#WrestleBucharest

Kayaalp Wins Historic Ninth European Title; Russia Leads Azerbaijan by 34 Points

By Eric Olanowski

BUCHAREST, Romania (April 13) – Turkey’s Riza KAYAALP authored a new page in the Turkish wrestling history books on Saturday night by winning his ninth European title. Kayaalp entered the night tied with Hamza YERLIKAYA, who also had eight European titles, but surpassed Yerlikaya with his Day 6 win at the Polyvalent Hall in Bucharest, Romania.

In his 130kg gold-medal bout, Kayaalp scored three points from a stepout and a takedown to defeat Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO), 3-0. 

Meanwhile, Vitalii KABALOEV, Stepan MARYANYAN, and Roman VLASOV circled the mat with the Russian flag draped above their head after wrapping up their Greco-Roman gold-medals matches early. Their trio of Saturday night gold medals gave the Russian Federation the 34 point lead over Azerbaijan heading into the final day of wrestling. 

Kabaloev and Vlasov both ended their matches with opening period falls, while Maryanyan picked up the technical superior win in his gold-medal match.  

In the 55kg finals, Kabaloev poured it on Romania’s Florin TITA and picked up the fall in the opening period. Before the throw that ended the match, the Russian scored a takedown, inactivity point, followed by a pair of two-point gut wrenches, and commanded the 7-0 lead before throwing his Romanian opponent to his back for the fall to win his first continental title. 

Roman Vlasov also ended his finals match by a fall in the opening period. In the 77kg gold-medal bout, Vlasov scored two four-point throws, then planted Germany’s Roland SCHWARZ on his back and won his fourth European title. 

In the 63kg finals, defending world champion Maryanyan blew through Rio Olympic bronze medalist Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR), 9-1, and won his second European title, but first since 2015. 

Maryanyan scored an inactivity point and a pair of gut wrenches and held onto the 5-1 lead before capping off his run to a gold medal with a four-point throw. 

The final gold medal of the night went to Ukraine’s Zhan BELENIUK. The second-ranked wrestler in the world at 87kg was the second non-Russian wrestler to reach the top of the podium and claim a gold medal on Day 6. In the finals, Beleniuk picked up a stepout and exposed Islam ABBASOV (AZE) using a four-point head pinch to grab his third European title with the 5-1 victory. 

The finals day of wrestling at the 2019 European Championships begins at 18:00 local time, and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org

RESULTS 
Team Scores
GOLD - Russia (92 points) 

SILVER - Azerbaijan (58 points)
BRONZE -  Germany (50 points)
Fourth -Turkey (47 points)
Fifth - Georgia (41 points)

55kg
GOLD - Vitalii KABALOEV (RUS) df. Florin TITA (ROU), via fall
BRONZE - Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Serif KILIC (TUR), 8-0 
BRONZE - Fabian SCHMITT (GER) df. Anders ROENNINGEN (NOR), 2-1

63kg
GOLD - Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) df. Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR), 9-0 
BRONZE - Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), 6-2
BRONZE - Levani KAVJARADZE (GEO) df. Michal Jacek TRACZ (POL), 5-2

77kg
GOLD - Roman VLASOV (RUS) df. Roland SCHWARZ (GER), via fall
BRONZE - Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARM) df. Daniel ALEKSANDROV (BUL), 5-1 
BRONZE - Viktor NEMES (SRB) df. Fatih CENGIZ (TUR), 3-1 

87kg
GOLD - Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) df. Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 5-1 
BRONZE - Denis KUDLA (GER) df. Mikalai STADUB (BLR), 3-1 
BRONZE - Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) df. Eividas STANKEVICIUS (LTU), 2-1 

130kg 
GOLD - Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO), 3-0 
BRONZE - Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) df. Heiki NABI (EST), 1-1 
BRONZE - Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) df. Tuomas LAHTI (FIN), 4-0 

#WrestleHangzhou

Asian Games Wrestling: Japan puts 3 in WW finals; Iran vs China in GR

By Vinay Siwach

LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 5) -- The Asian Games will see the second day of wrestling and it will be a mix of Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling. World champions Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) and Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) will be in action among others as Greco-Roman 97kg and 130kg and Women's Wrestling 50kg, 53kg and 57kg wrestlers take the mat.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | BRACKETS | DAY 1 RESULTS

The five finals for the evening session at the Asian Games

GR 97kg
Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs. Yiming LI (CHN()

GR 130kg
Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) vs. Lingzhe MENG (CHN)

WW 50kg
Son Hyang KIM (PRK) vs. Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)

WW 53kg
Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. Qianyu PANG (CHN)

WW 57kg
In Sun JONG (PRK) vs. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)

12:32: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) defends from par terre to beat Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) 3-1 in the 130kg semifinal. He will wrestle for gold against Lingzhe MENG (CHN) who completed a 1-1 criteria win over Minseok KIM (KOR).

12:25: Yiming LI (CHN) is the second finalist in Greco-Roman for China! He pins Seyeol LEE (KOR) in the 97kg semifinal to move on. He will take on Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) in for the gold medal.

12:15: Qianyu PANG (CHN) with a final second headpinch for four to beat Hyogyong CHOE (PRK). Absolute scenes here in Lin'an. Choe was in complete control of the bout leading 5-2 but then got locked by Pang who tried the first throw with 20 seconds left on the clock but was given clean. She keeps holding Choe in the headlock and completes the throw this time to get four! A challenge from Choe but that was lost. Pang into the final 7-5. She will face Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) who scored a 10-0 win over Bortulaya BAT-OCHIR (MGL)

12:05: Kexin HONG (CHN) is just not able to break In Sun JONG (PRK) defense. Hong on a big attack but Jong splits to defend. She then shrugs Hong using her leg to get 2 for exposure. Hong was unable to score from that split. Just before the break, Hong manages to score a takedown. Jong with a clutch takedown to win 4-2 and enter the 57kg final.

11:50: Seyeol LEE (KOR) with a turn in par terre to beat Narinder CHEEMA 3-1 at 97kg and he moves into the semifinals. Local favorite Yiming LI (CHN) with a takedown and three turns to complete an 8-0 win over Atthaphol SIRITHAHAN (THA).

11:46: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) goes into the 97kg semifinals with a controlled win over U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) while Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) pins Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB) at 130kg

11:40: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) into the semifinal after yet another 9-0 win in a minute and 50 seconds over Aybegshazada KURRAYEV (TKM). On Mat C, Lingzhe MENG (CHN) gets a 3-0 win over NAVEEN.

11:30: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) got a scare from MANSI but she sees her off 3-2 in the 57kg quarterfinal. After all the Women's Wrestling quarterfinals, only Japan and DPR Korea wrestlers are unbeaten.

11:25: Kexin HONG (CHN) with a quick fall over Emma TISSINA (KAZ) at 57kg. The semifinal will be a fiery affair as she gets In Sun JONG (PRK). The 57kg wrestler gave no chance to Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) and won 10-0

11:15: At 50kg, Sonhyang KIM (PRK) with a controlled 8-0 win over Jiang ZHU (CHN). Top-class single leg takedowns from Kim to move into the finals. Can she challenge Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)? The Japanese star beat Aktenge KEUNIMKAEVA (UZB) in the quarterfinals via fall.

11:05: Qianyu PANG (CHN) and Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) let it fly in the 53kg quarterfinals. Pang built a 6-0 lead but Sedneva scored a four and takedown to make it 6-6. Pang with a clutch four-pointer to secure a 10-6 win

Here's how the other three 53kg quarterfinals went about

Akari FUNINAMI (JPN) with a 1:55 fall over ANTIM.

Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) wins 10-0 over Meng HSIEH (TPE) in 2:12.

Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) gut wrenches Vannak SAMBAT (CAM) for a 10-0 win.

10:50: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) gets the first par terre advantage and scores a turn. As he was going for the second, Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) blocks him and almost got the pin. A 3-2 lead for Saravi. A stepout makes it 4-2 before he scores a takedown and goes into the break leading 6-2. Assakalov gets a passivity point in the second period but Saravi will move on with a 6-3 win.

10:45: Lingzhe MENG (CHN) with four turns to beat Timothy LOH (SGP) 9-0 at 130kg in Greco-Roman. He is followed by world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) who also scores four turns from par terre to beat Nanthawat PANPHUEK (THA) 9-0.

10:40: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) was troubled by Jeongae BARK (KOR) but the Japanese world champion with a top 10-0 win at 57kg. On Mat A, it's time for Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) in 97kg Greco-Roman.

10:30: Asian champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) launches a deadly leg lace against SAMNANG DIT (CAM) to finish the 50kg bout in 30 seconds. On Mat B, In Sun JONG (PRK) with a fall over Thi Anh TRAN (VIE) at 57kg.

10:25: Contrasting results for Kazakhstan. Emma TISSINA (KAZ) works a 8-0 lead before pinning Danielle LIM (SGP) at 57kg. But Miran CHEON (KOR) beats Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ) 2-1 at 50kg.

10:22: Pooja GEHLOT finishes her 50kg bout against Manlika ESATI (THA) in the first period. A takedown and roll to make it 4-0 before earning a 10-0 technical superiority win.

10:20: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist has all the cheers from the crowd as she beats Thi NGUYEN (VIE) 8-0, a win which included three takedowns and two technical points.

10:15: Super fast action on Mat B and Mat C. Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) got tossed for a four but she pins Ahinsa PORUTHOTAGE (SRI) at 53kg. On Mat C, Hyogyong CHOE with a fall over Hyunyoung OH (KOR) at 53kg. She is followed by Son hyang KIM (PRK) who uses an arm-trap to roll to a 10-0 win over Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE).

10:05: World bronze medalist ANTIM scores two takedowns to lead 5-0 at the break against Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB). Antim is the Asian Championships silver medalist and a win will give her a chance to wrestle world and Asian champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) in a rematch of the Asian final. Antim works that outside single for two more takedowns before finishing the bout with a similar takedown. She wins 11-0.

10:00: Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT-OCHIR (MGL) comes out with double-leg for four. A turn to make it 6-0 but give up a reversal to Marimar CANDRA (INA). Two more takedowns for Bat-Ochir and she leads 10-1 at the the break. Four to begin the second period and Bat Ochir moves into the quarterfinals at 53kg.