#WrestleRome

Sadulaev Leads Group of Four Russians into Saturday's European Finals

By Eric Olanowski

ROME, Italy (February 13) --- The Russian Federation, led by Abdulrashid SADUALEV (RUS), posted a 13-1 record on the opening day of freestyle wrestling and inserted four of five wrestlers into Saturday night's European finals. 

Sadulaev extended his European win streak to 21 consecutive matches after bringing an unblemished 17-0 record into Rome. 

The four-time world champion and Rio Olympic gold medalist picked up top-ten wins over No. 4 Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) and No. 6 Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), and also had his hand raised against Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR) and Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE). 

Sadulaev started his day with an 8-2 win over reigning world bronze medalist Nurov. Despite picking up the 8-2 win, he got lateral dropped for two points in the opening period and trailed 2-0.

Sadualev survived another scare in his second match when Bolukbasi locked up a cradle and nearly pinned him. He fought off his back and scored nine unanswered points, winning the match, 9-4. 

In the quarterfinals, he defeated Nurmagomed Gadzhiev, 10-4, in a rematch of last year’s European Games finals. 

In the semifinals, Sadulaev ousted sixth-ranked Odikaze, 6-0. He took Odikadze down three times in the first period and led 6-0 after the opening three minutes of the match. He moved into the European finals for the sixth time after a scoreless second period.

He’ll square off with Olympic bronze medalist Albert SARITOV (ROU) in the 97kg gold-medal match. Saritov slammed Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER), 10-0, and will wrestle for European gold for the first time in his career. 

Azamat TUSKAEV (RUS) was one of four Russian wrestlers who reached the European finals with wins on Friday night (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Azamat TUSKAEV (RUS), Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS) and Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS) are the three other Russians who’ll join Sadualev in gold-medal matches on Saturday night. 

Tuskaev defeated Horst LEHR (GER), 5-4, in the semifinals and will take on defending champion Suleyman ATLI (TUR) in the finals. The Russian led Lehr 4-0 in their semifinals match, and though he was outscored 4-1 in the final period, he hung on to win, 5-4.

Tuskaev’s final opponent, Atli, won three matches and is one win away from defending his European crown from last year. Atli defeated No. 3 Stevan MICIC (SRB), 7-5, in the opening round. He tossed Micic to his back with a massive four-point throw and scored a second consecutive win over the Serbian Olympian and “2020 History Maker of the Year” award winner. He also beat Micic in the semifinals at the 2019 World Championships.

In his second match, Atli cruised to a 7-1 win over two-time European medalist Andrei DUKOV (ROU), who knocked off ninth-ranked Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA), 4-4, in his opening-round match. 

Atli wrestled Mihran JABURYAN (ARM) in the semifinals and reached the finals with a 6-3 win over the Armenian. 

Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS) looks to finish on shot on Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) in the 65kg semifinals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

At 65kg, 20-year-old ring star Kurban Shiraev carried over his hot streak from the Ivan Yariguin and made it to the European finals in his senior-level continental debut.

Shiraev, who defeated Rio Olympic champion Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) in the Yariguin finals, tallied four takedowns and stepout against Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) and inserted himself into the finals with a 9-2 win. 

He’ll compete against Niurgun SKRIABIN (BLR) in the 65kg gold-medal match. 

Skriabin scorched fourth-ranked Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), 10-0, in their quarterfinals meeting. Then, in the semifinals, Skriabin upended Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE), who was fresh off a 7-0 opening round thumping of Rio Olympic champion Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO).

Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS) finishes a shot on two-time world runner-up Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) in the 79kg semifinals. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

Magomed Ramazanov reached the 79kg European finals in his continental debut. He capped off his day with a win over reigning two-time world silver medalist Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE). Ramazanov stopped the Rio Olympic bronze medalist from reaching the European finals for the seventh time in his career with a 4-2 win. 

Ramazanov and Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) will wrestle for the 79kg gold medal. Kadzimahamedau efficiently handled Dzhemal ALI (BUL), 10-1, in their semifinals meeting.


Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) will wrestle in his fifth European finals. He'll take on Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) in the 70kg finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Mustafayev and Gadzhiev to Wrestle for the 70kg Gold 
The lone finals match on Saturday night that won’t feature a Russian wrestler will be the 70kg gold-medal match. 

Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) moved pasted Mihail SAVA (MDA) and will meet fourth-ranked Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) in the gold-medal match.

Mustafayev, a returning European finalist, outscored Fati VEJSELI (MKD) and Haydar YAVUZ (TUR), 12-0, and reached the semifinals. He picked up the 5-2 win over Sava and will look to improve on his runner-up finish from a year ago. 

Gadzhiev, a reigning world bronze medalist, outscored Mirza SKHULUKHIA (GEO), 4-0, in the final 90 seconds of the pair's ultra-physical semifinals bout and claimed the 4-1 victory. He’ll wrestle in the European finals for the fifth time in his career. Gadzhiev is 1-4 in European finals and is hoping to reach the top of the podium for the first time since 2016.  

Gadzhiev European Finals Appearances 
2010 European Championships – Silver 
2015 European Games – Silver
2016 European Championships – Gold 
2017 European Championships – Silver 
2018 European Championships – Silver 

Saturday’s freestyle finals being at 18:00 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

RESULTS 
57kg
GOLD - Azamat TUSKAEV (RUS) vs. Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Azamat TUSKAEV (RUS) df. Horst Justin Junior LEHR (GER), 5-4
SEMIFINAL - Suleyman ATLI (TUR) df. Mihran JABURYAN (ARM), 6-3 

65kg 
GOLD - Niurgun SKRIABIN (BLR) vs. Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Niurgun SKRIABIN (BLR) df. Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE), 5-1 
SEMIFINAL - Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS) df. Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR), 9-1 

70kg
GOLD - Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) vs. Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL)
SEMIFINAL - Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) df. Mihail SAVA (MDA), 5-2
SEMIFINAL - Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) df. Mirza SKHULUKHIA (GEO), 4-1 

79kg
GOLD - Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) vs. Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) df. Dzhemal Rushen ALI (BUL), 10-1 
SEMIFINAL - Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS) df. Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE), 4-2 

97kg
GOLD - Albert SARITOV (ROU) vs. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Albert SARITOV (ROU) df. Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER), 10-0 
SEMIFINAL - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df.  Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), 6-0

#wrestlebishkek

India, DPR Korea and China top nations at Asian Olympic qualifier

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 20) -- Asian OG Qualifier enters its second day with Women's Wrestling in six Olympic weight classes. 12 Olympic quotas will be awarded for Paris 2024.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | FREESTYLE REPORT

76 wrap: World U23 champion REETIKA (IND) gives India its third win of the night with an untroubled 7-0 victory over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE). Reetika scores a pair of takedowns by spinning to the side off a front headlock, then adds a stepout for a 5-0 lead. It is much the same tactic in the second period to add another takedown to the tally as she keeps Chang at bay and is content to run out the clock in her fourth match of the day.

China won its third quota as well with Juan WANG (CHN) defeating Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) 6-1 in the semifinal. Bakbergenova got on board first as for Wang's passivity but was put on the activity clock in the second period and she failed to score to give Wang a 1-1 criteria lead. Wang held on to that lead till the final 10 seconds when she made a desperate attempt and Wang circled and pulled off a suplex for four. Kazakhstan challenged the call but lost giving one more point to Wang.

68kg wrap: Hosts Kyrgyzstan gets its third Paris 2024 quota as former world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) holds on to a 7-3 win over Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB). 

Sol Gum PAK (PRK) pulls off a thrilling 7-4 victory over three-time Asian Games champion and two-time Olympian Feng ZHOU (CHN) to give the DPR Korea its third win in four matches. Pak, who needed to beat Olympic bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) in her final round-robin group match to make the qualifying match, opens with a takedown, but the lanky Zhou comes back with a counter lift from a front body lock to lead 2-2 on criteria at the break. In the second period, Pak goes ahead with a single-leg takedown from an underhook. As the clock ticks down, Zhou secures a front headlock and tries to muscle Pak over. Pak stops the throw for a moment to get a 2-point exposure before Zhou completes the roll. An unsuccessful challenge upholds Pak's exposure.

62kg wrap: Former world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) proves too much for unheralded Hanbit LEE (KOR), scoring a fall for a victory that puts her back in the Olympics for the first time since 2016. Purevdorj, who won her lone Asian gold in Bishkek in 2018, uses a single for a takedown, then applies an arm bar and plies her opponent over for the fall in 1:57.

Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) wins a second wrestling quota for the DPR Korea with a controlled 6-2 win over MANSI (IND). Mun used three takedowns against an agile Mansi who could have won India's third quota of the night.

57kg wrap: Zagreb Open champion Kexin HONG (CHN) pulls off a miracle comeback and avenges a loss at last October's Asian Games to In Sun JONG (PRK), storming back from an eight-point deficit to not only tie the match, but secure a fall and the ticket to Paris. Jong opened the match with a single-leg takedown, then put on a fine display of counter wrestling with consecutive counter-lifts to make it 6-0, then another to take an 8-0 lead into the break. But Hong got behind when Jong shot right off the whistle in the second period and added a lace-lock roll to cut the gap to 8-4. Hong then works out of a deep single for a takedown, flips Jong onto her back and secures the fall at 4:36. Jong had beaten Hong 4-2 in the Asian Games semifinals.

India gets its second quota of the night and third overall as ANSHU (IND) uses gut wrench to beat the 2023 Asian Championships silver medalist Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) 11-0 inside the first period. She won 10-0 but Uzbekistan was challenged as the last roll was not exposure but a review confirmed the two points.

53kg wrap: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) puts the DPR Korea in the Paris Olympics. She wins the first wrestling quota for the country with a 4-0 win over Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ). Choe scored a takedown in the first period and tried holding that lead till the end. Eshimova, who needed a takedown to win, made a desperate attempt but Choe countered for another two points and the win.

Tokyo Olympics silver medalist and two-time world bronze medalist PANG Qianyu (CHN) earned her ticket to Paris after cruising to a 10-0 victory over Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB). Pang forces her way behind for an opening takedown, then gets a 2-point tilt and a pair of gut wrenches for an 8-0 lead. In the second period, Pang eludes a single-leg attempt and spins behind for a takedown that ends the match.

50kg wrap: Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) becomes the first woman in Uzbekistan history to clinch a spot in the Olympics when she hangs on desperately to a 4-2 victory over Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE).  Keunimjaeva takes a 3-0 lead with a single-leg takedown with Hsieh on the activity clock, but a late shot at another is countered, and Hsieh slips behind for 2 with five seconds left in the first period. Keunimjaeva, who takes a timeout for treatment on her knee, keeps shooting in the second period, and although she can't finish them off, she eats away at precious time. After a late shot in the final seconds, Hsieh tries to slip away, but Keumjaeva clings onto the toes for dear life and gets the win. A challenge is unsuccessful. It is a reverse of their meeting at the 2021 Asian Olympic Qualifier at 53kg, which Hsieh won 16-8, although neither wrestler ended up qualifying.

VINESH (IND) wins the second quota for India for the Paris Games. Down at 50kg from her favored 53kg, she rolls to a 10-0 win over Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ). Leading 4-0 into the second period, Vinesh scored a takedown and then used two gut wrenches to finish the bout.

Here's the schedule for the Paris Qualification bouts

50kg
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) vs. Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE)
VINESH (IND) vs. Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ)

53kg
Qianyu PANG (CHN) vs. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)
Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) vs. Hyogyong CHOE (PRK)

57kg
Kexin HONG (CHN) vs. In Sun JONG (PRK)
Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) vs. ANSHU (IND)

62kg
Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) vs. Hanbit LEE (KOR)
Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) vs. MANSI (IND)

68kg
Feng ZHOU (CHN) vs. Sol Gum PAK (PRK)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) vs. Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB)

76kg
REETIKA (IND) vs. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs. Juan WANG (CHN)

12:25: Sol Gum PAK (PRK) stuns Olympic bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) 6-2 in their final group match at 62kg to advance at the expense of NISHA (IND) after all three finished 2-1. Pak leads 2-0 when Zhumanazarova goes ahead in the second period with a takedown. Pak works out from the bottom and grabs a leg, then slips out of a whizzer throw for a takedown and a 4-2 lead. She counters a late takedown for her final points. Zhumanazarova still topped the group, while Pak advanced despite losing to Nisha in the first round of matches.

12:20: REETIKA (IND) hangs on for a 9-6 win over Juan WANG (CHN) in the final Group bout at 76kg. Wang was cautioned for fleeing twice as Reetika scored stepouts. The Indian got a four-pointer to lead 8-0 at the break. Wang began her comeback with a takedown. She scored another in the 10 seconds, and added a gut but before she could tie it 8-8, the time ran out. China challenged but lost giving Reetika another point. Reetika tops the group and will face Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE).

12:15: Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) wins a 6-4 thriller at 53kg over Aizhan SABYRBEK KYZY (KGZ). Down 2-0, Akhmedova scores a takedown, then in a scramble, gives up a 2-point exposure before getting one herself with 49 seconds left. That puts her ahead 4-4 on criteria, and she fights off a fierce attack, scoring a consolation takedown in the final seconds.

12:05: Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN) hangs on in a nail-biter for a 5-2 victory over a feisty Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) to make the qualifying match at 53kg. Pang is ahead 2-0 on a pair of stepouts when she pads the lead to 4-0 with a spin-behind takedown. With time running out, Batkhuyag works for a big move, and nearly gets it with a back trip for 2. She lifts Pang's legs and turns her over, but it comes after time expires. An unsuccessful challenge gives Pang her fifth point.

12:01: NISHA (IND) looks to have clinched second place in her 68kg group with a 10-0 victory over Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ).

11:53: Asian Games bronze medalist Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) continues her dramatic tournament at 50kg, scoring a 2-point counter on a deep takedown attempt by Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE) in the last 20 seconds to clinch a 3-1 victory and advance to the Olympic qualifying match.

11:49: Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ), the Grand Dame of 53kg, hangs on for a 2-1 victory over Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE) to advance to the Olympic qualifying match. The 36-year-old Eshimova, whose collection of Asian medals dates back to 2007, will be aiming to make her third Olympics, having appeared at London 2012 and Rio 2016. 

11:45: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) limps but that is after she has pinned Nethmi AHINSA (SRI) to enter the 53kg semifinal. Can Choe win the first Paris 2024 wrestling quota for the DPR Korea

11:44: Asian Games bronze medalist Juan WANG (CHN) takes a 2-0 lead against Eunju HWANG (KOR) in the second period, where she scores a takedown and three gut wrenches for a 10-0 victory at 76kg. She is 2-0 in her group with one match to go.

11:41: VINESH (IND) is too good for Samnang DIT (CAM) as the Indian pins her inside the first minute to enter the 50kg semifinals. She is now one win away from winning the Paris 2024 quota.

11:36: Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) virtually assures she will be fighting for a ticket to Paris tonight when she defeats NISHA (IND) for her second fall in two matches in her 68kg round-robin group.

11:33: In a battle of world U23 bronze medalists from the past two years, MANSI (IND) scores a takedown with 1:12 left for a 6-4 come-from-behind victory over Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) at 62kg.

11:32: U23 world champion REETIKA (IND) controls her Round 2 bout against Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) at 76kg throughout and wins 11-0.

11:27: Asian Games champion Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK), leading 4-0, opens the second period with a headlock takedown to the back of Tokyo Olympian Jia LONG (CHN), the 2023 Asian gold medalist at 65kg. It takes a while, but eventually, Mun records the fall.  

11:25: Asian Games champion Feng ZHOU (CHN) with another strong performance. She uses the ever-reliable gut wrench to win 10-0 against Ohyoung HA (KOR).

11:22: Former world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), looking to get back to the Olympics after placing 7th at Rio 2016, moves one win away at 62kg by posting a 13-2 rout of Gulmira AITMURATOVA (UZB).

11:20: Tokyo Olympian ANSHU (IND), the 2021 world silver medalist, completes her third 4-point takedown-roll combination at the first-period buzzer to oust Kalmira BILIMBEKOVA (KGZ) 12-1 at 57kg

11:14: Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) scores a shocking 7-7 victory on criteria at 50kg over Son Hyang KIM (PRK), the Asian Games silver medalist and a 2017 world bronze medalist,  with the winning point coming on a fingers-grabbing penalty in the final seconds that was awarded on the challenge. Kim was leading 6-2 when she gave up a 4-point counter lift with 12 seconds left, but went ahead by getting behind for a 1-point reversal with :07 on the clock.

11:02: Veteran Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) sees her bid to make a third Olympics -- she appeared at Beijing 2008 and London 2014 -- are all but ended when she is dealt a 10-0 loss to Sol Gum PAK (PRK) for her second loss in her 68kg round-robin group.

11:02: Asian Games bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) goes out the back door and lifts up and back for 4, part of a comprehensive 11-0 victory over Emma TISSINA (KAZ) at 57kg.

11:00: Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) gets Youngjin KWON (KOR) in a strangle for a pin but Kwon survives. Sobiraova, an Asian silver medalist, finishes with a 12-2 win at 57kg

10:59: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL), the 2022 world silver medalist, begins her campaign at 53kg with an 8-6 victory over Seoyoung PARK (KOR), who scores all of her points in the final 10 seconds. Next up for Batkhuyag is Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN).

10:56: Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ) wins a wild one at 50kg over Vatansulton SHAKARSHOEVA (TJK), taking the big point-filled match 12-7.

10:52: REETIKA (IND) begins her senior debut at 76kg with a 10-0 hammering of Eunju HWANG (KOR). That is followed with another Indian-Korea bout and Vinesh, who has moved down to 50kg as India already has the 53kg quota, rolls to a 10-0 win over Miran CHEON (KOR).

10:49: In a round-robin group match at 76kg, Asian Games bronze medalist Juan WANG (CHN) breaks open a 1-1 match with a takedown and two rolls in the second period for a 7-2 win over 2023 world 72kg silver medalist Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL). There's a good chance they could meet again for the Paris quota.

10:40: Feng ZHOU (CHN) rolls to an 11-0 win over Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB) at 68kg. Total dominance from Zhou. In the same weight class, NISHA (IND) beats Sol Gum PAK (PRK) 7-3 and wins the Round 1 bout.

10:35: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) with a bright start for the local fans in Bishkek with a technical superiority win over Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) at 68kg. This was a Round 1 bout which means that Shalygina can still make it to the semifinal.

10:30: 12 Paris Olympic quotas in Women's Wrestling on offer here in Bishkek. Japan already has all six so none of the Japanese are competing