#WrestleBratislava

On 14th attempt, Prevolaraki wins historic European gold for Greece

Friday, April 11, 2025 - 22:47 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 11) -- Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) made her first trip to the European Championships in 2011 when she was 19 years old. She competed in 14 European Championships and returned home with eight medals -- four silvers and four bronzes -- over the last 13 years.

Now 33 and competing at her 14th European Championships, Prevolaraki won her first gold medal with a thrilling win over Andreea ANA (ROU), ending a 24-year wait for Greece to have a champion in Women's Wrestling at the continental event. Former world champion Sofia POUMPOURIDOU (GRE) was the last and only other European champion for Greece in Women's Wrestling.

"I am very happy that I managed to earn the gold medal," Prevolaraki said. "I was waiting so many years to be the European champion and I am 33 years old but I managed to do it."

Over the years, Prevolaraki has lost four finals, all to different opponents. But Friday, she managed to keep her composure in a close bout for the win.

"This time I am more experienced and I did not feel any pressure," she said.  I played freely and good things happen when you have no pressure."

Wrestling in Bratislava in the 53kg weight class, Prevolaraki was hit with passivity first and put on the 30-second clock which expired without Prevolaraki scoring to give Ana 1-0 lead.

Ana extended her lead to 3-0 when Prevolaraki tried to hit a cut-back but was unsuccessful in the move. With more than two minutes remaining, Ana tried defending her 3-0 lead but was put on the activity clock when 1:10 were left.

During the 30-second period, Prevolaraki went for the leg-attack but Ana moved and tried getting behind Prevolaraki which she almost did and tried throwing the Greek with a cradle. But Prevolaraki was alerted and did not land in danger and scored a takedown. The activity clock against Ana expired which added another point for Prevolaraki, making the score 3-3 with the Greece wrestler leading on criteria of last point scored.

Romania decided to challenge, a strategic one. Even a lost challenge would need Ana to score a point to win from 4-3 with Prevolaraki lead and 3-3 with criteria to Prevolaraki.

On review, Romania lost the challenge and Prevolaraki led 4-3. Ana hit a sweep single and tried forcing Prevolaraki out of bounds but the Greece wrestler turned it around to get Ana's head out first and get another point to lead 5-3 which she defended and won the gold medal.

Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) at the medal ceremony of the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"I think I have had a good career," she said. "I am sad that I don't have an Olympic medal but I have many European medals and world Championships medals."

Prevolaraki, a four-time Olympian, a rare feat in wrestling, paid tribute to three-time Olympic champion Buvaisar SAITIEV, by wearing a shirt with his photo and message. Saitiev had passed away in March at the age of 49 years.

"The legend [Saitiev] is for all wrestler all over the world and his legend has no bounds. I wanted to pay a tribute to this legend," she said.

2026 U23 European Championships

Aliev, Amirov Comebacks Help Russia Win Three Greco Golds

Saturday, March 14, 2026 - 19:57 By Vinay Siwach

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ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 14) -- Imam ALIEV (RUS) had to win his final, twice.

Aliev was down 4-0 against Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA) in the 87kg Greco-Roman final at the U23 European Championships in Zrenjanin, Serbia.

Seeing an opportunity, Aliev wrapped his arms around Karchaidze and brought him down back first. He held the France wrestler to win via fall. However, France challenged for a foul and on review, an offensive leg foul was confirmed and the score reversed to 4-0 and the fall cancelled.

Imam ALIEV (RUS)Imam ALIEV (RUS) celebrates after securing the fall over Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA) in the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

On restart, Aliev kept the pressure and used an arm drag to bring down Karchaidze who was back paddling towards the zone. On this occasion, Aliev secured the fall and on review after a challenge from France, the call was upheld.

The gold medal was Aliev's first continental medal to go along with his bronze from the 2023 U20 World Championships.

For Karchaidze, it was second straight silver medal at the U23 Europeans as he lost the final last year against Alperen BERBER (TUR). Incidentally, he lost that final via a fall as well.

Alibek AMIROV (RUS)Alibek AMIROV (RUS) won the 55kg gold medal at the U23 European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Aliev was one of the three Russian wrestlers who won gold medal in Zrenjanin on Saturday.

Alibek AMIROV (RUS) defended his 55kg title after a hard-fought 3-3 victory over Farid SADIKHLI (AZE) in the final. Sadikhli was on board first as Amirov was called passive in the first period.

As Sadikhli turned Amirov from par terre to score two points, Amirov reversed the position when he blocked Sadikhli and held him in danger to get two points. Sadikhli led 3-2 at the break but when Amirov got the par terre advantage in the second period, the Russian led 3-3 on criteria.

With a minute and five seconds left in the match, Amirov was offered another passivity advantage, without points, and he continued the match in standing rather than the usual par terre that wrestler ask for.

He defended his 3-3 criteria lead and won his second straight gold medal at the tournament.

Danil GRIGOREV (RUS)Danil GRIGOREV (RUS) battles it out against Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM) during the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Last year's silver medalist at 72kg, Danil GRIGOREV (RUS) improved to gold medal, this year at 77kg. He defeated Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM), 1-1, in the gold medal bout.

Grigorev and Terteryan were both put in par terre in either period but both failed to score any points. Since Grigorev was the first to get passivity point, he held the winning criteria.

Aramasyis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)Aramasyis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), red, defeated U20 world champion Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) in the 130kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Armenia managed to recover and claim a gold medal as Aramasyis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) defeated Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), 1-1, in the 130kg final to claim his first ever medal.

Darabos, U20 European and world champion, was called passive in the first period and Harutyunyan in the second but both did not score any points. As a result, Harutyunyan claimed the criteria win.

Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA)Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) loads to launch a throw against Dordzhi SHUNGURTSIKOV (RUS) during the 63kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

World bronze medalist and defending champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) denied Dordzhi SHUNGURTSIKOV (RUS), 6-2, in the 63kg final to win gold. This was Eriomenco's fifth medal in six U23 European Championships.

When Shungurtsikov was put in par terre, Eriomenco scored a turn to lead 3-0. With just over a minute left, Eriomenco scored a stepout to extend his lead to 4-0 before Shungurtsikov was called passive and put in par terre which added another point to Eriomenco's score.

Eriomenco was happy with his 5-0 lead but gave up a takedown late in the final as Shungurtsikov cut the lead to 5-2. Russia challenged, asking for fleeing but were denied which made the score 6-2.

Photo

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Alibek AMIROV (RUS) df. Farid SADIKHLI (AZE), 3-3

BRONZE: Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df. Sercan KESGIN (TUR), 9-0
BRONZE: Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO) df. Denis MIHAI (ROU), 5-5

63kg
GOLD: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Dordzhi SHUNGURTSIKOV (RUS), 6-2

BRONZE: Jan GAMELIUS (SWE) df. Marios KAPANTAIS (GRE), 11-3
BRONZE: Ilkin GURBANOV (AZE) df. Rati KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), via fall (8-3)

77kg
GOLD: Danil GRIGOREV (RUS) df. Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM), 1-1

BRONZE: Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO) df. Kiryl VALEUSKI (BLR), 8-6
BRONZE: Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR) df. Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA), 2-1

87kg
GOLD: Imam ALIEV (RUS) df. Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA), via fall (3-4)

BRONZE: Alperen BERBER (TUR) df. Martin LJOSAAK (NOR), 10-2
BRONZE: Yassine BEN LABED (POL) df. Patrik GORDAN (ROU), 3-1

130kg
GOLD: Aramayis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), 1-1 

BRONZE: Alan DZABIEV (BUL) df. Sebastian WARCHOL (POL), 1-1
BRONZE: Aleksandr MELEKHOV (RUS) df. Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR), via fall (12-7)

Semifinals Results

60kg
GOLD: Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) vs. Giorgi KOCHALIDZE (GEO)

SF 1: Giorgi KOCHALIDZE (GEO) df. Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE), 3-1
SF 2: Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) df. Brian SANTIAGO (DEN), 9-1

67kg
GOLD: Daniial AGAEV (RUS) vs. William REENBERG (DEN)

SF 1: William REENBERG (DEN) df. Azat SARIYAR (TUR), 5-2
SF 2: Daniial AGAEV (RUS) df. Farid KHALILOV (AZE), 8-0

72kg
GOLD: Oliver PADA (FIN) vs. Rabil ASKEROV (RUS)

SF 1: Rabil ASKEROV (RUS) df. Leonard IURASCU (ROU), 9-0
SF 2: Oliver PADA (FIN) df. Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE), 7-3

82kg
GOLD: Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO) vs. Elmin ALIYEV (AZE)

SF 1: Elmin ALIYEV (AZE) df. Illia VALEUSKI (BLR), 8-2
SF 2: Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO) df. Gamzat GADZHIEV (RUS), 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) vs. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR)

SF 1: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) df. Robin USPENSKI (EST), 8-0
SF 2: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Darius KIEFER (GER), 6-1