#WrestleSkopje

#WrestleSkopje Weight-to-watch: 87kg (Greco-Roman)

Friday, May 14, 2021 - 12:05 By Eric Olanowski

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SKOPJE, North Macedonia (May 13) – Rising stars Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) and Istvan TAKACS (HUN) headline the 18-man 87kg Greco-Roman bracket at the U23 European Championships (May 17-23). The weight will also feature a total of seven wrestlers with age-group world medals. 

Komarov, the four-time age-group world and European gold medalist, will make his U23 debut in Skopje. He closed out his junior career in '18 – winning a fourth consecutive world title before grabbing the reigns at 87kg on Russia's senior squad.

Komarov's success from the cadet and junior levels quickly transitioned to the senior level. In his 14 senior-level appearances, the young Russian stud claimed a whopping ten gold medals – highlighted by '19 gold medals at the Russian National Championships and the Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov Ranking Series Tournament.

Most recently, Komarov appeared in Russia's lineup at the '20 European Championships. He went 3-1 and finished with a bronze medal. Despite falling to eventual champion Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) in the semifinals, Komarov ended his trip to Italy with a shocking 3-1 win over two-time world champion Metehan BASAR (TUR).

Komarov's biggest threat to winning 87kg U23 European gold will be one of the future faces of Hungarian wrestling, Istvan TAKACS (HUN). 

Takacs, a '19 junior world champion and three-time age-group world medalist, will also be making his U23 debut. Like Komarov's ascent to the senior level after winning his junior world title, Takacs did the same. He grabbed gold at the '19 Junior World Championships in Tallin, Estonia, and bumped up to the senior circuit.

Takacs finished in second place at the Hungarian Championships in his first senior outing. He then dropped to a seventh-place finish at the Individual World Cup but stormed back to win Ranking Series gold at January's Matteo Pellicone. During his run to a first senior gold medal, Takacs stopped '19 world silver medalist Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) and David LOSONCZI (HUN). He halted Lorincz from winning a historic seventh Ranking Series title before avenging his Hungarian c'ship finals loss to Losonczi to win gold.

Other guys who command attention at 87kg are '18 U23 world silver medalist Nicu OJOG (ROU), cadet world champs Lachin VALIYEV (AZE) and Dmytro KIIASHOK (UKR) and junior world bronze medalists Ihar YARASHEVICH (BLR) and Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR)

Two other dark horses who are poised to make some noise at 87kg are '18 European champion Temuri TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO) and Mirco MINGUZZI (ITA). Although his resume lacks a world or continental medal, in late March, Minguzzi finished with a bronze medal at the European Olympic Qualifier and was one match short of earning an Italian Tokyo quota at 87kg.

Catch all the action from the U23 European Championships live on www.uww.org. Freestyle action begins on Monday, women's wrestling takes center stage on Wednesday and Greco-Roman closes out the competition beginning on Friday.

87kg Entries
Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM)
Lachin VALIYEV (AZE)
Ihar YARASHEVICH (BLR)
Svetoslav Nikolaev NIKOLOV (BUL)
Matej MANDIC (CRO)
Andreas VAELIS (EST)
Juho Matias PAHIKAINEN (FIN)
Temuri TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO)
Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE)
Istvan TAKACS (HUN)
Mirco MINGUZZI (ITA)
Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED)
Szymon SZYMONOWICZ (POL)
Nicu Samuel OJOG (ROU)
Aleksandr Andreevitch KOMAROV (RUS)
Mario VUKOVIC (SRB)
Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR)
Dmytro KIIASHOK (UKR)

#BeachWrestling

Asian Champs Long, Xie Shine for Hosts China at 6th Asian Beach Games

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 - 15:47 By United World Wrestling Press

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SANYA, China (April 28) -- Just two weeks ago, Jia LONG (CHN) and Mengyu XIE (CHN) were winning Asian Championships gold medals on mat in Bishkek.

Now on the beach in home country, Long and Xie entered the Beach Wrestling finals at the 6th Asian Beach Games that are underway in Sanya, China.

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Apart from China, India and Vietnam also entered two wrestlers each in the gold medal bouts while Sri Lanka and Mongolia managed one each.

In men's, Iran has a chance to sweep the gold medals after all four its wrestlers reached the final. Pakistan was the most successful country after Iran with two wrestlers in the final whereas India and China made one final each.

Beach WrestlingBeach Wrestling at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Beach Wrestling got underway at the Games on April 28, Tuesday, with knockout rounds, group round-robin bouts, quarterfinals and semifinals in eight weight categories -- four men's and four women's.

Also Read: Inam Reaches For Beach Wrestling Glory

Asian champion at 72kg Long reached making the 70kg final in Sanya. Long defeated Beibit SEIDUALY (KAZ), 3-1, in the semifinals. She will now face Thi Linh DANG (VIE) for the gold medal after the Vietnam wrestler pinned Jaspreet KAUR (IND) in the other semifinal.

The host country's chances of gold were further boosted when Asian champion at 59kg Xie reached the final in 60kg. She had to battle it out against Thi My Hanh NGUYEN (VIE) but prevailed 3-2. She will now take on Pushpa YADAV (IND) who claimed a 3-1 win over Asian bronze medalist Youngjin KWON (KOR).

PRIYA (IND)PRIYA (IND) defeated Wenji LI (CHN) in the +70kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Former U17 and U20 world champion PRIYA (IND) reached the final at +70kg after a close 2-0 win over Asian bronze medalist Wenji LI (CHN). She will now face Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) who defeated Alina YERTOSTIK (KAZ), 3-0, in the other semifinal.

At 50kg, Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI) has put her country within reach of its first gold medal of the Games after making the final with fall over Funa YANO (JPN). She will now have to beat Thi Kim Oanh DOAN (VIE) for the historic gold. The Vietnam wrestler made it to the final after beating Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND), 3-0, in the other semifinals.

Seyedamirreza SAHRAEMAHALI (IRI)Seyedamirreza SAHRAEMAHALI (IRI) defeated world bronze medalist Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) in the +90kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Iran Puts 4 in Finals

Iran's first finalist came at 70kg as Aliakbar ZAROUDI (IRI) defeated Adis RAKHAT UULU (KGZ), 2-0, in a close semifinal. He will face SIDDARTH (IND) who defeated Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK), 1-0 to advance.

At 80kg, winner of Katerini World Series in 2025 Ali GHOLAMI (IRI) had no trouble beating Yermakhan KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ) via fall in the semifinals. He will take on Muhammad Asad ULLAH (PAK) for the gold medal after the Pakistan wrestler confirmed a 4-0 victory over world bronze medalist Feng LU (CHN).

Muhammad INAM (PAK)Muhammad INAM (PAK) reached the 90kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling File)

A mouth-watering final is set in 90kg after former Asian Championships bronze medalist and Katerini World Series gold medalist Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) secured the spot in last two against former Beach Wrestling world champion Muhammad INAM (PAK).

While Kavousi secured a 3-0 win over Peilong LI (CHN), Inam defeated Turbold GANBOLD (MGL) by 1-0 to enter the finals.

The +90kg category will see Seyedamirreza SAHRAEIMAHALI (IRI) take on Da LU (CHN) in the final. Sahraeimahali stunned Asian Championships silver medalist Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) by pinning him to enter the final. Lu also won via fall, pinning Muzafar ZHAPPUEV (KGZ).

Da LU (CHN)Da LU (CHN) reached the +90kg final at the 6th Asian Beach Games. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

RESULTS

Men's Beach Wrestling

70kg
SF 1: SIDDHARTH (IND) df. Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK), 1-0
SF 2: Aliakbar ZAROUDI (IRI) df. Adis RAKHAT UULU (KGZ), 2-0

80kg
SF 1: Muhammad Asad ULLAH (PAK) df. Feng LU (CHN), 4-0
SF 2: Ali GHOLAMI (IRI) df. Yermakhan KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ), via fall

90kg
SF 1: Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) df. Peilong LI (CHN), 3-0
SF 2: Muhammad INAM (PAK) df. Turbold GANBOLD (MGL), 1-0

+90kg
SF 1: Seyedamirreza SAHRAEIMAHALI (IRI) df. Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), via fall
SF 2: Da LU (CHN) df. Muzafar ZHAPPUEV (KGZ), via fall

Women's Beach Wrestling

50kg
SF 1: Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI) df. Funa YANO (JPN), via fall
SF 2: Thi Kim Oanh DOAN (VIE) df. Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND), 3-0

60kg
SF 1: Mengyu XIE (CHN) df. Thi My Hanh NGUYEN (VIE), 3-1
SF 2: Pushpa YADAV (IND) df. Youngjin KWON (KOR), 3-1

70kg
SF 1: Thi Linh DANG (VIE) df. Jaspreet KAUR (IND), via fall
SF 2: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Beibit SEIDUALY (KAZ), 3-1

+70kg
SF 1: PRIYA (IND) df. Wenji LI (CHN), 2-0
SF 2: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) df. Alina YERTOSTIK (KAZ), 3-0