Russia, Ukraine in Thrilling WW Title Race at #WrestleSkopje

Thursday, May 20, 2021 - 19:49 By Vinay Siwach

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (May 20) --- Ukraine and Russia are involved in a thrilling team title race in women's wrestling at the U23 European Championships.

While Russia dominated with four finalists on Wednesday compared to Ukraine's two, the latter entered three into the finals on Thursday while Russia fell behind to only two.

On Thursday, Ukraine saw their wrestlers reaching the semifinal in each weight class that was in action at the Jane Sandanski Arena in Skopje, North Macedonia. Two, however, failed to reach the finals.

Alina AKOBIYA (UKR), Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) and Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) reached the finals in 57kg, 62kg and 65kg weight category for Ukraine. For Russia, Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) and Marina SUROVTSEVA (RUS) entered the 50kg and 72kg final.

The Ukraine wrestlers just did not reach the finals, but they made sure their opponents know it, Of the 10 semifinals, five were decided via fall and three of them were performed by wrestlers from Ukraine.

Alina AKOBIYA U23 European Championships

Akobiya led the way for them with victory in the 57kg semifinal against Sezen BELBEROVA (BUL). She began with a takedown to lead 2-0 and added another with a single leg which she managed to convert into a fall. But in the process, Belberova was hit on the forehead which resulted in bleeding before the fall action began. That only delayed the eventual result.

The wrestlers were called to the center with Akobiya leading 6-0. Belberova was put in a par terre position from which Akobiya managed to pin her.

That was not the first of the day for Akobiya as she had won both her previous bouts in similar fashion. Eda TEKIN (TUR) was pinned in the first period during the qualification bout while U23 Euro champ at 55kg Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS) was stunned as well with a fall after 12-1 score.

Akobiya will be eyeing her first U23 Euro gold after falling short in Novi Sad in 2019. But Patrycja GIL (POL) will be between her and the gold.

Gil, a junior world champion, used three takedowns and two stepouts to beat Othelie HOEIE (NOR) 8-0 in the other semifinal. In the quarterfinal, she defeated Hanna VAHER (BLR) 2-1.

Individual World Cup champ Rizhko will also be looking for her first U23 Euro title after she reached the final at 62kg. She humbled senior and U23 European medalist Anhelina LYSAK (POL) in the semifinal. Rizhko had an early takedown and then she got Lysak in a head lock and threw her over the shoulder. A fall was confirmed as Rizhko won in two minutes and 43 seconds.

Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR) will try and stop Rizhko from winning the gold as she reached the summit clash from the top side of the bracket. In the semifinal, she scored couple of takedowns and a gut against Cansu AKSOY (TUR) to lead 6-0 at the break before a hitting a counter for four points and claiming the pin.

But her bigger win came in the quarterfinal where she defeated junior Euro champion and Russian Championships bronze medalist Maria LACHUGINA (RUS) 4-2.

At 65kg, Zelenykh was the quickest among the semifinalists to get the pin as she finished the bout in just one minute in 43 seconds. Even in that small period, a total of 11 points were scored. Zelenykh scored a 4 using a hip-toss before a takedown against Asli DEMIR (TUR). The Turkey wrestler also responded with a takedown at the edge. Her corner challenged the call, asking for four points but lost the challenge and Zelenykh led 7-2.

A single leg attack to expose Demir to her back before getting the fall gave the Ukrainian a spot in the final where she will face Irina RINGACI (MDA).

Quickly becoming one of the most feared wrestlers in 62-65kg weight classes, Ringaci also finished her semifinal against Kamila KULWICKA (POL) via fall.

Kulwicka made several attempts to get points on Ringaci but failed every time as the Moldova wrestler countered her moves. She got the first takedown via a counter before another and an exposure made it 6-0. Kulwicka again came with a single leg attack but Ringaci defended that and scored two points. Ringaci took some time but the pin was secured in 4:08.

There was disappointment as well for Ukraine as Maria VYNNYK (UKR) at 53kg and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) at 72kg failed to win their semifinals.

Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) upset Vynnyk in the final second by scoring a stepout and winning 3-3 on criteria. Yetgil will now take on Verbina who controlled her semifinal against Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN) 6-0.

At 72kg, Alpyeyeva gave a tough fight but Surovtseva was too strong for her. After a couple of takedowns, the Russian led 4-0 at the break. Alpyeyeva managed an attack with caught the Russian off guard. But the win was secured by Surovtseva 6-2 with ease.

She will wrestle Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) in the final on Friday. Choluj needs to thank her Gods as she managed to sneak past Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR) 2-1 in the semifinal.

With the bout tied 1-1 with 24 seconds left, Choluj managed to get a step out and a 2-1 lead which she kept until the clock expired.

Russia, Ukraine win 2 gold each

By the time the final session ended in Skopje, Russia, with 90 points, had a small four-point led over Ukraine in the team title race.

Ukraine stopped Russia from gaining a big lead as Khrystyna DEMKO (UKR) defeated Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RUS) in the 55kg final while Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) held off Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS) in the 68kg final.

The two defeats hurt Russia despite their two gold medals at 50kg and 76kg.

Ukraine earned bronze medals at 50kg and 59kg but their absence from the podium at 76kg may come back to hurt them in the final scores.

The lone gold winner who did not represent the two countries was Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) as she defeated Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) 10-0 in a blink of an eye.

The defending European and world medalist put on a show of strength as she trapped Dollack in a arm to chest lock to get four turns and the win as she defended her U23 Euro gold.

Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) won the gold at 50kg as she eased past Anastasiya YANOTOVA (BLR) 7-2. Using single leg attacks, the Russian got a 5-0 lead at the break before Yanotova scored two step outs. But a takedown late in the bout sealed the gold for Tiumerekova.

DEMKO

Demko combined a takedwon and gut thrice in the final against Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RUS) to win 12-1 at 59kg. This was her first European title at the U23 level.

In another Ukraine-Russia final, Chudyk scored a takedown via an arm drag against Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS) in the last 30 seconds of their 68kg final to lead 3-2. She managed to keep the Russian at bay and win the gold medal. This adds to her cadet and junior European titles.

Russia managed to lock the gold at 76kg as Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) needed only two minutes and 21 seconds to win 10-0 against Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR). She snapped Ozbege at the 40th second of the bout and got three exposures to lead 8-0. The final takedown was also scored via a snap down.

Focus will shift to Greco-Roman as wrestler from five weight classes – 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, 130kg – will take the mat.

Results: WW Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) vs Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS)

SF 1: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) df Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 3-3
SF 2: Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) df Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN), 6-0

57kg
GOLD: Patrycja GIL (POL) vs Alina AKOBIIA (UKR)

SF 1: Patrycja GIL (POL) df Othelie HOEIE (NOR), 8-0
SF 2: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) df Sezen BELBEROVA (BUL), via fall (10-0)

62kg
GOLD: Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR) vs Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)

SF 1: Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR) df Cansu AKSOY (TUR), via fall (10-2)
SF 2: Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) df Anhelina LYSAK (POL), via fall (6-0)

65kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA) vs Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR)

SF 1: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df Kamila KULWICKA (POL), via fall (11-0)
SF 2: Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) df Asli DEMIR (TUR), via fall (9-2)

72kg
GOLD: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) vs Marina SUROVTSEVA (RUS)

SF 1: Marina SUROVTSEVA (RUS) df Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR), 6-2
SF 2: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR), 2-1

U23 European Championships

WW Medal Bouts

50kg
GOLD: Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) df Anastasiya YANOTOVA (BLR), 7-2

BRONZE: Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) df Lisa ERSEL (GER), via fall (6-2)
BRONZE: Aynur ERGE (TUR) df Maria LEORDA (MDA), 10-0

55kg
GOLD: Khrystyna DEMKO (UKR) df Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RUS), 12-1

BRONZE: Esra PUL (TUR) df Beatrice FERENT (ROU), via fall (5-1)
BRONZE: Dominika KULWICKA (POL) df Aleksandrina KASHINOVA (BUL), 3-2

59kg
GOLD: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df Tamara DOLLAK (HUN), 10-0

BRONZE: Krystsina SAZYKINA (BLR) df Maria BAEZ DILONE (ESP), 4-3
BRONZE: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df Anne NUERNBERGER (GER), 14-4

68kg
GOLD: Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) df Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS), 3-2

BRONZE: Ewelina CIUNEK (POL) df Kendra DACHER (FRA), via fall (6-2)
BRONZE: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df Natallia BELSKAYA (BLR), via fall (9-0)

76kg
GOLD: Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) df Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR), 10-0

BRONZE: Diana VLASCEANU (ROU) df Andela PRIJOVIC (SRB), 10-0
BRONZE: Enrica RINALDI (ITA) df Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU), via fall (4-0)

#WrestleTirana

Tibilov Serves Serbia Gold; Azerbaijan Wins Greco Team Title

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - 20:18 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (April 22) -- A decade since Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) won a gold medal a championships, he was back on top, finally.

Back in 2016, he won gold at the U17 European Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. And on Wednesday in Tirana, Albania, Tibilov won gold at the senior European Championships at 60kg, only the fifth-ever champion from Serbia.

Tibilov had fallen short last year after dropping the final in Zagreb. However, he made no mistake this year, beating former U20 world champion Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM), 2-2, on criteria.

The 60kg final began with Aghajanyan scoring a stepout and then getting the par terre position in the first period to lead 2-0. However, he failed to score any points as Tibilov was solid in denfese.

In the second period, Tibilov did the exact same sequence and scored a stepout before getting the par terre position to lead 2-2 on last-point-scored criteria. as he was also failed to score points from par terre.

Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), red, battles it out with Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) during the 60kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"It’s hard to put into words," Tibilov said. "I’ve never wrestled him [Aghajanyan] before. There are no weak opponents in the final. In fact, there are no weak ones at this tournament at all. He’s a very serious competitor. If it weren’t for my opponents, I wouldn’t be able to show what I showed here."

Tibilov won a bronze medal at the 2023 European Championships but he failed to repeat the feat in 2024. But in 2025, he reached the final before losing to Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), who lost to Aghajanyan this year.

"The preparation [for this tournament] was serious and the result proves it. It’s always that serious but sometimes the result is different. That doesn’t mean we’re not working, it just means that sometimes you need to refine yourself, like a diamond, so it can shine."

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The 26-year-old now prepares to take on the World Championships where he has previously won a medal in 2024 at 63kg. But 60kg, the weight classes by Asian wrestlers as they won all four medals at the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was only at the 2025 World Championships that Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) broke the hegemony. Now, Tibilov wants to do it at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"The plan remains the same, we are moving step by step toward the Olympics in Los Angeles," he said. "All of this is part of the path toward the Olympics. I can’t say exactly what will happen, but we will fix everything there, in Los Angeles. And it won’t be only Asians standing on the podium."

Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) avoids a last-ditch effort from Luri LOMADZE (GEO) in the 72kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In other finals on Wednesday, Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) won gold at 72kg without sharing the space on the podium like he had to do last year. At 97kg, Kiril MILOV (BUL) defended his gold medal after beating Alex SZOKE (HUN) in a close final.

Azerbaijan's pair of defending champions Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) and Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) repeated as champions at 67kg and 82kg and propelled Azerbaijan as the top team in Greco-Roman in Europe.

Ghanem, who won a gold medal after a controversial final last year, did not leave anything to luck. Wrestling Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) in the final, Ghanem got both par terre positions and scored two more points to complete a clinical 4-0.

Last year, due to a technical error, Ghanem and Levente LEVAI (HUN) had to share the gold medal. But the 2025 title had made Ghanem the first France wrestler to win the European title Greco in 30 years.

On Wednesday, he became only the second wrestler from the country to win the title twice, joining Ghani YALOUZ (FRA) who won in 1992 and 1995.

"This time my feeling is better because last year I had one wrestler with me for this medal," Ghanem said. "This is the best feeling for me."

Ghanem, a world champion in 2023, will now try to adjust himself in the Olympic weight class of 77kg.

"My plan now, I think for Olympic Games," he said. "I think this last time for 72kg, but I'm not sure. I will speak to my coach after European Championships."

Kiril MILOV (BUL) at the medal ceremony with his gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Milov, who has been out of action for a year now, returned to the mat and defended his European title, his third in total.

On the same side of the bracket as world silver medalist Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) and world bronze medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW), Milov defeated both of them en route the final.

In the final, Milov faced former U23 world champion and returning bronze medalist Alex SZOKE (HUN). After Milov got the par terre in the first period, he managed to turn Szoke and lead 3-1.

In a rare occurance, Szoke was awarded two passivity par terre positions. However, he failed to trouble Milov, who carefully defended his lead.

"I missed a year of major tournaments," Milov said. "I’m happy that my motivation and discipline helped me prepare to the maximum, give my best, and win a third European title."

Milov did not participated in World Championships in 2025 but is now raring to go and win his third world medal after two silvers in 2018 and 2022.

"Sometimes motivation fades as it’s a temporary thing," he said. "But the discipline I’ve built through sport helped me train every day and give my maximum, because if I have the chance to compete, I have to take it and give everything I have."

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) got two points as Murat FIRAT (TUR) committed a foul. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Jafarov, Gurbanov Defend

Defending champion at 67kg Jafarov needed a third passivity in his final against Murat FIRAT (TUR) to win his fourth European title. Jafarov got the first par terre position in the first period, and then used a four-point throw to race to a 5-0 lead.

Firat opened the second period with a four-point arm throw and then got a par terre position to lead 5-5 on criteria. He did not score any points from the position and decided to defend his lead.

However, with 55 seconds remaining, Jafarov was awarded a third passivity and Firat committed a defensive foul which was confirmed only after a challenge from Azerbaijan, giving Jafarov a 7-5 lead.

He defended that lead and claim the gold medal, fourth straight one of his career.

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) scores a takedown against Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Gurbanov also had a close final against Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) at 82kg but he survived the battle and won 4-2.

The final began with a takedown from Gurbanov who used a strong throw to bring Tiuliubaev to the mat. Tiuliubaev challenged the call for a leg foul but the takedown was clean and the challenge was lost, giving one more points to Gurbanov.

The Azerbaijan wrestler then got the par terre position which extended his lead to 4-0. When the bout resumed in standing, Tiuliubaev managed a push out to make cut the lead to 4-1 before the break.

A passivity call against Gurbanov was the only point for Tiuliubaev in the remaining bout, giving Gurbanov a hard-earned victory.

The two golds propelled Azerbaijan to the Greco-Roman team title with 133 points. Turkiye finished second with 121 points and Georgia was third with 118 points.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) df. Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM), 2-2

BRONZE: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Suner KONUNOV (UWW), 6-0
BRONZE: Corneliu RUSU (MDA) df. Denis MIHAI (ROU), 6-5

67kg
GOLD: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df. Murat FIRAT (TUR), 7-5

BRONZE: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) df. Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR), 5-3
BRONZE: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Jan OEHLEN (SWE), 3-1

72kg
GOLD: Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) df. Iuri LOMADZE (GEO), 4-0

BRONZE: Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) df. Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (UWW), 1-1
BRONZE: Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) df. Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO),

82kg
GOLD: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) df. Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 11-2
BRONZE: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Mihail BRADU (MDA), 1-1

97kg
GOLD: Kiril MILOV (BUL) df. Alex SZOKE (HUN), 3-1

BRONZE: Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) df. Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW), 4-1
BRONZE: Vladen KOZLIUK (UKR) df. Abdul CEBI (TUR), 7-0

Russia, Ukraine in Thrilling WW Title Race at #WrestleSkopje

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Tibilov Serves Serbia Gold; Azerbaijan Wins Greco Team Title