#kaspeuro2018

Olympic Champ Aleksanyan and Pair of Olympic Medalists Headline Wednesday's Greco-Roman Finals

Wednesday, May 2, 2018 - 08:10 By Eric Olanowski

KASPIYSK, Russia (May 2) - Artur “The White Bear,” Aleksanyan remained supreme on his quest to winning his fourth European title. The Armenian has suffered two defeats in the past five seasons, both coming at the European Championships. Aleksanyan last won a European title in 2014 but has won three world titles and an Olympic gold medal.

The 2016 Olympic champion will get his opportunity to seize his first gold medal in four years when he takes on Mikheil KAJAIA (SRB) in the 97kg finals. Aleksanyan enters the European finals after scoring technical superiority victories over his first three opponents.

Serbia’s Kajaia is wrestling in his third European Championships and has outperformed his eleventh-place finish from a year ago.

Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) will look to add a European gold medal to his collection of Olympic and world medals. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO), the 24-year-old Olympic bronze medalist and U23 world champion shutout Denmark’s Fredrik Holmquist BJERREHUUS (DEN), 5-0 in the first 67kg semifinal, This marked the third time in as many matches that Bolvadze blanked his opponent.

He’ll take on Artem SURKOV (RUS), the two-time European champion and two-time world bronze medalist in the gold-medal bout at 67kg. Surkov bested Poland’s Dawid KARECINSKI to make his third trip to the European finals.

Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), 2016 Olympic bronze medalist will be looking for his first European gold medal since 2015.

The finals at 72kg will feature two previous European champions in Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) and Adam KURAK (RUS).

Chunayev, the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and 2015 world and European champion fancied his way to the finals by capturing four wins on the day, including an 11-3 semifinal victory over Georgia’s Luri LOMADZE (GEO).

Kurak, the 2014 European champion picked up a trio of victories on the day. Most notably, the Russian avenged his loss from the bronze-medal bout of the 2017 World Championships, defeating Balint KORPASI (HUN), 3-3.

2017 world champion Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) will wrestle tonight for his first European title. (Photo by Tony Rotundo)

The 82kg finals will feature a pair of first time European finalist in Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) and Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR).

Manukyan, the 2017 world champion started his day by shutting out 2016 Olympian Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO), 6-0. He followed that up by picking up two additional wins, including a dominating 8-0 performance over Hungary’s Laszlo SZABO (HUN) in the semifinals.

Sasunouski squeaked out his first two wins before picking up the 9-0 technical superiority victory over 2015 European Games finalist, Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE).

Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) picked up a 9-0 technical superiority victory to seal his spot in the 60kg finals.

Sergey EMELIN (RUS) and Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) both picked up 9-0 technical superiority victories in the semifinals and will wrestle for the 60kg gold on Wednesday night.

Emelin used a set of four guts to go along with a passivity point to defeat Jacopo SANDRON (ITA), 9-0.

Mammadov also scored eight points off gut wrenches, picking up his 9-0 technical superiority semifinal victory over Georgia’s Dato CHKHARTISHVILI.

RESULTS
60kg
GOLD: Sergey EMELIN (RUS) vs. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE)

Semifinal: Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Jacopo SANDRON (ITA), 9-0
Semifinal: Sergey EMELIN (RUS) df. Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO), 9-0

67kg
GOLD - Artem SURKOV (RUS) v. Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO)

Semifinal - Artem SURKOV (RUS) df. Dawid KARECINSKI (POL), 3-1
Semifinal - Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Fredrik BJERREHUUS (DEN), 5-0

72kg
GOLD – Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) v. Adam KURAK (RUS)

Semifinal – Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) df. Luri LOMADZE (GEO), 11-3
Semifinal – Adam KURAK (RUS) df. Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL), 5-2

82kg
GOLD: Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) vs. Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM)

Semifinal: Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) df. Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE), 9-0
Semifinal: Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) df. Laszlo SZABO (HUN), 8-0

97kg
GOLD: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) vs. Mikheil KAJAIA (SRB)

Semifinal: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Matti Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN), 10-0
Semifinal: Mikheil KAJAIA (SRB) df. Ramsin AZIZSIR (GER), 3-1

#IranWrestling

Inspired by Olympic Gold, Esmaeili's Cousins Win U17 Asian Titles

Friday, June 12, 2026 - 12:33 By Vinay Siwach

DA NANG, Vietnam (June 11) -- When 20-year-old Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) returned to Iran after winning Olympic gold in Greco-Roman 67kg at the Paris Games, he came home with more than just a medal around his neck. He returned with proof that wrestling could change lives.

Raised in poverty in Dezful, Khuzestan Province, Esmaeili's improbable run to Olympic gold transformed him overnight into a national sensation. He was showered with gifts, cash awards and job offers.

The ripples of that triumph are still being felt. Last month, two of Esmaeili's own cousins, Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) and Vahid ASHIRI (IRI), won gold medals at the U17 Asian Championships in Da Nang after taking up wrestling only two years ago, inspired by his Olympic success and the hero's welcome he received back home.

Paris Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI), left, with his cousin Ali who won 48kg gold medal at the U17 Asian Championships.

Ali, whose father is Esmaeili's uncle, competed in Greco-Roman 48kg and won three bouts to capture the gold medal. He outscored his opponents 22-2 including two technical superiority wins.

Another cousin from his mother's side, Ashiri, competed in the Greco-Roman 55kg weight class and was crowned champion after four victories. He defeated wrestlers from India, Jordan, China and Kyrgyzstan with scores of 6-1, 5-2, 11-1, and 3-1 to capture the Asian title.

While they were winning gold medals in Vietnam, Olympic champion Esmaeili was watching from Iran.

"I watched their Asian finals and I always follow their training," Esmaeili told United World Wrestling. "We are from the same club and both are talented."

Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) became the U17 Asian champion at 48kg in Greco-Roman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The two took up wrestling at the age of 14 and quickly rose through the province before making it to the Iran team for the U17 Asian Championships. Ali Esmaeili feels that Saeid's presence motivates him to work harder to achieve medals in wrestling.

"I got into wrestling after watching Saeid's Olympic final. In 2 years, with his help, I managed to become the Asian champion. Every time I see Saeid, I feel really good and I am proud of him."

Though Esmaeili trains at the national camp in Tehran, he does not miss a chance to train the youngsters when he returns home and practices in Dezful.

"I tried to answer every question they asked me about wrestling carefully and I also taught them some of my techniques," he said.

Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) claimed the 55kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Ashiri also stepped foot in the club after watching Esmaeili's thrilling Paris campaign. Two years later, he is proud to represent both the Esmaeili family and the club.

"After Saeid won the gold medal, I went to the club where he trains and whenever I had any questions, he explained them to me carefully," Ashiri said. "I am truly proud to be a member of the club and a family with such a personality."

The next stop for both Ali and Ashiri will be the U17 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan from July 28 to August 2.

"Just like the Asian Championships, I want to repeat the success at the World Championships," Ali said.

RESULTS

48kg
Final: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Javokhir SHARIFBOEV (UZB), 4-2
Semifinal: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Umarali BERDALIEV (KGZ), 9-0
Quarterfinal: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Liaotan LAN (CHN), 9-0

55kg
Final: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Syimyk ASKAROV (KGZ), 3-1
Semifinal: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Zihao ZHANG (CHN), 11-1
Quarterfinal: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Adam ABU FARE (JOR), 5-2
Qualification: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. HARION (IND), 6-1

Olympic Champ Aleksanyan and Pair of Olympic Medalists Headline Wednesday's Greco-Roman Finals

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Inspired by Olympic Gold, Esmaeili's Cousins Win U17 Asian Titles