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

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: Tirana triumph for O'Toole, Brooks; Gimri wins Turkiye's first gold

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 - 21:31 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 24) -- When Keegan O'TOOLE (USA) gets to a cradle, it's game over for his opponents.

Many in the United States have witnessed O'Toole win school and college titles on the back of his go-to move. International fans first saw it in 2021 as he stunned a strong 74kg field to win the U20 world title.

Two years since winning his first and only international competition, O'Toole and his cradle were on display and were good enough to win another world title. The American won the 74kg gold medal at the U23 World Championships on Tuesday, leading to a strong performance from the United States as the first set of medals were awarded on the second day of the tournament.

The U.S. won three of the five gold medals on offer on Tuesday while Turkiye crowned its first-ever Freestyle U23 world champion with Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) winning gold at 92kg. The fifth gold of the night was captured by Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN), winning the title at 61kg.

This is also the first time the U.S. has more than one Freestyle world champ at the U23 level. It drew a blank last year despite three finalists.

Keegan O'TOOLE (USA) won the 74kg gold after beating Imam GANISHOV (AIN). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

O'Toole had shown a glimpse of his funkiness on Monday as he made his way to the final using a cradle to pin Hikaru TAKATA (JPN) in the quarterfinals and then got Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR) in the semifinal.

Given his preferred move and crafty wrestling, it was understandable that Imam GANISHOV (AIN) came prepared for the 74kg final and to not get caught in the move. But what he was not prepared for was O'Toole's defense as the American denied Ganishov any points apart from a stepout in the first period. That was the only point O'Toole gave in a 6-1 victory that saw him score three takedowns.

"It feels really good," O'Toole said. "I trained super hard for this. I wasn't sure where I would be as the location got changed. The level is harder at the U23 Worlds but I prepare for challenges and for the worst but I hope for the best."

Keegan O'TOOLE (USA), blue, cradles Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR) in the semifinals on Monday. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Both wrestlers were cautious at the start but O'Toole scored by elevating Ganishov's leg when the latter was attempting a lift. He then caught Ganishov by surprise with a single-leg and though Ganishov defended for some time, O'Toole scored a takedown and led 4-0.

Ganishov did try some duckunders and go-behinds but O'Toole was up for the task, defending with ease. A split defense from Ganishov delayed O'Toole's takedown but when he got it, he led 6-1 with just over a minute remaining in the final. O'Toole was happy to play the clock from there on.

The gold medal also qualifies O'Toole for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the Paris Games and he is not shying away from giving it a shot despite his NCAA season.

"That [to qualify for OTT] pressure is gone," he said. "I am going to take some time off. I got to heal up my body a little bit and jump into the college season. NCAA season is good preparation for the Olympic trials but in my head, I am always going for "how am I going to win a gold medal? How am I going to make the Olympic team? I am really confident and excited going forward. I have got eight [six] months for the Olympic trials and each day I am going to do something to prove myself."

Aaron BROOKS (USA) defeated defending champion Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) to win the 86kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

If cradle was O'Toole's move in Tirana, Aaron BROOKS (USA) was chasing ankle picks all day as he stormed to the 86kg world title beating returning champion Tastsuya SHIRAI (JPN) 11-0 in the final.

Shirai had become the first world champion for Japan in over 80kg weight classes and became the first to return to the final at U23 Worlds in Freestyle. A record second straight, however, wasn't to be.

Brooks was on the offense right in the first minute, using collar ties against Shirai. He got the first takedown just as the clock hit the one-minute mark, catching Shirai in a leg attack. After some attempted leg attacks, Brooks ankle-picked Shirai who fell on his back, giving four points to Brooks. A similar pick and one turn on the lace earned him a 10-0 win in two minutes and 39 seconds.

"I am blessed and fortunate," Brooks said. "I trained hard, keeping my mind and spirit in alignment with God. A lot of stuff goes on in the world that can affect us."

Like O'Toole, Brooks will be going for the Olympic Team Trial with the aim of upsetting world champion David TAYLOR (USA).

"Of course [I will challenge for the team spot]," he said. "Just wrestle and get better every day, focus on that. Not just in wrestling but better in every aspect of life and it transcends into wrestling. Just me being me in the present. If that comes, it comes."

Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) battled an injured knee and Adil MISIRCI (TUR) to win the 125kg title. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han Degirmenci)

The U.S. surged further as Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) won the 125kg gold medal after not only battling Adil MISIRCI (TUR) but also an injured knee that "may heel in a long time."

Hendrickson, who could barely walk to the medal ceremony stage, showed extreme courage to beat Misirci 13-3 in the final despite being in clear pain.

He began the final aggressively, almost pinning Misirci, jumping to a 5-0 lead. A scramble saw both wrestlers twist their knees which further made things worse for Hendrickson, before the referee called neutral. The American then decided to keep his injured right leg out of the attack but did not drop his offense.

He scored two takedowns and a gut to build a 12-1 lead when Misirci stopped him in a turn and scored two points to remain in the match as the score became 12-3. Hendrickson, however, continued the scramble and scored a reversal to win 13-3 with 1:34 still left on the clock.

The 125kg wrestler will also join the star-studded superheavyweight line-up at the Olympic Team Trials next year.

Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) became Turkiye's first-ever U23 world champ in Freestyle. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Gimri's historic gold

One of Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) and Ion DEMIAN (MDA) was certain to create history in the 92kg final. Neither Turkiye nor Moldova had won a U23 world title in Freestyle and by the end of the 92kg final, it was Gimri who wrote his name in history books, becoming Turkiye's first-ever U23 world champion in Freestyle. He defeated Demian 4-3 in a tense final.

Demian led 1-0 at the break after Gimri failed to score any point in the 30-second activity period. But the match sprung to life in the second period as Gimri scored a takedown on the edge to take a 2-1 lead. That was short-lived as Demian blocked Gimri's spin and landed on top of him to get two points.

The Moldovan was 20 seconds away from history but Gimri spoiled his party. He shot for Demian's legs and got hold of the left to score a takedown. He tried a lace to kill the remaining time even as Demian smashed his hand on the mat in disappointment.

At 61kg, Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) denied Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ) and Kazakhstan a gold medal, winning the final 4-0, with two activity period points and two stepouts.

Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) won the bronze medal at 61kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Bronze results

In the bronze medal bouts, returning silver medalist at 61kg Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) added a bronze medal by beating Akash DAHIYA (UWW) 7-0. Zhumashbek Uulu suffered a 9-7 semifinal loss to Yessengeldi. The other bronze medal at 61kg went to Mezhlum MEZHLUMYAN (ARM) who steamrolled Ivan HRAMYKA (AIN), 11-0.

Hikaru TAKATA (JPN) and Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR), both of whom lost to O'Toole at 74kg, clashed for the bronze medal with Takata beating Santiago 11-0 to capture the gold medal. The other bronze-medal bout was a humdinger with NAVEEN (UWW) scoring a stepout with five seconds left to beat Vasile DIACON (MDA), 7-7, and return home with bronze.

At 86kg, Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) and Joshua MORODION (GER) defeated Ivan ICHIZLI (MDA), 6-1, and Benjamin GREIL (AUT), 9-2, respectively to claim third spots on the podium.

The U.S. also got a bronze medal as Jacob CARDENAS (USA) scored a takedown late in the bout against Pruthviraj PATIL (UWW) and eked out a 4-3 win. Abduljalil SHABANOV (AZE) and Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) were involved in a 25-point bout with the former coming out on top 14-11.

2021 U23 silver medalist Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE) managed to pull off a strong win as he defeated World Championships fifth-placer Abdulla KURBANOV (AIN), 5-4, for the bronze medal at 125kg. Khosonov trains at the same center as world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN).

The other bronze medal at 125kg was won by Vakhit GALAYEV (AZE) was managed to beat Anirudh KUMAR (UWW), 10-0, with ease.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ), 4-0

BRONZE: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Akash DAHIYA (UWW), 7-0
BRONZE: Mezhlum MEZHLUMYAN (ARM) df. Ivan HRAMYKA (AIN), 11-0

74kg
GOLD: Keegan OTOOLE (USA) df. Imam GANISHOV (AIN), 6-1

BRONZE: NAVEEN (UWW) df. Vasile DIACON (MDA), 7-7
BRONZE: Hikaru TAKATA (JPN) df. Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR), 11-0

86kg
GOLD: Aaron BROOKS (USA) df. Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN), 10-0

BRONZE: Joshua MORODION (GER) df. Benjamin GREIL (AUT), 9-2
BRONZE: Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) df. Ivan ICHIZLI (MDA), 6-1

92kg
GOLD: Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) df. Ion DEMIAN (MDA), 4-3

BRONZE: Abduljalil SHABANOV (AZE) df. Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO), 14-11
BRONZE: Jacob CARDENAS (USA) df. Pruthviraj PATIL (UWW), 4-3

125kg
GOLD: Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) df. Adil MISIRCI (TUR), 13-3

BRONZE: Vakhit GALAYEV (AZE) df. Anirudh KUMAR (UWW), 10-0
BRONZE: Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE) df. Abdulla KURBANOV (AIN), 5-4

Stadnik Thrives in Return; Akgul Wins 8th Euro Title

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U23 Worlds: Tirana triumph for O'Toole, Brooks; Gimri wins Turkiye's first gold