#WrestlePontevedra

Georgia and Hungary Win Two Golds; Russia Claims Team Title

By Eric Olanowski

PONTEVEDRA, Spain (June 5) –  The Russian Federation, who had a solo champion and medaled at eight of ten weight classes, won the Greco-Roman team title at the Junior European Championships with 159 points; but it was Georgia (151 points) and Hungary (124 points) who finished in second and third place respectively that stole the show on Day 3 – each claiming a pair of Greco-Roman gold medals. 

Chkhikvadze and Shotadze Boost Georgia to Second-Place Finish 
A very familiar scene filled Pabellón Municipal De Los Deportes De Pontevedra during the Greco-Roman gold-medal finals – the Georgian faithful on their feet, waving flags and cheering for their wrestlers to come out on top of their gold-medal bout. 

Their support pushed three Georgian’s to gold medals and helped their nation to a second-place finish, eight points behind eventual champions Russia.  

On Tuesday night, it was 55kg champion Pridon ABULADZE who brought the crowd to their feet with 7-6 come-from-behind win, and on Wednesday, it was Diego CHKHIKVADZE and Giorgi SHOTADZE who carried the Georgian flag around the mat after winning the 60kg and 67kg titles, respectively. 

Chkhikvadze controlled the 60kg finals against Asgar ALIZADA (AZE) by one point after the first period, then tossed the Azeri wrestler for four points in the second period and closed out the finals with a five-point victory. Chkhikvadze’s run to the 60kg title is a major improvement from his 2018 cadet European performance when he finished in 14th place. 

Georgia’s second champion of the day and third overall gold-medal winner was Giorgi Shotadze, who had an easier time winning a gold medal than his fellow Georgian countrymen. Shotadze handled Hayk MELIKYAN (ARM), 9-0 in the 67kg finals. The Georgian carried the 6-0 lead into the second period, then scored a step out and a defensive takedown, and closed out the match, 9-0.

Istvan TAKACS (HUN), the 82kg champion, was one of three Hungarian gold-medal winners. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Takacs and Szoke Help Hungary to Third Place Finish Gives
Istvan TAKACS and Alex SZOKE joined fellow Hungarian Tamas LEVAI (77kg champion) in the winner’s circle after claiming the 82kg and 97kg gold medals, respectively. Their three gold medals helped Hungary move ahead of Turkey for the third-place spot on the team podium with 124 points. 

It was Takacs’ first appearance in the European finals and he made the most of it. The Hungarian, whose highest previous finish came in 2017 when he finished in third place, caught Vitalii ANDRIIOVYCH (UKR) on his heels and scored the match's first takedown. Takacs quickly transitioned into a pair of guts and had the 6-0 lead after the first 60 seconds. Takacs finished the match with an underhook throw by and gave Hungary 25 additional team points with his 8-0 destruction Andriiovych. 

Hungary’s second champion of the day was Alex SZOKE (HUN). Szoke was tied with his 82kg finals opponent Patrick NEUMAIER (GER) heading into the final minute after the pair traded inactivity points; but the Hungarian struck at the one-minute mark, scoring the match-deciding takedown to win the bout, 3-1.

Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) ended the 72kg finals match early after scoring eight quick points against Mihai PETIC (MDA). (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

World Champion Amoyan Annihilates Petic in 72kg Finals 
Armenia’s reigning junior world champion Malkhas AMOYAN emptied the tank on Tuesday night and used up the entire six minutes just to make the finals. He trailed by three points with 15 second left but scored a takedown and stepout and stole the 72kg finals spot from 2016 cadet world silver medalist Sergei STEPANOV (RUS). 

The story was completely different for Amoyan on Wednesday night. There was still 30 seconds left in the first period when the Armenian picked up the technical superiority victory. Amoyan annihilated Mihai PETIC (MDA), 8-0 in the opening period with a pair of takedowns and a pair of lifts and won his first junior European title after finishing in third place the past two years. Although this was his first junior-level European title, Amoyan did win the 2016 69kg cadet European title in Stockholm, Sweden. 

Women's wrestling takes over on Thursday. Action begins at 11:00 (local time) and can be followed on www.unitedworldwrestling.org. 

RESULTS

Final Team Scores 
GOLD - Russia (159 points)
SILVER - Georgia (151 points)
BRONZE - Hungary (124 points)
Fourth - Turkey (95 points)
Fifth - Armenia (93 points)
 

60kg 
GOLD - Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Asgar ALIZADA (AZE), 8-3 
BRONZE - Anar MANSUROV (RUS) df. Ivo Krasimirov ILIEV (BUL), 6-4
BRONZE - Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM) df. Myroslav SOLOVIAN (UKR), 9-0

67kg
GOLD - Giorgi SHOTADZE (GEO) df. Hayk MELIKYAN (ARM), 9-0 
BRONZE - Eldar HASANAU (BLR) df. Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR), 3-1 
BRONZE - Aker AL OBAIDI (AUT) df. Abdulvakhab Riachitovitch ASAINOV (RUS), 7-2 

77kg
GOLD - Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) vs. Mihai PETIC (MDA)
BRONZE - Ismail GUN (TUR) vs. Sergei STEPANOV (RUS) 
BRONZE - Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO) df. Ihor BYCHKOV (UKR), 7-3 

82kg
GOLD - Istvan TAKACS (HUN) df. Vitalii ANDRIIOVYCH (UKR), 8-0 
BRONZE - Karlo KODRIC (CRO) vs. Lucas Alexandros LAZOGIANIS (GER) 
BRONZE - Stanislav PSEUNOV (RUS) df. Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE), 3-0 

97kg
GOLD - Alex SZOKE (HUN) vs. Patrick NEUMAIER (GER)
BRONZE - Beytullah KAYISDAG (TUR) vs. Gerard Cyprian KURNICZAK (POL) 
BRONZE - Uladzislau PUSTASHYLAU (BLR) df. Koka GARIBADZE (GEO), 7-1  

#WrestleParis

Wrestling at Paris 2024: Tazhudinov vs Snyder in semis

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

PARIS (August 10) -- Wrestling at Paris enters its penultimate day with Freestyle in 65kg and 97kg and women's wrestling in 76kg. More medals to be won at the Olympics.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS 2024 DAY 5

13:48: Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) avenges a loss to her predecessor as world champion, Yasemin ADAR (TUR), at the 2022 World Championships, holding on for a 3-0 victory to gain a spot in the women's 76kg semifinals. Kagami gains an activity point in the first period, then connects on a single-leg attempt for a takedown. She then fends off all of Adar's attacks to keep alive her gold-medal hopes.

13:30: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) seems to have recovered from that hectic opening bout against Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI). He casually beats Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) 14-2 in the quarterfinal. He will have a tough one in the semifinal -- Kyle SNYDER (USA).

13:24: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) posts a dramatic 6-3 victory over Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) to advance to the women's 76kg semifinals and move a step closer to making Colombian history. Renteria gives up a go-ahead takedown in the second period, but comes back with a stepout and takedown to take a 5-3 lead. She then holds out against a single-leg attempt by Enkh Amar to clinch the victory. The Mongolian side challenges, but it is denied. Renteria is looking to join two-time Olympic bronze medalist Jackeline RENTERIA (COL) as Colombia's lone Olympic medalist in wrestling.

13:26: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) is looking particularly sharp at freestyle 65kg. He comes out like a buzzsaw in his quarterfinal against Islam DUDAEV (ALB), who has no answer as the Iranian chalks up three stepouts and two takedowns in the first period, and two stepouts and a clinching takedown in the second for an 11-0 victory.

13:23: Kennedy BLADES (USA) survives a tough battle with Milsimy MARIN (CUB), advancing to the women's 76kg semifinals with a 4-3 win. Blades goes ahead 2-1 in the second period with a stepout while on the activity clock, then makes it 4-1 by stuffing a takedown attempt by Marin for 2. But Marin scores a takedown in the final 10 seconds, and Blades does all she can to keep from being turned out.  

13:20: Kyle SNYDER (USA) with a fall! Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB) kept him under control for some time but Snyder dumps him and holds him on the edge before a fall at the start of the second period.

13:14: In a testy freestyle 65kg quarterfinal between two longtime foes, Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) gets a 4-point takedown en route to a 10-3 victory over Haji ALIYEV (AZE). Musukaev clinched the win with a slick ankle pick for a takedown.  

13:10: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) holds on for a 1-1 victory on last-point criteria over REETIKA (IND) in a women's 76kg quarterfinal limited to activity points. On the clock in the second period, Reetika came close to getting a clinching takedown, but Medet Kyzy managed to keep her from completing the move. 

13:00: World champion Yuka KAGAMI (JPN), looking to give powerhouse Japan its first-ever gold medal in the heaviest women's weight class, gets an activity point in the first period and a stepout in the second while on the clock to defeat Genesis REASCO  (ECU) 2-0 and fill the final women's 76kg quarterfinal spot.

13:00: Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) reaches the semifinal at 97kg after a 7-2 win over Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL).
      
12:59:
Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) chalks up a dramatic and at times acrobatic 8-6 victory over Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) to advance to the freestyle 65kg semifinals. Kiyooka gets a pair of 2-point exposures in a scramble off his single-leg attempt, then transitions to a lace lock for 2 more. Rivera comes back with a takedown to cut the lead to 6-2 at the break. In the second period, Rivera successfully counters a low single for a 2-point exposure, but Kiyooka gets an exposure on his next takedown attempt. Rivera scores a final takedown, which he completes despite a balletic flip by Kiyooka, in an attempt to escape the hold.12:48: A dramatic win on Mat A for Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) and he's into the freestyle 65kg semifinals. After giving up a 4-point takedown to Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM), he gradually cuts the lead, finally going ahead with a spin-behind takedown with :12 left. An unsuccessful challenge makes it a 7-5 win.

12:47: Tokyo bronze medalist Yasemin ADAR  (TUR) trails 2-2 on criteria when she scores three takedowns in the final minute for a 6-2 win over Justina DI STASIO (CAN), a world champion in 2018 who was making a long-awaited Olympic debut.  

12:47: World champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) with a huge comeback in the second period to move into the quarterfinals. Tazhudinov was down 2-0 against Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) at the break and then 3-0 with 90 seconds left. But Azarpira could not hold for the final 40 seconds and gave up two takedowns to go down 4-3.

12:35: World 72kg silver medalist Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) bulls Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) backward for a takedown with 10 seconds left that clinches a 5-2 victory over at women's 76kg.

12:34: Two-time Asian champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) gets two takedowns in the first period then scores with stepouts in the second in a comfortable 8-0 win over world 70kg champion Zain RETHERFORD (USA) in the final first-round match at freestyle 65kg.

12:24: World bronze medalist Tatiana RENTERIA (COL), who also dabbles in beach wrestling, dug herself out of a 4-point hole against Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) to advance to the women's 76kg quarterfinals with an 8-4 win.

12:23: Japan-born Gaku AKAZAWA (SAM), who received Samoan citizenship in time to become just the second wrestler in the Pacific island nation's history to qualify for the Olympics, gets a rough intro to the Olympic level when he is dealt a 10-0 loss by Islam DUDAEV (ALB) at freestyle 65kg.

12:18: Tempestuous Tokyo silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) keeps Austin GOMEZ (MEX) at bay and advances at freestyle 65kg with a safe 7-0 victory. Aliyev leads 2-0 in the second period when he chalks up two takedowns and a stepout at the buzzer.

12:14: Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB) works his way to a slow but controlled 5-0 win over Erik THIELE (GER). He will face Snyder in the next bout.

12:14: There is a delay on Mat B as Catalina AXENTE (ROU) continues to receive treatment on her neck. She is taken off on a stretcher to respectful applause from the crowd.

12:07: Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) would be proud of his four-point counter against Kyle SNYDER (USA) but the returning silver medalist from America breaks Habila and goes on to win 9-5 in the opening 97kg bout for Snyder.

12:06: Reigning world champion and two-time world bronze medalist Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) gets a slow start, taking a 1-0 lead into the second period at freestyle 65kg against Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ). But a second-period takedown opens the door for a series of gut wrenches that give him an 11-0 win.

12:05: Kennedy BLADES (USA), who defeated six-time world champion and Tokyo silver medalist Adeline GRAY (USA) at the U.S. trials, gets her Olympic debut off to a roaring start, but a painful one for Catalina AXENTE (ROU). After an opening takedown, Blades connects with a 4-point takedown to take a 6-0 lead into second period. It is then she hits a back suplex for which any Greco wrestler would be proud for 5.

11:46: World U23 champion REETIKA (IND) uses her counter lifts to great advantage and advances at women's 68kg with a 12-2 win over Bernadett NAGY (HUN).

11:45: Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) gives up an opening takedown to Georgii OKOROKOVV (AUS), then takes control of their freestyle 65kg clash. Rivera scores a takedown and two gut wrenches, then another takedown and two tilts for a 12-2 win.

11:43: European champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) has little trouble seeing off Nicolaas DE LANGE (RSA) at 97kg. Top counter game from Matcharashvili who has a really good chance to be in the final here.
      
11:41: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN), who dethroned Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) as national freestyle 65kg champion and earned his ticket to Paris at the Asian Qualifier, showed no fear in his first major senior tournament, rolling to a 10-0 victory over 2021 European bronze medalist Maxim SACULTAN (MDA). Kiyooka follows his third takedown with two rolls to end the match with three seconds to spare in the second period.

11:36: Asian champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), a fifth-place finisher at the Tokyo Olympics, executes a classic counter-lift for 2, then twists around to put Juan WANG (CHN) onto her back for 2 more. Wang gets an activity point in the second period, but falls well short in a 4-1 scoreline in their women's 76kg clash.

11:35: Two-time Asian silver medalist Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) gets an activity point and takedown in the first period, and he goes on to a 5-0 victory at freestyle 65kg over 35-year-old Alejandro VALDES (CUB), a two-time Olympian who won consecutive world bronze medals in 2017-18.

11:30: World silver medalist Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) with a nice warm-up win over Luis PEREZ SOSA (DOM) at 97kg. Perez Sosa is the first ever freestyle wrestler from Dominica to be at the Olympics.

11:26: Ana GODINEZ  (CAN) scores a takedown while on the activity clock in the first period, and that's enough to defeat Kriszta INCZE (ROU) 2-0 in the second repechage at women's 62kg.  She will face Grace BULLEN (NOR) for the bronze.

11:24: World bronze medalist Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) gets a pair of takedowns in the second period to finish up an 11-0 victory over  Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO) in 4:45 of the opening match at freestyle 65kg.

11:20: Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) is into the bronze medal bout after missing out on it twice before at the Olympics. He pins Amarveer DHESI (CAN) at 125kg. In the second 125kg repechage, Robert BARAN (POL) gives himself a chance to win a bronze after he beats Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR)

11:16: A women's 62kg repechage match starts the action on Mat B, Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) gets a takedown with 1:02 left to defeat Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) 3-2 in a clash of former world champions.  Purevdorj will face Tokyo silver medalist and reigning world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) for a bronze medal.

11:15: The last full morning session on Mat A starts with a 74kg repechage match between Tokyo silver medalist Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (AIN) and four-time reigning European champion Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK). An earlier defensive exposure and a key takedown with a minute to go give Kadzmihamedau a 6-6 victory on big-point criteria. Because 74kg had 18 entries and there was a preliminary round, Kadzmihamedau will have another repechage match later in the session against Chermen VALIEV (ALB) for a place in the bronze-medal match.

11:00: Welcome to Paris 2024! We have a few big matches coming on the last full day of wrestling at the Champs de Mars Arena.