Beach wrestling

Georgia dominates men’s Beach Wrestling season with 3 World Championships titles as Ukraine’s women take 2 golds in Zagreb

Monday, September 9, 2019 - 05:16 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

Zagreb, Croatia (September 8) - Following two days of intense competition, with the action coming thick and fast in the wrestling circle in Zagreb’s Jarun Center, eight wrestlers walked off the sand with the title of Beach Wrestling World Champion. Georgia took three, Ukraine secured two, Brazil, Greece and Azerbaijan one medal each, after the “Kings and Queens of the Beach” proved their grappling skills on the sand during the four season events to establish the up-and-coming discipline of beach wrestling.

Following the opener on Portuguese sands, the wrestlers travelled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Ukraine’s Odessa before touching down on Croatian soil for the grand season finale. 11 nationalities took to the sand to not only decide on the best after four events, but also the individual winners from Zagreb. 

In the women’s, Kateryna Mashkevych (UKR) defeated Kristal Kimberly Betanzo (USA) to take the win in Zagreb in the 50kg class ahead of the young American and Portugal’s Carmen Gomes Pereira.

 

 

It was Camila Fama Tristao from Brazil who set the tone in the women’s 60kg, winning her three matches without being scored against and edging Isabel Cristina Rodrigues (POR) into second place. The Portuguese was earlier taken down by Ukraine’s Valeriia Semonkina Zlatova, who took the bronze. 

While Diana Mary Botanzo (USA) had the fastest takedown on day 1 just eight seconds into the fight, the American had no chance against Anna Mazurkevych (UKR) during round 3 at 70kg. Ukraine took the gold in this category ahead of the United States. On third place was Sonia Maria Pereira Brazio from Portugal, who took her only win in this tournament against Slovenia’s Sara Trbulin with a hard throw.

The women’s heavyweight winner in Croatia was Aikaterini Eirini Pitsiava (GRE), who defeated Ukraine’s Iryna Pasichnyk 2-1. 

 

 

Levan Kelekhsashvili (GEO) defeated the 2017 Beach Wrestling World Champion Semen Radulov (UKR) in a highly anticipated final match at 70kg, winning 4-2 to take the 4th and final leg of the World Series. Besides these two, the only US wrestler in the men’s, Michael Peters, stepped up his game to finish in third.

Without losing a single match during both days, Davit Khutsishvili from Georgia won his category in style – 3-0 in all fights – and presented himself in top form all weekend at 80kg. A clear gold for the man from Georgia ahead of Greece’s Georgios Koulouchidis, whose only defeat came from the class’s dominant Georgian. In third, Aleksandar Nikolic from Serbia secured the bronze.

Dato Marsagishvili, bronze medallist at the 2012 Olympic Games for Georgia, was dominant all weekend and capped off his campaign by scoring early and controlling the pace of the final match against Strahinja Dermanovic (SRB) at 90kg. Following the Georgian on the podium was Christos Samartsidis (GER), who won his match in pouring rain against Croatia’s Domenik Andreic. Strahinja Dermanovic completed the podium.

Four match wins to gold it was for the men’s heavyweight Oyan Nazariani from Azerbaijan, who defeated Ioannis Kargiotakis (GRE) in the final match of the day. These two made it one and two in this class ahead of Georgia’s Mamuka Kordzaia

 

 

With three times the points available during the final event in Zagreb, those wrestlers who made the podium in Croatia had the best chances of bagging the overall titles.

In the men’s it was the Georgian trio of Kelekhsashvili (70kg), Khutsishvili (80kg) and Marsagishvili (90kg) who secured the overall wins and walked off with their world championships trophies after winning all three competitions in which they participated.. The heavyweight title went to deserving champion Oyan Naziarani from Azerbaijan.

After winning not only the event on home soil in Odessa last month but also the season finale, the titles in the women’s went to Ukraine’s Mashkevych (50kg) and Mazurkevych (70kg). Pitsiava from Greece clean swept the +70kg category after dominating all her three showings in the World Series.

With two victories and a second place, Brazilian Camila Fama secured her first world championships title in beach wrestling at 60kg and now feels ready for her next tasks: “I still can’t believe it. I keep asking myself if it’s real, did I really just get that title,” said Fama in a first statement. “I feel more trustful for the next step, which will be Qatar for me. I’m starting with the right foot. I’m very proud of myself.”

It was a season of intense competitions, frequent throws and a lot of activity throughout the whole Beach Wrestling World Series earning the applause from the spectators and international interest. Topped with the coronation of eight new champions in the men’s and women’s, beach wrestling’s next big appearance will be during the 1st ever ANOC World Beach Games in Doha, Qatar mid-October.

 

 

Watch all matches and find full results here.

Results Beach Wrestling World Series Zagreb

WOMEN

50kg

1. Kateryna Mashkevych, UKR

2. Kristal Betanzo, USA

3. Carmen Gomes Pereira, POR

60kg

1. Camila Fama Tristao, BRA

2. Isabel Cristina Rodrigues, POR

3. Valeriia Semonkina Zlatova, UKR

70kg

1. Anna Mazurkevych, UKR

2. Diana Mary Betanzo, USA

3. Sonia Maria Pereira Brazio, POR

+70kg

1. Aikaterini Eirini Pitsiava, GRE

2. Iryna Pasichnyk, UKR
 

MEN

70kg

1. Levan Kelekhsashvili, GEO

2. Semen Radulov, UKR

3. Michael Peters, USA

80kg

1. Davit Khutsishvili, GEO

2. Georgios Koulouchidis, GRE

3. Aleksandar Nikolic, SRB

90kg

1. Dato Marsagishvili, GEO

2. Christos Samartsidis, GRE

3. Strahinja Dermanovic, SRB

+90kg

1. Oyan Nazariani, AZE

2. Ioannis Kargiotakis, GRE

3. Mamuka Kordzaia, GEO

 

Final Standings Beach Wrestling World Series (after 4 of 4 stops)

WOMEN

50kg

1. Kateryna Mashkevych, UKR                   40000

2. Carmen Gomes Pereira, POR                 31000

3. Kristal Betanzo, USA                               24000

 

60kg

1. Camila Fama Tristao, BRA            48000

2. Valeriia Semonkina Zlatova, UKR  34000

3. Isabel Cristina Rodrigues, POR      31100

 

70kg

1. Anna Mazurkevych, UKR                40000

2. Sonia Maria Pereira Brazio, POR     34000

3. Diana Mary Betanzo, USA              24000

 

+70kg

1. Aikaterini Eirini Pitsiava, GRE              50000

2. Iryna Pasichnyk, UKR                          24000

3. Aline Da Silva Ferreira, BRA                10000

 

MEN

70kg

1. Levan Kelekhsashvili, GEO      50000

2. Semen Radulov, UKR              42000

3. Michael Peters, USA                19500

80kg

1. Davit Khutsishvili, GEO           50000

2. Georgios Koulouchidis, GRE    42800

3. Aleksandar Nikolic, SRB          19500

90kg

1. Dato Marsagishvili, GEO          50000

2. Christos Samartsidis, GRE       34500

3. Strahinja Dermanovic, SRB     19500

+90kg

1. Oyan Nazariani, AZE                58000

2. Ioannis Kargiotakis, GRE          44300

3. Mamuka Kordzaia, GEO           35300


UWW Beach Wrestling

UWW, then known as FILA, codified the form of beach wrestling in 2004. Beach wrestling is standing wrestling done by wrestlers, male or female, inside a sand-filled circle measuring 7 meters (23 ft) in diameter. The style originally mirrored the rules used before the use of wrestling mats, and beach wrestling has been regarded as the oldest version of international competitive wrestling. The international rules have been modified in 2015 by UWW, with the current rules allowing wrestlers to score points via takedowns, pushing their opponent out of bounds, or bringing the opponent down to their back. 


Beach Wrestling World Series 2019

Chaves, Portugal | March, 29-30

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | May, 10-11

Odessa, Ukraine | August, 9-10

Zagreb, Croatia | September, 7-8
 

Weight classes

Men: 70 kg, 80 kg, 90 kg, and +90kg

Women: 50 kg, 60 kg, 70 kg, and +70kg

--
United World Wrestling is the international governing body of wrestling and is headquartered in Corsier-­Sur-­Vevey, Switzerland. To learn more about United World Wrestling and the activities of its 187 national federations, please visit: www.UnitedWorldWrestling.org, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. 


For more information please contact Tim Foley at foley@unitedworldwrestling.org or Gordon Templeman at gordon@unitedworldwrestling.org.

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Greco-Roman Results & Highlights Updated

Sunday, July 19, 2026 - 08:29 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 19) -- The final day of the Budapest Ranking Series 2026 will see six Greco-Roman weight classes - 55kg, 60kg, 63kg, 82kg, 97kg and 130kg. The biggest talking point is the return of Tokyo Olympic champion Musa EVLOEV (RUS).

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | GRECO-ROMAN STORYLINES

130kg semifinal - Marat KAMPAROV (RUS) clears the semifinal hurdle with a 1-1 criteria win over Wenhao JIANG (CHN) and he will face Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) for the gold medal after he won 5-1 against Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN).

97kg semifinals - Musa EVLOEV's (RUS) comeback is cut short by Alex SZOKE (HUN) in the 97kg semifinal. Evloev held a 1-1 criteria lead but Szoke pushed him towards the zone. Evloev, trying to prevent a stepout, went for the headlock throw but Szoke escaped and scored a takedown to take a 3-1 lead with 33 seconds left in the bout. He defend it to win. For the gold medal, he will face another Russian as Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS) blanked Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), 10-0. After scoring from par terre, Ermolenko scored a stepout to lead 6-0 and then threw Niftullayev for four points to win 10-0

82kg semifinals - Asian champion Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) enters the final after a 4-1 win over Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO). Badghimofrad managed a go-behind when Mikeladze slipped in the second period to lead 2-1. Georgia challenged that there was leg foul but lost the challenge which made the score 3-1. The Qatar wrestler got the par terre and won 4-1.

Gamzat GADZHIEV (RUS) with a throw from par terre against Mihail BRADU (MDA) to lead 5-0 and then defends from par terre to complete a 5-1 win.

63kg semifinals - Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS), who last wrestled internationally in 2021, Kerem KAMAL (TUR) counters with a throw but only gets a stepout to lead 1-1 on criteria. Kamal with a powerful takedown in the second period to extend his lead to 3-1. He tries a throw but cannot complete it but Russia challenge for two points as Lokyaev fell on top of Kamal. Challenge as lost as it was all Kamal's risk. The two keeping getting their holds and locks but Kamal manages another stepout for a 5-1 lead. A stepout for Lokyaev but Kamal enters the final after a 5-2 win. 

European champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS) holds on to a 1-1 criteria win over Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT).

60kg semifinals - Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) blanks Asian champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB). What a performance from Sharshenbekov as he starts with a takedown and then gets the par terre to lead 3-0. He starts the second period with an strong throw for four points but Uzbekistan challenge the call and it is called a leg-foul from Sharshenbekov and the score is reversed to 3-0. But no stopping Sharshenbekov as he scores a go-behind and gets two points and lead 5-0. A tiring Ganiev gives up a stepout which is again cancelled after challenge. But Ganiev cannot get a point on Sharshenbekov who 

Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) uses his experience to hold off  Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ), 10-6, in the other semifinal and will now face Sharshenbekov for the gold medal.

55kg semifinals - In a rematch of the Asian Championships final, Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) slams LALIT (IND) using an arm throw for four points. India challenges that it was only two points for the throw. Though the four points stood, Lalit got two points for a block in danger and Botirov came on top and got the reversal point, giving Botirov a 5-2 lead. There is no more action or points in this bout as Botirov enters the final.

Brady KOONTZ (USA) stuns Artiom DELEANU (MDA) , 8-5, after a takedown and two stunning throws. He gave four points in the second period but held his lead to enter the final

13:33: Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) hit a head throw against Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) and led 8-1. But Akbudak forfeits the match due to an elbow injury. It's the same one he had a surgery before. Badaghimofrad advances to 82kg semifinals

13:30: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) into the 60kg semifinal after a technical superiority 8-0 win over Mahmoud SAAD (EGY). He scored six points from par terre to lead 7-0 at the break and then gets the one point for the win in the second period

13:15: Asian champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB) with a 16-second pin over BAOYINJIYA (CHN) at 60kg. Might have been called a little too quickly

13:11: Asian champion Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) needed a late stepout to beat Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ), 6-5, at 55kg. Kurbayev with a beautiful suplex in the second period to lead 5-5 on criteria but failed to hold on to it.

13:10: Musa EVLOEV (RUS) moves into the 97kg semifinals after Kevin MEJIA (HON) has to forfeit due to injury. Evloev got the par terre but failed to score as Mejia defended. Mejia actually scored a reversal but was cancelled on a challenge. Evloev then scored a takedown and Mejia called for a medical timeout.

12:58: European champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS) keeps Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) at bay and wins 5-1 at 63kg. He got two par terre position and scored three stepouts in his win.

12:40: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) counters Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) with a block after takedown and launches the Asian champion for two turns and lead 8-2. He thought he finished the match when a correct throw was counted for two points but Kyrgyzstan challenged and the points were cancelled as Taalaibek Uulu never came in danger. The second period remained pointless and Kamal won 8-2

12:30: Sergei SEMENOV (RUS) worked on a great throw for four points on Gino DILBERT (HON) but seemed to have injured his knee when landed. He forfeits the 130kg after the injury

12:20: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) needed a challenge to survive. Leading 6-5, Akbudak was struggling with conditioning and Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) pushed him out for one point and make it 6-6 with Akbudak leading on criteria. However, Akbudak challenged and on review, Zhadrayev was seen grabbing the singlet. The stepout was cancelled and Akbudak led 6-5 again. Moreover, it gave him time to catch a breather. He gave up a stepout at the end but Akbudak was still a 6-6 criteria winner. Kazakhstan challenged for fleeing but lost it to add one more point to Akbudak's score and win 7-6

12:15: Alex SZOKE (HUN) gets the par terre in the first period but fails to score. Hayk Khloyan (ARM) gets the par terre in the second period but fails to score. With the score 1-1, Szoke wins on first-point scored criteria. 

12:12: Asian champion Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) begins his 82kg campaign with a 4-1 win over Azimjon SOATULLAEV (UZB) at 82kg.

11:42: Musa EVLOEV (RUS), first time competing at UWW tournament in 5 years, begins with a 3-0 win over Timothy YOUNG (RUS) at 97kg. He got two points for par terre in each period and one stepout for the win.

11:40: World silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) with a close 2-1 win over Enes BASAR (TUR) at 60kg. Ganiev with a stepout from par terre to lead 2-0 and then Basar doesn't score any points from par terre and Ganiev defends his lead.

11:35: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) looking incredibly locked in! After his first victory via fall, he now beats Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) 10-0 in the second bout at 63kg. Sharshenbekov, who built a 7-0 lead from par terre, needed 39 seconds in the second period to score a takedown against Aliyev to win. Aliyev challenged the takedown but lost it to add one more point to the score of Sharshenbekov.

11:20: Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) gets one back in his rivalry against Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ). The Kazakhstan wrestler, who defeated Makhmudov at the Paris 2024 and went on to win silver, pins Makhmudov at 82kg. Makhmudov tried to gut-wrench Zhadrayev from par terre but Kazakhstan wrestler blocked and grabbed the arm to get the fall.

11:12: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) with some highlights. He launches Sunny KUMAR (IND) for two massive throws, second of which was a five-point slam as he win at 63kg, 10-0

11:00: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM), who recently defeated Musa EVLOEV (RUS), now gets the better of Paris 2024 Paris medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) at 97kg. Khloyan scored a turn from par terre in the first period and then was awarded par terre in the second period as well. He scored another gut-wrench to lead 6-0. Dzhuzupbekov did not score any points from par terre and lost a challenge as well to hand a 7-1 win to the Armenian

10:45: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) hits Dalton ROBERTS (USA) with an underhook throw and completes the fall in in quick time. Sharshenbekov, who wrestled at 63kg at the Ulaanbaatar Open in his first tournament since Paris 2024, is now at 60kg.