#WrestleBucharest

Russia Wins Freestyle Team Title at European Championships

By Eric Olanowski

BUCHAREST, Romania (April 10) – The Russian Federation trailed Azerbaijan by five points heading into the final day of wrestling at the European championships but closed out the freestyle competition with a Day 3 gold medal and two bronze medals to win the team title six points ahead of second place Turkey. 

Russia’s lone Day 3 champion came at 86kg, where Vladislav VALIEV (RUS) pitched his fourth shutout of the tournament, defeating Moldova’s Piotr IANULOV (MDA), 4-0. Valiev, the 2017 world bronze medalist, combined to outscore his five continental opponents, 30-1 en route to his first European title. 

Russia’s Timur BIZHOEV (RUS) and Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) won the 74kg and 125kg bronze medal respectively and helped the Russian Federation jump into the tournament’s top spot. 

Turkey finished in second place with 156 points. 

At 125kg, Turkey's Olympic champion Taha AKGUL won his third consecutive European title and seventh overall continental championship with a staggering 7-0 win over a vulnerable Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO). The Georgian wrestle had his left knee heavily taped and limited in what he could do in the gold-medal bout. 

Akgul, the 2016 Olympic champion dominated the 125kg finals match with a pair of takedowns, a leg lace, and a brutality point, and cruised past his biggest rival for the second consecutive time in the European finals. 

Turkey also had a pair of bronze medalists in Recep TOPAL and Fatih ERDIN. Topal was the bronze-medal winner at 61kg, and Erdin finished in third place at 86kg. 


Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) won the 92kg gold medal with a 3-0 win over Poland's Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL). (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Azerbaijan finished in third place with 145 points.

In the 92kg finals, London Olympic Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) blew open the match against Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) after only leading 3-0 after the first period. In the second period, Sharifov scored three takedowns and won his first continental title with a 9-1 victory.  

Meanwhile, the final two freestyle Day 3 gold medals went to Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and Frank CHAMIZO (ITA). 

The Armenian youngster, Arsen Harutyunyan, was down 8-0 after the first 90 seconds of the 61kg gold-medal bout but stormed back to outscore returning European runner-up Beka LOMTADZE (GEO), 17-3 in the final four minutes to win his first senior-level European title. 

Harutyunyan already had a cadet and junior European title on his resume, and added a senior European title with his come-from-behind win on Wednesday night. 

At 74kg, Frank Chamizo picked up his third European title at his third different weight class with an 8-0 throttling of France’s Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA), improving on his bronze-medal finish from last year's Kaspiisk European Championships. 

Chamizo scored three takedowns in the first period and a takedown in the second period, and shutout Moldova's Piotr IANULOV (MDA), 8-0. 

Freestyle Team Scores
GOLD - Russia  (162 points)
SILVER - Turkey (156 points) 
BRONZE -  Azerbaijan  (145 points) 
Fourth - Georgia  (104 points) 
Fifth - Ukraine (80 points) 

61kg
GOLD - Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO), 17-11
BRONZE - Recep TOPAL (TUR) df. Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU), via fall 
BRONZE - Randy VOCK (SUI) df. Elmedin SEJFULAU (MKD), 6-5 

74kg
GOLD - Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) df. Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA), 8-0 
BRONZE - Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), 12-1 
BRONZE - Timur BIZHOEV (RUS) df. Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE), 6-4 

86kg
GOLD - Vladislav VALIEV (RUS) df. Piotr IANULOV (MDA), 4-0 
BRONZE - Ali SHABANAU (BLR) df. Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE), 11-2
BRONZE - Fatih ERDIN (TUR) df. Mihai PALAGHIA (ROU), 8-2 

92kg
GOLD - Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) df. Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL), 9-1 
BRONZE - Istvan VEREB (HUN) df. Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR), 4-2
BRONZE - Irakli MTSITURI (GEO), df. Magomed KURBANOV (RUS), 3-2

125kg 
GOLD - Taha AKGUL (TUR) df. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 7-0 
BRONZE - Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR) df. Robert BARAN (POL), 3-2 
BRONZE - Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) df. Rares CHINTOAN (ROU), 11-0

#WrestleParis

Wrestling at Paris 2024: Susaki, Makhmudov stunned; Aleksanyan vs Rosillo rematch

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

PARIS -- The Olympic Games enter day two of wrestling at the Champs de Mars arena with Greco-Roman 77kg and 97kg and Women's Wrestling 50kg. Yui SUSAKI (JPN) is hoping to defend her title from Tokyo which she won without conceding a point. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) is looking for his second title as well with the first coming in Rio.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS 2024 DAY 1

13:30: That is the end of the morning session! Mohamed GABR (EGY) is into the semifinal by beating Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) 4-1. On a day of upset, count that one as well.

13:19: The shocks continue as Mariya STADNIK (AZE) sees her bid for an elusive Olympic gold end when two-time world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) scores a pair of takedowns in the final minute for a stunning 4-4 victory on big-point criteria. Dolgorjav went into the match a bit fresher after receiving a first-round forfeit from Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA), and she used her reserves to secure what proved to be the winning takedown with 28 seconds left. Stadnik challenged for eye poke which was confirmed on challenge but Dolgorjav still had criteria

13:18: Returning bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) with a technical superiority win over Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) and he is moving into the semifinal at 97kg.

13:15: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) is into the Greco 77kg semifinals after beating Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) 1-1 on last-point criteria. Levai was put in par terre first, then held out when on the bottom in the second.

13:08: Tokyo bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) scrapes out a well-earned 7-4 victory over Ziqi FENG (CHN) to advance to the women's 50kg semifinals. Feng opens with a double-leg takedown that Hildebrandt reverses for 1, then goes ahead with shrug-by takedown. The two trade takedowns as the American goes into the break with a slim 5-4 lead. In the second period, she clinches the win with a takedown with :40 left.

13:05: Another star has fallen! World champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) saw his bid to become his country's first-ever gold medalist end with a 3-1 loss to Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ). Makhmudov got the chance in par terre first, but a series of rolls were nullified on challenge for leg use. In the second period, Zhadrayev applied a vicious front headlock from par terre and threw the Tokyo silver medalist for 2.

13:08: World champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) was in some trouble against Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) but managed to hold his lead and scored a takedown on the counter in the dying seconds of the bout to win 5-2. He moves into the semifinal at 97kg

12:58: Never count out Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)! He was down 5-5 on criteria after Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) used two front headlocks to score exposure. But Aleksanyan got behind and threw Assakalov for four to win 9-5

12:57: Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB) storms into the women's 50kg semifinals with a 10-0 win over Gabija DILYTE (LTU). Guzman arm drags behind for a takedown, then reels off three rolls for an 8-0 lead. Another takedown ends the match with nine seconds left in the first period.

12:49: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) follows up her monumental win over Yui SUSAKI (JPN) by holding off Oksana LIVACH (UKR) 7-5 in a scrappy women's 50kg quarterfinal. Phogat gets two takedowns and leads 5-2 when Livach puts on a late surge, cutting the gap to 1 with a stepout and a lost challenge. With the clock winding down, Phogat shrugs off a throw attempt for 2, and Livach adds a late stepout.

12:48: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) gets a 2-point throw from par terre in the first period and that holds up for a 3-0 victory over Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) and a spot in the Greco 77kg semifinals.

12:45: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) gets the par terre the second time and turns Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO), adds a four-pointer and finishes the bout 9-1 at 97kg

12:38: Top seed Nao KUSAKA (JPN) finishes off a 12-2 victory over Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) with a 4-point pancake to snatch his place in tonight's Greco 77kg semifinals.

12:34: Veteran Mariya STADNIK (AZE) begins her quest for a fifth Olympic medal -- hopefully a first gold -- with a 6-2 victory over world bronze medalist Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER). The 35-year-old mother of two gets a takedown-roll combination for a 4-0 lead in the first period, then gets 2 more when she rolls through a headlock attempt in the second.

12:30: Mohamed GABR (EGY) gave no chance to Mihail KAJAIA (SRB). Gabr took a 6-0 lead and then defended the par terre position to win 6-1 and advance at 97kg.

12:25: 2021 world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) gets the passivity points and fights off Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) and an apparent left hamstring injury for a 2-0 victory at Greco 77kg.

12:23: Tokyo bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA)  goes out the backdoor for a takedown against Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG), then transitions to the lace lock and reels off four rolls for a 10-0 win in 1:34 for a place in the women's 50kg quarterfinals.

12:18: World bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) uses an effective barrel roll for two takedowns of Nada MOHAMED (EGY), scoring a fall after the second one to advance to the women's 50kg quarterfinals.

12:19: Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) with a big four-pointer as he moves past Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU) 5-1 and enters the 97kg quarterfinals.

12:14: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), the world silver medalist in 2022, gets a second-period stepout and that's enough for a 2-1 victory at Greco 77kg over Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), the 2022 world champ at 82kg.

12:08: Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB) pulls off a thrilling 7-6 victory over Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) at women's 50kg with an exposure during a scramble in the final seconds that took the mat chairman a long time to sort out on challenge. Both wrestlers scored takedowns, only to give up 2-point counters down the stretch.

12:00 Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) with a controlled 4-0 win over Fadi ROUABAH (ALG) and moves into the quarterfinal. He will take on world champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) who was not the best off the block but managed to beat Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER) 7-5.

11:56: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), aiming to improve on his silver medal in Tokyo three years ago at Greco 77kg, can't get the turn in par terre, but rides a series of second-period stepouts to a 4-1 victory over Kamal BEY (USA)

11:53: Gabija DILYTE (LTU) uses a 2-on-1 to slam Alisson CARDOZO (COL) to her back and secures the fall at 4:14 to advance at women's 50kg.

11:45: Four-time world medalist Maklhas AMOYAN (ARM) tosses his way to an 8-0 victory at Greco 77kg over Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN). The winning point comes on a lost challenge by the Finnish side.

11:44: Oksana LIVACH (UKR), fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, scores a pair of 4-point takedowns and she advances at women's 50kg with a 10-0 victory over Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB).

11:37: Asian silver medalist Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) gets the second of the passivity points and that's enough to defeat Yosvanys PENA (CUB) 1-1 at Greco 77kg.

11:33: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Olympic wrestling history, scoring a takedown in the final seconds to stun defending women's 50kg champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) 3-2. It is Susaki's first loss ever in 95 matches against non-Japanese opponents. Phogat stays completely on the defensive throughout the match, giving Susaki both of her points from the activity clock. With the clock running down, Phogat goes on the offensive and knocks Susaki off balance and onto her bottom, then charges ahead for a takedown with :05 left. Japan challenges, but the takedown stands and Susaki is out. 

11:26: Former world silver medalist Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) storms into the quarterfinals at Greco 77kg with a workmanlike 9-0 victory over  Mahmoud ABDELRAHMAN (EGY).

11:24: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) bounces back from her quarterfinal loss to Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) to earn a chance for a bronze medal by defeating Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) 6-0 in their women's 68kg repechage match. Ozaki scores two takedowns and a 2-point exposure, but the former 62kg world champion still seems to be struggling with the extra weight.

11:22: A minute and 44 seconds is all Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) needed to get over Seungjun KIM (KOR) at 97kg opening round. He gets four gut wrenches from par terre to win 9-0.

11:20: Top seed Nao KUSAKA (JPN) begins his campaign at Greco 77kg with an impressive 9-0 win over Abd Elrim OUAKALI (ALG). After an early takedown, Kusaka gets a 4-point lift and throw from par terre. Ouakali comes near to scrambling for a takedown, but Kusaka reverses the momentum to score a match-ending takedown.

11:16: Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) uses a four-point throw in his 6-4 win over Kiril MILOV (BUL) at 130kg. He will wrestle for bronze later tonight against Lingzhe DENG (CHN).

11:15: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) makes short work of Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) in the other Greco 60kg repechage, rolling to a 10-0 victory. He will take on world champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) for the bronze.

 

11:14: World champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) wins a battle of stepouts in the women's 68kg repechage against Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), earning a place in the bronze-medal match with a 4-3 win. Both wrestlers had three stepouts, with the deciding point coming when Poland unsuccessfully challenged Tosun's third stepout.

11:10: The action on Mat A gets underway with the first of the two Greco 60kg repechage matches. Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) will get a chance to give Venezuela its first-ever Olympic wrestling medal after scoring two 4-point takedowns in a 12-1 victory over Moamen MOHAMED (EGY). Rodriguez will face Se Ung RI (PRK) for the bronze later tonight. 

11:00:The day two will begin with repechage in GR 60kg and 130kg and WW 68kg. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is on the mat to wrestle Seungchan LEE (KOR). He wins via technical superiority 9-0 and moves into the bronze medal bout for the evening.