#WrestlePlovdiv

#WrestlePlovdiv Senior U23 European Championships Entry List

Tuesday, March 1, 2022 - 07:52 By Vinay Siwach

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PLOVDIV, Bulgaria (March 1) -- The first continental championships of the year will be the Senior U23 European Championships that begin March 7 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria and continues till March 13.

The freestyle field consists of two senior World Championships medalists and two U23 world champions. A big number of returning medalists have also entered the field as they look to change the color of their medals in Plovdiv.

The Greco-Roman field is even more stacked with several world and continental champions. A few wrestlers will have a chance to win medals that they missed at the last edition in Skopje, North Macedonia.

The women's freestyle entries are star-studded with senior world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) moving up to 68kg. Tokyo Olympians Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) and Andreea ANA (ROU) can also enthrall the fans.

Freestyle

Junior and U23 European champion Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) leads a strong freestyle team for Azerbaijan with teammate senior World bronze medalist Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) at 86kg. Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE), the junior Worlds silver and returning bronze at 65kg, is also on the team.

Various wrestlers can lay claim to gold medals in the 10 weights class. At 57kg, Horst LEHR (GER), who won a bronze medal at the Oslo Worlds, will be one of the favorites to win the gold.

Throw in returning bronze medalist Emre CIFTCI (TUR) and a three-way battle at 86kg can only spice up things in Plovdiv.

U23 world champion Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) will like to repeat that performance and claim his first-ever continental championships at any level.

Greco-Roman

The most intense battle in the traditional style can ensue at 97kg as three age-group world medalists and returning silver medalists eye the gold.

Returning silver medalist Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) can be called the favorite to win the gold but bronze medalist from U23 Worlds in Belgrade, Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) is also entered as he hopes to upgrade his bronze from last year.

The big surprise is Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) who won a silver medal at the Junior Worlds last year at 87kg but jumped up to 97kg for this competition.

Sterkenburg's brother Marcel is entered at 82kg. After winning the junior Worlds gold in Ufa, Russia last year, Marcel will like to add a continental title as well.

But junior Worlds 77kg silver medalist Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) may stop him from doing exactly that.

At 67kg, returning silver medalist Kadir KAMAL (TUR) has the last to win a continental title. He will be challenged by two-time junior world silver medalist Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM). Niklas OEHLEN (SWE), who won the 63kg silver at the last U23 Euros, is also entered at 67kg.

Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) had a decent 2021 at 72kg as he won the junior and U23 Worlds bronze medals but he will want to begin his 2022 with a gold in Plovdiv. He has the skills to do it but junior Euro champion and World silver Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) will be a big threat.

But if returning bronze Idris IBAEV (GER) can repeat his performance that helped him with the U23 World title in Belgrade last year, Khachatryan and Chkhikvadze will have a tough time.

At 87kg, it's a three-way battle as junior European champion Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) looks to add a U23 title. But the two returning bronze medalists from last year -- Istvan TAKACS (HUN) former junior world champ, returning bronze. senior 5th and Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM) -- will make life difficult for him.

Takacs is the favorite to win the gold as he has improved since then and even finished fifth at the senior Worlds. Tadevosyan won the Military World Championships last year.

Women's Freestyle

There is little matching the field in women's freestyle. Senior world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) headlines the entries that also have Tokyo Olympians Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) and Andreea ANA (ROU).

Ringaci is making a comeback since winning the Oslo Worlds at 65kg. She is entered a 68kg. This would well be the start of her Olympic journey since this is the first competition she is wrestling at 68kg after a long time.

Nichita, who won the gold in Istanbul a week ago, is entered at 59kg. She has all the continental titles so the tournament in Plovdiv could well be the warmup for the senior Euros three weeks later.

Silver at junior Euros Anna SZEL (HUN) will also try her luck to win a continental title.

Turkey has gone with young star and cadet world champion Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) as its entry at 59kg.

At 55kg, five wrestlers can be in line to win the gold. But the favorite will be the U23 world champion and Tokyo Olympian Andreea ANA (ROU). She became the first woman from Romania to win a world title in Belgrade.

Returning silver medalist and bronze in Belgrade, Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) has a big responsibility on her shoulders to lead a young Turkey team in the tournament. A gold in Plovdiv can only fast-track her career.

Junior Worlds silver medalist Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) and Othelie HOEIE (NOR) will be the other silver medalist looking to challenge Ana and Yetgil.

Returning silver medalist Patrycja GIL (POL) and silver medalist from 59kg, Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) can well be competing for the 57kg gold medal in Plovdiv.

At 72kg, U23 Worlds silver medalist Kendra DACHER (FRA) has a good chance to win the continental title but Junior Worlds silver medalist Lilly SCHNEIDER (GER) can also be a big threat to the gold medal.

Georgios PILIDISGeorgis PILIDIS (GRE) won the U23 World Championships title at 65kg in 2021. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

57kg
Edik HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
Tofig ALIYEV (AZE)
Milenov TISOV (BUL)
Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO)
Horst LEHR (GER)
Demian LIUTCANOV (MDA)
Aid SALIHASI (MKD)
Thomas EPP (SUI)
Yusuf DEMIR (TUR)

61kg
Endrio AVDYLI (ALB)
Norik HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
Ruhan RASIM (BUL)
Timourovitch ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)
Ramaz TURMANIDZE (GEO)
Nico MEGERLE (GER)
Leomid COLESNIC (MDA)
Besir ALILI (MKD)
Nino LEUTERT (SUI)
Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR)

65kg
Hrachya MARGARYAN (ARM)
Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE)
Ayub MUSAEV (BEL)
Stilyan ILIEV (BUL)
Said HOSSEINI (FIN)
Ahmed YEZZA (FRA)
Ross CONNELLY (GBR)
Gia UGRELIDZE (GEO)
Leon GERSTENBERGER (GER)
Georgios PILIDIS (GRE)
Karoly KISS (HUN)
Daniel RAFFI (ITA)
Pavel ANDRUSCA (MDA)
Muhamed FERUKI (MKD)
Stefan COMAN (ROU)
Dominik LARITZ (SUI)
Hamza ALACA (TUR)

70kg
Benedikt HUBER (AUT)
Murad EVLOEV (AZE)
Ivan STOYANOV (BUL)
Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO)
Shamil USTAEV (GER)
Roland BIRO (HUN)
Raul ZARBALIEV (ISR)
Gianluca COLETTI (ITA)
Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA)
Fati VEJSELI (MKD)
Viktor VOINOVIC (SRB)
Tobias PORTMANN (SUI)
Omer CAYIR (TUR)

74kg
Menua YARIBEKYAN (ARM)
Simon MARCHL (AUT)
Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)
Dimitar ANGELOV (BUL)
Erik REINBOK (EST)
Otari BAGAURI (GEO)
Tino RETTINGER (GEO)
Vasile DIACON (MDA)
Szymon WOJTKOWSKI (POL)
Krisztian BIRO (ROU)
Ismet CIFTCI (TUR)

79kg
Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM)
Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE)
Oktay HASAN (BUL)
Evsem SHVELIDZE (GEO)
Beat SCHAIBLE (GER)
Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
Marton RIZMAJER (HUN)
Grigori CARASTOIAN (MDA)
Patryk CIURZYNSKI (POL)
Abdulvasi BALTA (TUR)

86kg
Mher MARKOSYAN (ARM)
Benjamin GREIL (AUT)
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
Anton IVANOV (BUL)
Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)
Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO)
Lars SCHAEFLE (GER)
Angelos KOUKLARIS (GRE)
Milan MESTER (HUN)
Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT)
Lilian BALAN (MDA)
Cezary SADOWSKI (POL)
Emre CIFTCI (TUR)

92kg
Emiljano ONUZI (ALB)
Abduljalil SHABANOV (AZE)
Ilia HRISTOV (BUL)
Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)
Daviti KOGUASHVILI (GEO)
Joshua MORODION (GER)
Stylianos STAMATIS (GRE)
Krisztian ANGYAL (HUN
Auron SYLA (KOS)
Gheorghe ERHAN (MDA)
Redjep HAJDARI (MKD)
Viliam OROSS (SVK)
Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR)

97kg
Islam ILYASOV (AZE)
Tsvetan EVTIMOV (BUL)
Riveri MTSITURI (GEO)
Johannes MAYER (GER)
Richard VEGH (HUN)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Stole EFTIMOV (MKD)
Samet OCAK (TUR)

125kg
Hovhannes MAGHAKYAN (ARM)
Aydin AHMADOV (AZE)
Georgi IVANOV (BUL)
Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)
Milan KORCSOG (HUN)
Lior ALTSHULER (ISR)
Daniel PIRTACHI (MDA)
Uvejs FEJZULAHU (MKD)
Adil MISIRCI (TUR)

Idris IBAEVIdris IBAEV (GER) is the U23 world champion at 72kg. (Photo: UWW / Mohamed Yahia)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Azat SEDRAKYAN (ARM)
Denis DEMIROV (BUL)
Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO)
Steven ECKER (GER)
Ilias ZAIRAKIS (GRE)
Artiom DELEANU (MDA)
Denis MIHAI (ROU)
Emre MUTLU (TUR)

60kg
Tigran MINASYAN (ARM)
Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE)
Miroslav EMILOV (BUL)
Raymond LANGLET (FRA)
Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO)
Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN)
Melkamu FETENE (ISR)
Tommaso BOSI (ITA)
Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA)
Grzegorz KUNKEL (POL)
Mukremin AKTAS (TUR)

63kg
Vladimir HAROYAN (ARM)
Ziya BABASHOV (AZE)
Ilia MUSTAKOV (BUL)
Andy JUAN SUCH(ESP)
Giorgi SHOTADZE (GEO)
Levente TOTH (HUN)
Abere FETENE (ISR)
Corneliu RUSU (MDA)
Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR)

67kg
Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM)
Nikalas SULEV (BUL)
Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA)
Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)
Nikolaos KALAIDOPOULOS (GRE)
Shon NADORGIN (ISR)
Ignazio SANFILIPPO (ITA)
Konstantinas KESANIDI (LTU)
Kamil CZARNECKI (POL)
Niklas OEHLEN (SWE)
Kadir KAMAL (TUR)

72kg
Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM)
Adam HAJIZADA (AZE)
Dimitar STEFCHEV (BUL)
Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO)
Marcos SANCHEZ SILVA MEJIAS (ESP)
Joni KOMPPA (FIN)
Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)
Idris IBAEV (GER)
Georgios SOTIRIADIS (GRE)
Attila TOESMAGI (HUN)
Steve MOMILIA (ITA)
Vilius SAVICKAS  (LTU)
Valentin PETIC (MDA)
Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR)
Aleksander MIELEWCZYK (POL)
Michael PORTMANN (SUI)
Erik PERSSON (SWE)
Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR)

77kg
Ashot KIRAKOSYAN (ARM)
Khasay HASANLI (AZE)
Martin DIMITROV (BUL)
Edvin KIN (EST)
Akseli YLI HANNUKSELA (FIN)
Davit SOLOGASHVILI (GEO)
Deni NAKAEV (GER)
Andreas VASILAKOPOULOS (GRE)
Krisztofer KLANYI (HUN)
Niko NIKOLADZE (ISR)
Mihai PETIC (MDA)
Patryk BEDNARZ (POL)
Aleksa ILIC (SRB)
Rasmus AASTROEM (SWE)
Abdurrahman KALKAN (TUR)

82kg
Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM)
Intigam VALIZADA (AZE)
Zahari ZASHEV (BUL)
Karlo KODRIC (CRO)
Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN)
Beka GURULI (GEO)
Erik LOESER (GER)
Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE)
Andras MEZEI (HUN)
David ZHYTOMYRSKY (ISR)
Arminas LYGNUGARIS (LTU)
Semion BREKKELI (MDA)
Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)
Exauce MUKUBU (NOR)
Vasile COJOC (ROU)
Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB)
Samet YALDIRAN (TUR)

87kg
Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM)
Lachin VALIYEV (AZE)
Kaloyan IVANOV (BUL)
Matej MANDIC (CRO)
Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN)
Andreas VAELIS (EST)
Saba DJAVAKHICHVILI(FRA)
Beka MELELASHVILI (GEO)
Nikolaos IOSIFIDIS (GRE)
Istvan TAKACS (HUN)
Ruben BEEN (NOR)
Szymon SZYMONOWICZ (POL)
Mario VUKOVIC (SRB)
Christian ZEMP (SUI)
Muhittin SARICICEK (TUR)

97kg
Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM)
Markus RAGGINGER (AUR)
Mariyan MARINOV (BUL)
Richard KARELSON (EST)
Loic SAMEN (FRA)
Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO)
Patrick NEUMAIER (GER)
Arnoldas BARANOVAS (LTU)
Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED)
Marcus WORREN (NOR)
Gerard KURNICZAK (POL)
Aleksandar SIMOVIC (SRB)
Mustafa OLGUN (TUR)

130kg
Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE)
Ivaylo IVANOV (BUL)
Marcel ALBINI (CZE)
Giorgi TSOPURASHVILI (GEO)
Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE)
Dariusz VITEK (HUN)
Alberto META (ITA)
Tomasz WAWRZYNCZYK (POL)
Fatih BOZKURT (TUR)
Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR)

Irina RINGACIIrina RINGACI (MDA) is the 65kg world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Freestyle

50kg
Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE)
Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA)
Lisa ERSEL (GER)
Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN)
Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA)
Gabija DILYTE (LTU)
Maria LEORDA (MDA)
Amanda TOMCZYK (POL)
Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR)

53kg
Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE)
Nazife TAIR (BUL)
Chadia AYACHI (FRA)
Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)
Carmen DI DIO (ITA)
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)
Marija SPIRKOVSKA (MKD)
Beatrice FERENT (ROU)
Rahime ARI (TUR)

55kg
Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE)
Irena BINKOVA (BUL)
Erika BOGNAR (HUN)
Laura STANELYTE (LTU)
Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA)
Othelie HOEIE (NOR)
Wiktoria KARWOWSKA (POL)
Andreea ANA (ROU)
Mariia MARTYNCHUK (SVK)
Nova BERGMAN (SWE)
Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)

57kg
Sezen BELBEROVA (BUL)
Maria BAEZ DILONE (ESP)
Tamara DOLLAK (HUN)
Patrycja GIL (POL)
Denisa FODOR (ROU)
Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)

59kg
Fatme SHABAN (BUL)
Anne NUERNBERGER (GER)
Anna SZEL (HUN)
Morena DE VITA (ITA)
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)
Magdalena GLODEK (POL)
Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR)

62kg
Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Kelsey BARNES (GBR)
Luisa SCHEEL (GER)
Alina ANTIPOVA (LAT)
Viktoria OEVERBY (NOR)
Paulina DANISZ (POL)
Anna FABIAN (SRB)
Merve KARADENIZ (TUR)

65kg
Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE)
Nerea PAMPIN BLANCO (ESP)
Viktoria VESSO (EST)
Chiara HIRT (GER)
Elena ESPOSITO (ITA)
Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT)
Ewelina CIUNEK (POL)
Amina CAPEZAN (ROU)
Yagmur CAKMAK (TUR)

68kg
Nigar MIRZAZADA (AZE)
Siyka IVANOVA (BUL)
Marta OJEDA NAVARRO (ESP)
Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER)
Noemi SZABADOS (HUN)
Irina RINGACI (MDA)
Karolina KOZLOWSKA ((POL)
Adina IRIMIA (ROU)
Olha MASLOVSKA (SVK)
Asli DEMIR (TUR)

72kg
Marta PAJULA (EST)
Kendra DACHER (FRA)
Lilly SCHNEIDER (GER)
Tuende ELEKES (HUN)
Eleni PJOLLAJ (ITA)
Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL)
Maria NITU (ROU)
Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK)
Merve PUL (TUR)

76kg
Vanesa KALOYANOVA (BUL)
Carla LERA CELDA (ESP)
Bernadett NAGY (HUN)
Vincenza AMENDOLA (ITA)
Lolita OBOLEVICA (LAT)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Marion BYE (NOR)
Mehtap GULTEKIN (TUR)

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025 Day 7 GR 60kg, 72kg, 97kg Highlights

Friday, September 19, 2025 - 08:37 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 19) -- The World Championships day seven will see three Greco-Roman weight classes -- 60kg, 72kg and 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 6 RESULTS

60kg semifinals
SF 1: Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) vs. Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO)
SF 2: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) vs. Georgij TIBILOV (SRB)

14:15: World 63kg champion will not be able to add another gold to his name as he drops his quarterfinal against Alisher GANIEV (UZB) at 60kg. Ganiev with beautiful whizzer counter when Mammadli was tried an arm-drag. He managed to turn him as well for a 6-0 lead. Ganiev gets the par terre but there is no score. There is no par terre in the second period but Mammadli gets a four-point throw. However, that is all the action in the match. A lost challenge from Azerbaijan gives Ganiev one more point as he wins 8-4.

14:11: Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), a two-time world bronze medalist, stayed on a track for a better medal when he defeated Se Ung RI (PRK) 1-1 in their 60kg quarterfinal by virtue of receiving the first of the two passivity points.

14:10: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) books his place in the 60kg semifinals with a solid 4-1 victory over SURAJ (IND). Tibilov opens with a stepout, then pads his lead with a gut wrench from par terre to lead 4-0 at the break. He resists when put on bottom in the second period, and holds on for the victory.

14:09: Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO) with a beautiful headlock throw four points to beat Enes BASAR (TUR) 10-0 at 60kg. Shavadze scored a gut-wrench from par terre to lead 3-0 before the throw. Basar commits a defensive four and gets a penalty for two points. A lost challenge from Turkiye to give one more point. 

97kg Semifinals
SF 1: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs. Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW)
SF 2: Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) vs. Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE)

14:00: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) avoids the upset bug, but it is anything but easy in forging a 1-1 victory over Giorgi MELIA (GEO) to advance to the 97kg semifinals. Saravi gets the first of the two passivity points, and that makes the difference. He gets a second chance at par terre in the second period, but can't turn the Georgian.

13:59: The shocks continue at 97kg as Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW) pulls off a stunning 7-4 victory over Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) to advance to the semifinals. Maskevich leads 2-0 after getting a passivity point and stepout in the first period. In the second, Rosillo uses his amazing speed and tries to spin behind for a takedown. But as they spin around like cats, Maskevich reaches over and pancakes Rosillo over for a 4-pointer. An unsuccessful challenge puts Maskevich ahead 7-0. Rosillo comes back with a takedown, and gains 2 on a leg foul, which gives Rosillo a chance in par terre. But he can't turn, and Maskevich advances.

13:52: A 1-1 victory for Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) over Alex SZOKE (HUN) at 97kg! Sargsian beneficiary of the new rule in which the criteria remains with the wrestler who gets the first point in a 1-1 finsih. 

13:50: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) is pinned! The bad run for Aleksanyan continues as Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) blocks Aleksanyan during the gut-wrench and holds him in danger position till the fall is confirmed. Ahmadiyev moves into the 97kg semifinals.

72kg Semifinals
SF 1: Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) vs. Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE)
SF 2: Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) vs. Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ)

13:42: That has to be a first in wrestling as Danial SOHRABI (IRI), who had multiple bleeding stoppages, is medically timed out as the four minutes allotted for bleeding finish. Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA), who was leading 4-2 at that moment, wins and advances to the 72kg semifinals. 

13:41: Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) survives a tough test from Yeonghun NOH (KOR) to advance to the 72kg semifinals as he pursues a second straight gold. Noh surprises Ganizade with a headlock throw attempt right off the whistle, which is good for 2 points. A passivity point puts the Korean up 3-0 at the break. Ganizade calmly goes ahead in the second period on criteria with a throw from par terre. At the end, the Korean is denied a potential takedown due to a foul, and in the final seconds, leaps over the top in a flying squirrel attempt, but Ganizade plants him on the mat for 5 and an 8-3 victory.

13:40: For two-time Olympic medalist, Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) saw his bid for an elusive world medal dealt a serious setback when he fell 4-3 to Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ) in the 72kg quarterfinals. Nasibov started well with a throw from par terre, but gave up a soft takedown at the end of the first period. Maulitkanov received a passivity point in the second period to go ahead on criteria. At the end, a Nasibov challenge for an imaginary foul was denied.

13:35: Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) with a feet-to-back five points and a stepout to beat Michael PORTMANN (SUI) 8-0 at 72kg. He enters the semifinal for Uzbekistan.

Quarterfinals begins at the same time

13:19: Two-time European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), looking to add to the world title to the one he won last year at 63kg, needs just 33 seconds to overwhelm Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG) 8-0 and advance to the 60kg quarterfinals.

13:13: European and former world bronze medalist Alex SZOKE (HUN) ends his long wait to take the mat by grinding out a 1-1 victory over Artur OMAROV (CZE) at 97kg by virtue of receiving the first of the two passivity points. Both wrestlers had to receive treatment for a head cut and wrestled with their head bandaged.

13:10: A huge win for world U20 bronze medalist SURAJ (IND) over former world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA). He defended the par terre position which sealed the deal for him in a 3-1 victory at 60kg.

13:02: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Ung RI (PRK) gets the benefit of the doubt in a 4-point takedown in defeating Kaito INABA (JPN) 8-0 at 60kg, with the winning point coming on an unsuccessful challenge. After Ri receives a passivity point, the two are on their feet when Ri pancakes Inaba to the mat -- although it appears he used his foot to trip the Japanese -- then adds a gut wrench. The Japanese side challenges, but the judge says the move was valid, ending the match.

13:01: Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) makes short work of Richard KARELSON (EST), launching a 4-point throw from par terre than scoring a 4-point takedown to advance to the 97kg quarterfinals with a 9-0 win in 2:39.

13:00: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) uses his incredible gut-wrench to finish his bout 9-0 against Zegang WANG (CHN). However, China challenges for a leg-foul. On review, Aleksanyan's two turn are validate and the third and fourth are cancelled for foul. Wang gets par terre in second period but Aleksanyan defends well to win 5-1 at 97kg.

12:56: Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) advances to the 72kg quarterfinals with a 5-0 victory over Gor KHACHATRYAN (ARM). After a stepout, Ghanem gets an exposure from par terre for a 4-0 lead at the break, then gets a second passivity point in the second.

12:54: European silver medalist Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) gets off to a good start at 60kg, putting together an 8-0 victory over Olivier SKRZYPCZAK (POL). Tibilov gets two turns from par terre, then counters an attack by Skrzypczak for another 2 to lead 7-0 at the break. He ends the match with a stepout. 24 seconds into the second period.

12:52: Olympic champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) gets both the passivity points in his 4-0 victory over NITESH (IND) and enters the quarterfinals at 97kg. He is looking for his second world title.

12:50: Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) brings down Olympic bronze medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) with a 5-1 victory at 97kg. Ahmadiyev defends the gut-wrench attempt from the Kyrgyzstan wrestler.

12:46: Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) gets the first passivity point and then defends while on the bottom, putting him into the 97kg quarterfinals with a 1-1 win over Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER).

12:45: Reigning world champion Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) clears his first hurdle at 72kg, easily handling Abdelmalek MERABET (ALG) in a 6-0 victory. Ganizade opens with a stepout and a passivity point and, although he can't turn Merabet, he scores a takedown to go up 4-0 at the break. Ganizade spins behind for a takedown in the second to cap the win.

12:32: Former world champion and three-time world medalist Ali ARSALAN (SRB) tumbles out in his opening match at 72kg, falling 5-3 to Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ). Maulitkanov jumps out to a 4-1 lead when Arsalan cuts the gap with a takedown to end the first period. Late in the second period, Arsalan in on the verge of getting a takedown but can't finish it off. On challenge, it is discovered he not only did not score points, but committed a leg foul.

12:20: Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) steps closer to his first world medal as he beats Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (UWW), 5-0, at 72kg. Both par terre positions to Nasibov in that match

12:15: Michael PORTMANN (SUI) continues his winning run as he now defeated Selcuk CAN (TUR), 8-2, at 72kg. 

12:07: Kaito INABA (JPN), Asian medalist, begins his quest for a world medal with a 5-5 criteria win over Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) at 60kg. 

12:01: It takes a while to sort out an interesting exchange between Olympic bronze medalist and five-time Asian medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) and Mohamed GABR (EGY) at 97kg. Dzhuzupbekov tries to spin behind off an arm drag, but Gabr catches the arm and steps over. On challenge, both are given a 2-point exposure, with Dzhuzupbekov having the last-point criteria. That gives him the win when there is no scoring in the second period, with the customary late challenge only making the score 3-2.

11:50: Former world silver medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW) loses the advantage by giving up the first passivity point against Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) at 97kg, but he doesn't need it. Put on top in par terre in the second period, he hits a 2-point throw, which he quickly follows with a gut wrench. He gets an added bonus of a 2-point fleein penalty, and is put back on top. But his bear hug throw attempt goes awry and he only gets a stepout. No matter, he walks away an 8-1 winner.

11:25: Olympic bronze medalist and 2023 world champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) picks up a quick 4 against Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE), then uses his speed to get behind for two takedowns to advance at 97kg with an 8-0 victory in 2:17.

11:24: Asian champion Danial SOHRABI (IRI) gives up a quick stepout to Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ), but responds with one himself. Put on top in par terre, Sohrabi wastes no time, firing off four rolls for a 10-1 win in just over two minutes at 72kg.

11:24: Host Croatia loses its presence in a span of minutes, when Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO) falls 4-1 to Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) at 72kg on Mat C, and shortly after on Mat B, NITESH (IND) gets a late gut wrench to oust Filip SMETKO (CRO) 3-2 at 97kg.

11:17: Two-time Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), searching for his first world medal, begins with an 8-0 superiority win over Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL) at 72kg.

11:08: European champion Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) bulls his way to three stepouts in the second period and a 4-0 victory over Alejandro SANCHO (USA) at 72kg.

11:08: Iuri LOMADZE (GEO), winner of the Ranking Series events in Budapest and Tirana, gets the first chance in par terre against  two-time world bronze medalist Selcuk CAN (TUR) at 72kg, but his roll is annulled on challenge for a leg foul. Can fares much better when he gets the chance, throwing Lomadze for 2 and holding on for a 3-1 win.

11:00: Not to be for Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) at 72kg. The Japanese was trying to win a medal in Greco-Roman, two years after he won the world gold medal in Freestyle 70kg. But Michael PORTMANN (SUI), he drops his opening bout 2-1. Portmann scored a stepout apart from the par terre points.  

10:30: The World Championships will continue with Greco-Roman with 60kg, 72kg and 97kg in Zagreb