#WrestlePontevedra

Russia Brings Freestyle Finalist Total to Seven

Saturday, June 8, 2019 - 17:31 By Eric Olanowski

PONTEVEDRA, Spain (June 8) – Russia holds the team lead after the sixth day of freestyle competition and inserted three additional wrestlers into gold-medal matches -- bringing their overall finalist total to seven.

Russia opened up the freestyle competition by winning 12 of 13 matches, went 11-3 on Saturday, and brought their freestyle win/loss total to 23-4. Their three Day 7 finalists who’ll wrestle for gold at 74kg, 92kg, 125kg, respectively, are Dmitrii KUPRIN, Aslanbek SOTIEV, Saipudin MAGOMEDOV.

Of the three Russian finalists, Magomedov and Sotiev will have the toughest test in the finals.

Soltiev will wrestle Azerbaijan’s two-time age-level world bronze medalist Askhab HAMZATOV.

Hamzatov, who had locked up his third European medal, will be wrestling in the junior finals for the second consecutive year. Last year, Hamzatov fell to Russia’s Azamat ZAKUEV in the 92kg finals and settled for a silver medal.

Magomedov will take on Ukraine’s Yurii IDZINSKYI in the 125kg finals. This’ll be the third time that Idzinskyi has competed in the European finals, but the Ukrainian has fallen in each of his two previous attempts. Idzinskyi fell in the U23 European finals earlier this year, and also dropped last year’s junior European finals.

The other finalist is Dmitrii Kuprin. He’ll wrestle Turkey’s Abdulvasi BALTA (TUR) in the 74kg finals.

The Day 7 finals begin on Sunday at 18:00 and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

61kg
GOLD - Hrachya MARGARYAN (ARM) vs. Oleksandr YEVSIEIENKO (UKR)
SEMIFINAL - Hrachya MARGARYAN (ARM) df. Hamza ALACA (TUR), 5-2
SEMIFINAL - Oleksandr YEVSIEIENKO (UKR) df. Gamzatgadzhi KHALIDOV (HUN), 10-9

74kg
GOLD - Abdulvasi BALTA (TUR) vs. Dmitrii Alekseevitch KUPRIN (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Abdulvasi BALTA (TUR) df. Valentin BORZIN (MDA), 8-3
SEMIFINAL - Dmitrii KUPRIN (RUS) df. Goga MAMIAURI (GEO), 9-2

86kg
GOLD - Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) vs. Mher MARKOSYAN (ARM)
SEMIFINAL - Mher MARKOSYAN (ARM) df. Slavik NANIEV (RUS), 6-4
SEMIFINAL - Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Demid KARACHENKO (UKR), 11-3

92kg
GOLD - Askhab HAMZATOV (AZE) vs. Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS) df. Aliaksei PARKHOMENKA (BLR), 10-4
SEMIFINAL - Askhab HAMZATOV (AZE) df. Matous VONDAL (CZE), 6-0

125kg
GOLD - Saipudin MAGOMEDOV (RUS) vs. Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR)
SEMIFINAL - Saipudin MAGOMEDOV (RUS) vs. Islam ABUEV (AZE), 5-0
SEMIFINAL - Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR) df. Mikita HORHUN (BLR), 11-0

#BeachWrestling

PHOTOS: Bird, Beats, Beach and Wrestling in Dakar

Sunday, June 23, 2024 - 08:31 By Vinay Siwach

DAKAR, Senegal (June 22) -- Wrestling in Senegal? Nothing new to the country. It is the most popular sport, at least the traditional one. The stands are filled, music blaring, wrestlers are superstars in the country and people love it.

The second edition of the African Championships in Beach Wrestling traveled to Dakar, Senegal. More than 100 wrestlers entered to compete for the glory of becoming the champion of the continent.

But there is so much to wrestling in Dakar outside the two rings on the sand. The colors, music, cheering, dance and crowd are inseparable.

Obviously, there is wrestling with big throws, tackles, takedowns.

Dakar Photo: United World Wrestling / Helena Courtis

Wrestling remains the same. Mat, sand, mud, ice. Those throws are supreme. Here's an example.

Dakar Photo: United World Wrestling / Helena Courtis

Once you get thrown like that, you will be covered in sand. So you need to wash it. We got water right next to the rings.

Dakar Photo: United World Wrestling / Helena Courtis

Outside the sand rings, no one should be that serious in wrestling. No way in beach wrestling. Come on, Mouhamed BAYO (SEN).

Dakar Photo: United World Wrestling / Helena Courtis

We managed to convince him. Look at that flex. Thanks, Bayo!

Dakar Photo: United World Wrestling / Helena Courtis

The National Arena de Lutte in Dakar came prepared. The traditional Senegalese wrestling begins with the sounds of drums. There was no other way to begin during the opening ceremony at Beach Wrestling. Adding to the drums, some colors and music. Nothing better.

Dakar Photo: United World Wrestling / Helena Courtis

At all wrestling venues, a battle ensues. It's between the wrestlers and security. Are the wrestlers more well-built or the policemen? We will let you decide.

Dakar Photo: United World Wrestling / Helena Courtis

Back to wrestling. Do you think this is a point?

Dakar Photo: United World Wrestling / Helena Courtis

Thankfully, you are a referee only by looking at the screen in front of you. On the sand, our referees need to be as quick, both with their decisions and stepping away from the line of action.

Dakar Photo: United World Wrestling / Helena Curtis

If someone mentioned a story about how a wrestler in Dakar managed a bird to sit on his head with no trouble, no one would believe that. But here you are, a wrestler in Dakar with a bird sitting on his head. Our photographer captured it so we have to believe.

Dakar Photo: United World Wrestling / Helena Courtis

In the end, it is about being happy after watching wrestling. These kids surely enjoyed it.

Well, if you are looking for the results from the matches, here's the link for all the results. CLICK HERE