European Games

Russia Sweeps Greco-Roman Gold Medals on Day 5 of European Games

By United World Wrestling Press

MINSK, Belarus (June 29) - Russia swept the Greco-Roman gold medals on Day 5 of the wrestling competition at the European Games at the Minsk Sports Palace in Minsk, Belarus. 

The Russian trio of Stepan MARYANYAN (60kg), Zaur KABALOEV (67kg) and Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (77kg) earned finals victory on Saturday. 

Maryanyan, the returning world champion, claimed his second straight European Games gold medal. He capped off a dominating in Minsk with a 9-0 technical superiority over Erik TORBA (HUN) in the finals at 60kg. Maryanyan scored off a passivity and then showcased his strong par terre skills, using four consecutive gut wrenches to end the match in the first period. He outscored his opponents 32-3 at the European Games, which included three technical superiorities in four matches.

Kabaloev had to come from behind in his gold-medal match against Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO), a U23 and junior world champion. Bolkvadze led 1-0 at the break after scoring off a passivity. But Kabaloev battled back in the second period, scoring off a passivity with two minutes remaining before lifting Bolkvadze and scoring with a two-point throw to grab a 3-1 lead, which would be enough to get him the victory. 

In the final match of the session, the returning world champion Chekhirkin hung on to edge Karapet CHALYAN (ARM) 7-6 in the gold-medal match at 77kg. Chekhirkin raced out to a 5-0 lead after a dominant first period. He picked up a takedown midway through the first period, added a point off a step out and then lifted Chalyan and scored two more points off a throw. But the Armenian battled back, scoring a takedown 20 seconds into the second period before adding another takedown a short time later to make the score 5-4 in favor of Chekhirkin. With just over a minute remaining, Chekhirkin extended his lead to 7-4 with a takedown. Chalyan would add a takedown with two seconds remaining, but Chekhirkin held on to win by a point. 

Victor CIOBANU (MDA) and Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO) captured the bronze medals at 60kg. Ciobanu, ranked No.2 in the world, topped Zhora ABOVIAN (UKR) 3-1. Chkhartishvili edged Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) 3-3 on criteria. 

Soslan DAUROV (BLR) used a high dive to score a takedown with just over a minute remaining, which helped him defeat Oleksii KALINICHENKO (UKR) 3-2 in a bronze-medal match at 67kg. Mate NEMES (SRB) earned a 2-1 victory over Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) in the other bronze-medal match at 67kg.

Olympic silver medalist Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) earned a bronze medal at 77kg by beating Igor BESHLEAGA (MDA) 5-1. The other bronze medal at 77kg was claimed by Alex KESSIDIS (SWE), who won by fall over Yunus BASAR (TUR).

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

60kg
GOLD - Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) df. Erik TORBA (HUN), 9-0
BRONZE - Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Zhora ABOVIAN (UKR), 3-1
BRONZE - Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO) df. Razvan ARNAUT (ROU), 3-3

67kg
GOLD - Zaur KABALOEV (RUS) df. Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO), 3-1
BRONZE - Soslan DAUROV (BLR) df. Oleksii KALINICHENKO (UKR), 3-2
BRONZE - Mate NEMES (SRB) df. Karen ASLANYAN (ARM), 2-1

77kg
GOLD - Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) df. Karapet CHALYAN (ARM), 7-6
BRONZE - Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) df. Yunus BASAR (TUR), Fall (5:25)
BRONZE - Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) df. Igor BESHLEAGA (MDA), 5-1
 

#WrestleBucharest

European Championships Day Six FS 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, 125kg semis set

By United World Wrestling Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 17) -- The European Championships is now on day six, the last full day of the competition. The competition will run with the repechage, qualification and semifinals in the morning session before moving to the medal bouts in the evening. 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg weight classes will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 5 REPORT

Semifinals for the evening session

61kg
Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (AIN) vs. Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)
Niklas STECHELE (GER) vs. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB)

74kg
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) vs. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) vs. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN)

86kg
Myles AMINE (SMR) vs. Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) vs. Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE)

92kg
Magomed KURBANOV (AIN) vs. Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) vs. Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR)

125kg
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (AIN)
Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) vs. Taha AKGUL (TUR)

15:00: Down goes Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL)! He drops his quarterfinal against Osman GOCEN (TUR). The 86kg bout was high on action for six minutes with Gocen leading 4-1 at the break. Ramazanov could never come close as Gocen used two gut wrenches to lead 10-3, the final score of the bout.

14:45: Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) doesn't let his opponents catch his legs so easily. Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP) found it out in the 74kg quarterfinal when Salkazaov held on to his 3-1 lead till the match ended.

14:20: Abasgazdhi MAGOMEDOV (AIN) looks unstoppable on the mat. Another 10-0 win for the world silver medalist at 61kg. He is likely to face Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) who came back from 5-1 down against Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO). The Georgian had a big throw when both wrestlers body locked each other. However, Abakarov scored a takedown and turn to make it 5-5 with Phartenadze leading on criteria. But a slick takedown in the end gave Abakarov a 7-5 win.

14:00: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) falls to Magomed KURBANOV (AIN) 5-1. No openings for Nurmagomedov there and he drops his 92kg bout. In the same weight class, Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) and Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) move into the quarterfinals. 

13:30: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) beats Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) 11-1 at 74kg followed by defending champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) holding off Hayk PAPIKYAN (ARM) 2-1 in typical Salkazanov style.

12:55: Myles AMINE (SMR) was in all sorts of trouble there but he hung on for a 6-5 win over Taimuraz FRIEV (ESP) in his 86kg bout.

12:30: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) absolutely breaks Mezhlum MEZHLUMYAN (ARM) in the second period and races to a 9-0 win at 61kg. A little earlier, Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (AIN) won 10-0 against Nils LEUTERT (SUI)

12:15: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) takes all six minutes to beat Johannes LUDESCHER (AUT) 9-0. Taha AKGUL (TUR) is much quicker to see off Kamil  KOSCIOLEK (POL) at 125kg.

12:05: The 125kg stalwarts come on the mat for their qualification round. Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (AIN), a 97kg wrestler, is wrestling at 125kg. Zhabrailov starts with a good 10-0 win over Michael MANEA (ROU)

11:30: Defending champion Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) starts with a 10-0 win over Alan BAGAEV (AIN). That is a big win for Kurugliev as Bagaev was expected to challenge him in the first match.

11:15: The 86kg weight class is the one to look out for today. In the first big bout of the day, Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) was up against Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL). He led 2-0 but Ramazanov scored a takedown to make it 2-2. In the second period, Ramazanov hit a strong counter and held Gamkrelidze to his back for a fall!

10:45: Big upset from the repechage as Andre CLARKE (GER) beats Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) at 65kg. The defending champion will be returning home without a medal this year.

10:30: Welcome to day six of the European Championships from Bucharest, Romania. We are in the last leg of this tournament with five weight classes in Freestyle left.