#WrestleNoviSad

Kuznetsova's Gold Pushes Russia Past Ukraine in Women's Team Race

Friday, March 8, 2019 - 19:24 By Eric Olanowski

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (March 8) - The Russian Federation, led by their solo Day 6 champion Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS), captured the U23 European team title 12 points ahead of second-place Ukraine. Kuznetsova was one of three Russian women to leave Novi Sad with a gold medal. They also had a trio of runner-ups and pair of bronze-medal finishers. 

Russia trailed Ukraine by eight points heading into Kuznetsova’s 65kg gold-medal bout, but her 4-1 victory over Romania’s Kriszta INCZE put her country back in front by seven points. 

Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO’s second-place finish in the 72kg round-robin competition sealed the team title for Russia as they finished with 180 points. 

Ukraine, who finished in second place with two champions and three silver medalists, finished the tournament with a total of 168 points. 

Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK was one of three Ukrainian finalists, but the only one of Ukraine's Day 5 finalists to reach the top of the podium. It only took her 58 seconds to lock up a cradle and stick Germany's Luzie MANZKE in the 62kg gold-medal bout. 

Meanwhile, the other pair of Day 5 gold medals went to Germany’s Annika WENDLE and Hungary’s Ramona GALAMBOS. 

In the 53kg finals, Wendle and Khrystyna BEREZA (UKR) traded inactivity points, but it was a late failed Ukrainian challenge that proved to be the difference in the match. The German wrestler was awarded a point and closed out the match with the 2-1 victory. 

In the 57kg gold-medal bout, Ramona Galambos had the 1-1 advantage on criteria but used an inactivity point to take the 2-1 outright lead and eventually the win over Ukraine's Alina AKOBIIA. 

This was Galambos' 13th overall time competing at a European Championships, and first time winning a continental gold since she did so back at the 2013 Cadet European Championships. 

Wrestling resumes Saturday in Novi Sad with the freestyle qualifications rounds beginning at 11:30 (local time). The Day 6 freestyle semifinals begin at 17:15, and will be followed by the first five freestyle finals matchups. 

Women’s Wrestling 
Team Scores
GOLD - Russia  (180 points)
SILVER - Ukraine (168 points)
BRONZE - Turkey (118 points)
Fourth - Belarus (90 points)
Fifth - Romania (85 points)

53kg 
GOLD - Annika WENDLE (GER) df. Khrystyna BEREZA (UKR), 2-1 
BRONZE - Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) df. Kremena PETROVA (BUL), 11-4
BRONZE Suzanna SEICARIU (ROU) df. Tatyana VARANSOVA (AZE), 2-2 

57kg 
GOLD - Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) df. Alina AKOBIIA (UKR), 2-1 
BRONZE - Elif YANIK (TUR) df. Valeryia YARMOLA (BLR), via fall 

62kg
GOLD - Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) df. Luzie MANZKE (GER), via fall 
BRONZE - Daria BOBRULKO (RUS) df. Ameline DOUARRE (FRA), 4-1

65kg
GOLD - Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS) df. Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU), 4-1 
BRONZE - Pauline Denise LECARPENTIER (FRA) df. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), 5-5 
BRONZE - Noémi SZABADOS (HUN) df. Anastasiia LAVRENCHUK (UKR), 8-8

72kg 
GOLD - Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR) 
SILVER - Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) 
BRONZE - Yelyzaveta TISKAROVA SAIDAKOVA (UKR)

#WrestleSamokov

Yakushenko, Zakriev one win away from second U20 World gold

Friday, August 22, 2025 - 16:01 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 22) -- Defending champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) returned to the final at 97kg as he once again managed to beat silver medalist Darius KIEFER (GER).

Unlike finals last year, both met in the semifinals this year but the result was no different as Yakusheno was clearly the better wrestler on Friday. After getting the first par terre position, Yakushenko turned Kiefer for two points and then lifted the German for a correct throw for two points for a 5-1 lead.

Kiefer got par terre in the second period and tried to get the turn but managed only a point for stepout from Yakushenko, making the score 5-2. That was all the action in the match as Yakushenko let out a loud cry after victory and so did Kiefer after his loss.

Yakushenko now leads the head-to-head 3-1 with the one loss coming in the European U20 Championships final this year in Carole, Italy.

He will face a new challenge in Hadi SEYDI AVENDI (IRI) in the final after the Iranian managed to over come Ilia KOMAROV (UWW) in the second semifinal, which was also a match decided from par terre.

Seydi Avendi led 5-0 at the break and was put in par terre in the second period and Komarov needed two turns for a 5-5 criteria lead. However, he managed to turn Seydi Avendi only once for two points to cut the lead to 5-3.

Iran had a second finalist in 55kg as 2023 world U17 champion Payam AHMADI (IRI) scored a 3-0 victory over Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ) in the semifinals. He will face another 2023 world U17 champion in Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) who defeated Daisuke MORISHITA (JPN), 10-2.

Dashdamirov had a difficult opening bout against Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series gold medalist Anil MOR (IND) but managed to hold on to a 9-9 criteria win.

At 72kg, Asian U20 champion Ahmad KODIROV (UZB) and European U20 silver medalist Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) reached the final after impressive wins.

Kodirov face Oliver PADA (FIN) in the semifinal but managed to hold on to an 11-3 technical superiority win as Pada failed to finish his attempted bodylock throws.

Terteryan faced former world U17 champion at 71kg Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE) but shut him down with defense to win 5-1.

Zakriev chases second title

Returning world 63kg champion Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) moved up to 67kg for this year's World U20 Championships but followed a similar path to the finals. Zakriev had a troublesome semifinal last year and there was difference this year as he almost got pinned in the semifinals again.

Facing European U20 bronze medalist Fariam MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), Zakriev tried to do a suplex but landed on his back with Mustafayev on top. The Azerbaijan wrestler was awarded two points and he almost sat on Zakriev for the fall but the time ran out in the first period.

He then managed to return with takedown despite Mustafayev's pressure who scored two stepouts. But as Mustafayev tried a big throw, Zakriev landed on top and got four points and won 14-7.

For his second straight gold medal, Zakriev will face Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ), the Asian U20 champion, who had a controlled 5-1 win over Fayozbek ESHMIRZAEV (UZB).

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) vs. Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE)

SF 1: Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) df. Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ), 3-0
SF 2: Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) df. Daisuke MORISHITA (JPN), 10-2

67kg
GOLD: Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) vs. Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW)

SF 1: Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) df. Fayozbek ESHMIRZAEV (UZB), 5-1
SF 2: Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) df. Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), 14-7

72kg
GOLD: Ahmad KODIROV (UZB) vs. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Ahmad KODIROV (UZB) df. Oliver PADA (FIN), 11-3
SF 2: Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) df. Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE), 5-1

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) vs. Hadi SEYDI AVENDI (IRI)

SF 1: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Darius KIEFER (GER), 5-2
SF 2: Hadi SEYDI AVENDI (IRI) df. Ilia KOMAROV (UWW), 5-3