Beach wrestling

Rudulov Wins Gold at Odessa Beach Wrestling World Series, Earns 'Best Throw' Award

By United World Wrestling Press

ODESSA, Ukraine (August 12) - Competing in his home country, 2017 beach wrestling world champion Semen RADULOV (UKR) turned in a strong performance at the Odessa Beach Wrestling World Series, winning gold and picking up the award for "Best Throw" of the competition.

Radulov, a 2016 European bronze medalist in freestyle wrestling, claimed the gold medal at 70kg with a with a 3-1 victory in the finals over Timothy BOX (USA). He was a silver medalist at last year's Beach World Championships, as well as a silver medalist at the Rio Beach Wrestling World Series in May.


Semen RADULOV (UKR) executing another flying fireman's carry in the event quarterfinal. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

The 29-year-old Ukrainian won the award for "Best Throw" in his semifinal match with a high amplitude, flying fireman’s carry.  By winning the award, Rudulov earned 1000 CHF. It marks the second straight time he has won the award. In Rio, Rudulov won the award after scoring with a blast double leg on the opening day of the competition.

Ukraine ran away with the team title in the men's competition on the strength of two champions and seven medalists. Joining Rudulov as a champion for Ukraine was Serghii PONOMARENKO at 80kg.

Moldova crowned a champion as Piotr IANULOV shut out Viktor SOLOVIOV (UKR) at 90kg.


Moldova's Piotr IANULOV (r) shut out Viktor SOLOVIOV (UKR) at 90kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Oyan NAZARIANI (AZE) edged Roman DOVHALIUK (UKR) to earn the title in the +90kg weight category.

In the women's competition, Ukraine won three of the four gold medals and captured the team title by 68 points.

Ukraine's gold medalists in the women's competition were Kateryna MASHKEVYCH (50kg), Valeriia SEMONKINA ZLATOVA (60kg) and Anna MAZURKEVYCH (70kg).

Champion aleriia SEMONKINA ZLATOVA (60kg) of Ukraine. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Aikaterini PITSIAVA (GRE) won the gold medal at +70kg.

The fourth and final Beach Wrestling World Series event will take place September 7-8 in Zagreb, Croatia.

RESULTS

Men's Beach Wrestling

70kg

GOLD: Semen RADULOV (UKR)
SILVER: Timothy BOX (USA)
BRONZE: Yehor MURADYAN (UKR)

80kg

GOLD: Serghii PONOMARENKO (UKR)
SILVER: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)
BRONZE: Georgios KOULOUCHIDIS (GRE)

90kg

GOLD: Piotr IANULOV (MDA)
SILVER: Viktor SOLOVIOV (UKR)

+90kg

GOLD: Oyan NAZARIANI (AZE)
SILVER: Roman DOVHALIUK (UKR)
BRONZE: Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR)

Team Standings

1. Ukraine 90
2. Greece 27
3. Azerbaijan 25
4. Moldova 25
5. United States 20

Women's Beach Wrestling

50kg

GOLD: Kateryna MASHKEVYCH (UKR)
SILVER: Mariia HEORHIIEVA (UKR)
BRONZE: Kristina BERMAN SHNYPKO (UKR)

60kg

GOLD: Valeriia SEMONKINA ZLATOVA (UKR)
SILVER: Yana KUZMINA POLTAVSKA (UKR)
BRONZE: Valeriia ODINTSOVA (UKR)

70kg

GOLD: Anna MAZURKEVYCH (UKR)
SILVER: Olha CHALIUK (UKR)
BRONZE: Yevheniia FOKINA (UKR)

+70kg

GOLD: Aikaterini PITSIAVA (GRE)
SILVER: Halyna KOVALSKA (UKR)
BRONZE: Cathrine FRILSETH (NOR)

Team Standings

1. Ukraine 95
2. Norway 27
3. Greece 25
4. United States 10

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open Day 5 Greco Finals Set

By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 9) -- The Zagreb Open 2025 enters its final day with a full day of Greco-Roman wrestling. Wrestlers in 55kg, 60kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg and 130kg will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | BISULTANOV WINS GOLD

14:00: Two losses for Azerbaijan in the 130kg semifinalsAliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) beats Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE) 9-1 and Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) drops his bout 4-3 against Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN). Kandelaki was leading 3-0 but tripped on the mat and Maeenpaeae scored a go behind and turn to win 4-3.

13:52: Quick finishes to the 97kg semifinals! Artur SARGASIAN (AIN) gets a turn, a throw and another turn to beat Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) 9-0 to enter the final. He will take on Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) also scored a technical superiority win over Shayan HABIBZARE (IRI). 

13:45: Big win for Gholamreza FAROKHI (AZE) who beats Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) 11-3. Farokhi was 3-0 down but got a bodylock for four to lead 4-3 in the first period. He scored a takedown as Gurbanov fell while fleeing a hold and then rolled him three times for six points using a trap-arm. He will take on world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) in the final after the Hungarian defeated Mihail BRADU (MDA) 4-3.

13:35: In the two 72kg semifinals, both of which were Iran vs Hungary, the two countries share a win each. Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) falls to Levente LEVAI (HUN) 1-1 despite Geraei getting two par terre advantages. However, in the other semifinal, Danial SOHRABI (IRI) takes out Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) 6-1 to enter the final.

13:25: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) with a high-paced win over Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI) in the other 60kg semifinal. He gets both par terre advantages and also scores a turn to win 4-0. Ganiev vs Tibilov final.

13:20: Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) may have beaten two world champion but he can't get past U23 world champion and compatriot Alisher GANIEV (UZB) in the 60kg semifinals. Bakhramov is put in par terre first and Ganiev reels off with two turns before a big four-point throw to win 9-0.

13:00: First semifinals at 55kg. European champion Artium DELEANU (MDA) suffers a big upset as Mahdi AHADI ZENAB (IRI) scores four turns from par terre to win 9-0. He will take on Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) in the final who defeated Brady KOONTZ (USA) 5-0 in the other semifinal.

12:20: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) gets a walk over from world champion Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) who hurt his shoulder in the previous bout at 72kg

12:15: Alisher GANIEV (UZB), U23 world champion at 60kg, just gut wrenched Maxwell BLACK (USA) for a 8-0 win. He will wrestle Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) in the 60kg semifinals.

12:00: A 97kg bout that was missed due to all the Bakhramov hype! Artur SARGSIAN (AIN) registered a 3-2 win over Alex SZOKE (HUN).

11:40: Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) has to be the most unfazed wrestler today! After beating Edlaniz AZIZLI (AZE), he takes out another world champion in Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) at 60kg. After a 4-0 lead, Bakhramov got thrown for four points but comes out all guns blazing in the second period to earn a par terre advantage. As he tries to turn Mammadli, a foul committed by the Azerbaijan which was confirmed on challenge. With 7-4 lead, Bakhramov hits a beautiful throw for four. Two stepouts in the final minute but Bakhramov holds on for a 11-6 win

11:30: Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) survived a fall attempt from Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) after the latter blocked a headpinch attempt. Geraei was down 3-2 but keeps his calm to win 8-3 at 72kg

11:15: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) comes out with a top quality win over Hamidreza BADKAN (IRI) at 97kg. No issue for the Paris Olympian

Wrestling on Mat C is on hold as there is some issue with the mat. Action will resume soon

11:00: 2021 world champion at 130kg, Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) gets his par terre going and rolls to an 11-1 win over European champion Sergei SEMENOV (AIN)

10:50: U23 world champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB) opens his day with a 8-0 technical superiority win over Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) at 60kg. At just 18, Ganiev has built a great resume for himself.

10:45: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) needed 49 seconds in the second period to see off Melkamu FETENE (ISR) in his opening bout at 60kg! The world champion is hoping to be Azerbaijan's rep for the European Championships.

10:30: Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) has tossed Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) around from par terre! Azizli, world champion at 55kg, is wrestling at 60kg in Zagreb but perhaps it's not meant to be. Bakhramov with two lifts and easy 9-0 win

10:15: At the Non-Olympic World Championships in Tirana last year, Benjamin PEAK (USA) stunned the wrestling world with a 11-3 victory over Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) at 72kg. However, Sunday is a different story as Geraei draws him first bout here in Zagreb and toys with Peak to win 11-0.

10:10: That is a great start for Iran as Hamidreza BADKAN (IRI) pulls off a 2-1 victory over Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) at 97kg.

10:00: Big wrestling day in Zagreb with six Greco-Roman weight classes in action. We have a few current and former world champions wrestling