#WrestleWarsaw

Evloev Captures Gold as Russia Clean Sweeps Euros

Sunday, April 25, 2021 - 20:10 By Vinay Siwach

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WARSAW, Poland (April 25) -- Musa EVLOEV (RUS) is quickly establishing himself as one of the Greco-Roman greats around the world.

Ever since he captured the World title in 2018, he continues to rise to the top and on Sunday, he took another step in that direction, winning his second European title at 97kg as the senior continental Championships came to a close in Warsaw, Poland.

The 28-year-old wrestled in the final bout of the day and it wasn't even a match. Veteran Balazs KISS (HUN) tried to give a fight but Evloev was in no mood to waste time. With a series of par terre rolls, Evloev captured the gold medal with a 10-0 win in just one minute and 33 seconds.

His gold confirmed the team title for Russia as it clean swept the Championships, winning the freestyle, women's and the Greco-Roman team titles over the past seven days at the Sportowa COS Torwar stadium which is out-of-bounds for spectators.

As Evloev ascends to the top, he will be the favorite to win the gold medal in Tokyo Olympics, a title he will have to take from Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), just like the World title in 2018.

Aleksanyan captured the World and Olympic titles from 2014 to 2017 until Evloev defeated him in the semifinal at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest. Since then, Evloev has two more wins over the Armenian, one at the 2019 World Championships and the other at the Individual World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia last year.

Meanwhile, two-time junior world champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) will have to wait for his first senior European Championships title. For the second consecutive year, he went home with a silver medal after he lost Sunday's final against Sergey EMELIN (RUS) 1-4.

Despite the aggression of Kamal, former world champion Emelin kept his composure throughout the 60kg final to reclaim his European title which he had lost to Victor CIOBANU (MDA) in 2019.

Sergey EMELIN (RUS) European Championships 2021

Emelin, who won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships, was trailing 0-1 to Kamal at the break as he was warned for passivity. Kamal had a 5-0 lead after a big throw just before the break but a successful challenge from Russia showed there was no exposure, reversing the score to 1-0.

A minute and a half into the second period, Kamal was warned for passivity and Emelin scored on par terre, claiming a 3-1 lead. Kamal did try to score but was unsuccessful and with just two seconds left, he challenged for a point for stepout which was denied, giving the Russian the win and the first gold medal of the day.

The hopes of the home gold for Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) were dashed as Mate NEMES (SRB) dominated the final at 67kg to win the gold medal. Nemes gave his country the second gold medal in Warsaw after Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) won the gold at 87kg on Saturday.

Just 30 seconds into the final, Nemes came up with a big over the shoulder four-point throw to take the lead. With 30 seconds left for the break Bernatek was warned for passivity but he successfully defended his par terre position.

As Nemes closed-in on victory, he was warned for passivity and gave up two points for it. But as Bernatek tried desperate attempts, he was warned for using his head and penalized for two points. Nemes won the gold medal 7-2.

By winning the title, the 2019 bronze medalist from the Nursultan World Championships did what his twin brother Viktor NEMES (SRB), a former world champion, could not in three attempts.

Georgia also put its name on the title list with a gold medal at 72kg. Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) put on a defensive show to capture the gold by defeating junior world and European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) 4-1.

The Georgian Olympic bronze medalist rode on his luck in the final as he was awarded two points on a lost challenge from Armenia. After being called passive a minute and 17 seconds into the bout, Bolkvadze defended the par terre position. Amoyan almost got the exposure but it was given clean by the referee, prompting Amoyan to challenge the call.

Not only he lost the challenge, the jury decided to give two points to Bolkvadze for exposing Amoyan to his back, leading 3-1. A passivity against Amoyan increased the lead to 4-1 and Bolkvadze defended it till the end to win the gold medal for his country.

Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) European Championships 2021
Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) won the gold medal at 72kg in Warsaw. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Participating in the European Championships after a gap of four years, Adlan AKIEV (RUS) made a golden return as he became the champion of the 82kg category, giving Russia their second gold medal of the night.

After reaching his first-ever European final, Akiev finished things in style by winning the gold medal 11-1 against Radzik KULIYEU (BLR).

The deadlock was broken at 1:28 when Kuliyeu was given passive and Akiev got the exposure for two from a throw. A minute later, the Russian produced an over the shoulder throw to get two more and lead 5-0 at the break.

One minute and 20 seconds into the second period, Akiev was called passive but Kuliyev failed to get in correct position and the referee called for center, leaving the score 5-1 for Akiev.

A two-point exposure and a four-point move finished the bout with an 11-1 win for Akiev, which more or less confirmed the team title for Russia with one Evloev's gold medal bout yet to be played.

Adlan AKIEV (RUS) European Championships 2021

Greco-Roman Medal Results Day 7

60kg
GOLD - Sergey EMELIN (RUS) df. Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 4-1

BRONZE - Grzegorz KUNKEL (POL) df. Razvan ARNAUT (ROU), 6-0
BRONZE - Viktor PETRYK (UKR) df. MAKARANKA Bread (BLR), 5-1

67kg
GOLD - Mate NEMES (SRB) df. Mateusz BERNATEK (POL), 7-2

BRONZE - Murat FIRAT (TUR) df. Zaur KABALOEV (ITA), 3-1
BRONZE - Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) df. Donior ISLAMOV (MDA), 9-0

72kg
GOLD - Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), 4-1

BRONZE - Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) df. Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS), 3-0
BRONZE - Maksym YEVTUSHENKO (UKR) df. Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL), 11-0

82kg
GOLD - Adlan AKIEV (RUS) df. Radzik KULIYEU (BLR), 11-0

BRONZE - Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO) df. Karapet CHALYAN (ARM), 3-2
BRONZE - Hannes WAGNER (GER) vs. Rajbek Alvievich BISULTANOV (DEN), 3-1

97kg
GOLD - Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Balazs KISS (HUN), 8-0

BRONZE - Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) df. Markus RAGGINGER (AUT), 4-0
BRONZE - Mikalai STADUB (BLR) df. Zamir MAGOMEDOV (AZE), 3-1

#WrestleBelgrade

2023 Wrestling World Championships 57kg, 74kg, 79kg, 92kg semis set

Sunday, September 17, 2023 - 08:23 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 17) -- The World Championships enters its second day with more Freestyle action. Four new weight categories will be on the mat 57kg, 74kg, 79kg and 92kg with the first two being Olympic weight classes. Later in the evening, Paris Olympic quotas will be handed out.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The semifinals at 57kg, 74kg, 79kg and 92kg

79kg
Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) vs. Orkhan ABASOV (AZE)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) vs. Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)

92kg
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) vs. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ)
Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)

57kg
Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) vs. Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ)
Stevan MICIC (SRB) vs. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB)

74kg
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) vs. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN)
Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) vs. Kyle DAKE (USA)

15:48: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) avoids the fate of fellow Olympic champion Zavur UGUEV (AIN) when he staves off the upset bid of a hometown favorite, beating former world champion Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) 6-4 to make the 74kg semifinals. Sidakov trailed 3-2 going into the second period when he scored a takedown with just under two minutes left. Cabolov gets a stepout, but he still trails on criteria. Sidakov seals the deal with a late stepout for the win.

15:45: Kyle DAKE (USA) survives a scare in his bid to defend his 74kg title, scoring a stepout with 27 seconds left to go ahead en route to a 6-4 win over Daichi TAKATANI (JPN). Takatani gained a 4-point move off a lift-up-and-dump in the first period, and that kept him ahead on criteria when Dake tied the score in the second period. A late but futile challenge added the final point. 

15:45: If you need any more surprises! Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) with a 4-3 win over Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) at 74kg! Kougioumtsidis had a 3-3 criteria lead but tried throwing Salkazanov in the final seconds. The referees gave Salkazanov two points as Kougioumtsidis fell on his back. But a challenge from Greece saw it overturned. Salkazanov's head had moved out first.

He will meet Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) in the semifinals who survived a comeback from Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) to win 5-4.

15:34: Stevan MICIC (SR) pulls off the biggest surprise of the day, much to the thrill of the hometown crowd, when he overcomes a five-point deficit in the last 40 seconds, scoring the winning takedown at the buzzer to stun Olympic champion Zavur UGUEV (AIN) 9-7 in their 57kg quarterfinal.

15:30: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) stunned Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) with a four to start and then transitioned into a leg lace but Higuchi held on. Harutyunyan comes out leading 7-2. But Higuchi settles back and gets a takedown and gut to cut it to 7-6. A double from Higuchi for four and a lead of 10-7 at the break. A takedown to start the second period for Higuchi. Looks like Harutyunyan is out of steam. Higuchi with another four. He now leads 16-8. A takedown from Harutyunyan cut the lead to 16-10 with a minute to go. Two stepouts for the Armenian and it's 16-12. He adds another with a caution and Harutyunyan closes in with 16-14. Higuchi hangs on!

15:20: Osman NURMAGAOMEDOV (AZE), a bronze medalist last year, is trailing on criteria when he scores two takedowns in the final 40 seconds to upend Zahid VALENCIA (USA) 5-1 and secure a place in the 92kg semifinals. 

15:15: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) with a fall over Pruthviraj PATIL (UWW) to move into the 92kg semifinals. He will take on Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) who beats Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL).

15:05: Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) takes the lead for the first time with a double-leg takedown with 45 seconds left, then gets a late one off a desperation leap in a 5-2 victory at 79kg over 2022 silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI). Usamanov will face Orkhan ABASOV (AZE), a 9-3 winner over Chance MARSTELLER (USA), in the semifinals.

15:05: U23 world champion Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) worked hard for a 5-1 lead over Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) and kept attacking to finish the bout 7-1 and move into the semifinals against Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR). The Ukrainian came out all guns blazing against Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) and won the quarterfinal 5-2

14:54: Defending 74kg champion Kyle DAKE (USA) comes out like gangbusters against two-time Asian champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ), bulldozing to a 9-0 first-period lead. But he takes his foot off the gas in the second and gives up four points, but he's into the quarterfinals with a 9-4 win. He will face Daichi TAKATANi (JPN), whose older brother Sohsuke he defeated at the 2018 World Cup.

14:35: Stevan MICIC (SRB) was up 5-0 at the break and added another takedown in the second period against Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) to win 7-2 at 57kg. Top win for Micic there

14:25: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) will get a chance to avenge his quarterfinal loss from last year at 61kg to Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), and in the same round, after he mauled Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) 11-0 at 57kg.

14:18: Two Olympic champions, Zavur UGUEV (AIN) and Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN), both won by the same score in back-to-back matches on Mat B to advance to the quarterfinals. Uguev takes out Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) 6-0 at 57kg, then Sidakov scores three takedowns to beat Yones EMAMI (IRI) by the same score at 74kg. 

14:15: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), on his world debut, beats Vladislav VALIEV (AIN) 7-0 at 92kg. What a start for the teenager. Valiev was a 2019 European champion.

14:05: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) with a strong arm throw and gets a four over AMAN (UWW). He gets to a leg lace and an 11-0 win over Aman at 57kg.

14:00: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) continues to use his low single to maximum effect, advancing to the 57kg quarterfinals by scoring a pair of stepouts and a takedown in the first period and holding off any attacks in a 4-0 victory over Wanhao ZOU (CHN).

13:55: Both returning bronze medalists at 92kg, Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), with technical superiority win. The Georgian wins over Rustam SHODIEV (UZB) while the Azerbaijan wrestler wins over Denys SAHALIUK (UKR).

13:50: Chance MARSTELLER (USA), who had to beat former world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) just to make the U.S. team and get to Belgrade, scores three hard-fought takedowns in a 7-2 victory over Chems FATAIRIA (ALG) to advance to the 79kg quarterfinals. 

13:20: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) with a 3-0 win over Bekzod ABDURAKHAMANOV (UZB) at 74kg. An activity point and a takedown for Sidakov as he moves into the 1/8 finals

13:00: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) needed some time but he won 10-0 over Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) at 74kg. He moves into the 1/8 finals

12:57: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) with a technical superiority win over Gayan Kathurangana (SRI) as he warms up at 57kg. Next up on Mat D is Asian champion AMAN (UWW) against Igor CHICHIOI (MDA). He gets one takedown and a point for Chichioi's passivity to lead 3-0 at the break. He gets a figure-four and wins 11-2

12:55: Stevan MICIC (SRB) gets the crowd going as he wins at 57kg, a technical superiority over Gukhyeon KIM (KOR). He was a bronze medalist last year at 61kg.

12:52: Tokyo Olympic and two-time former world champion Zavur UGUEV (AIN) gets off to a roaring start at 57kg. He scores two quick takedowns against Levan METREVELI (ESP)  and after the second one, he applies an arm bar and levers the Spaniard over three times for a 10-0 win in 1:34.

12:49: An upset on Mat C as Niklas STECHELE (GER) scores a takedown with 30 seconds to go and defeats two-time world medalist Suleyman ATLI (TUR) 7-6 at 57kg.

12:35: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), the 61kg champion last year who is on a mission to win the Olympic 57kg gold that he barely missed out on at Rio 2016, shows no mercy in pummeling Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) in a 10-0 victory in 1:10. Higuchi counters Vangelov's counter with legs and a cross-face to go up 4-0. When Vengelov squirms out, Higuchi goes to a tight lace lock and forces the three rolls he needs to end the match.

12:30: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) with a 14-2 win over Simone PIRRODU (ITA) at 57kg. Seems like that leg lace has hurt Pirrodu as he limps off the mat

12:16: A thriller on Mat C puts Olympic silver medalist Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) out of the gold-medal chase. Georgis KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) scores a takedown and stepout off a subsequent scramble to go up 5-4 with 40 seconds left. But Kadimagomedov gets 2 off a counter lift with 7 seconds left, only to see the Greek scramble out and get a 2-point exposure with 2 seconds left for a dramatic 7-6 win.

12:10: Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) knocks off two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) 7-2 at 74kg! Chamizo scored two points but Takatani scored a takedown and a stepout. But he got on a double-leg and got the turn to win 7-2

12:05: Veteran Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) doesn't seem to have lost a step at 33 as he aims for his third world medal and first since 2018. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist uses his sweeping low singles to knock off Kamil RYBICKI (POL) with a comprehensive 12-1 technical fall at 74kg.

12:00: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) and Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) in a rematch of the 2018 World Championships final on Mat D. Kentchadze is put on activity clock but fails to score. He manages a stepout and lead 1-1 at the break. Sidakov shoots for single leg in the second period but Kentchadze gets the cradle for four and a danger position gives Sidakov two points. Sidakov challenges the call but it holds. 6-3 lead for Kentchadze. Sidakov switches levels and gets a takedown to cut the lead to 6-5. And the Tokyo Olympic champion hits a double leg for takedown to take the 7-6 lead which he maintains for the end of the clock. What a start for Sidakov at 74kg.

11:45: Returning bronze medalist Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) has a tight bout against Tim MUELLER (GER) but manages to hang on for a 3-1 win. Budazhapov would hope to win a bronze again and qualify Kyrgyzstan for the Paris Olympics.

11:41: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), a bronze medalist at 61kg the past two years, begins his foray at the Olympic weight of 57kg by overwhelming gritty Kamil KERYMOV (UKR). He fights off a whizzer for a takedown and a 14-3 technical fall with one tick left on the clock.

11:35: Vladislav VALIEV (AIN) warms up with a 10-0 win over Dan CHEPTAI (KEN) at 92kg. The 2019 European champion is a huge gold medal favorite

11:31: Amirali AZAPIRA (IRI), the two-time reigning world U23 champion at 97kg, gets Iran off to a winning start, gaining a driving takedown early in the second period to finish off an 11-0 technical fall over Woomin JANG (KOR) at 92kg. That sets up an Iran-USA clash with Zahid VALENCIA (USA) in the round of 16.

11:20: 2021 European champion Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) holds on to a 2-2 win over Gurbanmyrat OVEZBERDIYEV (TKM) in the 79kg opening bout. Both wrestlers did not stop their pace.

11:12: Consecutive matches at 79kg on Mat B show why coaches tell their athletes to fight to the end, no matter how badly they are losing. Shuhrat BOZOROV (TJK) trails Mihail GEORGIEV (BUL) 6-0 late in the second period, but scores a takedown, then uses a cross-face ride to secure a fall with 40 seconds left. Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) follows by spotting Peilong LI (CHN) an eight-point lead, then whittles it down before putting Li on his back and going ahead 10-8. Bat Erdene stops a last-ditch throw attempt and gains a fall in the final seconds.

10:55: Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) opens the action at 79kg by scoring a late stepout off a scramble to hold on for a 3-2 victory over European bronze medalist Ahmad MAGOMEDOV (MKD).

10:30: Big day of wrestling in front of us. Two Olympic weight classes, 57kg and 74kg, will be in action along with 79kg and 92kg, the two non-Olympic weight classes.