Russia, Georgia Win Two #WrestleBudapest GR Titles; Ukraine Shines on Day 6

Saturday, July 24, 2021 - 18:53 By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST (Hungary) July 24 --- The celebrations were subdued and all Daniil CHASOVNIKOV (RUS) could think of after winning his first world title was about his parents.

The 17-year-old Russian lost his parents when he was five and Saturday, he wished they were alive to see him win the cadet World Championships gold with a stunning win in the 110kg final.

"I made my mother and father happy," he said after the final, controlling his emotions as he spoke.

Chasovnikov was in a destructive mood as he hammered Nikita OVSJANIKOV (GER) 9-0 in the first period. After getting awarded for the German's passivity, Chasovnikov added eight points from par-terre in quick succession and claimed the win.

His victory was an improved performance from the cadet Euros final in which the Russian had won 5-3. He later said that the final was exactly like he planned.

"My final match went very well. I have done everything as I planned. Rolled him in par-terre," he said. "I beat the same guy at the European championships final as well 5-3. Now 9-0. I have given it all."

He revealed that it was his confidence in Budapest that allowed him to win so strongly against the German wrestler.

"Last time at the European Championships I was scared, it was my first international tournament, I didn’t believe in myself. But this time I concentrated well and everything went well," he said.

Chasovnikov was raised by his grandparents and after some training in football, it was his uncle, a former Greco-Roman wrestler, who put him in the same sport.

"I don’t have a mother and father," he said. "Since I was five, I was brought up by my grandmother and grandfather. My uncle is a former Greco-Roman wrestler. I started training in football, but I didn’t like it. My weight was already 45 kg when I was five years old. My uncle told me to start wrestling training. I didn’t like it in the beginning, then I started winning the competitions.

"I made my mum and dad happy. I dedicated the victory to my parents and all those people who supported me."

Valerii MANGUTOV (RUS) won the gold medal at 55kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The second Russian to win the gold Saturday was Valerii MANGUTOV (RUS) at 55kg as he beat Cory LAND (USA) 8-0 in the final.

Mangutov was in no mood to let his American opponent get any openings as he scored four points in each period to claim the victory and his world title.

“I am glad that I won the gold medal. It’s been a long way,” Mangutov said. “During the day I was trying to get ready morally. I prepared a plan on how to wrestle and everything went well [in the final].

His world title is even sweeter as he had lost in the first round of the 2019 Worlds in Sofia. In fact, his opponent Saturday, Land was also there but had failed to medal as well.

“I have corrected all the mistakes I had back in 2019, and today I got my gold,” he said and also revealed that it was his grandfather who introduced him to wrestling when he was five-years-old.

“My grandfather brought me to wrestling and since then my father comes to training every day.” he said. “I find inspiration in my close people, my parents who believe in me, all those people who support me. I am very grateful to all of them.”

Despite winning two gold medals, Russia trails Georgia in the Greco-Roman team title at the tournament. Georgia also won two gold and also a bronze to lead the race.

Luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO) celebrates after winning the 45kg gold medal in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

For Georgia, Luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO) should not have been in Budapest, let alone the podium. He had lost the Georgian national championships and his name was struck off the World team. It was only after the national winner failed to make the weight that Javakhadze's name was added again. On Saturday, he made the most of the lucky break.

Javakhadze claimed his first world title at the cadet level on the penultimate day, opening the country's account by winning the 48kg world title, beating cadet European silver medalist Servet ANGI (TUR) 7-5 in the final.

After leading 3-0 at the break in the final, the Georgian gave up five points in the second period but scored four for himself to win 7-5.

While he had all the luck he needed to be on the team and win, his teammate, Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) did not.

Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR) won the world title at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Putkaradze was wrestling in the 65kg final and was up 6-0 in the first 40 seconds of the bout against Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR). The two had met in the cadet European Championships final just two months back with Khudzhadze winning 9-4. But this time, Putkaradze had it figured out. Or so he thought.

Khudzhadze scripted an incredible comeback from 0-6 down to level it 6-6 and hold the criteria to beat his Georgian rival and win the cadet World Championships gold medal at 65kg, giving Ukraine it's first title.

"I can’t express what I feel. It was a very tough match," Khudzhadze said. "I was losing 6-0, but the will to get this belt helped me to score six points and win the match.

"Honestly, I didn’t expect the Georgian to be so assertive. He scored 6 points in the first 40 seconds of the match."

He also praised his opponent's skills despite knowing that he had lost to Khudzhadze just a couple of months back.

"I think I would not be able to concentrate that way against the guy I lost," he said. "The Georgian wrestler is unbelievable. I wish him all the best, I wish him a lot of victories, but not in my weight category."

Khudzhadze is a Georgia native with his father, who was born in Georgia, also being a wrestler. It was his father who put him in the sport.

After his loss, Putkaradze was unable to control his emotions, ruing the chance of joining his two other teammates who won gold medals Saturday as Greco-Roman got five new world champions in Budapest. Russia claimed the remaining two titles.

Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) defeated Kamaludin MAGOMEDOV (RUS) via fall at 80kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 80kg, a Georgia-Russia final saw Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) defeat Kamaludin MAGOMEDOV (RUS) via fall which made a big difference in the title race.

The cadet European champion Bolkvadze held a slender one point lead at 3-2 going into the break but was warned for passivity in the second period. At 3-3, the Georgian scored two points and then held Magomedov to his back to get the pin.

Ukraine puts three in final

After just one wrestler in the final Saturday, Ukraine managed to send three in the five finals that will take place Sunday – the final day of the World Championships in Budapest. Kyrgyzstan and Iran also improved their performances and sent two wrestlers each to the finals. Moldova, Belarus and Uzbekistan also marked their presence with one wrestler each in the final.

Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR) reached the final at 45kg in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 45kg, cadet European silver medalist in 2021 Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR) made his way to the final after a dominating 10-0 win over Nurbolot BERDIKULOV (KGZ) in the semifinal. He was flawless Saturday apart from the quarterfinal against as he claimed the win 1-1.

He will take on Ozodbek KHALIMBOEV (UZB) in the final. The Uzbek was in a class of his own as he won his first two bouts via fall and the semifinal via technical superiority. Combined, he outscored his opponents 24-0.

Yurii TOVT (UKR) was the second Ukrainian to reach the final and he will take on Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) at 51kg.

Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) defeated Beso MAKHARADZE (GEO) in the 51kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Tovt won the semifinal against Hayk LYUDVIGYAN (ARM) via fall, his second of the day while Suiorkulov, 16, defeated Beso MAKHARADZE (GEO) 8-3 in the semifinal.

“I feel no difference between 2019 and now at all, it feels the same,” Suiorkulov, who finished 12th at the 2019 Worlds, said. “I’ll prepare for the final well. I am ready to wrestle the final match even now.”

Another Kyrgyzstan wrestler who booked his spot in the final was Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ). In a close semifinal, he managed to hang on to a 10-0 victory over SUMIT (IND). It was his aggressive start in the first period that gave him a 10-6 lead at the break.

While Sumit did try to make a comeback and scored two points, he was not able to stop his Kyrgyz opponent from reaching the 60kg final in which he will wrestle Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI).

Seyyedmostafa Seyyedjafar REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI) Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI) will wrestle for the 60kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The Iranian wrestler completed a 3-0 win against Rati KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO). Rezaei Daryakenari was first awarded a passivity point which he carried into the break. Then he scored a takedown in the second period to complete the win.

His teammate at 71kg Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) also marched into the final with a 7-2 win over Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) in the semifinal.

He will take on Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) who defeated Dimitar RACHEV (BUL) 7-0 in the semifinal. Solovei was wrestling at the cadet Worlds in 2019 but was in his first year as cadet. His experience now helped him reach the final.

Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) made it to his first cadet Worlds final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

“In 2019, I was the youngest athlete there, my goal was just to get some experience on the international event,” the 17-year-old said. “I train hard, that’s why I could win the semifinal.”

Incidentally, in 2019, Solovei, who trains and studies in Kishinev, Moldova, had lost to an Iran wrestler and now wants to avenge the first-round loss to Hojat REZAEI (IRI) from 2019.

“I hope to become a world champion. It’s important not to make any mistakes,” he said.

In a rematch of the 2021 cadet European Championships final at 92kg, Vladyslav LUB (UKR) wrestled Timur CHERNYSHEV (RUS) in the semifinal in Budapest and won 2-1. It was Lub who won at the Euros as well.

He will now wrestle Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) in the final. The Belrusian notched up a 12-3 win over Harutyun KIRAKOSYAN (ARM) in the semifinal.

Lub, who trains in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, said that he has wrestled Khaslakhanau before, referring to his 8-5 win at the cadet Euros semifinal.

“I have wrestled against that guy from Belarus before as well,” Lub said. “With the help of God, everything will work out.”

Despite previously beating his Russian rival, Lub had his doubts of another win due his illness before coming here.

“When I stepped on the mat, I had some doubts that I would win again,” he said. “One week before the tournament I was staying in bed with a very high temperature.”

But he is now just one win away from being crowned a world champion on Sunday.

RESULTS GR Medal Bouts

48kg
GOLD: Luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO) df Servet ANGI (TUR), 9-5

BRONZE: Yussuf ASHRAPOV (KAZ) df Pavel BONDAR (RUS), 12-1
BRONZE: Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) df Otto BLACK (USA), 4-2

55kg
GOLD: Valerii MANGUTOV (RUS) df Cory LAND (USA), 8-0

BRONZE: Tamazi GLONTI (GEO) df RUPIN (IND), 5-1
BRONZE: Berati INAC (TUR) df Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ), 8-0

65kg
GOLD: Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR) df Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO), 6-6

BRONZE: Ankit GULIA (IND) df Tair AMANGELDI (KAZ), 9-0
BRONZE: Nihat KARA (TUR) df Karl BAFF (SWE), 10-0

80kg
GOLD: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df Kamaludin MAGOMEDOV (RUS), via fall

BRONZE: Ivan TSYBANEV (UKR) df Hamza SERTCANLI (SWE), 5-5
BRONZE: Joju SAMADOV (AZE) df Beibit KORGANOV (KAZ), 8-0

110kg
GOLD: Daniil CHASOVNIKOV (RUS) df Nikita OVSJANIKOV (GER), 9-0

BRONZE: Rafail GKIRNIS (GRE) df Artur BOICHUK (UKR), 9-4
BRONZE: Artur SARKISJAN (CZE) df James MULLEN (USA), via fall

RESULTS GR Semifinals

45kg
GOLD: Ozodbek KHALIMBOEV (UZB) vs Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR)

SF 1: Ozodbek KHALIMBOEV (UZB) df Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 11-0
SF 2: Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR) df Nurbolot BERDIKULOV (KGZ), 10-0

51kg
GOLD: Yurii TOVT (UKR) vs Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ)

SF 1: Yurii TOVT (UKR) df Hayk LYUDVIGYAN (ARM), via fall
SF 2: Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) df Beso MAKHARADZE (GEO), 8-3

60kg
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) vs Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI)

SF 1: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df SUMIT (IND), 10-8
SF 2: Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI) df Rati KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 3-0

71kg
GOLD: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) vs Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI)

SF 1: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) df Dimitar RACHEV (BUL), 7-0
SF 2: Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) df Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE), 7-2

92kg
GOLD: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) vs Vladyslav LUB (UKR)

SF 1: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) df Harutyun KIRAKOSYAN (ARM), 12-3
SF 2: Vladyslav LUB (UKR) df Timur CHERNYSHEV (RUS), 2-1

#WrestleBratislava

Bullen bullies her way to 65kg gold; Ukraine wins team title

Saturday, April 12, 2025 - 12:13 By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 11) -- Grace BULLEN (NOR) had three European title before Friday, all in different weight classes.

She added a fourth European title, in a new weight class by defeating world and two-time European champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) 11-8 in the 65kg final, the heaviest she has competed in. Bullen won her first European title in 2017, winning gold at 58kg. In 2021, she won at 57kg, last year at 62kg and now at 65kg.

"I feel I've come to like jumping over challenges that I think are difficult but I am fully capable of [overcoming]," Bullen said of switching weight classes for Europeans. "Just getting that out there and proving to myself because I feel that every match, I have to prove something to myself. I did that today, even though it was hard coming here."

In what turned out to be the match of tournament in Women's Wrestling, Bullen and Rigaci went toe-to-toe in the 65kg final. Bullen got on board first with a suplex from standing for four but Ringaci immediately answered with a double-leg takedown and gut wrench to make it 4-4 with Bullen leading on criteria for her bigger move. A stepout gave Bullen a 5-4 lead before she defended a leg-attack from Ringaci to maintain the lead at the break.

"I've seen her throws," she said. "I see how she's able to come out of every position like a wizard. She's a hard opponent to have because she knows how to get out of difficult positions. I have more touch and go and she's likes to scramble, and I'm trying to stay out of it and give her as less as points to her."

Ringaci opened the second period with a takedown on the edge for two points and take the lead 6-5. As Ringaci tried her underhooks, Bullen would block with double-leg attacks. Ringaci would try the whizzer only to give taken down by Bullen. In one such attack, Bullen scored a takedown to reclaim the lead before a sequence gave two points each to both wrestler with Bullen lead 9-8.

Bullen went for the armbar and kept Ringaci in danger for the final minute and won her fourth European title.

Grace BULLEN (NOR) celebrates after winning the 65kg final at the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"I'm trying not to [think about the points given]," she said. "I came into the match with some task and it's to wrestle with my style and I'm trying to do it as best as possible, keeping the distance and keeping my attacks as strong and fast. I know that I went up a weight class mainly because I wanted to meet new opponents. It's a new opponents and I get to challenge my wrestling into it and that's why I bumped up a weight class."

The Paris bronze medalist at 62kg said that after the performance in Paris, where she became the first Norway wrestler to win an Olympic medal in 94 years, it was difficult to restart with an aim of reaching the top level again.

"When you've done a great performance and you have to do it all over again," she said. "But it's like it's a new task. She's not an easy opponent to stand in front of as she's challenging and has a lot of experience on the mat. I have huge respect for all my opponents. I want to do great, even though I know it's difficult. So I'm proud of myself that I was able to do that today"

Bullen, who burst on the scene a decade ago with her big moves, won the U17 world and European titles, gold at the Youth Olympic Games in 2014, the world U23 title. As she grew as a wrestler, hopes with Bullen also grew. However, after failing to qualify for the Rio and Tokyo Olympics, Bullen needed a new lease of life for her wrestling.

Shifting base to Georgia and switching her training accordingly did wonders. She moved up to 62kg, won bronze medal at the World Championships and the Paris Olympic Games. That inspired many as a wrestler with South Sudanese heritage stood on the podium at the Olympics in Women's Wrestling.

Despite all the changes, Bullen wants to keep her style.

"I also don't want to lose Grace Bullen as a wrestler," she said. "Many people know me as a person that does a great lift. I want to be remembered as someone who finds a way that I can win matches and still take with me the great aspect of the wrestler that I always have been. I want to be remembered as someone making some great moments and big moves because I like the wow people get through out of it."

Iryna BONDAR (UKR) drops Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) for the fall at 62kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Ukraine wins team title

Ukraine won two more gold medals on Friday, adding to the two won day before and claimed the team title with 180 points. It was in a battle with Turkiye but the latter ended up with 158 points to be at the second place. Romania finished third with 79 points.

Rising start Iryna BONDAR (UKR) claimed the 62kg gold medal on her senior European Championships debut to add another medal to her resume. She capped her dominant run outscoring her opponents 31-5 including a fall in the final.

"This medal is the best one in my career so far," Bondar said. "It’s the senior level. Out of all the medals I’ve ever won, this is the best — the senior European Championships."

Wrestling Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) in the final, Bondar got on board with a point for Lindborg's inactivity before she swung the Swede using underhook and pinned her on the mat. Lindborg had 30-seconds to survive the pin attempt as the first period would have ended but Bondar controlled her and secured the fall with seven seconds remaining in the first period.

The gold medal is another one for the 21-year-old Bondar who has already won all the age-group continental golds.

"I’ve been working toward this," she said. "I progressed step by step — first in the U20 category. Last year was my final year there, then I moved on to U23. And now, for the first time, I’m competing at the senior level. This is a whole different level of wrestling — senior wrestling is tough and intense.

Among her four wins in Bratislava, Bondar defeated former world champion Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) 8-1 in the quarterfinals and handed Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) an 8-4 drubbing in the semifinals.

"[At the senior level], your opponents don’t forgive mistakes — if you do something wrong, even by accident, they immediately punish you," she said. "I’m really happy that I was able to defeat such strong opponents, some of whom have already competed at the Olympics. I’m very happy that I managed to win in my weight class."

Bondar, who is in the same weight class as Paris 62kg silver medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), said that she feels best at 62kg. Koliadenko wrestled at 65kg in Bratislava and won a bronze medal. Bondar, with her gold medal, confirmed her spot on the Ukrainian team for the World Championships, like all other gold or silver medalists from the country.

"I’m not planning to compete in 65kg," Bondar said. "I don’t feel like myself there. This year, I’ve already secured my spot and will go to the World Championship in the 62kg category."

The World Championships will be another big test for Bondar who is hoping to get the better of her Asian rivals who wrestle with more speed and attacks than the European wrestlers.

"Are there tougher opponents? Yes, absolutely. The toughest competitors are from Japan — they are the strongest in the world. You gain technique and experience. You wrestle with opponents you haven’t faced before, more experienced ones. You grow by competing against such athletes. I’m gradually building up speed now, over the summer, and we’ll be preparing for the World Championship."

Alla BLENSKA (UKR) celebrates after pinning Nesrin BAS (TUR) for the 72kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Ukraine's second gold medal came at 72kg after Alla BELINSKA (UKR) defeated retuning champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) in the final, also via fall.

Bas was called for passivity in the first period and Belinska came out with a perfect headlock throw in the second period to put Bas on the mat and held her for the fall.

Ukraine's wins in the head-to-head bouts against Turkiye helped it claim the team title.

At 57kg, two-time European champion Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) added a third as she defeated Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), 6-4, in the final.

Khoroshavtseva used an outside trip which wasn't successful but she got Kamaloglu in a takedown for two points. Kamaloglu answered with a single-leg takedown and then a turn to lead 4-2.

A snap from Khoroshavtseva helped her get the criteria 4-4 lead and Kamaloglu played catch up for the final two minutes of the bout. Khoroshavtseva used a wrong-direction go-behind for another two points to win her the gold medal, her first since the gold she won in 2021.

"It’s been a long journey and a huge amount of hard work to achieve this kind of result," she said. "I don’t really feel anything at all. The realization will probably come later. For now, it just feels like emptiness — because you gave it your all, and there’s nothing left to feel."

About her final, Khoroshavtseva said that she did not prepare too much and just wanted to wrestle.

"The final match was kind of chaotic, to be honest," she said. "I was more focused on the first day, and by the time the final came, I wasn’t really mentally or physically prepared — I just went out there to wrestle and do whatever I could."

The fifth gold of the night went to Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) who won her first gold medal in her 14th try at the European Championships. She defeated Andreea ANA (ROU) 5-4 in the final.

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Andreea ANA (ROU), 5-3

BRONZE: Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) df. Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR), 10-0
BRONZE: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) df. Viyaleta REBIKAVA CHYRYK (UWW), 2-1

57kg
GOLD: Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), 6-4

BRONZE: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) df. Jenna HEMIAE (FIN), 10-3
BRONZE: Solomiia VYNNYK (UWW) df. Aryna MARTYNAVA (UWW), 4-3

62kg
GOLD: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Johanna LINDBORG (SWE), via fall (5-0)

BRONZE: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) df. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), 4-3
BRONZE: Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) df. Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR), via fall (7-0)

65kg
GOLD: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA), 11-8

BRONZE: Dinara KUDAEVA (UWW) df. Olha PADOSHYK (POL), 5-0
BRONZE: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Eniko ELEKES (HUN), via fall (6-4)

72kg
GOLD: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. Nesrin BAS (TUR), via fall

BRONZE: Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) df. Daniela TKACHUK (POL), 8-3
BRONZE: Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) df. Kseniia BURAKOVA (UWW), 3-2

Russia, Georgia Win Two #WrestleBudapest GR Titles; Ukraine Shines on Day 6

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Bullen bullies her way to 65kg gold; Ukraine wins team title