#WrestleNoviSad

Russia Reels in Two Day 4 Golds, Takes Team Lead into Friday

By Eric Olanowski

NOVI SAD, Serbia (March 7) – The Russian Federation had a pair of Day 4 champions, and also won two silvers and a bronze. They lead second-place Ukraine by 27 points heading into the final day of women’s wrestling at the U23 European Championships. 

Viktoriia VAULINA and Daria SHISTEROVA were the pair of Russian women who reached the top of the podium on the fourth day of wrestling in Novi Sad, Serbia. 

In the 55kg finals, Viktoriia Vaulina outscored Eda TEKIN (TUR) 6-0 in the final period and grabbed the gold medal with a 7-2 victory. 

Vaulina used an inactivity point to carry the 1-0 lead into the second period. The Russian lifted her Turkish opponent with a high crotch, then transitioned to a turn and extended her lead to 5-0. She closed the matched with a defensive stop and grabbed her second takedown of the match to win her first U23 European title with the 7-2 victory. 

The second Russian gold medalist was Daria Shisterova, who stuck Turkey’s Aysegul OZBEGE in 60 seconds to claim the 76kg title. 

Ukraine sits in second place with 78 points, thanks to their Day 4 gold medalist, Oksana LIVACH. 

Livach fought her way out of a four-point opening period hole and scored the 4-4 come-from-behind win over Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS) in the 50kg finals. 

The Budapest world bronze medalist gave up a takedown, followed by a gut wrench and fell behind 4-0 early in the first period. The Ukrainian locked up a first-period takedown of her own and closed her Russian opponent’s lead to 4-2. 

In the second, Livach threw a headlock and slipped her way to a second takedown, grabbing the 4-4 lead, and ultimately the win on criteria. Livach’s Thursday night win gave her a second consecutive U23 European title and fifth overall continental title.

Meanwhile, the final two Day 4 gold medals went to Moldova’s Anastasia NICHITA and Poland’s Natalia STRZALKA. 

At 59kg, Anastasia Nichita improved on her runner-up finish from a season ago and picked up the fall over Ukraine's Anhelina LYSAK with one second remaining in the gold-medal bout. 

Nichita was leading 3-2 when her Ukrainian opponent went for a double over hook throw but gave up the fall instead. 

In the 68kg finals, Natalia Strzalka shutout four-time age-group world champion Khanum VELIEVA (RUS), 3-0, to reach the top of the podium at the European Champions for the first time in her career. 

Russia has 105 points and leads Ukraine by 27 points. Turkey, Belarus, and Poland round out the top-5 respectively heading into the closing day of women's wrestling at U23 European Championships. 

RESULTS
Team Scores 

GOLD – Russia (105 points)
SILVER – Ukraine (78 points)
BRONZE - Turkey (62 points)
Fourth – Belarus (49 points)
Fifth - Poland (41 points)

50kg 
GOLD - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS), 4-4 
BRONZE - Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR) df. Katarzyna KAMINSKA (POL), 10-0 
BRONZE - Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) df. Turkan NASIROVA (AZE), 5-4 

55kg
GOLD - Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS) df. Eda TEKIN (TUR), 7-2
BRONZE - Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) df. Ellen RIESTERER (GER), 4-2
BRONZE - Sezen Behchetova BELBEROVA (BUL) df. Szimonetta Timea SZEKER (HUN), 4-1 

59kg 
GOLD - Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Anhelina LYSAK (UKR), via fall 
BRONZE - Zelfira SADRADDINOVA (RUS) df. Anna FABIAN (SRB), 11-1 
BRONZE - Emma JOHANSSON (SWE) df. Yuliya PISARENKA (BLR), via fall 

68kg (Single bronze)
GOLD - Natalia STRZALKA (POL) df. Khanum VELIEVA (RUS), 3-0 
BRONZE - Alina RUDNYTSKA LEVYTSKA (UKR) df. Yauheniya ANDREICHYKAVA (BLR), via fall 

76kg  
GOLD - Daria SHISTEROVA (RUS) df. Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR), via fall 
BRONZE - Georgina NELTHORPE (GBR) df. Enrica RINALDI (ITA), 3-1
BRONZE - Diana VLASCEANU (ROU) df. Romana VOVCHAK (UKR), 12-9

#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Day 4 Recap

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (March 1) -- Four Women's Wrestling weight classes and two Greco-Roman weight classes as Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series enters day four in Tirana. Here's the recap of day three

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

15:35: Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) and Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) received cautions for negative wrestling but Beishekeev had two activity points and turn from par terre in the 67kg semifinal as he defeated Khetsuriani 6-2 to make the final.

The former U17 world champion and 2024 U23 world champion Beishekeev will wrestle Valentin PETIC (MDA) for the gold after the Moldovan survived a spirited comeback from Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ) in the other semifinal to win 13-8

15:20: Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT) thought he has earned his first Ranking Series medal after he gut-wrenched Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ) for an 8-0 win in the 63kg semifinal. However, Choibekov challenges the first takedown and on review, it is deemed a risk from Choibekov and all points are cancelled. Choibekov then takes a 4-1 lead before a big throw gets him four more. A 9-3 win for Choibekov.

He will face Kerem KAMAL (TUR) in the final who defeated Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) 5-1 in the other semifinals.

15:05: Medet KYZY AIPERI (KGZ) storms into the 76kg final with 10-0 win over Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR). She scored three takedowns and huge reverse lift for four to win. She will take on Dymond GUILFORD (USA) who pulled off a 14-1 win over Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ).

14:55: Samantha STEWART (CAN) with yet another Ranking Series final. She beats Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) 5-2 at 57kg after two takedowns to one. She will take on Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) for the gold medal as the Turkish defeated Amanda MARTINEZ (USA), 9-3.

14:40: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) manages to scrap out a tough win against Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) at 53kg. Malanchuk caught Kiyooka in a bow-arrow lock and rolled her for a 6-0 lead. But Kiyooka regrouped and scored two takedowns to cut the lead to 6-4. Malanchuk kept shooting for the legs and Kiyooka kept defending with double underhooks. A caution against Malanchuk for hair-pulling and Kiyooka gets another point. Malanchuk gets two points out of a scramble and Kiyooka is forced to defend the situation. Malanchuk leads 8-5 at the break.

Kiyooka with a snapdown and go-behind to begin the second period. Another takedown when she finally gets the lead 9-8. Malanchuk challenges the last takedown as she had her hand between the bended knee as defense. The points are cancelled as Kiyooka's action is deemed dangerous, bending the knee more than 90 degrees. Malanchuk lead 8-7 with 2 minutes remaining. A stepout for Kiyooka but Malanchuk leads 8-8 on criteria. Finally, a takedown for lead for Kiyooka which Malanchuk blocks with open fingers. Kiyooka leads 11-8 and restart in par terre from which she turns Malanchuk to lead 13-8. Malanchuk makes a desperate attempt but Kiyooka go-behind for two points and a 15-8 win.

On Mat B, Andreea ANA (ROU) got two points for Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) failure to score in the activity clock and give ones for the same. She hangs on for a 2-1 win against Yetgil to book a spot in the final against Kiyooka.

The semifinals begin at 14:30 local time

13:20: Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) enters the 67kg semifinals with a 7-1 win over Abu AMAEV (BUL). After losing a challenge very early in the bout, Khetsuriani managed to lead 5-1 from par terre. He scored a stepout in the second was awarded the second passivity advantage as well which propelled him to a 7-1 win.

13:05: A last second stepout for Andreea ANA (ROU) to beat Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) at 53kg! With 20 seconds left, Malysheva led 3-0 but Ana scored a takedown to make it 3-2 with 10 seconds on the clock. She went for the leg straightaway and carried Malysheva outside the zone for one to win 3-3.

13:00: Yuxuan LI (CHN) manages to score a takedown on Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) but that is all. Kiyooka rallies to pile up takedowns to beat Li 12-2 in three minutes and 23 seconds. 

12:45: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) with a 44 seconds technical superiority win over Vanesa GEORGIEVA (BUL) in the 76kg quarterfinals. Alpyeyeva is a former U23 world champion and has been at 72kg for Ukraine for long but changing to the Olympic weight class of 76kg now

12:40: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) cannot find a way to penetrate Kerem KAMAL's (TUR) defense. The two met at 63kg and Mohsen Nejad got the first par terre. No score. Kamal was on top in the second period but failed to score. But with a 1-1 criteria lead to Kamal, Mohsen Nejad was forced to score but his desperate attempt lands him on his back and Kamal gets four for a 5-1 win.

12:30: Two quarterfinals results which happened at different times. Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) beats Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) 12-1 to move into the semifinals while Medet KYZY AIPERI (KGZ) takes full six minutes to beat Enrica RINALDI (ITA) 9-0.

12:15: Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) makes a statement with a win over Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) at 72kg. Glaude never let Bakbergenova to go for the big moves and counter with her takedowns. She beats the Kazakh 7-2.

12:10: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) with a fall at 72kg Round 2 against Linda MACHUCA (ARG). The fall makes it extremely likely that she will top the group

11:55: Huge win for Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) over Leri ABULADZE (GEO). The bout at 67kg was Abuladze trying to switch to an Olympic weight class. However, that proves too much for him right now. Khetsuriani got the par terre and then was about to score when Abuladze committed a leg foul. Abuladze challenge but lost which made the score 4-0 for Khetsuriani. He defended par terre in the second period and won 4-1

11:41: On Mat A, three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOV (KAZ) holds on to a 3-1 win over Alla BELINSKA (UKR) in Round 1 of 72kg.

11:40: World champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), who is now trying to be at 53kg since Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) has moved up to 57kg, wins her first bout over Felicity TAYLOR (USA) 8-0. Kiyooka was on the leg lace quite a few times but was defended well but Taylor. But Kiyoola still managed a 10-0 win with a minute and 16 seconds remainig.

11:30: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) takes out Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) at 76kg in the opening round. Alpeyeyeva with leg attacks that clearly unsettled Yamamoto who likes to stay on upper body. A 9-1 win for Alpyeyeva.

11:20: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) takes her time but manages to beat Meile ZHANG (CHN) 11-0 with 36 seconds left. Great start for Medet Kyzy is a slightly stacked weight class.

11:10: Morten THORESEN (NOR) just blanked Sebastian NAD (SRB) at 67kg! Extreme pace from Thoresen to get two passivity calls and stepouts in his wins.

11:00: Day four of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series. No rain today and bright sunshine blesses Tirana. Women's Wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestlers will be on the mat.