European Games

Stadnik, Marzaliuk to Wrestle for Second European Games Gold Medals

By United World Wrestling Press

MINSK, Belarus (June 27) - Two women on opposite ends of the weight categories will wrestle for their second European Games gold medals on Friday.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE) and Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) earned semifinal victories at 50kg and 76kg respectively Thursday at the European Games in Minsk, Belarus. 

Stadnik, a three-time Olympic medalist, gave up the first point in her semifinal match, but came back with six unanswered points to win 6-1. She outscored her opposition 16-1 on Thursday. 

Opposing Stadnik in the finals will be world No.2 Oksana LIVACH (UKR). Livach, a 2019 European champion, shut out Viyaleta CHYRYK (BLR) 5-0 in the semifinals. The 22-year-old Ukranian scored first off a passivity point and led 1-0 at the break. She pulled away in the second period, scoring a takedown off a double leg before exposing Chyryk for an additional two points.

Marzaliuk, competing in her home country, had to come from behind late to beat 2015 world bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST) 5-3 in the semifinals. Marzaliuk led 2-1 at the break after scoring a takedown on the edge of the mat late in the first period. In the second period, Mae scored two consecutive step-out points to take a 3-2 lead. But Marzaliuk was able to secure a takedown in the final 30 seconds to claim the victory. 

She will meet Francy RAEDELT (GER) in the finals. Raedelt rolled to a technical superiority over Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE) in the semifinals. 

At 57kg, Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) scored a last-second takedown to edge Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) 8-6. The two wrestlers traded takedowns in the opening period, and Kurachkina led on criteria at the break. The second period was filled with action as Kurachkina opened with a takedown to extend her lead to 4-2. Nichita then regained the lead, 6-4, with a four-point throw. Kurachkina scored a takedown to make the score 6-6, but she still trailed on criteria. With short time on the clock, Kurachkina scored a takedown, which was initially not awarded, but a successful challenge overturned the call.

The other semifinal winner at 57kg was Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL), who advanced to the gold-medal match with a first-period fall over Bediha GUN (TUR) at 57kg. 

Yuliia TKACH (UKR), a four-time world medalist and 2014 world champion, reached the gold-medal match at 62kg by defeating world No.1 Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) 11-8. Tkach went up 8-4 at the break and held on to win by three. She will face Elmira GAMBAROVA (AZE) in the finals. Tkach was a European Games silver medalist in 2015. 

Gambarova used two takedowns to defeat Kriszta INCZE (ROU) in the semifinals. Incze scored first off a step out, but Gambarova took a 2-1 lead on the strength of a takedown off an arm spin. In the second period, Gambarova scored another takedown off an arm spin. 

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling 

50kg
GOLD - Mariya STADNIK (AZE) vs. Oksana LIVACH (UKR)
SEMIFINAL - Mariya STADNIK (AZE) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 6-1
SEMIFINAL - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Viyaleta CHYRYK (BLR), 5-0

57kg
GOLD - Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) vs. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR)
SEMIFINAL - Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) df. Bediha GUN (TUR), Fall (2:03)
SEMIFINAL - Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), 8-6

62kg
GOLD - Yuliia TKACH (UKR) vs. Elmira GAMBAROVA (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Yuliia TKACH (UKR) df. Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), 11-8
SEMIFINAL - Elmira GAMBAROVA (AZE) df. Kriszta INCZE (ROU), 4-1

76kg
GOLD - Francy RAEDELT (GER) vs. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR)
SEMIFINAL - Francy RAEDELT (GER) df. Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE), 11-1
SEMIFINAL - Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) df. Epp MAE (EST), 5-3
 

#WrestleSamokov

U20 World Championships 2025 Day 7 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 23) -- With four Greco-Roman weight classes, the U20 World Championships come towards the end. 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg wrestlers will be in action in Samokov, Bulgaria.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 6 RESULTS

13:55: In the final match of the morning session, former world U17 champion Yusuf BAKIR (TUR) needed a stepout with 40 seconds remaining to beat Mazaim MARDANOV (AZE), 4-3 at 130kg. Bakir with a 3-0 lead after he scored a turn from par terre, Mardanov takes criteria lead with a exposure from par terre and he tries to defend his criteria lead. However, Bakir manages a pushout to win 4-3.

13:45: Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI), the returning silver medalist, is not troubled by a Hungarian wrestler as he beats Koppany LASZLO (HUN) in the 130kg semifinal. Fathitazangi scored three stepouts while Laszlo had two as the Iranian wins 4-2.

13:25: Elias LYYSKI (FIN) stops world U17 champion Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) in the 87kg quarterfinal with a 6-4 win. After he led 6-0 in the first period, Lyyski holds on to it and only gives four points in the second period.

13:15: Senior Asian champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) lets out a huge scream as he down European U20 champion Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) in the 63kg quarterfinal. Khalmakhanov got his defense in the second period and defended his lead to win 6-4.  

13:05: Damir IBRASHOV (KAZ) needed a challenge to beat Tural AHMADOV (AZE), 1-1, at 63kg. Ibrashov had the criteria from first par terre but was cautioned for fleeing but Kazakhstan challenged the call and won it to win 1-1.

12:50: Returning world champion from 72kg Zaur BESLEKOEV (UWW), who is now at 77kg, has no trouble in seeing off Petro SHAFRANSKYI (UKR), 8-0. Beslekoev is looking to win his second straight title.

12:40: Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (UWW), the European silver medalist at U20s, pins Orkhan HAJIYEV (AZE) and advance at 87kg.

12:32: Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO), European U20 champion and former world U17 champion, enters the 77kg quarterfinals with a 5-3 win over Asian U23 champion Akzhan YKYLASSOV (KAZ)

12:30: Martin LJOSAAK (NOR) will be ruing the chances he missed as he drops his 87kg bout 11-9 against world U17 champion Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI). was down 10-7 but Mohammadi was cautioned for blocking but Ljosaak can't finish the match

12:20: Ilias LAAOUINA (NED) is on a hot run here in Samokov. He now beats European U20 bronze medalist Bende OLASZ (HUN) at 63kg and into the quarterfinals.

12:17: Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) with a technical superiority 9-0 victory over Al Bara CHOPALAEV (EST) and reach the 63kg quarterfinals. Punchenko looking to complete the world and continental double.

12:15: Tural AHMADOV (AZE) with a first par terre advantage and he keeps it until the end of the bout to win 1-1 against GAURAV (IND) at 63kg and advance to the quarterfinals.

12:10: Senior Asian champion AYTJAN KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) with a first-period fall over Manato NAKAMURA (JPN) at 63kg and wins his opening bout. Khalmakhanov is a 2022 world U17 champion

11:45: No problems for returning silver medalist at 130kg Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI) as he pins Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO), a former world U17 champion.

11:35: Big match between European U20 silver medalist Davud MAMMADOV (AZE) and bronze medalist Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM) at 77kg. Both wrestlers can't turn from par terre but Terteryan got the first point and he holds on to his criteria lead to win win 1-1.

11:20: Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO), European U20 champion at 87kg, with a close 2-1 victory over Branko DUKIC (SRB).

11:12: Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI), who was recently crowned world U17 champion in Greece, is tested by Antonio LUKAC (CRO) in his first 87kg bout but Mohammadi wins 3-1. Perhaps he is feeling the difference in strength in the upper age-group.

10:55: Returning world U20 bronze medalist at 87kg Temirlan TURDAKYN (KAZ) looked a little rusty but manages to see off Wojciech IWANOWSKI (POL), 3-2.

10:40: Ilias LAAOUINA (NED) with an upset win over Asian U20 champion Emirlan DUISHENALIEV (KGZ). He manages to score 8 points from par terre and win 9-0 at 63kg.

10:30: European U20 champion Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) faces William EKEROT (SWE), a European U20 bronze medalist. After a slow start Punchenko finishes the match in the second period with a fall and advance at 63kg.