LIVE BLOG: European Olympic Qualifier, Day One

Thursday, March 18, 2021 - 00:00 By Eric Olanowski

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 18) -- The quarterfinals are underway. The winners of these quarterfinals matches are one win away from punching their nation's ticket to the Tokyo Olympic Games. The semifinals begin on Thursday night at 18:00 (local time).

WATCH: https://uww.org/event/european-og-qualifier

Match of the Day
Candidate 1: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) df. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), 8-7
Candidate 2: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Niurgun SKRIABIN (BLR), 7-5

15:39: That'll do it for the opening session. We'll see you back here at 17:15 for the Opening Ceremony. The semifinals begin at 18:00.

15:36: Shamil SHARIPOV (RUS) is clearly upset with his performance against Robert BARAN (POL), but his 3-2 win puts him in tonight's semifinals against Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR).

15:20: These will be the last matches of the session. We'll take a break until the Opening Ceremony which starts at 17:15. Once those conclude, we'll roll into the semifinals at 18:00.

15:13: Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) ends his 97kg quarterfinals match against Ahmed BATAEV (BUL) with a big smile on his face. He trailed 3-3 on criteria and scored a stepout with less than five seconds left to win, 4-3. He'll wrestle Abraham CONYEDO (ITA) later tonight in the semifinals.

Semifinal Matchups (as they come in):
57kg
SEMIFINAL: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Andrii YATSENKO (UKR)
SEMIFINAL: Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL) vs. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)

65kg
SEMIFINAL: Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) vs. Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)
SEMIFINAL: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA)

74kg
SEMIFINAL: Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) vs. Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL)
SEMIFINAL: Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) vs. Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU)

86kg
SEMIFINAL: Osman GOCEN (TUR) vs. Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
SEMIFINAL: Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL) vs. Ali SHABANAU (BLR)

97kg
SEMIFINAL: Erik THIELE (GER) vs. Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR)
SEMIFINAL: Abraham CONYEDO (ITA) vs. Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR)

125kg
SEMIFINAL: Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR) vs. Shamil SHARIPOV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL: Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)

14:32: That was a close one! Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL) led Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR), 4-0, but gave up four unanswered points and escaped a close one. That criteria win pushed him into the 74kg semifinals.

14:08: Tevanyan takes out Olympic champion Khinchegashvili, 7-5, and moves into the semifinals where he'll take on Magomedmurad Gadzhiev for an Olympic berth.

14:00: What a start! Tevanyan puts up five quick points and leads Olympic champion Khinchegashvili, 5-0.

13:55 Things are getting chippy on Mat A. Kilicsallayan continues to complain that Aliyev is pulling on singlet. Either way, he's trailing 5-0 with less than 30 seconds left.

13:48: The 65kg quarterfinals are about to get underway!

13:38: European champion Arsen Harutunyunan keeps things rolling with a 10-5 quarterfinals win over Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO). He'll take on the winner of Gamzatgadzsi HALIDOV (HUN) and Andrii YATSENKO (UKR) in the semifinals.

13:27: What a match! Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) and Niurgun SKRIABIN (BLR) left it all on the mat, but it was Tevanyan who came out on top. The Armenian trailed 5-1 with less than a minute to go but strung together six points from a takedown and a pair of gut wrenches. Tevanyan moved into the quarterfinals with a 7-5 win. He'll wrestle Olympic champion Vlad Khinchegashvili for a spot in tonight's semifinals.

13:10: Aliyev came to scrap! He'll meet '19 European runner-up Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR) in the quarterfinals after cruising to a 13-2 win over George RAMM (GBR).

13:04: The wait is over! Haji Aliyev, the three-time world champion, is up now on Mat A.

13:03: What a comeback! Gadzhiev trailed 4-2 with less than 30 seconds left but scored a takedown and a stepout to defeat George BUCUR (ROU), 5-4.

13:01: Two-time world medalist Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) is making his first appearance down at 65kg since the '18 World Championships. In December, he claimed 70kg gold at the Individual World Cup.

12:45: There's your Match of the Day! Kadzimahamedau survived a late flurry of points but hung on to upset Demirtas, 8-7. Turkey now has to answer the tough question: Is Demirtas their guy for the final Olympic qualification event, the World OG Qualifier (May 6-9) or do they put the weight on the shoulders of two-time world medalist Yakup GOR?

12:43: There's an upset brewing on Mat B! Kadzimahamedau just scored eight unanswered points against Rio Olympic bronze medalist Demirtas and leads 8-3.

12:38: Rio Olympic silver medalist Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) is wrestling Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) on Mat B.

12:37: Kentchazdze opens the seconds period up with a takedown, followed by a pair of leg laces. He's leading 8-2 with 90 seconds left.

12:33: It's still early in the match, but '18 world silver medalist Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) and Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM) are trading takedowns on Mat C!

12:24: We're all waiting for three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) to wrestle his first match! It's been a long morning, but I promise, he's coming up soon. He'll be up in four matches (Bout 15) on Mat A.

12:05: It wasn't anything flashy or highlight-worthy, but that's the name of the game here -- win and move on. Khinchegashvili conserved his energy and wrestled a smart match. He moved into the second round with a 3-1 win over Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR). Next up, the Olympic champ will take on Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA) on Mat C (Bout 63).

11:58: Here. We. Go. Olympic champion "King Vlad" is wrestling on Mat C.

11:57: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) ends Finsilver's quest to become Israel's second freestyle Olympian with a 7-0 shutout win.

11:49: Israel has only ever had one freestyle Olympian. Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR) begins his quest to make it two. He's wrestling on Mat C.

11:43: The last time Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) stepped foot on a mat, he had the tournament of his life. He upset reigning world bronze medalist Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) and won 65kg Individual World Cup gold. Can Tevanyan put back-to-back competitions together? We'll find out shortly as he's coming up on Mat A in three matches (Bout 8).

11:38: The lone-Russian freestyle wrestler, Shamil SHARIPOV, is up on Mat A. Russia already qualified 56kg, 65kg, 75kg, 86kg and 97kg for the Olympic Games through the Nur-Sultan World Championships. If Sharipov can finish top two today, Russia will be represented at each weight in Tokyo.

11:35: There were no signs that the weight cut was an issue for Arsen Harutyunyan. He looked impressive in his first match The European champion put up ten points against Uladzislau ANDREYEU (BLR) and won, 10-2.

11:23: Rio Olympic champion Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) is up on Mat C in four matches (Bout 56). He'll try to qualify Georgia and himself for a third Olympic Games. His first Olympics were in '12 where he made it to the finals but fell short of winning gold. Then, in Rio, he reached the summit of the wrestling world by defeating Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) in the 57kg finals to become Georgia's second Olympic champ.

11:09: European champion (at 61kg) Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) is making his way to Mat A to wrestle Uladzislau ANDREYEU (BLR). It's a big weight cut for the Armenian, so this first match after a draining cut is always telling. Harutyunyan struggled at 57kg at the World Championships, where he finished in 16th place, but bounced back at the Individual World Cup with a silver medal. Which Harutyunyan is going to show up today?

11:00: Get ready for an emotional day! There will be a total of 12 Olympic berths earned today. The top two wrestlers at each weight punch their nation's ticket to the Olympic Games. One thing to remember: you qualify your nation and not yourself for The Games.

Thursday's Schedule (local time):
11:00: Qualification rounds FS – 57-65-74-86-97-125kg
17:15: Opening Ceremony
18:00: Tokyo 2020 Qualifying Round (Semi-Final) for FS – 57-65-74-86-97-125kg

#WrestleBratislava

Young stars make Azerbaijan best team at Europeans

Sunday, April 13, 2025 - 23:03 By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 13) -- Azerbaijan is the best team of Europe and its way ahead of others.

The country claimed the Greco-Roman team title at the European Championships in Bratislava with 151 points, 41 points more than second-placed Turkiye which had 110 points. Hungary managed to put itself on the podium at the third place with 104 points.

After only a silver and bronze medals on Saturday, Azerbaijan bounced back with three gold medals and a bronze medal to finish on the top of the standings.

Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) initiates a throw against Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) in the 60kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Starting the gold rush world 63kg champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) who downed Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), 7-3, in the 60kg final.

"The final started well and even though I had made seven points, I was more confident in winning," Mammadli said. "In the second period, I made a mistake. I gave two moves to my opponent but I was still able to hold on to the victory."

Mammadli got the first par terre advantage and completed a standing to danger suplex for four points and a turn to lead 7-0. He tried one more turn but Tibilov defended the attempt. Tibilov managed to turn Mammadli in the second period when he got the par terre position but that was all the action from him.

The 7-3 win gave Mammadi his second straight European gold medal and confirmed his spot on the Azerbaijan team for the World Championships.

"I am very happy with the second [title]," he said. "I felt ready for this, I was overwhelmed with myself. When I came to the competition, I was thinking about the gold medal. I had prepared myself well, both physically and technically. I achieved what I wanted."

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In his three earlier bouts, Mammadli completed three technical superiority wins including a thunderous 8-0 win over former world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA) in the semifinal, a rematch of the final of European Championships last year which Mammadli won.

"The competition was very good and there were very talented wrestlers," he said. "The gold last year at 60kg is almost a year past and every competition is very high. Because it was an Olympic weight class, this was expected. It was like a European World Championship in wrestling."

The 22-year-old will now wants to repeat as the world champion but in 60kg weight class. The challenge with that category is that it is dominated by wrestlers from Asia. At both the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics, all four medalists at 60kg were from Asia.

"[For Asian wrestlers] I can say that it will be a very difficult match," Mammadli said. "Hopefully, the next match will be at the World Championship. I know that it is a very difficult match but I will prepare even better for them."

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) celebrates after winning the 67kg final at the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 67kg, Paris Olympic bronze medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) continued his dominance at the continental event, winning his third straight European gold medal.

Facing Abu AMAEV (BUL), who Jafarov had defeated last European Championships in the quarterfinal, in the final in Bratislava, Jafarov turned him in par terre for two points. At the end of the mat, Jafarov lifted Amaev and completed the throw for four points to lead 7-0.

Amaev failed to break Jafarov's defense from par terre and got only one point as he dropped the bout 7-1. By reaching the final, Amaev earned his best European Championships medal -- a silver. He has two bronze medals from past editions.

"This European Championships was really tough for me," Jafarov said. "I managed to retain my title for the third time. I have endured a lot of hardships and hard work during this time. I injured my ear when I was playing the Zagreb tournament. An operation was performed, I continued to work hard, regardless of the surgery. I could not stay in camp in Croatia. I returned and continued to work hard in Azerbaijan."

Jafarov, who has an Olympic bronze medal and two medals at the World Championships, is determined to win the gold medal at the World Championships now.

"I haven't been a world champion. I'm want to be a world champion," he said. "I have to work hard for Azerbaijan so that I can win a gold medal at the upcoming world championships. I really want that medal and God willing it will be like that because I really want that medal in any way."

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) defeated world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN), in par terre, in the 82kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Another young star gave Azerbaijan its third gold as Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) won the top medal at 82kg. He defeated world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) 6-0 in the final.

Earning a par terre advantage in the first period, Gurbanov scored from a turn to lead in the first period before blocking an armthrow from Szilvassy to earn two points. Hungary challenged the call for slip throw but lost it, giving one more point to Gurbanov for a 6-0 lead.

The gold medal is Gurbanov's first major senior gold medal as he already has two European U23 golds and one U17 gold. Gurbanov has won the World Championships gold medal at U17, U20 and U23 levels.

Milov completes golden run

Kiril MILOV (BUL) completed is glorious run at the European Championships with the 97kg gold medal, his second in the continental history. In the final, he beat Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), 7-1, a day after he defeated seven-time European champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM).

"This is one of the most long-awaited medals because in the semifinals I managed to defeat Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), who is a great wrestler, and I am glad that I managed to win the title," Milov said.

Milov scored two gut wrench turns from par terre to lead 5-0 and then was saved by a challenge in the second period. Lazogianis completed a throw from par terre which was blocked by Milov and he never landed in danger. But Lazogianis was awarded four points which gave him a 5-5 criteria lead for a bigger move.

Bulgaria challenged the decision and got two points as he had blocked Lazogianis and made him land in danger instead. He then defended his 7-1 lead for the gold medal.

"We trained very differently, very hard, we did very good training, we prepared well and I managed not to make a mistake in the matches and that is why I managed to win," he said.

Kiril MILOV (BUL) celebrates after winning the 97kg final at the European Championships. (Photos: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In his semifinal against Aleksanyan, Milov countered the Armenian's strongest suit -- the gut wrench. Milov led 1-1 on criteria after getting the first par terre position. Aleksanyan, in the second par terre position, tried to turn Milov who managed to stay in his position and scored a reversal.

With a 2-1 lead, Milov defended his position in the remaining 90 seconds and handed Aleksanyan his first-ever European defeat since 2017.

"With Artur, I know that whatever I do, I have to defend myself from the ground [par terre], because that's his best grip." Milov said. "He's very good from there and I'm glad I was able to defend myself from the ground."

The 28-year-old was at the Paris Olympics at 130kg after the spot was offered to Bulgaria due to reallocation of quotas. Milov underwent surgery before Olympic qualifiers in 2024 and missed qualifying at 97kg.

"Yes, before the two Olympics, even in Tokyo, I had an operation before the Olympics itself and in Paris too, I underwent a very serious operation," he said. "I wasn't able to get a quota but I got the chance to participate. I participated at 130kg, but I couldn't get prepared and the results. I was shaking. So now I'm training to succeed at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles."

At 72kg, two gold medals were awarded after a scoreboard glitch gave Levente LEVAI (HUN) a 4-4 criteria win over Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) in the final.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), 7-3

BRONZE: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE: Sadyk LALAEV (UWW) df. Olivier SKRZYPCZAK (POL), 5-0

67kg
GOLD: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df. Abu AMAEV (BUL), 7-1

BRONZE: Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) df. Yanis GUENDEZ NIFRI (FRA), 5-0
BRONZE: Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) df. Murat FIRAT (TUR), 3-1

72kg
GOLD: Levente LEVAI (HUN) and Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) [NO SILVER]

BRONZE: Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) df. Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (UWW), 2-1
BRONZE: Mehmet SAHIN (TUR) df. Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU), 9-1

82kg
GOLD: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Erik SZILVASSY (HUN), 6-0

BRONZE: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) df. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR), 5-3
BRONZE: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM), 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Kiril MILOV (BUL) df. Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), 7-1

BRONZE: Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW) df. Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED), 8-5
BRONZE: Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), via inj. def.

LIVE BLOG: European Olympic Qualifier, Day One

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Young stars make Azerbaijan best team at Europeans