U23 World C'ships

Geno Petriashvili Triumphs to Second World Title in Three Months

Saturday, November 25, 2017 - 19:54 By Taylor Miller

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BYDGOSZCZ, Poland – Georgia’s Geno Petriashvili bulldozed his way to another World title on Saturday night in Bydgoszcz, Poland, winning the U23 World Championships heavyweight gold.

Petriashvili, who recently stood atop the podium at the 2017 Senior World Championships in Paris France, in August, put together an impressive performance on Saturday, racking up four technical falls to win the 125 kg bracket.

In the finals, he dominated Magomedamin DIBIROV (RUS), storming out to a 5-0 lead at the break. He ended the match with a takedown and two gut wrenches for an 11-0 win.

On the day, the Georgian heavyweight outscored his opponents, 45-1.

Also tallying a gold-medal tech fall was 2011 Cadet World bronze medalist Rinya NAKMURA (JPN), who also finished fifth at the Senior World Championships this summer.

Nakamura overpowered Kuat AMIRTAYEV (KAZ) with 10 second-period points after trailing 2-2 on criteria at the break, taking home his first World title.

In his first World championships appearance, Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS) rattled off three takedowns late in the 86 kg finals to edge out two-time World medalist Azamat DAULTBEKOV (KAZ), 8-7.

At 57 kg, 2017 Senior Pan American bronze medalist Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) rallied to score six unanswered points in the second period of the gold-medal match to outlast six-time European Championships medalist Mikyay NAIM (BUL).

Tomorrow wraps up the 2017 U23 World Championships with the final four men’s freestyle weights. Action starts at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET).

Finals results
57 kg
Gold - Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) dec. Mikyay Salim NAIM (BUL), 6-1
Bronze - Parviz IBRAHIMOV (AZE) dec. Zhandos ISMAILOV (KAZ), 2-2
Bronze - Suleyman ATLI (TUR) dec. Wanhao ZOU (CHN), 6-3

61 kg
Gold - Rinya NAKAMURA (JPN) tech. fall Kuat AMIRTAYEV (KAZ), 12-2
Bronze - Sedat OZDEMIR (TUR) dec. Mihai ESANU (MDA), 8-3
Bronze - Islam DUDAEV (RUS) dec. Husein SHAKHBANAU (BLR), 5-0

86 kg
Gold - Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS) dec. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), 8-7
Bronze - Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR) dec. Raman CHYTADZE (BLR), 7-4
Bronze - Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) dec. Lazaro Daniel HERNANDEZ LUIS (CUB), 6-1

125 kg
Gold - Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) tech. fall Magomedamin DIBIROV (RUS), 11-0
Bronze - Amin Hossein TAHERI (IRI) tech. fall Mihaly NAGY (HUN), 10-0
Bronze - Danylo KARTAVYI (UKR) dec. Zhanxiang HU (CHN), 6-0

#WrestleTirana

Kayaalp Nears Record-Breaking 13th European Gold

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - 06:12 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 20) -- Riza KAYAALP (TUR) is now one win away from becoming the most successful Greco-Roman wrestler in Europe.

At the European Championships in Tirana, Kayaalp reached the 130kg final on Monday to take a step closer to breaking Aleksandr KARELIN's long-time record of 12 European gold medals.

UWW Plus

Kayaalp was returning to the European Championships after two years and showed now signs of as he began with a fall over Albert VARDANYAN (ARM) using an arm throw before winning a 1-1 battle against Marat KAMPAROV (UWW).

In a dramatic semifinal which resulted in the disqualification of Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), Kayaalp kept his composure despite the aggression of Hlinchuk, a former U23 world champion.

Kayaalp got the par terre advantage in the first period but Hlinchuk escaped. However, he tried to throw Kayaalp who blocked the throw and landed on top for two points, making his lead 3-0. Hlinchuk challenged the decision but lost it and Kayaalp led 4-0.

Riza KAYAALP (TUR)Riza KAYAALP (TUR) wrestles Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) in the quarterfinal of 130kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Perhaps it was coming as the referee had warned the two wrestlers time and again to wrestle without aggression. But 30 seconds before the end of the first period, Kayaalp used a strong hand on Hlinchuk's neck. Hlinchuk first responded with shoulder to Kayaalp and then proceed to slap the Turkish wrestler who fell on the mat.

The judges decided to disqualify Hlinchuk from the competition for his act and Kayaalp, supported by a very vocal Turkish team, entered his 15th European Championships final.

He will now face Darius VITEK (HUN) who held on to his 1-1 criteria win over Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) and who now stands between Kayaalp and history.

Semen NOVIKOV (BUL)Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) tries to throw Islam ABBASOV (AZE) during the 87kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Novikov faces Bisultanov

After a season off, Olympic champion and returning silver medalist Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) will be in the 87kg final to change the color of his medal when he takes on Olympic bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN).

Bisultanov and Novikov faced each other in Paris and the Bulgarian defeated Bisultanov 5-1 in the opening round.

But Bisultanov looked in control in Tirana as he pinned Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) in the semifinals while Novikov managed to beat returning bronze medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 4-0.

Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) defeated Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) in the 77kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Four-time and defending champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) returned to the final with an easy 3-1 victory in the semifinal over Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) to set up a rematch of 2025 European final against Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO).

The Georgian will be keen on avenging that loss against Amoyan after he reach the final, beating Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 8-0, using two big throws for four points each.

In a shock at 63kg, U23 world champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) stunned defending champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 6-5, in the semifinals.

Kamal was leading 5-0 but Eriomenco managed to score from par terre. His two-point takedown was challenged by Turkiye but he lost the challenge, giving Eriomenco the clear lead.

For the gold medal, Eriomenco will face veteran and former world champion Sergey EMELIN (UWW) who scored an easy 9-0 technical superiority win over Mairbek SALIMOV (POL).

At 55kg, world champion and returning bronze medalist Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) moved into his first European final after beating Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1.

He will face defending champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) who defeated Omer RECEP (TUR), 11-0.

Photo

RESULTS

55kg
SF 1: Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) df. Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1
SF 2: Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) df. Omer RECEP (TUR), 11-0

63kg
SF 1: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 6-5
SF 2: Sergey EMELIN (UWW) df. Mairbek SALIMOV (POL), 9-0

77kg
SF 1: Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) df. Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 8-0
SF 2: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), 3-1

87kg
SF 1: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) df. Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR), via fall
SF 2: Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) df. Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 4-0

130kg
SF 1: Darius VITEK (HUN) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 1-1
SF 2: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), via disqualification (4-0)