#WrestleFaenza

Russian Women Outscore Finals Opponents 25-2, Wins Trio of Day 4 Titles

By Eric Olanowski

FAENZA, Italy (June 20) – The Russian Federation capped off the fourth day of wrestling at the Cadet European Championships with women’s wrestling medals in all five weight classes, three of which were golds, and racked up an 18-2 record. Maybe more impressive, their two losses came against the eventual European champions. Russia (110 points) holds a 36-point lead over Ukraine (74 points) heading into the final day of women’s wrestling. 

Four Russian women competed in Day 4 gold-medal matches, but Amina TANDELOVA, Ekaterina GLUKHAREVA, and Olga KOZYREVA walked away as European champions. 

Angelina PERVUKHINA finished with a silver medal, while Olga REKHMETULLOVA (RUS) was able to fight back after her opening round loss to win a bronze medal. 

Amina Tandelova gave the most dominant wrestling nation in the world their first Day 4 gold medal. She picked an opening period takedown, a pair of second-period takedowns, and defeated Krystyna SOKOLOVSKA (UKR), 6-0 in the 57kg gold-medal match. 

Tandelova’s first takedown came from a high crotch in the first period, but that wasn’t her most impressive move of the period. She did a beautiful job sitting out and boot-scooting to stop a Ukrainian go behind before the first period ended and carried the 2-0 lead into the final two minutes of the match.  

In the second period, a counter-offensive go-behind and a takedown as time expired helped Tandelova improve on her runner-up finish from last year with a 6-0 shutout victory. 

Ekaterina GLUKAREVA (RUS) bullied her way past a frustrated Veronica BRASCHI (ITA), 6-0 in the 65kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Russia’s second 25-point gold-medal winner was Ekaterina Glukhareva who bullied her way past a clearly frustrated Veronica BRASCHI (ITA) in the 65kg finals.

Glukhareva controlled the entire four-minute match with her left underhook, using it to pick up four stepouts and an inactivity point. Gluhareva tacked on two additional points with a defensive stop and handed Russia their second shutout win of the night. 

Olga KOZYREVA (RUS) celebrates after her 12-2 victory Jennifer ROESLER (GER) in the 73kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Olga KOZYREVA (RUS) was two points away from handing Russia their third finals shutout but surrendered a takedown before ending the 73kg gold-medal match with a 12-2 victory over Jennifer ROESLER (GER).

Kozyreva kick-started the match with a snatch single and had the 2-0 lead, then tossed Roesler to her back with a four-point whip over. Kozyreva commanded the early 6-0 lead when she shot an outside double, came up to her feet and brought Roesler back down to the mat for the takedown. She started to celebrate, thinking the referees awarded four points, but instead, she was only given two points and had the 8-0 lead. 

Kozyreva gave up a takedown and carried the 8-2 lead into the final period, but it only took her 28 seconds in the second period to pick up the four points she needed to end the match. Kozyreva closed out the match with a 12-2 victory and improved on her eighth-place finish from the 2017 U15 European Championships.

The fifth day of wrestling in Faenza being tomorrow at 11:30 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org. 

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD - Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) df. Diana Tancheva PAVLOVA (BUL), via fall 
BRONZE - Olga REKHMETULLOVA (RUS) df. Zenfira HASHIMOVA (AZE), 15-4
BRONZE - Ana Maria NECHIFOR (ROU) df. Anna POLLAKOVA (SVK), via fall 

49kg 
GOLD - Rebekka MARCH (GER) df. Angelina PERVUKHINA (RUS), 6-1
BRONZE - Anastasiya YANOTAVA (BLR) df. Mariia TOMYSHCH (UKR), 3-2 
BRONZE - Natalia Edyta WALCZAK (POL) df. Vestina DANISEVICIUTE (LTU), 10-0

57kg
GOLD - Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) df. Krystyna SOKOLOVSKA (UKR), 6-0
BRONZE - Othelie Annette HOEIE (NOR) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 4-1 
BRONZE - Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE) df. Maarja PLASER (EST), 8-2

65kg 
GOLD - Ekaterina GLUKHAREVA (RUS) df. Veronica BRASCHI (ITA), 7-0 
BRONZE - Yevheniia SIEDYKH (UKR) df. Nora Luca MAJOR (HUN), 4-1 
BRONZE - Zofia POLOWCZYK (POL) df. Daniela SIRBU (MDA), 4-0 

72kg 
GOLD - Olga KOZYREVA (RUS) df. Jennifer ROESLER (GER), 12-2 
BRONZE - Nazar BATIR (TUR) df. Maria Cristina ROSIORU (ROU), 8-1 
BRONZE - Julia FRIDLUND (SWE) df. Nerea IGLESIAS CAMPOS (ESP), via fall 

 

#WrestleBratislava

On 14th attempt, Prevolaraki wins historic European gold for Greece

By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 11) -- Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) made her first trip to the European Championships in 2011 when she was 19 years old. She competed in 14 European Championships and returned home with eight medals -- four silvers and four bronzes -- over the last 13 years.

Now 33 and competing at her 14th European Championships, Prevolaraki won her first gold medal with a thrilling win over Andreea ANA (ROU), ending a 24-year wait for Greece to have a champion in Women's Wrestling at the continental event. Former world champion Sofia POUMPOURIDOU (GRE) was the last and only other European champion for Greece in Women's Wrestling.

"I am very happy that I managed to earn the gold medal," Prevolaraki said. "I was waiting so many years to be the European champion and I am 33 years old but I managed to do it."

Over the years, Prevolaraki has lost four finals, all to different opponents. But Friday, she managed to keep her composure in a close bout for the win.

"This time I am more experienced and I did not feel any pressure," she said.  I played freely and good things happen when you have no pressure."

Wrestling in Bratislava in the 53kg weight class, Prevolaraki was hit with passivity first and put on the 30-second clock which expired without Prevolaraki scoring to give Ana 1-0 lead.

Ana extended her lead to 3-0 when Prevolaraki tried to hit a cut-back but was unsuccessful in the move. With more than two minutes remaining, Ana tried defending her 3-0 lead but was put on the activity clock when 1:10 were left.

During the 30-second period, Prevolaraki went for the leg-attack but Ana moved and tried getting behind Prevolaraki which she almost did and tried throwing the Greek with a cradle. But Prevolaraki was alerted and did not land in danger and scored a takedown. The activity clock against Ana expired which added another point for Prevolaraki, making the score 3-3 with the Greece wrestler leading on criteria of last point scored.

Romania decided to challenge, a strategic one. Even a lost challenge would need Ana to score a point to win from 4-3 with Prevolaraki lead and 3-3 with criteria to Prevolaraki.

On review, Romania lost the challenge and Prevolaraki led 4-3. Ana hit a sweep single and tried forcing Prevolaraki out of bounds but the Greece wrestler turned it around to get Ana's head out first and get another point to lead 5-3 which she defended and won the gold medal.

Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) at the medal ceremony of the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"I think I have had a good career," she said. "I am sad that I don't have an Olympic medal but I have many European medals and world Championships medals."

Prevolaraki, a four-time Olympian, a rare feat in wrestling, paid tribute to three-time Olympic champion Buvaisar SAITIEV, by wearing a shirt with his photo and message. Saitiev had passed away in March at the age of 49 years.

"The legend [Saitiev] is for all wrestler all over the world and his legend has no bounds. I wanted to pay a tribute to this legend," she said.