WATCH: Grand Prix Zagreb Open Greco-Roman Finals

Monday, January 31, 2022 - 16:23 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 31) -- Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) led his country to three gold medals at the Grand Prix Zagreb Open Sunday, marking his comeback to the competition after Tokyo Olympics with a gold. Volodymyr YAKOVLIEV (UKR) at 77kg and Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) at 82kg were the other two gold medalists from Ukraine in the Croatian capital.

Turkey also had three gold medal winners which helped them claim the Greco-Roman team title with Ahmet UYAR (TUR), Murat FIRAT (TUR) and Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) finishing at the top of the podium. Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR), Adullah TOPRAK (TUR) and Fatih BOZKURT (TUR) won silver medals.

Ukraine finished second with 129 points, 51 points short of Turkey. Norway was third in the team ranking as they collected 77 points. Romania and Sweden finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Apart from Turkey and Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Belarus and Norway each had a champion.

After missing the home World Championships in Oslo last year, Felix BALDAUF (NOR) returned to win the 97kg gold medal by beating Mikalai STADUB (BLR) 4-0 in the final. He won a point for Stadub's passivity to lead 1-0 at the break. The Belarusian was again called passive in the second period which extended Baldauf's lead to 2-0. He fended off a desperate move from Stadub to win 4-0.

Young star Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) had an unfortunate end to his dream run in the tournament as Radzik KULIYEV (BLR) pulled off a 1-1 win for the 87kg gold medal. The Belarusian had the criteria after six minutes of the bout.

Ukraine had the chance to win the fourth gold medal but Viktor PETRYK (UKR) pulled out of the 60kg final to finish with a silver and Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) was named the champion.

Denis MIHAI (ROU) also denied a gold medal to Ukraine when he defeated Koriun SAHRADIAN (UKR) 11-6 after mounting a comeback in the 55kg Round 3 bout. Mihai was trailing 3-6 but stuck a arm-throw at the break to lead7-6. He kept on the pressure and ultimately scored two more takedowns in the second period. The weight class was played under the Nordic system and Mihai became the champion as he won both his bouts while Sahradin finished with a 1-1 record.

Uyar defeated compatriot Yildirim 5-3 in a back-and-forth 63kg title to win the gold medal. Yildirim lead 3-1 with two minutes remaining but Uyar scored a four-point throw with 41 seconds remaining.

At 67kg, Firat dominated proceedings in the final as he beat Morten THORESEN (NOR) 4-1. He was awarded a point for Thoresen's inactivity and then scored two points for a throw. A pushout gave him one more. Thoresen got a point in the second period but could take advantage of the par terre position.

Yakoliev defeated Albin OLOFSSON (SWE) 8-1 in a one-sided final at 77kg. Olofsson tried a headlock but Yakoliev finished on top and then got the turn to lead 4-0. The Ukraine wrestler was passive but Olofsson did not score any points from par terre. The two got in a body lock and Yakoliev threw for four more points, winning 8-1.

At 82kg, Filchakov spoiled the party for the home fans as he beat local star Filip SACIC (CRO) 3-1 in the final. Sacic got the first point but Filchakov scored from reversal and led 1-1 at the break. Sacic almost got a takedown in the second period but the Filchakov managed to reverse it before the Croatian took control. Two points were awarded to Filchakov as he won 3-1.

At 130kg, Turkey's Yildirim and Bozkurt were in for a tense battle but the latter had to forfeit because of injury just 18 seconds into the bout. Yildirim would claim the gold while Bozkurt finished with a silver medal.

ZAGREB OPEN FINAL RESULTS

55kg Denis MIHAI (ROU) df Koriun SAHRADIAN (UKR) 11-6
60kg Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df Viktor PETRYK (UKR) via injury
63kg Ahmet UYAR (TUR) df Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR) 5-3
67kg Murat FIRAT (TUR) df Morten THORESEN (NOR) 4-1
72kg Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) df Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) 2-1
77kg Volodymyr YAKOVLIEV (UKR) df Albin OLOFSSON (SWE) 8-1
82kg Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) df Filip SACIC (CRO) 3-1
87kg Radzik KULIYEU (BLR) df Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) 1-1
97kg Felix BALDAUF (NOR) df Mikalai STADUB (BLR) 4-0
130kg Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) df Fatih BOZKURT (TUR) via injury

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Women's Wrestling Preview: 53kg Wide Open

Friday, July 10, 2026 - 12:03 By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 9) -- Preview for United World Wrestling Budapest Ranking Series 2026.

The 53kg weight class will crown a new world champion in Astana later this year after 2025 world champion Haruna MARUYAMA (JPN) failed to qualify through Japan's domestic trials and Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) moved up to 57kg.

The Budapest Ranking Series, scheduled for July 15-19, will offer an early look at the contenders as many of the world's top wrestlers at 53kg gather for the final Ranking Series event of the year.

WATCH LIVE | BUDAPEST RANKING SERIES ENTRIES

Asian champion Jin ZHANG (CHN) headlines the field, which also includes world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND), 55kg European champion Andreea ANA (ROU), former European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) and United States world team member Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA).

While two leading contenders for the world title, Lucia GUZMAN (ECU) and Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), are not entered, the rest of the field is expected to play a significant role in the medal race in Astana in one of the year's most open weight classes.

Zhang put together a dominant performance at the Asian Championships, highlighted by a victory via fall over Kiyooka. Antim has previous wins over both Zhang and Malmgren and will face another stern test in Budapest while Ana brings considerable international experience. Rodriguez, a former U20 world champion, lost to Guzman at the Pan-American Championships, but her aggressive style continues to make her a difficult opponent.

Joining Zhang on China's team is Yuxuan LI (CHN), a two-time 55kg Asian silver medalist with the ability to upset the favorites. Veteran Roksana ZASINA (POL) is also entered, adding another experienced challenger to the field.

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Tough 68kg Bracket

The 53kg weight class isn't the only one which is offering early insights. The 68kg competition is expected to be equally competitive despite the absence of world champion Ami ISHII (JPN) and bronze medalist Kennedy BLADES (USA).

The field includes Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), former world champion Jia LONG (CHN), 72kg world silver medalist Nesrin BAS (TUR), and former European champion Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR).

Zhumanazarova claimed the Asian title in April and enters Budapest as the favorite, with Long expected to be her biggest challenger. Bas and Shauchuk were set to meet in the European Championships final before the latter withdrew, handing Bas the title.

U23 world champion Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS) will look to win her second consecutive Ranking Series medal after taking silver at the Ulaanbaatar Open. Both European bronze medalists, Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) and Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE), also add depth to the field.

Bullen vs Tandelova II (WATCH: Bullen's Insane Comeback)

A rematch of this year's European Championships final could take place at 62kg after Grace BULLEN (NOR) produced one of the most remarkable comebacks of the season, rallying from a 9-1 deficit to pin Amina TANDELOVA (RUS).

They will be joined by a strong field that includes former world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN), world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), and European medalists Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) and Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR). The field also includes Pan-Am champion Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) and former U20 world champion Eniko ELEKES (HUN), who will have the backing of the home crowd.

Nichita Returns

Olympic silver medalist Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) will compete for the first time in nearly two years. Nichita, who became a mother after the Paris Olympics, returns at 59kg as she begins another Olympic cycle.

While she will be expected to win, making her return challenging will be Asian bronze medalist NEHA (IND), former world medalist Othelie HOEIE (NOR), European champion Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), veteran Jowita WRZESIEN (POL), among others in the field.

Wrestling Kexin HONG (CHN) Kexin HONG (CHN) is the Asian champion at 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

China's Depth

Two Chinese wrestlers, Kexin HONG (CHN) and Mengyu XIE (CHN), could dominate the 57kg bracket. Both Asian champions, at 57kg and 59kg respectively, Hong and Xie will be challenged by European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR), European bronze medalist Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), and Amanda MARTINEZ (USA).

India is sending age-group world medalist Neha SHARMA (IND) and U20 world champion TAPSYA (IND).

European champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR) enters as the favorite at 50kg but Olympic and Asian bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) is among the strongest wrestlers in the weight class and will be a marquee match-up if the two meet.

Other top wrestlers include Pan-American champion Katie GOMEZ (USA) and Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS), capable of upsetting the favorites. Canada has an interesting entry with former 53kg U17 world champion Kaura COLES (CAN), who is making her senior UWW debut at 50kg.

Four extremely talented wrestlers are entered at 72kg with former world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), European silver medalist Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), Zagreb Open silver medalist Diksha MALIK (IND) and U23 Asian champion Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ). With only three medals available, one of those four contenders will leave Budapest empty-handed.

Note: This preview was uploaded before Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) pulled out of the competition.