#YasarDogu

Diakomihalis Dazzles in Wins Over Retherford and Musukaev, Two Other Americans Reach #YasarDogu Finals

By Eric Olanowski

ISTANBUL, Turkey (July 12) --- Yianni DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) dazzled in his first international senior-level competition and erased a 9-0 semifinals deficit to move into the 65kg Yasar Dogu finals. He was one of three American wrestlers who reached the Day 3 gold-medal bout at the final Ranking Series event of the season. 

The two-time cadet world champion kicked off his day with an impressive 9-5 victory over the United States’ current 65kg world team member, Zain RETHERFORD (USA). 

This was the fourth time Diakomihalis and Retherford have faced off against each other in the last two months. With his win on Friday morning, Diakomihalis evened the series at two matches apiece -- leaving the United States with a head-scratching decision on who to enter at 65kg into September’s Nur-Sultan World Championships. 

Diakomihalis followed that up with a 13-2 victory over Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE), and set up a semifinals match with former two-time Russian National runner-up Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN), who now competes for Hungary. 

In the semifinals, Diakomihalis’ now-Hungarian opponent built a 9-0 lead but crumbled in the second period and gave up three cautions -- disqualifying him from the match. 

In the final period of his semifinals match, the American scored nine unanswered points from two takedowns (cradle and a double leg), a pair of steps outs, and three caution-and-one’s -- which disqualified Musukaev from the match. 

Diakomihalis will wrestle Haji ALI (BRN) on Saturday night for the 65kg gold medal. Ali closed out his run to the finals with a 6-3 victory over Cengizhan ERDOGAN (TUR) in the other semifinal. 

Alexander DIERINGER (USA) and Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) were the two other Americans who locked up their spot in the Day 3 Yasar Dogu finals. 

Dieringer will wrestle Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) in the 79kg finals, while Gwiazdowski will take on the three-time world and Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) in the 125kg finals. 

The Day 3 finals begin on Saturday at 17:00 (local time) and can be watched live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

Freestyle

65kg
GOLD - John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) vs. Haji Mohamad ALI (BRN)
SEMIFINAL - John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) df. Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN), 9-9 (via cautions)
SEMIFINAL - Haji Mohamad ALI (BRN) df. Cengizhan ERDOGAN (TUR), 6-3

79kg
GOLD - Alexander DIERINGER (USA) vs. Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
SEMIFINAL - Alexander David DIERINGER (USA) df. Bahman TEYMOURI (IRI)
SEMIFINAL - Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) df. Muhammet Nuri KOTANOGLU (TUR), 2-2 

125kg
GOLD - Taha AKGUL (TUR) vs. Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)
SEMIFINAL - Nicholas Edward GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) df. Sumit SUMIT (IND), 
SEMIFINAL - Taha AKGUL (TUR) df.Yadollah Mohammadkazem MOHEBI (IRI), 10-0 

Women’s Wrestling

53kg
GOLD - Vinesh VINESH (IND) vs. Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS) df. Liliya HORISHNA (UKR), 7-5
SEMIFINAL - Vinesh VINESH (IND) df. Iryna HUSYAK (UKR), 14-4

57kg
GOLD – Tetyana KIT (UKR) vs. Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
SEMIFINAL - Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), 6-3 
SEMIFINAL - Tetyana KIT (UKR) df. Emese BARKA (HUN), via injury default 

62kg
GOLD – Marianna SASTIN (HUN) vs. Henna JOHANSSON (SWE)
SEMIFINAL - Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) df. Anzhela FOMENKO (RUS), via fall 
SEMIFINAL - Marianna SASTIN (HUN) df. Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 4-2 

68kg
GOLD – Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) vs. Maryia MAMASHUK (BLR)
SEMIFINAL - Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) df. Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR), 8-1 
SEMIFINAL - Maryia MAMASHUK (BLR) df. Anna Carmen SCHELL (GER), 5-2 

#WrestleBucharest

European Championships GR 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, 130kg semis set

By United World Wrestling Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 12) -- The European Championships begins in Bucharest, Romania with five Greco-Roman weight classes. Monday's action will see wrestlers from 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg in action. Riza KAYAALP (TUR), a 12-time European champion, will be looking to win the 13th gold medal which will put him ahead of the legendary Aleksandar KARELIN as the most successful wrestler in European history. All five weight classes have the 2023 champions returning to defend their gold medals.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE

14:15: Here are the semifinals for the evening session.

55kg
SF 1: 
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) vs. Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE)
SF 2: Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM) vs. Artium DELEANU (MDA)

63kg
SF 1: 
Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) vs. Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR)
SF 2: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) vs. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE)

77kg
SF 1: 
Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) vs. Yunus BASAR (TUR)
SF 2: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) vs. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)

87kg
SF 1: 
Ali CENGIZ (TUR) vs. Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN)
SF 2: Islam ABBASOV (AZE) vs. Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB)

130kg
SF 1: 
Riza KAYAALP (TUR) vs. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE)
SF 2: Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) vs. Sergei SEMENOV (AIN)

14:05: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) is up against world champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) in the 63kg quarterfinals. Nazaryan with an arm spin but it's scored two points for Abuladze as he stopped Nazaryan. Bulgaria challenged the call and it's scored two points for Nazaryan. He adds an activity point to lead 3-0 at the break. No passivity calls in the second period as Nazaryan took out the defending champion Abuladze 3-0.

13:55: Aleksandar KOMAROV (SRB) with a turn from par terre and then stops Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) from scoring any points. Komarov wins 3-1 and will advance to the 87kg semifinals.

13:45: World champion Ali CENGIZ (TUR) wins via disqualification over Alex KESSIDIS (SWE). Kessidis was cautioned twice when Cengiz was attempting a turn from par terre. A second caution in attacks earns the attacking wrestler the win.

13:30: Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) could not have picked a better bout to win. He beats world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) 3-1 after getting a turn from par terre. He moves into the 77kg semifinals.

13:20: The 55kg weight class is the first to get its quarterfinals done. Defending champion Adem UZUN (TUR) falls 13-5 to Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM) and Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) wins 4-2 against Amaiak OSIPOV (AIN)

12:50: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) uses a front headlock to get a 9-1 win over Yaraslau KARDASH (AIN) at 63kg. Kardash challenged but no change in the result. In all likelihood, he will face defending and world champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) next

12:40: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) with four rolls from par terre to start his campaign at 130kg with a 9-0 win over Oskar MARVIK (NOR).

12:30: Defending champion at 87kg, Istvan TAKACS (HUN) falls to Aleksandar KOMAROV (SRB) 1-1 at 87kg. Komarov got the second par terre advantage and the criteria lead.

12:20: At 87kg, Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) holds off Alan OSTAEV (AIN) 8-3. Well well-planned win for Bolkvadze as he built a 5-2 lead at the break. Ostaev got the par terre advantage but failed to score any points.

12:00: Defending champion at 77kg Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) with a fall over Riccardo ABBRESCIA (ITA). He will face Adlet TIULIUBAEV (AIN) in the quarterfinals. 

11:40: World silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) with a strong 10-0 win over Idris IBAEV (GER). In the same weight class, Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) also has a big win over Juan AAK (NOR). He moves into the quarterfinals with a 9-1 win

11:20: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL), wrestling at 63kg, gets going with a big 9-0 win over Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO). Two big throws from Nazaryan to finish the bout. At 87kg, Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) wins his opening bout against Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU).

11:15: A no-show from Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) gives Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM) a walkover win in the 87kg bout. Mukubu has pulled out injured.

10:55: Yunus BASAR (TUR) and world champion at 72kg Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) face off in the qualification round in 77kg. Ghanem gets the first passivity advantage but fails to turn Basar for any points. Ghanem is put in par terre in the second and Basar gets a correct throw for two points. He holds the lead and wins 3-1

10:35: There could not have been a more stunning start to this championships. Juan AAK (NOR) with two arm throws to finish the opening bout at 77kg 8-0 and beat Ali ARSALAN (SRB). Huge upset!

10:00: Welcome to the first day of the European Championships from Bucharest. We begin in 30 minutes with five Greco-Roman weight classes.