#WrestleBucharest

European Championships Day 2 GR semis set

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 - 08:10 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 13) -- The European Championships enters its second day with five more Greco-Roman weight classes. Wrestlers in 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg will be on the mat Tuesday and try to make a place in the final.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 REPORT

Here are the semifinals for Tuesday

60kg
SF 1: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) vs. Sadyk LALAEV (AIN)
SF 2: Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) vs. Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE)

67kg
SF 1: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) vs. Morten THORESEN (NOR)
SF 2: Murat FIRAT (TUR) vs. Ruslan BICHURIN (AIN)

72kg
SF 1: Selcuk CAN (TUR) vs. Narek OGANIAN (AIN)
SF 2: Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) vs. Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE)

82kg
SF 1: Alperen BERBER (TUR) vs. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL)
SF 2: Islam ALIEV (AIN) vs. Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR)

97kg
SF 1: Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) vs. Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
SF 2: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) vs. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN)

15:15: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) with a 8-0 technical superiority win over Georjig TIBILOV (SRB) and he moves into the 60kg semifinal. He will now take on Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) for a place in the gold-medal bout.

15:00: Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) rolls into the semifinal at 72kg with a 9-0 win over Matias LIPASTI (FIN). On the other side of the bracket, Selcuk CAN (TUR) will be up against Narek OGANIAN (AIN) after both posted comprehensive wins.

14:45: A big semifinal at 97kg as Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) faces Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN). Aleksanyan scored a 7-3 win over Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) while Khaslakhanau defeated Anton VIEWEG (GER) 9-0 in the quarterfinal.

14:30: Returning silver medalist Kiril MILOV (BUL) will fall to U23 world champion Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) 4-0 as the Individual Neutral Athlete continues to impress in the new weight class.

14:25: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) got thrown for a big four Abu AMAEV (AIN) but that didn't trouble him in beating Amaev 15-4 and moving into the semifinals of the 67kg weight class.

14:15: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) is finally on the mat for his first bout, almost four hours since the session started. Viktor PETRYK (UKR) gets the first par terre advantage and he scores the turn to lead 3-0. Petryk then tries an arm-spin which is blocked by Ciobanu and he gets a takedown after a challenge. Another takedown and turn as he races to a 10-3 lead at the break. A quick takedown after the break and Ciobanu wins 12-3 at 60kg. He moves into the quarterfinals

14:00: The first quarterfinals are beginning in 97kg. Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) is up against Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) and he gets a par terre advantage. Savolainen with stepouts on either side of the breaks and a second par terre advantage as well to win 4-0 and enter the semifinal.

13:40: Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) continues his winning run. Up against world bronze medalist Mate NEMES (SRB), who has moved up to 72kg for this tournament, Nasibov scores two stepouts in a 3-1 win over Nemes

13:05: 82kg world champion Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE) is up against U20 and U23 world silver medalist Alperen BERBER (TUR). Huseynov put in par terre but no score for him. But Berber with a bodylock for four and a turn which is not scored. Turkiye asked for a challenge but the action was outside the zone. Berber led 5-1 at the break. Hyseynov is cautioned for finger locks and Berber gets two more points to lead 7-1. That's how the match will end. What a big win for the young gun from Turkiye.

12:45: Defending champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) defends from par terre in the first period against Sebastian NAD (SRB) and then scores a takedown, and adds a beautiful throw to win 6-1 in the 67kg bout.

12:30: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) warms up with a 9-1 win over Beytullah KAYISDAG (TUR). The next match in 97kg saw Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) with a big throw against Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE) and win 9-0.

12:15: Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) looks in solid form as he takes out world bronze medalist and top seed Artur OMAROV (CZE) 9-0 at 97kg. He got four rolls from par terre to win the bout. Kiril MILOV (BUL) also moves into the next round with an 8-0 win.

12:05: In a repechage bout in 87kg, Zhan BELENUIK (UKR) rolls back the day and holds off Istvan TAKACS (HUN) 1-1 and makes it to the bronze medal bout

11:55: Drama in the 60kg Kerem KAMAL (TUR) vs Georgij TIBILOV (SRB)! Tibilov seemed to have pinned Kamal but Turkiye challenged and on review, there was a stepout. Tibilov led 3-3 on criteria when Kamal tried to push him out. But as Tibilov was evading, he got behind Kamal who was penalized for a singlet foul. Turkiye again challenged but lost which gave Tibilov a 7-3 lead. Kamal, desperate for a four-point throw, jumped over Tibilov who grabbed him and pin. Tibilov suggested that Kamal may have tried to bite him. Both wrestlers were separated by the referee.

11:35: Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) survives a touch opening bout. He got a 3-0 lead at the break and managed to stop Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (AIN) from scoring any points in the second period from par terre. Nasibov scored a stepout in the second period to lead 4-1. Towards the end of the bout, Nasibov was cautioned for headbutting, thus giving Liavonchyk two points. But Nasibov held on for a 4-3 win.

11:20: Former U23 European champion Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) is still trying to find the same success at the senior level. He has a bronze medal at the European Championships. He starts his campaign at 67kg with a big 9-0 win over Andrea SETTI (ITA). A five-point throw as well.

10:55: U23 world champion at 87kg Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) decided to move to 97kg and faced Tamas LEVAI (HUN) first up. But no troubles for Murtazaliev at the new weight class. He wins his first bout 6-0 and sets up a 1/8 final against world bronze medalist Artur OMAROV (CZE).

10:30: The first day of the European Championships saw Riza KAYAALP (TUR) reach the final at 130kg whereas Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) lost his semifinal at 63kg after beating world champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO). Ali CENGIZ (TUR) and Aleksandar KOMAROV (SRB) set up a final at 87kg

10:15: Second day at the European Championships and we are going in with five weight classes. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) and Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) are going to defend their titles.

#WrestleHangzhou

In comeback, Mun makes Asian Games golden for DPR Korea

Friday, October 6, 2023 - 11:34 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 6) -- After two heartbreaking losses to Japan in the finals of Women's Wrestling, DPR Korea finally got the better of arguably the best wrestlers in the world.

Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) stunned world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) with a comeback victory in the 62kg in the final at the Asian Games to make sure that her country finished Women's Wrestling with at least a gold medal.

A day before, wrestlers from the country suffered final-second losses to Japanese wrestlers. In the 50kg final, Son Hyang KIM (PRK) lost 5-4 to Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) while In Sun JONG (PRK) fell to world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) 7-6.

But Mun changed the script, giving DPR Korea something to cheer about on their comeback after four years. The country has not wrestled globally since the 2019 World Military Games.

In the 62kg final, Mun, down 6-0 at the break, came alive in the second period. She scored a counter exposure to make it 6-2 before an arm-lock throw in the final minute saw Ozaki, who wrestled like a world champion till then, fall on her back.

Though Ozaki kept her one shoulder from touching the mat, Mun was happy to hold her in danger for the remainder of the clock to win 6-6 as she had a four-point move over Ozaki's two-pointers.

A stunned Ozaki took her own time to get up from the mat while Mun jumped around in joy and finished her celebrations with a somersault.

Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK)Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) in action against Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) in the 62kg final. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

"I was in a situation where I didn't know anything about the DPR Korean wrestler," Ozaki said after the final. "In that context, the biggest thing is the mentality. I felt that I was prepared. After I beat Tynybekova, I knew that the job wasn't finished. I got my mind focused on the final. I wasn't feeling overconfident. I didn't think about being defensive. The problem was that I didn't get off to a good start that I wanted to."

This is not the first time Mun has troubled a Japanese wrestler. Back in 2019 at the Asian Championships in Xi'an, Mun led 4-3 against Yukako KAWAI (JPN) in the semifinal and with 12 seconds left, she tried a headlock throw which Kawai defended and scored a takedown. Mun would go on to lose that semifinal 5-4.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) defeated Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) 3-1 in the 62kg quarterfinals. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

While the 20-year-old Ozaki could not win her first Asian Games gold, she did have a mini-achievement in Hangzhou. Ozaki defeated Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) 3-1 in the quarterfinals, their fifth career meeting in two years. A takedown from Ozaki in the second remained the difference between the two wrestlers after passivity points. Ozaki now leads the head-to-head 3-2. The two exchanged titles in 2021 and 2022 and Asian titles in 2022 and 2023.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) scores a takedown against Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) in the 76kg final. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

 

While Tynybekova, the Asian Games champion from 2018, could not defend her title, bronze medalist from Jakarta Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) improved to gold after beating the Asian champion at 72kg Zhamila BAKBERGENOV (KAZ) in the 76kg final.

Medet Kyzy had injured her knee in the final of the World Championships in Belgrade two weeks ago but showed little signs of injury winning the final 7-4. Not only was her offense on point, but the Kyrzgy wrestler was up to the mark in defense as well. 

"After the World Championships, my goal was this tournament," Medet Kyzy said. "After Belgrade, I thought that I would not wrestle in the Asian Games but we discussed with the coaches and they said you can win the Games with one leg and decided to wrestle."

Feng ZHOU (CHN)Feng ZHOU (CHN) defended her Asian Games title at 68kg. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

The third gold medal in Women's Wrestling was captured by home favorite and defending champion Feng ZHOU (CHN) at 68kg. After Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling, Zhou was the only wrestler to defend the title from Jakarta.

Zhou was up against a surprise finalist in Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) who defeated world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in the semifinal. The former Asian champion launched a barrage of high gut wrenches to beat Nurtaeva 13-2.

"I feel quite emotional right now," Zhou said. "I did better in the second round. I was quite nervous in the first and was a big tight. But I was able to let things go from there. I took my chance and successfully extended the gap."

The gold medal is Zhou's third of the Asian Games as she won the title in 2014 as well at 75kg as only four weight classes were included in the Games back then.

"I never thought about the two previous Asian Games gold. I just took it one bout at a time," she said. "I overcame myself. I didn't do well at the World Championships just before the Asian Games. To b able to recover from that, pick myself up and regain confidence, wasn't that easy to do."

The 30-year-old two-time world medalist was wrestling at home for the first time in a while and expressed that the cheers from the crowd was the extra motivation she needed.

"It's definitely more motivation," she said. "It's so different competing at home. I hear everyone cheering for me and that helps drive me. It's so much nicer to compete at home."

Tynybekova wins bronze

World champion Tnynbekvoa returned to win the bronze medal at 62kg, beating Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) 2-1. The three-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist relied on her strong defense to see off Kuznetsova.

"I weighed around 60kg as I fell sick when I came here," Tynybekova said. "I have not eaten in three days. I am a little tired and I think I need a holiday."

The other bronze medal went to SONAM who defeated the world silver medalist from 2022 Jia LONG (CHN) 7-5 with a takedown in the last 30 seconds.

At 68kg, Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) completed a fall over KANHA CHEA (CAM) to win the medal while Enkhsaikhan pinned 2010 Asian Games champion Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) after an action-packed bout in which Enkhsaikhan led 10-6 before getting the fall.

The bronze medals at 76kg went to KIRAN who managed to beat Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL), 6-3, and Juan WANG (CHN) who won 6-0 against Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE).

RESULTS

62kg
GOLD: Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) df. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), 6-6

BRONZE: SONAM df. Jia LONG (CHN), 7-5
BRONZE: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ), 2-1

68kg
GOLD: Feng ZHOU (CHN) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), 13-2

BRONZE: Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. KANHA CHEA (CAM), via fall
BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ), via fall

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 7-4

BRONZE: KIRAN df. Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL), 6-3
BRONZE: Juan WANG (CHN) df. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE), 6-0