European Games

World No.1's Sadulaev, Cherkasova Cruise into Semifinals at European Games

Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - 11:22 By United World Wrestling Press

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MINSK, Belarus (June 26) - World No. 1's Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) and Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) cruised into the semifinals of the European Games on Wednesday in Minsk, Belarus. 

Sadulaev, a 2016 Olympic champion and three-time world champion, was unscored upon in his first two matches at 97kg. He opened his tournament with a first-period 11-0 technical superiority over Mihaly SZABO (HUN). He then won 6-0 over Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) in the quarterfinals. Sadulaev's semifinal opponent will be European silver medalist Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR), ranked No.8 in the world. 

The semifinal on the bottom side of the 97kg bracket will pit Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE) against Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR). Gadzhiyev, a European bronze medalist and past junior world champion, defeated world No.4 Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) 7-3. Mchedlidze edged Nicolai CEBAN (MDA) 6-5 in the quarterfinals. 

Cherkasova, a returning world champion and 2019 European champion, won both of her matches in the first session by technical superiority at 68kg. She shut out Sara DA COL (ITA) 10-0 in her first match before picking up a 12-2 win in the quarterfinals over Agnieszka WIESZCZEK (POL). Cherkasova will battle two-time European champion Anastasiia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) in the semifinals. Two-time world bronze medalist Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) and Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU) will face off in the other semifinal at 68kg. 

Three past world medalists, including two world champions, reached the semifinals at 65kg in freestyle. Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI, a 2016 Olympic champion and 2015 world champion, topped Andrei PERPELITSA (MDA) 4-1 in the quarterfinals. He will face world No.3 Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) in the semifinals. Chakaev, a two-time world bronze medalist, outscored his two opponents in the opening session by a combined score of 16-1. 

Three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) trailed 5-2 after the opening period of his quarterfinal match against George KOLIEV (BLR), but came back to win 7-5. He will meet Hor OHANNESIAN (UKR) in the semifinals. 

At 53kg in women's wrestling, Nina HEMMER (GER) edged two-time world champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) 7-6 in the quarterfinals. Kaladzinskaya led 4-1 after the opening period, but the 26-year-old German battled back to win. Hemmer will face Olympic bronze medalist and seven-time world medalist Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) in the semifinals. 

Mattsson, a 2015 European Games champion, opened her tournament by defeating Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) 12-4 before claiming a 10-0 technical superiority in the quarterfinals against Iulia LEORDA (MDA). 

Two-time European champion Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) will face Yulia KHAVALDZHY (UKR) in the other semifinal at 53kg. 

Wednesday's semifinal matches are scheduled to begin at 18:00 local time.

SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS

Freestyle 

65kg
SEMIFINAL - Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) vs. Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Hor OHANNESIAN (UKR) vs. Haji ALIYEV (AZE)

97kg
SEMIFINAL - Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) vs. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE) vs. Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)

Women's Wrestling

53kg
SEMIFINAL - Nina HEMMER (GER) vs. Sofia MATTSSON (SWE)
SEMIFINAL - Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) vs. Yulia KHAVALDZHY (UKR)

68kg
SEMIFINAL - Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU) vs. Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT)
SEMIFINAL - Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) vs. Anastasiia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS)
 

#WrestleMonterrey

Orta claims 4th Pan-Am title; U.S. wins five Greco golds

Friday, May 9, 2025 - 09:05 By Vinay Siwach

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MONTERREY, Mexico (May 8) -- Olympic and world champion Luis ORTA (CUB) captured his fourth Pan-American Championships title and the United States won five of the eight Greco-Roman gold medals on offer on day one of the Pan-American Championships which got underway in Monterrey, Mexico on Thursday.

Orta, returning to competition for the first time since winning the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in August 2024, outscored his opponents 26-0 in three bouts.

In the final, he faced Nestor ALMANZA TRUYOL (CHI) and posted an 8-0 technical superiority win to capture the gold medal. He began with a stepout before Almanza Truyol was called passive and put in par terre. However, Orta failed to score from par terre and only added a stepout later to lead 3-0 at the break.

The second period saw more stepouts as Almanza Truyol failed to position his hands for any attack. Orta scored two stepouts and Almanza Truyol was cautioned for one point for fleeing to make it 6-0 for Orta, who later added two more stepouts for the win.

Cuba won its second gold medal at 130kg as Oscar PINO (CUB) defeated Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) 3-1 in the final with a easy takedown in the final minute of the match. Schultz got the first par terre but he failed to score any points. Pino got the 1-1 criteria lead when he was given the par terre position in the second period. Pino also failed to score any points but he later scored a takedown towin 3-1.

Kamal BEY (USA)Kamal BEY (USA) works on a takedown against Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG) in the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

The U.S. won five gold medal, including Kamal BEY (USA) winning the gold medal at 77kg after defeating Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG), 11-7, in the final.

Bey, who has one Pan-Am gold earlier in his career, began the final with a takedown and then lifted Julfalakyan for a suplex for four points to lead 6-0. A lost challenge from Julfalakyan made it 7-0 for Bey.

As Bey tried scoring one more point for a win, Julfalakyan was cautious. Bey went for the stepout to get the point but Julfalakyan threw his hands off him and scored a takedown before a turn gave him two more points as he cut Bey's lead to 7-4.

After the break, Julfalakyan was awarded the par terre position and he scored a turn via gut-wrench to make it 7-7 but Bey led on criteria for his four-pointer.

Bey got a takedown when Julfalakyan was defending a headpinch attempt but Bey jumped over for two points. Julfalakyan tried a duckunder to score but Bey countered it and scored two more points.

The 38-year-old Julfalakyan was celebrating his birthday on Thursday and may have wrestled for the final time in his career. Julfalakyan has a silver medal from 2012 London Olympics and gold medal at the World Championships in 2014, for Armenia.

World U23 silver medalist Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) won the gold medal at 82kg after he won both his matches in the round-robin competition. He defeated Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX), 6-1, after he had blanked David CHOC HUOC (GUA) 8-0.

Payton JACOBSON (USA)Gold medalist Payton JACOBSON (USA), center, with silver medalist Luis AVENDANO (VEN), left, and bronze medalist Jose VARGAS (MEX). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Paris Olympian Payton JACOBSON (USA) won the 87kg gold medal with a convincing 6-0 win over Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) in the final match.

In a seven-wrestler Nelson bracket, Jacobson and Avendano Rojas were in the same group and the latter beat Jacobson 7-5 in the first bout. Both made it to the final as they wrestler the top two finishers of the other group.

Avendano Rojas, however, failed to repeat his performance of the group stages. Jacobson was awarded the par terre and he scored two turns from the position to lead 5-0 in the first period. Avendano Rojas would have hoped for a par terre position in the second period but Jacobson began with a stepout and kept the action going to but be hit with passivity.

Jacobson's aggressive style and Avendano Rojas' dwindling conditioning gave him an advantage and he defended his 6-0 for the gold medal.

Maxwell BLACK (USA)Maxwell BLACK (USA) won the gold medal at 60kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

At 60kg, Maxwell BLACK (USA) emerged victorious as he negated a young field and defeated Alexis RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX), 9-0, in the final. He scored two turns from par terre and a beautiful suplex for four points to complete the victory.

Former world U17 champion Jayden RANEY (USA) won the fifth gold for the U.S. as he defeated Isaac MARIN MATA (MEX), 10-1, in the 55kg final. Only two wrestlers were entered in the weight class.

Greco highlight for Ecuador 

Ecuador has won three Greco-Roman gold medals in Pan-American Championships history and all three won by Andres ARROYO (ECU). On Thursday, Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU) became the second wrestler from Ecuador to win a Greco-Roman gold medal at the Pan-Am Championships after he defeated Ellis COLEMAN (USA), 12-4, in the 63kg final.

Incidentally, Arroyo's last two gold medals also came at 63kg [in 2019 and 2021].

Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU) completes a reverse lift on Ellis COLEMAN (USA) in the 63kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

In an action-packed final, Peralta Gonzalez and Coleman exchanged four-pointers but it was the former's two back-to-back throws that gave him the technical superiority win.

Peralta began with a stepout and then blocked Coleman's attempted throw for a 3-0 lead. In one of the scrambles, Coleman locked Peralta from behind and threw him on the mat for four points and led 4-3.

When Peralta got the par terre position in the second period, he launched two reverse body lifts for four points each and left the crowd in complete awe. He left with the gold medal.

Photo

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Jayden RANEY (USA) df. Isaac MARIN MATA (MEX), 10-1

60kg
GOLD: Maxwell BLACK (USA) df. Alexis RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX), 9-0

BRONZE: Yonaiker MARTINEZ (VEN) df. Pedro DE SOUZA (BRA), 5-1

63kg
GOLD: Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU) df. Ellis COLEMAN (USA), 12-4

BRONZE: Hector SANCHEZ (MEX) df. Matias MUNOZ (CHI), 2-0

67kg
GOLD: Luis ORTA (CUB) df. Nestor ALMANZA TRUYOL (CHI), 8-0

BRONZE: Neiser MARIMON (VEN) df. Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU), 3-0
BRONZE: Marco FERNANDEZ (PER) df. Osvaldo YANEZ (MEX), 7-1

77kg
GOLD: Kamal BEY (USA) df. Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG), 11-7

BRONZE: Leomar CORDERO DEPOOL (VEN) df. Oscar BARRIOS (HON), 2-0
BRONZE: Calebe CORREA (BRA) df. Ryan CUBAS CASTILLO (PER), 11-3

82kg
GOLD: Beka MELELASHVILI (USA)
SILVER: Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX) 
BRONZE: David CHOC HUOC (GUA)

87kg
GOLD: Payton JACOBSON (USA) df. Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN), 6-0

BRONZE: Jose VARGAS RUEDA (MEX) df. Ariel ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON), 2-1

130kg
GOLD: Oscar PINO (CUB) df. Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA), 3-1

BRONZE: Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON) df. Leonidas MANZABA (ECU), 9-0
BRONZE: Moises PEREZ (VEN) df. Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA), 6-0