#Yariguin2019

Khizriev Upsets Akgul, Russia Wins Four Golds on Day Three

By Eric Olanowski

KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 26) - Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS), Anzhela FOMENKO (RUS), Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS), and Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) won gold medals on the third day of competition at the Ivan Yariguin, bringing Russia’s freestyle and women’s wrestling gold medal total to nine.

Akhmed Chakaev, the two-time world bronze medalist, held off Nachyn KUULAR (RUS), 2-1, in a relatively slow-paced 65kg gold-medal bout,  handing Russia their first freestyle gold medal of the day.

Chakaev significantly slowed the pace of the match down with his underhook and paid the price for doing so, getting dinged for an inactivity point in the opening period to trail 1-0. But it was Chakaev who carried the 2-1 lead into the closing period after scoring on a hip lift from Kuular’s high crotch attempt. 

The second period remained scoreless until Kuular snuck behind Chakaev and threw him for four-points shortly after the clock hit zero. The points were award to Kuular and he led 5-2, but Chakaev and his corner were adamant that the time had expired before Kuular scored the four points. After a referees review, it was obvious that Chakaev’s right foot was in bounds as time expired, giving world-class Chechen the 2-1 victory and his second Yariguin title in the past three years. 

Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov won the 79kg round-robin tournament, avenging his first round loss to Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS). 

Gadzhimagomedov dumped Ramazanov to his back for four-points and extended his lead to 6-1 with a first period high crotch. Gadzhimagomedov ultimately defeated Ramazanov 6-2 to reach the top of the Yariguin podium for the fourth time.

Anzor Khizriev, Russia’s third freestyle champion of the day, scored a pair of crotch lifts in the second period and knocked off two-time world and Rio Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR), 7-3, in the 125kg gold-medal match.

Anzhela Fomenko won the fourth and final Russian gold medal of the day, picking up an injury default win over Anna SHCHERBAKOVA (RUS) in the 68kg women's wrestling gold-medal match.  

Mongolia, led by 2015 world champion SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg, won a pair of gold medals on the third day of action in Krasnoyarsk.

Soronzonbold only needed 31 seconds to grab the fall over fellow Mongolian Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) in the 68kg title bout, landing the world champion her second overall Yariguin gold medal, and first since 2015. 

SUKHEE Tserenchimed (MGL) was the second Mongolian wrestler who won a gold medal on the third day of competition. Sukhee capped off her path to a Yariguin title with a 10-5 win over Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS). In addition to her finals wins over Khoroshavtseva, Sukee also scored wins against U23 world champion Grece BULLEN (NOR) and 2017 world bronze medalist Becka LEATHERS (USA). 

The United States’ Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) claimed the final women’s wrestling gold medal to close out the third day of wrestling when she scored a 6-4 come-from-behind win over Natalia MALYSHEVA (RUS) in the 53kg finals.

Hildebrandt, the 2018 world runner-up, fired off a shot on the sound of the opening whistle and locked up the 2-0 advantage.

The American carried the 2-0 lead into the final frame, but her Russian opponent stole the 2-2 criteria advantage with an early second period takedown. The Russian extended her lead to 4-2, shucking-by the American and scoring her second takedown of the period. 

In the closing minute, Hildebrandt tied the match at four-all and grabbed the lead on criteria after she stopped a gut wrench attempt and planted Malysheva on her back. The Russian fought off her back and the Hildebrandt scored two additional exposures points before time expired to become the seventh American female to win a Yariguin title.

The Ivan Yariguin wraps up tomorrow morning with the four freestyle and two women’s wrestling finals. 

RESULTS

Freestyle 

65kg
GOLD - Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) df. Nachyn KUULAR (RUS), 2-1 
BRONZE - Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) df. Cristian Damian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB), 2-1 
BRONZE - Batmagnai BATCHULUUN (MGL) df. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), 4-2 

79kg
GOLD - Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS), 6-2
BRONZE - Alexander David DIERINGER (USA) df. Alan ZASEEV (RUS), via inj. def. 

125kg 
GOLD - Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) df. Taha AKGUL (TUR), 7-4 
BRONZE -  Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (RUS) df. Zhiwei DENG (CHN), 9-7 

Women’s Wrestling 

53kg 
GOLD - Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Natalia MALYSHEVA (RUS), 6-4 
BRONZE - Leila KARYMOVA (RUS) df. Haley Ruth AUGELLO (USA), via inj. def.
BRONZE - Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) df. Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS), 11-6 

57kg
GOLD - Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) df. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), 
BRONZE - Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL) df. Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL), 13-9
BRONZE - Grace Jacob BULLEN (NOR) df. Becka Anne LEATHERS (USA), via inj. def. 

62kg 
GOLD - Anzhela FOMENKO (RUS) df. Anna SHCHERBAKOVA (RUS), via inj. def. 
BRONZE - Uliana TUKURENOVA (RUS) df. Yaquelin ESTORNELL ELIZASTIGUE (CUB), 7-0 

68kg 
GOLD - SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL) df. ENKH AMAR Davaanasan (MGL), via fall. 
BRONZE - Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) df. Iuliia MAKSIMOVA BARTNOVSKAIA (RUS), 9-0 
BRONZE - Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)df.  Rio WATARI (JPN), 4-3 

#WrestleBratislava

Adar leads Turkiye's strong show at European Championships

By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 9) -- Yasemin ADAR (TUR) is a step closer to winning her eighth European gold medal. 

The Turkish legend once again reached the European Championships at 76kg after beating Martina KUENZ (AUT) 2-1 in the semifinals. Both wrestler spilt activity clock points but Adar scored a stepout to take a 2-1 lead and win.

Adar will have to beat former world U23 champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) who pinned Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (UWW) in the other semifinal.

Adar led an inspired Turkish team which had three finalists on Wednesday at the European Championships. Turkiye is the defending champions in team title.

At 59kg, Bediha GUN (TUR) defeated defending champion Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE), 3-0, and she will face former world U20 champion Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) who held on for a 6-0 victory over Erika BOGNAR (HUN).

Returning silver medalist Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) also reached the final. In her semifinal, she won after her opponent Emilia GRIGORE VUC (ROU) suffered an injury mid-bout.

Demirhan built a 9-3 lead and was about to Vuc when the Romanian let out a painful cry. The semifinal was stopped and Demirhan got a victory via injury default. She will face former European champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR) for the gold medal.

In 2019, Livach won the gold medal at the European Championships. But in the six years since then, she has been denied the top of the podium finish at the tournament.

Livach is now has the opportunity to return to the top position in what will be her fourth trip to the final; she has won one and lost two in her career.

She defeated Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (UWW) 3-1 in the semifinal after earning an extra technical point.

One of Ukraine's biggest hopes for the gold medal Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) suffered a big 9-3 loss to Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) in the 55kg semifinal. Khomenets led 2-1 for the majority of the bout but Verbina got on a single-leg attack, elevated the leg and as Khomenets tried a split defense, Verbina dragged and dropped her on the mat for four.

Another four-pointer in the final 15 seconds ended any hopes for Khomenets as Verbina won 9-3 to book her spot in the final against world bronze medalist Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) who defeated Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) 10-0 in the other semifinal.

The 35-year-old Debien, who has only a bronze medal from 2023 edition in her six European Championships appearances, made it to the final for the first time after putting on a takedown masterclass against Dragutan.

At 68kg, Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) booked a spot in the final after her two four-pointers were too much for world bronze medalist Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE). Zelenykh won 11-3.

She will take on Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) after she won 2-1 against age-group European champion Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) in the other semifinal.

RESULTS

Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) vs. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR)

SF 1: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (UWW), 3-1
SF 2: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Emilia VUC (ROU), via injury

55kg
GOLD: Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) vs. Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW)

SF 1: Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) df. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 10-0
SF 2: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) df. Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR), 9-3

59kg
GOLD: Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) vs. Bediha GUN (TUR)

SF 1: Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) df. Erika BOGNAR (HUN), 6-0
SF 2: Bediha GUN (TUR) df. Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE), 3-0

68kg
GOLD: Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) vs. Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU)

SF 1: Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) df. Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR), 2-1
SF 2: Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) df. Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE), 11-3

76kg
GOLD: Yasemin ADAR (TUR) vs. Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR)

SF 1: Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Martina KUENZ (AUT), 2-1
SF 2: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) df. Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (UWW), via fall

Qualification and morning session blog follows below

13:03: Martina KUENZ (AUT), a three-time European silver medalist, closes out the session with a big 12-0 win over returning silver medalist Catalina AXENTE (ROU). She blasted two double leg throws and two gut wrenches for the points.

12:47: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) into the 50kg semifinal with a 7-0 controlled win over Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA). Livach with a four-pointer in the opening minute and Luttenauer played catch-up after that.

12:40: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) with a fall over age-group world medalist Laura KUEHN (GER) to enter the semifinal at 76kg. She will face Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (UWW) who defeated Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) 3-0.

12:20: Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) is back into the European semifinals with a 6-3 win over Noémi SZABADOS (HUN). She is looking to become the first Czech woman to win the gold medal at the European Championships.

12:17: Defending champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) with a big headlock throw for four and then pins Enrica RINDALI (ITA) to get her title defense at 76kg going with a win.

12:15: Defending champion at 59kg Aloyna KOLESNIK (AZE) breaks down Alesia HETMANAVA (UWW) with a spree of takedowns and leads a 6-0 but Hetmanava hits a throw in the final 50 seconds which bring the score to 6-2. She holds Kolesnik in danger positions for the remaining time but fails to secure the fall. Hetmanava wins 7-2

12:05: Defending champion and Paris bronze medalist Buse TOSUN (TUR) falls to Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) 3-2 at 68kg. Shauchuk had one takedown which was enough for the two technical points Tosun scored.

11:55: World silver medalist Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) fell behind 2-0 at the break after Beatrice FERENT (ROU) countered her attack for two points in their 55kg quarterfinal. However, Khomenets, searching for first senior European title, hits a four-point and then gets countered for exposure. She holds a 4-4 criteria lead before winning the bout 8-4 and enters the semifinals.

11:46: Three-time European U20 champion and two-time European U23 silver medalist Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) needed a late stepout against Kendra DACHER (FRA) to win 6-5 at 68kg. Skobelska, making her debut at senior Europeans, scored a four-point throw to lead Dacher 4-3 but Dacher got a takedown to reclaim the lead 5-4. A stepout gave Skobelska 5-5 criteria lead which Dacher failed to break. France challenged after the time and a lost challenge added another point to Skobelska's score.

11:35: Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) with a move four to work up a 6-0 lead before securing the fall over Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER) at 68kg in a minute and 12 seconds.

11:30: Emilia VUC (ROU), former world silver medalist and European medalist, takes a minute and 13 seconds to roll to a 10-0 victory over Maria LEORDA (MDA) at 50kg.

11:23: Bediha GUN (TUR) gets two activity clock points and she manages to beat Aurora RUSSO (ITA) 2-1. Russo's one point also came from the activity clock.

11:15: Beatrice FERENT (ROU) kept Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) in danger position for more than two minutes and secured a 3-2 win at 55kg. Mammadova could not sneak out of the double-arm lock.

11:10: A couple of heartbreaks for local wrestling fans as Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER) pins Michaela SEBOEKOVA (SVK) at 68kg and Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) destroys Lara GORCS (SVK) 10-0 at 59kg.

11:00: World and returning bronze medalist Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) begins with an 11-0 technical superiority win over Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) at 68kg. 

10:50: Two quick finishes at 68kg on Mat A, Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) with a technical superiority win over Albina DRAZHI (ALB) and then Kendra DACHER (FRA) follows the same script against Nerea PAMPIN BLANCO (ESP) in the next match.

10:30: Day three here at the European Championships. We will have the repechage of the Freestyle and quickly move to Women's Wrestling in 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg.