European Championships Greco-Roman preview

Wednesday, April 5, 2023 - 17:48 By Jimmy Pawelski

ZAGREB, Croatia (April 6) — Greco-Roman wrestling has a long-standing history at the European Championships since the tournament’s inception in 1898, being the second-longest running tournament in history, only behind the Olympic Games. That legacy will continue in Zagreb, Croatia, as the 2023 European Championships are scheduled to take place April 17-23.

Greco-Roman wrestlers will close out the tournament on the last three days of competition with the following schedule:

55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg

April 21 - 13:00 local time: Qualification rounds
April 21 - 7:00 local time: Semi-finals
April 22 - 14:30 local time: Repechages
April 22 - 19:30 local time: Finals

60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg

April 22 - 13:00 local time: Qualification rounds
April 22 - 17:00 local time: Semi-finals
April 23 - 15:30 local time: Repechages
April 23 - 17:15 local time: Finals

Even more Greco-Roman history may be made at the 2023 European Wrestling Championships as Riza KAYAALP (TUR) will be attempting to win his 12th European title, which would tie the most-decorated Greco-Roman wrestler of all-time, Aleksandr KARELIN (RUS), for the most European titles.

Statistically, a remarkable 40% of reigning 2022 Greco-Roman world champions and all 10 returning 2022 European champions will seek to defend their titles in this year’s tournament. From a team-race perspective, Azerbaijan will aim to repeat their 2022 European Championships first-place finish after placing second at the 2022 World Championships behind Turkey, who was last year’s European Championships second-place finishing team.

Weight-by-Weight Preview

55kg
The returning gold, silver and bronze medalists of the 2022 European Championships will all be back to compete in this year’s 55kg bracket. The bracket will feature world No. 1 and No. 2, Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), who faced off in last year's world and European finals.

Azizli won that match over Tsurtsumia, and all of his 2022 World Championships matches, by way of technical superiority.

Meanwhile, Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM) will seek revenge over Azili after losing to him 7-3 at last year’s European Championships and ultimately placing third.

60kg
The 60kg bracket also features three returning 2022 European Championships medalists, including returning finalists Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and Edmond Armen NAZARYAN (BUL). Despite a 5-0 decision loss to Kamal in the European finals last year, Nazaryen ultimately placed second at the 2022 World Championships, while Kamal failed to reach the podium.

Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM), a 2020 European champion and last year’s bronze medalist, will be wrestling for his third total podium finish.

63kg
In a deep 63kg bracket, No. 1 ranked reigning European champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) leads the way. The Georgian ultimately placed second at the 2022 World Championships behind Sebastian NAD (SRB), who is bumping up to the Olympic weight of 67kg this season.

Abuladze’s key challengers include No. 3 ranked returning world bronze medalist Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) and 2021 world champion at 60kg Victor CIOBANU (MDA).

Both returning European bronze medalists are also registered to compete, Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR) and No. 5 ranked Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM), who fell just one match short of placing at last year’s world and European Championships.

67kg
All four 2022 European Championships medalists at 67kg are registered to compete in this year’s tournament: Murat FIRAT (TUR), Krisztian Istvan VANCZA (HUN), Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), and Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), who is the only returning world medalist of the group.

It’s only one of two weight classes that returns all four medalists.

What’s unique about 67kg is that the highest-ranked wrestler currently isn’t included on the list above. Fourth-ranked Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) holds that claim, as he’s coming off a top-5 finish at the 2022 World Championships.

Notably, No. 1 ranked Mate NEMES (SRB), the weight’s reigning world champion from Serbia, will wrestle off the aforementioned Nad before the European Championships for the starting spot at the Olympic weight.

72kg
The 72kg bracket features six total wrestlers ranked in the world's top 10.

Ali ARSALAN (SRB) is the headliner at 72kg. The Iranian transfer is one of the Serbian Fab Four who shocked the wrestling world en route to winning world titles a year ago in Belgrade. He’ll be looking to improve on his bronze-medal finish from last year’s European Championships, where he fell to eventual champion Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN).

Returning world silver and bronze medalists, respectively, No. 3 Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) and No. 2 Selcuk CAN (TUR), will also be in action.

Despite not reaching the podium at the worlds, 2022 European champion and current No. 6, Fritsch, will seek to defend his continental title at this year’s tournament.

Other wrestlers ranked in the top 10 include No.4 Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) and No. 5 Valentin PETIC (MDA).

77kg
The depth of world champion contenders representing Europe is clear at 77kg.

As the only other weight with all four returning 2022 European Championships medalists, the bracket also features No. 1 Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), who didn’t place at last year’s tournament but earned a silver medal at the 2022 World Championships. It's also highlighted by returning 2022 European finalists No. 3 Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) and No. 4 Yunus Emre BASAR (TUR), who each ultimately earned bronze medals at worlds.

Other contenders include Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) and Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), who are each returning European bronze medalists.

82kg
Reigning world champion and No. 1 ranked Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) is the star to watch in the 82kg bracket.

However, his road to win his first European gold will be bumpy as the bracket also contains three additional wrestlers ranked in the top six at 82kg.

Though they each fell one match short of claiming a medal at worlds, world and European champion Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) and silver-medalist Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) will attempt to repeat as medalists this year.

Meanwhile, Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR), who upended Bolkvadze for world bronze in 2022, will aim for his first podium finish at the European Championships.

87kg
Multiple-time world champion and Tokyo Olympics champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) was set to return to the Continental Championships for the first time in two years, but decided to forfeit his starting spot to Artem MATIASH (UKR) after saying he did not feel ready to compete in Croatia.

Without Beleniuk, the bracket also features three 2022 world medalists and three 2022 European Championships medalists. Top-ranked Turpal Ali BISULTANOV (DEN) is the prevailing European champion and placed second-place finisher at worlds a season behind Serbia’s Zurabi DATUNASHVILI, the two-time world champ, who was a late entry into the field.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old rising star David LOSONCZI (HUN) will make his senior European Championships debut after placing third at senior worlds in 2022.

The other returning world bronze medalist, No. 3 Ali CENGIZ (TUR), will also be competing.

Other notable contenders include returning European Championships medalists Nicu OJOG (ROU) and Islam ABBASOV (AZE), who missed the 2022 World Cup after undergoing shoulder surgery.

97kg
In the bracket with the most registrations (21), the world No. 1 and No. 2 ranked wrestlers at 97kg control the spotlight.

Reigning European champion Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL) will seek revenge from his World Championships loss against Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM).

Aleksanyan, who didn’t compete in last year’s European Championships, will look to add his sixth European Championships title to his resume in addition to being a four-time world champion, Rio Olympic gold medalist and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist.

Also in contention are 2022 world bronze medalist Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), returning European bronze medalist Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) and No. 7 Giorgi MELIA (GEO).

130kg
All eyes will be following reigning world champion Riza Kayaalp, as he’ll be competing in Zagreb to win his 12th European title. If he’s able to accomplish such a feat, his title will tie arguably the Greco-Roman G.O.A.T, Aleksandr Karelin, for the most European Championships of all time.

He’ll face stiff competition with both returning world bronze medalists registered to compete, current No. 1 ranked Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) and No. 4 Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU).

Additionally, returning European medalists Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA) and Dariusz Attila VITEK (HUN) will also be taking the mat at heavyweight.

How to Follow Along
Fans can follow the action every throw of the way on United World Wrestling's mobile app or www.uww.org. Download #TheHomeOfWrestling, United World Wrestling's mobile app today to access real-time match center data, get regular updates on tournaments and receive all the latest wrestling news in a flash.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open Ranking Series day four finals set

Saturday, February 4, 2023 - 09:08 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 4) -- The Zagreb Open Ranking Series enters its fourth day with four women's wrestling and two Greco-Roman weight classes. A huge crop of talent is competing at 67kg including Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) who won the gold at 60kg in Tokyo.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

15:00: Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) is so good. Iman Hossein Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) tried every trick he had but failed to break Mammadov's defense. The Azerbaijan wrestlers wins 4-4 and reaches the 63kg final.

14:35: Yelena MAKOYED (USA) is quickly becoming a threat at 76kg. She beats Dymond GUILFORD (USA) 12-2 to reach the final. If she can win domestically, she will have a chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics. But Adeline GRAY (USA) is standing on that path.

14:20: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) with a fall over Juan WANG (CHN). She moves into the 76kg final and will face the winner of Yelena MAKOYED (USA) vs. Dymond GUILFORD (USA).

14:00: HUSIYUETU (CHN) with the upset of the tournament as he wins 13-4 over Luis ORTA (CUB). Perhaps Orta was pushed to the limits by Jafarov and Sohrabi in the previous. But here he was helpless. Husiyuetu got the par terre advantage and trapped one of Orta's arms and scored via exposure. Nothing much Orta could do there. This also means that a Jafarov vs Sohrabi rematch won't take place.

13:40: Helen MAROULIS (USA) up against Patrycja GIL (POL) at 57kg. Gil with a takedown and tries to pin but Maroulis with excellent defense. Gil leads 4-0. Maroulis scores stepout to cut the lead to 4-3. A takedown just before the break for Gil. She begins the second period with a counter takedown and it's 8-3 for Gil who is struggling to keep up. Maroulis takedown on the edge to make it 8-5 with around a minute remaining. Gil with another spin behind and it's 10-5 for her. Maroulis will take a 10-5 loss at 57kg.

13:15: The quarterfinals at GR 63kg

Samuel JONES (USA) vs. Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO)
Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB) vs. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE)
Perica DIMITRIJEVIC (SRB) vs. Iman Hossein Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI)
SAGAR (IND) vs. Aref Hossein Khoun MOHAMMADI (IRI)

12:50: Luis ORTA (CUB) is on a roll here. After beating Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), he now takes out Daniel SOHRABI (IRI). Sohrabi got a stepout and passivity point in the first period but Orta managed to escape. As the pressure built, Sohrabi tried pushing Orta out but a head pinch from Orta resulted in four points. Sohrabi was penalized for keeping his head low. Orta on 6-2.

12:30: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) with a resounding win over KIRAN (IND) at 76kg. She got the cradle to fall to move into the quarterfinals.

12:10: Sae NANJO (JPN) with a technical superiority win over Alexandria TOWN (CAN). She is on course to wrestle Maroulis in what can prove to be a blockbuster.

12:05: Helen MAROULIS (USA) was checked by Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) as the latter scored the first takedown on her but she quickly fizzled out. Maroulis quickly turned up and won her opening bout at 57kg 11-2.

11:45: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) with those perfect low singles against Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU). Despite all the tricks in her bag, Yepez has no idea how to deal with the phenom named Fujinami, who rolls to another technical superiority win at 53kg

11:36: Daniel SHORABI (IRI) is an absolute master at his craft. The young star gets Sylla into positions of no return. Shorabi scores three takedowns in his 10-2 win over Sylla.

11:35: Luis ORTA (CUB) hands Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) a 5-1 loss. He scores from par terre and two stepouts while Jafarov, despite getting the passivity point, fails to break Orta's defense.

11:20: Two big Greco-Roman bouts on adjacent mats. Luis ORTA (CUB) is wrestling Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). Danial SOHRABI (IRI) is up against Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA). Both bouts are at 67kg.

11:15: That has to be the calmest performance ever! Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) was trailing REETIKA (IND) 4-0 with 10 seconds remaining. With no signs of panic, Niikura used a head-pinched Reetika twice to win 4-4. So clutch.

10:55: Ningning RONG (CHN), competing for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics, could not get going in that bout against Patrycja GIL (POL). Shabby defense from Rong each time they got into scrambles and Gil built a 5-0 lead. Rong switched gears one in the final minute, scoring two takedowns but that was too little too late.

10:40: A fall for Sam STEWART (CAN) over world champion Dominique PARRISH (USA) at 53kg. Parrish was going for the single leg and seems like her knee hit the mat before she could finish the move and lost her balance. Stewart kept Parrish on the back for the fall.

10:30: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) looks like she was never off the mat. A dominant 10-0 win over Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) at 53kg. Fujinami last competed internationally at the Asian Championships and has been struggling with a few injuries.

10:15: Tokyo Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) makes his debut at 67kg and begins with a win! A combination of big throws and pushouts gives him a 9-1 victory over Karanjit SINGH (IND).

10:00: Welcome to a very windy day here in Zagreb! The wrestlers are ready for another long day of wrestling. The return of Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) to international competition since the Asian Championships in April last year is the biggest story of the day.

European Championships Greco-Roman preview

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Zagreb Open Ranking Series day four finals set