Sadulaev Reaches Summit of European Podium for a Fifth Time

Saturday, February 15, 2020 - 19:55 By Eric Olanowski

ROME, Italy (February 15) --- Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) reached the summit of the European podium for the fifth time and improved his senior continental record to an unblemished 22-0. He has four European championship titles and a gold medal at the 2015 European Games which took the place of the European Championships in that year.

"It’s my fifth European championship gold, but I hope it’s not the last. There are six-time champions like Bouvaisar SAITIEV (RUS) and seven-time champions like Aleksander MEDVED (URS). Alexandre KARELIN (RUS) is a 12-time European champ, but I might not be able to achieve as much as he did." said Sadualev after he was asked if he's chasing Karelin's European title record.

Sadualev led the cast of Russian wrestlers who claimed three of five gold medals on Saturday. Russia commands a 27 point lead over Azerbaijan in the team race heading into the closing the day of the European Championships.

Sadualev defeated Albert SARITOV (ROU), 6-0, in what was a battle of Rio Olympic medalists. The Russian won gold in Rio and Saritov finished with a bronze medal.

In the finals, the “Russian Tank” scored his first takedown with seven seconds left on the shot clock and led 2-0. He tacked on a second takedown and carried the 4-0 lead into the second period. The four-time world champion added a third takedown and claimed his sixth European gold medal with the 6-0 win.

"It was not that easy to win. The draw wasn't good for me. Starting from the first match I had serious opponents. I am pleased with the result, but not really pleased with the way I wrestled," said Sadulaev.

Azamat TUSKAEV (RUS) celebrates his 57kg gold-medal win by circling the mat with the Russian flag draped over his back. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Azamat TUSKAEV (RUS) and Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS) were the two other Russian’s who claimed continental gold on Saturday night.

Tuskaev started the finals off on a good note for the Russian Federation. "I had to make all the others want to repeat my result, so it was a bit more difficult. If I had lost, it wouldn’t have been nice for the others. I gave them the so-called impulse to win," said Tuskaev.

He topped Suleyman ATLI (TUR), 3-1, in the 57kg finals, stopping the Turkish wrester from winning back-to-back European titles.

He fell to Atli in the 2017 U23 European finals, 4-2, but avenged that loss on Saturday night. "We have wrestled against each other a few times already. Sometimes I won, sometimes he did," Tuskaev said. "I knew his wrestling style. Honestly, I didn’t want to lose. It’s my first time wrestling at the European Championships and I wanted to win."

Tuskaev controlled the entire finals match with a left-sided underhook and stopped Atli from getting to any of his offense. In the first period, Tuskaev tossed Atli out of bounds for the one-point stepout and carried the slim advantage into the second period. He scored an inactivity point and extended his lead to two points but surrendered a head inside single near the out of bounds line and conceded the one-point stepout. The Russian grabbed another point after a failed Turkish challenge and stood atop the European podium for the first time in his career.

Tuskaev now sits behind reigning two-time world champion Zaur UGUEV (RUS) as the favorite to represent Russia at the Olympic Games. "I have to work three times harder to take over his spot. So, we will keep working hard and we will see. I will go back home, have some rest and then I will keep training," Tuskaev said about the potential path to taking Ugev's starting spot.

Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS) salutes the crowd after winning the 65kg gold medal. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Kurban Shiraev, the 20-year-old phenom, was the third Russian gold-medal winner. He shutout Niurgun SKRIABIN (BLR), 5-0, in the 65kg finals and continued his dominant 2020 season that just saw him win the “Toughest Tournament in the World,” the Ivan Yariguin. "We have come a long way to achieve it. We have been training a lot. I concentrated well on the match and I won," the youngster said after his match.

Shiraev showed that he has what it takes to wrestle with the best in the world. In the finals, He scored a takedown, an exposure and an inactivity point, while also putting on a defensive display of expertise en route to the 65kg title.

Shiraev’s emergence at 65kg adds to the insane depth that Russia already had. Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) is the front-runner to represent Russia in the Tokyo Olympic Games. But Russia also has Rio Olympic champion Soslan RAMONOV (RUS), two-time world bronze medalist Akhmed CHAKEV (RUS) and now Shiraev, among many others, vying for the opportunity to be Russia’s guy at 65kg.

When asked about where he sees himself in the pecking order at 65kg, Shiraev said, "I have to keep working hard. Of course, they are all my elder brothers and rivals at the same time. In general. I have to train hard to be a leader."

Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) flexes after beating Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), 2-0, in the 70kg finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Gadzhiev and Kadzimahamedau Non-Russian Champions
Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) and Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) were the two non-Russian wrestlers that claimed European golds on Saturday night.

Gadzhiev scored an inactivity point in each period and defeated returning European silver medalist Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), 2-0, in the 70kg finals.

Gadzhiev won his second career European title and first since 2016. Coming into Saturday finals, the Polish reigning world bronze medalist was 1-4 in continental gold-medal matches. Gadzhiev improved his European finals record to 2-4 with his win in Rome.

Kadzimahamedau stopped Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS) in the 79kg finals, ending Russia’s quest to go four-for-four in gold-medal matches on Saturday. Kadzimahamedau led 2-1 after the first period, but after surrendering a second-period takedown, he exploded to score eight unanswered points in the final 90 seconds. He walked away with the 10-3 victory and his first continental title.

The final session of the European Championships kicks off at 18:00 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

RESULTS
57kg
GOLD - Azamat TUSKAEV (RUS) df. Suleyman ATLI (TUR), 3-1
BRONZE - Stevan MICIC (SRB) vs. Mihran JABURYAN (ARM), 10-0
BRONZE - Horst LEHR (GER) df. Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), 6-3

65kg
GOLD - Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS) df. Niurgun SKRIABIN (BLR), 5-0
BRONZE - Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) df. Marwane Ahmed YEZZA (FRA), via fall
BRONZE - Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE) df. Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), 2-2

70kg
GOLD - Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) df. Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), 2-0
BRONZE - Mihail SAVA (MDA) df. Gevorg MKHEYAN (ARM), 8-7
BRONZE - Haydar YAVUZ (TUR) df. Mirza SKHULUKHIA (GEO), 7-1

79kg
GOLD - Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) df. Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS), 10-3
BRONZE - Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) df. Batuhan DEMIRCIN (TUR), 5 - 4
BRONZE - Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) df. Dzhemal Rushen ALI (BUL)

97kg
GOLD - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df. Albert SARITOV (ROU), 6-0
BRONZE - Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) df. Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE), 3-2
BRONZE - Abraham CONYEDO (ITA) df. Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER), 4-0

#WrestleAthens

U17 World Wrestling Championships 2025 Preview

Friday, July 25, 2025 - 16:28 By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (July 23) -- Eight years after it last hosted the World U17 Championships, Greece gears up for another.

The 2025 World U17 Championships will be held in Athens from July 28 to August 3 at the Ano Liosia Olympic Hall, the historic venue where wrestling competition during the 2004 Olympics was held.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PREVIEW HERE

While the wrestlers will be making new memories, one former wrestler will be reliving old memories. Four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) will be revisiting Athens, this time as Japan’s team coach, 21 years after she won her first gold medal at the Games in 2004.

Japan is expected to reclaim the Women's Wrestling team title it lost to India in 2024. The United States, Ukraine and China are also sending strong teams.

In Freestyle, the U.S. will battle it out with Iran, the top two countries last year. Meanwhile, in Greco-Roman, Iran will face challenges from Asian counterparts and Azerbaijan.

The competition will begin with Greco-Roman on July 28 with five weight classes and will follow a two-day format. Women's Wrestling will begin July 30 and Freestyle on August 1. The repechage and medal bouts of each weight category will be held the next day.

The action from the World U17 Championships will be live on UWW+ on uww.org and the UWW App. Follow United World Wrestling on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube.

Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) is one of the returning world U17 champions in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

The defending team champion the U.S. boasts a quality line-up including world champ Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) and four Pan-Am champions from 2025 -- Ariah MILLS (USA), Alexander TAYLOR (USA), Jayden JAMES (USA) and Arseni KIKINIOU (USA).

Iran, which missed the Asian U17 Championships, has wrestlers who have previous success at Asian level and in ISF Gymnasiade. It won only two gold medals last year, but it hopes Morteza HAJ (IRI), Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI), Arian MEHRALIZADEH (IRI) and Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI) will help it better that number this year.

Said PASHAYEV (AZE) is the European champion at 92kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Six out of the 10 European champions from 2025 are set to be in Athens with Azerbaijan entering three. Ravan HASANZADE (AZE) at 48kg, Ruslan ALIZADA (AZE) at 55kg and Said PASHAYEV (AZE) at 92kg will be the biggest hopes for Azerbaijan to win gold, a medal the country was denied last year.

The other European champs are Zorab ALOIEV (UKR) at 61kg, Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) at 80kg and Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) at 110kg.

Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ) won the 60kg gold at the Asian U17 Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan had a successful Asian U17 Championships in Vietnam after the no-show of Iran and Japan's subdued performance.

Kazakhstan won two gold medals in Vietnam and both wrestlers, Ibrahim YSKAKBEK (KAZ) at 55kg and Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ) at 60kg, will be in Athens and try to win a world gold, a medal the country has not won since 2022.

Kyrgyzstan also had two gold medalists, Arnur NURSAIDOV (KGZ) at 45kg and Dovudbek BAKHADIROV (KGZ) at 48kg, at Asian Championships. The onus will be on these to lead the team as it looks for a second straight top-three finish. Last year, it placed third, the highest for the country at the world level.

Uzbekistan won only one gold in Vietnam but every wrestler competed for a medal, helping it finish third. Japan and India, fourth and fifth in Vietnam, are likely to be the dark horses in Greece.

A few others who can surprise the field including returning silver medalist Frederick BACHMANN (PUR) at 60kg, returning champ Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) at 51kg, Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB) at 55kg, returning silver medalist Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) at 65kg and Hasan HASANOV (AZE) at 60kg.

KAJAL (IND) was one of India's five world U17 champions in 2024. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Women's Wrestling

Japan will undoubtedly be favored to win the team title but in the last few years, Japan's supremacy has been challenged by both the United States and India.

India won the team title last year for the first time with an incredible performance, winning five gold medals while Japan only won one.

Can Japan bounce back? Certainly.

Yu KATAOKA (JPN) at 49kg and Rion OGAWA (JPN) at 53kg have dominated the continental level and have been unbeaten internationally. They will lead a team that also includes An NAKANISHI (JPN), Sayuki HIBARINO (JPN) and Hanano OYA (JPN).

Japan will have to step up when it comes to heavier weight classes if it wants to capture the trophy. The presence of Icho as coach should serve as motivation for the young wrestlers, who take on the world.

India will have six current and former continental champions in Athens. KAJAL (IND), world champ at 69kg, will be at 73kg this year but will still be the favorite to win the gold medal. She was dealt a shock loss at the Asian Championships by Wenjin QIU (CHN) in the final. Qiu will also be in Athens and a potential clash with Kajal is on the cards.

Asian champ RACHANA (IND), who has silver from 2023 Worlds, will be at 43kg hoping to win gold. Kasish GURJAR (IND) was the Asian champion in 2023, MONI (IND) is the Asian champ at 57kg while Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) is a two-time continental champion at 65kg. MANISHA (IND), who won gold in Vietnam, will lead India's charge at 69kg.

Former world u17 champion Morgan TURNER (USA) is one of the favorites to win at 49kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The U.S. is bringing a host of Pan-American champions but its biggest star will be 2023 world champ Morgan TURNER (USA), who also won the bronze medal in 2024. She will be at 49kg, a weight class in which she won the Pan-Am gold this year.

At 40kg, Maisie ELLIOTT (USA) is a Pan-Am champion and so is Emma BACON (USA) at 57kg, Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) at 61kg, Violette LASURE (USA) at 65kg, Cassandra GONZALES (USA) at 69kg and Ella Jo POALILLO (USA) at 73kg.

Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA), who also won Pan-Am gold at 46kg, is a returning bronze medalist and will be one of the favorites for the gold medal this year.

From Europe, nine 2025 continental champions are entered for Athens. European champion at 40kg Valia HARSAN (ROU) will test herself against Asian champion Shokhista SHONAZAROVA (UZB) along with other big names in the field including European silver medalist Polina TIMSINA (EST), European bronze medalist Finja STRAUCH (GER) and Daria MASLENNIKOVA (UWW), who is three-time European U15 champion.

Raniia RAKHMANOVA (UWW) was the champion at 43kg and will be the favorite for the gold medal as well.

At 46kg, Nazrin AHMADLI (AZE) is a returning bronze medalist from 40kg but will contend with Janka SILLEI (HUN) in the weight class. Sillei is unbeaten internationally and won the European gold in Skopje. Local wrestler and world silver from 43kg Maria GKIKA (GRE) will hope to win a medal for the hosts. Additionally, Gurjar, Hanano OYA (JPN), world silver from 40kg Kamila KUCHMA (UKR), Bouzakis and European silver Irina TSYDEEVA (UWW) will have their eyes on gold.

A battle between Kataoka and Turner is expected at 49kg which also has Asian silver medalist Saniya SOLTANGALI (KAZ) and returning bronze medalist and European champ Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW).

SAARIKA (IND) won the Asian U20 Championships gold medal after a close win over Mihoko TAKEUCHI (JPN), a Klippan Lady Open champion and 2022 World U17 Championships silver medalist. But for success in Athens, Saarika will have to battle it out with European champion at 53kg Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), Japanese star Ogawa, two-time European silver Fatma YILMAZ (TUR) and Euro U15 champ Yuliia HOLHOVSKA (UKR), who is 15 years old and Elison.

Japan has unheralded Sayuki TANADA (JPN) at 57kg which also has Asian champion MONI (IND), Asian silver Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ), European silver Ivanna LUKIANENKO (UKR) and Bacon. This is the only weight class in which the European champion has not entered.

Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) is Georgia's first-ever European champion in Women's Wrestling. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 61kg, history-maker for Georgia's Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) has entered hoping to win a world medal for Georgia in Women's Wrestling. She was the first European champ for Georgia in Women's Wrestling. But she will face resistance from Asian champ Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ), European silver Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) and European champ Zalina TOTROVA (UWW).

Germany's Feenja HERMANN (GER) finished seventh at 57kg last year but managed to win the European silver medal at 65kg this year. She will be hoping for a world medal as well. Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) is a two-time Asian champ at this weight class and Japan has Mitsuki OKAWA (JPN). Lasure and European champ Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW) will also be presenting their challenges.

Another of Germany's big hope is Ayla SAHIN (GER) who won the gold medal at the Europeans at 69kg. She was 10th last year at the Worlds at 65kg. But Asian champ MANISHA (IND), Mao TERAOKA (JPN), Pan-Am silver Linda MARTINEZ (MEX), Pan-Am champ Gonzales and European silver medalist Zukhra KAZULAEVA (UWW) are also in the mix.

Apart from the Kajal-Qiu match-up at 73kg, European silver medalist Greta TVERSKYTE (LTU), European champion Eylem ENGIN (TUR), a returning medalist from 57kg, returning fifth-placer Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR) and Pan-Am champ Poalillo will make this category worth a watch.

Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) is one of the three Asian U17 champions for Uzbekistan in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

Last year, Uzbekistan was a standout in Greco-Roman at the U17 level, winning the Asian U17 team title and finishing second at the World Championships. It continued this success at the Asian level this year, with each wrestler winning a medal, including three golds.

Uzbekistan will once again be in the team race and threaten Iran, the defending champions.

All three of its Asian champs -- Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) at 71kg, Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB) at 80kg and Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB) at 92kg -- will compete in Athens.

Iran will rely heavily on its heavyweights Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) at 92kg and Yazdan Reza DELROUZ (IRI) at 110kg for gold medals.

Last year's 15th-placer Hossein KAZEMI (IRI) at 71kg will be a handful for his opponents and Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) will be the favorite at 55kg. Amir HAJIVAND (IRI) at 48kg and Amirmohammad HAJI (IRI) at 51kg will compete in the gold-medal hunt as well.

Azerbaijan is another country that is bringing a strong squad to Athens. It has three European champions and three medalists from Skopje making the trip.

While the lighter and heavier weight classes have seen Asian wrestlers do well, the middle weight classes have been dominated by European wrestlers, especially at 65kg, 71kg and 80kg.

Since the weight classes were shuffled in 2018, only three Asian wrestlers have managed to win gold medals at 65kg, 71kg and 80kg. Reza SAKI (IRI) won at 71kg in 2022 and Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) claimed gold at 80kg in 2023. In 2024, Amir SAEIDI (IRI) broke the jinx at 65kg.

Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) is the European 65kg champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

In Athens, at 65kg, European champ Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) will lead the charge. Other key European wrestlers include silver medalist Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), bronze medalist Kyliane EDDOUH (FRA), home favorite Iason MARGARITIDIS (GRE) and many other strong competitors from the European Championships in Skopje.

Asian champion Dosbol SHAMIL (KAZ), who finished seventh at 60kg at the last World Championships, will look to break European dominance at this weight class. So will Pan Am champ Arseni KIKINIOU (USA), who is competing in Freestyle as well.

At 71kg, it can very well end up being a European champion vs Asian champion match to decide it all. Giorgi GOGELASHVILI (GEO) will look to add a world title to his European one while Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB), the Asian champion, will have a chance to upgrade his bronze medal from last year to gold.

Despite his 14th-place finish this year at the European Championships, Yusif AHMADLI (AZE) is a strong contender for gold. He finished seventh at the World Championships last year and has a silver medal in 2023 at 65kg. European silver medalist Ignat MEICO (MDA) and bronze medalist Matias ONNENLEHTO (FIN) are also entered.

European U17 champion Senik VARDANIAN (UWW) will look to add a world title to his name. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

As many as 12 European wrestlers from Skopje are entered at 80kg for Athens. Senik VARDANIAN (UWW) was the champion and will be the favorite to win gold in Athens. He is joined by silver medalist Benediktas BUBELEVICIUS (LTU) and bronze medalists Nijat YEYLAGALIYEV (AZE) and Ismail BEREKET (TUR).

Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB), the Asian champ, and Pan-Am champion Isai FERNANDEZ (USA) have a big task ahead of them to capture the gold medal.

An interesting entry at 92kg is Said PASHAYEV (AZE), the European Freestyle champ, who will also compete in Greco-Roman. He finished 16th in Skopje. He may not be the favorite but has a chance to trouble the likes of European champion Vadim DRAGUSHAN (UWW) and Asian champion Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB), who also is a returning bronze medalist.

Filling the line-up are Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI), Asian silver medalist Adilet TOISHY (KAZ), European silver medalist Tymur LARIN (UKR) and Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW), who will be the dark horse at this weight class. The hosts Greece will bank on European bronze medalist Ioannis MOUTOUSIDIS (GRE) to win a medal at home.

Iran has been denied the 110kg gold since 2019 but it hopes that Yazdan Reza DELROUZ (IRI) will bring it back. Although, it won't be easy. The field includes European champion Rihad IBRAHIMLI (AZE) and silver medalist Denis LAZAROV (BUL). Asian champion HARDEEP (IND) may trouble the Iranian and so can Emrullah CAPKAN (TUR), who finished fifth last year.

European silver medalist Ali NAZAROV (AZE) will be the favorite at 60kg as he dominated the European field barring the final. His biggest challenge can come from Asian champ Damir AKAN (KAZ) in an otherwise weak weight class.

At 45kg, Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) is the European champ and he has a good chance to win the world title as well. But the lowest weight class always has a surprise in store. Saba ABASHIDZE (GEO) will look to avenge his European final's loss to Huseynli while Ararat AVETISYAN (ARM), European bronze medalist, is also entered. But can Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ), the Asian champion, spoil their party?

Another Asian champion from Kazakhstan, Nurdaulet KUMARULY (KAZ), will be challenging the 48kg field that includes European champion Stanislav IVANOV (BUL), silver medalist Martin MANJIKYAN (ARM), and bronze medalist Gurban MAJNUNOV (AZE).

Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), left, and Aslanbek KOSTOEV (UWW) are likely to face each other at 51kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Armenia's gold at the World Championships can come from Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), who won the European Championships gold medal at 51kg and a world silver medal at 45kg last year. He will also have a chance to avenge his 2024 Worlds final's loss to Aslanbek KOSTOEV (UWW), who is also entered at 51kg.

The 55kg category is again dominated with European entries including champion Danil LOZHKIN (UWW) and silver medalist Giorgi CHACHUA (GEO). Asian Championships finalists are also entered with champion Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ) and silver medalist Sadriddin TULKINBOEV (UZB).

Sadulaev Reaches Summit of European Podium for a Fifth Time

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U17 World Wrestling Championships 2025 Preview