SARAJEVAO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (July 26) – Russia’s dominance at the Cadet European Championships continued of Wednesday with the nation scoring five finals berths on the first day of women’s wrestling action.

A battle of returning silver medalists highlights the first batch of championship finals on the women’s side set for 6 p.m. local time on Thursday.

Meeting for the 43kg championship are Viktoriia ALEKSANDROVA (RUS) and Roxana Alexandra TIF (ROU). Aleksandrova finished as cadet European runner-up at 38kg in 2016. Tif did the same at 40kg. 

It wasn’t an easy road for either wrestler to qualify for the finals. Aleksandrova won two bouts by decision, with a 6-2 win over Viktoryia APALONIK (BLR) pushing her to the finals. Tif trailed by five points to Yasaman MAJIDLI (AZE) in her semifinal before securing a pin to advance.

Ukraine pushed two women to tomorrow’s gold-medal finals, the second most of any country, with cadet world bronze medalist Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) leading the pack. Chudyk won a tight 4-3 match over defending champion Krystsina SAZYKINA (BLR) to make the 65kg finals. Anna KRASNOVA (RUS) emerged as the finalist from the opposite side of the bracket by pinning Aukse RUTKAUSKAITE (LTU) in the semifinals.

A second Russia-Ukraine final will be had at 49kg with Tetiana PROFATILOVA (UKR) and Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) squaring off. Profatilova earned a marquee win over defending champion Emma Jonna Denise MALMGREN (SWE) in the semifinals, 5-2.

Anna Hella SZEL (HUN) returns to the Cadet European Championships finals where she will face Aleksandra PROKINA (RUS) at 56kg. Szel downed cadet world bronze medalist Ida Emma Diana JOENSSON (SWE) in her semifinal bout. 

After a fifth-place finish at last year’s Cadet World Championships, Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE) is in position to claim the 38kg European title. Her last obstacle will be Luchana BEKBAULOVA (RUS).

The women’s wrestling competition will resume tomorrow with the repechage rounds for these five weight categories at 11 a.m. Preliminary competition for 40kg, 46kg, 52kg, 60kg and 70kg will begin slightly earlier at 10:30 a.m.

For complete brackets and match-by-match results from the Cadet European Championships, visit our results page at unitedworldwrestling.org.

Women’s Wrestling Results

38kg (6 entries)
Gold: Luchana BEKBAULOVA (RUS) vs. Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE)  

Semifinal:  Luchana BEKBAULOVA (RUS) df. Nicoleta DURAC (ROU) by VFA, 4-5  
Semifinal:  Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE) df. Mariia TOMYSHCH (UKR) by VPO, 8-0 

43kg (11 entries)
Gold: Viktoriia ALEKSANDROVA (RUS) vs. Roxana Alexandra TIF (ROU)  

Semifinal:  Roxana Alexandra TIF (ROU) df. Yasaman MAJIDLI (AZE) by VFA, 5-10  
Semifinal:  Viktoriia ALEKSANDROVA (RUS) df. Viktoryia APALONIK (BLR) by VPO1, 6-2  

49kg (18 entries)
Gold: Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) vs. Tetiana PROFATILOVA (UKR)  

Semifinal:  Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) df. Hanna VARABYEVA (BLR) by VPO, 6-0  
Semifinal:  Tetiana PROFATILOVA (UKR) df. Emma Jonna Denise MALMGREN (SWE) by VPO1, 5-2

56kg (21 entries)
Gold: Aleksandra PROKINA (RUS) vs. Anna Hella SZEL (HUN) 

Semifinal:  Anna Hella SZEL (HUN) df. Ida Emma Diana JOENSSON (SWE) by VPO1, 8-4  
Semifinal:  Aleksandra PROKINA (RUS) df. Violleta PETROVSKA (UKR) by VFA, 8-0 

65kg (17 entries)
Gold: Anna KRASNOVA (RUS) vs. Oksana CHUDYK (UKR)

Semifinal:  Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) df. Krystsina SAZYKINA (BLR) by VPO1, 4-3  
Semifinal:  Anna KRASNOVA (RUS) df. Aukse RUTKAUSK