#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 

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open 2026 Day 2 Results & Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 5) -- The second day of the Ulaanbaatar Open will feature three Greco-Roman and five Women's Wrestling weight classes. Iran, Bulgaria and India won two Greco-Roman gold medals each on day one of the competition.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

Semifinals with Greco-Roman

12:40: Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) stuns Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) in Round 3 at 63kg! Sharshenbekov did not score from par terre in the first period. On the other hand, Keshtkar scored an exposure from par terre to lead 3-1 and Sharshenbekov committed a defensive foul to give two more points to Keshtkar which Iran got only after a challenge. As the bout restarted in par terre, Keshtkar lifted Sharshenbekov and threw him for two points while the Kyrgyzstan wrestler committed a leg foul. Kyrgyzstan challenged for no foul but lost it and Keshtkar got another point, taking his score to 10-1.

12:30: Solid match between European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) and MUSKAN (IND). Ana with a takedown and then two trap arm guts to lead 6-0. Muskan got one back and scored a takedown to make it 6-2. But Ana scored another takedown before the break to lead 8-2. Both kept exchange takedowns in the second period but Ana managed to keep her lead at 10-6 with 1:33 left. She then scored a stepout and three different takedown to complete her victory.

12:15: MEENAKSHI (IND) is no match for world champion Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) who gets a 10-0 victory in just over a minute. She scores a takedown and lace to lead 6-0 before scoring another counter takedown and a roll for four more points.

12:10: World silver medalist Il Sim SON (PRK) begins with a 11-0 victory over Danielle LIM (SGP) at 57kg. She needed only a minute and 36 seconds to roll Lim

11:45: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) secures his places in the semifinals with Round 2 victory over Sunny KUMAR (IND). Sharshenbekov did not score from par terre but managed to bring down Kumar for four points using a body lock. He then defended par terre in the second period to complete the win at 63kg

11:35: All-Iranian bout at 63kg in Round 2 between Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) and Erfan JARKANI (IRI). Keshtkar gets the first par terre and he lifts Jarkani, tosses him for four points. Jarkani cannot do the same when he gets the par terre in the second period. He challenges for something not evident but loses it and Keshtkar leads 6-1. Jarkani gets a point for Keshtkar's foul but the latter wins 6-2. The win also confirms Keshtkar's spot on the Iran team for the 2026 World Championships

11:20: World champion at 55kg, Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) was a little rusty in the first period against Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) at 53kg. She tripped the Mongolian for a four-pointer but also gave up for four on a cutback. However, she switches gears in the second period and rolls to a 14-4 victory.

11:05: European silver medalist Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) with a fall in Round 1 of the Nordic bracket at 72kg against HARSHITA (IND). Choler led 4-0 before countering a deep attack from the Indian and sticking her to the mat for the fall.

10:55: Out comes the lace from Pyol HONG (PRK) against Enkhtuvshin BALJINNYAM (MGL) and she rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority win at 59kg.

10:52: Bediha GUN (TUR) scored the opening takedown in her Round 1 bout against Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) at 59kg. But the Mongolia uses an arm-bar to secure the fall over Gun in the second period.

10:45: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) returns to the mat for close to two years and begins with a win. In his 63kg Round 1 bout, Sharshenbekov was up against Erfan JARKANI (IRI) and holds off the Iranian 1-1 on first-point criteria. Jarkani was given par terre twice in the second period, one with 30 seconds remaining, but Sharshenbekov defended both times. Since it's a Nordic bracket, the two can face each other again in the final.

10:30: Ulaanbaatar Open will enter the second day with five Women's Wresting weight classes and the remaining three Greco-Roman weights. Here are the results from day one of the tournament.