#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

#UnitedWorldWrestling

UWW successfully hosts first-ever World Conference

Thursday, September 25, 2025 - 14:16 By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 24) -- United World Wrestling successfully hosted its first-ever World Conference in Zagreb, Croatia from September 17 to 19.

UWW President Nenad LALOVIC welcomed all the guest to the conference, held during the World Championships in Zagreb, and led the floor with discussions on Artificial Intelligence in wrestling, Amateur MMA, developing wrestling and the impact of social media to keep wrestling at the top.

United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC at the World Conference. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

"On behalf of United World Wrestling, I wish you a warm welcome in Zagreb first, but to this conference too," Lalovic said. "We had this idea maybe almost a decade ago. We were seeking for a platform, how these good relations among wrestlers and the national federations can improve our sport."

Injury prevention, weight management, career transitions for wrestlers, as well as the future of the sport were some of the key discussions during the three-day event at the Westin Hotel.

International Olympic Committee member and former President of Croatia Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC.

Former President of Croatia and International Olympic Committee member Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC marked her presence at the historic event in capital city of Croatia.

Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Croatia State Secretary Josip PAVIC was also present at the conference and expressed his gratitude for entrusting Croatia for hosting the championships and the conference. Croatia Wrestling Federation President Vladimir BREGOVIC, Dean of University of Kinesiology, Zagreb Prof. Mario BAIC and numerous other stakeholders marked their presence at the conference.

On day one of the conference, UWW's growth in media and digital transformation was discussed with focus on strategy, social media, partnership and equipment and new technologies. The discussion then headed to Beach Wrestling and Associated Styles with Amateur MMA and Grappling as the main topics.

Zack ERRETT

The second day of the conference saw UWW Educator Zach ERRETT explaining the rules of Beach Wrestling, International Testing Agency Senior Legal Counsel Ayesha TALPADE presenting details of anti-doping program, followed by a panel discussion.

Kuniko TANIOKA, President of the Shigakkan University in Japan, led the discussion on sport nutrition and weight management along with UWW Medical Commission members Saam FALAHATI, Ioannis BARBAS and Szabolcs MOLNAR.

Former wrestlers shared their experiences on transitioning from wrestling to other jobs. Neven and Nenad ZUGAJ were among the panellists that also included Mijain LOPEZ, Taha AGKUL, Arsen JULFALAKYAN, Don RYAN, Alexei BAZULIN, Erica WEIBE, Bruce BAUMGARTNER.

Sofia MATTSSON

Head of the United States women's team Terry STEINER presented the "coaching the women's" part on day three. He explained how to support and train women wrestlers and led the panel that also had Tanioka, Marwa AMRI, Vincent AKA, Sofia MATTSSON, Wiebe and Nadine PIETSCHMAN.

"Depending on the success of this first World Conference, we will decide if in the future it will be a biannual one or a quadrennial one. Maybe every year if you have so much to say," Lalovic said. "World Championships is the best opportunity for that because people are already here. This physical presence is always more efficient."

A national federation workshop organized by United World Wrestling in Zagreb.

NF workshop

UWW also organized a workshop for the National Federations. UWW Sports Director Jean-Daniel REY and UWW Development Director Deqa NIAMKEY welcomed various NFs which had registered for the workshop.

Capacity building, finance and event organization were the key topics at the workshop. Croatia Wrestling Federation Secretary General Tin BREGOVIC, Professor of Kinesiology Nenad BORKOVIC, Professional Master in Social Innovation and Management Ivan BLAZEVIC led a panel discussion on the topic as they were part of the organizing committee for the World Championships in Zagreb.

Azerbaijan, Brazil, Spain and Thailand presented case studies related to event organization and the challenges of competitions.

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

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UWW successfully hosts first-ever World Conference