#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.

#WrestleBelgrade

Throwback to 2019 World Championships: Game before the Games

Wednesday, August 16, 2023 - 07:53 By Gaurav Bhatt

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BELGRADE, Serbia (August 16) -- As the clock ticks down and the global wrestling community holds its breath, we stand just a month from the 2023 Wrestling World Championships in Belgrade. This year is particularly poignant for the honors at stake and the Olympic dreams intertwined with every bout. 

Before we dive into the intense competition that awaits, it's essential to cast a glance back to draw parallels, lessons, and inspiration. The 2019 Wrestling World Championships in Astana set the stage for Tokyo 2020, offering a blend of strategy, skill, and heart-stopping moments. As we gear up for another thrilling chapter, let’s revisit the 2019 drama to appreciate better the spectacle that 2023 promises to be.

The Tokyo Implication: Game Before The Game

In the shadow of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, every move on the mats of Astana was calculated, every win cherished, and every loss a setback. With only the top-6 finishers in each Olympic weight category ensuring a berth for their nation, the pressure was tangible. Wrestling powerhouses with decades' of traditions faced a unique challenge: Whom to field in these all-important qualifiers? This brought in an element of strategy and playbooks.

Kyle DAKE (USA)Kyle DAKE (USA) won the world title at 79kg in Astana. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

The American Approach

With its depth of talent in wrestling, the United States faced an intriguing challenge. They had to make crucial decisions with categories like 79kg and 92kg not featuring in the Olympics. Would Kyle DAKE (USA) and J'den COX (USA) — world champions at Budapest 2018 — adjust weights to target Olympic glory? 

The U.S. trusted their seasoned champions, betting on their adaptability. Both Dake and Cox defended their titles in Astana. Dake went on to earn bronze in Tokyo, while Cox was out of the USA Wrestling Trials before they even began after choosing to bulk up and failing to make weight for the 97kg bracket.

Deepak PUNIA (IND)Deepak PUNIA (IND) won a silver medal at 86kg in Astana. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

India’s Bet

Contrastingly, India decided to invest in its future. Deepak PUNIA (IND) was their trump card, a young prodigy in the 86kg freestyle category. At 20 years, Punia showcased maturity beyond his years in Astana, clinching a silver medal and securing an Olympic spot. India's gamble was clear: trust the young, hungry talent to rise to the occasion.

In Tokyo, Punia let his lead slip in the final seconds to lose the bronze-medal match.

Risako KAWAI (JPN)Risako KAWAI (JPN) was unstoppable as she won the gold in Astana. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan's Phenoms

Japan was under immense scrutiny and pressure as the host nation for the upcoming Olympics. And they leaned on established, yet young, phenoms like Risako KAWAI (JPN) and Takuto OTOGURO (JPN). 

Otoguro, the youngest Japanese male to win a world title in 2018, had a rough go in the 65kg category in Astana. The category featured a murderers' row of wrestlers such as (eventual champion) Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV, three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE), Olympic gold medalist Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO), two-time world bronze medalist Alejandro TOBIER (CUB), returning silver medalist Bajrang PUNIA (IND) and three-time NCAA champion Zain RETHERFORD (USA) to name a few.

Otoguro missed out on bronze in 2019. However, he later clinched a berth to Tokyo and overcame his nemeses to clinch gold in front of his home crowd. 

The Outcome

Astana's mats witnessed a unique blend of experience and exuberance. While some nations leaned heavily on their seasoned warriors, hoping their experience would shine in pressure situations, others bet on their youth's unyielding spirit and vigor. This strategic chess game yielded mixed results, with some bets paying off handsomely and others serving as learning experiences.

Ultimately, the road to Tokyo 2020 was as much about mental fortitude and strategic planning as it was about skill, strength, and technique.

In Greco-Roman, Kenchiro FUMITA (JPN) ended his compatriot Shinobu OTA (JPN) hopes of winning a medal in Tokyo as Fumita won gold at 60kg while Ota won at 63kg, a non-Olympic weight class.

Cuba's show

Rio Olympic champion Ismail BURRERO (CUB) won the gold in Astana at 67kg, two weight classes up. Oscar PINO (CUB), the constant substitute for Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) at 130kg, went on to make it to the final before winning a silver medal.

 

Running Roughshod, From Astana to Tokyo

Numerous wrestlers who qualified for Tokyo at the 2019 World Championships went on to reaffirm their dominance on the Olympic stage.

Zaur UGUEV (57kg Freestyle)
After successfully defending his title in Astana, Uguev continued his impressive form in Tokyo, winning gold and proving himself to be the undisputed best.

Risako KAWAI (JPN) (57kg Women's Wrestling)
Kawai’s triumph in Nur-Sultan was her third world title in as many divisions (60kg, 59kg, and 57kg). It was also a precursor to her Olympic success. In Tokyo, she clinched the gold medal, defending her Olympic title from Rio and cementing her legacy as one of the premier female wrestlers of her time.

Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (68kg Women's Wrestling)
After her dominant gold in the 2019 World Championships, Mensah captured gold in Tokyo, showcasing her consistent prowess on the international stage. The American also won the world title in Belgrade last year.

Abdulrashid SADULAEV (97kg Freestyle)
The Tank, after defeating Kyle Snyder in what many termed the "Match of the Century" in Astana, continued his dominance by securing the gold medal in Tokyo. He already had an Olympic gold and three world titles before stepping onto the mat in Kazakhstan. Sadulaev's rivalry with Snyder and consistent performance against other competitors solidified his status as one of the best in his category.

Hungary brothers

Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) and Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) ended up winning the gold and silver at 77kg and 87kg respectively. In Tokyo, the brothers would repeat the performance with Tamas becoming an Olympic champion and Viktor ending up with a silver medal to Zhan BELENUIK (UKR). Both brothers retired after the Olympics.

Stacking Up For Paris

As we stand on the cusp of the 2023 World Championships, the memory of Astana serves as both an inspiration and a cautionary tale. The road to Paris will be paved in Astana's legacy.

Wrestlers will be eyeing the world title and the golden ticket to Paris. The Olympic weight classes are set, and while many from 2019 will return, new faces are bound to emerge.

The wrestling community can expect the usual suspects -- U.S., Japan, and Iran -- to be strong contenders across categories. However, nations like India, Georgia, and Turkey, among others, have shown that they can disrupt the status quo.

Japan and the U.S. will likely remain dominant in women's wrestling. But with nations investing more in women's sports, expect more countries to challenge the old guard.

The 2019 World Championships were a masterclass in wrestling, passion, strategy, and heartbreak. They served as a reminder of the beauty of the sport and its ability to surprise and enthrall. As the world of wrestling looks ahead to the 2023 Championships and beyond to Paris, the echoes of Astana will undoubtedly be ringing in their ears.

Every takedown, every pin, and every bout will have the weight of Olympic dreams behind it. Here's to hoping for a championship that matches or even surpasses the spectacle of 2019. Paris awaits!