#WrestleBratislava

Adar leads Turkiye's strong show at European Championships

By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 9) -- Yasemin ADAR (TUR) is a step closer to winning her eighth European gold medal. 

The Turkish legend once again reached the European Championships at 76kg after beating Martina KUENZ (AUT) 2-1 in the semifinals. Both wrestler spilt activity clock points but Adar scored a stepout to take a 2-1 lead and win.

Adar will have to beat former world U23 champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) who pinned Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (UWW) in the other semifinal.

Adar led an inspired Turkish team which had three finalists on Wednesday at the European Championships. Turkiye is the defending champions in team title.

At 59kg, Bediha GUN (TUR) defeated defending champion Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE), 3-0, and she will face former world U20 champion Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) who held on for a 6-0 victory over Erika BOGNAR (HUN).

Returning silver medalist Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) also reached the final. In her semifinal, she won after her opponent Emilia GRIGORE VUC (ROU) suffered an injury mid-bout.

Demirhan built a 9-3 lead and was about to Vuc when the Romanian let out a painful cry. The semifinal was stopped and Demirhan got a victory via injury default. She will face former European champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR) for the gold medal.

In 2019, Livach won the gold medal at the European Championships. But in the six years since then, she has been denied the top of the podium finish at the tournament.

Livach is now has the opportunity to return to the top position in what will be her fourth trip to the final; she has won one and lost two in her career.

She defeated Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (UWW) 3-1 in the semifinal after earning an extra technical point.

One of Ukraine's biggest hopes for the gold medal Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) suffered a big 9-3 loss to Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) in the 55kg semifinal. Khomenets led 2-1 for the majority of the bout but Verbina got on a single-leg attack, elevated the leg and as Khomenets tried a split defense, Verbina dragged and dropped her on the mat for four.

Another four-pointer in the final 15 seconds ended any hopes for Khomenets as Verbina won 9-3 to book her spot in the final against world bronze medalist Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) who defeated Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) 10-0 in the other semifinal.

The 35-year-old Debien, who has only a bronze medal from 2023 edition in her six European Championships appearances, made it to the final for the first time after putting on a takedown masterclass against Dragutan.

At 68kg, Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) booked a spot in the final after her two four-pointers were too much for world bronze medalist Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE). Zelenykh won 11-3.

She will take on Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) after she won 2-1 against age-group European champion Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) in the other semifinal.

RESULTS

Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) vs. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR)

SF 1: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (UWW), 3-1
SF 2: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Emilia VUC (ROU), via injury

55kg
GOLD: Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) vs. Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW)

SF 1: Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) df. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 10-0
SF 2: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) df. Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR), 9-3

59kg
GOLD: Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) vs. Bediha GUN (TUR)

SF 1: Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) df. Erika BOGNAR (HUN), 6-0
SF 2: Bediha GUN (TUR) df. Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE), 3-0

68kg
GOLD: Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) vs. Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU)

SF 1: Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) df. Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR), 2-1
SF 2: Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) df. Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE), 11-3

76kg
GOLD: Yasemin ADAR (TUR) vs. Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR)

SF 1: Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Martina KUENZ (AUT), 2-1
SF 2: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) df. Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (UWW), via fall

Qualification and morning session blog follows below

13:03: Martina KUENZ (AUT), a three-time European silver medalist, closes out the session with a big 12-0 win over returning silver medalist Catalina AXENTE (ROU). She blasted two double leg throws and two gut wrenches for the points.

12:47: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) into the 50kg semifinal with a 7-0 controlled win over Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA). Livach with a four-pointer in the opening minute and Luttenauer played catch-up after that.

12:40: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) with a fall over age-group world medalist Laura KUEHN (GER) to enter the semifinal at 76kg. She will face Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (UWW) who defeated Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) 3-0.

12:20: Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) is back into the European semifinals with a 6-3 win over Noémi SZABADOS (HUN). She is looking to become the first Czech woman to win the gold medal at the European Championships.

12:17: Defending champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) with a big headlock throw for four and then pins Enrica RINDALI (ITA) to get her title defense at 76kg going with a win.

12:15: Defending champion at 59kg Aloyna KOLESNIK (AZE) breaks down Alesia HETMANAVA (UWW) with a spree of takedowns and leads a 6-0 but Hetmanava hits a throw in the final 50 seconds which bring the score to 6-2. She holds Kolesnik in danger positions for the remaining time but fails to secure the fall. Hetmanava wins 7-2

12:05: Defending champion and Paris bronze medalist Buse TOSUN (TUR) falls to Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) 3-2 at 68kg. Shauchuk had one takedown which was enough for the two technical points Tosun scored.

11:55: World silver medalist Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) fell behind 2-0 at the break after Beatrice FERENT (ROU) countered her attack for two points in their 55kg quarterfinal. However, Khomenets, searching for first senior European title, hits a four-point and then gets countered for exposure. She holds a 4-4 criteria lead before winning the bout 8-4 and enters the semifinals.

11:46: Three-time European U20 champion and two-time European U23 silver medalist Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) needed a late stepout against Kendra DACHER (FRA) to win 6-5 at 68kg. Skobelska, making her debut at senior Europeans, scored a four-point throw to lead Dacher 4-3 but Dacher got a takedown to reclaim the lead 5-4. A stepout gave Skobelska 5-5 criteria lead which Dacher failed to break. France challenged after the time and a lost challenge added another point to Skobelska's score.

11:35: Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) with a move four to work up a 6-0 lead before securing the fall over Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER) at 68kg in a minute and 12 seconds.

11:30: Emilia VUC (ROU), former world silver medalist and European medalist, takes a minute and 13 seconds to roll to a 10-0 victory over Maria LEORDA (MDA) at 50kg.

11:23: Bediha GUN (TUR) gets two activity clock points and she manages to beat Aurora RUSSO (ITA) 2-1. Russo's one point also came from the activity clock.

11:15: Beatrice FERENT (ROU) kept Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) in danger position for more than two minutes and secured a 3-2 win at 55kg. Mammadova could not sneak out of the double-arm lock.

11:10: A couple of heartbreaks for local wrestling fans as Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER) pins Michaela SEBOEKOVA (SVK) at 68kg and Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) destroys Lara GORCS (SVK) 10-0 at 59kg.

11:00: World and returning bronze medalist Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) begins with an 11-0 technical superiority win over Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) at 68kg. 

10:50: Two quick finishes at 68kg on Mat A, Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) with a technical superiority win over Albina DRAZHI (ALB) and then Kendra DACHER (FRA) follows the same script against Nerea PAMPIN BLANCO (ESP) in the next match.

10:30: Day three here at the European Championships. We will have the repechage of the Freestyle and quickly move to Women's Wrestling in 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg.

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open Day 3: Women's Wrestling & Freestyle Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 6) -- The Ulaanbaatar Open action will see five Women's Wrestling and three Freestyle weight classes on day three in the Mongolian capital. Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) will also be marking his return to competition after a year.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

14:30: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) beats Punit KUMAR (IND), 10-0, to enter the final at 92kg. He will face defending champion Askhab SAADULAEV (RUS) who moved into the final after a 5-0 win over Bat-Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL). 

14:15: Top tier final at 86kg as Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) and Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) reach the gold medal bout. Ramazanov rolls Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL), 10-0, in the semifinal while Nokhodi has to work harder for his win against Malik SHAVAEV (KGZ). Nokhodi scored a stepout before getting a point for Shavaev's passivity to lead 2-0. But the Kyrgyzstan wrestler hit a quick leg attack to score a takedown and then a turn. Nokhodi managed to toss Shavaev as well and then a gut-wrench to lead 6-4 after the scramble. In the second period, Nokhodi used a duckunder to score two points but as he tried to turn Shavaev, he gave up a reversal. He still led 8-5, the winning score. 

14:05: Sagar JAGLAN (IND) makes it to the final at 74kg after a 10-0 win over Tolui MUNKHBAT (MGL) and awaits his toughest test yet in Tamir ESHINIMAEV (RUS) who held on for a 2-1 win over Tumen BODIEV (RUS).

Freestyle Semifinals

13:55: KAJAL (IND) with a fall over Elmira SZYDYKOVA (KAZ) to enter the final at 76kg. But it won't be an all-India final as Damola OJO (NGR) beats PRIYA (IND), 5-1, to put breaks to Priya's run.

13:45: It would have been perfect for DPR Korea will all eight wrestlers in the final in Women's Wrestling but former world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) denies that by beating Sol Gum PAK (PRK) in the 68kg semifinals, 7-3. In the other semifinal, Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS) stuns European champion Nesrin BAS (TUR), 9-8. The U23 world champion gave up the first takedown but managed to lead 2-2 on criteria at the  break. She brought Bas down for four points in the second period to extend the lead to 6-4. As Bas hit a leg-attack, Petliakova scored epxosure points for an 8-4 lead before Bas reversed for a takedown and cradle looking for a fall. Leading 8-8 on criteria, Petliakova managed to get out of the position and Bas could not score in the remaining 30 seconds. Bas challenged for a turn but it was not complete and the lost challenge gave one more point to the Russian.

13:30: Another DPR Korea wrestler in the final! Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) holds off Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) 5-3 in the 65kg semifinal. After getting a point for Tuvshinjargal's passivity, Mun scored a takedown and trap-arm gut to lead 5-0. However, Tuvshinjargal blocked her in danger to get two points before the break. Mun was called passive in the second period but one point was all Tuvshinjargal got. Mun will face Shuai ZHANG (CHN) in the final after the China wrestler pinned PULKIT (IND). The Indian led 4-2 with 24 seconds left when Zhang brought her down from standing and secured the fall.

13:20: At 62kg, Ok Ji KIM (PRK) becomes the sixth wrestler from DPR Korea to reach the women's final in Ulaanbaatar. She beats Huan YANG (CHN), 10-0 in the semifinals. For the gold medal bout, she will face Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) after she defeated MANSI (IND), 6-4. The first period saw Mansi score a takedown to lead 2-0 but Dudova fired one back during her activity clock in the second period to lead 2-2 on criteria. She also turned Mansi to extend the lead to 4-2. The lead changed hands when Mansi scored using a slideby. Leading 4-4 on criteria, Mansi had 19 more seconds to defend when Dudova used a two-on-one grip to bring her down and score the match-winning takedown.

13:10: Leg lace is the weapon that Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) uses to complete a 10-0 win over Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) in the 55kg semifinals. She will face Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) for the gold medal after the Japanese wrestler humbled age-group world medalist Tuba DEMIR (TUR), 14-4, in the other semifinal

13:00:Semifinals begin with Women's Wrestling

12:55: Last match of the qualification rounds and Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) stuns Abofazl RAHMANI (IRI) at 92kg! Rahmani led 4-0 with just 15 seconds left but had Dauletbekov in the zone when the Kazakhstan wrestler hit a chest wrap throw for four points and take a 4-4 criteria lead based on his bigger technique to score. Rahmani had 11 seconds to score but failed.

12:31: Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) was slightly troubled by Abdulmuslim ABULMUSLIMOV (RUS) but he controls the bout at 86kg to win 5-0. He got a point for Abulmuslimov's passivity before scoring a takedown in the second period to lead 3-0. The second takedown came just before the clock expired.

12:27: Sagar JAGLAN (IND) defeated JAIDEEP (IND) in the domestic selection trials for the Asian Games in India. He repeats his victory in Ulaanbaatar and beats Jaideep 7-2 on Saturday. Leading 3-0, he scores a takedown and turn to extend his points while Jaideep was able to score only a takedown.

12:25: Nesrin BAS (TUR) with three turns using the lace over Odzaya ERDENEBAT (MGL) to lead 8-0 before she finishes the match with a takedown. A 10-0 win inside the first period for Bas to start her campaign in Mongolia

12:10: PRIYA (IND) takes out Urtnasan GAN OCHIR (MGL) in under a minute. She beats the Mongolian 10-0 in just 54 seconds. She makes it to the semifinals.

12:05: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) survives against Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) at 62kg! Leading 5-2, Kim gives up a takedown in the final 10 seconds but Kolawole runs out of time to score that one point needed for victory.

12:00: KAJAL (IND) with some relentless pressure wrestling and she beats Saihan AO (CHN) at 76kg, 12-1. Ao could not find a single way to stop a barging Kajal.

11:45: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) becomes a rock in the second period after taking a 4-0 lead against NITIKA (IND). She gives up one takedown but manages to hold her off 4-2 and win at 62kg

11:22: Not the results Asian silver medalist Mukul DAHIYA (IND) would have expected in his first bout. Up against Malik SHAVAEV (KGZ), Dahiya gives up a takedown in the first period but keeps it close to be down only 2-0 at the break. Shavaev keeps his distance from Dahiya in the second period. Dahiya is forced to attack and Shavaev manages to catch his leg and complete a takedown after some resistance from Dahiya. He then completes three turns using a gut-wrench and wins 10-0

11:15: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), who has moved up from 79kg to 86kg, takes two minutes and 37 seconds to complete a 10-0 victory over Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL). A trusts the gut-wrench to score his points.

11:12: Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) opens his day with an 8-2 win over Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) at 86kg. Ramazanov with a slow first period and gets a point for Sakayev's passivity. But he begins the second with a duck under to suplex and gut wrench and races to 7-0 lead. Kazakhstan challenge but lose it and that gives one more point to Ramazanov. Sakayev gets a takedown but that is all as Ramazanov keeps his distance to win.

11:00: KAJAL (IND) with a slow start but she manages to score three takedowns and beat Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA  (KAZ), 7-1 at 76kg.

10:45: European silver medalist Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) cannot match the power of world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), who blanks Tandelova 6-0 at 62kg.

10:40: Quick results at 62kg as European bronze medalist Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) rolls to an 11-0 victory over Subeen JO (KOR) in just a minute and 47 seconds.

10:30: Third day of the Ulaanbaatar Open and weights in action are Women's 55kg, 62kg, 65kg, 68kg and 76kg. In Freestyle it will be 74kg, 86kg and 92kg