European Games

Maryanyan, Chekhirkin Headline Greco Semifinalists at European Games

By United World Wrestling Press

MINSK, Belarus (June 28) - A pair of returning world champions for Russia were among the dozen wrestlers to reach the semifinals on the opening day of Greco-Roman competition at the European Games in Minsk, Belarus.

Russian wrestlers Stepan MARYANYAN (60kg) and Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (77kg), world champions in Budapest, advanced to tonight's semifinals in Greco-Roman. 

Maryanyan, a European Games champion in 2015, faced some stiff competition in the opening session. In his first match, he wrestled returning world silver medalist and European champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA). The 27-year-old Russian proved to be too much for Ciobanu as he picked up a 9-1 technical superiority in the first period. 

Next up for Maryanyan was two-time junior world champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR). Maryanyan grinded out a 5-2 victory over Kamal. Tonight in the semifinals he will face Zhora ABOVIAN (UKR), who defeated 2013 world champion Ivo ANGELOV (BUL) in the quarterfinals.  Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO), a 2016 junior world champion, will battle Erik TORBA (HUN) in the other semifinal at 60kg.

Chekhirkin was pushed in his first match against Daniel ALEKSANDROV (BUL), but prevailed 3-3 on criteria. He then shut out world No. 8 Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) 6-0 I the quarterfinals. Chekhirkin faces Yunus BASAR (TUR) in the 77kg semifinals.

Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), a 2012 Olympic silver medalist and three-time world medalist, reached the semifinals at 77kg with a 10-2 technical superiority in his first match followed by a 3-1 quarterfinal win over Pavel LIAKH (BLR).

At 67kg, Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO), a U23 world champion and junior world champion, earned his spot in the semifinals with a 2-0 win in the quarterfinals over world No.7 Mate NEMES (SRB). He meets Karen ASLANYAN (ARM), a gold medalist at the Henri Deglane Challenge, in the semifinals. 

Zaur KABALOEV (RUS) edged Soslan DAUROV (BLR) on criteria to reach the semifinals at 67kg, where he will face Oleksii KALINICHENKO (UKR).

Russia has the most semifinalists on Friday with three. Ukraine, Hungary, Georgia and Armenia all have a pair of semifinalists, while Turkey has one. 

SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS

Greco-Roman

60kg
Zhora ABOVIAN (UKR) vs. Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS)
Erik TORBA (HUN) vs. Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO) 

67kg
Oleksii KALINICHENKO (UKR) vs. Zaur KABALOEV (RUS)
Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) vs. Karen ASLANYAN (ARM)

77kg
Yunus BASAR (TUR) vs. Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) 
Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) vs. Karapet CHALYAN (ARM)
 

#WrestleAthens

World U17 Championships 2025: Day 4 Wrestling Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (July 31) -- The World U17 Championships enters day four with Women's Wrestling continuing in five more weight classes -- 40kg, 46kg, 53kg, 61kg and 69kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

The semifinals in Women's Wrestling will begin at 17:00 hours local time and the medal bouts at 18:00 hours.

13:37: MANISHA (IND) gets the fall over Cassandra GONZALES (USA) inside the first period and reaches the semifinals at 69kg. Sixth Indian wrestler to reach semifinals in Women's Wrestling in Athens. Four on Wednesday, all reached the final. Can YASHITA (IND) and MANISHA (IND) keep the record?

13:35: Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) is into the semifinals at 69kg! She is the first Georgian to reach so far in Women's Wrestling. A win away from historic medal! She defeated Nadia KOCIA (POL), 7-1.

13:15: World U17 champion Tania FERNANDEZ (USA) and European U17 champion Zalina TOTROVA (UWW) in a battle and it is Fernandez who comes out on top. Leading 6-5, Totrova tries a chest wrap but gives up four points. Fernandez eventually wins 13-6 at 61kg and is back in the semifinals

13:10: A 6-5 lead for Epenesa ELISON (USA) in the 53kg quarterfinal against European U17 champion Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN) and then hits a four-pointer to make it 10-5. Zhytovoz can't make a comeback and falls to Elison 12-7

13:05: Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA) hands India its third defeat inside five minutes! She kept countering Kasish GURJAR (IND) with whizzers and then got the cradle and 12-4 win at 46kg. Bouzakis looks good to upgrade her bronze to gold this year.

13:02: Make that two losses for India as Rinka OGAWA (JPN) defends a takedown attempt from SAARIKA (IND) and wins 4-2. India challenges, asking for a clean takedown but at no point did Ogawa's three points touch the mat. She wins 5-2.

13:00: Maria GKIKA (GRE), the hosts Greece's best hope for a medal here, beats Elanur BERBER (TUR) 12-2 and enters the 46kg semifinals.

12:55: Maisie ELLIOTT (USA) hands India it's first defeat of the day as she she beats Preeti YADAV (IND), 6-2, at 40kg. Three takedowns for Elliott to Yadav's one.

12:35: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA), returning world champion, with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Zichen DONG (CHN). Only a takedown in the first period but she rallies her gut wrenches in the second and wins with 43 seconds left out of the four minutes.

12:27: Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN) with a fall as well at 53kg over Baktygul ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ). Zhytovoz has not made too many mistakes and is now in the quarterfinals.

12:25: Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO), Georgia's first-ever European U17 champion in WW, wins 7-2 over Natalie WOJCIECHOWSKI (CAN). She is looking to win a medal at the World Championships after missing out last year.

12:20: MANISHA (IND) pins Dilrabo DULLIEVA (UZB) at 69kg to continue the Indian juggernaut at the World U17 Championships in Women's Wrestling.

12:00: Epenesa ELISON (USA) is on a mission! She pins Maria VANDOULAKI VANDOULA (GRE) at 53kg. Nice cradle from Elison. Back to back wins for the U15 Pan-Am champ

11:45: World U17 bronze medalist Jaclyn Rose BOUZAKIS (USA) is so good! She catches Yuting YUAN (CHN) on different occasions and wins 7-4 at 46kg.  

11:30: India has been unbeaten today, with Kasish GURJAR (IND) at 46kg, YASHITA (IND) at 61kg and SAARIKA (IND) at 53kg all win their respective matches.

11:25: Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), European U17 champion, takes out Fatima BAYRAMOVA (AZE) at 53kg with a fall. Offense at it's best from Zhytovoz

11:20: Waka AWANO (JPN) with two four-point throws and she beats Asian U17 champion Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ), 10-0 at 61kg. Awano's counter-attacks were too much for Mukat.

10:45: Jiaqing JIANG (CHN) rolls to a 12-3 win over Josefine WIDMANN (GER) at 53kg. Epenesa ELISON (USA) with some big doubles as she beats Kanita SPAHIJA (KOS) 12-0 at 53kg as well.

10:30: Welcome to day three of Women's Wrestling at the U17 World Championships. Action continues in 40kg, 46kg, 53kg, 61kg and 69kg.