Komarov Shines on U23 Debut; Ukraine Trumps Russia for WW title

Friday, May 21, 2021 - 20:12 By Vinay Siwach

If there is a perfect way to debut at a tournament, Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) demonstrated it on Friday.

Wrestling for the first time at an U23-level tournament, the former cadet and junior world champion dominated his way into the final, establishing himself as the wrestler to beat at 87kg in the future.

He led three Russians in the finals as Greco-Roman wrestling began on Friday at the U23 European Championships in Skopje, North Macedonia.

Sweden and Armenia managed to enter two wrestlers each into the final while Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan also got one each in Saturday's final at the Jane Sandanski Arena.

Russia, Turkey and Armenia had entered four wrestlers each in the semifinal but only Russia managed to advance three while the other two fell behind.

Komarov was slow to start in the semifinal against Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR) and was put in par terre after being called passive. But Saricicek failed to take advantage of the position. The Russian then got a takedown to lead 2-1 at the break.

Saricicek was penalized for his passivity and Komarov used his strength to gut-wrench him from the par terre position. His three rolls gave him six points and a 9-1 win.

In the morning session, Komarov notched up two victories by technical superiority but was checked by junior world champion Istvan TAKACS (HUN) in the quarterfinal. The Russian managed to win 4-1.

In the final, junior European champion Temur TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO) will challenge Komarov. The Georgian is yet to concede a point in the tournament and has outscored his opponents 28-0.

He was so dominant in the semifinal against Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM) that it only lasted one minute and 20 seconds. After an early takedown to lead 2-0, Tchkuaselidze got two from a body lock throw. A leg foul from the Armenian added two more to extend the lead 6-0.

The following par terre position was enough for Tchkuaselidze to finish the bout but his grip slipped under the opponent's waist and the two points for the gut were reversed after a challenge from Armenia. But their happiness was short lived as Tchkuaslidze got a snap down for two points and the victory.

At 77kg, Sergei STEPANOV (RUS) also had a stunning run as he reached the final against Per OLOFSSON (SWE). In the semifinal, he took out Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM) 8-3, in a bout controlled with ease.

After his 1/8 final win over Patryk BEDNARZ (POL) via fall, he had a rematch of his World Championships final at 72 against Nikoloz TCHIKAIDZE (GEO). Like that bout, he came out on top in Skopje as well with a pin.

Olofsson, whose tournament was all but over in the quarterfinal, scored another come-from behind-victory against Erkan ERGEN (TUR). After a step out and Olofsson's passivity, Ergen led 2-0 but the Sweden wrestler scored a takedown after Ergen's miss to level it 2-2. He then trapped the Turk in a body lock to get two more points for the throw. The call was challenged by Turkey but they lost the challenge. The 5-2 score in favor of Olofsson remained until the clock expired.

In the quarterfinal, Olofsson was down 0-6 but scored 14 unanswered points against Aliaksandr PECHURENKA (BLR) to win 14-6 and progress to the semifinal.

OLOFSSON (SWE) U23 European Championships

In another Sweden vs Turkey semifinal at 63kg, Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) defeated Abdulkadir SAYDAM (TUR) 8-0. Half of those points, however, were caution points.

Oehlen got the advantage after Saydam was called passive and the Sweden wrestler won an exposure from the par terre position. Later, the referee awarded two points to Oehlen, warning Saydam for twisting his opponent's fingers.

Another warning followed as the Turk was seen to be involved in dangerous wrestling and that made the score 7-0 for Oehlen. The Turkey corner challenged the call and lost, ending the bout 8-0.

From the other side of the bracket, Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) upset U23 and Senior European bronze medalist Leri ABULADZE (GEO) 1-1 in the semifinal. The bout only saw points for the two passivity calls with the Armernian getting the benefit of the second call.

At 55kg, Adem UZUN (TUR) will take on Zaur ALIYEV (AZE) in the final after he defeated Denis DEMIROV (BUL) 9-4 in the semifinal while Aliyev etched out a 3-3 win over Mavlud RIZMANOV (RUS).

Zaur ALIYEV U23 European Championships

Aliyev had fallen behind 1-3 but he scored a takedwon on the edge to make it 3-3 with 1:38 to go. The move was originally scored a stepout and one point but his corner challenged the call and won. Aliyev managed to keep his lead for the remaining 98 seconds and reach the final.

Uzun had to work harder for his win after leading 6-0 at one point of the match. But Demirov scored a takedown on either side of the break to make it 6-4. A stepout and a takedown later Uzun won 9-4.

In the final category of the day, two big wins in the semifinals set up a Russia-Armenia final. Mikhail LAPTEV (RUS) defeated Franz RICHTER (GER) 11-0 in just one minute and 57 seconds while David OVASAPYAN (ARM) won against Delian ALISHAHI (SUI) 9-0 in three minutes and 40 seconds.

Ukraine win WW title

They trailed Russia by four points in the team title race on Thursday. But by the end of the women's wrestling in Skopje, Ukraine claimed the team title by a difference of 16 points.

If the scores of the all the medals winners are accounted, both nations are locked at 165. But Ukraine's fifth-place finish at 72kg and eighth-place at 76kg gave them 18 points. Russia, however, managed only two points from their non-medal winning wrestler.

Alina AKOBIYA (UKR) led the day with a gold medal finish at 57kg after beating Patrycja GIL (POL) 8-0 in the final. It was finally a big load off her back as she had finished with silver medals at the previous two U23 European Championships.

She got Gil in a headlock before turning it into a takedown. Another cradle and exposure made it 6-0 for before a double leg attack extended the lead to 8-0.

With 10 medals at age-group European and World Championships, Akobiya's resume got even more stronger with this title. Last month, she had won the silver medal at the senior Euros and also qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.

Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) was another first-time gold medalist at the U23 level as converted her debut into a golden one at 62kg.

Wrestling against Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR) in the final, Rizhko worked up two takedowns before giving one up. Leading 4-2, she performed an inside trip to put Paulava on her back and secure the fall with 53 seconds remaining.

The only Ukrainian wrestler to come up short in the final was Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) as she dropped her 65kg final 8-5 against rapidly rising Irina RINGACI (MDA).

The Moldovan wrestler put the disappointment of failing to qualify for the Tokyo Games behind her and ran through her opposition at this tournament.

In the final, she had some trouble as Zelenykh opened the scoring with a takedown before Ringaci countered with a lift which exposed Zelenykh for a four. The Ukrainian also countered with a takedown and almost got the pin. But Ringaci survived and led 4-4.

Riganci then scored a takedown and then a snap to make it 8-4. She conceded a point for step out but it was too little too late for Zelenykh as she dropped her bout 8-5.

Russia had two finalist but only one won the gold medal. Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) was crowned the 53kg champion after Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) forfeited due to injury.

At the 72kg final, Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) shocked Marina SUROVTSEVA 2-2 in a bout that saw point only for passivity and stepouts.

Choluj was called passive in the first period but she scored a stepout to lead 1-1. Surovtseva scored a stepout to claim back the lead but was put on the activity clock with a minute and 18 seconds remaining. Choluj led 2-2 on criteria after the Russian failed to score.

The Polish wrestler hung on to the lead for the final 48 seconds and claimed the gold medal.

Results: GR Semifinals

55kg
GOLD: Zaur ALIYEV (AZE) vs Adem UZUN (TUR)

SF 1: Zaur ALIYEV (AZE) df Mavlud RIZMANOV (RUS), 3-3
SF 2: Adem UZUN (TUR) df Denis DEMIROV (BUL), 9-4

63kg
GOLD: Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) vs Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) df Abdulkadir SAYDAM (TUR), 8-0
SF 2: Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) df Leri ABULADZE (GEO), 1-1

77kg
GOLD: Sergei STEPANOV (RUS) vs Per OLOFSSON (SWE)

SF 1: Sergei STEPANOV (RUS) df Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM), 8-3
SF 2: Per OLOFSSON (SWE) df Erkan ERGEN (TUR), 5-2

87kg
GOLD: Temuri TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO) vs Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS)

SF 1: Temuri TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO) df Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM), 8-0
SF 2: Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) df Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR), 9-1

130kg
GOLD: Mikhail LAPTEV (RUS) vs David OVASAPYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Mikhail LAPTEV (RUS) df Franz RICHTER (GER), 11-0
SF 2: David OVASAPYAN (ARM) df Delian ALISHAHI (SUI), 9-0

WW Medal Results

53kg
GOLD: Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) df Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), inj def

BRONZE: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 9-2
BRONZE: Alicja CZYZOWICZ (POL) df Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN), 2-1

57kg
GOLD: Alina AKOBIYA (UKR) df Patrycja GIL (POL), 8-0

BRONZE: Othelie HOEIE (NOR) df Hanna VAHER (BLR), 6-1
BRONZE: Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS) df Sezen BELBEROVA (BUL), inj def

62kg
GOLD: Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) df Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR), via fall (8-0)

SF 1: Mariia LACHUGINA (RUS) df Cansu AKSOY (TUR), 13-4
SF 2: Anhelina LYSAK (POL) df Elena ESPOSITO (ITA), via fall (8-0)

65kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR), 8-5

BRONZE: Kamila KULWICKA (POL) df Nerea BLANCO (ESP), via fall (5-0)
BRONZE: Eyleen SEWINA (GER) df Asli DEMIR (TUR), via fall (10-3)

72kg
GOLD: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df Marina SUROVTSEVA , 2-2

BRONZE: Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR) df Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR), 6-5

#WrestleBaku

Golden hattrick for Kougiomtsidis, historic gold for Lefter at U23 Euros

Saturday, May 25, 2024 - 16:08 By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (May 25) -- Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) seems to enjoy competing against Azerbaijani wrestlers.

In September last year at the World Championships, the former European champion got the better of Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) in the fifth-place bout to book his Paris Olympics quota. On Saturday, he underlined his preparedness for this summer’s Games by defeating another Azerbaijan wrestler, Ali TCOKAEV (AZE).

And in doing so, he completed a rare golden hat-trick. A U23 European champion in 2022 and 2023, Kougioumtsidis completed the ‘three-peat’ in style. The 22-year-old needed barely five minutes to reach the semifinals, where he had to dig into his experience to overcome rookie wrestler Arsen BALAIAN (AIN).

Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) won his third successive U23 European Championships gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the final, Kougioumtsidis was up against the local hero Tcokaev. Only 21, the Azerbaijan wrestler was looking for his first-ever gold medal in this competition. Like his opponent, Tcokaev looked sharp coming into the final and he was the one making all the early moves. But in a blink of an eye, the wrestler from Greece turned the 79kg final on its head.

Kougioumtsidis was placed on the passivity clock just over a minute into the bout. That call seemed to have woken him up from his slumber. As the clock ticked down, Kougioumtsidis first went for Tcokaev’s left leg but the Azerbaijani was quick to defend. He then went for the right. This time, not only did he successfully execute the single-leg attack, but Kougioumtsidis also tripped him for a four-pointer.

Tcokaev tried making a comeback but Kougioumtsidis used his long limbs to keep his opponent at bay and closed out the match 4-1, not scoring any more points.

It was a statement win. But it also broke the hearts of the home fans who were expecting to see their wrestlers turn on the style on the penultimate day of the championships. Instead, they had to witness two Azerbaijani defeats in the finals.

Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) won the 70kg gold medal after beating Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) in the final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Moments before Tcokaev lost to Kougioumtsidis, Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) was defeated 6-2 by Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) in the 70kg final.

Sheriev’s was one of the three Individual Neutral Athletes who won gold medals on Saturday. The finals session on the second last day of championships began with Artem GOBAEV (AIN) beating Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) 8-3 for the 57kg gold medal.

Gobaev was dominant throughout the final, deftly evading Karavus’s moves and launching vicious counterattacks to give his Turkish rival no chance of winning and being crowned as the U23 continental champion for the first time.

Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (AIN) captured the 65kg title after beating defending champion Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

If Gobaev was patient enough to capitalize on his opponent’s mistakes, Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (AIN) was like a flashy sports car that takes less than 10 seconds to go full throttle.

Since winning the U23 World Championship title last year, Ibragimov hasn’t had a lot to show from his fledgling wrestling career. Big wins and titles have both been missing. That drought ended in Baku.

Ibragimov had spent less than 10 minutes on the mat on Friday to reach the final, scoring 21 points and allowing just one. But in Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), he was up against the defending U23 European Championship gold medallist in the 65kg final.

He might not have won anything eye-popping of late, but Ibragimov didn’t look too overwhelmed by the quality of his opponent. The Frenchman was still to settle into the final when Ibragimov bent forward and got a grip of his leg for a swift two-point takedown.

The bout was only eight seconds old, but from that moment on, the writing was on the wall. Ibragimov kept chipping away constantly at his opponent to keep the scorecard ticking in his favor through a series of push-outs and passivity points Arsamerzouev conceded.

Eventually, in the battle between the U23 world champion, Ibragimov, and the U23 European champion, it was the former who prevailed 6-2.

Radu LEFTER (MDA) celebrates after winning the 97kg gold medal, a first for Moldova at the U23 European Championships in Freestyle. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Lefter wins historic gold

Radu LEFTER (MDA) will remember this day for a long time. Not only did he win his first gold medal at a championship, Lefter became the first wrestler from Moldova to win a Freestyle gold medal at the U23 European Championships after he defeated Soslan DZHAGAEV (AIN) in the final.

A two-time U23 World Championships silver medalist, Lefter got a huge baggage off his back after winning the gold in Baku. This was Lefter's fourth U23 European Championships where he has previously won a silver and two bronze medals. He also has a silver at the U20 and a bronze at the U17 European Championships.

In Baku, Lefter reached the final after two technical superiority wins but was challenged by Dzhagaev. He was put on the activity clock in the first period and trailed 1-0 at the break. But the second period was a completely different story.

Dzhagaev was put on the activity clock during which he hit a single-leg attack but Lefter countered it with exposure to get two points in addition to one after the activity clock expired to lead 3-1. With the clock ticking, Dzhagaev felt the pressure and made half-attacks, including an inside trip in the final 10 seconds which Lefter countered for a takedown and secure the historic win.

2022 U23 European champion Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) will look to win his second title on Sunday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Gadzhiev, Magamadov eye titles

On the final day of the competition, former U23 European champion Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) will face Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN) for the bragging rights in the 74kg.

Abdulvagabov had to overcome a tough opening round where he was stretched all the way by Irahim YAPRAK (TUR) before winning 5-4. After that initial hiccup, Abdulvagabov had little trouble beating other opponents, winning the quarterfinal by technical superiority and scoring a 7-3 win over Krisztian BIRO (ROU).

Gadzhiev’s route was a lot more straightforward wherein he didn’t have to survive any scares, scoring 28 points so far and conceding only 6.

The battle in the 86kg weight class, too, promises to be a mouthwatering as defending champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) will face Arslan BAGAEV (AIN). Only 20, Magamadov has a slew of titles to his name and will hope to add another U23 European title to his already impressive trophy cabinet.

In the 125kg class, Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) gave himself a fighting chance to win his first-ever gold medal at an international level after he reached the final, where he will face SOLOMON MANASHVILI (GEO).

Both wrestlers have had more or less an identical path to the final, with Khubulov playing an extra bout as he had to first compete in the qualifying round, which he convincingly won.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Artem GOBAEV (AIN) df. Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR), 8-3

BRONZE: Luka GVINJILIA (GEO) df. Thomas EPP (SUI), 4-1
BRONZE: Vladyslav ABRAMOV (UKR) df. Herbert AKAPIAN (AIN), 8-3

65kg
GOLD: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (AIN) df. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), 6-2

BRONZE: Serghei CILCIC (MDA) df. Daniel KULCZYNSKI (POL), 4-0
BRONZE: Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) df. Ayub MUSAEV (BEL), 3-2

70kg
GOLD: Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) df. Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), 6-2

BRONZE: Constantin CHIRILOV (MDA) df. Bohdan OLIINYK (UKR), 3-1
BRONZE: Davit PATSINASHVILI (GEO) df. Mikita DZEMCHANKA (AIN), 5-0

79kg
GOLD: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Ali TCOKAEV (AZE), 4-1

BRONZE: Radomir STOYANOV (BUL) df. Marius RETCO (MDA), 6-4
BRONZE: Arsen BALAIAN (AIN) df. RAFFAELE MATRULLO (ITA), via fall (2-0)

97kg
GOLD: Radu LEFTER (MDA) df. Soslan DZHAGAEV (AIN), 6-1

BRONZE: Rifat GIDAK (TUR) df. Ravan MUSAYEV (AZE), 2-2
BRONZE: Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO) df. Angelos KOUKLARIS (GRE), 10-8

Freestyle Semifinals

61kg
GOLD: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) vs. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR)

SF 1: Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR) df. Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE), 15-12
SF 2: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Simone PIRODDU (ITA), 10-0

74kg
GOLD: Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN) vs. Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)

SF 1: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO), 7-4
SF 2: Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN) df. Krisztian BIRO (ROU), 7-3

86kg
GOLD: Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) vs. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)

SF 1: Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) df. Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE), 5-1
SF 2: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) df. Emre CIFTCI (TUR), 11-0

92kg
GOLD: Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE) vs. Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)

SF 1: Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) df. Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN), 10-4
SF 2: Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE) df. Ion DEMIAN (MDA), 4-2

125kg
GOLD: Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) vs. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) df. Abdulla KURBANOV (AIN), 3-2
SF 2: Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) df. Milan KORCSOG (HUN), 4-1

Komarov Shines on U23 Debut; Ukraine Trumps Russia for WW title

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Golden hattrick for Kougiomtsidis, historic gold for Lefter at U23 Euros