#WrestleBudapest

WATCH: 10 Greco-Roman Finals from European Championships

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (April 7) -- The European Championships saw 10 Greco-Roman champions being crowned. One of them, Riza KAYAALP (TUR), won his 11th European title and is now two away from breaking the all-time record 12.

Azerbaijan won the team title over Turkey while Georgia finished third in the title race. Azerbaijan had all ten wrestlers in medal bouts with eight coming home with at least a medal. Only two wrestlers failed to win a medal in Budapest.

Watch all the 10 gold medal bouts from the European Championships.

55kg GOLD - Eldaniz Azizli (AZE) vs Nugzari Tsurtsumia (GEO)

Azizli wrestled his rival and world champion from 2019 Nugzari Tsurtsumia (GEO). Prior to this meeting, the two had wrestled each other four times with Azizli enjoying a perfect 4-0 record over Tsurtsumia. He extended that record to 5-0 when he won 8-2 in the 55kg final.

Azizli got the point for his opponent's passivity and a roll gave him a 3-1 lead. Tsurtsumia tried exposing with a head pinch but in turn, ended up giving two points. In the same action, Azizli scored two more and led 7-1 with two minutes remaining before closing out the bout 8-2.

 

60kg GOLD - Kerem Kamal (TUR) vs Edmond Nazaryan (BUL)

Kerem KAMAL (TUR) was third time lucky in the final as he won the gold after previously losing two finals in 2020 and 2021. But in his third final in three years, he defeated former European champ Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) 5-0 to win at 60kg.

 

63kg GOLD - Leri Abuladze (GEO) vs Taleh Mammadov (AZE)

Georgia did have a gold medalist Saturday as U23 World champion Leri Abuladze (GEO) added a European title to his resume. He wrestled Taleh Mammadov (AZE) in the 63kg final and controlled it well. His one scoring action in par terre in the second period was enough to give him a 3-1 win over Mammadov, his first in two meetings.

 

67kg GOLD - Murat Firat (TUR) vs Krisztian Vancza (HUN)

Murat FIRAT (TUR) denied Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) a gold medal at home. In the close final, Firat used an exposure close to the zone to win 3-1. Vancza had his chance to take the lead when Firat was called passive but he did not manage to score any points from par terre in the second period.

 

72kg GOLD - Robert Attila Fritsch (HUN) vs Shmagi Bolkvadze (GEO)

Robert FRITSCH (HUN) upset Rio bronze medalist Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO), 3-2, at the 72kg final. In one of the closest bouts of the tournament, Bolkvadze led 1-0 at the break for a passivity point. But Fritsch bounced back with a gut wrench from par terre to lead 3-1. A reversal point for Bolkvadze but his lead to 3-2 but he managed to hang on for the win.

 

77kg GOLD - Malkhas Amoyan (ARM) vs Yunus Emre Basar (TUR)

Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) won the 77kg European title. The world champion at 72kg was making his debut at 77kg and wrestled Yunus Basar (TUR) in the final. He was called passive and gave up a gut wrench to trail 3-0 at the break. But he got the same action using a chest wrap in the second period to lead 3-3 on criteria.

Turkey challenged the call asking for a leg foul but the judges found no negative wrestling which gave another point to Amoyan, extending his lead 4-3 with two minutes remaining.

The silver medalist from Warsaw European Championships was again called passive but this time Basar could not get any exposure from par terre as Amoyan let out a loud scream to celebrate his maiden gold at the continental championships.

 

82kg GOLD - Rafig Huseynov (AZE) vs Gela Bolkvadze (GEO)

In a historic feat, Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE) became the first-ever Azerbaijan wrestler to win three European titles. Wrestling Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) in the 82kg final, Huseynov gave up a point for passivity but defended the par terre position. Georgia asked for a challenge for Huseynov's fleeing but lost it. Huseynov got the second point from Bolkvadze's passivity and kept the 2-1 lead to win the gold.

 

87kg GOLD - Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) vs Nicu OJOG (ROU)

Bisultanov won the gold for Denmark at the European championship, outscoring his opponents 35-0 over two days and with his crowd-pleasing style became a fan favorite in Budapest. Wrestling Nicu Ojog (ROU) in the 87kg final, Bisultanov took only one minute and 13 seconds to finish the bout 8-0. In his four bouts, he did not wrestle the full six minutes in any, spending just over 13 minutes on the mat.

 

97kg GOLD - Kiril MILOV (BUL) vs Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)

Kiril MILOV (BUL) upgraded from his silver in 2019. With fond memories of Budapest, he changed the color of his medal with an error-less performance in the final against Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN), 4-1. Milov got the match-deciding gut wrench in the second period to defeat the former U23 world champion Savolainen who won the title in Budapest three years ago.

 

130kg GOLD - Riza KAYAALP (TUR) vs Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA)

Riza Kayaalp (TUR) is on a mission to break Alexander Karelin (RWF) record of 12 European gold medals. He took another step closer to that by winning his 11th gold in Budapest. The four-time world champion defeated Danila Sotnikov (ITA), 4-0 in the 130kg final using a head-pinch exposure when the Italian was trying to push him out.

#WrestleBudapest

#WrestleBudapest Ranking Series women’s wrestling entries

By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 26) — Like the previous three Ranking Series events, the fourth and final event in Budapest, Hungary promises to be a thrilling affair as close to 600 wrestlers are registered for the July 13-16 tournament.

Women’s wrestling too has received entries that include full-strength squads from the USA, China, Canada, Mongolia, Ukraine, France and Turkiye.

Wrestlers are also shifting to the Olympic weight classes as the Paris Olympic qualifying World Championships are just two months away. The Ranking Series allows two-kilogram weight tolerance and awards prize money to all the medal winners.

For Budapest, a host of nations have entered three wrestlers in the Olympic weights with the hope of getting their final entry to the Belgrade World Championships.

At all of the Olympic weight classes — 50kg, 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 68kg and 76kg — fans can expect a preview to how competitive the World Championships are going to be as the wrestlers battle for five Paris Olympic spots at each weight.

All the action from Budapest can be followed live on uww.org and the UWW App from July 13.

50kg
Kamila BARBOSA (BRA)
Madison  PARKS (CAN)
Katie  DUTCHAK (CAN)
Ziqi FENG (CHN)
Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
Nada MOHAMED (EGY)
Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA)
Julie SABATIE (FRA)
Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN)
Bianka FATH (HUN)
Miran CHEON (KOR)
Gabija DILYTE (LTU)
Vestina DANISEVICIUTE (LTU)
Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL)
Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR)
Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
Agata WALERZAK (POL)
Emilia VUC (ROU)
Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR)
Oksana LIVACH (UKR)
Erin GOLSTON (USA)
Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA)

53kg
Karla GODINEZ (CAN)
Diana WEICKER (CAN)
Samantha STEWART (CAN)
Min ZHANG (CHN)
Qianyu PANG (CHN)
Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)
Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA)
Tetiana PROFATILOVA (FRA)
Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)
Annika WENDLE (GER)
Stalvira ORSHUSH (HUN)
Vivien MATYI (HUN)
Hyunyoung OH (KOR)
Iulia LEORDA (MDA)
Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL)
Thalia MALLQUI PECHE (PER)
Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)
Roksana ZASINA (POL)
Andreea ANA (ROU)
Ahinsa FERNANDO (SRI)
Jonna MALMGREN (SWE)
Tuba DEMIR (TUR)
Liliya HORISHNA (UKR)
Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR)
Dominique PARRISH (USA)

55kg
Li DENG (CHN)
Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN)
Gerda TEREK (HUN)
VINESH (IND)
Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ)
Laura STANELYTE (LTU)
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)
Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)
Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)
Alisha HOWK (USA)
Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA)

57kg
Engracia PANDA (ANG)
Ana PELENDA (ANG)
Giullia PENALBER (BRA)
Alexandria TOWN (CAN)
Hannah TAYLOR (CAN)
Qi ZHANG (CHN)
Kexin HONG (CHN)
Anna MICHALCOVA (CZE)
Luisa VALVERDE (ECU)
Mathilde RIVIERE (FRA)
Elena BRUGGER (GER)
Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
Gerda TEREK (HUN)
Anna SZEL (HUN)
Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN)
Jeongae BARK (KOR)
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)
Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL)
Anhelina LYSAK (POL)
Patrycja GIL (POL)
Jowita WRZESIEN (POL)
Evelina HULTHEN (SWE)
Nova BERGMAN (SWE)
Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)
Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR)
Xochitl MOTA PETTIS (USA)
Amanda MARTINEZ (USA)
Alexandra HEDRICK (USA)
Betzabeth SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

59kg
Nikolett SZABO (HUN)
Viktoria BORSOS (HUN)
SARITA (IND)
Magdalena GLODEK (POL)
Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)
Olena NASIBOVA KREMZER (UKR)
Jennifer PAGE (USA)
Brenda REYNA (USA)

62kg
Angelina LELO (ANG)
Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL)
Ana GODINEZ (CAN)
Xiaojuan LUO (CHN)
Lydia PEREZ (ESP)
Viktoria VESSO (EST)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)
Yasmine SOLIMAN (HUN)
Eniko ELEKES (HUN)
Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ)
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Hanbit LEE (KOR)
Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA)
Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR)
Natalia KUBATY (POL)
Zuzanna WOLCZYNSKA (POL)
Kriszta INCZE (ROU)
Amina CAPEZAN (ROU)
Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR)
Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR)
Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR)
Kayla MIRACLE (USA)
Bridgette DUTY (USA)

65kg
Anne NUERNBERGER (GER)
Irina RINGACI (MDA)
Kadriye AKSOY (TUR)
Emma BRUNTIL (USA)

68kg
Sara LANDO (ANG)
Olivia DI BACCO (CAN)
Feng ZHOU (CHN)
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA)
Kendra DACHER (FRA)
Koumba LARROQUE (FRA)
Eyleen SEWINA (GER)
Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)
Karolina POK (HUN)
Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ)
Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
Tayla FORD (NZL)
Yanet SOVERO NINO (PER)
Natalia STRZALKA (POL)
Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL)
Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)
Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE)
Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Buse TOSUN (TUR)
Alla BELINSKA (UKR)
Alexandria GLAUDE (USA)
Forrest MOLINARI (USA)

72kg
Shauna KUEBECK (CAN)
Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN)
Dalma CANEVA (ITA)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)
Catalina AXENTE (ROU)
Alina RUDNYTSKA LEVYTSKA (UKR)

76kg
Justina DI STASIO (CAN)
Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN)
Juan WANG (CHN)
Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
Samar HAMZA (EGY)
Epp MAE (EST)
Cynthia VESCAN (FRA)
Francy RAEDELT (GER)
Veronika NYIKOS (HUN)
Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Seoyeon JEONG (KOR)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Patrycja SPERKA (POL)
Fanni NAGY (SRB)
Yasemin ADAR (TUR)
Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR)
Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR)
Dymond GUILFORD (USA)
Yelena MAKOYED (USA)