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), 9-5

BRONZE - Luri LOMADZE (GEO) df. Daniel CATARAGA (MDA), 15-6
BRONZE - Balint KORPASI (HUN) df. Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL), 10-0

82kg
GOLD - Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) df. Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR), 9-0

BRONZE - Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) df. Roland SCHWARZ (GER), 4-3
BRONZE - Daniel Tihomirov ALEKSANDROV (BUL) df Laszlo SZABO (HUN), 3-2

97kg
GOLD: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) vs. Mikheil KAJAIA (SRB), 7-0

BRONZE - Balazs KISS (HUN) vs. Ramsin AZIZSIR (GER), 4-1
BRONZE - Matti Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) df. Laokratis KESIDIS (GRE), 10-7

#WrestleZagreb

Valiev outsmarts Sidakov again to reach Worlds final

Sunday, September 14, 2025 - 16:24 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 14) -- For five minutes and 50 seconds in both the 74kg semifinals, there was little indication that the results will change. But 10 seconds were enough for Chermen VALIEV (ALB) and Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) to change the outcome.

Valiev was down 4-2 against Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) but managed to elevate the latter's leg from an attack before tripping him on the edge for a two-point takedown, taking a 4-4 criteria lead with three seconds remaining.

Sidakov tried a desperate attack but gave up another takedown even in that short time as Valiev reached his first-ever World Championships final on debut in Zagreb, Croatia.

Takahashi was down 4-1 against Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) but the Japanese scored a takedown and turned Salkazanov through a gut-wrench to lead 5-4. He still had 6 seconds to defend and he managed to do it with ease. Slovakia challenged for fleeing from Takahashi but that was lost which added an additional point to make it 6-4.

Valiev and Takahashi, both with clutch wins, will now clash in the 74kg final for the world title on Monday.

Three other weight classes were also in action on Sunday and the United States was the only country to put two wrestlers in the finals -- Levi HAINES (USA) at 79kg and Trent HIDLAY (USA) at 92kg.

Haines, who stunned world champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) in the quarterfinals, scored a controlled 4-1 victory over Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) in the semifinals. Olonbayar got the first point via passivity of Haines but the U.S. wrestler scored a counter exposure for two points and take a 2-1 lead.

He scored a ankle pick for another two-point takedown and defended his 4-1 lead for the win and reach the final, a surprise in a tough 79kg bracket.

On Monday, he will try to stop Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) from becoming Greece's first-ever wrestling world champion in history. The European champion from Greece showed some of the most high-paced wrestling in the semifinal against world silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) to win 8-3.

Nokhodi, was often stood squared-up, had no answered to Kougioumtsidis' constant attacks as the Greece wrestlers led 6-3 at the break. He scored a single-leg takedown in the second period and won 8-3.

Hidlay, who has switched levels in his career this year, reached the final at 92kg after destroying world silver medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-4, in the semifinals.

Nurmagomedov was in the match when the score was 5-4 with 2:23 left but Hidlay switch gears since, scoring a go-behind, a feet-to-back four-pointer and a takedown to finish with a technical superiority win.

He will face Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) for the gold medal after Gadzhimagomedov managed to hold off Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) for an 11-6. Firouzpour, who had multiple age-group world titles, kept shooting for Gadzhimagomedov's legs but the UWW wrestler kept countering those attack with lift exposures.

Gadzhimagomedov then sealed the win with stepout, handing him a 9-6 lead and a takedown finishing the match 11-6.

Harutyunyan pinned after Lee heroics

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) undoubtedly had the most impressive win of the morning session when he defeated Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA) 14-3 in the quarterfinals.

The win put Harutyunyan as the favorite to advance to the final at 57kg. However, Asian champion Chongsong HAN (PRK) had different ideas. He hit a lateral drop on Harutyunyan in the semifinals and secured a fall to enter the final. Han is the first Freestyle wrestler from the DPR Korea to enter the final in 11 years.

Han will now try to become a world champion when he takes on Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) in the 57kg final after the Kyrgyz wrestler took it to Paris Olympic bronze medalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), winning 8-0.

Abdullaev seemed to have burnt out from the earlier matches and had little fight left in him as Almaz Uulu scored points at his will in the semifinals including four stepouts.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Chongsong HAN (PRK) vs. Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ)

SF 1: Chongsong HAN (PRK) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), via fall
SF 2: Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) df. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 8-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN)

SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW), 6-4
SF 2: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 6-4

79kg
GOLD: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) vs. Levi HAINES (USA)

SF 1: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), 8-3
SF 2: Levi HAINES (USA) df. Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL), 4-1

92kg
GOLD: Trent HIDLAY (USA) vs. Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW)

SF 1: Trent HIDLAY (USA) df. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-4
SF 2: Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), 9-6

Russia Reels in Trio of Greco-Roman Golds on Third Day of Euro C’Ships

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Valiev outsmarts Sidakov again to reach Worlds final