Stadnik wins 10th European title; Adar makes golden return

Thursday, February 15, 2024 - 19:17 By Vinay Siwach

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 15) -- A lot of focus before the European Championships this year was on Riza KAYAALP (TUR) going past Aleksandar KARELIN's record of 12 European gold medals. Understandable as those are the only two wrestlers with European titles in double digits.

But on Thursday, a woman joined the two legends with her 10th European gold medal -- Mariya STADNIK (AZE).

At the age of 35 years, Stadnik remains unbeaten in Europe winning the gold medal at 50kg at the European Championships in Bucharest, Romania.

The fact that she did that without conceding a point in three matches speaks volumes about her level even so later in her career which has spanned over 15 years now.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE) pins Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) in the 50kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Stadnik wrestled former European champion Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) in the final and never faced a real threat. Demirhan tried to hit a whizzer but Stadnik stopped her and scored two points. That made Demirhan cautious of attacking Stadnik and kept her distance. Stadnik led 3-0 at the break for a passivity point.

Demirhan tried pushing Stadnik out in the second period but the latter blocked her again and tripped her for a four-pointer. Turkiye challenged the call and won as the jury ruled it was only a stepout, making the score 4-0 in Stadnik's favor. But Stadnik did not take long to hit a four-pointer and secure the fall in four minutes and two seconds.

In her earlier bouts, Stadnik defeated Milana DADASHEVA (AIN) in two minutes and 12 second while Oksana LIVACH (UKR), the finalist last year, managed to hold Stadnik for six minutes but dropped her semifinal bout 6-0.

Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) celebrates after winning the 59kg gold medal in Bucharest. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Azerbaijan won a second gold medal at 59kg as Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) defeated Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) 3-3 in the final. With that, Kolesnik won her first career championship title ever.

Kolesnik led Filipovych 1-1 on criteria as both wrestlers were given activity time and both failed to score. As soon as her activity time ended, Filipovych hit a single-leg attack and scored a takedown with a minute and 26 seconds remaining in the match.

But still time left in the bout Kolesnik hooked Filipovych's leg using her own and tried coming on top. The referee did not confirm any control but did caution the Ukrainian athlete for blocking. Azerbaijan challenged asking for a takedown and it was confirmed by the jury, giving Kolesnik a 3-3 criteria lead and 24 seconds to defend.

She would go on to defend her lead and win the gold medal, becoming the second woman wrestler from Azerbaijan to win the senior European title.

The defending champion at 59kg and the favorite to repeat Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) pulled out of the competition after suffering an injury in her quarterfinal against Tamara DOLLAK (HUN). Nichita was reported to have broken ribs.

Yasemin ADAR (TUR) won her seventh European title on Thursday. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Yasemin ADAR (TUR) became the second most successful woman wrestler in Europe after she won her seventh gold medal, only behind Stadnik's 10. She won her first title in 2016 and has since won in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023. She also has a silver medal from 2020.

Wrestling in the final against Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR), Adar did not contact much in the first period, giving Shustova a passivity point and a 1-0 lead at the break. But she shifted gears in the second period, hitting a double-leg for a takedown and a turn to lead 4-1 while Shustova was on the activity clock. As the clock expired, Adar led 5-1.

As Shustova attempted a desperate low single, Adar got around and threw her for a four which Ukraine challenged. Shustova seemed to have control on Adar and Ukraine asked that its wrestler should get the four. It lost the challenge and Adar led 10-1. Adar would finish the final with a takedown and a 12-1 score with a minute remaining.

World champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) won her first European title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

World champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) gave Turkiye a second gold medal, winning her first European title after she won the 68kg gold medal against Tetiana SOVA RIZHKO (UKR).

Tosun won silver medals in the last two editions of the European Championships but managed to cross the final hurdle, five months after becoming a world champion at 68kg.

After a minute of little action, Tosun hit trip on Sova and got while Sova rolled over Tosun to get two points for herself, making the score 4-2 in Tosun's favor. Sova was called passive in the second period which awarded Tosun another point to make it 5-2.

Andreea ANA (ROU) won her third straight European title and first at home. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Andreea ANA (ROU) defended her 55kg gold medal dominantly in front of her home crowd to give Romania a gold medal at this European Championships. This was Ana's third consecutive European gold medal.

Wrestling Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) in the final, Ana built a 4-0 lead. She hit a counter in the second period and got a takedown which Moldova challenged but lost making it 7-0 for Ana. She would hit a snap takedown and a counter to finish the bout 11-0 with 22 seconds remaining on the clock.

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Mariya STADNIK (AZE) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), via fall (10-0)

BRONZE: Milana DADASHEVA (AIN) df. Oksana LIVACH (UKR), 17-15
BRONZE: Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) df. Ana PIRVU (ROU), 10-0

55kg
GOLD: Andreea ANA (ROU) df. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 11-0

BRONZE: Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) df. Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), via fall (8-11)
BRONZE: Roksana ZASINA (POL) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 7-3

59kg
GOLD: Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) vs. Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR), 3-3

BRONZE: Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) df. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Patrycja GIL (POL) df. Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU), via fall (7-2)

68kg
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Tetiana SOVA RIZHKO (UKR), 5-2

BRONZE: Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) df. Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU), via fall
BRONZE: Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) df. Khanum VELIEVA (AIN), via fall (8-8)

76kg
GOLD: Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR), 12-1

BRONZE: Bernadett NAGY (HUN) df. Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA), 8-3
BRONZE: Enrica RINALDI (ITA) df. Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU), 5-2

#WrestleTirana

Sadulaev shuts down Taylor in World Championships showdown

Wednesday, October 30, 2024 - 11:59 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 30) -- Two-time world champion at 92kg Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) would have expected his return to the World Championships to make all the noise in Tirana. After all, it had been two years since he last competed at the World Championships.

Enter Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) and David TAYLOR (USA). The former, who last won the world title in 2021, was not able to compete at the Paris Olympics and was injured during the semifinal of the 2023 World Championships.

Taylor, world champion in 2023, missed the Paris Olympics after losing the trials in the United States, announced his retirement and took a coaching job. He came out of retirement and decided to compete at the World Championships and retire.

Both are not 92kg wrestlers. Sadulaev has been a true 97kg for eight years now. Taylor is competing at this weight for the first time after dominating 86kg for years. But the two were pitted against each other in the opening round of the World Championships in Tirana at 92kg.

The small Feti Borova Sports Hall in Tirana did not have space to sit. So where one could, they stood to watch the two wrestle. Saudulaev in a singlet not meant for his 92kg body. Taylor, in his customary elbow on the thigh and waiting for his opponent.

No one knew what was going to happen. Sadulaev was reducing weight, and Taylor was gaining. How would the two match up? It was this lack that prompted the fans to cheer for both. But after the first period, the picture became much clearer. Sadulaev shut down Taylor's offense and came out of the pressure bout 7-0.

After the initial collar ties, Taylor went for the offense. He got on Sadulaev's leg and tried the lift but Sadulaev was swift to get out of the hold. Taylor continued his attack. That's the only way he knows wrestling. Taylor took another offensive shot and Sadulaev, with lessons from the previous attack, pressured forward to neutralize the attack and scored a go-behind for two. Sadulaev resorted to heavy snapdowns and Taylor wasn't able to defend the second one. Within two minutes, Sadulaev was up 4-0.

The speed and power was Sadulaev was impressively superior to that of Taylor who decided to change a little in the second period. He went for the far leg of Sadulaev. But Sadulaev was quick and spun behind Taylor and scored a takedown with less than two minutes left.

By this time, Ghasempour had finished his bout on the other mat. He defeated Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) 6-0 in a rather slow bout.

Sadulaev now had to defend his 5-0 lead. Taylor continued his aggressive approach and got on Sadulaev's right leg. What he did not expect was the quick counter from Sadulaev who pushed Taylor and scored an exposure for two. It was evident that Taylor could not match Sadulaev.

David TAYLOR (USA) in the warm-up hall after his bout against Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) at 92kg in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

"I did not score on the two times I shot and he did," Taylor said after the bout. "That was the difference. I needed to score on those two occasions."

Taylor and Sadulaev went to the warm-up hall but the former sat for more than 45 minutes in silence. He finally broke his silence and talked to the United States coaches after his leg attacks. After spending 30 more minutes gathering his thoughts, Taylor packed his bags and left.

On the training mats, Ghasempour and Sadulaev jogged before cooling down after their bouts. If both continue to win, they are expected to meet in the semifinals.

The match will be rather important for Taylor as well. He will hope for a Sadulaev win which will give him the chance to wrestle for the bronze medal.

"I expect him to make the finals and come back tomorrow," Taylor said. "I need to wrestle better that is my focus for now."

If he does wrestle Thursday, fans will only be treated to another blockbuster. A Ghasemoour-Taylor bout. The only downside will be that one will go home empty-handed.

Stadnik wins 10th European title; Adar makes golden return

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Sadulaev shuts down Taylor in World Championships showdown