#WrestleZagreb

European Championships to witness Akgul vs Petraishvili again

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (April 18) -- Taha AKGUL (TUR) and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) will have a go at each other once again after the two made it to the final for the second year in a row. Last year, Akgul defeated Petriashvili to win the gold and the latter will have a chance to avenge that loss.

After easy pickings in the quarterfinals, both wrestlers had comfortable wins in the semifinals as well. Akgul defeated Abraham CONYEDO (ITA) 4-0 while Petriashvili picked up a 7-4 win over Daniel LIGETI (HUN). Petriashvili gave up a huge four-pointer in that semifinal.

Akgul leads Petriashvili 5-1 in their European head-to-head record and Wednesday will see if Petriashvili can pull one back.

Another rematch from 2022 will be at 74kg as Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) and Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) returned to the final in Zagreb. Salkazanov won the thriller in Budapest last year.

The defending champion once again used his defensive skills to outplay his opponents in the morning session. He defeated Rasul SHAPIEV (MKD) 5-0 and Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM) 3-0 before facing Avantdil KENTCHADZE (GEO) in the semifinal. Salkazanov did not change his strategy and managed to see off the Georgian to win 5-1.

Chamizo had a much tougher road to the final as he faced Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) in the opening bout. Gadzhiev had the lead but Chamizo's activity broke the U20 world champion and he lost 9-4. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) must have thought he is in a safe area leading 6-1 against Chamizo in the quarterfinal. But Chamizo worked his way to three takedowns and a stepout to win 8-6. In the semifinal, he defeated Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL) 9-0 before the Bulgarian was injured.

"Last year I was not myself," Chamizo said. "This year I am going to focus a little bit more and let's see what happens."

On his final against Salkazanov, Chamizo said he doesn't like the match-up against Salkazanov as he operates with a completely different style.

"He always beats me," he said. "I don't know why. I don't like wrestling him may be because he doesn't really wrestle. But I am ready. I am not worried about who loses or wins. I am a competitor."

At 61kg, world champion Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) reached his first European Championships final in a mixed performance. He began with an 11-0 win over Niklas STECHELE (GER) and denied Taras MARKOVYCH (UKR) 6-2 in the quarterfinals.

However, the semifinal proved to be a scare as Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO) got four points in the first period. Phartenadze shot for the ankle and got the takedown before adding a back exposure. But Abakarov pulled out a stunning single leg to score two points just before the break. Albania challenged the call and asked for four. On review, it was confirmed that Phartenadze fell on his back from standing and Albania won the challenge to lead 4-4 on criteria.

The second period saw him engage Phartenadze enough to not be called passive but there were no more points in those three points. He moved into the final, only the second Albanian wrestler ever.

He will now face defending champion Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) who easily moved into the final after beating Arman ELOYAN (FRA) 10-0 in the semifinal.

Another defending champion who moved into the final was Myles AMINE (SMR) at 86kg. He had to dig deep in the semifinal against Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) as he was trailing 2-1. But an arm-drag with two seconds remaining gave him the takedown and a 3-2 win. 

He will now face Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE), who won the European Championships in 2017 for Russian Wrestling Federation. He defeated Boris MAKOEV (SVK) 5-0 in the semifinal to make his second Euro final.

After three finalists on day one, Azerbaijan added one more on Tuesday as Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) reached his first-ever final at the European Championships after two bronze medals. In the semifinal, he defeated Ermak KARDANOV (SVK) 6-0.

It could have been another world bronze medalist in the final but Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) beat Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) 11-1 in the other semifinal to deny that. He will be looking to defend his title which he won in Budapest.

RESULTS

Semifinals

61kg
GOLD: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB)

SF 1: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Arman ELOYAN (FRA), 10-0
SF 2: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) df. Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO), 4-4

74kg
GOLD: Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) vs. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)

SF 1: Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO), 5-1
SF 2: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) df. Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL), 9-0 via injury default

86kg
GOLD: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) vs. Myles AMINE (SMR) 

SF 1: Myles AMINE (SMR) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), 3-2
SF 2: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) df. Boris MAKOEV (SVK), 5-0

92kg
GOLD: Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) vs. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)

SF 1: Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 11-1
SF 2: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Ermak KARDANOV (SVK), 6-0

125kg
GOLD: Taha AKGUL (TUR) vs. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Taha AKGUL (TUR) df. Abraham CONYEDO (ITA), 4-0
SF 2: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Daniel LIGETI (HUN), 7-4

2026 U17 World Championships

U17 World Championships 2026 Day 2 Greco-Roman Results & Highlights

By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 28) -- The second day of the U17 World Championships will see five Greco-Roman weight classes in action -- 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg and 92kg till the semifinals before the medal bouts of the Monday's five weights -- 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg and 110kg.

Use code BUNDLE20 to get 20 precent off on UWW+ to watch the U17, U20 and U23 World Championships. Click here.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

15:30: Tomasz MITAL (POL) with a turn from par terre and Sandor ANTALY (HUN) doesn't have any as the Poland wrestler wins 3-1 at 92kg and enters the semifinals.

15:15: Another world champion reaches the semifinals. Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) takes only a minute and 13 seconds to punish Ervin CZUCZOR (HUN), 9-0, and move into the last-four at 71kg.

15:00: Denys KIRYK (UKR) has no answers to the constant pressure of returning world champion Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) at 51kg. The Uzbekistan wrestler takes a 6-0 lead before the break and Kirkyk manages only two points in the second period as Hasanov wins 6-2.

14:52: Into the semifinals for the hosts Azerbaijan, Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE). He hangs on for a 6-4 win over Gevorg HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) at 51kg. Harutyunyan threatened to take away the match in the second period with a few stepouts but Huseynli kept it clam.

14:22: Bunyod HASANOV (UZB), a returning world champion, sees off Artem TKACHENKO (RUS) with a 10-2 technical superiority win at 51kg. Leading 3-2 at the break, Hasanov went all out in the second period, scoring a stepout, front headlock throws and a takedown for the win.

14:15: Incredible bout between Ali IPEK (TUR) and Ahmad BADRADDINI (IRI) at 51kg. The Iranian raced to a 6-0 lead but Ipek took a criteria 6-6 lead with two turns after a takedown. But Badradinni countered him and scored a exposure and turn to lead 10-6 at the break. Badraddini comes out with a takedown and turn in the second period to win 14-6 

14:08: U17 European champion Tomasz MITAL (POL) moves into the quarterfinal at 92kg with a 7-1 win over Matti EICHMANN (SUI). Mital is hoping to become Poland's first World Championships finalist in Greco-Roman since 2017.

14:00: U17 European bronze medalist Mark KOT (BLR) rolls to a 9-0 technical superiority win over Ahmed ELGENDI (EGY) after four turns from par terre at 92kg.

13:40: Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI), U17 Asian champion, continues his march after another good win, this time 7-1 over Darpan CHAUDHARI (IND) at 60kg. Chaudhari had good defense but he failed to finish his counters. Tahmasbpour managed to craftly come out of the scrambles and post the win to enter the quarterfinals.

13:38: U17 European silver medalist at 92kg Aleksan SHALJYAN (ARM) had all the chances to win against Yusuf AKSU (TUR) in their match as he got the par terre and almost turned Aksu has well. But he gave up two points in the same move and Aksu won 3-1. Shaljyan was clearly not happy after the loss and both wrestlers exchanged some heated moments.

13:30: Amirreza MEHRITALARPOSHTI (IRI), the U17 Asian champion, led 2-2 on criteria against Hlib YEVSIEIEV (UKR), but the Ukrainian throws him for four and then holds the Iranian for a fall for a shock win at 92kg.

13:05: Rematch of the 1/8 final from U17 European Championships between Christiano LIEBZEIT (GER) and Elmir CHARKAZOV (AZE) at 60kg. Leibzeit, who won that match in Samakov, gets put in par terre first which gives Charkazov a 1-0 lead. However, he fails to score anymore points. Liebzeit too cannot score from par terre in the second period and Charkazov leads 1-1 on criteria with a minute remaining. Charkazov wins 1-1 and avenges his loss against the U17 European silver medalist.

12:52: Aslan DZUEV (RUS), the U17 European champion at 65kg, wrestling at 71kg in Baku, needed a late takedown to complete at 6-3 win over Alinur TOLEUGALI (KAZ) and advance to the 1/16 finals

12:50: U17 Asian champion Baiel NURALIEV (KGZ) has no trouble seeing off Parnam SINGH (IND), 7-1, in their 71kg bout. He scored three turns from par terre and then defended his position for the win.

12:45: Returning champion from 65kg, Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) needs only a minute and 24 seconds to finish his 71kg bout against Martin LETVIK (NOR), 8-0, and start his quest for another world title with a technical superiority win.

12:40: Vadim TARELUNGA (MDA), a 2025 bronze medalist at 45kg, has moved up to 51kg and he pins Georgios CHONDRONASIOS (GRE) to advance to the quarterfinals in Baku.

12:15: Returning bronze medalist Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) sends the crowd into a frenzy after a 9-0 win over U17 Asian champion Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ) at 51kg. He scores a four-point throw and Zhangazhol is hit with a foul caution. The bout restarts in par terre with Huseynli leading 7-0 and he turns Zhangazhol for the win 

12:05: U17 European champion Tomasz MITAL (POL) opens his campaign at 92kg with a 10-0 blanking of Sanjar STALBEKOV (KGZ). Mital gets the par terre and then launches Stalbekov for four points. Poland challenges for a leg foul and gets it correct. Leading 7-0, Mital turns Stalbekov for a 9-0 win and then one more point for a lost challenge from Kyrgyzstan

Another round of repechage bouts ongoing

11:22: U17 Asian champion Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) wastes no time in finishing his 60kg qualification bout against Pavlos TSENTIDIS (GRE), 8-0. He scores a takedown but a throw for four points. He adds two stepouts to win in a minute.

11:18: Christiano LIEBZEIT (GER), a U17 European silver medalist, hangs on for a 1-1 criteria win over Vlad DANILA (MDA) at 60kg. Liebzeit was in trouble when Danila hit an arm throw in the final five seconds but it was given no points

11:08: U17 Pan-Am champion Rylen WAX (USA) with a 4-1 win over Vazgen VARDANYAN (ARM), the U17 European bronze medalist, at 45kg. He got par terre in the second period and scored three points off the position to win

11:00: U17 Asian champion Armin ESMAEILI (IRI) begins with a 9-1 technical superiority win over Kerem DERMAN (TUR) at 45kg. He scores a throw from par terre but gives up a reversal. His 5-1 lead becomes 7-1 when he brings Derman down with a takedown. He then turns the Turkiye wrestler to finish the bout.

10:30: Soon after the repechage bouts, the qualification rounds will begin in five weight classes. The matches will continue till the quarterfinals and the semifinals will be held at 17:00 hours. The medal bouts of Monday's weight classes will be at 18:00 hours