#kaspeuro2018

Russia Bounces Back To Win Trio of Golds After Azerbaijan Snags Pair

Saturday, May 5, 2018 - 16:38 By Eric Olanowski

KASPIISK, Russia - (May 5) - Azerbaijani’s Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) and Haji ALIYEV (AZE) stunned the sold-out Palace of Sport and Youth after picking up buzzer beater takedowns on Russian opponents to win European gold medals. But, the Russian's bounced back to win the final three gold medals on the sixth day of competition at the 2018 European Championships.

Giorgi Edisherashvili stole his second 57kg European title by picking up a four-point throw with three seconds left to defeat last year’s European bronze medalist, Zavur UGUEV (RUS), 4-3.

Edisherashvili, the back-to-back European champion seized his second crown with a lateral drop on the out of bounds line as he trailed the Russian by three points.

“Even if you’re losing, you don’t have a right to give up. You have to wrestle until the end of the match. I wanted to wait until the end to take a risk, and that's what I did, risked it all at the end.”

Haji ALIYEV (AZE), the reigning 61kg world champion gave Azerbaijan their second straight gold medal of the night with a last-second takedown to defeat reigning 65kg European champion, Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS), 8-7.

Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) gave Russia their first freestyle gold medal of the 2018 European Championships with a 3-1 win over Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) at 70kg.

“The score wasn’t high because my opponent was very experienced. The luck was just on my side today.”

Kurbanliev, the 2016 world champion completed his run to his second European title by scoring three one point sequences. The 2014 European champion's lead was cut to 3-1 after being penalized for failing to score on the passivity clock but hung on to win his first European title in four years.

Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) celebrating after defeating Germany’s Martin OBST in the 79kg gold-medal bout.

Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) locked up back-to-back gold medals for the Russian Federation with a 6-3 victory over Germany’s Martin OBST in the 79kg gold-medal bout.

Gadzhimagomedov’s three-point first period proved to be the difference in the match as both wrestlers score three points in the final period.

“Magomed Kurbanliev, Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) and I are good friends and are living in the same hotel room. I was very happy for Magomed, and I hope Abdulrashid wins tomorrow so we can have a gold room.”

Vladislav BAITCAEV (RUS) closed out the sixth day of competition with a 6-0 shutout over Belarus’ Aliaksandr HUSHTYN.

"Right now, I'm on top of my physical form like never before...I couldn't become a three-time runner-up, and this time I finally won the gold because of my coaches, family, and friends. We all won this together!"

Also of note, at 57kg, Stevan MICIC (SRB) grabbed a bronze medal with a 10-0 pummeling of Levan METREVELI VARTANOV (ESP), giving Serbia their first European medal ever.

RESULTS
57kg
GOLD - Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) df. Zavur UGUEV (RUS), 5-3

BRONZE - Uladzislau ANDREYEU (BLR) df. Mihran JABURYAN (ARM), 8-1
BRONZE - Stevan MICIC (SRB) df. Levan VARTANOV (ESP), 10-0

65kg
GOLD – Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS), 8-7

BRONZE – Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) df. Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL), 8-4
BRONZE - Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR) df. David HABAT (SLO), 8-7

70kg
GOLD – Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) df. Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), 3-1

BRZONE - Murtazali MUSLIMOV (AZE) df. Azamat NURYKAU (BLR), 9-2
BRONZE - Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) df. Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR), 3-1

79kg
GOLD - Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Martin OBST (GER), 6-3

BRONZE - Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) df. Muhammet Nuri KOTANOGLU (TUR), 10-4
BRONZE - Mihaly NAGY (HUN) df. Alexandru BURCA (MDA), 8-1

97kg
GOLD - Vladislav BAITCAEV (RUS) df. Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR), 7-0

BRONZE - Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) df. Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR), 5-2
BRONZE - Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE) df. Magomedgadji Omardibirovich NUROV (MKD), 4-0

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Women's Wrestling Preview: 53kg Wide Open

Friday, July 10, 2026 - 12:03 By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 9) -- Preview for United World Wrestling Budapest Ranking Series 2026.

The 53kg weight class will crown a new world champion in Astana later this year after 2025 world champion Haruna MARUYAMA (JPN) failed to qualify through Japan's domestic trials and Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) moved up to 57kg.

The Budapest Ranking Series, scheduled for July 15-19, will offer an early look at the contenders as many of the world's top wrestlers at 53kg gather for the final Ranking Series event of the year.

WATCH LIVE | BUDAPEST RANKING SERIES ENTRIES

Asian champion Jin ZHANG (CHN) headlines the field, which also includes world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND), 55kg European champion Andreea ANA (ROU), former European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) and United States world team member Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA).

While two leading contenders for the world title, Lucia GUZMAN (ECU) and Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), are not entered, the rest of the field is expected to play a significant role in the medal race in Astana in one of the year's most open weight classes.

Zhang put together a dominant performance at the Asian Championships, highlighted by a victory via fall over Kiyooka. Antim has previous wins over both Zhang and Malmgren and will face another stern test in Budapest while Ana brings considerable international experience. Rodriguez, a former U20 world champion, lost to Guzman at the Pan-American Championships, but her aggressive style continues to make her a difficult opponent.

Joining Zhang on China's team is Yuxuan LI (CHN), a two-time 55kg Asian silver medalist with the ability to upset the favorites. Veteran Roksana ZASINA (POL) is also entered, adding another experienced challenger to the field.

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Tough 68kg Bracket

The 53kg weight class isn't the only one which is offering early insights. The 68kg competition is expected to be equally competitive despite the absence of world champion Ami ISHII (JPN) and bronze medalist Kennedy BLADES (USA).

The field includes Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), former world champion Jia LONG (CHN), 72kg world silver medalist Nesrin BAS (TUR), and former European champion Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR).

Zhumanazarova claimed the Asian title in April and enters Budapest as the favorite, with Long expected to be her biggest challenger. Bas and Shauchuk were set to meet in the European Championships final before the latter withdrew, handing Bas the title.

U23 world champion Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS) will look to win her second consecutive Ranking Series medal after taking silver at the Ulaanbaatar Open. Both European bronze medalists, Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) and Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE), also add depth to the field.

Bullen vs Tandelova II (WATCH: Bullen's Insane Comeback)

A rematch of this year's European Championships final could take place at 62kg after Grace BULLEN (NOR) produced one of the most remarkable comebacks of the season, rallying from a 9-1 deficit to pin Amina TANDELOVA (RUS).

They will be joined by a strong field that includes former world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN), world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), and European medalists Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) and Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR). The field also includes Pan-Am champion Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) and former U20 world champion Eniko ELEKES (HUN), who will have the backing of the home crowd.

Nichita Returns

Olympic silver medalist Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) will compete for the first time in nearly two years. Nichita, who became a mother after the Paris Olympics, returns at 59kg as she begins another Olympic cycle.

While she will be expected to win, making her return challenging will be Asian bronze medalist NEHA (IND), former world medalist Othelie HOEIE (NOR), European champion Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), veteran Jowita WRZESIEN (POL), among others in the field.

Wrestling Kexin HONG (CHN) Kexin HONG (CHN) is the Asian champion at 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

China's Depth

Two Chinese wrestlers, Kexin HONG (CHN) and Mengyu XIE (CHN), could dominate the 57kg bracket. Both Asian champions, at 57kg and 59kg respectively, Hong and Xie will be challenged by European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR), European bronze medalist Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), and Amanda MARTINEZ (USA).

India is sending age-group world medalist Neha SHARMA (IND) and U20 world champion TAPSYA (IND).

European champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR) enters as the favorite at 50kg but Olympic and Asian bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) is among the strongest wrestlers in the weight class and will be a marquee match-up if the two meet.

Other top wrestlers include Pan-American champion Katie GOMEZ (USA) and Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS), capable of upsetting the favorites. Canada has an interesting entry with former 53kg U17 world champion Kaura COLES (CAN), who is making her senior UWW debut at 50kg.

Four extremely talented wrestlers are entered at 72kg with former world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), European silver medalist Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), Zagreb Open silver medalist Diksha MALIK (IND) and U23 Asian champion Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ). With only three medals available, one of those four contenders will leave Budapest empty-handed.

Note: This preview was uploaded before Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) pulled out of the competition.

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