#WrestleBaku

Europe's best in Baku for Paris 2024 qualification in Greco-Roman

By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (April 4) -- Europe qualified four wrestlers for the Paris Olympics at 87kg from the World Championships in Belgrade. That number is the highest for Europe in any Greco-Roman weight class.

Yet, some of the top wrestlers in the continent have not been able to earn a Paris 2024 spot. Those stars will clash at the European OG Qualifier in Baku from April 5 to 7 to earn the two quotas available at 87kg.

Leading the field at 87kg is newly minted European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) who looked in top form at the European Championships. In the final, he even convincingly beat world champion Ali CENGIZ (TUR).

Islam ABBASOV (AZE) is seeded number one at 87kg and Komarov is number four resulting in the two falling on the same side of the bracket. The two met in the semifinal at the European Championships which Komarov won 3-1. European bronze medalist Kiyrl MASKEVICH (AIN) gets the second seed and Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) is third, putting them together on the lower side of the bracket.

Though they will be unseeded, former U23 world champion Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) and former European champion Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) will be roaring to go as the latter returns from injury. Former U23 world champion Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) also hopes to earn the quota.

A few other big clashes are expected in Baku, especially with wrestlers from non-Olympic weight classes moving to the Olympic ones.

Leri ABULADZE (GEO), a 63kg world champion, is moving down to 60kg to earn an Olympic quota. But it won't be easy for him. A two-time U23 world champion Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) and European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) will be the biggest challenges for the unseeded Abuladze.

Add to the line-up top seed and Tokyo Olympian Victor CIOBANU (MDA) who reached the final at the European Championships before losing to Mammadli. Ciobanu and Mammadli are separated by seeding and will not face each other in Baku. Leo TUDEZCA (FRA) enjoys the third seed and Jacopo SANDRON (ITA) will be seeded fourth.

Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) will be looking to return to the Olympics by winning a quota in Baku. He was at 72kg at the European Championships and won a bronze medal. The European champion at 72kg, Selcuk CAN (TUR), is dropping to 67kg.

Nasibov will be seeded number four in Baku which pits him on the same side as top seed Krisztian VANCZA (HUN). Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) is seeded second with Mihai MIHUT (ROU) getting the third seed.

European bronze medalist Abu AMAEV (BUL) is entered for the tournament along with some hammers like Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU), Morten THORESEN (NOR), Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) and Niklas OEHLEN (SWE).

At 97kg, Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) will look to build on his silver-medal finish at the European Championships and earn a spot for the Paris Games. He defeated Kiril MILOV (BUL) and Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) before losing to Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM).

Milov has pulled out due to an injury and will not be competing at the Paris Olympics. Savolainen will be in Baku and seeded number one for the competition followed by Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU) at number two and Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) at three. Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE) is seeded number four.

Alex SZOKE (HUN), Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA), Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) and Felix BALDAUF (NOR), among others, will be drawn randomly.

European champion and two-time Olympic medalist Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) has the best chance to earn a Paris 2024 spot. He stunned Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the 130kg final, denying the legend a record-breaking 13th European title. Despite his gold, Semenov will be unseeded in Baku.

Romas FRIDRIKAS (LTU) is the top seed followed by 2012 London Olympic silver medalist Heiki NABI (EST) at second. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) will be number three and Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) is number four.

At 77kg, world champion at 72kg Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA), former world silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), U23 world champion Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), Viktor NEMES (SRB) and former world champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) will battle for the two spots.

#WrestleParis

Wrestling at 2024 Paris Olympics: Schedule, Venue, Timings, Weight Categories

By United World Wrestling Press

PARIS (July 1) -- The Olympic Games Paris 2024 begins in the French capital on July 26 and the closing ceremony is scheduled for August 11. Wrestling at Paris 2024 will run for seven days starting August 5. Out of the seven wrestling days, six will be with medal bouts.

Wrestling will be competed in 18 weight classes -- six each of Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling. All the bouts will be held at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris. Women's Wrestling will be in action every day.

For all the action, news, results, and details of wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, keep a tab on uww.org, UWW+ App and follow UWW's social channels -- Instagram, X, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok

Wrestling's schedule at the 2024 Paris Olympics is as follows

August 5

Qualification Bouts (15:00 local time): GR 60kg, 130kg and WW 68kg
Semifinals (21:00): GR 60kg, 130kg and WW 68kg

August 6

Repechage (11:00 local time): GR 60kg, 130kg and WW 68kg
Qualification Bouts (~11:30 local time): GR 77kg, 97kg and WW 50kg
Semifinals (18:15 local time):  GR 77kg, 97kg and WW 50kg
Medal Bouts (19:30 local time):  GR 60kg, 130kg and WW 68kg

August 7

Repechage (11:00 local time): GR 77kg, 97kg and WW 50kg
Qualification Bouts (~11:30 local time): 67kg, 87kg and WW 53kg
Semifinals (18:15 local time): 67kg, 87kg and WW 53kg
Medal Bouts (19:30 local time): GR 77kg, 97kg and WW 50kg

August 8

Repechage (11:00 local time): GR 67kg, 87kg and WW 53kg
Qualification Bouts (~11:30 local time): FS 57kg, 86kg and WW 57kg
Semifinals (18:15 local time): FS 57kg, 86kg and WW 57kg
Medal Bouts (19:30 local time): GR 67kg, 87kg and WW 53kg

August 9

Repechage (11:00 local time): FS 57kg, 86kg and WW 57kg
Qualification Bouts (~11:30 local time): FS 74kg, 125kg and WW 62kg
Semifinals (18:15 local time): FS 74kg, 125kg and WW 62kg
Medal Bouts (19:30 local time): FS 57kg, 86kg and WW 57kg

August 10

Repechage (11:00 local time): FS 74kg, 125kg and WW 62kg
Qualification Bouts (~11:30 local time): FS 65kg, 97kg and WW 76kg
Semifinals (18:15 local time): FS 65kg, 97kg and WW 76kg
Medal Bouts (19:30 local time): FS 74kg, 125kg and WW 62kg

August 11

Repechage (11:00 local time): FS 65kg, 97kg and WW 76kg
Medal Bouts (12:00 local time): FS 65kg, 97kg and WW 76kg