#WrestleZagreb

European Championships freestyle preview

Tuesday, April 4, 2023 - 15:20 By Mark Pickering

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ZAGREB, Croatia (April 4) -- Europe’s elite wrestlers will descend to Croatia to compete in the continental showpiece from April 17 to 23 in Zagreb.

Out of 10 gold medalists from 2022, nine are returning to defend their titles, illustrating the importance of the must-see seven-day event. A star-laden field of champions and emerging European hopefuls will assemble in Zagreb, which successfully hosted the season-launching Ranking Series event in February, as wrestling embarks on its road to the Paris 2024 Olympics in April.

In men's freestyle, the highlight will be Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) returning to the mat since the World Cup in December. He is entered at 61kg, a weight class which will also see defending champion Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and 57kg European champion Vladimir EGOROV (MKD).

Abakarov, 30, made history by dethroning reigning world champion Thomas GILMAN (USA) to win his country’s first-ever World Championships gold last year.  

Harutyunyan shone on all fronts in 2022 by winning his second European Championships, a second world bronze medal and the U23 world to finish the year. Tokyo 2020 Olympian Harutyunyan, 24, earned bronze at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament in February.

Egorov produced a career-best display in Budapest to become his country’s first gold medalist at the showpiece event in 23 years. Egorov, 28, is part of the 61kg line-up this year having won his gold medal and 2019 bronze in the 57kg category.

The second world champion wrestling in Zagreb will be Taha AKGUL (TUR), the defending champion bidding for a 10th European title.

Rio 2016 Olympic champion and Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Akgul, 33, opened his 2023 calendar by taking gold at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series Tournament.

The gargantuan Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) will be aiming to avenge his European Championships final loss he suffered in Budapest last year to arch-rival Akgul if the two meet.

The 29-year-old three-time world champion, who also saw Olympic gold slip away at the last hurdle at Tokyo 2020, topped the European Championships podium in 2016 and 2020.

At 65kg, defending champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) will look to collect a second straight gold medal but in his path will be Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE). The two met in the final last year and Muszukajev dominated Aliyev, winning a one-sided final in front of his home crowd.

But Aliyev will be well rested for the tournament as he last performed at the world championships last year, finishing fifth after losing to Muszukajev in the bronze medal bout.

The two should be wary of Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) as he continues his rise at 65kg. He won the U23 World Championships last year after finishing seventh at the World Championships in Belgrade.

Young star Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) and Andre CLARKE (GER) could prove to be the dark horses.

Two-time reigning European champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), who also took world silver last year, will be installed by many as the favorite in the 74kg category.

The 27-year-old world number three, however, will be hoping to banish memories of his first visit to the Croatian capital this year having lost two contests at the Ranking Series event in February. His biggest challenger will be Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) who lost to Salkazanov by one point in the final in Budapest.

Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) will be another top name on the list. Still 21 years old, he has the caliber to win against any of the top wrestlers and claims the gold medal.

Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU) won the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series event and is the dark horse of the weight classes with his speed and skill combination.

Veterans Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) and Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) will look to finish on the podium.

History-maker Myles AMINE (SMR) will look to defend his gold medal in Zagreb despite the likes of Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), Boris MAKOEV (SVK) and Fatih ERDIN (TUR) entered.

Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Amine, 27, his country’s third Olympic medallist and first in wrestling, finished fifth at the 2023 Zagreb Open.

At 57kg, it will be a test for Suleyman ATLI (TUR) as he continues his stay at 57kg after winning the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series gold medal in February.

But the competition in Zagreb will be on the higher side as his weight class has former U23 world champion Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE), Horst LEHR (GER) and former U17 world champion Andrii YATSENKO (UKR) who lost to Atli in the Alexandria finals.

In-form Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) started his season by capturing the top prize at Ibrahim Moustafa at 86kg but reverts to 79kg duty in Zagreb. The 28-year-old world number five converted his 2020 European bronze into world bronze last year.

But he will face a familiar for in defending champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) who will be keen on winning his second European title after winning back-to-back gold medals at the U23 level.

In the final of the U23 Euros, he defeated Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) by one point and would like to repeat the result with a bigger margin.

Iman MAHDAVI (UWW) will be part of the UWW Refugee team and compete in the 74kg weight class in Zagreb.

European powerhouses Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), who stood side-by-side on the World Championships podium in September as bronze medallists, will renew acquaintances at 92kg.

World number four Nurmagomedov, 25, is aiming for his third successive piece of continental championships hardware (bronze in 2021 and 2022) and has form on his side after picking up bronze at the 2023 Zagreb Open.

World number two Maisuradze, 24, made a senior continental breakthrough last year as he won bronze in Budapest. The highly-active Georgian opened his 2023 season by earning silver at the Zagreb Open and followed up three weeks later with bronze at the Ibrahim Moustafa.

Continental kingpin Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) starred in Budapest last year with a career-making first gold on the senior stage as he surged to European Championships glory in the 92kg category.

Akturk, 25, who has now won continental gold at the U20, U23 and senior level, comes into the event on the back of a bronze medal at the Ibrahim Moustafa.

Three current world medalists from the 97kg category will grace the division on the European stage.

World silver medallist Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) is joined by bronze medalists Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO).

Slovak Tsakulov secured Ibrahim Moustafa gold in February to underline his European title ambitions. Reigning European champion Magomedov clinched bronze at the Zagreb Open while Matcharashvili made an early exit in the round of 32 at the Ibrahim Moustafa.

Vladislav BAITSAEV (HUN) can go deeper in the tournament with improved conditioning but that remains to be seen.

The action from the European Championships can be seen live at uww.org and on the UWW App.

Obituary

Remembering Saitiev: Master on mat who inspired many

Monday, April 7, 2025 - 12:53 By Vinay Siwach

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 7) -- Buvaisar SAITIEV was an unknown before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. And after that he became the legend. 

At 21, Saitiev thrilled the crowd and displayed techniques that the world thought were impossible to execute at 74kg. Saitiev would go on to win two more Olympic golds -- 2004 and 2008 -- as he became the best 74kg wrestler out there. A three-time Olympic champion, six-time world champion, and an inspiration to the wrestling world, Saitiev passed away earlier this month at the age of 49.

"Biggest and greatest wrestler" - Nenad LALOVIC, UWW President

Brandon SLAY (USA) was in that crowd at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The 21-year-old was amazed what he saw. He watched another 21-year-old win the gold medal.

"It was an honor to watch him in Atlanta," Slay said. "Then study him and compete against him four years later."

Believe it or not, that was the first time Russia won Olympic gold medal at 74kg, a weight class now synonymous with their domination, both at senior and youth level.

Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS)Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

At the time, the U.S. was focused on defending its dominance at 74kg, with Iran also challenging for supremacy, while Saitiev had yet to make his mark internationally. The Olympic history saw wrestlers from Turkiye, Japan, the United States and Korea win gold medal in this weight class. So when Saitiev arrived, he was the underdog. In the 1996 Atlanta final, he defeated the defending Olympic champion Park JANG SOON and ushered an era of Russian dominance at this weight class.

It took a once-in-a-lifetime talents like Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) to deny the gold medals to Russia in 2012 and 2016 respectively. However, Russia is now at top. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (ROC) won gold medals at the 2018 and 2019 World Championships, 2020 Tokyo Olympics [held in 2021] before winning it again in 2023 and Russian transfer to Uzbekistan and Saitiev's student Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) won in 2024.

A little insight on how the U.S. discovered Saitiev is provided in the the documentary 'Slaying Saitiev". Pat SMITH (USA), who was wrestling at the 1995 Ivan Yarygin Memorial, recalls when he first saw Saitiev, his opponent in the final.

Saitiev had not wrestled senior-level yet internationally and was till three months away from winning his first World Championships gold. So Smith and his team thought they are favorites to win the gold medal at the Yarygin.

"I go out on the mat, I see Saitiev, the fight starts," Smith recalls in the documentary. "And right away, right away I thought: “This is the best they have.” Because the way he was punching, his movement, the way he was flowing from one position to another... he was simply unstoppable. I did some takedowns, but in the end he gave me a pretty good beating. I come off the mat, Bruce is standing there, I say: “You were wrong. That guy from the semi-finals wasn’t the best. This is the best . ” – “I didn’t even know who it was!” – “Now you know. Buvaisar Saitiev.” And two months later he won the world championship. The best wrestler I’ve ever wrestled. There’s no question about that. The best.

"He looked like a librarian, skinny, gangly. But the positions he scores from, the way he moves you around the mat... I've never wrestled anyone like that again."

Smith’s observation wasn’t just a fleeting comment. It captured the essence of what made Saitiev so formidable on the mat. Saitiev, standing at 6 feet, defied convention of a tall wrestler standing upright. He would engage in ties which forced his opponents to shoot while he was in control. Saitiev would counter rather easily and score.

Saitiev used to engage with his opponents and yet they found it extremely difficult to score a takedown on him.

Brandon SLAY (USA)Brandon SLAY (USA) over Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS) at the 2000 Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

Slay, who defeated Saitiev at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, had to study Saitiev for years before breaking through in their Olympic meeting.

"The greatness of Saitiev came from how extremely hard it was to finish takedowns on him," Slay says. "Most of the time when people attacked Saitiev, either he scored or no one scored. And, most of the time when he attacked, he scored. That makes for a very challenging opponent to beat, which is why he rarely lost. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to wrestle the greatest wrestler of all time."

Saitiev had it all. Snapdowns, feints, two-on-one, underhooks, overhooks, defense, attack, chain wrestling, innovations, and techniques that made him score points from any positions. So many options to immobilize his opponents who would eventually break down.

On March 3, the day he passed away, the internet saw outpouring tributes to his legacy. But some of the most shared posts were his clips from various bouts on his career. A few wrote how they began wrestling because of him, others explained why he inspired them to adapt and study wrestling.

Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS)Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS). (Photo: United World Wrestling)

2008 Olympic champion Henry CEJUDO (USA) called him the "greatest" and he was a 'fanboy.'

"A man that was poetry in motion at its finest, and in my opinion, the greatest athlete who has ever ever lived or walked on planet Earth," Cejudo wrote on his Instagram. "I would never fanboy over anybody but Buvaisar. I was so honored of the times that I did get a chance to hang out as I had a permanent smile the whole day. Thank you for all the great years that you gave the wrestling community and inspiring millions of people across the world. I can honestly say without Saitiev I wouldn’t be the wrestler that I am today."

John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA), a wrestler known for his crafty moves and detailing of wrestling, tributed his passion to Saitiev, who himself was known as a wizard on the mat for his moves.

"Buvaisar Saitiev was how I fell in love with the art of wrestling, I wanted to be like him," Diakomihalis wrote on X. "His innovation and passion for improvement were some of the staples of how I approached learning the sport or learning anything in my life."

Saitiev had that impact on people. Jamalov, who won the 2024 Paris Olympic gold medal, was Saitiev's student. Jamalov said that Saitiev was family.

"His approach was very subtle and deep, he always knew how to choose the right and necessary words for support," Jamalov said. "Every meeting with him was unforgettable and every word of his was unforgettable. Outside of wrestling, he was very caring and compassionate towards me, he was always worried about my injuries and operations."

While Jamalov was his student, Saitiev never backed from helping any wrestler. He 'couldn't stop himself from talk to even strangers if he had a broken ear.'

 

After Tokyo Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) lost her first-ever international bout to VINESH (IND) in Paris, she talked to Saitiev who had lost in Sydney after winning Atlanta but still won two more Olympic golds.

"I had a video call with him right after the Paris Olympics," Susaki said. "Like me, he didn't do well in his second Olympics. But he won gold medals in two more Olympics. I vowed to him that I would win gold medals in two more Olympics like him to become a legend.

"He also taught me that to become a legend, I should never lose again. I owe it all to him that I was able to stand up strong after losing. Thanks to him, I decided to keep fighting to win two more Olympic gold medals. And I vowed to become a legendary wrestler like him. I won't lose anymore. I will keep winning. Your message is a treasure for my life. He is a legend and his wrestling has always fascinated me. His matches are always amazing to watch and I think he is the most talented wrestler in history."

This off the mat personality of Saitiev resonated with many, even with people outside of wrestling. He was humble, witty and respectful.

Sports Express journalist Yuri GOLYSHAK recalled his moments with Saitiev who was part of many reception after his 2008 Beijing gold medal. 

"I was sure that we would meet again. Saitiev had enough stories for ten interviews," Golyshak wrote in his tribute. "I even imagined how it would be - not in a hurry, like after Beijing. Not in a car, no. Everything will be different. I will come to his home in Khasavyurt. It will be a fairy tale. We will go to the mountains. I will understand something that I did not understand before, in this amazing, invincible man. And in life in general."

Saitiev's influence transcends mere records and titles. His tactics on the mat just when the internet era arrived gave insights into a wrestler may only be imagined. He passed on that mastery to a special few who remember him as a mentor, inspiration and the greatest ever.