#WrestleBudapest

Semenov and Chekhirkin Claim Gold on Final Day of European OG Qualifier

By Eric Olanowski

BUDAPEST, Hungary (January 20) – Russian wrestlers Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) and Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) closed out the final day of the European Olympic Qualifiers with a pair of golds, while Kerem KAMAL (TUR) cruised to his second title of the ’21 season.

Semenov rolled past Lithuania’s Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) with a pair of second-period side headlocks after he collected an inactivity point. He claimed the 130kg gold, 5-1. Semenov's compatriot and fellow ’18 world champion Chekhirkin also won gold on Sunday night. He was awarded the 77kg gold after his finals opponent Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO) injury defaulted out of the gold-medal match.

Kamal reached the podium for the second time this season (he also won the Henri Deglane) with a four-point victory over Etienne KINSINGER (GER) in the 60kg finals. The match was tied in the opening period when Kamal peddled to the edge of the mat, jarred an underhook in, and tossed the German to his back for four points.

In the second period, Kamal kept his pace high and earned an inactivity point, putting Kingsinger down in par terre. The 21-year-old went for a right-side gut wrench but was stopped mid-way through and conceded a reversal. He stayed poised in the final minute and closed out the match victorious, 5-1.

The final two golds of the evening went to Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) and Islam ABBASOV (AZE). They were awarded the 67kg and 87kg golds, respectively, after their finals opponent’s injury defaulted out of the gold-medal matches.

That wraps up our coverage of the European Olympic Qualifier. The event calendar resumes with the African and Oceania Olympic Qualifier April 2-4 in Hammamet, Tunisia.

*Please note that wrestlers who won their semifinal matches at the European Olympic Qualifiers earned berths for their respective nations to the Tokyo Olympic Games. 

RESULTS
60kg
GOLD - Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Etienne KINSINGER (GER), 5-1
BRONZE - Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO) df. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), via injury default
BRONZE - Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO) df. Erik TORBA (HUN), via forfeit

67kg
GOLD - Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) df. Balint KORPASI (HUN), via injury default
BRONZE - Artur POLITAIEV (UKR) df. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), via injury default
BRONZE - Deyvid Tihomirov DIMITROV (BUL) df. Donior ISLAMOV (MDA), 9-7

77kg
GOLD - Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) df. Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO), via injury default
BRONZE - Viktor NEMES (SRB) df. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL), via injury default

BRONZE - Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) df. Oldrich VARGA (CZE), via injury default

87kg
GOLD - Islam ABBASOV (AZE) df. Lasha GOBADZE (GEO), via injury default
BRONZE - Daniel ALEKSANDROV (BUL) vs. Ramon BETSCHART (SUI), 5-1
BRONZE -Metehan BASAR (TUR) df. Milad Valerikovitch ALIRZAEV (RUS), via injury default

97kg
GOLD - Arvi Martin SAVOLAINEN (FIN) df. Kiril MILOV (BUL), via injury default
BRONZE - Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN) df. Artur OMAROV (CZE)

BRONZE - Pontus Johan LUND (SWE) df. Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA)

130kg
GOLD - Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) df. Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU), 5-1
BRONZE - Adam VARGA (HUN) df. Radoslav Plamenov GEORGIEV (BUL), 3-1

BRONZE - Rafal Andrzej KRAJEWSKI (POL) df. Marko KOSCEVIC (CRO), 11-5

#WrestleBelgrade

Tickets on sale for 2023 Wrestling World Championships

By Eric Olanowski

BELGRADE, Serbia (August 4) -- Tickets are now available for the high-anticipated 2023 Wrestling World Championships which will be held at the Stark Arena in Belgrade, Serbia from September 16-24.

The 2023 Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Women’s Wrestling World Championships are the first of six qualifying events for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. A total of 90 Olympic quotas -- 30 each in Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Women’s Wrestling -- are up for grabs in the Serbian capital.

Wrestlers who earn gold, silver or bronze medals earn a bid to the 2024 Olympics for their nation. Additionally, the two wrestlers who lose the bronze-medal bouts will be involved in a wrestle-off to determine the fifth quota for the Paris Olympics.

Other Olympic Qualification Events:
March 01-03: Pan-American Olympic Qualifier in Acapulco, Mexico 
March 22-24: African and Oceania Olympic Qualifier in Cairo, Egypt
April 04-07: European Olympic Qualifier in Baku, Azerbaijan
April 19-21: Asian Olympic Qualifier in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
May 09-12: World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkiye

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2023 WRESTLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TICKETS

2023 Wrestling World Championships Event Details:
Dates: September 16th-24th, 2023
Venue: Stark Arena, Bulevar Arsenija Carnojevica 58, New Belgrade

Ticket Prices (Cash Only):
All-session tickets = 450 € / $490.60
Individual daily tickets = 50 € / $55.00

Payment Method:
Please note only cash payments will be accepted for tickets upon arrival at the Stark Arena Accreditation Center.

Ticket Collection:
Fans can collect their tickets at the Accreditation Center at Stark Arena. The ticket collection desk will be open daily from September 14th-24th from 10:00-20:00.

Ticket Pickup Requirements:
When picking up your ticket(s), an ID card is required for verification purposes. Please present your email confirmation at the Accreditation Center to ensure a smooth process.

Note: The event details and ticket information are subject to change. Please stay updated through our official channels for any announcements or adjustments to the schedule.