Stadnik Thrives in Return; Akgul Wins 8th Euro Title

Wednesday, April 21, 2021 - 20:42 By Vinay Siwach

WARSAW, Poland (April 21) -- After 581 days off the mat, Maria STADNIK (AZE) began where she left in Nursultan. If the World Championships in 2019 were a display of her strength, she put on a show of her speed on Wednesday to reach the final of the European Championships in Warsaw.

Stadnik looked as good as ever and showed why she remains the top wrestler in the continent as she set up the '19 European gold-medal rematch against Miglena SELISHKA (BUL).

Russia sent four of their wrestlers to the finals as women's wrestling began at the spectator-less Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa COS Torwar stadium in Warsaw on Wednesday.

Stadnik began her day against world bronze medalist Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS) and while it looked like a tough bout on paper, the world champion did not think so. She got a point for Poleshchuk's inactivity and later a takedown to lead 3-0. A double for four points gave her a 7-0 lead before she finished with a counter to win, 11-0.

The two semifinals at 50kg went back-and-forth before the winners prevailed. The first semifinal proved to be more challenging for Stadnik as Oksana LIVACH (UKR) kept coming at her until the end. After securing four points early in the first period, Livach got Stadnik in a headlock and threw her for a four. A stepout helped Stadnik regain her lead.

In the second period, Stadnik scored a point for stepout to lead 6-4 but Livach made a desperate attempt at the end. Stadnik was quick to counter for a takedown and a gut wrench to win, 10-4, and reach the final.

Selishka needed a last-second takedown and a challenge to beat Emilia BUDEANU (MDA), 3-3, and reach her second consecutive Euro final. Trailing 3-1, she scored via a go behind with Budeanu's knee touching the mat for a split second. The referees did not score the scramble but a challenge from Bulgaria's corner saved the day for Selishka 3-3 on criteria.

She will be aiming to defend her title on Thursday which she won in Stadnik's absence last year in Rome.

But another defending champion was not so lucky with criteria. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) suffered a shocking 4-4 loss in the 59kg semifinal against Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS). Nichita was the favourite to win the gold medal in Warsaw and was well on course until the Russian roadblock.

The Tokyo Olympian was leading 3-2 when Chumikova launched a double on her. Despite a cartwheeling effort from Nichita, Chumikova was awarded four points while two were given to Nichita.

A challenge from Nichita saw the score being reversed to 4-4 with Chumikova holding criteria as she had four points via two takedowns. With :46 remaining on the clock, Chumikova managed to hold off Nichita and reach her first European final.

The Russian will be up agaisnt the silver medalist from last year Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL). In the semifinal, Dudova completed a 2-1 win over Yuliya PISARENKA (BLR) with all three points coming for passivity.

Nichita had earlier ended the hopes of Grace BULLEN (NOR) becoming a European champion for the third time with a 7-0 win. Dominating the quarterfinal, Nichita gave Bullen no chance to score. With Nichita's loss later in the day, Bullen won't be able to compete in the repechage as well.

Warsaw saw more young talent reaching the finals as Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) and Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) set up the summit clash at 68kg. The France wrestler could not have asked for a better day as she won her two bouts via fall and technical superiority, respectively.

Thursday's final will be a rematch from the European Olympic Qualifier event in Budapest last month. For the record, Velieva had forfeited the final in Budapest citing injury but the defending champion at Euros will in all likelihood try to keep her gold with her.

At 76kg, two-time Olympic medalist Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) defeated Aline FOCKEN (GER) and Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) in consecutive bouts to reach the final of 76kg. She will take on world bronze medalist Epp MAEE (EST) on Thursday.

At 55kg, Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) made it to the final at 55kg where she will wrestle local wrestler Roksana ZASINA (POL).

Salkazanov ends dream run with gold

Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) capped off his dream run in Warsaw with a gold medal at 74kg. Wrestling at his second European Championships, Salkazanov entered the final after coming out from the lower side of the brack which had two world champions and a silver medalist.

Salkazanov had scored three come-from-behind victories coming into the final on Wednesday but it was a one-sided affair against Miroslav KIROV (BUL) as he won 10-0 to capture the gold medal.

On Tuesday, the Slovak defeated Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), 6-2, before erasing a five-point deficit in the quarterfinal against Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) to win 6-5. He then defeated the Individual World Cup champion Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) with an identical score in the semifinal.

Surprisingly, Salkazanov is yet to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo as he finished 13th in Budapest last month. The World Olympic Qualifier in Sofia, Bulgaria can see him fulfill his dream.

Salkazanov Slovakia European Championships 2021

The two bronze medals at 74kg went to Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR) and Chamizo. Finsilver cruised to a 4-0 victory over Valentin BORZIN (MDA) to capture the bronze medal, Israel’s first freestyle European medal in the last 30 years. The last wrestler from Israel to medal at the European Championships was Maxim GELLER (ISR), who finished in second place at the 1991 European Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.

In a rematch of the Individual World Cup final in Belgrade, Serbia last year, Chamizo avenged his loss with a 5-1 win over Zhamalov. Putting up a defensive masterclass, Chamizo did not let the Russian score from any position despite being in trouble a couple of times.

He scored his points via two pushouts, a double leg and a penalty to Zhamalov for stopping the action, citing a shoulder injury. He was visibly in trouble with his shoulder but continued to wrestle despite his coach asking him to stop.

While Salkazanov captured his first title, veteran wrestler at 125kg Taha Akgul won his eighth European title in the last 11 years. In a final that saw Sergei KOZYREV (RUS) being cautioned out, Akgul looked a fitter, better version of himself at the surgery which kept him out for close to two years.

"I am really happy to comeback after the injury and beat the top four wrestlers to win the gold. It's very positive and motivating," Akgul, the Rio gold medalist, said after the final. "I will decide with my coaches where we will compete again. We are just months away from the Olympics and there is not much time."

Taha Akgul European Championships

Coming into the Championships, Akgul's biggest rival was '19 world champion Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), who he met in the first round. Akgul's sharpness and speed were too much for Petriashvili as he won, 6-1. Akgul then easily made it past Kamil Tomasz KOSCIOLEK (POL) and Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR).

Petriashvili returned to win the bronze medal after he defeated Khramianku (BLR) in a closely contested bronze medal bout. The Georgian won, 12-9. The second bronze went to Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR) as he defeated Daniel LIGETI (HUN) 5-0.

Russia captured three gold medals on the final day for freestyle. Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) was the first champion of the day as he rolled over Andrii DZHELEP (UKR) for a 12-2 win at 61kg.

The two bronze medals at this weight were won by Eduard GRIGOREV (POL) as he defeated Georgi VANGELOV (BUL). The second medal was captured by world champion Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) after a thriller against Akhmednabi GVARZATILOV (AZE) which he won 9-7.

Russia's two other gold medals came via Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) and Magomed Guseynovitch KURBANOV (RUS) at 86kg and 92kg, respectively.

The six gold medals in Warsaw helped Russia win the team title while Ukraine and Azerbaijan finished in second and third, respectively.

Freestyle Results (Day 3 Photo Gallery)

61kg
GOLD - Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Andrii DZHELEP (UKR), 12-2

BRONZE - Eduard GRIGOREV (POL) df. Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL) , 4-2
BRONZE - Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) df. Akhmednabi GVARZATILOV (AZE) , 9-7

74kg
GOLD - Tajmuraz Mairbekovic SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Miroslav Stefanov KIROV (BUL), 10-0

BRONZE - Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) df. Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS), 5-1
BRONZE - Mitchell Louis FINESILVER (ISR) df. Valentin BORZIN (MDA), 4-0

86kg
GOLD - Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) df. Sandro AMINASHVILI (GEO)

BRONZE - Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR) df. Boris MAKOEV (SVK), 6-4
BRONZE - Ali SHABANAU (BLR) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), 4-2

92kg
GOLD - Magomed Guseynovitch KURBANOV (RUS) df. Samuel SCHERRER (SUI), 4-1

BRONZE - Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. AndriI VLASOV (UKR) ,5-0
BRONZE - Hajy RAJABAU (BLR) df. Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT), 8-0

125kg
GOLD - Taha AKGUL (TUR) df. Sergei KOZYREV (RUS), via DSQ

BRONZE - Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR), 12-9
BRONZE - Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR) df. Daniel LIGETI (HUN), 5-0

Women’s Wrestling Results

50kg
GOLD - Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) vs. Mariya STADNIK (AZE)

SEMIFINAL - Mariya STADNIK (AZE) df. Oksana LIVACH (UKR), 10-4
SEMIFINAL – Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) df. Emilia CIRICU BUDEANU (MDA), 3-3

55kg
GOLD - Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL) vs. Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS)

SEMIFINAL - Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL) df. Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU), 2-1
SEMIFINAL - Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) df. Jessica Cornelia Francisca BLASZKA (NED), 9-2

59kg
GOLD - Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL) vs. Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS)

SEMIFINAL - Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS) df. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), 4-4
SEMIFINAL - Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL) df. Yuliya PISARENKA (BLR), 2-1

68kg
GOLD - Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA) vs. Khanum VELIEVA (RUS)

SEMIFINAL - Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA) df. Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE), 11-0
SEMIFINAL - Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) df. Nesrin BAS (TUR), 8-4

76kg
GOLD - Epp MAEE (EST) vs. Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS)

SEMIFINAL - Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) df. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR), 6-3
SEMIFINAL - Epp MAEE (EST) df. Cynthia Vanessa VESCAN (FRA), 4-0

#WrestleZagreb

Amouzad avenges Paris loss to Kiyooka, claims 65kg gold

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 22:02 By Ken Marantz

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 16) -- Revenge was the theme of the night on Tuesday at the Zagreb World Championships, with Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) playing the starring role.

Amouzad not only avenged his loss to Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) from the Paris Olympics, he did it in overwhelming fashion, blitzing his way to a 10-0 victory in the 65kg final on the final day of the freestyle competition at Arena Zagreb.

"I worked really hard and had been waiting for this moment for almost a year, and I’m happy this championship is mine," Amouzad said. "I put in a lot of effort physically, mentally, and with analysis."

The other freestyle gold at stake went to Kyle SNYDER (USA), who likewise avenged a loss in Paris -- albeit for the bronze -- with a nail-biting 4-2 win at 97kg over Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) to capture his fourth world title.

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Iran, which was already assured of winning the team title for the first time since 2013 before the night began, finished with 145 points, 11 ahead of the United States in second place. Japan placed third with 111 points.

"I’m also really happy that Iran’s team became the champion," Amouzad said. "This title was well deserved. For the past 12 years we couldn’t win but now, with seven medals, it finally happened. I’m glad the people of Iran are happy, and that makes me even happier."

It was just over a year ago that Kiyooka came seemingly out of nowhere and snatched the 65kg gold in Paris with an inspired 10-3 victory over Amouzad.

But on Tuesday, the outcome could not have been more different. From the outset, it was all Amouzad, the 2022 world champion who won three straight Asian titles from 2022 to 2024.

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) counters Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The Iranian deftly countered a single-leg attack from Kiyooka with a back lift for two, then added a two-point exposure. And he wasn't finished with the sequence, transitioning to a cradle at the edge and wedging Kiyooka over for two more and a 6-0 lead.

Amouzad kept the pressure on a shell-shocked Kiyooka, scoring a stepout that had a fleeing point tacked on. A final takedown and the match was over with eight seconds to spare in the first period.

"I have more plans and bigger goals ahead," Amouzad said. "This is just the beginning for me, and my work isn’t finished yet. In two months, I’ll compete in the Islamic Games and I’ll participate in any tournament the coaching staff believe I should."

Kyle SNYDER (USA) celebrates after beating Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) in the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The 97kg final was a much closer but no less dramatic affair, as Snyder picked up his eighth medal in eight trips to the World Championships to go along with an Olympic gold from Rio 2016 and a silver at Tokyo 2021.

The 29-year-old Snyder received an activity point in a tenuous first period, but Azarpira broke the logjam by getting behind for a takedown early in the second. A penalty point against Azarpira for finger-grabbing tied the score at 2-2, but with the Iranian holding the criteria advantage.

With the atmosphere growing intense, Snyder put the pressure on and scored a stepout with 8.5 seconds left, then held on as the match ended with him defending against a single-leg attack. As has become ritual, Iran made a futile challenge at the end, which did nothing but change the final score.

"We just had a little bit of a game plan for him, making sure the match is tight because in a match like that, I can always get things going near the end and find a way to score," Snyder said. "I thought I was close and I felt like he was kind of stumbling. I over-pursued a little bit and he's pretty savvy on the edge and I gave him a takedown. But honestly, that was good because it made me bring my pace even more.

"I think the timing of that was perfect, just made the match a matter of the heart, like I wasn't as much about technique as it was about the heart."

Kyle SNYDER (USA) scores the match-winning stepouts against Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) during the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

It was in Zagreb back in February 2023 that Snyder and Azarpira first met on the mat, with the American winning 3-0 in the final of the Zagreb Open. But a year later in the final of the same tournament, Azarpira came out a 6-3 winner, then defeated Snyder 4-1 eight months later in a bronze-medal match at the Paris Olympics.

"He's a tough and good hand fighter," Snyder said. "At the Olympics, I felt like I got him tired, but there were a lot of stops because of the blood. I felt that broke up the match a little bit. It came down to the last couple of seconds in this one, too. Just keeping inside a little bit better and faking and snapping and finding a way to win."

Snyder credits his dedication to consistently hard training for his continued success. "I know every time I come in, it's going to be hard. Even making the team in America is hard. So I think the most important quality for consistency over time is just humility and being willing to keep learning and keep working.

"You got to keep working hard. I think I trained harder this year than I ever have in my entire life. You got to be willing to keep doing that year after year after year."

Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN), left, and Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), the two bronze medalists at 97kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Tazhudinov cuts it close, but leaves Zagreb with bronze

Paris Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN), whose reign as world champion ended with a loss in the semifinals by Azarpira, assured he won't be leaving Zagreb empty-handed, but he had to work hard to earn his consolation bronze medal.

Tazhudinov, who has looked out of sorts all tournament, had to survive a late scramble that, when the video was studied and the points sorted out, gave him a 13-10 come-from-behind victory over Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL).

It didn't look good for Tazhudinov when he was thrown for four at the outset of the match, but he managed to come back with a pair of takedowns. The two traded two-point exposures when Tazhudinov secured a cradle, but was stopped on his own back, leaving him trailing 6-6 on criteria.

Tazhudinov finally went ahead with a takedown with 1:23 left, but a wild scramble from Magamaev's counter-lift ended up with Tazhudinov being awarded five points and Magamaev four on challenge, giving the Bahrain wrestler the win.

Meanwhile, two-time Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) made Japanese history when he became the country's heaviest world medalist ever by outmuscling Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) 6-0 for the other 97kg bronze.

Yoshida, whose father is Iranian and runs the kids club where he and his siblings started the sport, combined two stepouts, two activity points and a takedown to earn the historic bronze.

"I am thankful to Japan," Yoshida said. "But inside, I'm not completely satisfied. From now, I will work hard with the aim of becoming the champion."

Japan's previous heaviest medal winner was Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN), who won a bronze at 92kg in Budapest in 2018. In fact, Matsumoto is one of only two Japanese who had won a medal in a weight classes 90kg or above.

As a footnote, Akira OTA (JPN) won silver medals at 90kg at both the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympics.

At 65kg, Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) earned his first world medal with a solid 7-1 victory over European champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW), scoring a takedown in the first period and two in the second along with a stepout.

The victory avenged a loss from two years ago from the semifinals at the World U23 Championships, which Ibragimov won 3-0 en route to a second straight gold in the age group.

Real WOODS (USA) added the other 65kg bronze medal to the U.S. tally with a 3-1 win over Peiman BIABANI (CAN) that saw no technical points.

In making his first world podium, Woods received two activity points to Biabani's one, with a point for an unsuccessful challenge at match end padding the final score.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

65kg (34 entries)
GOLD: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) df. Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) by TF, 10-0, 2:52

BRONZE: Real WOODS (USA) df. Peiman BIABANI (CAN), 3-1
BRONZE: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) df. Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW), 7-3

97kg (29 entries)
GOLD: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), 4-2

BRONZE: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) df. Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL), 13-10
BRONZE: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL), 6-0

Stadnik Thrives in Return; Akgul Wins 8th Euro Title

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Amouzad avenges Paris loss to Kiyooka, claims 65kg gold