#kaspeuro2018

Bulgaria Bags a Pair of Golds on Final Day of Women's Wrestling

By Eric Olanowski

KASPIISK, Russia (May 4) - Host nation Russis entered Friday night's finals with three wrestlers competing for European gold, but it was Bulgaria who walked away with an armful of gold. Bulgaria finished with two champions while Russia, Finland, and Sweden brought home one gold a piece.

Bulgaria’s pair of Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) and Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) remained undefeated in their quest to capture 57kg and 62kg gold medals. 

Bilyana Dudova (BUL) won her second straight European title by shutting out three-time world runner-up, Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS), 6-0 in the 57kg gold-medal match. 

The reigning champion Dudova used a defensive stop in the opening period to put the first two points on the board. She followed that up with a four-point sequence to extended her lead to 6-0. 

Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) defeated Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS), 11-8 in the 62kg finals. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

At 62kg, Taybe Yusein improved on her second-place finished from a year ago by winning the gold-medal battle against Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS), 11-8. 

“It was hard for me because I was one second away from winning last year. After that second place finished, I had a full year to think about making it back to this stage, and it happened to be on my birthday. Today is my birthday, so this is the best gift that I could have received.” 

Yusein outlasted fellow 2016 Olympian Trazhukova in a 19-point brawl that faced multiple stoppages due to clock issues and a cut above the eye of the Russian. 

“It was a long match, but I just remained focused on getting the win,” said Yuesin. 

Russia’s Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) shocked the women’s wrestling world by winning the 53kg European crown. Orshush secured the first-period fall over 2017 world champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) to give the host nation their solo gold medal on the final day of women’s wrestling in Dagestan, Russia.

“This is my best result in life…When I was going to the mat, I was already imagining myself carrying the Russian flag.” 

Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) celebrates after winning the 72kg European title. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) and Petra Maarit OLLI (FIN) won the final two women’s wrestling gold medals.

Petra Maarit OLLI (FIN), the no. 1 wrestler in the world at 65kg used a late challenge to erase two points from Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), giving her the 4-1 victory. 

Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist closed out the tournament with a fall over Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR) at 72kg. 

Fransson, the 2018 Klippan Lady Open, and European gold medalist said “The goal now moves to the World Championships where I’ll be moving weight classes. I’ll be moving down to the Olympic weight of 68kg. But, for now, I’m focused on hearing my national anthem. I think I’m going to cry!” 

TEAM SCORES
GOLD – Russia (173 points)
SILVER -  Belarus (140 points)
BRONZE – Turkey (117 points)
Fourth – Azerbaijan (102 points)
Fifth – Bulgaria (92 points)
Sixth – Poland (75 points)
Seventh – Ukraine (63 points)
Eighth – Sweden (58 points)
Ninth – Hungary (47 points)
Tenth – Romania (45 points)

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling, 53kg
GOLD -  Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) df. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR), 7-0
BRONZE - Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) df. Mercedesz DENES (HUN), 7-0
BRONZE - Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Aysun ERGE (TUR), 12-7 

Women's Wrestling, 57kg 
GOLD - Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL) df. Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS), 6-0
BRONZE - Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), 4-0 
BRONZE - Emese BARKA (HUN) df. Laura MERTENS (GER), 11-0 

Women's Wrestling, 62kg 
GOLD -  Taybe Mustafa YUSEIN (BUL) df. Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS), 11-8
BRONZE - Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) df. Agnieszka Sylwia KROL (POL), 8-2
BRONZE - Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) df. Luzie MANZKE (GER), 4-0 

Women's Wrestling, 65kg 
GOLD – Petra Maarit OLLI (FIN) df. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), 3-1 
BRONZE - Henna Katarina JOHANSSON (SWE) df. Gabriella SLEISZ (HUN), 5-0
BRONZE - Krystsina FEDARASHKA (BLR) df. Viktoria Ivanova BOBEVA (BUL), 4-1

Women's Wrestling, 72kg 
GOLD - Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) vs. Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR), via fall. 
BRONZE - Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU) vs. Alena PEREPELKINA (RUS), via fall 
BRONZE - Cynthia Vanessa VESCAN (FRA) vs. Beste ALTUG (TUR), via fall

Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 Day 4: Tazhudinov, Ghasempour lose

By Vinay Siwach

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 21) -- The final day at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 will see four Freestyle weight classes in action -- 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg. Every weight class has a world champion wrestling today.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

12:50: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) drops his semifinal against Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) 15-3. Aitmukhan with three exposure for six points in the second period. Tazhudinov struggled to finish his attacks. We have a Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) vs Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) final.

12:40: World silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) with a lace to beat Rifat GIDAK (TUR) 11-0 and enter the final at 97kg.

12:37: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) reaches the 86kg final with an 5-1 win over Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) in the semifinal. Dzhioev will now take on Saipudunov for the gold medal.

12:33: Another Bahrain wrestler in the final as Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN) survives an late onslaught from Osman GOCEN (TUR) and wins 8-6 at 86kg. Gocen got a four-pointer which kept him in the match which was otherwise dominated by Saipudinov

12:30: Top match at 74kg semifinal as Younes EMAMI (IRI) holds off Norkhoza KAIPONOV (KAZ) 6-5. Kaiponov was up 4-1 and scored a stepout to make it 5-1. Emami got a stepout to make it 5-2 and a beautiful duckunder to close it to 5-4. He continued the action and used a gut-wrench to make it 6-5 with less than a minute remaining. He defended his lead to enter the final in which he will take on Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE)

12:22: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) with a takedown in the final 10 seconds to upset Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) who was leading 5-2 till the last 30 seconds. The takedown gave Novruzov a 5-5 criteria lead before Asluev tried to hit exposure. Novruzov got an counter exposure for the 7-5 win. 

12:15: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) is into the 125kg final after a 7-0 blanking of Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR) in the semifinal. Easy win for the world champion

12:11: World silver medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) goes down 7-6 against Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) in the 125kg semifinal. Sharipov scored a four-pointer and led 5-0. But in Meshvildishvili comes back in the second period to make it 6-4 and needed three points for a win. He scored a takedown to make it 6-6 but was down on criteria. In the final 10 seconds, he was close to scoring two times but Sharipov managed to defend. A lost challenge gave him another point.

12:06: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) downs Olympic bronze medalist Mogomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) 12-2 at 97kg. Aitmukhan with a four-pointer and three takedowns in his victory. Solid defense as well whenever Magomedov seemed threatening.

11:55: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) with a cradle to get the fall over Abossolo CEDRIC (CMR) in the second period of his 97kg quarterfinal.

11:50: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) wins his quarterfinal at 97kg against Muhammad GULZAR (PAK) 11-0 after three rolls from par terre. He will wrestle Rifat GIDAK (TUR) who defeated Oucif HOUSSEM (ALG) 13-2

11:42: After taking out Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), Arsenii DHZIOEV (AZE) continues his winning run and enters the semifinal at 86kg with an 11-0 victory over Benferdjallah FATEH (ALG)

11:30: Younes EMAMI (IRI) with an strong defensive performance as he beats Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), 5-2, at 74kg. Emami got a point every time he seemed passive in the match.

11:20: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) powers his way to a 10-0 victory over Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ) at 125kg. World champion Zare is a strong favorite to win gold here.

11:18: Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) stops Shams QURAISHI (AFG) from more upsets but not after an incredible match. Quraishi managed to score 9 points on Asluev before dropping his bout 12-9

11:10: Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) opens his 97kg with an 11-1 technical superiority win over 92kg U20 world champion Sherzod POYONOV (UZB).

11:00: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) works his incredible underhook and manages an easy 11-0 victory over Iqbal AHMADI (AFG) at 97kg. Azarpira is a world silver medalist from Zagreb.

10:50: Former world 92kg champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) makes it look easy rolling to a 10-0 win over Mohamed SALAHELDIN (EGY) at 97kg.

10:45: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) takes out Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) in the opening bout at 86kg. In a bout of two halves, Ghasempour got a takedown and passivity point in opening period before Dzhioev scored a takedown during Ghasempour's activity time to lead 3-3 on criteria with just over a minute left. Ghasempour tried a desperate leg attack at the end only to give a takedown and hand the win to Dzhioev

10:37: Osman GOCEN (TUR) hangs on for a 2-2 criteria win over Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) at 86kg. It was a scramble in which both wrestlers were awarded two points each with Gocen getting it later and holding the criteria. No points were scored in the second period but both wrestler were involved in scrambles. Gocen manages to hold off and win.

10:33: Haider BUTT (PAK) led 3-0 against Farhad MALIK ZADA (AFG) and on the way to give Afghanistan it's first win of the tournament. However, Malik Zada with a comeback and beats the Pakistan wrestler 8-4 at 86kg.

10:25: Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) took his own time but he manages to beat Khaireddine BEN TLILI (TUN), 11-1, in their 74kg. A four-pointer in the first period for Toktomambetov

10:15: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ), one of the four world champs in action today, starts off with an 11-0 victory over Jafar CHULIBOYEV (UZB) at 74kg. He got a stepout before a takedown and four turns.

10:10: Afghanistan is really having a solid Games for itself. After some impressive wins yesterday and a fifth-place finish, Shams QURAISHI (AFG) gets a fall at 74kg against Omar MOURAD (EGY).

10:00: Last day of the ISG 2025 with four weight classes in Freestyle. Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) vs Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) likely to face in the 97kg.