#kaspeuro2018

Stadnik Wins Eighth European C’Ship, Adar Gets Third

Thursday, May 3, 2018 - 19:01 By Eric Olanowski

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KASPIISK, Russia (May 3) - Mariya STADNIK (AZE) captured her eighth European title and reigning world championship, Yasmin ADAR (TUR) claimed her third crown.

Stadnik sealed up the gold medal by demolishing 2017 world finalist, Emilia VUC (ROU), 10-0. 

When asked what’s the difference between this win and the first seven, Stadnik said “When I won the first few European Championships, I used to get really stressed out prior to the tournament. Now, I remain pretty calm. That’s the difference.” 

Stadnik also beat Vuc earlier this year in the Klippan Lady Open finals. She said, “I met Vuc in the finals of the Klippan Lady Open so I knew about her skills and tendencies.” 

With Mother’s Day just over a week away, Stadnik, a mother of two stated “I dedicate this win to my children. I have to leave them so often to go train, and the compensation for me being gone so much is this gold medal.”

Yasmin ADAR (TUR), now a three-time champion gave Turkey their second gold medal of the day by combining her four-point arm spin with two takedowns to best Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS), 4-2. 
 

At 55kg, the difference in the bout came with two minutes remaining as Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) took down Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL) and immediately went into a gut wrench to controlled the 4-1 lead.  Zasina scored a passivity point with under 15 seconds left to cut Kurachkina’s lead to 4-2. 

Kurachkina suffered from a lapse of judgment while celebrating with one second remaining as she fell to her back with excitement. Zasina jumped on top of the Belarusian and scored a takedown, evening the score at four apiece. 

“I thought the match was over, but in reality, I almost lost the victory. I was in total shock when I saw the final two points on the board. I learned that I need to wrestle until the whistle is blown.” 

Though the score was tied, Kurachkina defeated Zasina, 4-4 on criteria. 

“This was always my dream to win a European title, and today my dream came true. But, the European gold is just one step of preparation for other important tournaments.” 

Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) cruised to the 6-4 victory over Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL) in the 59kg gold-medal bout. The Turkish wrestler’s two takedowns and gut wrench in the opening period were enough to brush off Hristova’s pair of second-period takedowns.

“After being off for two years due to a break and an injury, this is a dream come true…I learned not to give up. It doesn’t matter if you’re injured, you can still find positives.”  

Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) successfully defended her European title by avenging a loss from the 2017 World Championships in Paris, France to Koumba LARROQUE (FRA). 

Bratchikova picked up a takedown with 20 seconds left to break the 1-1 tie, ultimately winning 3-1. 

“I’ve met Koumba Larroque four times, and the only time I lost was in Paris at the 2017 World Championships. I’ve still haven't forgotten about that loss.” 

RESULTS
50kg
GOLD - Mariya STADNIK (AZE) df. Emilia Alina VUC (ROU), 10-0 

BRONZE – Milana DADASHEVA (RUS) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR), 4-2
BRONZE - Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Ainztane GORRIA GONI (ESP), 6-0 

55kg
GOLD - Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL), 4-4

BRONZE – Bediha GUN (TUR) df. Anna VOITOVA (UKR), 10-0 
BRONZE -Mariia GUROVA (RUS) df. Evelina Georgieva NIKOLOVA (BUL), 10-6

59kg 
GOLD - Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) df. Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL), 6-4. 

BRONZE – Tetiana OMELCHENKO (AZE) df. Katsiaryna YANUSHKEVICH (BLR), 12-2
BRONZE - Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) df. Emma JOHANSSON (SWE), via inj def. 

68kg
GOLD - Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS)df. Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), 3-1 

BRONZE – Martina KUENZ (AUT) df. Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU), 2-1
BRONZE - Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Monika MICHALIK (POL) 6-4

76kg
GOLD - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS), 8-2.

BRONZE – Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE) df.Iryna PASICHNYK (UKR), 6-3.
BRONZE - Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) df. Epp MAE (EST), 8-2. 

#WrestleSamokov

U.S. puts 2 in U20 Worlds finals; Kurugliyev closer to title

Monday, August 18, 2025 - 15:01 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 18) -- Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) earned himself a chance to win his first U20 world title after he made it to 92kg final Monday in Samokov, Bulgaria.

Kurugliyev, a former world U17 champion, has made the trip to World U20 Championships twice before this year but finished fifth in 2023 and won bronze in 2024, both at 97kg. He moved down to 92kg for this year's tournament and already upgraded his medal.

In a tough semifinal against returning bronze medalist Anar JAFARLI (AZE), Kurugliyev won a close bout 9-6, thanks to an early four-pointer move which gave him a huge advantage. Jafarli got a couple of takedowns but never seemed to trouble the Kazakhstan wrestler.

Kurugliyev will now face Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) in the final after the Uzbekistan wrestler pinned Gadzhimurad GADZHIBATYROV (UWW) in the other semifinal at 92kg.

Poyonov, the Asian U20 champion, blocked Gadzhibatyrov in one of the attacks and then kept him on the mat, pinning his shoulders for the win. Poyonov will look to become the first Uzbekistan wrestler to win gold since 2022.

The U.S. got two finalists on Monday at 65kg and 79kg. At 65kg, Luke STANICH (USA) defeated European U20 and U23 champion Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) with some of the best wrestling in Samokov. Stanich kept his positions and defense and ultimately managed to score a takedown in the second period to beat Dzhandubaev 3-1 in the semifinals.

He will face Reiji UCHIDA (JPN) for the gold medal after the Japanese wrestler blanked Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), 10-0, using a series of stepouts and lace. Uchida is a product of the Yamanashi Gaikun University, the same university that produced world champion Masanosuke ONO (JPN) and Asian champion Takara SUDA (JPN).

Pan-American U20 champion William HENCKEL (USA) defeated Asian U20 champion AMIT (IND), 5-4, using a takedown and gut-wrench in the first period. He scored a stepout when put on activity period and then added a takedown and turn. Amit blocked the second turn attempt for two points but Henckel led 5-2 at the break.

Amit managed a stepout and point for passivity from Henckel but that was all for him as the U.S. wrestler moved into the final in which he will face returning bronze medalist and senior Asian champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI).

At one point in the semifinal, Yousefi was down against European U20 bronze medalist Said SAIDULOV (UWW). But he managed to score takedowns at regular intervals to defeat Saidulov 15-7.

At 57kg, Sumit MALIK (IND) dominated his semifinal against Ion BULGARU (MDA) and won 11-3 and booked place in the final against Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) who held on to a nervous 3-1 win over Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ) in the other semifinal.

Malik got on board first when he scored a stepout during his activity clock. He added a stepout and takedown to make it 4-0 at the break. He kept his attacks and got another takedown and stepout in the second period to build a 7-0 lead.

Bulgaru finally hit back with a takedown on the edge to cut the lead to 7-2 but Malik kept relentless forward pressure, scoring a stepout and takedown to lead 10-2. Both wrestlers were cautioned for open hands on faces but that did not affect Malik, who won 11-3 win.

Ozdamirov, who showed some crafty wrestling throughout the day, denied Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ), 3-1, thanks to a takedown in the second period.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) vs. Sumit MALIK (IND)

SF 1: Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) df. Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ), 3-1
SF 2: Sumit MALIK (IND) df. Ion BULGARU (MDA), 11-3

65kg
GOLD: Luke STANICH (USA) vs. Reiji UCHIDA (JPN)

SF 1: Luke STANICH (USA) df. Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW), 3-1
SF 2: Reiji UCHIDA (JPN) df. Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), 10-0

79kg
GOLD: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) vs. William HENCKEL (USA)

SF 1: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) df. Said SAIDULOV (UWW), 15-7
SF 2: William HENCKEL (USA) df. AMIT (IND), 5-4

92kg
GOLD: Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) vs. Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ)

SF 1: Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) df. Gadzhimurad GADZHIBATYROV (UWW), via fall
SF 2: Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) df. Anar JAFARLI (AZE), 9-6