#WrestleBaku

European OG Qualifiers 2024 Entry List

Monday, March 25, 2024 - 11:47 By United World Wrestling Press

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (March 25) -- The third continental Olympic qualifiers, European OG Qualifiers, will be held in Baku from April 5-7 with 36 quotas on offer for the Paris Olympic Games 2024.

A total of 301 wrestlers are registered for the tournament with Greco-Roman receiving the most entries at 114. A host of countries are yet to earn their spots for Paris 2024.

The tournament will be live on uww.org and the UWW App using UWW+. The two winners of the semifinals will earn a Paris quota with no final or bronze-medal bouts scheduled.

Hosts Azerbaijan will look to earn as many quotas as possible including one at 65kg in Freestyle with onus two-time Olympic medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE). Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) who missed the quota at the World Championships in dramatic fashion will give it another try.

Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) is back in action since his neck surgery which forced him to pull out of his 97kg semifinal against Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) at the World Championships. Tokyo bronze medalist Artur NAIFONOV (AIN) is also returning to international competition for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics.

In Women's Wrestling, the 57kg will end in heartbreak for someone as Tokyo silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN), Tokyo bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) and former European champion Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) are entered.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE), a four-time Olympic medalist, will look to earn a spot to her fifth Olympic at 50kg.

Freestyle

57kg
Aryan TSIUTRYN (AIN)
Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE)
Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)
Levan METREVELI VARTANOV (ESP)
Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)
Horst LEHR (GER)
Simone PIRODDU (ITA)
Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
Razvan KOVACS (ROU)
Thomas EPP (SUI)
Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
Kamil KERYMOV (UKR)

65kg
Niurgun SKRIABIN (AIN)
Islam DUDAEV (ALB)
Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
Ayub MUSAEV (BEL)
Mikyay NAIM (BUL)
Carlos ALVAREZ IGLESIAS (ESP)
Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)
Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO)
Andre CLARKE (GER)
Joshua FINESILVER (ISR)
Maxim SACULTAN (MDA)
Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
Stefan COMAN (ROU)
Nino LEUTERT (SUI)
Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR)
Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)

74kg
Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (AIN)
Simon MARCHL (AUT)
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
Ibragim VELIEV (BEL)
Miroslav KIROV (BUL)
Erik REINBOK (EST)
Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA)
Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Stas WOLF (GER)
Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN)
Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR)
Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)
Egzon XHONI (KOS)
Vasile DIACON (MDA)
Rasul SHAPIEV (MKD)
Patryk OLENCZYN (POL)
Zurab KAPRAEV (ROU)
Malik AMINE (SMR)
Tobias PORTMANN (SUI)
Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
Vadym KURYLENKO (UKR)

86kg
Ilya KHAMTSOU (AIN)
Artur NAIFONOV (AIN)
Benjamin GREIL (AUT)
Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL)
Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP)
Aimar ANDRUSE (EST)
Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
Joshua MORODION (GER)
Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE)
Patrik PUESPOEKI (HUN)
Matthew FINESILVER (ISR)
Aron CANEVA (ITA)
Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT)
Domantas PAULIUSCENKO (LTU)
Ivan ICHIZLI (MDA)
Ahmad MAGOMEDOV (MKD)
Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL)
Samuel SCHERRER (SUI)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)

97kg
Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (AIN)
Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN)
Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)
Erik THIELE (GER)
Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN)
Benjamin HONIS (ITA)
Lukas KRASAUSKAS (LTU)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD)
Radoslaw BARAN (POL)
Georgian TRIPON (ROU)
Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)

125kg
Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (AIN)
Paris KAREPI (ALB)
Johannes LUDESCHER (AUT)
Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE)
Alen KHUBULOV (BUL)
Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
Daniel LIGETI (HUN)
Abraham CONYEDO (ITA)
Ralfs LUKINS (LAT)
Gheorghe ERHAN (MDA)
Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL)
Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR)

Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR)Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) will return to competition after recovering from her injury. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Mariya STADNIK (AZE)
Kseniya STANKEVICH (AIN)
Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (AIN)
Miglena SELISHKA (BUL)
Aintzane GORRIA GONI (ESP)
Julie SABATIE (FRA)
Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)
Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA)
Gabija DILYTE (LTU)
Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
Ana PIRVU (ROU)
Oksana LIVACH (UKR)

53kg
Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE)
Natalia MALYSHEVA (AIN)
Irena BINKOVA (BUL)
Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA)
Annika WENDLE (GER)
Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)
Sztalvira ORSUS (HUN)
Maria FERONE (ITA)
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)
Veronika RJABOVOLOVA (MKD)
Jowita WRZESIEN (POL)
Andreea ANA (ROU)
Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR)

57kg
Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)
Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN)
Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN)
Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)
Graciela SANCHEZ DIAZ (ESP)
Mathilde RIVIERE (FRA)
Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
Erika BOGNAR (HUN)
Aurora RUSSO (ITA)
Othelie HOEIE (NOR)
Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU)
Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)
Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR)

62kg
Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE)
Alina KASABIEVA (AIN)
Veranika IVANOVA (AIN)
Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL)
Lydia PEREZ (ESP)
Viktoria VESSO (EST)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Eniko ELEKES (HUN)
Elena ESPOSITO (ITA)
Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT)
Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA)
Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL)
Kriszta INCZE (ROU)
Johanna LINDBORG (SWE)
Kadriye AKSOY (TUR)

68kg
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
Hanna SADCHANKA (AIN)
Khanum VELIEVA (AIN)
Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL)
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Eyleen SEWINA (GER)
Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)
Ilana KRATYSH (ISR)
Dalma CANEVA (ITA)
Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT)
Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU)
Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL)
Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)
Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE)
Tetiana SOVA RIZHKO (UKR)

76kg
Martina KUENZ (AUT)
Rita TALISMANOVA (AIN)
Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (AIN)
Vanesa GEORGIEVA (BUL)
Epp MAE (EST)
Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA)
Francy RAEDELT (GER)
Agoro PAPAVASILEIOU (GRE)
Bernadett NAGY (HUN)
Enrica RINALDI (ITA)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Catalina AXENTE (ROU)
Yasemin ADAR (TUR)
Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTOVA (UKR)

Leri ABULADZE (GEO)63kg world champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) is wrestling at 60kg in Baku. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Greco-Roman

60kg
Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN)
Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN)
Bajram SINA (ALB)
Aker SCHMID AL OBAIDI (AUT)
Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE)
Leo TUDEZCA (FRA)
Leri ABULADZE (GEO)
Etienne KINSINGER (GER)
Ilias ZAIRAKIS (GRE)
Melkamu FETENE (ISR)
Jacopo SANDRON (ITA)
Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT)
Justas PETRAVICIUS (LTU)
Victor CIOBANU (MDA)
Olivier SKRZYPCZAK (POL)
Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)
Georgij TIBILOV (SRB)
Enes BASAR (TUR)
Oleksii MASYK (UKR)

67kg
Maksim NEHODA (AIN)
Ruslan BICHURIN (AIN)
Abu AMAEV (BUL)
Dominik ETLINGER (CRO)
Matias LIPASTI (FIN)
Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA)
Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)
Michael WIDMAYER (GER)
Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE)
Krisztian VANCZA (HUN)
Andrea SETTI (ITA)
Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU)
Valentin PETIC (MDA)
Morten THORESEN (NOR)
Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL)
Mihai MIHUT (ROU)
Andreas VETSCH (SUI)
Niklas OEHLEN (SWE)
Selcuk CAN (TUR)
Parviz NASIBOV (UKR)

77kg
Pavel LIAKH (AIN)
Adlet TIULIUBAEV (AIN)
Kevin KUPI (ALB)
Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL)
Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO)
Oldrich VARGA (CZE)
Oliver KRUEGER (DEN)
Marcos SANCHEZ (ESP)
Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN)
Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA)
Iuri LOMADZE (GEO)
Deni NAKAEV (GER)
Zoltan LEVAI (HUN)
Riccardo ABBRESCIA (ITA)
Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)
Per KURE (NOR)
Patryk BEDNARZ (POL)
Ilie COJOCARI (ROU)
Viktor NEMES (SRB)
Fabio DIETSCHE (SUI)
Per OLOFSSON (SWE)
Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)
Elmar NURALIIEV (UKR)

87kg
Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN)
Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN)
Lukas STAUDACHER (AUT)
Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
Ivan HUKLEK (CRO)
Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)
Waltteri LATVALA (FIN)
Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO)
Hannes WAGNER (GER)
Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE)
Leon RIVALTA (ITA)
Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU)
Mihail BRADU (MDA)
Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)
Exauce MUKUBU (NOR)
Szymon SZYMONOWICZ (POL)
Nicu OJOG (ROU)
Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB)
Damian VON EUW (SUI)
Alex KESSIDIS (SWE)

97kg
Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN)
Daniel GASTL (AUT)
Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE)
Filip SMETKO (CRO)
Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO)
Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER)
Michail IOSIFIDIS (GRE)
Alex SZOKE (HUN)
Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA)
Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU)
Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED)
Felix BALDAUF (NOR)
Gerard KURNICZAK (POL)
Mihail KAJAIA (SRB)
Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE)
Dogan YILMAZ (TUR)
Yevhenii SAVETA (UKR)

130kg
Dzmitry ZARUBSKI (AIN)
Sergei SEMENOV (AIN)
Beka KANDELAKI (AZE)
Georgi IVANOV (BUL)
Heiki NABI (EST)
Matti KUOSMANEN (FIN)
Sulkhan BUIDZE (GEO)
Jello KRAHMER (GER)
Dariusz VITEK (HUN)
Romas FRIDRIKAS (LTU)
Oskar MARVIK (NOR)
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU)
Boris PETRUSIC (SRB)
Oleksandr CHERNETSKYY (UKR)

#WrestleTirana

Jamalov loss, historic Olympic medal for Albania, defensive style: Valiev opens up to UWW

Monday, October 21, 2024 - 17:06 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (October 21) -- Cherman VALIEV (ALB) sits in the 'VIP Lounge' of the Feti Borova Sports Hall in Tirana on the sidelines of the U23 World Championships. He certainly is a very important person in Albania. At the Paris Olympics in August, Valiev won the bronze medal in the 74kg weight class, becoming Albania's first-ever Olympic medalist in any sport.

Two months later, he has had time to reflect on his Paris Olympic campaign, the controversial loss against Razambek JAMALOV (UZB), and is preparing for the new season, in which he wants to avenge that loss against Jamalov.

United World Wrestling caught up with Valiev on the sidelines of the U23 World Championships. Excerpts from the interview:

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)

- Reflecting on his bronze medal at the Paris Olympics

Valiev: It’s a dream for every athlete to compete at the Olympic Games. As for me, I was able to win a medal. It’s a historic medal for Albania, the first one ever in any sport. It’s a great honor for me that I was able to live up to their expectations. When I joined the national team, they believed in me. I am glad that I could meet their expectations.

I was given an apartment in Albania for winning the Olympic bronze. I am very grateful that they value the athlete’s hard work. I was given prize money as well. Sometimes people on the streets in Albania would come over and ask for a photo. It’s really nice and it motivates me to continue giving my all to show the best results. 

I realize that I’ve won a medal at the Olympic Games. This motivates me to keep working even harder. Time flies quickly, and before you know it, the next Olympic Games will be here.

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)

- Experience at the Paris Olympics

Valiev: I think I gave my all in those two days and did everything I could. I wrestled with all my strength and did my best on the mat. As I said before, I had four matches in Paris, and I won all four of them. To this day, I have been reviewing the matches and I believe that I won without any doubts. If there was any other wrestler in my position he would defend when leading the match. I wasn’t fleeing the mat, I was just defending and this is within the rules.

[In the bronze medal bout], I was emotionally motivated to avenge that loss in Istanbul [at the World Olympic Qualifier]. It was crucial for me at that time to prove that I was better than him, and I was very determined and focused on that match. So, I convincingly defeated Viktor with a score of 6-2 in Paris.

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)

- On his return to Ossetia after Paris Olympics

Valiev: I was welcomed very well in Ossetia as if I was an Olympic champion. I received a lot of support, people were saying that I was their Olympic champion. Even many people not from Ossetia, but from other regions were saying that they saw everything and that I was an Olympic champion for them. It’s very pleasing for me to be appreciated that way.

- On his wrestling style

Valiev: I am not going to change anything in my style. If you don't defend in wrestling, you will give up points. I defend and attack at the same time, scoring points. After all, I win matches somehow. If I didn’t attack, the referees wouldn’t give me points. As I said before, I will try to take the lead in order to avoid such situations in the future. I haven’t really noticed anyone saying that I have a passive wrestling style. I don’t know how to explain it, but as soon as I feel the referee is about to give a passivity point, I always try to change the course of the match. 

I don’t usually prepare for any specific wrestler. I just do my job. I have a plan in my head, I watch their matches, and I know their strengths and weaknesses. For example, if I know he has a signature move, I try not to get caught for that. Sitting and watching the matches of my opponents all day long isn't something I do.

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)

- On growing up with wrestling

Valiev: Wrestling is the number one sport in Ossetia. In my hometown Ardon, there was just wrestling and football. My elder brother started wrestling first. All our family is into it. My father used to wrestle as well. There are three kids in the family. My brother, sister and myself. I started wrestling when I was eight years old. My dad was wrestling only when he was at school, but my elder brother still trains, he sometimes competes at the local tournaments and finishes on the podium. So there was no choice. I liked playing football as well, but up until now, I do freestyle wrestling. When I was wrestling at the cadet level, I started showing some good results, I started going here and there to the training camps and competitions. I really loved that atmosphere of traveling to different places and meeting new people. So, I couldn’t give it up.

When I was a kid, the coaches were telling me that I was talented and that I had to train hard, but it wasn’t something like being a wonder kid or someone very special.

- On his idol Kudukhov

Valiev: I always wanted to be like Besik KUDUKHOV. I always tried to copy his wrestling style, his moves and his throws. He was super-fast and I really copied him, but only when I was a child. Over time I’ve got my own style and technique. It’s difficult to be as fast as he was. I got the chance to train with Besik only once. It was two days before he died. Up until now, people keep saying that he was a very well-mannered, decent man. He was not just a good wrestler, but also a very kind person. 

- On his return to competition next year

Valiev: My next tournament will be a Ranking Series here in Albania. When I step on the mat, the number one priority for me is to win the match. Of course, the Olympic medal gives me more confidence and status, but the medal won’t wrestle for me. So, I have to do my best to win the match.  

I have learned a little bit of the Albanian language, I really want to improve on that. But I need to start with English first.

(Translation by Karina Mirzoian)