European Games

Marzaliuk Tops Vorobeva at European Games, Day 3 Semifinals Set

By United World Wrestling Press

MINSK, Belarus (June 27) - For Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR), the road to a second straight European Games gold medal started with an Olympic champion. 

The 31-year-old Belarusian defeated two-time Olympic medalist Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) 2-1 at 76kg in her first match Thursday in Minsk, Belarus. Vorobeva scored first and led 1-0 at the break, but Marzaliuk battled back to win. 

She was then pushed in her quarterfinal match against returning world bronze medalist Martina KUENZ (AUT), but prevailed 3-2. Marzaliuk will face 2015 world bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST) in the semifinals. The other semifinal match at 76kg will pit Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE) against Francy RAEDELT (GER).

Three-time Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE) also remained on track for a second European Games gold medal. She picked up a 10-0 technical superiority in under a minute against Anna LUKASIAK (POL) in the quarterfinals at 50kg. Stadnik will meet world No.7 Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), a 2017 world bronze medalist and two-time European medalist. 

World No.2 Oksana LIVACH (UKR) advanced to the semifinals at 50kg after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Miglena SELISHKA (BUL). She will face Viyaleta CHYRYK (BLR) in the semifinals.

Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) came from behind to stun world No.2 Grace BULLEN (NOR) 9-8 in the quarterfinals at 57kg. Bullen led 6-4 after the first period, but Kurachkina came out strong in the second period and pulled out the win. She will battle Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) in the semifinals. Also at 57kg, Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) shut out world No.8 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) 6-0 to reach the semifinals, where she will face Bediha GUN (TUR). 

World No.1 Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) moved into the semifinals with a 4-0 victory over world No. 7 Johanna MATTSSON (SWE) at 62kg. Her semifinal opponent will be world No.5 Yuliia TKACH (UKR), a 2014 world champion and 2015 European Games silver medalist. Elmira GAMBAROVA (AZE) and Kriszta INCZE (ROU) will square off in the other semifinal match at 62kg.

Thursday's semifinal matches are scheduled to begin at 18:00 local time.

SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS

Women's Wrestling

50kg
SEMIFINAL - Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) vs. Mariya STADNIK (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) vs. Viyaleta CHYRYK (BLR)

57kg
SEMIFINAL - Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) vs. Bediha GUN (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) vs. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR)

62kg
SEMIFINAL - Yuliia TKACH (UKR) vs. Taybe YUSEIN (BUL)
SEMIFINAL - Elmira GAMBAROVA (AZE) vs. Kriszta INCZE (ROU)

76kg
Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE) vs. Francy RAEDELT (GER)
Epp MAE (EST) vs. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR)
 

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open Day 4 Freestyle: Results & Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 7) -- Freestyle day at Ulaanbaatar Open with seven weight class. World champions Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and Chongsong HAN (PRK) are in action at 65kg and 57kg respectively.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

14:20: 65kg semifinal - Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) has unreal pace and Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) has no answers for it. The world champion enters the 65kg final after a win over the Kazakhstan wrestler. Amouzad led 3-0 and then scored a stepout before Askarov also got a stepout to make it 4-1. Amouzad managed another before scoring a takedown to lead 7-1 at the break. He starts the second period with a takedown as well and then needs a stepout and go-behind to finish the bout 12-1.

14:07: 61kg semifinal - In a match that saw the lead switch hands on several occasions, Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) scores a late takedown to  beat Batnasan GANKHULEG (MGL), 3-2, and reach the 61kg final

14:07: 125kg semifinal - DINESH (IND) breaks Timur KOTAEV (RUS) in the 125kg semifinal and scored easy go-behind takedowns for a 11-0 victory in 3:13

14:00: 125kg semifinal - Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) with a late takedown to beat Jose DIAZ (VEN) 2-2 on criteria. Diaz had two activity points but Kassimbek's takedown takes the upper hand in the score

13:58: 61kg semifinal - DEEPAK (IND) in the 61kg final after a 7-1 victory over Adilet ALMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ). Deepak with relentless pressure to score his takedowns while Almukhamedov could never break through

13:51: 97kg semifinal - Demchigdorj TUMURBAATAR (MGL) hangs on for a 2-1 win over TUXIGE (CHN) at 97kg. He will face Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) for the gold medal

13:48: 65kg semifinal - Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) took his time but comes alive in the second period, finishing his semifinal 12-1 against Ossimzhan DASTANBEK (KAZ) at 65kg. He led 4-1 at the break but scores eight points in the second period to win 45 seconds after the break

13:47: 97kg semifinal - Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) scores a takedown and four turns using the gut-wrench to finish off his semifinal in 53 seconds against VICKY (IND) and advance to the final.

13:44: 79kg semifinal - Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) with a 13-2 victory over Shamsat TAIR (KAZ). Tair scored the first takedown but Yousefi with a takdown and turn to lead. Tair gives up a stepout and fleeing caution as Yousefi leads 7-2. A takedown later, he makes it 9-2 before finishing the bout with a techncial superiority win.

13:43: 70kg semifinal - Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) holds on to a 2-0 win over Magomed ELTEMIROV ((RUS) after the Russian was called passive two times in the bout. Both passivity calls gave Tumur Ochir gave one point each.

13:40: 57kg semifinal - Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS) uses the leg lace to build a 6-0 lead before finishing his 57kg semifinal with a 12-1 victory over Abzal OKENOV (KAZ) with the lace in the second sequence.

13:33: 57kg semifinal - World champion Chongsong HAN (PRK) advances to the final at 57kg after a 4-1 win over Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ). A stepout and activity point gave Han two points but he lost a challenge. He added a takedown in the second period to lead 4-1, the winning score.

13:31: 70kg semifinal - Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) dominates his 70kg semifinal against Usukhbayar BAATARKHUU (MGL) and posts a 10-0 win. Kakharov never looked in trouble against the Mongolian

13:30: 79kg semifinal - Barring a four-pointer from Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) which extended the bout, Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) dominated his semifinal to complete a 14-4 victory and advance to the final.

Semifinals on all three mats with three different weight classes

13:15: Last match of the qualification rounds and Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) hangs on for a 3-2 win over Ahora KHATERI (IRI) at 61kg. He score two activity points and a stepout while Khateri scored a takedown 

12:30: World Champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) keeps it simple in his first bout of the tournament with a 5-0 controlled win over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK). Kim had not idea how to break those underhooks. Amouzad into the 65kg semifinals.

12:15: Cross WASILEWSKI (USA) with two takedowns at the end against Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) to make it 5-4 but he cannot score a point needed for the win and Tumur Ochir advance to the semifinals at 70kg with the narrow win 

12:05: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) looks in great form at 65kg as he now beats Christopher COMPOSTO (USA), 10-0. He scores a takedown and gut-wrench to go 4-0 up. He then gets an easy go-behind for a 6-0 lead. Composto tries a fake but Mamedov counters with a takedown and exposure to win.

11:50: The Khaniev brothers -- Ismail and Takhir -- begin with contrasting victories at 79kg and 97kg respectively. Takhir goes first at 97kg and scores a 2-0 win over Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) with no action points. However, Ismail is scores multiple different takedowns to complete an 11-0 win over Khangaibayar GANBOLD (MGL) at 79kg 

11:30: Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) starts off with a 10-0 victory over Zandanbat BATSAIKHAN (MGL) at 70kg. He scores an easy takedown and then turns the Mongolia using gut-wrench and lace to complete the victory.

11:15: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) lost the Asian Championships final to ABHIMANYOU (IND) at 70kg. But he avenges that loss with a 9-0 victory over the Indian on Sunday. Tumur Ochir with total control of the bout while Abhimanyou looked tired.

11:05: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) steps on the mat at 65kg against MOHIT (IND). He lifts and slams Mohit for a four-pointer before finishing the bout 10-0. Mamedov is on the way to clash with world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) if both do not suffer an upset

10:55: European silver medalist Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS) scores six points and then holds on to his 6-2 lead throughout to beat Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ) at 57kg.

10:45: World champion Chongsong HAN (PRK) needed his strong leg lace to survive a scare in the opening round at 57kg against Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK). Han and Belolyubskii exchanged a few scrambles but the former led 10-8 when he unleashed the leg lace to complete an 18-8 win at 57kg. 

10:30: The fourth day of the Ulaanbaatar Open will feature 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg, and 125kg.