#WrestleNoviSad

Russians Outscore Day 6 Semifinal Opponents 34-0

By Eric Olanowski

NOVI SAD, Serbia (March 9) – Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV, Nikita SUCHKOV, Arsen-Ali MUSALALIEV, and Batyrbek TCAKULOV shutout their semifinal opponents 36-0 and extended Russia’s overall U23 European finalist streak to 18. Coming into the Day 6 semifinals, Russia had qualified 14 wrestlers for the finals, and the quartet of Day 7 finalists increased that total by four. 

Magomedov gave Russia their first Day 7 finalist after closing out his 61kg semifinals match with a trapped arm gut to defeat Azerbaijan’s Asgar MAMMADALIYEV, 10-0. 

He’ll take on Greece’s Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) in Saturday’s gold-medal match. Pilidis’ semifinal match against Valentyn BLIASETSKYI (UKR) was short-lived after the Greek wrestler bulldozed the Ukrainian wrestler 10-0 in less than two minutes. 

At 74kg, Russia’s second Day 7 finalist Nikita Suchkov, who will take on Slovakia’s Akhsarbek GULAEV for Sunday's gold, shutout Khachatur PAPIKYAN (ARM), 10-0. His finals opponent Gulaev edged Giorgi SULAVA (GEO), 9-8 after commanding the 9-0 lead. 

Like his two fellow countrymen finalist, Arsen-Ali Musalaiev also cruised in his semifinals bout. Musalaliev scored an 8-0 shutout win over Johannes Martin DEML (GER) and will meet Arif OZEN (TUR) in the 86kg finals. 

Batyrbek TCAKULOV (RUS) was the fourth Russian to blank his semifinals opponent when he picked up the 6-0 win over Bendeguz TOTH (HUN). He’ll wrestle Ukraine’s Vasyl SOVA (UKR) in the finals. The Ukrainian wrestler beat Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE), 6-2 to reach the finals. 


Vitali PIASNIAK (BLR) will wrestle Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR) for the 125kg U23 European title. (Photo Sachiko Hotaka)

In the only weight that didn’t feature a Russian wrestler, 125kg, Belarus’ Vitali PIASNIAK and Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR) picked up semifinal wins and will compete on Sunday night for the 125kg U23 European title.

The Day 7 finals begin on Sunday at 18:00 (local time).

RESULTS 
61kg 
GOLD - Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) vs. Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) df. Valentyn BLIASETSKYI (UKR), 10-0 
SEMIFINAL - Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Asgar MAMMADALIYEV (AZE), 10-0 

74kg 
GOLD - Nikita SUCHKOV (RUS) vs. Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
SEMIFINAL - Nikita SUCHKOV (RUS) df. Khachatur PAPIKYAN (ARM), 10-0 
SEMIFINAL - Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) df. Giorgi SULAVA (GEO), 9-7

86kg 
GOLD - Arsen-Ali MUSALALIEV (RUS) vs. Arif OZEN (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Arsen-Ali MUSALALIEV (RUS) df. Johannes Martin DEML (GER), 8-0 
SEMIFINAL - Arif OZEN (TUR) df.  Zaur BERADZE (GEO), 8-1

92kg 
GOLD - Vasyl SOVA (UKR) vs. Batyrbek TCAKULOV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Vasyl SOVA (UKR) df.  Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE), 6-0
SEMIFINAL - Batyrbek TCAKULOV (RUS) df. Bendeguz TOTH (HUN), 6-0 

125kg
GOLD - Vitali PIASNIAK (BLR) vs. Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR) 
SEMIFINAL - Vitali PIASNIAK (BLR) df. Samhan JABRAILOV (MDA), 3-1 
SEMIFINAL - Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR) df. Georgii NOGAEV (SVK), 11-0 

#BeachWrestling

Beach Wrestling: Ukraine, U.S. best at U17 World Championships

By United World Wrestling Press

KATERINI, Greece (September 21) -- Ukraine and the United States emerged as the best teams at the Beach Wrestling World Championships at the U17 level in the men's and women's categories respectively.

The U17 and U20 World Championships was held in Katerini over eight weight classes in men's and women's categories. Ukraine won the men's part while the U.S. claimed the team title in women's despite not winning a gold medal in four weight classes.

Romania won two gold medals in the men's U17 with Lucian SOMANDRU (ROU) beating Christos XENAKIS (GRE), 3-0, in the 50kg final and Magor LORINCZ (ROU), who had finished ninth last year, dominated Yurii PYHULSKYI (UKR) in the 80kg, winning the gold medal 5-0.

The two other gold medals were won by Mirzakhan GASHYMOV (UKR) and Anri GOGUADZE (GEO) at 60kg and 70kg respectively.

Gashymov was the gold medalist as Ukraine swept the podium, winning the silver and bronze medals as well. He defeated Nazar VELINSKYI (UKR), 4-1, in the final.

Goguadze also faced compatriot Koba GOGUADZE (GEO) in the 70kg final and won the final via superiority.

Ukraine finished with 72 points to finish first with Romania second with 56 points. Georgia was third with 49 points.

The team title race was closer in women's as the U.S. finished first with 60 points with three silver medals. France, with two gold medals, managed to finish with 50 points and at the second spot. Ukraine was third with 39 points.

The 40kg weight class saw only two participants with Alexandra COVACI (ROU) beating Alina MACI (ROU), 3-1, in the final. Romania only got 25 team ranking points for the gold medal.

France won the gold medals at 60kg and 70kg. Thea ROUSSEL (FRA) defeated Kennedie SNOW (USA), 4-0, in the 60kg final to deny the U.S. a gold medal. A few minutes later, Lise LANDOUZY (FRA) defeated Piper ZATECHKA (USA), 3-0, in the 70kg final to give France a second gold.

The U.S. also had a finalist at 50kg but Reisa KOJIMA (JPN) dominated the final to beat Jayden KELLER (USA), 4-1, to win a gold medal for Japan as well.

RESULTS

U17 Men's BW

50kg
GOLD: Lucian SOMANDRU (ROU) df. Christos XENAKIS (GRE), 3-0

BRONZE: Stanislav DIACONU (MDA) df. Oleksandr KARA (UKR), 3-1

60kg
GOLD: Mirzakhan GASHYMOV (UKR) df. Nazar VELINSKYI (UKR), 4-1

BRONZE: Stepan MINCHEV (UKR) df. Benjamin GRAHAM (USA), via fall

70kg
GOLD: Anri GOGUADZE (GEO) df. Koba GOGUADZE (GEO), 4-1

BRONZE: Dmytro KURSENKO (UKR) df. Dmytro YEMETS (UKR), 3-2

80kg
GOLD: Magor LORINCZ (ROU) df. Yurii PYHULSKYI (UKR), 5-0

BRONZE: Charilaos CHAITIDIS (GRE) df. Andrii PAVLIUK (UKR), 4-2

U17 Women's BW

40kg
GOLD: Alexandra COVACI (ROU) df. Alina MACI (ROU), 3-1

50kg
GOLD: Reisa KOJIMA (JPN) df. Jayden KELLER (USA), 4-1

BRONZE: Oleksandra KARBOVSKA (UKR) df. Sarina GUNN (USA), 3-0

60kg
GOLD: Thea ROUSSEL (FRA) df. Kennedie SNOW (USA), 4-0

BRONZE: Georgia CHASAMPALIOTI (GRE) df. Alina SVIRKO (UKR), 4-2

70kg
GOLD: Lise LANDOUZY (FRA) df. Piper ZATECHKA (USA), 3-0

BRONZE: Sadie EVANS (USA) df. Anna NITSEVYCH (UKR), 4-0