2026 U23 European Championships

Sokolovska, Shauchuk Earn U23 European Golds

By Vinay Siwach

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 12) -- Senior European champion Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR), U20 world champion Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) and three former U20 European champs earned gold medals on Thursday at the U23 European Championships in Zrenjanin, Serbia.

Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) and Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) won close finals in 59kg and 50kg, respectively while Gerda TEREK (HUN) dominated her 55kg gold-medal bout.

Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR)Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR), right, celebrates after winning the 68kg final in Zrenjanin, Serbia. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Shauchuk, who won the 68kg gold medal at the European Championships last year, had a tough final against Alina SHEVCHENKO (RUS). She scored a stepout to open the scoring and then used a snap to score a takedown and lead 3-0. She used a trap-arm gut to turn Shevchenko twice and extend her lead to 7-0. Shevchenko scored a point for reversal.

In the second period, Shevchenko managed to score a takedown and turn to cut the lead to 7-5. She then got on another leg attack but Shauchuk pancaked her and scored two points to lead 9-5. A late stepout gave her the victory.

Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR)Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR), right, defeated Patrycja CUBER (POL) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 76kg, Sokolovska, who is trained in Greco-Roman, did not look in trouble at all as she defeated Patrycja CUBER (POL), 8-0, and win the gold medal. She now has the top medal at the U17, U20 and U23 continental levels.

Cuber could never get through the defense of Sokolovska who managed to score takedowns at regular intervals. With the silver medal, Cuber has now lost the finals at U17, U20 and U23 European Championships.

Kerymova gave Ukraine the second gold medal of the night as she won the final at 50kg. Wrestling Aleksandra KOPYLOVA (RUS) for the gold medal, Kerymova managed to scrape through a close 2-1 victory, thanks to an activity clock point and a stepout in the second period.

​Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE)​Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) scores the match-winning takedown during the 59kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Azerbaijan won the gold medal at 59kg when Hurbanova defended her tittle. She was called passive in the first period and gave up point to Marta HETMANAVA (BLR)Hetmanava but managed to score a takedown in the second period and led 2-1. She had to defend her lead for two minutes and 14 seconds to win the title.

Gerda TEREK (HUN)Gerda TEREK (HUN) turns Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE) using the leg-lace. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 55kg, Terek completed her dominant run with a 10-0 victory over Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE) in the final. This was her second victory via technical superiority while the other two via fall.

A stepout put Terek on board in the final before an activity clock point and another stepout made it 3-0. Terek soon sprung into action and scored a takedown before two turns via leg-lace to lead 9-0 at the break. She took only 12 seconds in the second period to score the one point needed for the technical superiority win

Carla JAUME (ESP)

Jaume, Vilk in Line for Historic Golds

Earlier in the day, Carla JAUME (ESP) and Veronika VILK (CRO), two bronze medalists from last year's U23 European Championships, created history for their respective countries by reaching the finals at 53kg and 76kg, respectively.

Jaume, Spain's first-ever world silver medalist for Spain in Women's Wrestling, became the first Spanish wrestler to reach the U23 European final. She defeated Ekaterina KARPUSHKINA (RUS), 8-5, at 53kg to achieve the feat.

Vilk reached the 76kg final for Croatia to become the country's first-ever U23 European finalist in Women's Wrestling. She pinned Daniela BRASNAROVA (BUL) to create history.

Vilk is the first Croatian wrestler to become a world champion in any level and style. She etched her name in history in 2022 when she won the U17 world title in Istanbul.

The two will now look to create further history on Friday when they wrestle in their respective finals. Jaume will take on Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) who pinned Nargiz SAMADOVA (AZE) in the other 53kg semifinal.

Vilk will face Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR) who survived late attacks from Greta TVERSKYTE (LTU) to win her 76kg semifinal 4-2.

In other weight classes, senior European bronze medalist and former U20 world champion Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) will take on defending champion and U23 world silver medalist Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (BLR) at 57kg.

Martynava and Filipovych dominated their semifinals, with the former pinning Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR). Filipovych blanked Amory ANDRICH (GER), 8-0, to enter the gold medal bout.

At 62kg, senior world bronze medalist Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) will look to win her first U23 Euro title after she reached the final. She defeated Naemi LEISTNER (GER), 11-0, to book her spot in the gold medal bout against Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) who needed a late stepout to beat Iris THIEBAUX (FRA), 3-3.

Ekaterina KOSHKINA (RUS) and Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR) both picked up falls in their semifinals and will face each other in a bid to win gold at 65kg. Koshkina pinned Maria PANTIRU (ROU) while Tsiarenia pinned Saga SVENSSON (SWE).

Photo

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) df. Aleksandra KOPYLOVA (RUS), 2-1

BRONZE: Svenja JUNGO (SUI) df. Ana ROTARU (ROU), 2-2
BRONZE: Sviatlana KATENKA (BLR) df. Zerda DEMIR (TUR), 7-2

55kg
GOLD: Gerda TEREK (HUN) df. Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE), 10-0

BRONZE: Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) df. Nesrin SYULEYMANOVA (BUL), 10-0
BRONZE: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. Valeryia MIKITSICH (BLR), 11-0

59kg
GOLD: Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) df. Marta HETMANAVA (BLR), 2-1

BRONZE: Olha PADOSHYK (POL) df. Sevim AKBAS (TUR), 5-3
BRONZE: Ana PUIU (ROU) df. Viktoria BOYNOVA (BUL), 13-3

68kg
GOLD: Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (RUS), 10-5

BRONZE: Karolina POK (HUN) df. Karolina DOMASZUK (POL), 4-1
BRONZE: Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) df. Ayse ERKAN (TUR), 4-2

76kg
GOLD: Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) df. Patrycja CUBER (POL), 8-0

BRONZE: Mariia SILINA (RUS) df. Vanesa GEORGIEVA (BUL), 2-0

Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) vs. Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR)

SF 1: Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) df. Nargiz SAMADOVA (AZE), via fall (4-2)
SF 2: Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) df. Ekaterina KARPUSHKINA (RUS), 8-5

57kg
GOLD: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) vs. Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (BLR)

SF 1: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) df. Amory ANDRICH (GER), 8-0
SF 2: Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (BLR) df. Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR), via fall

62kg
GOLD: Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) vs. Amina TANDELOVA (RUS)

SF 1:  Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Iris THIEBAUX (FRA), 3-3
SF 2: Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) df. Naemi LEISTNER (GER), 11-0

65kg
GOLD: Ekaterina KOSHKINA (RUS) vs. Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR)

SF 1: Ekaterina KOSHKINA (RUS) df. Maria PANTIRU (ROU), via fall (8-1)
SF 2: Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR) df. Saga SVENSSON (SWE), via fall (4-0)

72kg
GOLD: Veronika VILK (CRO) vs. Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR)

SF 1: Veronika VILK (CRO) df. Daniela BRASNAROVA (BUL), via fall (6-0)
SF 2: Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR) df. Greta TVERSKYTE (LTU), 4-2

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2026 Day 4 Results and Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 7) -- The fourth day of the Ranking Series in Zagreb will see the remaining four Women's Wrestling weight classes in action along with two Greco-Roman weight classes 77kg and 87kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

14:55: GR 87kg semifinals - Tamas LEVAI (HUN) gets a 2-1 win over Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) in the semifinals at 87kg to take a step closer to be part of the Hungarian team for the European Championships. But to confirm that, he has to beat Istvan TAKACS (HUN), who won the other semifinals after a desperate arm-throw for four to beat Matej MANDIC (CRO), 6-2.

14:40: GR 77kg semifinals - Ali OSKOU (IRI) with a beautiful throw from par terre to get a 5-0 lead before another turn makes it 7-0. He eventually beats Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO), 10-1, and advances to the 77kg final. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) will challenge the Iranian for the gold medal after the Hungarian defeated Abdullo ALIEV (UZB), 7-0, majorly using gut-wrenches.

14:25: 76kg semifinals - Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) with two stepouts and one point for activity clock to take a 3-0 lead against Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) before a lost challenge from Japan adds another point to her score and she wins 4-0. She will take on Tristan KELLY (USA) for the gold medal who scored a four-pointer with seven seconds remaining against PRIYA (IND) to claim a 4-4 criteria victory 

14:10: 72kg semifinals - Buse TOSUN (TUR) is into the final at 72kg after a close 2-2 criteria win over Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN). She was down 2-1 but dragged the Japanese out of bounds to take the criteria and the win. For the gold medal, she will take on Diksha MALIK (IND) who posted a 4-2 win over Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW).

13:55: 57kg semifinals - MANISHA (IND) makes it to the final at 57kg with rather ease, beating Amory ANDRICH (GER), 11-0. She will test herself against Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) in the gold medal bout after the Japanese defeated Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) via fall

13:45: 53kg semifinals - U20 world champion Everest LEYDECKER (USA) takes out world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) 2-2. She scored a takedown in the first period and then defended that score. However, Antim managed to score a stepout alongwith a point for fleeing from Leydecker. With the score 2-2, Leydecker kept the criteria for a bigger technique and won. She will take on Roksana ZASINA (POL) for the gold medal who defeated Annika WENDLE (GER), 8-4, in the other semifinals.

13:15: Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) gets two rolls from par terre and then defends to beat Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ) and move into the semifinals at 77kg.

12:50: Almost five years after they met in the 2021 U17 World Championships, Katie GOMEZ (USA) and ANTIM (IND) meet again on the mat in Zagreb. Antim gets the first takedown an also point for activity clock. Antim extends her lead to 5-0 with another takedown before the break. Constant pressure from Antim and gets two more takedowns to lead 9-0. Antim finishes with an exposure and wins 11-0, avenging that loss from Budapest against Gomez, who went on to win the gold there.

12:35: Everest LEYDECKER (USA), U20 world champion and competing at her first senior international tournament, begins with an 11-0 victory over Anjali KACHHAWA (IND) at 53kg.

12:20: Priya PRIYA (IND), who finished fifth at the World Championships, pins Enrica RINALDI (ITA) at 76kg and moves into the semifinals.

12:05: Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE) drops her 72kg bout against Buse TOSUN (TUR), 2-0. Both activity clock points and then Tosun is solid in defense to post the victory

11:50: In an all Hungarian battle perhaps for the European Championships selection, Robert FRITSCH (HUN) gets the better of Levente LEVAI (HUN), 4-1, at 77kg. A turn from par terre for Fritsch in that win.

11:45: Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) gets the par terre and wastes no time in getting Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) two reverse bodylock throws and two and four points respectively. He then gets a takedown to win the bout via technical superiority at 77kg

11:40: After a longish battle and review, Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) gets a 15-11 victory over Sydney PETZINGER (USA) at 53kg. 

11:25: Giullia PENALBER (BRA) with a dominant win on U23 world champion Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) at 57kg. Aliyeva never got going and Penalber led 14-4 before getting the fall

11:15: Asian champion at 62kg MASNISHA (IND) has moved down to 57kg. She faces Tindra DALMYR (SWE) in her opening bout and begins well to score a takedown. Dalmyr gets a four-pointer but Manisha controls the rest of the bout and wins 9-4

11:10: Amory ANDRICH (GER) gets a fall over Samantha STEWART (CAN) at 57kg. Stewart has been adjusting to the 57kg weight class but Andrich made short work of Stewart

10:45: Couple of quick results from Greco-Roman. First up is Levente Levai (HUN), European champion at 72kg and now at 77kg, with a 3-0 victory against Mohamed Khalil (EGY). And Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) holding on for a 3-2 victory against Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) at 77kg

10:30: Another day in the and we will see more wrestlers trying to adjust to the Olympic weight classes.