Gadzhiev returns to top with gold at U23 Europeans

Sunday, May 26, 2024 - 18:58 By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (May 26) -- Only a minute and 16 seconds were remaining on the clock when Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) and Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN) retreated to their respective corners. Their bleeding faces required medical intervention.

As the doctors patched them up, both wrestlers could not wait to return to the mat to resume their thrilling 74kg U23 European Championship gold medal bout. Understandably so. Both the wrestlers felt the momentum was their way, and each one knew he had a good chance to win the gold.

The final day of the competition was providing the right kind of fireworks.

At that stage, when the medical timeout was taken, Gadzhiev was 6-3 ahead but Abdulvagabov was on the ascendency, fighting his way back into the bout which seemed a lost cause not too long ago. That break would eventually prove to be crucial.

The physical differences between the two were glaring. Lean and gifted with long limbs, Abdulvagabov was at least a head higher than Gadzhiev and he tried to use the height factor to his advantage. He planted his left leg so far back that it became out of reach for Gadzhiev and each time the Azerbaijani tried too hard, a counter-attacking opportunity would arise.

Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) scores a crucial four-pointer in the 74kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Javid Gurbanov)

Gadzhiev raided Abdulvagabov’s defense with multiple single-leg attacks, targeting his right leg, which was relatively closer. But each time Gadzhiev caught his opponent’s right ankle, Abdulvagabov used his physical might to ensure it couldn’t be converted into a takedown.

This trend repeated several times, with Gadzhiev going all-out employing single-leg takedowns and ankle trips. But Abdulvagabov looked hardly troubled. Until the Azerbaijani wrestler surprised him with a feet-to-back throw, slamming Abdulvagabov on his mat from a standing position in a dramatic move to be awarded four points.

When the bout was halted for the first medical timeout, Abdulvagabov was trailing 6-3. He reduced the deficit to one point by two stepouts, and with 16 seconds left, the match was paused for another medical timeout to treat both wrestlers who again started bleeding.

Abdulvagabov threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Gadzhiev but the match-winning two-point throw that he sought never came. Gadzhiev used the sprawls to good effect, doing just enough to win the bout 6-5.

The 22-year-old ran to his corner to celebrate the gold medal which came after a long drought. The 2022 U23 European Champion and U20 World and European Champion endured a difficult last year in which he earned a couple of podium finishes but a title eluded him.

He started this year strongly with a bronze medal at the Ranking Series in Zagreb and the gold medal here will come as a huge confidence booster. It was also Azerbaijan’s only gold medal in men’s freestyle at this competition.

Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) blanked defending champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) 10-0 in the 86kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Javid Gurbanov)

Bagaev stuns Magamadov

In the 86kg category, Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) built on his fifth-place finish at the senior European Championships with a remarkable gold medal.

Bagaev conceded just one point, scored 25, and spent a little less than 12 minutes on the mat for his first-ever title since winning the U20 European Championship gold in 2021.

The manner in which Bagaev won was stunning. He was up against defending champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), whose trophy cabinet in age-group events is brimming with medals. But the moment the referee began the bout, Bagaev stopped caring about reputations.

Magamadov looked stronger in the opening exchanges and launched the first leg attack, which Bagaev escaped. Bagaev waited for Magamadov to come searching for his leg again. When he did, a little after one minute, the 20-year-old used his quick reflexes to evade Magamadov’s advances and then launched a blistering counterattack, affecting three roll-overs to earn three points.

In between the second and third roll-over, Magamadov held his face and signaled that he was hurt. The doctors, who were kept busy all evening, rushed to treat him but the break in momentum didn’t impact Bagaev, who finished the bout with a two-point takedown.

Alen KHUBULOV (BUL), right, won the 125kg title after beating Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Javid Gurbanov)

Maiden titles for Khubulov, Bliatze

Bagaev wasn’t the only wrestler who won his first-ever U23 European Championship title.

At 125kg, Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) made a stunning comeback to beat Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) 6-5 in another dramatic bout to win the gold medal.

Khubulov had overturned a two-point deficit with a couple of well-timed leg attacks. But with around 40 seconds remaining, Manashvili again took the lead with a two-point takedown. Khubulov responded almost immediately, scoring two more points via exposure to restore his lead and then clung to it desperately to clinch the gold medal.

Minutes earlier, Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE) defeated Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) 8-7 in a thrilling bout to reign supreme in the 92kg category. This was a momentous win for Bliatze, who has been competing on the circuit since 2018 but never came close to a podium finish. He ended the long wait in style by getting the better of the 2023 U23 European Championship bronze medallist in an action-filled bout.

In 61kg, Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) defended his gold medal with a clinical performance against Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR), winning 10-0.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR), 10-0

BRONZE: Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Yahor RUDAUSKI (AIN), 13-12
BRONZE: Emre KURAL (TUR) df. Simone PIRODDU (ITA), 4-3

74kg
GOLD: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN), 6-5

BRONZE: Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO) df. Theocharis KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), 7-2
BRONZE: Ibrahim YAPRAK (TUR) df. Krisztian BIRO (ROU), 6-4

86kg
GOLD: Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) df. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), 10-0

BRONZE: Emre CIFTCI (TUR) df. Ilya KHAMTSOU (AIN), 6-4
BRONZE: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) df. Miko ELKALA (FIN), 11-0

92kg
GOLD: Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE) vs. Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)

BRONZE: Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN) df. Muhammed GIMRI (TUR), 6-2
BRONZE: Ion DEMIAN (MDA) df. Denys SAHALIUK (UKR), 16-6

125kg
GOLD: Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) df. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO), 6-5

BRONZE: Milan KORCSOG (HUN) df. Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR), 8-1
BRONZE: Abdulla KURBANOV (AIN) df. Adil MISIRCI (TUR), 12-8

#WrestleTirana

Tibilov Serves Serbia Gold; Azerbaijan Wins Greco Team Title

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - 20:18 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (April 22) -- A decade since Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) won a gold medal a championships, he was back on top, finally.

Back in 2016, he won gold at the U17 European Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. And on Wednesday in Tirana, Albania, Tibilov won gold at the senior European Championships at 60kg, only the fifth-ever champion from Serbia.

Tibilov had fallen short last year after dropping the final in Zagreb. However, he made no mistake this year, beating former U20 world champion Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM), 2-2, on criteria.

The 60kg final began with Aghajanyan scoring a stepout and then getting the par terre position in the first period to lead 2-0. However, he failed to score any points as Tibilov was solid in denfese.

In the second period, Tibilov did the exact same sequence and scored a stepout before getting the par terre position to lead 2-2 on last-point-scored criteria. as he was also failed to score points from par terre.

Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), red, battles it out with Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) during the 60kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"It’s hard to put into words," Tibilov said. "I’ve never wrestled him [Aghajanyan] before. There are no weak opponents in the final. In fact, there are no weak ones at this tournament at all. He’s a very serious competitor. If it weren’t for my opponents, I wouldn’t be able to show what I showed here."

Tibilov won a bronze medal at the 2023 European Championships but he failed to repeat the feat in 2024. But in 2025, he reached the final before losing to Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), who lost to Aghajanyan this year.

"The preparation [for this tournament] was serious and the result proves it. It’s always that serious but sometimes the result is different. That doesn’t mean we’re not working, it just means that sometimes you need to refine yourself, like a diamond, so it can shine."

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The 26-year-old now prepares to take on the World Championships where he has previously won a medal in 2024 at 63kg. But 60kg, the weight classes by Asian wrestlers as they won all four medals at the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was only at the 2025 World Championships that Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) broke the hegemony. Now, Tibilov wants to do it at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"The plan remains the same, we are moving step by step toward the Olympics in Los Angeles," he said. "All of this is part of the path toward the Olympics. I can’t say exactly what will happen, but we will fix everything there, in Los Angeles. And it won’t be only Asians standing on the podium."

Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) avoids a last-ditch effort from Luri LOMADZE (GEO) in the 72kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In other finals on Wednesday, Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) won gold at 72kg without sharing the space on the podium like he had to do last year. At 97kg, Kiril MILOV (BUL) defended his gold medal after beating Alex SZOKE (HUN) in a close final.

Azerbaijan's pair of defending champions Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) and Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) repeated as champions at 67kg and 82kg and propelled Azerbaijan as the top team in Greco-Roman in Europe.

Ghanem, who won a gold medal after a controversial final last year, did not leave anything to luck. Wrestling Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) in the final, Ghanem got both par terre positions and scored two more points to complete a clinical 4-0.

Last year, due to a technical error, Ghanem and Levente LEVAI (HUN) had to share the gold medal. But the 2025 title had made Ghanem the first France wrestler to win the European title Greco in 30 years.

On Wednesday, he became only the second wrestler from the country to win the title twice, joining Ghani YALOUZ (FRA) who won in 1992 and 1995.

"This time my feeling is better because last year I had one wrestler with me for this medal," Ghanem said. "This is the best feeling for me."

Ghanem, a world champion in 2023, will now try to adjust himself in the Olympic weight class of 77kg.

"My plan now, I think for Olympic Games," he said. "I think this last time for 72kg, but I'm not sure. I will speak to my coach after European Championships."

Kiril MILOV (BUL) at the medal ceremony with his gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Milov, who has been out of action for a year now, returned to the mat and defended his European title, his third in total.

On the same side of the bracket as world silver medalist Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) and world bronze medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW), Milov defeated both of them en route the final.

In the final, Milov faced former U23 world champion and returning bronze medalist Alex SZOKE (HUN). After Milov got the par terre in the first period, he managed to turn Szoke and lead 3-1.

In a rare occurance, Szoke was awarded two passivity par terre positions. However, he failed to trouble Milov, who carefully defended his lead.

"I missed a year of major tournaments," Milov said. "I’m happy that my motivation and discipline helped me prepare to the maximum, give my best, and win a third European title."

Milov did not participated in World Championships in 2025 but is now raring to go and win his third world medal after two silvers in 2018 and 2022.

"Sometimes motivation fades as it’s a temporary thing," he said. "But the discipline I’ve built through sport helped me train every day and give my maximum, because if I have the chance to compete, I have to take it and give everything I have."

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) got two points as Murat FIRAT (TUR) committed a foul. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Jafarov, Gurbanov Defend

Defending champion at 67kg Jafarov needed a third passivity in his final against Murat FIRAT (TUR) to win his fourth European title. Jafarov got the first par terre position in the first period, and then used a four-point throw to race to a 5-0 lead.

Firat opened the second period with a four-point arm throw and then got a par terre position to lead 5-5 on criteria. He did not score any points from the position and decided to defend his lead.

However, with 55 seconds remaining, Jafarov was awarded a third passivity and Firat committed a defensive foul which was confirmed only after a challenge from Azerbaijan, giving Jafarov a 7-5 lead.

He defended that lead and claim the gold medal, fourth straight one of his career.

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) scores a takedown against Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Gurbanov also had a close final against Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) at 82kg but he survived the battle and won 4-2.

The final began with a takedown from Gurbanov who used a strong throw to bring Tiuliubaev to the mat. Tiuliubaev challenged the call for a leg foul but the takedown was clean and the challenge was lost, giving one more points to Gurbanov.

The Azerbaijan wrestler then got the par terre position which extended his lead to 4-0. When the bout resumed in standing, Tiuliubaev managed a push out to make cut the lead to 4-1 before the break.

A passivity call against Gurbanov was the only point for Tiuliubaev in the remaining bout, giving Gurbanov a hard-earned victory.

The two golds propelled Azerbaijan to the Greco-Roman team title with 133 points. Turkiye finished second with 121 points and Georgia was third with 118 points.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) df. Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM), 2-2

BRONZE: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Suner KONUNOV (UWW), 6-0
BRONZE: Corneliu RUSU (MDA) df. Denis MIHAI (ROU), 6-5

67kg
GOLD: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df. Murat FIRAT (TUR), 7-5

BRONZE: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) df. Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR), 5-3
BRONZE: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Jan OEHLEN (SWE), 3-1

72kg
GOLD: Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) df. Iuri LOMADZE (GEO), 4-0

BRONZE: Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) df. Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (UWW), 1-1
BRONZE: Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) df. Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO),

82kg
GOLD: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) df. Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 11-2
BRONZE: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Mihail BRADU (MDA), 1-1

97kg
GOLD: Kiril MILOV (BUL) df. Alex SZOKE (HUN), 3-1

BRONZE: Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) df. Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW), 4-1
BRONZE: Vladen KOZLIUK (UKR) df. Abdul CEBI (TUR), 7-0

Gadzhiev returns to top with gold at U23 Europeans

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Tibilov Serves Serbia Gold; Azerbaijan Wins Greco Team Title