Turkey Gets First Champ as Four Countries Win #WrestleBudapest WW Titles

Thursday, July 22, 2021 - 20:10 By Vinay Siwach

The Tuske Csarnok stadium in Budapest has seen a lot of historic feats over the years in wrestling. It witnessed yet another historic day as four countries crowed five world champions Thursday.

At the cadet World Championships, Turkey got their first-ever woman world champion while home country Hungary also won the gold medal, eight years since their last, at home. India had two world champions while Ukraine won their first title in six years.

Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) became her country's first ever cadet world champion since Turkey began participating in the tournament from 2011 – the year the Championships were reinstated in the calendar. In the 49kg final she defeated Tindra DALMYR (SWE) 4-0 to capture the gold medal.

Her two takedowns came in the first period and then she defended the lead despite continuous efforts from Dalmyr to get an opening. Ilyasoglu was at a loss of words after the win.

“I can't explain how I feel now,” Ilyasoglu said. “I am now the world champion, it was my goal, I believed in myself and won the title in the end."

Talking about the final bout, she said that she was excited before going on the mat but once she was there, she felt confident. The 17-year-old credited her coach for the win.

“My coach Elis Yldiz prepared me for the World Championships,” she said. “She paid for herself to come here to support me. I heard everything she was shouting.”

Now the Turk wrestler wants to repeat her golden performance in a month's time. “The next step is the junior World Championships in Ufa. My goal is to win another gold there.”

Eniko ELEKES (HUN) won the gold at 65kg in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Eniko ELEKES (HUN) received the loudest cheer from her Hungarian teammates as she claimed the 65kg world title in her home city by beating Ekaterina OLEINIKOVA (RUS) 10-6 in the final.

It was a tough victory as she trailed 2-4 at the end of the first period but racked up eight points compared to Oleinikova's two to secure the victory. Despite her thrilling win, the celebrations were subdued from the local girl.

“I don't feel something different. I am the same,” Elekes said but added “it feels different when I wrestle in different countries. Here, Hungarians are screaming”

The 16-year-old who trains in Budapest won the cadet European title just a month ago in dominating fashion and is now moving up to the junior group. But she has to go step-by-step.

“The first step is to wrestle in junior in Hungary and be the champion,” she said. “I have never wrestled at junior before.”

PRIYA IND Priya MALIK (IND) won the 73kg world title in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Out of the five golds, India captured two at 43kg and 73kg as Tannu MALIK (IND) and Priya MALIK (IND) dominated their finals. The two had incredible run at the competition and did not concde a single points their four respective matches.

At 43kg, Malik wrestled like a pro and her constant snapping made Valeryia MIKITSICH (BLR) struggle to hold positions. Every time the Belarusian tried to attack, Malik's strength would proved to be too much for her.

The Indian continued with a series of takedowns and finally exposed her opponent to the back to get the fall. In her previous three bouts, Malik had a wins via fall, technical superiority and fall, scoring 42 points over her opponents.

“I was a little nervous before the final,” Malik said. “But I had trained hard for this. Everyone is so happy.”

The Malik at 73kg was a little less dominant as she scored 30 points over her opponents but was equally superior. She also defeated a wrestler from Belarus to capture the gold medal at 73kg.

Kseniya PATAPOVICH (BLR) gave up a stepout point before two takedowns on either side of the break to surrender the final to the Indian.

Incidentally, the two hail from villages that have already seen produced world champions. Tannu Malik hails from Nidani in Jind, Haryana, the same village from which former cadet world champion and Tokyo Olympian Anshu MALIK (IND) comes from.

Priya Malik was born in Mokhra village which has produced the likes of India's first-ever woman Olympic medalist in wrestling Sakshi MALIK (IND).

Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) claimed the world title at 49kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Ukraine also had a world champion as Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) denied Svenja JUNGO (SUI) a historical gold at 49kg. She dominanted the final for a 11-0 win. She scored six points in the first period and five in the second. It was Ukraine's first gold medal at cadet Worlds after six years.

“It's great to be the world champion,” Yerfremova said. “I am so thankful to people who supported me. I am glad it all happened. I was sure I would win the bout.”

She revealed that it was a pleasant surprise for her and her family to win the gold medal.

“My dad and uncle [coaches] were shocked when I got the gold medal. I also didn't expect that to happen. I still can't believe in it,” she said.

USA gets three finalists

Amit ELOR (USA) will wrestle for the 69kg gold in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Returning bronze medalist Amit ELOR (USA) led the way as USA entered three wrestlers in the final, one more than Russia. Romania, India, Azerbaijan Ukraine and Bulgaria managed one each Thursday.

Elor was so dominant in Budapest that she only wrestled for a minute and 41 seconds over two bouts, winning both of them via technical superiority.

Barbara SERE (ROU) and Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR) were the two victims of Elor's wrath as she looks to win her first world title after losing in the semifinal last time.

“I feel amazing. The last time I competed at cadet Worlds, I lost my semifinal match,” the 17-year-old said. “To go out there and win is amazing.”

In the final, she will face Yevheniia SIEDYKH (UKR) who finished 10th at the 2019 edition in Sofia. The Ukrainian was also on song Thursday as she reached the final without conceding a single point.

Elor said she will like to work on some defence in the final. “I am going to work on defence of two techniques that my opponent will do and rest,” she said.

At 40kg, Erica PASTORIZA (USA) reached the final defearing her two opponents 10-0 and 4-0. She will wrestle Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU) in the final. The Romanian was lucky to escape the Elvina KARIMZADA (AZE) in the semifinal as she was trailing 5-2 but Karimzada tried for a big four. She ended up on her back to give Voiculescu four points.

“I was so nervous,” Pastoriza said who came to Budapest with her mother. “She was fast but I controlled her till the end of the match. For the final, I will get my head in it and not worry about it.”

Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) will like to add to her European title. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Katie GOMEZ (USA) was the third wrestler from USA to enter the final after a 9-1 win over Tuba DEMIR (TUR) in the semifinal. But she will wrestle cadet European champion Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) in the 53kg final.

With Beijing Olympic silver medalist Alena KARTASHOVA (RUS) and two-time World silver medalist Lorisa OORZHAK (RUS) in her corner, Khramenkova wrestled tough throughout the day to reach the final.

“I train in a very small town of Russia in Tetyushi, Tatarstan,” the 17-year-old said. “I was a bit anxious before stepping on the mat, but the moment I was there all the nerves were gone. I did what I was supposed to do. Everything my coach told me to do. I calmed down since I am now in the final match already.”

Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS) was the second Russian to reach the final as she booked the spot at 61kg. With wins recorded via technical superiority, fall and fall, Khusainova would like to finish the tournament with a gold medal.

But in her parth will be Sofi TENEVA (BUL). She scored two comebacks in the three matches to reach the final against Khusainova.

KOMAL IND KOMAL (IND) will defend her world title in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 46kg, returning world champion from 43kg in 2019, KOMAL (IND) secured the spot in the final against Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE). Komal survived a scare in the quarterfinal against Ava WARD (USA) as she trailed 7-4. But Komal produced the fall and later humbled Sviatlana KATENKA (BLR) 11-0 in the semifinal.

Mammadova too got a pin in the semifinal against Sevval CAYIR (TUR) after the Turkey wrestler went for a double leg but could not finish. Mammadova used this to pin Cayir to her back and get the fall.

“I hope I’ll win the gold medal. My semifinal bout was great,” Mammadova said. “I did everything I could. In the final I’ll wrestle either against an Indian girl or Belarusian, but it doesn’t matter to me.”

Greco-Roman wrestling will begin in Budapest on Friday with five weight classes apart from the medal bouts of the women in the evening session.

RESULTS: WW Medal Bouts

43kg
GOLD: Tannu MALIK (IND) df Valeryia MIKITSICH (BLR), via fall

BRONZE: Angelina DILL (USA) df Aida ALZHANOVA (KAZ), via fall
BRONZE: Liliana KAPUVARI (HUN) df Eda ERSOY (TUR), via fall

49kg
GOLD: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df Svenja JUNGO (SUI), 11-0

BRONZE: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) df Delia VOICULESCU (ROU), 10-0
BRONZE: Sevim AKBAS (TUR) df Wiktoria KAMELA (POL), 10-6

57kg
GOLD: Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) df Tindra DALMYR (SWE), 4-0

BRONZE: Uladzislava KUDZIN (BLR) df Tancholpon KYBALBEKOVA (KGZ), 10-5 BRONZE:Angelina PERVUKHINA (RUS) df Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 9-6

65kg
GOLD: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df Ekaterina OLEINIKOVA (RUS), 10-6

BRONZE: VARSHA (IND) df Duygu GEN (TUR), via fall
BRONZE: Khurshida KASIMOVA (UZB) df Daria KONSTANTYNOVA (UKR), 8-3

73kg
GOLD: Priya MALIK (IND) df Kseniya PATAPOVICH (BLR), 5-0

BRONZE: Lillian FREITAS (USA) df Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 4-0
BRONZE: Mariia AKULINCHEVA (RUS) df Veronika NYIKOS (HUN), via fall

RESULTS: Semifinal bouts

40kg
GOLD: Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU) vs Erica PASTORIZA (USA)

SF 1: Erica PASTORIZA (USA) df Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR), 4-0
SF 2: Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU) df Elvina KARIMZADA (AZE), 6-5

46kg
GOLD: KOMAL (IND) vs Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE)

SF 1: Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) df Sevval CAYIR (TUR), via fall
SF 2: KOMAL (IND) df Sviatlana KATENKA (BLR), 11-0

53kg
GOLD: Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) vs Katie GOMEZ (USA)

SF 1: Katie GOMEZ (USA) df Tuba DEMIR (TUR), 9-1
SF 2: Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) df Annatina LIPPUNER (SUI), 11-6

61kg
GOLD: Sofi TENEVA (BUL) vs Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS)

SF 1: Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS) df Nitika NITIKA (IND), via fall
SF 2: Sofi TENEVA (BUL) df Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR), 6-4

69kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) vs Yevheniia SIEDYKH (UKR)

SF 1: Yevheniia SIEDYKH (UKR) df HARSHITA (IND), 9-0
SF 2: Amit ELOR (USA) df Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR), via fall

#WrestleBudapest

Sharshenbekov Cuts Down, Rises to Win Gold in Budapest Ranking Series

Sunday, July 19, 2026 - 20:27 By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 19) -- Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) appears to be rounding into form just in time for the World Championships.

After almost two years away from the mat, the Paris 2024 bronze medalist won the 63kg title at the Ulaanbaatar Open. On Sunday in Budapest he returned to his original Olympic weight of 60kg and rolled to another gold medal with a dominant run.

"It has been two years since I was at 60kg," Sharshenbekov said. "There was a break after the Olympics. I feel like I am just beginning to feel it again."

Sharshenbekov did not wrestle in the final after his opponent, Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ), forfeited because of an injury. Before that, however, Sharshenbekov was in dominant form.

He opened the day against Dalton ROBERTS (USA) and secured a fall in one minute, throwing Roberts on the mat using underhook. It set the tone for the rest of the day.

In his second bout, Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) offered little resistance in a 10-0 loss. Sharshenbekov earned the first par terre opportunity, turned Aliyev for two points and followed with a four-point throw. In the second period, he added a takedown that Azerbaijan challenged. The call stood, and the unsuccessful challenge gave Sharshenbekov another point.

Against Mahmoud SAAD (EGY) in the quarterfinals, Sharshenbekov built a 2-0 lead with a chasing takedown before extending it to 5-0 with a par terre turn. Just before the break, he circled behind Saad for another takedown to make it 7-0.

He needed only 25 seconds of the second period to complete another technical superiority victory and book a semifinal against world silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB).

Asian champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB), wrestling with a heavily taped left knee, came out aggressively from the opening whistle but could not break through Sharshenbekov's defense. Sharshenbekov countered with ease and scored the opening takedown just 15 seconds into the bout.

Ganiev then limited the damage in par terre, defending Sharshenbekov's turn attempts to keep the deficit at 3-0 heading into the break.

The second period opened with both wrestlers battling for position as Ganiev searched for a takedown. But the relentless pace began to take its toll and after a minute of high-intensity wrestling, a tiring Ganiev surrendered a go-behind to fall further behind.

Ganiev threw everything at Sharshenbekov, working from body locks and underhooks to headlocks and two-on-one ties, but he could not move the Kyrgyzstan wrestler. Sharshenbekov eventually pull his arm out of Ganiev's hold and control Ganiev for another takedown to lead 5-0.

During a late scramble, Ganiev managed two exposure points, but Sharshenbekov immediately spun and came on top, brought Ganiev the mat and secured the fall.

As he prepares for the World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, in September, Sharshenbekov's dominant return to 60kg sent a message to the rest of the field.

"This isn't my peak," he said. "It is merely the beginning. I have plans and goals to prepare even better for the Asian Games, the World Championships and the Olympics. I need to reach an even higher level of fitness for those events."

Szoke Wins 97kg

Alex SZOKE (HUN) gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about, defeating Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS), 5-1, in the 97kg final. In one of the standout performances of the tournament, Szoke combined patience, strength and tactical awareness, scoring from par terre before sealing the victory with a counter takedown.

The final began at a high pace, with both wrestlers battling to secure the first par terre advantage. It was the Hungarian who received the activity point in the opening period to take a 1-0 lead. Szoke then capitalized from par terre with a turn to extend the lead to 3-0.

The second period saw Ermolenko on top but Szoke was at his best defense and did not allow the Russian to score any points. But there was a heart stopping moment for Szoke late in the match when Ermolenko locked Szoke and dragged him towards the zone. But Szoke showed exceptional skills and broke the lock.

Ermolenko earned the par terre advantage in the second period, but Szoke's defense held firm, denying the Russian any scoring opportunity. The home crowd was briefly on edge late in the match when Ermolenko locked up Szoke and drove him toward the edge of the mat. Szoke, however, showed exceptional composure, breaking the lock to escape the danger.

Moments later, Szoke circled behind Ermolenko for a takedown to stretch the lead to 5-1, effectively putting the match out of reach. Ermolenko slammed the mat in frustration as the Hungarian closed out the victory.

Russia Wins 3 Golds

It was not all disappointment for Russia, as its experienced wrestlers claimed three of the six Greco-Roman gold medals on offer Sunday.

European champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS) once again showcased the qualities that have made him one of the world's best at 63kg. Whether winning on criteria, scoring when an opening appears or protecting a lead, Emelin has an answer for almost every situation. He displayed all three in a 5-2 victory over Kerem KAMAL (TUR).

Emelin and Kamal were locked in a thrilling contest, with the Russian taking a 2-2 criteria lead. Kamal maintained the pressure and looked set to force a stepout, but Emelin circled behind for a takedown to move ahead 4-2. A stepout in the final minute extended the lead to 5-2, allowing Emelin to close out another Ranking Series title.

The 82kg final was a tactical affair as Gamzat GADZHIEV (RUS) edged Asian champion Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT), 1-1 on criteria, to secure Russia's second gold medal.

Russia's third title came at 130kg, where Marat KAMPAROV (RUS) held on for a 1-1 criteria victory over U20 world champion Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), quieting the vocal home crowd.

Asian champion Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) added a Ranking Series title to his growing résumé with a comfortable 5-1 win over Brady KOONTZ (USA) in the 55kg final. Botirov set the tone from the opening whistle, earning the first par terre opportunity and scoring two gut-wrench turns for a 5-0 lead.

Koontz received the par terre opportunity in the second period, but Botirov defended it comfortably to seal the victory.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) df. Brady KOONTZ (USA), 5-1

BRONZE: Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) df. LALIT (IND), 18-10
BRONZE: Artiom DELEANU (MDA) df. Max NOWRY (USA), 3-0

60kg
GOLD: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Mahmoud SAAD (EGY), 14-2
BRONZE: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) df. Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ), 5-3

63kg
GOLD: Sergey EMELIN (RUS) df. Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 5-2

BRONZE: Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) df. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), 7-0
BRONZE: Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS) df. Sunny KUMAR (IND), 3-1

82kg
GOLD: Gamzat GADZHIEV (RUS) df Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT), 1-1

BRONZE: Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO) df. Azimjon SOATULLAEV (UZB), 3-1
BRONZE: Mihail BRADU (MDA) df. Ognjen JAKOVLJEVIC (SRB), 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS), 5-1

BRONZE: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) df. Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), 1-1
BRONZE: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) df. Musa EVLOEV (RUS), via inj. def.

130kg
GOLD: Marat KAMPAROV (RUS) df. Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), 1-1

BRONZE: Wenhao JIANG (CHN) df. Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ), 2-2
BRONZE: Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN) df. Aden ATTAO (USA), 3-1

Turkey Gets First Champ as Four Countries Win #WrestleBudapest WW Titles

Comments

Sharshenbekov Cuts Down, Rises to Win Gold in Budapest Ranking Series

Szoke Wins 97kg

Russia Wins 3 Golds

RESULTS