#WrestlePontevedra

Georgia and Hungary Win Two Golds; Russia Claims Team Title

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 - 18:50 By Eric Olanowski

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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: Susaki, Makhmudov stunned; Aleksanyan vs Rosillo rematch

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 - 08:35 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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PARIS -- The Olympic Games enter day two of wrestling at the Champs de Mars arena with Greco-Roman 77kg and 97kg and Women's Wrestling 50kg. Yui SUSAKI (JPN) is hoping to defend her title from Tokyo which she won without conceding a point. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) is looking for his second title as well with the first coming in Rio.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS 2024 DAY 1

13:30: That is the end of the morning session! Mohamed GABR (EGY) is into the semifinal by beating Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) 4-1. On a day of upset, count that one as well.

13:19: The shocks continue as Mariya STADNIK (AZE) sees her bid for an elusive Olympic gold end when two-time world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) scores a pair of takedowns in the final minute for a stunning 4-4 victory on big-point criteria. Dolgorjav went into the match a bit fresher after receiving a first-round forfeit from Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA), and she used her reserves to secure what proved to be the winning takedown with 28 seconds left. Stadnik challenged for eye poke which was confirmed on challenge but Dolgorjav still had criteria

13:18: Returning bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) with a technical superiority win over Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) and he is moving into the semifinal at 97kg.

13:15: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) is into the Greco 77kg semifinals after beating Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) 1-1 on last-point criteria. Levai was put in par terre first, then held out when on the bottom in the second.

13:08: Tokyo bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) scrapes out a well-earned 7-4 victory over Ziqi FENG (CHN) to advance to the women's 50kg semifinals. Feng opens with a double-leg takedown that Hildebrandt reverses for 1, then goes ahead with shrug-by takedown. The two trade takedowns as the American goes into the break with a slim 5-4 lead. In the second period, she clinches the win with a takedown with :40 left.

13:05: Another star has fallen! World champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) saw his bid to become his country's first-ever gold medalist end with a 3-1 loss to Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ). Makhmudov got the chance in par terre first, but a series of rolls were nullified on challenge for leg use. In the second period, Zhadrayev applied a vicious front headlock from par terre and threw the Tokyo silver medalist for 2.

13:08: World champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) was in some trouble against Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) but managed to hold his lead and scored a takedown on the counter in the dying seconds of the bout to win 5-2. He moves into the semifinal at 97kg

12:58: Never count out Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)! He was down 5-5 on criteria after Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) used two front headlocks to score exposure. But Aleksanyan got behind and threw Assakalov for four to win 9-5

12:57: Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB) storms into the women's 50kg semifinals with a 10-0 win over Gabija DILYTE (LTU). Guzman arm drags behind for a takedown, then reels off three rolls for an 8-0 lead. Another takedown ends the match with nine seconds left in the first period.

12:49: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) follows up her monumental win over Yui SUSAKI (JPN) by holding off Oksana LIVACH (UKR) 7-5 in a scrappy women's 50kg quarterfinal. Phogat gets two takedowns and leads 5-2 when Livach puts on a late surge, cutting the gap to 1 with a stepout and a lost challenge. With the clock winding down, Phogat shrugs off a throw attempt for 2, and Livach adds a late stepout.

12:48: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) gets a 2-point throw from par terre in the first period and that holds up for a 3-0 victory over Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) and a spot in the Greco 77kg semifinals.

12:45: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) gets the par terre the second time and turns Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO), adds a four-pointer and finishes the bout 9-1 at 97kg

12:38: Top seed Nao KUSAKA (JPN) finishes off a 12-2 victory over Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) with a 4-point pancake to snatch his place in tonight's Greco 77kg semifinals.

12:34: Veteran Mariya STADNIK (AZE) begins her quest for a fifth Olympic medal -- hopefully a first gold -- with a 6-2 victory over world bronze medalist Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER). The 35-year-old mother of two gets a takedown-roll combination for a 4-0 lead in the first period, then gets 2 more when she rolls through a headlock attempt in the second.

12:30: Mohamed GABR (EGY) gave no chance to Mihail KAJAIA (SRB). Gabr took a 6-0 lead and then defended the par terre position to win 6-1 and advance at 97kg.

12:25: 2021 world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) gets the passivity points and fights off Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) and an apparent left hamstring injury for a 2-0 victory at Greco 77kg.

12:23: Tokyo bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA)  goes out the backdoor for a takedown against Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG), then transitions to the lace lock and reels off four rolls for a 10-0 win in 1:34 for a place in the women's 50kg quarterfinals.

12:18: World bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) uses an effective barrel roll for two takedowns of Nada MOHAMED (EGY), scoring a fall after the second one to advance to the women's 50kg quarterfinals.

12:19: Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) with a big four-pointer as he moves past Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU) 5-1 and enters the 97kg quarterfinals.

12:14: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), the world silver medalist in 2022, gets a second-period stepout and that's enough for a 2-1 victory at Greco 77kg over Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), the 2022 world champ at 82kg.

12:08: Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB) pulls off a thrilling 7-6 victory over Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) at women's 50kg with an exposure during a scramble in the final seconds that took the mat chairman a long time to sort out on challenge. Both wrestlers scored takedowns, only to give up 2-point counters down the stretch.

12:00 Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) with a controlled 4-0 win over Fadi ROUABAH (ALG) and moves into the quarterfinal. He will take on world champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) who was not the best off the block but managed to beat Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER) 7-5.

11:56: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), aiming to improve on his silver medal in Tokyo three years ago at Greco 77kg, can't get the turn in par terre, but rides a series of second-period stepouts to a 4-1 victory over Kamal BEY (USA)

11:53: Gabija DILYTE (LTU) uses a 2-on-1 to slam Alisson CARDOZO (COL) to her back and secures the fall at 4:14 to advance at women's 50kg.

11:45: Four-time world medalist Maklhas AMOYAN (ARM) tosses his way to an 8-0 victory at Greco 77kg over Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN). The winning point comes on a lost challenge by the Finnish side.

11:44: Oksana LIVACH (UKR), fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, scores a pair of 4-point takedowns and she advances at women's 50kg with a 10-0 victory over Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB).

11:37: Asian silver medalist Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) gets the second of the passivity points and that's enough to defeat Yosvanys PENA (CUB) 1-1 at Greco 77kg.

11:33: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Olympic wrestling history, scoring a takedown in the final seconds to stun defending women's 50kg champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) 3-2. It is Susaki's first loss ever in 95 matches against non-Japanese opponents. Phogat stays completely on the defensive throughout the match, giving Susaki both of her points from the activity clock. With the clock running down, Phogat goes on the offensive and knocks Susaki off balance and onto her bottom, then charges ahead for a takedown with :05 left. Japan challenges, but the takedown stands and Susaki is out. 

11:26: Former world silver medalist Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) storms into the quarterfinals at Greco 77kg with a workmanlike 9-0 victory over  Mahmoud ABDELRAHMAN (EGY).

11:24: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) bounces back from her quarterfinal loss to Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) to earn a chance for a bronze medal by defeating Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) 6-0 in their women's 68kg repechage match. Ozaki scores two takedowns and a 2-point exposure, but the former 62kg world champion still seems to be struggling with the extra weight.

11:22: A minute and 44 seconds is all Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) needed to get over Seungjun KIM (KOR) at 97kg opening round. He gets four gut wrenches from par terre to win 9-0.

11:20: Top seed Nao KUSAKA (JPN) begins his campaign at Greco 77kg with an impressive 9-0 win over Abd Elrim OUAKALI (ALG). After an early takedown, Kusaka gets a 4-point lift and throw from par terre. Ouakali comes near to scrambling for a takedown, but Kusaka reverses the momentum to score a match-ending takedown.

11:16: Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) uses a four-point throw in his 6-4 win over Kiril MILOV (BUL) at 130kg. He will wrestle for bronze later tonight against Lingzhe DENG (CHN).

11:15: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) makes short work of Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) in the other Greco 60kg repechage, rolling to a 10-0 victory. He will take on world champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) for the bronze.

 

11:14: World champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) wins a battle of stepouts in the women's 68kg repechage against Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), earning a place in the bronze-medal match with a 4-3 win. Both wrestlers had three stepouts, with the deciding point coming when Poland unsuccessfully challenged Tosun's third stepout.

11:10: The action on Mat A gets underway with the first of the two Greco 60kg repechage matches. Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) will get a chance to give Venezuela its first-ever Olympic wrestling medal after scoring two 4-point takedowns in a 12-1 victory over Moamen MOHAMED (EGY). Rodriguez will face Se Ung RI (PRK) for the bronze later tonight. 

11:00:The day two will begin with repechage in GR 60kg and 130kg and WW 68kg. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is on the mat to wrestle Seungchan LEE (KOR). He wins via technical superiority 9-0 and moves into the bronze medal bout for the evening.