#WrestlePontevedra

Quartet of Russians Reach Tuesday Night's GR Finals

Monday, June 3, 2019 - 18:22 By Eric Olanowski

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PONTEVEDRA, Spain (June 3) – The Russian Federation entered Monday night's session at the Junior European Championships undefeated and had all five wrestlers vying for a spot in Tuesday night's finals. They closed out the session by inserting four of five wrestlers into the finals and only dropped one match on the day. In total, they were victorious in 14 of 15 matches and shutout nine of their opponents.

The quartet of Russian wrestlers who'll be wrestling for gold on Tuesday night is Anvar ALLAKHIAROV, Khamid ISAEV, Ilia ERMOLENKO, and Osman SHADOV. They'll compete for the top spot at 55kg, 77kg, 87kg, and 130kg, respectively. 

Of the four Russian finalists, Osman Shadov will arguably have the toughest road to winning a gold medal. Shadov, who picked up a 4-0 semifinals win over Raman ULASAU (BLR), will take on defending cadet world champion Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) in the 130kg gold-medal bout. 

Bakir, who remains undefeated during his time representing Turkey at the World and Continental Championships, opened up his day with a 6-0 routing of Poland's cadet world bronze medalist Tomasz WAWRZYNCZYK (POL). He followed that victory up with a 6-0 win over Robinzon ESADZE (GEO), then pitched an 8-0 shutout against Hungary's Dariusz Attila VITEK (HUN) who was fresh off a surprising 6-2 upset over reigning cadet world silver medalist Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE). In total, Bakir outscored his three opponents on Monday 20-0 and reached his second consecutive age-level continental finals. Last year, Bakir won the 110kg cadet European title.

Khamid ISAEV (RUS) will wrestle returning European bronze medalist Tamas LEVAI (HUN) in the 77kg finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

Khamid Isaev will also have an uphill battle in his finals bout when he takes on Hungary's defending junior European bronze medalist Tamas LEVAI in the 77kg finals. Isaev grabbed the 3-1 victory over Arminas LYGNUGARIS (LTU) to reach the finals, while Levai improved on his third-place finish from last year with a 9-0 semifinals shutout win over Mikita KAZAKOU (BLR). 

Russia's 2018 junior world bronze medalist Ilia Ermolenko will also take on a Hungarian opponent when he meets David LOSONCZI (HUN) in the 87kg gold-medal match. Ermolenko reached the finals with an exhausting 2-0 win over Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO), and Losonczi survived a 27-point barn burner against Belarus' Ihar YARASHEVICH to reach his first continental finals in his third attempt. 

Russia's remaining finalist is Anvar Allakhirov. In the 55kg semifinals, Allakhirov trailed 1-0, but scored three unanswered points against Vladyslav KUZKO (UKR) and inserted himself into the finals against Pridon ABULADZE (GEO). In his semifinal match, Abuladze also trailed but scored a come-from-behind win to reach the finals. The Georgian wrestler fell behind against Zaur ALIYEV (AZE) but used a high hip shot, then transition to a four-point throw to grab the 8-5 win. 

Leri ABULADZE (GEO) handled Adam GAUZHAEV (RUS), 10-1, and stopped Russia from putting five wrestlers into Tuesday night's finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

Abuladze Stops Russian Perfection 
The lone weight that won't feature a Russian wrestler in the gold-medal bout will be 63kg, where Leri ABULADZE (GEO) will square off against Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR). Abuladze was the man who stopped Russian perfection after bottling up Adam GAUZHAEV (RUS), 10-1, to reach the finals. He'll take on Abdullah Toprak, who narrowly escaped his semifinals bout with a 4-3 win over Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM). 

Wrestling resumes tomorrow in Pontevedra, Spain, at 11:30 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

RESULTS

55kg 
GOLD - Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) vs. Pridon ABULADZE (GEO)
SEMIFINAL - Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) df. Vladyslav KUZKO (UKR), 3-1 
SEMIFINAL - Pridon ABULADZE (GEO) df. Zaur ALIYEV (AZE), 8-5

63kg 
GOLD - Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) vs. Leri ABULADZE (GEO)
SEMIFINAL - Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) df. Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM), 4-3 
SEMIFINAL - Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df. Adam GAUZHAEV (RUS), 10-1

77kg 
GOLD - Tamas LEVAI (HUN) vs. Khamid ISAEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Tamas LEVAI (HUN) df. Mikita KAZAKOU (BLR), 9-0 
SEMIFINAL - Khamid ISAEV (RUS) df. Arminas LYGNUGARIS (LTU), 3-1 

87kg 
GOLD - David LOSONCZI (HUN) vs. Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - David LOSONCZI (HUN) df. Ihar YARASHEVICH (BLR), 18-9
SEMIFINAL - Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS) df. Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO), 2-0 

130kg 
GOLD - Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) vs. Osman SHADOV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) df. Dariusz Attila VITEK (HUN), 8-0 
SEMIFINAL - Osman SHADOV (RUS) df. Raman ULASAU (BLR), 4-0  

#WrestleBaku

Europe's best in Baku for Paris 2024 qualification in Greco-Roman

Thursday, April 4, 2024 - 11:01 By United World Wrestling Press

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (April 4) -- Europe qualified four wrestlers for the Paris Olympics at 87kg from the World Championships in Belgrade. That number is the highest for Europe in any Greco-Roman weight class.

Yet, some of the top wrestlers in the continent have not been able to earn a Paris 2024 spot. Those stars will clash at the European OG Qualifier in Baku from April 5 to 7 to earn the two quotas available at 87kg.

Leading the field at 87kg is newly minted European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) who looked in top form at the European Championships. In the final, he even convincingly beat world champion Ali CENGIZ (TUR).

Islam ABBASOV (AZE) is seeded number one at 87kg and Komarov is number four resulting in the two falling on the same side of the bracket. The two met in the semifinal at the European Championships which Komarov won 3-1. European bronze medalist Kiyrl MASKEVICH (AIN) gets the second seed and Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) is third, putting them together on the lower side of the bracket.

Though they will be unseeded, former U23 world champion Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) and former European champion Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) will be roaring to go as the latter returns from injury. Former U23 world champion Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) also hopes to earn the quota.

A few other big clashes are expected in Baku, especially with wrestlers from non-Olympic weight classes moving to the Olympic ones.

Leri ABULADZE (GEO), a 63kg world champion, is moving down to 60kg to earn an Olympic quota. But it won't be easy for him. A two-time U23 world champion Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) and European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) will be the biggest challenges for the unseeded Abuladze.

Add to the line-up top seed and Tokyo Olympian Victor CIOBANU (MDA) who reached the final at the European Championships before losing to Mammadli. Ciobanu and Mammadli are separated by seeding and will not face each other in Baku. Leo TUDEZCA (FRA) enjoys the third seed and Jacopo SANDRON (ITA) will be seeded fourth.

Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) will be looking to return to the Olympics by winning a quota in Baku. He was at 72kg at the European Championships and won a bronze medal. The European champion at 72kg, Selcuk CAN (TUR), is dropping to 67kg.

Nasibov will be seeded number four in Baku which pits him on the same side as top seed Krisztian VANCZA (HUN). Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) is seeded second with Mihai MIHUT (ROU) getting the third seed.

European bronze medalist Abu AMAEV (BUL) is entered for the tournament along with some hammers like Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU), Morten THORESEN (NOR), Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) and Niklas OEHLEN (SWE).

At 97kg, Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) will look to build on his silver-medal finish at the European Championships and earn a spot for the Paris Games. He defeated Kiril MILOV (BUL) and Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) before losing to Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM).

Milov has pulled out due to an injury and will not be competing at the Paris Olympics. Savolainen will be in Baku and seeded number one for the competition followed by Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU) at number two and Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) at three. Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE) is seeded number four.

Alex SZOKE (HUN), Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA), Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) and Felix BALDAUF (NOR), among others, will be drawn randomly.

European champion and two-time Olympic medalist Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) has the best chance to earn a Paris 2024 spot. He stunned Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the 130kg final, denying the legend a record-breaking 13th European title. Despite his gold, Semenov will be unseeded in Baku.

Romas FRIDRIKAS (LTU) is the top seed followed by 2012 London Olympic silver medalist Heiki NABI (EST) at second. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) will be number three and Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) is number four.

At 77kg, world champion at 72kg Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA), former world silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), U23 world champion Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), Viktor NEMES (SRB) and former world champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) will battle for the two spots.