#WrestleDortmund

Record-Breaking Ukraine Wins WW Team Title at #WrestleDortmund

Friday, July 2, 2021 - 19:16 By Vinay Siwach

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DORTMUND, Germany (July 2) --- If three gold, a silver and a bronze were not enough on Thursday, Ukraine women went a notch better and captured four gold and a silver medal on the final day of women's wrestling in Dortmund.

In a dominant show on the mat, five Ukraine wrestlers were competing for the gold medal at the junior European Championships on Friday and all but one failed to win the top medal, giving the country the team title ahead of Russia.

This is the second time that each wrestler from the Ukraine women's team has won a medal at the junior Euros, a feat they had achieved in 2008 in Kosice, Slovakia.

The night in Dortmund could not have begun better as Natalya KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR) won the gold medal with a fall against Venera NAFIKOVA (RUS) at 4:06 in the 53kg final. Two quick takedowns in the first period made it 4-0 for the Ukrainian before she used a double leg and pinned Nafikova to the mat.

Throughout the tournament, both Klivchutska and Nafikova were the best wrestlers at 53kg with the latter winning all her bouts via fall or techical superiority while the Russian showed some exceptional defence in crunch situations to pull off close wins.

The 57kg final was even quicker as Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) gave no chance to Patrycja STRZELCZYK (POL) and claimed the gold medal in a minute and 45 seconds with a 10-0 score.

In the first 30 seconds, Vynnyk, a silver medalist at senior Euros, got a takedown and gut to lead 4-0. Then she performed a quick go behind to lead 8-0. Her unmatched speed gave her another take down and a lace made it 10-0. The Ukrainian outscored her opponents 30-2 in four bouts.

Alina KASABIEVA (RUS) df Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR)Alina KASABIEVA (RUS) defeated Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) 12-2 in the 62kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In another Ukraine-Russia final, this time it Russia which came out on top. At 62kg, Alina KASABIEVA (RUS) gave a counter-attacking masterclass to beat Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) 12-2.

Both exchanged takedowns early with Zelenykh, a U23 Euro silver medalist in May, leading 2-0 but Kasabieva hit back with a takedown and a leg-turk to make it 4-2, the score at the break. Zelenykh continued to hit blank attacks which gave the Russian many openings for takedowns and she completed them with ease.

In the end Kasabieva, a bronze medalist at cadet Worlds, easily secured a technical superiority win against her more accomplished wrestler. This denied Ukraine a chance to have a perfect day.

In one of the bronze medal bouts at 62kg, Iva GERIC (CRO) created history by defeating Nadzeya BULANAYA (BLR) 1-1. The win made her the first Croatian to win a medal in women's wrestling at junior Euros.

Iva GERIC (CRO)Iva GERIC (CRO) is the first Croatian to win a medal in women's wrestling at junior Euros. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Incidentally, she was the first-ever woman wrestler from Croatia to win a medal at European Championships at any age-group. She achieved the feat in 2019 when she won a bronze medal at the cadet level in Faenza, Italy.

Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) survived a scare at 65kg as Noemi SZABADOS (HUN) mounted a comeback from 0-8 down to make it 7-8 in the final but time ran out before she could script an stunning win.

It was a shock surrender from Skobelska as she led 8-0 at the break and gave up all seven points in the second period. She began with a takedown and caught the Hungarian in a leg lace to lead 6-0. She added two more points with another takedown.

But Szabados' efforts in the second period were not enough as she failed to get one more point for the win. But this was an improvement for her as she won her first silver medal at European Championships after winning two bronze before.

Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) df. Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) won the gold medal at 65kg in Dortmund. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The final gold medal bout was between Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) and Individual World Cup bronze medalist Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK) but it turned out to be anti-climatic.

The Ukrainian began with an ankle pick to lead 2-0 and added a double leg takedown to make it 4-0. At the break, she was leading 6-0 against the former cadet European champion.

The second half began with a powerful double leg and Alpyeyeva exposed the Slovak to a pin. With both shoulders firmly on the mat, the referee called it a fall, giving the Ukrainian the gold in just 3:55.

RESULTS WW

53kg
GOLD: Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR) df Venera NAFIKOVA (RUS), via fall

BRONZE: Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) df Emine CAKMAK (TUR), 13-3
BRONZE: Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) df Nikolett NAGY (HUN), 10-0

57kg
GOLD: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df Patrycja STRZELCZYK (POL), 10-0

BRONZE: Anastasia KOZLOVA (RUS) df Alesia HETMANAVA (BLR), 4-2
BRONZE: Anna MICHALCOVA (CZE) df Jannicke STROEMNES (NOR), 4-2

62kg
GOLD: Alina KASABIEVA (RUS) df Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR), 12-2

BRONZE: Iva GERIC (CRO) df Nadzeya BULANAYA (BLR), 1-1
BRONZE: Viktoria OEVERBY (NOR) df Chiara HIRT (GER), 4-3

65kg
GOLD: Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) df Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 8-7

BRONZE: Alina MAKSIMAVA (BLR) df Amina CAPEZAN (ROU), 4-2
BRONZE: Viktoria VESSO (EST) df Luisa SCHEEL (GER), via fall

72kg
GOLD: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) df Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK), via fall

BRONZE: Nazar BATIR (TUR) df Jennifer ROESLER (GER), 10-3
BRONZE: Mariam GUSEINOVA (RUS) df Urszula PIOTROWSKA (POL), via fall

#WrestleTirana

Mohmadi shuts Novikov down to avenge Paris Olympic loss

Friday, February 28, 2025 - 19:23 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 28) -- Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) and Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) flexed their achievements in their own ways. Both acknowledged each other but a sense of supremacy also followed.

In a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympic Greco-Roman 87kg final, Novikov and Mohmadi met in the quarterfinal of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series to add another chapter to the exciting rivalry. While the stage wasn't as grand as Paris, Mohmadi avenged his loss from the final, blanking Olympic champion Novikov 5-0 and dominating the proceedings in the match.

Mohmadi went on to win the gold medal at 87kg after David LOSONCZI (HUN) pulled out of the final injured but the purpose of getting a match against Novikov and winning was served.

"This match was very important to me," Mohmadi said. "Wrestling against Novikov, who I wrestled in the Olympics, I expected myself to wrestle better than I did in the Olympics. I was able to win and wrestle without mistakes. I hope I can maintain this winning streak against Novikov in the World Championships as well."

Novikov won 7-0 in Paris in a very one-sided final and Mohmadi, perhaps learning from that experience from Paris where he wasn't awarded the forced par terre, began on an aggressive note. He got the par terre but failed to score and led only 1-0 at the break. However, the second period was also saw Mohmadi dominate proceedings as he scored a stepout and takedown to make it 4-0.

The world silver medalist was awarded the par terre in the second period as well which extended his lead to 5-0 but he once again failed to score. He shut Novikov down for the remaining time to win the bout.

He blew a kiss like an archer release the arrow whereas Novikov flexed his biceps, perhaps reminding Mohmadi that he is still the Olympic champion.

"I expected this match to be intense because the wrestler is both an Olympic champion and a world medalist, and a very good wrestler," he said. "But fortunately, I was able to use my opportunities well and get my points in this match."

Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) defeated Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) 5-0 at 87kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Mohmadi seems to have became the mainstay for Iran at 87kg for the foreseeable future but given the international depth at the weight class, Mohmadi knows he cannot let his guard down. 

"The 87 kg weight class has many contenders, even in these competitions," he said. "With the help coaches, I work on each of them individually and plan for each of them. They will do the same because this weight class has many contenders and has always been a busy weight class."

Novikov wasn't the only big win for Mohmadi on Friday. He began with a 8-0 sweep of Tamas LEVAI (HUN) and defeated European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) 5-1 in the semifinal.

A mouthwatering final against Losonczi was set but the Hungarian injured his elbow in the semifinal against Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and decided to skip the gold medal match.

"I hurt my right shoulder in the semifinals," Losonczi said. "It is a little swollen. I don’t think it’s too serious and I will be fine for the Europeans, but this is why I made this decision to sit out of the finals, just to make sure it does not get worse."

In the other Greco-Roman weight class that was in action on Friday, Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) defeated Idris IBAEV (GER), 3-2, to win the gold medal at 77kg.

Ibaev raced to a 5-0 lead after getting the first par terre position but Kyrgyzstan challenged the call for a leg-foul that was confirmed on review and Ibaev's lead was cut to 1-0. Maksatbek Uulu scored a takedown just before the break to claim a 2-1 lead.

Maksatbek Uulu got the par terre in second period but did not score any point. He, however, led 3-1 before Ibaev managed to get a stepout to make it 3-2.  However, that was not enough as Maksetbek Uulu defended his one point lead till the end of time to win the gold medal.

RESULTS

77kg
GOLD: Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Idris IBAEV (GER), 3-2

BRONZE: Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE) df. Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO), 3-3
BRONZE: Kodai SAKURABA (JPN) df. Aleksa ILIC (SRB), 7-4

87kg
GOLD: Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) df. David LOSONCZI (HUN), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) df. Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB), 3-1
BRONZE: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) df. Nursultan TURSYNOV (TUR), 3-1