Russia, Ukraine in Thrilling WW Title Race at #WrestleSkopje

Thursday, May 20, 2021 - 19:49 By Vinay Siwach

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (May 20) --- Ukraine and Russia are involved in a thrilling team title race in women's wrestling at the U23 European Championships.

While Russia dominated with four finalists on Wednesday compared to Ukraine's two, the latter entered three into the finals on Thursday while Russia fell behind to only two.

On Thursday, Ukraine saw their wrestlers reaching the semifinal in each weight class that was in action at the Jane Sandanski Arena in Skopje, North Macedonia. Two, however, failed to reach the finals.

Alina AKOBIYA (UKR), Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) and Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) reached the finals in 57kg, 62kg and 65kg weight category for Ukraine. For Russia, Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) and Marina SUROVTSEVA (RUS) entered the 50kg and 72kg final.

The Ukraine wrestlers just did not reach the finals, but they made sure their opponents know it, Of the 10 semifinals, five were decided via fall and three of them were performed by wrestlers from Ukraine.

Alina AKOBIYA U23 European Championships

Akobiya led the way for them with victory in the 57kg semifinal against Sezen BELBEROVA (BUL). She began with a takedown to lead 2-0 and added another with a single leg which she managed to convert into a fall. But in the process, Belberova was hit on the forehead which resulted in bleeding before the fall action began. That only delayed the eventual result.

The wrestlers were called to the center with Akobiya leading 6-0. Belberova was put in a par terre position from which Akobiya managed to pin her.

That was not the first of the day for Akobiya as she had won both her previous bouts in similar fashion. Eda TEKIN (TUR) was pinned in the first period during the qualification bout while U23 Euro champ at 55kg Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS) was stunned as well with a fall after 12-1 score.

Akobiya will be eyeing her first U23 Euro gold after falling short in Novi Sad in 2019. But Patrycja GIL (POL) will be between her and the gold.

Gil, a junior world champion, used three takedowns and two stepouts to beat Othelie HOEIE (NOR) 8-0 in the other semifinal. In the quarterfinal, she defeated Hanna VAHER (BLR) 2-1.

Individual World Cup champ Rizhko will also be looking for her first U23 Euro title after she reached the final at 62kg. She humbled senior and U23 European medalist Anhelina LYSAK (POL) in the semifinal. Rizhko had an early takedown and then she got Lysak in a head lock and threw her over the shoulder. A fall was confirmed as Rizhko won in two minutes and 43 seconds.

Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR) will try and stop Rizhko from winning the gold as she reached the summit clash from the top side of the bracket. In the semifinal, she scored couple of takedowns and a gut against Cansu AKSOY (TUR) to lead 6-0 at the break before a hitting a counter for four points and claiming the pin.

But her bigger win came in the quarterfinal where she defeated junior Euro champion and Russian Championships bronze medalist Maria LACHUGINA (RUS) 4-2.

At 65kg, Zelenykh was the quickest among the semifinalists to get the pin as she finished the bout in just one minute in 43 seconds. Even in that small period, a total of 11 points were scored. Zelenykh scored a 4 using a hip-toss before a takedown against Asli DEMIR (TUR). The Turkey wrestler also responded with a takedown at the edge. Her corner challenged the call, asking for four points but lost the challenge and Zelenykh led 7-2.

A single leg attack to expose Demir to her back before getting the fall gave the Ukrainian a spot in the final where she will face Irina RINGACI (MDA).

Quickly becoming one of the most feared wrestlers in 62-65kg weight classes, Ringaci also finished her semifinal against Kamila KULWICKA (POL) via fall.

Kulwicka made several attempts to get points on Ringaci but failed every time as the Moldova wrestler countered her moves. She got the first takedown via a counter before another and an exposure made it 6-0. Kulwicka again came with a single leg attack but Ringaci defended that and scored two points. Ringaci took some time but the pin was secured in 4:08.

There was disappointment as well for Ukraine as Maria VYNNYK (UKR) at 53kg and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) at 72kg failed to win their semifinals.

Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) upset Vynnyk in the final second by scoring a stepout and winning 3-3 on criteria. Yetgil will now take on Verbina who controlled her semifinal against Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN) 6-0.

At 72kg, Alpyeyeva gave a tough fight but Surovtseva was too strong for her. After a couple of takedowns, the Russian led 4-0 at the break. Alpyeyeva managed an attack with caught the Russian off guard. But the win was secured by Surovtseva 6-2 with ease.

She will wrestle Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) in the final on Friday. Choluj needs to thank her Gods as she managed to sneak past Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR) 2-1 in the semifinal.

With the bout tied 1-1 with 24 seconds left, Choluj managed to get a step out and a 2-1 lead which she kept until the clock expired.

Russia, Ukraine win 2 gold each

By the time the final session ended in Skopje, Russia, with 90 points, had a small four-point led over Ukraine in the team title race.

Ukraine stopped Russia from gaining a big lead as Khrystyna DEMKO (UKR) defeated Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RUS) in the 55kg final while Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) held off Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS) in the 68kg final.

The two defeats hurt Russia despite their two gold medals at 50kg and 76kg.

Ukraine earned bronze medals at 50kg and 59kg but their absence from the podium at 76kg may come back to hurt them in the final scores.

The lone gold winner who did not represent the two countries was Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) as she defeated Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) 10-0 in a blink of an eye.

The defending European and world medalist put on a show of strength as she trapped Dollack in a arm to chest lock to get four turns and the win as she defended her U23 Euro gold.

Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) won the gold at 50kg as she eased past Anastasiya YANOTOVA (BLR) 7-2. Using single leg attacks, the Russian got a 5-0 lead at the break before Yanotova scored two step outs. But a takedown late in the bout sealed the gold for Tiumerekova.

DEMKO

Demko combined a takedwon and gut thrice in the final against Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RUS) to win 12-1 at 59kg. This was her first European title at the U23 level.

In another Ukraine-Russia final, Chudyk scored a takedown via an arm drag against Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS) in the last 30 seconds of their 68kg final to lead 3-2. She managed to keep the Russian at bay and win the gold medal. This adds to her cadet and junior European titles.

Russia managed to lock the gold at 76kg as Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) needed only two minutes and 21 seconds to win 10-0 against Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR). She snapped Ozbege at the 40th second of the bout and got three exposures to lead 8-0. The final takedown was also scored via a snap down.

Focus will shift to Greco-Roman as wrestler from five weight classes – 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, 130kg – will take the mat.

Results: WW Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) vs Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS)

SF 1: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) df Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 3-3
SF 2: Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) df Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN), 6-0

57kg
GOLD: Patrycja GIL (POL) vs Alina AKOBIIA (UKR)

SF 1: Patrycja GIL (POL) df Othelie HOEIE (NOR), 8-0
SF 2: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) df Sezen BELBEROVA (BUL), via fall (10-0)

62kg
GOLD: Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR) vs Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)

SF 1: Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR) df Cansu AKSOY (TUR), via fall (10-2)
SF 2: Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) df Anhelina LYSAK (POL), via fall (6-0)

65kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA) vs Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR)

SF 1: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df Kamila KULWICKA (POL), via fall (11-0)
SF 2: Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) df Asli DEMIR (TUR), via fall (9-2)

72kg
GOLD: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) vs Marina SUROVTSEVA (RUS)

SF 1: Marina SUROVTSEVA (RUS) df Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR), 6-2
SF 2: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR), 2-1

U23 European Championships

WW Medal Bouts

50kg
GOLD: Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) df Anastasiya YANOTOVA (BLR), 7-2

BRONZE: Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) df Lisa ERSEL (GER), via fall (6-2)
BRONZE: Aynur ERGE (TUR) df Maria LEORDA (MDA), 10-0

55kg
GOLD: Khrystyna DEMKO (UKR) df Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RUS), 12-1

BRONZE: Esra PUL (TUR) df Beatrice FERENT (ROU), via fall (5-1)
BRONZE: Dominika KULWICKA (POL) df Aleksandrina KASHINOVA (BUL), 3-2

59kg
GOLD: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df Tamara DOLLAK (HUN), 10-0

BRONZE: Krystsina SAZYKINA (BLR) df Maria BAEZ DILONE (ESP), 4-3
BRONZE: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df Anne NUERNBERGER (GER), 14-4

68kg
GOLD: Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) df Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS), 3-2

BRONZE: Ewelina CIUNEK (POL) df Kendra DACHER (FRA), via fall (6-2)
BRONZE: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df Natallia BELSKAYA (BLR), via fall (9-0)

76kg
GOLD: Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) df Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR), 10-0

BRONZE: Diana VLASCEANU (ROU) df Andela PRIJOVIC (SRB), 10-0
BRONZE: Enrica RINALDI (ITA) df Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU), via fall (4-0)

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships: Iran Puts Four into Greco-Roman Finals

Monday, April 6, 2026 - 16:52 By Ken Marantz

Erfan JARKANI (IRI) celebrates after reaching the 63kg final at the Asian Championships in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 6) – On an opening day bereft of big surprises, the Iranians were their usual dominant selves, while local hero Azkhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) sent the partisan crowd into a frenzy by doing what he does best.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) and fellow reigning world champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) were among four Iranians who qualified for the finals in the five Greco-Roman weight classes in action on the first day of the Asian Championships on Monday in Bishkek.

For the first time, the two-day format for all weight classes is being used at the Asian Championships, so that the five divisions on the first day were competed only through the semifinals.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) turns Minseok KIM (KOR) during the 130kg semifinal at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Mirzazadeh’s march toward a fourth Asian gold at 130kg over a seven-year span could not be regarded as unscathed – he was on the receiving end of a painful head butt in his 8-0 semifinal victory over Minseok KIM (KOR).

Other than that, it was smooth sailing as the Paris Olympic bronze medalist and two-time world champion advanced with a pair of wins by technical superiority.

Mirzazadeh and Farokhi were joined in the finals by Erfan JARKANI (IRI) and Ali OSKOU (IRI) as Iran looks on track to surpass its 2025 gold medal tally of five in Amman, Jordan.

“We were expecting Farokhi and Mirzazadeh to reach the final, but over the last two years, both Jarkani and Oksou have improved a lot and good results were expected from them and they showed that,” Iran head coach Hassan RANGRAZ said. “Hopefully, tomorrow also our wrestlers will achieve good results.”

Against Kim, Mirzazadeh jumped out to a 5-0 lead with a pair of gut wrenches in par terre. In the second period, Kim rose his head as Mirzazadeh approached, causing a collision that left both rubbing their wounds.

Kim was assessed a 2-point penalty, and when a Korean challenge of the call was denied, that gave the Iranian his eighth and decisive point.

In the final, Mirzazadeh will face a newcomer to the Asian scene, former Russian national champion Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB), who advanced with a 7-2 victory over two-time bronze medalist Yuta NARA (JPN).

Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), the world champion at 82kg, defeated Sunil KUMAR (IND) in 87kg semifinals at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In one of those blink-and-you-missed-it dominant victories, Farokhi swiftly powered to an 8-0 victory over three-time Asian medalist Sunil KUMAR (IND) to advance to the 87kg final.

Farokhi, last year’s world champion at 82kg who has not lost an international match since 2022, shrugged Kumar by to get behind, then used an arm lock for four quicksilver back-and-forth exposures to end the match in 37 seconds.

In the final, Farokhi will take on world bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), who put together a slightly less dominant 8-0 victory over Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) to become one of three wrestlers from the host country to make the finals.

Zhanyshov, a two-time Asian U23 champion, finished up the win with a go-behind takedown to top Tursynov, who has three Asian medals over a 10-year span – from a gold in 2014 to silvers in 2015 and 2023.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) launches Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) for four points during the 77kg semifinals in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The biggest cheers of the night at the new Zhastyk Arena came in response to the exploits at 77kg of Makhmudov, who first stole the spotlight when he won the first of his three Asian golds in 2018 across the street at the Soviet-era Kojomkul Sports Palace.

Facing 2024 Asian bronze medalist Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), Makhmudov got the first shot at par terre and took full advantage, thrilling the crowd with not one but two powerful reverse body lifts in which he flipped his opponent over like a pancake on the griddle.

Makhmudov, a two-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist, began the year on a sluggish note, falling in the 82kg quarterfinals of the Tirana Ranking Series tournament in February to Tunjay VAZIRZADE (AZE).

But back at his usual weight, Makhmudov is looking more like his old self – and he’ll need to be in that form in a challenging final against Iran’s Oskou, this year’s Zagreb Ranking Series champion and a 2024 world U23 bronze medalist.

Oskou had a pair of four-point throws and, while having to fight off his back when one roll attempt was stopped, still managed to forge a solid 13-3 victory over AMAN (IND) in the other semifinal.

Erfan JARKANI (IRI) battles it out with Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) in the 63kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 63kg, Zagreb Open champion and 2024 world U23 and U20 bronze medalist Jarkani held off former Asian champion Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) in a 5-3 win to advance to the final in his senior Asian debut.

Jarkani opened with a takedown, then quickly went up 5-0 when he received single points for passivity, fleeing and an unsuccessful challenge.

In the second period, Bakhramov showed the fight that led him to the 60kg gold in 2019, but could only manage a single gut wrench from par terre to fall short of victory.

Bakhramov, a world bronze medalist in 2023, still has a chance for his fourth career Asian medal and third bronze.

Jarkani will battle for the gold against Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ), who become the first wrestler from the home team to make the finals when he bulldozed his way to a 10-0 victory over Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM) in the other semifinal.

Taalaibek Uulu started the rout with a four-point arm throw onto which a challenge point was added. A passivity call put Taalaibek Uulu on top in par terre, and he hit his second four-pointer of the match to end it at 2:05.

Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) raises the hand of Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ) after beating the home wrestler in the 55kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 55kg, two-time bronze medalist Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) shrugged off the vocal partisan crowd and a potentially costly penalty against 2024 bronze medalist Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ), riding a five-point first period to a 5-3 victory and a place in tomorrow’s final.

Botirov, the silver medalist in Zagreb, reeled off a pair of gut wrenches from par terre for a 5-0 lead. In the second period, Muratbek Uulu was put on top and before the action even started, Botirov was assessed a two-point penalty for moving too soon.

Despite the crowd’s efforts to spur their wrestler on, Botirov withstood Muratbek Uulu’s late attacks and assured he will improve on the bronze medals he won last year and in 2023 by making the final, where he will face LALIT (IND).

Botirov earlier defeated the only Iranian to not make the final on the day, Hajiali HOSSEINVAND (IRI), in the quarterfinals.

“Hosseinvand, too, should have been in the final given his recent performances, but it was unfortunate that he lost 8-0 [officially 10-0] against the Uzbekistan wrestler,” Rangraz added. “He beat him in February and he deserved to reach the final.”

LALIT (IND) reached the 55kg final after beating Houying SHI (CHN), 11-3. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Lalit put himself in position to become just the fourth Asian champion from India in Greco and first since 2020 when he battled back after losing the lead to defeat world bronze medalist Huoying SHI (CHN) 11-3.

Lalit, who likes to use a standing roll through from par terre, hit the move to take a 3-1 lead in the second period, but got stuck when he tried it again and Shi got around front, clamped on a front headlock and bulled Lalit over to go ahead 3-3 on criteria.

But Lalit struck back right away with a slick duck under for a takedown, then went to the roll through for two more, with an unsuccessful challenge point tacked on. A stepout and a defensive takedown gave Lalit the win by technical superiority as time ran out.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: LALIT (IND) vs. Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB)

SF 1: Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) df. Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ), 5-3
SF 2: LALIT (IND) df. Huoying SHI (CHN), 11-3

63kg
GOLD: Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) vs. Erfan Behnam JARKANI (IRI)

SF 1: Erfan JARKANI (IRI) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 5-3
SF 2: Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM), 10-0

77kg
GOLD: Ali OSKOU (IRI) vs. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)

SF 1: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), 9-0
SF 2: Ali OSKOU (IRI) df. AMAN (IND), 13-3

87kg
GOLD: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) vs. Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)

SF 1: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) df. Suni KUMAR (IND), 8-0
SF 2: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ), 8-0

130kg
GOLD: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) vs. Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB)

SF 1: Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB) df. Yuta NARA (JPN), 7-2
SF 2: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Minseok KIM (KOR), 8-0

Russia, Ukraine in Thrilling WW Title Race at #WrestleSkopje

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Asian Championships: Iran Puts Four into Greco-Roman Finals