U23 World C'ships

Semenov Avenges 2015 Loss, Kawana and Emelin Deliver Fireworks

By Taylor Miller

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland - Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) won his fifth World championship on Wednesday night at the U23 World Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Semenov knocked off three-time Junior World champion and two-time Cadet World champion Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) in the 130 kg finals. Pataridze led 3-3 on criteria at the break but was hit with caution and two, giving Semenov the advantage and eventually the win.

The two have history as Pataridze kept Semenov from winning three Junior World titles, defeating him in the 2015 Junior World finals.

At 59 kg, Masuto KAWANA (JPN) defeated Sergey EMELIN (RUS) in a high-flying match that featured four lead changes and 29 points scored.

24 of those points came in the second period, which was full of gut wrenches, head locks, throws and challenges. A late second-period feet-to-back move from Masuto gave him the advantage that he was able to hold onto in the final seconds despite a hard-fighting Russian.

Kawana won the bout, 15-14.

2016 Olympic bronze medalist and 2014 Junior World champion Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) pulled out a 2-0 win over 2017 Russian Championships bronze winner Alen MIRZOIAN (RUS) in the 66 kg gold-medal match. The bout consisted of two passivity points, which were in favor of the Georgian.

At 80 kg, Burhan AKBUDAK (Turkey) knocked off 2015 World silver medalist Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) with a 2-1 win. Akbudak, a 2015 Junior World silver medalist, was awarded two second-period passivity points en route to his first World title.

Greco-Roman final results
59 kg
Gold - Masuto KAWANA (JPN) dec. Sergey EMELIN (RUS), 15-14
Bronze - Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) tech. fall Avgustin Boyanov SPASOV (BUL), 8-0
Bronze - Sakit GULIYEV (AZE) tech. fall Przemyslaw PIATEK (POL), 8-0

66 kg
Gold - Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) vs. Alen MIRZOIAN (RUS), 2-0
Bronze - Amin Yavar KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) dec. Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ), 5-1
Bronze - Gaoquan ZHANG (CHN) dec. Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL), 2-1

80 kg
Gold - Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) dec. Lasha GOBADZE (GEO), 2-1
Bronze - Rosian Ognyanov DERMANSKI (BUL) dec. Stanislau SHAFARENKA (BLR), 3-2
Bronze - Andrii ANTONIUK (UKR) dec. Alex Michel BJURBERG KESSIDIS (SWE), 6-1

130 kg
Gold - Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) dec. Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO), 5-3
Bronze - Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) dec. Amin Mohammadzaman MIRZAZADEH (IRI), 3-1
Bronze - Jello KRAHMER (GER) dec. Arata SONODA (JPN), 3-1

 

#WrestleTirana

European Championships 2026 Freestyle Draws & Brackets: Watch Live, Schedule & Results

By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (April 23) -- The Freestyle action at the European Championships 2026 will begin on Friday in Tirana, Albania. The brackets for the same were drawn on Thursday.

European Wrestling Championships 2026 Schedule

The European Championships will be wrestled over seven day from April 20 to April 26 with Greco-Roman kicking off the event, followed by Women's Wrestling and then Freestyle. On Friday, five Freestyle weights classes will be in action and the remaining five on Saturday.

UWW Plus

April 24, Friday

Women's Wrestling Repechage: 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, 72kg - 10:30 hours
Freestyle Qualification Rounds: 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg - 10:30 hours
Freestyle Semifinals: 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg - 16:45 hours
Women's Wrestling Finals: 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, 72kg - 18:00 hours

April 25, Saturday

Freestyle Repechage: 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg - 10:30 hours
Freestyle Qualification Rounds: 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, 125kg - 10:30 hours
Freestyle Semifinals: 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, 125kg - 16:45 hours
Freestyle Finals: 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg - 18:00 hours

April 26, Sunday

Freestyle Repechage: 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, 125kg - 15:00 hours onwards
Freestyle Finals: 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, 125kg - 17:00 hours onwards

European Wrestling Championships Freestyle Preview | Download Wrestling Photos

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