#WrestleBudapest

#WrestleBudapest: Women's wrestling bracket reactions

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 29) – The women's wrestling will begin Wednesday at the European Championships and the brackets for the 10 weight classes were released.

The European Championships is the first competition in which the four-seed system is being used and all weight categories were drawn after considering the seeds.

Ukraine will also be part of the women's competition and is allowed to replace the wrestler at any weight class if the name entered is not able to participate.

50kg (11 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Emilia VUC (ROU)
No. 2 Miglena SELISHKA (BUL)
No. 3 Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
No. 4 Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR)

The top two seeds Emilia VUC (ROU) and Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) are expected to reach the final at 50kg. But for that, Vuc will first have to wrestle the winner of Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR) and Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA).

Fourth seed Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR) has Lisa ERSEL (GER) in the quarterfinal and the winner will reach the semifinal from the upper side of the bracket.

If Selishka wants to reach the semifinal, she has to get past one of Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN) or Turkan NASIROVA (AZE). In most likelihood, the semifinal will be against third seed Anna LUKASIAK (POL) who has to wrestler Julie SABATIE (FRA) or Emilia CIRICU BUDEANU (MDA).

In rankings, Vuc and Selishka are also fighting for the second spot and whoever finishes better, will be ranked second.

53kg (11 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Iulia LEORDA (MDA)
No. 2 Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)
No. 3 Emma MALMGREN (SWE)
No. 4 Annika WENDLE (GER)

Top seed Iulia LEORDA (MDA) has a place in the quarterfinal of the 11-wrestler bracket. But if she wants to reach the semifinal, she will have to beat one of the three-time Olympian Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) or Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA).

For fourth-seed Annika WENDLE (GER), Zenyep YETGIL (TUR) can prove to be a big problem.

On the lower side of the bracket, Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) is likely to the same fourth-seed junior world champion Emma MALGREM (SWE) in the quarters. The semifinal can then see one of them facing the winner of Irena BINKOVA (BUL) and Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL).

A big shift in rankings is expected as Leorda, who is third, can dethrone top-ranked Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) by winning the gold.

55kg (9 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR)
No. 2 Andreea ANA (ROU)

In the top two seeds of the weight class hold, Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) and U23 world and European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) are expected to wrestle for the gold medal.

The two are the most accomplished wrestler in the bracket and only a big surprise will stop her from reaching the gold medal bout.

57kg (9 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)
No. 2 Anhelina LYSAK (POL)
No. 3 Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
No. 4 Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) is seeded number one for the weight class and will face the winner of Jenna HEMIAE (FIN) and Tamara DOLLAK (HUN).

But the quarterfinal between number two seed and U23 world champ Anhelina LYSAK (POL) and defending champion Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) will be the biggest bout of this weight class as the two have the potential to win the gold.

59kg (7 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
No. 2 Jowita WRZESIEN (POL)
No. 3 Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

Since there were only seven participants in the 59kg weight class, the brackets were drawn in two groups. Third seed and former European champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) is the favorite to win the gold in the weight class and she is in Group B.

But it won't be easy for her as Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) is also in the same group. She had defeated Nichita at the U23 World Championships last year.

62kg (12 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Taybe YUSEIN (BUL)
No. 2 Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR)
No. 3 Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)

In the 12-wrestler bracket at 62kg, Olympic bronze medalist Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) is seeded number one with Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) taking the second seed.

Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), ranked third with 43200 points, has to reach the final in Budapest to overtake second-ranked Olympic champion Yukako KAWAI (JPN) [51000 points].

Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) is ranked ninth with 25000 points. A gold will improve her rank to sixth. Anything less than a bronze finish will not help the Ukrainian improve her rankings.

Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), ranked 20th, will jump to the 13th spot if she can reach the medal bouts.

65kg (6 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Kriszta INCZE (ROU)
No. 2 Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
No. 3 Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)
No. 4 Asli TUGCU (TUR)

There are only six participants in the bracket divided into two groups of three wrestlers each. Kriszta INCZE (ROU) is the top seed and she has fourth seed Asli TUGCU (TUR) and Sofiya GEORGIEVA (BUL) in her group. Two from the group will qualify for the semifinal.

In the second group, Tokyo Olympian Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) and Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) are placed together with Viktoria VESSO (EST). The two from this group will also advance to the semifinal.

The semifinalists will be placed in cross-style with the topper of Group A facing the second-placed wrestler in Group B and vice-versa.

68kg (8 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
No. 2 Natalia STRZALKA (POL)

The 68kg weight class has only two seeded wrestlers which means that they can only wrestle in the final.

But 65kg world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) is wrestling one weight class up and she could not have asked for a tougher test against former world champion Alla BELINSKA (UKR). The winner of this bout will face the winner of top-seed Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) and U23 European silver medalist Amina CAPEZAN (ROU) in the semifinal.

In the lower side of the bracket, Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) and Noemi SZABADOS (HUN) clash in the first quarterfinal while Natalia STRZALKA (POL) and Asli DEMIR (TUR) clash in the other quarterfinal.

72kg (9 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Anna SCHELL (GER)
No. 2 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR)
No. 3 Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)

After their intense battle in Istanbul, Anna SCHELL (GER) and Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) will resume their rivalry in Budapest. The two can only meet in the final as the two are top-two seeds.

But to reach there, Schell will likely go through U23 world champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) in her first bout.

For Tosun, Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) is the first stop and if she wins the tie, she will face one of Patrycja SPERKA (POL) or Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU).

Schell can be top-ranked if she can win the gold Thursday but fourth-ranked Tosun has no luck when it comes to rankings. She will remain at the fourth spot even if she wins the gold medal. She will have 43000 points and be tied with world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN) and silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ). Since Bosun won a bronze, she cannot go over the two finalists in Oslo.

76kg (12 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Epp MAE (EST)
No. 2 Yasemin ADAR (TUR)
No. 3 Francy RAEDELT (GER)
No. 4 Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)

World silver medalist Epp MAE (EST) has never beaten Tokyo bronze medalist Yasemin ADAR (TUR) in their three meetings. Now, she may have another chance if the two top-seeded wrestlers can win and reach the final.

Her first bout will be against the winner of Enrica RINALDI (ITA) and Fanni NAGY NAD (SRB). If she manages to reach the semifinal, one of Catalina AXENTE (ROU), Georgina NELTHORPE (GBR) or Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) will be her opponent.

On the lower side, Adar will have either Mariya ORYASHKOVA (BUL) or Romana VOVCHAK (UKR) in the quarterfinals.

But Martina KUENZ (AUT) will be looking to avenge her loss over Adar from the World Olympic Qualifiers in Sofia. The two are likely to meet in the semifinal.

Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 Day 4: Tazhudinov, Ghasempour lose

By Vinay Siwach

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 21) -- The final day at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 will see four Freestyle weight classes in action -- 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg. Every weight class has a world champion wrestling today.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

12:50: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) drops his semifinal against Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) 15-3. Aitmukhan with three exposure for six points in the second period. Tazhudinov struggled to finish his attacks. We have a Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) vs Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) final.

12:40: World silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) with a lace to beat Rifat GIDAK (TUR) 11-0 and enter the final at 97kg.

12:37: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) reaches the 86kg final with an 5-1 win over Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) in the semifinal. Dzhioev will now take on Saipudunov for the gold medal.

12:33: Another Bahrain wrestler in the final as Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN) survives an late onslaught from Osman GOCEN (TUR) and wins 8-6 at 86kg. Gocen got a four-pointer which kept him in the match which was otherwise dominated by Saipudinov

12:30: Top match at 74kg semifinal as Younes EMAMI (IRI) holds off Norkhoza KAIPONOV (KAZ) 6-5. Kaiponov was up 4-1 and scored a stepout to make it 5-1. Emami got a stepout to make it 5-2 and a beautiful duckunder to close it to 5-4. He continued the action and used a gut-wrench to make it 6-5 with less than a minute remaining. He defended his lead to enter the final in which he will take on Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE)

12:22: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) with a takedown in the final 10 seconds to upset Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) who was leading 5-2 till the last 30 seconds. The takedown gave Novruzov a 5-5 criteria lead before Asluev tried to hit exposure. Novruzov got an counter exposure for the 7-5 win. 

12:15: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) is into the 125kg final after a 7-0 blanking of Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR) in the semifinal. Easy win for the world champion

12:11: World silver medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) goes down 7-6 against Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) in the 125kg semifinal. Sharipov scored a four-pointer and led 5-0. But in Meshvildishvili comes back in the second period to make it 6-4 and needed three points for a win. He scored a takedown to make it 6-6 but was down on criteria. In the final 10 seconds, he was close to scoring two times but Sharipov managed to defend. A lost challenge gave him another point.

12:06: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) downs Olympic bronze medalist Mogomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) 12-2 at 97kg. Aitmukhan with a four-pointer and three takedowns in his victory. Solid defense as well whenever Magomedov seemed threatening.

11:55: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) with a cradle to get the fall over Abossolo CEDRIC (CMR) in the second period of his 97kg quarterfinal.

11:50: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) wins his quarterfinal at 97kg against Muhammad GULZAR (PAK) 11-0 after three rolls from par terre. He will wrestle Rifat GIDAK (TUR) who defeated Oucif HOUSSEM (ALG) 13-2

11:42: After taking out Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), Arsenii DHZIOEV (AZE) continues his winning run and enters the semifinal at 86kg with an 11-0 victory over Benferdjallah FATEH (ALG)

11:30: Younes EMAMI (IRI) with an strong defensive performance as he beats Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), 5-2, at 74kg. Emami got a point every time he seemed passive in the match.

11:20: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) powers his way to a 10-0 victory over Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ) at 125kg. World champion Zare is a strong favorite to win gold here.

11:18: Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) stops Shams QURAISHI (AFG) from more upsets but not after an incredible match. Quraishi managed to score 9 points on Asluev before dropping his bout 12-9

11:10: Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) opens his 97kg with an 11-1 technical superiority win over 92kg U20 world champion Sherzod POYONOV (UZB).

11:00: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) works his incredible underhook and manages an easy 11-0 victory over Iqbal AHMADI (AFG) at 97kg. Azarpira is a world silver medalist from Zagreb.

10:50: Former world 92kg champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) makes it look easy rolling to a 10-0 win over Mohamed SALAHELDIN (EGY) at 97kg.

10:45: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) takes out Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) in the opening bout at 86kg. In a bout of two halves, Ghasempour got a takedown and passivity point in opening period before Dzhioev scored a takedown during Ghasempour's activity time to lead 3-3 on criteria with just over a minute left. Ghasempour tried a desperate leg attack at the end only to give a takedown and hand the win to Dzhioev

10:37: Osman GOCEN (TUR) hangs on for a 2-2 criteria win over Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) at 86kg. It was a scramble in which both wrestlers were awarded two points each with Gocen getting it later and holding the criteria. No points were scored in the second period but both wrestler were involved in scrambles. Gocen manages to hold off and win.

10:33: Haider BUTT (PAK) led 3-0 against Farhad MALIK ZADA (AFG) and on the way to give Afghanistan it's first win of the tournament. However, Malik Zada with a comeback and beats the Pakistan wrestler 8-4 at 86kg.

10:25: Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) took his own time but he manages to beat Khaireddine BEN TLILI (TUN), 11-1, in their 74kg. A four-pointer in the first period for Toktomambetov

10:15: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ), one of the four world champs in action today, starts off with an 11-0 victory over Jafar CHULIBOYEV (UZB) at 74kg. He got a stepout before a takedown and four turns.

10:10: Afghanistan is really having a solid Games for itself. After some impressive wins yesterday and a fifth-place finish, Shams QURAISHI (AFG) gets a fall at 74kg against Omar MOURAD (EGY).

10:00: Last day of the ISG 2025 with four weight classes in Freestyle. Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) vs Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) likely to face in the 97kg.