#WrestleWarsaw

Stadnik Thrives in Return; Akgul Wins 8th Euro Title

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

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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

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 Day 3 Live: Sukhee vs Purevdorj in WW, Yazdani vs Emami at 74kg

Saturday, May 31, 2025 - 02:49 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (May 31) -- The Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 continues on day three with five Women's Wrestling and three Freestyle weight classes will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

14:05: Yones EMAMI (IRI) will wrestle for gold against Amirhommad YAZDANI (IRI) at 74kg. Emami humbles JAIDEEP (IND), 5-3, in the semifinal. Emami scored a bodylock takedown and then a turn to lead 4-0. In the second period, Jaideep gets stepout but is also warned for finger-grabbing which give Emami another point. A late takedown for Jaideep but he can't turn Emami and he goes down 5-3 to book a place in final against Yazdani.

14:00: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) gets his first action of the day in the 74kg semifinal against Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) and it's a thrilling display of wrestling. Yazdani hits a double and turn for 4-0 before a reversal for Toktomambetov for a point. Yazdani tries to chest wrap and throw but Toktomambetov has control and gets the two points to cut the lead to 4-3. Both wrestlers in in par terre but Yazdani gets out first and it's a point for Toktomambetov. Yazdani leads 4-4 on criteria at the break. Yazdani tries to score a takedown but fails to control his opponent who scores a stepout. Iran challenge but it's only a point and challenge is lost, making it 6-4 for Toktomambetov. Yazdani with a burst of attack in the final 15 seconds and Toktomambetov tries to avade but Yazdani manages to go-behind and a turn just on the edge to get two points. He leads 6-6 on criteria and wins the bout. He had three actions of two point each while Toktomambetov was two actions of two points each and two of one point which makes Yazdani's scoring higher, hence the win.

13:46: Osman GOCEN (TUR) with a pin in the semifinal at 86kg against Dayanbileg GAN OCHIR (MGL)! Gocen got on a single leg attempt before Gan Ochir threw himself on the mat and Gocen was happy to keep Gan Ochir on the back secure the fall.

13:43: In the first 86kg semifinal, Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) with a fall in the second period over Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL) to secure his place in the final.

13:30: We will see an all-Mongolian final at 62kg as Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) wins a wild 15-11 bout against Ekaterina KOSHKINA (UWW) while Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) pins Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) in their respective semifinals.

Purevdorj kept coming at Koshkina who countered her attacks as well. At one point, Purevdorj was lead 9-7 before a series of attacks saw her make it 15-9 but Koshkina also got exposure point but fell short.

In other semifinal, Sukhee was down 5-0 but got Kasabieva in on a leg attack and then put her on the mat before securing the fall.

The semifinals begin now.

13:07: In the final match before the semifinals, Yones EMAMI (IRI) closes out the session with a tense win over Tugsjargal ERDENEBAT (MGL) that was ultimately a pin. Emami needed a takedown in the second period to lead 3-1 as a tiring Erdenbat failed to keep up with the Iranian and faded away. Emami used a duck under for another takedown before Erdenebat did not try to defended and gave up the fall. Emami to face Jaideep in the 74kg semifinal. 

12:56: Gantsetseg BATSUKH (MGL) with some solid counterattacking wrestling as she beats MONIKA (IND) 14-3 in the 68kg Round 4 bout. Top moves from the Mongolian

12:51: Noorali ABOUZARI (IRI) gets on a single leg attack and finishes it with a leg lace during activity lock time for JAIDEEP (IND) to lead 5-0 at the break in their 74kg quarterfinal. Jaideep begins the second period with scramble and comes out with two points to cut the lead to 5-2. Another single leg attack but Jaideep defends and then cradles a tiring Abouzari for the fall and enter the semifinal.

12:47: Asian silver medalist Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) takes his time to pull off a 10-0 technical superiority win over Deleg SHINEBAYAR (MGL)  and enter the semifinal.

12:45: What could have been the big match of the tournament between Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) and Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) at 74kg is not happening as the Turkish wrestler pulls out injured. Yazdani into the semifinals at 74kg.

12:30: Osman GOCEN (TUR) was tested by Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) but the European medalist keeps his calm and wins 15-4 at 86kg. He will wrestle in the semifinal now against Dayanbileg GAN OCHIR (MGL).

12:15: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) may have done herself a huge favor by pinning MANISHA (IND) in the Round 3 bout. Purevdorj, who lost to Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), gets five classification points, Kasabieva has four and Manisha has three which means Asian champion Manisha is out of semifinal contention.

11:50: Deepak PUNIA (IND) has to work hard for his next win over Bat-Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL). Punia trailed 1-0 at the break but he gets two passivity points and a takedown in the second to win 4-1 at 92kg.

11:45: PUSHPA (IND), who had earlier lost in her group bout, makes sure to win by technical superiority Dulguun BOLORMAA (MGL) at 55kg and improve her chance to be in the semifinals from the group.

11:40: Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) with stunning win over Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) at 62kg. She first hits a four-pointer over Purevdorj before turning her for two points. When Purevdorj tries a big throw, Kasabieva with a cutback to get four and win. Purevdorj is not eliminated though as it is round-robin category.

11:15: World silver medalist Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) pins compatriot Tselmuun OTGONBAT (MGL) inside the first period to start with a win at 68kg, a weight class she is favorite to win here.

11:10: Askhab SAADULAEV (UWW) with a crafty whizzer for four points to deny Bat-Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) any chance of a comeback and he wins 7-2 at 92kg. 

11:05: Dayanbileg GAN OCHIR (MGL) gets ASHISH (IND) in a tangle and then secures the fall to win at 86kg. The 86kg weight class also has Nelson bracket and will be wrestled in two groups.

11:00: Asian silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) with his typical forward pressure wrestling and scores 10 points to Demchigdorj TUMURBAATAR (MGL) zero win 10-0 at 92kg.

10:50: Asian champion MANISHA (IND) scores two takedowns in her 5-0 win over  Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) begin with a win at 62kg. As it is Nelson bracket, the two can meet again in the final

10:40: Great start to the day for Mongolia as Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) pins PUSHPA (IND) at 55kg and Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) wins 11-0 against Ekaterina KOSHKINA (UWW) at 62kg.

10:30: The Ulaanbaatar Open will see Freestyle from today and Women's Wrestling will continue in the Mongolian capital. Freestyle will be in 74kg, 86kg and 92kg while WW will be 55kg, 62kg, 65kg, 68kg and 76kg.