#Grappling

U20 European Grappling: Poland Shines but Russia Remains Best

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 - 10:06 By United World Wrestling Press

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YEREVAN, Armenia (May 26) — Poland flexed its strength in the heavier divisions while Russia piled up medals across categories at the U20 European Grappling Championships in Yerevan on Tuesday, with Germany also celebrating a standout gold through Damian David GRANCZYK at 66kg.

The Poles were particularly impressive in the upper weights. Kamil Konrad DZIKOWSKI claimed the 100kg title ahead of Yaroslav TOROPII (UKR). Armenia’s Samvel ATIKYAN taking bronze on home soil.

Mateusz KUCA (POL) resigned supreme at 84kg. Poland also produced medallists in 92kg, where Jakub JUCHNO finished on the top of the podium ahead of Ion SILI (MDA), underlining the country’s growing depth in the heavier classes of European grappling.

Russia, however, once again showed its overall dominance by placing wrestlers on nearly every podium. Russian athletes won titles at 62kg, 71kg, 77kg and 130kg, while also securing multiple silver and bronze medals.

At 130kg, Abubakr MAKASHARIPOV (RUS) took gold ahead of Ukraine’s Bohdan AKOPOV, with Gasan KHASAEV (RUS) settling for bronze in an all-Eastern European dominated podium.

Germany’s Granczyk was among the day’s standout performers. He captured the 66kg title, finishing ahead of Stanislav ROMANCHENKO (RUS), while Ukraine picked up both bronze medals through Vadym SIROSHTAN and Dmytro PRUT.

Russia swept the top two spots at 62kg through gold medallist Fedor RIABOV and silver winner Zaur ILIASOV, with Edgar SIMONYAN (ARM) finishing third. The hosts had more to celebrate in the 58kg category, where Aram SARGSYAN (ARM) beat Vanik SARGSYAN (ARM) to win the gold. Adam Magomedovich MAGOMEDOV (RUS) clinched the bronze.

At 71kg, Oliwier PRZERWA (POL) earned silver behind Sultanakhmed SULTANAKHMEDOV (RUS), while Malik MUKHTAROV completed a double podium finish for Russia with bronze.

Ukraine enjoyed a strong campaign too, especially in the middle and heavier weights. Suleiman MAMUTOV (UKR) won silver at 77kg and Lev TSEMKO (UKR) added bronze at 84kg.

In the women's section, Russia and Poland continued their stranglehold, winning two gold medals each. But the loudest cheers inside the arena were reserved for Taguhi KHONDKARYAN, who finished ahead of fellow Armenian Mkrtaryan YELENA in a home-dominated 64kg category.

At 49kg, Hanna Gabriela SZPAKOWSKA (POL) broke the heart of home favourite Astghik HAYRAPETYAN (ARM) clinched the title with a 18-6 win in the final.

Russia then tightened its grip on the tournament. Elmira GALLIAMOVA won the 53kg gold medal in an all-Russian final against Valeriia SHCHIROVA, while Alva Linnea PANNWITZ (GER) claimed bronze to ensure another podium finish for the Germans after Damian Granczyk’s triumph in the men’s section.

The 58kg category also belonged entirely to Russia. Alisa GOLUB (RUS) defeated compatriot Ilda DAVLETSHINA (RUS) in the final, with Ukraine’s Kseniia POLIAK taking bronze.

Poland, which had already impressed in the heavier men’s divisions, carried that momentum into the women’s 90kg event. Maja Teresa SALAMON (POL) took gold, while compatriot Karolina KARALUS added bronze, sandwiching Russia’s Vlada BOIAKCHIEVA in second place.

The results underlined Russia’s continued dominance in European grappling, finishing on top of the team rankings in both, men and women's sections.

#WrestleBudapest

Mammadli wins gold in Budapest; Georgia captures two on final day

Sunday, July 20, 2025 - 18:09 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 20) -- World and European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), five days short of his 23rd birthday, gave himself a birthday present and kept his World Championships preparations on track by winning the Budapest Ranking Series on Sunday.

Three months after winning the European title, Mammadli enjoyed a successful day in Budapest, winning gold at 60kg after beating SUMIT (IND), 5-1, in the final.

There were seven other gold medalist as the Ranking Series came to a close on Sunday. With this, the World Championships season will begin next week in Athens, Greece with the World U17 Championships.

Mammadli was put in par terre in the first period but as casual as he is, Mammadli defended any turn. He blocked Sumit's attempt to get a gut-wrench mid-turn and got two points. He got a bodylock to kick off second period and scored a takedown to make it 4-1. As Sumit was put in par terre, Mammadli further led 5-1. However, he was happy to not put any effort in attempting any turns.

Sumit tried getting a hold of Mammadli in the final two minutes but it to no avail and Mammadli won the final 5-1.

Earlier in the day, Mammadli defeated Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) in the semifinals, 3-2, in what was a rematch of the European final that was won by Mammadli.

Another European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) captured gold medal in Budapest after he beat Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ), 9-0, in the 55kg final.

Apart from the small hiccup he had in the semifinal against Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB), Sefershaev had an top tournament, outscoring his opponents 27-7 in four bouts.

Botirov scored five points on Sefershaev but he was able to score five on him as well and won the bout the bout on criteria. In the final, Sefershaev did not have any trouble and rolled Mukashev four time from par terre to finish the bout.

At 63kg, Sergey EMELIN (UWW) denied Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) a Ranking Series gold medal after beating him 5-0 in the final. Emelin scored points from par terre and kept the pressure in the second period as well and was not called passive. He held his 5-0 lead for six minutes of the bout to win gold medal.

Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) emerged as the champion at 67kg after a final of two halves against Valentin PETIC (MDA), who unfortunately ended with another silver medal at the Ranking Series, his third this year. He has silver medals from Zagreb and Albania.

The final began with a quick takedown from Khetsuriani and he then lifted Petic for a suplex for four points. For the next throw, he performed a turn but it was ruled a below-the-waist foul and no points were awarded.

Georgia challenged asking for two points but the referees awarded one point for stepout on review, making the score 7-0 for Khetsuriani. Petric failed to break Khetsuriani's defense for the remaining 4:30 and dropped the final.

Hosts Hungary had a rather disappointing evening session as Robert FRITSCH (HUN) and Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) suffered losses in the 77kg and 82kg finals, respectively.

Fritsch was defeated 5-2 in the 77kg final by Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) who had a 3-0 lead at the break in the final. Fritsch closed the gap to 3-2 with a stepout and par terre point but he failed to make a move from that position.

Kutuzov was happy defending but Fritsch pushed for a stepout to which Kutuzov circled and returned to center to get a point. A lost challenge late in the bout gave one more point to Kutuzov who won 5-2.

There was further disappointment for Hungary as Levai, moving up from 77kg to 82kg, suffered a 5-1 loss in the 82kg final against Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW).

After getting the par terre position in the first period, Levai failed to score any points. Tiuliubaev made no such mistakes and scored two turns from par terre in the second period and won 5-1.

At 97kg, Giorgi MELIA (GEO) came out as a clear winner as Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) had no answer to Melia's aggressive style of wrestling in the final.

Melia rolled to a 3-1 victory to capture yet another gold medal for Georgia in Budapest.

With the fourth and final Ranking Series in the books, wrestlers will now receive seeds for the World Championships once the final entries are closed.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) df. Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ), 9-0

BRONZE: Denis MIHAI (ROU) df. Alpamys DASTANBEK (KAZ), 1-1
BRONZE: Anil MOR (IND) df. Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB), 7-4

60kg
GOLD: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. SUMIT (IND), 5-1

BRONZE: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) df. Seunghak KIM (KOR), 5-2 
BRONZE: Sadyk LALAEV (UWW) df. Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ), 5-3

63kg
GOLD: Sergey EMELIN (UWW) df. Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), 5-0

BRONZE: Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), via inj. 
BRONZE: Dinislam BAMMATOV (UWW) df. Karen ASLANYAN (ARM), via fall

67kg
GOLD: Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) df. Valentin PETIC (MDA), 7-0

BRONZE: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df. Minseong KWON (KOR), 8-3
BRONZE: Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR) df. Daniial AGAEV (UWW), 1-1

77kg
GOLD: Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) df. Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN), 5-2

BRONZE: Levente LEVAI (HUN) df. Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 3-2
BRONZE: Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) df. Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL), 7-1

82kg
GOLD: Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) df. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), 5-1

BRONZE: Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) df. Beka MELELASHVILI (USA), 2-1
BRONZE: Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) df. Rafael IUNUSOV (UWW), 2-1

97kg
GOLD: Giorgi MELIA (GEO) df. Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM), 3-1

BRONZE: Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) df. Ilia ERMOLENKO (UWW), 8-4
BRONZE: Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) df. Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN), 6-3