#WrestleZagreb

Friday's European Championships Greco-Roman semifinals set

Friday, April 21, 2023 - 09:45 By Eric Olanowski

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ZAGREB, Croatia (April 20) -- The fifth day of the European Championships in Zagreb, Croatia bring Greco-Roman action to the mat. We will start off with 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

FULL EUROPEAN C'SHIP SCHEDULE:
- 11:30 - Qualification rounds
- 16:45 - Semifinals
- 18:00 - Finals

Semifinal match (as they come in):
55kg
Adem Burak UZUN (TUR) vs. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) 
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs. Denis Florin MIHAI (ROU) 

63kg
Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) vs. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) 
Leri ABULADZE (GEO) vs. Abu Muslim Aptievitch AMAEV (BUL) 

77kg
LÉVAI Zoltán (HUN) vs. Viktor NEMES (SRB) 
Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) vs. Yunus Emre BASAR (TUR) 

87kg
Istvan TAKACS (HUN) vs. Damian VON EUW (SUI) 
Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) vs. Ali CENGIZ (TUR) 

130kg
Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) vs. Riza KAYAALP (TUR) 
Sabah Saleh SHARIATI (AZE) vs. Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) 


14:38:  Istvan TAKACS (HUN) takes out Semen Novikov, knocking the reigning European champion Bisultanov from the competition.

14:31: Returning champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) has built a 4-0 first-period lead over Oliver Marco KRUEGER (DEN). Meanwhile, Kayaalp rolled through Marvik, 8-0, to punch his ticket to the semifinals at 130kg.

14:27: Von Euw gives Switerland a semifinals as he defeats Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM), 8-3.

14:25: Kayaalp is coming is coming up next on Mat B. He'll take on 2021 world bronze medalist Oskar MARVIK (NOR).

14:15: Damian VON EUW (SUI) is a guy to pay attention to. He's dropped from 97kg to 87kg and has been making waves at his new weight. He tech'd two-time world champion Zurabi Datunashvili a few weeks ago and is now in the wrestling in the quarterfinals in one of the deepest weights of the competition.

13:56: Yunus Emre BASAR (TUR) just survived a near upset against Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER). The German had Basar up in par terre with :20 left but failed to capitalize on his opportunity, losing the match, 3-1.

13:50: We're going to be heading directly in quarterfinals across all three mats after these matches wrap up. The semifinals will be listed above (as they come in).

13:40: LÉVAI Zoltán (HUN) got his revenge on Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE). If you recall the Greco-Roman World Cup, Azerbaijan was pushed to the finals because Suleymanov pinned Levei. In Croatia, Levai picked up a one-sided 9-0 win to advance to the quarterfinals, where he'll meet  Iuri LOMADZE (GEO).

13:38: What a showing by Novikov. The Bulgarian took down reigning European champion Bisultanov, 12-3, and set up a meeting an 87kg quarterfinal match with Istvan TAKACS (HUN).  

13:32: I'm back to my seat after shooting the Question of the Day. 

12:55: I'm going to take a quick break from the live blog to shoot the Question of the Day video. The question for today is, "Who is the strongest person you ever wrestled?"

12:37: Two of the brightest young stars in the game Turpal Ali Alvievich BISULTANOV (DEN) and Semen Sergeevich NOVIKOV (BUL) will wrestle in six matches on Mat C. 

Bisultanov is the reigning European Championships, while Novikov, who transferred from Ukraine, was a U23 world champion a few years ago.

12:31: As expected for the European Championships, the Greco-Roman fans showed up in large numbers. The loudest fans in the Arena Zagreb are from Croatia, Sweden and Denmark thus far.

12:20: Something to note: Serbia's reigning two-time world champion Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) was a late scratch on the entries and was replaced by Zarko DICKOV (SRB). 

12:10: The biggest storyline that we'll be following is Riza KAYAALP (TUR) beginning his quest to tie Alexander KARELIN's (RUS) 12 European title mark. He'll be up in seven matches on Mat A, where he'll wrestle Boris PETRUSIC (SRB).

11:50: We're through with our women's wrestling repechage matches for the day and the opening-round Greco-Roman matches are being call to the mats. As always, the starts won't be up for a while if they are seeded in the top four.

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Day 4 Highlights

Saturday, July 18, 2026 - 08:27 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 18) -- The fourth day of the Budapest Ranking Series will see four Women's Wrestling - 53kg, 57kg, 72kg and 76kg and two Greco-Roman weight classes - 72kg and 87kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

GR 87kg semifinals - An all Russian final is set at 87kg after Islam ALIEV (RUS) beats Beka MELELASHVILI (USA), 6-1, and Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) gets a walkover from injured Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ).

GR 72kg semifinals - Rabil ASKEROV (RUS) starts with a stepout and then an arm-throw for four points gives him a 5-0 lead against Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO). Askerov then adds a takedown to lead 7-0 which he defends till the end of the clock and advance to the final. He will face another Georgian in the final after Nika BROLADZE (GEO) beats compatriot Mishiko ALEKSANDRIA (GEO), 4-2.

WW 76kg semifinals - Dymond GUILFORD (USA) scored a takedown and then turned Wenji LI (CHN) three times to win 8-0, a scoreless second period. Guilford will take on KAJAL (IND) after she defeated Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU). Kajal got the lead when Anghel was called passive before she scored two takedowns and extend it to 5-0. A feet-to-back for four points gave her a 9-0 win.

WW 57kg semifinals - Kexin HONG (CHN), the Asian champion, takes no time in completing a 10-0 technical superiority over Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE). Due to the long challenge review on Mat C, the other semifinal was delayed. Neha SHARMA (IND) scores two takedowns in the first period against Giullia PENALBAR (BRA) and then holds on to that lead for the win.

WW 53kg semifinals - Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) comes back in the second period with a big throw and pins Andreea ANA (ROU) to reach the final. On the other mat, Asian champion Jin ZHANG (CHN), down 6-0 against ANTIM (IND) also tried a fall but Antim defends for two points and then reverses the position for a point. When the time finishes, Antim leads 7-4 for the win but China challenges. On review, they add a point for Zhang's reversal but Antim still a 7-5 winner

Semifinals will begin at 13:30 hours local time

13:15: Asian champion Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) and Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) both score turns from par terre but the former scores it after Huklek to take the last-point criteria to complete a 3-3 win and enter the 87kg semifinals.

12:55: KAJAL (IND) with a snap and go-behind for a takedown against Shuiyan CHENG (CHN) after the China wrestler was put on activity clock. With a 3-0 lead, Kajal plays out the second period to win the 76kg bout 3-0

12:42: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) with a sweet pin over Madison PARKS (CAN) at 53kg. Malmgren witha takedown and then holds Parks on the mat with a turn to secure the fall.

12:33: ANTIM (IND) with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) at 53kg. She scores all of her takedowns by pressuring the U.S. wrestlers out of position. Rodriguez fails to find any answers to Antim.

12:27: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) advances to the 87kg quarterfinals after a 7-0 win over Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ). Levai's par terre in the second period gave him a 3-0 lead from which he scored two turns to complete the win

12:25: After a long challenge review, Islam ALIEV (RUS) is the winner against Ali CENGIZ (TUR) at 87kg. Aliev with a takedown and turn to lead 4-0 and then gets par terre in the second period to make it 5-0. He throws Cengiz out of bounds for one points. Cengiz locks Aliev around the waist but the Russian counters with a front headlock throw for two points. Turkiye challenge that but lose and Aliev wins 9-0   

12:15: Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) with three points in the second period to beat Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), 4-3, in a tough 87kg bout. He got the par terre and a turn to build his lead in the match.

12:02: World and Asian silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) tried to hold on to her 1-1 criteria lead against Wenji LI (CHN) but the China wrestler gets to her legs, elevates it and pushes out Medet Kyzy with 2 seconds left and complete a 2-1 victory at 76kg.

11:58: Excellent pressure wrestling from ANTIM (IND) and she scores five takedowns with ease against Yuxuan LI (CHN) to complete a 10-0 technical superiority win and advance to the quarterfinals at 53kg in which she will face Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA)

11:50: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA), who will be the United States representative at the World Championships, completes a 6-0 win over Nargiz SAMADOVA (AZE) with four points in first period and two in the second at 53kg.

11:37: Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) is looking solid as ever. The former European champion hits a double leg blast for four points and complete a 12-1 victory over Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) at 57kg

11:35: Asian champion Jin ZHANG (CHN) pins Asmar JANKURTARAN (AZE) after building an 8-0 lead and enter the quarterfinals at 53kg. Zhang uses both her leg lace and gut-wrench to score her points

11:30: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) chips away with three takedowns against NISHU (IND) to complete a controlled 6-2 victory and advance at 53kg.

11:20: Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) got the first par terre against Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) and then defended the par terre position when Bolkvadze got it in the second period. Down 1-1 on criteria, Bolkvadze challenged for a foul from Huklek during defense but none was confirmed on review, making Huklek a 2-1 winner at 87kg

11:05: In a Hungarian wrestle-off at 87kg, Istvan TAKACS (HUN) hangs on for a 2-1 victory over Tamas LEVAI (HUN) and takes a step towards making the team for the World Championships.

11:00: Tokyo Olympic medalist and former European champion Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) blanks Asian champion Mengyu XIE (CHN), 5-0, at 57kg.   

10:50: Asian champion at 67kg Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) falls to Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) after a 1-1 criteria loss. Khetsuriani with an escape when Beishekeev was working on par terre.

10:40: Early fireworks in Budapest. NISHU (IND) and Natia SVANIDZE (RUS) in a 21-point barn-burner. Svanidze raced to a 10-3 lead but Nishu with a stepout to add one point. Nishu then hits a four-pointer to close it to 10-7. With 14 seconds remaining, she adds a takedown on the edge before conforming an 11-10 with double-leg takedown in  last 5 seconds.