Gobadze Grabs Gold on Opening Day of Under-23 European Wrestling Championships

by Michael Plavitt, InsidetheGames.biz

Georgia’s Lasha Gobadze began the United World Wrestling (UWW) Under-23 European Championships in style by securing gold in the men’s 80 kilogram Greco-Roman division with a convincing display at the Bulstrad Arena in Ruse.

The World Championship bronze medallist had his biggest scare of the competition in the semi-final stage, when Germany’s Hannes Wagner threatened to claim victory.

However Gobadze was able to earn a narrow 3-2 victory over his opponent to set up a gold medal clash with Turkey’s Burhan Akbudak, who had defeated Hungary’s Zoltan Keri.

The final proved to be a much more straightforward affair for Gobadze, with the Georgian claiming an 8-2 victory to secure the title.

Ukraine’s Yaroslav Filchakov earned a 4-0 victory over Wagner to earn the division’s first bronze, while Azerbaijan’s Eltun Vazirzade also came through the repecharge to finish on the podium, after beating Keri 4-3.

A second Georgian gold medal was not forthcoming after Kukuri Kirtskhalia was beaten in the final of the 98kg division, with Germany’s Muhammed Etka Sever claiming a victory by fall.

Russia’s Musa Evloev defeated Azerbaijan’s Orkhan Nuriyev 6-2 to secure the first bronze, while Hungary’s Zsolt Toeroek triumphed 4-1 in his encounter with Sweden’s Carl Anton Euren to claim the other minor medal.

Sergey Emelin made light work of the competition in the men’s 59kg event, with the Russian claiming a technical fall victory over Germany’s Etienne Kinsinger in the semi-final.

Read the full story here: http://uww.io/dopJs

Hungarian Denies Host Nation Greco-Roman Gold at UWW Under-23 European Championships
by Michael Pavitt

Hungary’s Erik Szilvassy prevented the host country from claiming their first gold medal of the United World Wrestling (UWW) Under-23 European Championships after he overcame Yoan Dimitrov in the 85 kilogram Greco-Roman final at the Bulstrad Arena in Ruse.

Hopes of Bulgarian success were raised when Dimitrov battled to a 6-3 victory over Ukraine’s Andrii Gladkykh in the opening semi-final contest.

The impressive Szilvassy, who had cruised to a comfortable 6-0 win over Serbia’s Nikolaj Dobrev in his last four encounter, lay in wait, though. 

Szilvassy ultimately had too much home favourite in the gold medal bout, the judges awarding him a technical fall victory over his rival.

Gladkykh and Sweden’s Kristoffer Berg triumphed in the same manner in their respective bronze medal bouts against Spain’s Jesus Gasca Fresnada and the Serbian Dobrev respectively.

After a gold, silver and bronze medal on the opening day of the Championships, success for Georgia continued with their wrestlers Gela Bolkvadze and Iakobi Kajaia earning titles.

Bolkvadze was the first the first to triumph as he was able to earn a narrow 2-0 victory over Sweden’s Alex Bjurberg Kessidis in the 75kg final.

Poland’s Dawid Klimek defeated Bulgaria’s Rosian Dermanski 3-1 in the first bronze medal tie and Hungary’s Zotlan Levai claimed a convincing technical fall win over Italy’s Luca Dariozzi.

Read the full story here: http://uww.io/lKPOa

Turkish Wrestlers Dominate First Day of Women's Freestyle at UWW Under-23 European Championships
by Michael Pavitt

Turkish wrestlers secured double gold on the first day of women’s freestyle competition at the United World Wrestling (UWW) Under-23 European Championships at the Bulstrad Arena in Ruse.

Having claimed a bronze medal at the 2015 edition of the Championships, Buse Tosun was aiming to better the achievement in the 69 kilogram event.

She earned a victory by fall in her semi-final bout with Russia’s Tatiana Morozova to ensure herself of a minimum of a silver medal.

The final proved to be a far trickier affair against Austria’s Martina Kuenz, who had beaten Azerbaijan’s Elis Manolova 6-0 in her semi-final, but ultimately the Turkish athlete claimed the gold medal with an 8-5 victory.

Morozova recovered from her semi-final loss to earn a victory by fall over Belarus’ Yauheniya Andreichykava to claim the first bronze medal before Manolova beat the Bulgarian home favourite Viktoria Bobeva 4-1.

The second Turkish success of the day came in the lightweight 48kg division, where Evin Demirhan was awarded a victory by fall over Norway’s Silje Knutsen Kippernes by officials.

Ukraine’s Ilona Semkiv triumphed in the same manner against Azerbaijan’s Hanna Pavliv to claim the bronze medal alongside Russia’s Milana Dadasheva, who defeated Belarus’ Viyaleta Chyryk 4-2.

Read the full story here: http://uww.io/YLVIW