USA Wins First WW Team Title; Georgia, Russia Dominate GR at #WrestleBudapest

Friday, July 23, 2021 - 19:21 By Vinay Siwach

Two days after India created history by winning its first-ever freestyle team title at cadet World Championships, USA finished at the top of the podium to win the women's team title for the first time in Budapest.

USA ended the tournament with three gold and four bronze medals to claim the title with 149 points, 10 more than second-placed India. Russia finished third with 134 points.

With top two teams from 2019 Worlds, Japan and China not entered at the tournament, it gave an opportunity for the other countries to rise and win the team title.

USA had three wrestlers competing for gold medals Friday and one for bronze. All four claimed their medals with much ease and dominance. India and Russia claimed the remaining two titles of the day as women's wrestling came to a close at the 2021 Worlds.

Fittingly, it was the gold medal of returning bronze medalist Amit ELOR (USA) that gave USA the title as she claimed her first world title. Wrestling against Yevheniia SIEDYKH (UKR) in the 69kg final, Elor once again showed her dominance and pinned her opponent in just a minute and 55 seconds, using her strength for takedowns and gut wrenches.

“It feels amazing to win,” Elor said. “I am grateful to the coaches and everyone who helped me reach this title.”

Elor spent a total of just three minutes and 38 seconds on the mat during the tournament with only the final going into the second minute of the bout. She will now be looking for her second world title in a month's time in Ufa, Russia.

“The final was good because I was feeling nervous before but I tried to remain cool and do what I know,” she said. “I will be going to the junior Worlds. I am going celebrate by training more for Ufa.”

But it was all started by Erica PASTORIZA (USA) who defeated Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU) in the 40kg final with a first-period fall.

Leading 2-1, Pastoriza tripped her opponent for four points and then exposed her and kept the shoulder to the mat to claim the pin.

“I was nervous [before the final] but I handled it,” said the wrestler from Arizona. “I feel amazing and so proud of myself.”

Katie GOMEZ USA Katie GOMEZ (USA) won the 53kg gold in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 53kg, Katie GOMEZ (USA) continued her cruise as she defeated Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) 10-0 in the final with a minute and 22 seconds remaining.. She scored six points in the first period while the remaining four came in the second period.

“I was little nervous at the beginning but once I walked out on the mat I had the confidence that I can do it and I just wrestled,” Gomez said. “I will go home to my family and celebrate. I'll take some time off wrestling and then see.”

For India, returning world champion at 43kg, won the gold medal at 46kg to become a two-time world champion. She led Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) 3-0 when the Azerbaijan wrestler tried a big throw, earning her two points.

But Komal kept her defence and composure to keep the one point lead. Komal when went for a double leg which Mammadova tried to roll over but failed, giving up four points in the process and the win to Komal.

“I am feeling great,” Komal said. “The final was normal. It was not the best or the worst. She was a little scared I think. I will eat a lot of food and sweets because I am so happy."

Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS) claimed the title at 61kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Russia claimed the gold medal at 61kg as Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS) defeated Sofi TENEVA (BUL) 6-0 in the final. The gold medal caps off a stunning tournament for the Russian as she outscored her opponents 31-0 in four bouts.

“I can’t even explain what I feel now. I have no words,” Khusainova said. “When I was on the mat, I was worried in the beginning but then it was easier.”

Russia coach Sergei BORDUGOVSKII (RUS) said that it was an emotional moment for his ward.

“She is very emotional now,” he said. “We have been training for 10 years. We have been training a lot to get this gold medal. We had injuries., losses and so on, but anyways we achieved what we wanted. So we are just super happy. The secret of such preparations is a will. The will to work hard and win.”

Georgia, Russia enter 3 GR finals

Georgia and Russia enjoyed a successful day as Greco-Roman action began in Budapest. The two countries entered three wrestlers each in the five finals that were decided Friday.

Turkey, USA, Ukraine and Germany were the four other countries to enter one wrestler each to finish the line up for the finals.

At 48kg, Servet ANGI (TUR) avenged his cadet European Championships final defeat to Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE). He defeated the Azerbaijan wrestler 4-1 in the quarterfinal before beating Otto BLACK (USA) 5-5 in the semifinal.

“It was hard for me as this is the World Championships,” 17-year-old Angi said. “I was confident despite not winning the challenge and I was fine. The support was good but 80 million people are behind me. I play for the flag.”

He will take on Luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO) who also claimed a criteria win in the semifinals over Yussuf ASHRAPOV 3-3.

Cory Daniel LAND (USA)

Two wrestlers – Cory LAND (USA) and Valerii MANGUTOV (RUS) -- who were at the 2019 Worlds in Sofia, reached the final at 55kg, up from 48kg two years back.

The two had contrasting semifinals as Mangutov sneaked past cadet Euros silver medalist Tamazi GLONTI (GEO) 4-3 while Land dominated Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) 5-0.

While the two have not wrestled each other in the past, Mangutov said he will do everything to win the gold.

“The matches went well today, a bit tough,” the 16-year-old Mangutov said. “I have never seen his wrestling style. But I will prepare for my final as it is my last bout. We will see how it goes on the mat. No need to prepare in advance.”

A rematch from the 2021 cadet European Championships was set at 65kg as Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR) beat Ankit GULIA (IND) 4-3 and Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) defeated Nihat KARA (TUR) 5-4 to reach the final.

The two had one-point victories over their semifinal opponents after dominating their way to the last four.

At 80kg, Kamaludin MAGOMEDOV (RUS) set up a clash against cadet European champion Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) in the final.

The Russian had a close semifinal against Hamza SERTCANLI (SWE) but came out on top 4-2 for the win.

Bolkvadze, who is yet to concede a point, scored a 8-0 technical superiority win over Joju SAMADOV (AZE). He will be looking to add the world title he missed in 2019.

“It was very tough today,” Bolkvadze said. “Thanks to God everything went well, and I’ll wrestle in the final match. The only thing that will make me feel satisfied is the gold medal.”

Daniil CHASOVNIKOV (RUS)

Another rematch from the 2021 cadet European Championships will be at 110 kg as Daniil CHASOVNIKOV (RUS) and Nikita OVSJANIKOV (GER) won their respective semifinals to set up the final.

The Russian won the gold medal at the continental level and will now to repeat that performance at the world level.

“[Today] was not an easy day for me,” Chasovnikov said. “The matches began well and now I concentrated for the semifinal match and won it. But I could have done even better. I can’t stop now. Tomorrow is the final and I have to win.”

He defeated Artur BOICHUK (UKR) 11- 0 in the semifinal and is now ready for the rematch against Ovsjanikov.

“I have wrestled against the German wrestler already in the European championships, I won 5-3,” he said. “I think he wants to take a revenge.”

No doubt that Ovsjanikov will like to avenge that loss from a month ago. He defeated Artur SARKISJAN (CZE) 4-0 in the semifinal.

Five more Greco-Roman weight categories will be in action apart from the medal bout of the finalists that were decided Friday.

RESULTS: WW Medal Bouts

40kg
GOLD: Erica PASTORIZA (USA) df Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU), via fall

BRONZE: Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) df Aizhan MURATBAY (KAZ), 8-0
BRONZE: Tana TIULIUSH (RUS) df. Elvina KARIMZADA (AZE), via fall

46kg
GOLD: KOMAL (IND) df Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 7-2

BRONZE: Sevval CAYIR (TUR) df Nicoleta BAJAN (ROU), 2-1
BRONZE: Ava WARD (USA) df Sviatlana KATENKA (BLR), 8-1

53kg
GOLD: Katie GOMEZ (USA) df Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS), 10-0

BRONZE: ANTIM (IND) df Tuba DEMIR (TUR), 7-3
BRONZE: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) df Annatina LIPPUNER (SUI), via fall

61kg
GOLD: Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS) df Sofi TENEVA (BUL), 7-0

BRONZE: Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) df NITIKA (IND), via inj def
BRONZE: Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR) df Yasmine SOLIMAN (HUN), 9-3

69kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) df Yevheniia SIEDYKH (UKR), via fall

BRONZE: Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN) df Harshita HARSHITA (IND), via fall
BRONZE: Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR) df Barbara SERE (ROU), 4-0

RESULTS: GR Semifinals

48kg
GOLD: Luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO) vs Servet ANGI (TUR)

SF 1: Luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO) df. Yussuf ASHRAPOV (KAZ), 3-3
SF 2: Servet ANGI (TUR) df Otto BLACK (USA), 5-5

55kg
GOLD: Valerii MANGUTOV (RUS) vs Cory LAND (USA)

SF 1: Valerii MANGUTOV (RUS) df Tamazi GLONTI (GEO), 4-3
SF 2: Cory LAND (USA) df Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ), 5-0

65kg
GOLD: Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR) vs Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR) df Ankit GULIA (IND), 4-3
SF 2: Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) df Nihat KARA (TUR), 5-4

80kg
GOLD: Kamaludin MAGOMEDOV (RUS) vs Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Kamaludin MAGOMEDOV (RUS) df Hamza SERTCANLI (SWE), 4-2
SF 2: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df Joju SAMADOV (AZE), 8-0

110kg
GOLD: Daniil CHASOVNIKOV (RUS) vs Nikita OVSJANIKOV (GER)

SF 1: Daniil CHASOVNIKOV (RUS) df Artur BOICHUK (UKR), 11-0
SF 2: Nikita OVSJANIKOV (GER) df Artur SARKISJAN (CZE), 4-0

#WrestleBudapest

WATCH: #WrestleBudapest Freestyle Finals

Thursday, March 31, 2022 - 10:11 By Eric Olanowski

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 31) --- The freestyle portion of the 2022 European Championships lived up to the hype in the Hungarian capital. Taha AKGUL (TUR), one of wrestling's biggest stars, added a ninth European gold medal to his resume, while new stars Georgios Kougioumtsidis (GRE), Magomedkhan Magomedov (AZE) and Myles AMINE (SMR) introduced themselves to the wrestling world en route to winning their first continental titles.

Here are the ten freestyle finals from the #WrestleBudapest European Championships.

57kg: Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) df. Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE), 8-6

Vladimir Egorov (MKD) wins the European gold medal for North Macedonia finishing a 23-year wait by defeating the U23 World Champion Aliabbas Rzazade (AZE) at 57kg.

Egorov began with a takedown. That was the only action in the first period and he led 2-0 at the break. But the second period saw him come out with an arm-trap and he scored six straight points to lead 8-0. Rzazade tried making it interesting with six points in the second period but the bout was not as close as the 8-6 scoreline suggests.

61kg: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Suleyman ATLI (TUR), 15-3

Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM) won his second European gold medal as he defeated former world silver medalist Suleyman Atli (TUR) in the 61kg final. In a dominating performance, Harutyunyan won, 15-3.

Harutyunyan caught Atli by surprise when he threw him for four and then leg laced to lead 6-0. Another single-leg takedown made it 8-0 but Armenia asked for another exposure and the win. He lost the challenge and Atli scored a takedown to cut the Armenian's lead to 8-3.

The U23 World champion went straight on the offensive in the second period and got the takedown, during which Atli called for a medical timeout. When the bout resumed, Atli was forced in par terre, and Harutyunyan managed to finish the bout 15-3 with two gut wrenches.

65kg: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) df. Haji ALIYEV (AZE), 12-1

Iszmail Muszukajev (HUN) may have broken his infamous curse of fizzling out in the second period of the bout.

What fans witnessed Tuesday was a different Muszukajev who not only ended Hungary's 19-year wait for a freestyle European champion, he destroyed two-time Olympic medalist Haji Aliyev (AZE) with a 12-1 victory in the 65kg final. "I didn’t expect that score," Muszukajev said.

"The opponent is really good and last time it was really difficult to win. This time I was in a better shape, after the Olympics I got down to training straight away and I was mentally preparing for the European Championships."

Muszukajev has once again put himself in the mix of top wrestlers at the deepest weight category in the world. He is now a European champion in Hungary, ending the 21-year wait for the host nation.

70kg: Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) df. Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), 2-1

At 70kg, 2017 world champion Zurabi Iakobishvili (GEO) captured his first-ever European title when he defeated Arman Andreasyan (ARM) in the final, 2-1.

"I had the gold medal of the Worlds but not a European gold," Iakobishvili said. "That's why I came here to Hungary and I am happy I’ve won it.

74kg: Tajmuraz Mairbekovic SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA), 7-5

At 74kg, Tajmuraz Salkazanov (SVK) defended his gold medal against two-time world champion Frank Chamizo (ITA) in a thrilling final, winning it 7-6 in the final second. Chamizo was set to win 5-5 on criteria, but Salkazanov managed to score a step-out before the clock expired to take the win.

Despite his back-to-back golds, the Oslo silver medalist was not satisfied with his wrestling and thought he could have won it a little easier.

"I am not satisfied with my wrestling," Salkazanov said. "In the beginning, I made a mistake, but even after that I didn't give up, I believed that I could win till the very end. I saw he stepped out and it seemed to me that I got the point. When I threw the challenge, I was still ready to keep wrestling. I was thinking that even if I get that one point, it doesn't mean anything. I had to do my best on the mat. So, I made it happen. I tried hard to attack and I made it."

"My main goal is to become the world champion," he said. "Last year I was one step away from it. After that, I was so disappointed because I was supposed to win that match. I hope this year I will make it happen."

79kg: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE), 7-6

Georgios Kougioumtsidis (GRE) became Greece's first-ever freestyle European champion after he won the 79kg gold.

Two weeks earlier, Kougioumtsidis had won the U23 European Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and was unsure of participating in the senior event. But after the perusal of his father and trainer, he accepted the challenge. "They told me that this experience can help me later in my career," Kougioumtsidis said.

"I am so proud and happy to be my country's first-ever gold medalist."

86kg: Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR) df. Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), 9-5

Tokyo bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR) added another page to San Marino's wrestling history when he won the nation's first-ever European Championships gold by beating Oslo bronze medalist Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), 9-5, in the final.

"He [Abakarov] is funky," Amine said. "I got in on that first shot and it felt too easy. His left leg is his best defense so I tried to get my attacks on his right leg and that kind of started working and I opened up my attacks. He was a guy that I had to adapt against otherwise I was going to probably lose that match."

Since winning San Marino's first-ever Olympic medal in wrestling, Amine has been improving and looks to continue that.

"Two weeks ago, I had a tough loss in the final of NCAA," he said. "I beat the guy in the final of Big 10 Championships. I was excited to come and compete to put that loss behind me. As much as I say that I have to agree that in the last 10 months, I have been blessed by god."

"I will take a few weeks off and come back again because that worked after Olympics. Go back to the drawing board and see where I can improve. I am sure I need to improve my par terre."

92kg: Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) df. Ahmed Sultanovich BATAEV (BUL), 6-1

Feyzullah Akturk (TUR) added a senior European title to his U23 title by defeating Ahmed Bataev (BUL), 6-1, in the 92kg final. Akturk scored four step-outs and a takedown in a final, which he called 'exhausting.' "I very proud to win and carry the [Turkey] flag," Akturk said.

"The final was exhausting but with the gold medal, all the burden of the final fight fades away."

97kg: Magomedkhan Magomedovitch MAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Vladislav BAITSAEV (HUN)

At 97kg, Magomedkhan Magomedov (AZE) wrestled Vladislav Baitsaev (HUN) in the summit clash and used two four-point throws in his 11-5 win. That result gave Azerbaijan its first gold of the night.

"I have wrestled Baitsaev before," Magomedov said. "I understood his wrestling and thankfully I was able to win my first gold."

125kg: Taha AKGUL (TUR) df. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 5-2

Akgul, the defending European champion, defeated Petriashvili, 5-2, in the 125kg gold medal bout at the European Championships in Budapest, Hungary. He won his ninth European title and extended his head-to-head record against the Georgian at the Continental Championships to 5-1.

"It was my goal to come here and break my own record of eight European gold," Akgul said.

"It was a great fight against a great wrestler." The mutual admiration between the two was visible at the medal ceremony, where Petriashvili did not hesitate to congratulate Akgul for his ninth title. "It's always dramatic with Geno [Petriashvili]," Akgul said.

"It's crazy that I keep beating him at the Europeans but he has a streak against me at the Worlds. So I will try to keep winning the gold at Euros and will soon break his streak against me at the World Championships."