#BeachWrestling

Pan-Am Beach Wrestling: Colombia, Ecuador Win 2 Golds Each

Friday, June 19, 2026 - 08:43 By United World Wrestling Press

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LIMA, Peru (June 17) -- Ten nations competed at the Pan-American Beach Wrestling Championships in Lima, Peru. In the men's category, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala and Argentina won gold medals while in women's, Colombia won two golds, and Ecuador and Chile won one each.

Former Pan-Am champion Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) won the gold medal at 60kg in women's after a victory via fall over Jania DUNIGAN (PUR) in the final. She used a beautiful headlock throw for the win.

At 50kg, Natalia PERDOMO (COL) pinned Genesis RAMIREZ (PUR) to win gold and the second gold medal for Colombia came when Alexa CUERO (COL) blanked Ruth JIMENEZ (PUR), 3-0, in the 70kg final.

Chile got its gold medal at +70kg when Melanie SANCHEZ (CHI) both her bouts in round-robin. She defeated Aomi RIQUES (PER) and Gabriella REID (PUR), who finished with silver and bronze, respectively.

Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG)Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG), left, won the +90kg gold medal for Argentina. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Jeremy PERALTA (ECU) was the first gold medal at men's 70kg as he secured a victory via fall over Alex PICHUCHO (ECU) in the final in just 55 seconds.

The second gold medal was claimed by Luis BARRIOS (HON) who blanked Sixto AUCCAPINA (PER), 3-0, in the 80kg final. He scored three different point to win the bout three seconds before the clock expired.

Three wrestlers posted three wins at 90kg but it was Cristhoper PEREZ (GUA) who emerged as the gold medalist as he had more classification points. Apart from Perez, Jesus LANDA (PER) and Carlos ESPINOZA (PER) also had three wins each. Perez managed eight classification points, Landa had seven and Espinoza had five.

In +90kg weight class, Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG) held on to a close 2-1 victory in the final over Jean ZAMBRANO (ECU) to clinch the gold medal.

RESULTS

Men's BW

70kg
GOLD: Jeremy PERALTA (ECU) df. Alex PICHUCHO (ECU), via fall

BRONZE: Arnoldo PROBOSTE (ARG) df. Caleb NEGRON (PUR), 1-0

80kg
GOLD: Luis BARRIOS (HON) df. Sixto AUCCAPINA (PER), 3-0

BRONZE: Yael PEREZ AKE (MEX) df. Adrian MAYNARD (BAR), 3-1

90kg
GOLD: Cristhoper PEREZ (GUA)
SILVER: Jesus LANDA (PER)
BRONZE: Carlos ESPINOZA (PER)

+90kg
GOLD: Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG) df. Jean ZAMBRANO (ECU), 2-1

BRONZE: Glean GONZALEZ (ECU) df. Kensil GRAJALES (PER), 3-1

Women's BW

50kg
GOLD: Natalia PERDOMO (COL) df. Genesis RAMIREZ (PUR), via fall

BRONZE: Vicky LEON (ECU) df. Nathaly HERRERA (PER), via inj. def.

60kg
GOLD: Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) df. Jania DUNIGAN (PUR), via fall

BRONZE: Meissy VALDEZ (GUA) df. Andrea AVELINO (MEX), via fall

70kg
GOLD: Alexa CUERO (COL) df. Ruth JIMENEZ (PUR), 3-0

BRONZE: Cielo FAJARDO (PER) df. Karla PAICO (PER), via fall

+70kg
GOLD: Melanie SANCHEZ (CHI)
SILVER: Aomi RIQUES (PER)
BRONZE: Gabriella REID (PUR)

#WrestleTirana

Kayaalp Nears Record-Breaking 13th European Gold

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - 06:12 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 20) -- Riza KAYAALP (TUR) is now one win away from becoming the most successful Greco-Roman wrestler in Europe.

At the European Championships in Tirana, Kayaalp reached the 130kg final on Monday to take a step closer to breaking Aleksandr KARELIN's long-time record of 12 European gold medals.

UWW Plus

Kayaalp was returning to the European Championships after two years and showed now signs of as he began with a fall over Albert VARDANYAN (ARM) using an arm throw before winning a 1-1 battle against Marat KAMPAROV (UWW).

In a dramatic semifinal which resulted in the disqualification of Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), Kayaalp kept his composure despite the aggression of Hlinchuk, a former U23 world champion.

Kayaalp got the par terre advantage in the first period but Hlinchuk escaped. However, he tried to throw Kayaalp who blocked the throw and landed on top for two points, making his lead 3-0. Hlinchuk challenged the decision but lost it and Kayaalp led 4-0.

Riza KAYAALP (TUR)Riza KAYAALP (TUR) wrestles Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) in the quarterfinal of 130kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Perhaps it was coming as the referee had warned the two wrestlers time and again to wrestle without aggression. But 30 seconds before the end of the first period, Kayaalp used a strong hand on Hlinchuk's neck. Hlinchuk first responded with shoulder to Kayaalp and then proceed to slap the Turkish wrestler who fell on the mat.

The judges decided to disqualify Hlinchuk from the competition for his act and Kayaalp, supported by a very vocal Turkish team, entered his 15th European Championships final.

He will now face Darius VITEK (HUN) who held on to his 1-1 criteria win over Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) and who now stands between Kayaalp and history.

Semen NOVIKOV (BUL)Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) tries to throw Islam ABBASOV (AZE) during the 87kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Novikov faces Bisultanov

After a season off, Olympic champion and returning silver medalist Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) will be in the 87kg final to change the color of his medal when he takes on Olympic bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN).

Bisultanov and Novikov faced each other in Paris and the Bulgarian defeated Bisultanov 5-1 in the opening round.

But Bisultanov looked in control in Tirana as he pinned Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) in the semifinals while Novikov managed to beat returning bronze medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 4-0.

Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) defeated Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) in the 77kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Four-time and defending champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) returned to the final with an easy 3-1 victory in the semifinal over Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) to set up a rematch of 2025 European final against Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO).

The Georgian will be keen on avenging that loss against Amoyan after he reach the final, beating Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 8-0, using two big throws for four points each.

In a shock at 63kg, U23 world champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) stunned defending champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 6-5, in the semifinals.

Kamal was leading 5-0 but Eriomenco managed to score from par terre. His two-point takedown was challenged by Turkiye but he lost the challenge, giving Eriomenco the clear lead.

For the gold medal, Eriomenco will face veteran and former world champion Sergey EMELIN (UWW) who scored an easy 9-0 technical superiority win over Mairbek SALIMOV (POL).

At 55kg, world champion and returning bronze medalist Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) moved into his first European final after beating Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1.

He will face defending champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) who defeated Omer RECEP (TUR), 11-0.

Photo

RESULTS

55kg
SF 1: Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) df. Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1
SF 2: Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) df. Omer RECEP (TUR), 11-0

63kg
SF 1: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 6-5
SF 2: Sergey EMELIN (UWW) df. Mairbek SALIMOV (POL), 9-0

77kg
SF 1: Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) df. Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 8-0
SF 2: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), 3-1

87kg
SF 1: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) df. Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR), via fall
SF 2: Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) df. Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 4-0

130kg
SF 1: Darius VITEK (HUN) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 1-1
SF 2: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), via disqualification (4-0)