#WrestleBelgrade

World Champ Tynybekova Cruises into Women's Wrestling Finals

Monday, December 14, 2020 - 19:00 By Andrew Hipps

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BELGRADE, Serbia (December 14) -- Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), who made history by becoming Kyrgyzstan's first world champion, stands one win away from claiming a gold at the Individual World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia.

The 27-year-old Kyrgyzstani women's wrestler cruised into the 62kg finals. After picking up two 10-0 technical superiorities, Tynybekova dominated 2019 world silver medalist Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) 13-2 in the semifinals.

Tynybekova went up 9-0 before Ovcharova scored a takedown late in the first period to cut the deficit to 9-2. In the second period, Tynybekova scored two consecutive step outs before getting a takedown to finish the match. 

She will meet Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) in the 62kg finals. Grigorjeva, a two-time world medalist, won a high-scoring affair, 9-8, over Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) in the semifinals. 

Annika WENDLE (GER) advanced to the finals at 55kg (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

At 55kg, Annika WENDLE (GER) edged Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) in one of the most exciting finishes of Monday's semifinal round. Krawczyk led 1-0 at the break. Wendle came out strong in the second period, scoring with a four-point move to grab a 4-1 lead. Krawczyk responded a short time later, scoring a four-point move of her own to go up 5-4. She held that lead until late in the match when Wendle scored a go-ahead takedown in the closing moments of the match. The takedown was not awarded initially, but a successful challenge overturned the initial call, giving Wendle the dramatic victory and a place in the finals at 55kg. 

In other 55kg semifinal, Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) rolled to a 6-1 win over PINKI (IND). Kurachkina used a takedown and gut wrench in the first period to go up 4-0. She added a takedown in the second period to win by five.

Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS) reached the 50kg finals by beating Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

2019 world bronze medalist Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS) edged 2020 European champion Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) 2-2 on criteria in the semifinals at 50kg. Selishka scored the first point off a passivity and led 1-0 at the break. Poleshchuk took the lead on a takedown in the second period. Selishka inched closer with a passivity point, but ultimately fell short. 

In the other semifinal at 50kg, Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) looked strong in picking up a 16-7 win over Lisa ERSEL (GER).

At 53kg, Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) shut out Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) 4-0 in a battle of multiple-time world medalists. After going up 2-0 on passivity points, Prevolaraki extended her lead in the second period with a takedown. 

Roksana ZASINA (POL) topped Nina HEMMER (GER) 5-2 in the other 53kg semifinal match. Hemmer led late on criteria, but Zasina took control late, scoring a takedown and step out in the final 30 seconds to win by three.

Buse TOSUN (TUR) will wrestle for the gold medal at 72kg (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

2018 world bronze medalist Buse TOSUN (TUR) topped Alla BELINSKA (UKR) in the semifinals at 72kg. 

She will meet Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) in the 72kg finals. Yaneva was impressive, scoring three takedowns in the second period on her way to a 6-2 win over Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK).

Women's Wrestling Semifinal Results

50kg
Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) df. Lisa ERSEL (GER) by VPO1, 16-7
Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS) df. Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) by VPO1, 2-2

53kg
Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) by VPO, 4-0
Roksana ZASINA (POL) df. Nina HEMMER (GER) by VPO1, 5-2

55kg
Annika WENDLE (GER) df. Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) by VPO1, 6-5
Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Pinki PINKI (IND) by VPO1, 6-1

62kg
Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) df. Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) by VPO1, 10-9
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) by VSU1, 13-2

72kg
Yuliana Vasileva YANEVA (BUL) df. Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK) by VPO1, 7-2
Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Alla BELINSKA (UKR)  by VPO1, 6-2
 

#UWWAwards

UWW History Makers of 2025: Kougioumtsidis, Reasco, Sultangali

Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:29 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 22) -- United World Wrestling has announced the History Makers of the Year 2025. The performance of these three wrestlers transcended competition and produced a once-in-a-generation accomplishment.

Freestyle’s History Maker 2025: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)

If there’s one nation that’s draped in sports tradition, it’s Greece, but surprisingly enough, the nation had never produced a male wrestling world champion.

Prior to 2025, wrestlers from Greece were 0-3 in gold-medal matches and had not reached a world finals since 1991. Then came 23-year-old Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS who stunned the world by defeating Levi HAINES (USA) 3-2 in the 79kg final to become his nation’s first-ever world champion.

Up until Kougioumtsidis' victory, Georgios ATHANASSIADIS (GRE) lost both of his world finals matches and Iraklis DESKOULIDIS (GRE) lost the final in 1991. The lone Greek woman to ever step to the top of the medal podium at the World Championships was Sofia POUMPOURIDOU (GRE), who won the women's 51kg gold on home soil in 2002.

"I'm very lucky that I am Greek," Kougioumtsidis said. "So I feel like I made all Greeks proud. I am Greek and I love my country." He continued, saying, “I'm the first male [from Greece] who won a gold medal at the World Championships. It's my dream come true. I think this year is a good achievement. I achieved my goal."

Women’s Wrestling History Maker: Genesis REASCO (ECU)

Reasco made history by becoming Ecuador's first-ever world champion, which came two years following Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) silver-medal finish at the 2023 World Championships where she still become the Ecuador's first-ever world medalist.

Reasco reached the pinnacle of the sport with a 4-2 victory in the 76kg final over two-time world medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), which came one match removed from knocking off Paris bronze medalist Milaimy MARIN (CUB) in the semifinals.

"I went in, gave my all, and it worked," Reasco said. "That’s how the gold medal was achieved, because honestly, I have a lot of respect for all my opponents. They gave everything out there on the mat, and they were really good matches -- both yesterday’s and today’s. Everything was very tough, very close."

Greco-Roman’s History Maker: Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ)

Sultangali ended a 26-year Greco-Roman drought, giving Kazakhstan their first Greco world champion since 1999 with a very quick victory over Uzbek youngster Alisher GANIEV (UZB) in the 60kg finals at the World Championships.

Sultangali, who won two world bronze medals between 2018 and 2022, only needed 1:07 to cap off masterful first-period 9-0 win over Asian runner-up GANIEV (UZB).

"I didn’t plan to win the final match so easily and quickly," Sultangali said. "But it happened. Today is a historic day for our country because the last gold medal for Kazakhstan came in 1999, 26 years ago," said Sultangali, "I am happy that my country is happy."