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

2026 U23 European Championships

Aliev, Amirov Comebacks Help Russia Win Three Greco Golds

Saturday, March 14, 2026 - 19:57 By Vinay Siwach

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 14) -- Imam ALIEV (RUS) had to win his final, twice.

Aliev was down 4-0 against Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA) in the 87kg Greco-Roman final at the U23 European Championships in Zrenjanin, Serbia.

Seeing an opportunity, Aliev wrapped his arms around Karchaidze and brought him down back first. He held the France wrestler to win via fall. However, France challenged for a foul and on review, an offensive leg foul was confirmed and the score reversed to 4-0 and the fall cancelled.

Imam ALIEV (RUS) celebrates after securing the fall over Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA) in the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

On restart, Aliev kept the pressure and used an arm drag to bring down Karchaidze who was back paddling towards the zone. On this occasion, Aliev secured the fall and on review after a challenge from France, the call was upheld.

The gold medal was Aliev's first continental medal to go along with his bronze from the 2023 U20 World Championships.

For Karchaidze, it was second straight silver medal at the U23 Europeans as he lost the final last year against Alperen BERBER (TUR). Incidentally, he lost that final via a fall as well.

Alibek AMIROV (RUS) won the 55kg gold medal at the U23 European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Aliev was one of the three Russian wrestlers who won gold medal in Zrenjanin on Saturday.

Alibek AMIROV (RUS) defended his 55kg title after a hard-fought 3-3 victory over Farid SADIKHLI (AZE) in the final. Sadikhli was on board first as Amirov was called passive in the first period.

As Sadikhli turned Amirov from par terre to score two points, Amirov reversed the position when he blocked Sadikhli and held him in danger to get two points. Sadikhli led 3-2 at the break but when Amirov got the par terre advantage in the second period, the Russian led 3-3 on criteria.

With a minute and five seconds left in the match, Amirov was offered another passivity advantage, without points, and he continued the match in standing rather than the usual par terre that wrestler ask for.

He defended his 3-3 criteria lead and won his second straight gold medal at the tournament.

Danil GRIGOREV (RUS) battles it out against Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM) during the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Last year's silver medalist at 72kg, Danil GRIGOREV (RUS) improved to gold medal, this year at 77kg. He defeated Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM), 1-1, in the gold medal bout.

Grigorev and Terteryan were both put in par terre in either period but both failed to score any points. Since Grigorev was the first to get passivity point, he held the winning criteria.

Aramasyis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), red, defeated U20 world champion Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) in the 130kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Armenia managed to recover and claim a gold medal as Aramasyis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) defeated Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), 1-1, in the 130kg final to claim his first ever medal.

Darabos, U20 European and world champion, was called passive in the first period and Harutyunyan in the second but both did not score any points. As a result, Harutyunyan claimed the criteria win.

Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) loads to launch a throw against Dordzhi SHUNGURTSIKOV (RUS) during the 63kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

World bronze medalist and defending champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) denied Dordzhi SHUNGURTSIKOV (RUS), 6-2, in the 63kg final to win gold. This was Eriomenco's fifth medal in six U23 European Championships.

When Shungurtsikov was put in par terre, Eriomenco scored a turn to lead 3-0. With just over a minute left, Eriomenco scored a stepout to extend his lead to 4-0 before Shungurtsikov was called passive and put in par terre which added another point to Eriomenco's score.

Eriomenco was happy with his 5-0 lead but gave up a takedown late in the final as Shungurtsikov cut the lead to 5-2. Russia challenged, asking for fleeing but were denied which made the score 6-2.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Alibek AMIROV (RUS) df. Farid SADIKHLI (AZE), 3-3

BRONZE: Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df. Sercan KESGIN (TUR), 9-0
BRONZE: Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO) df. Denis MIHAI (ROU), 5-5

63kg
GOLD: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Dordzhi SHUNGURTSIKOV (RUS), 6-2

BRONZE: Jan GAMELIUS (SWE) df. Marios KAPANTAIS (GRE), 11-3
BRONZE: Ilkin GURBANOV (AZE) df. Rati KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), via fall (8-3)

77kg
GOLD: Danil GRIGOREV (RUS) df. Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM), 1-1

BRONZE: Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO) df. Kiryl VALEUSKI (BLR), 8-6
BRONZE: Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR) df. Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA), 2-1

87kg
GOLD: Imam ALIEV (RUS) df. Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA), via fall (3-4)

BRONZE: Alperen BERBER (TUR) df. Martin LJOSAAK (NOR), 10-2
BRONZE: Yassine BEN LABED (POL) df. Patrik GORDAN (ROU), 3-1

130kg
GOLD: Aramayis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), 1-1

BRONZE: Alan DZABIEV (BUL) df. Sebastian WARCHOL (POL), 1-1
BRONZE: Aleksandr MELEKHOV (RUS) df. Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR), via fall (12-7)

Semifinals Results

60kg
GOLD: Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) vs. Giorgi KOCHALIDZE (GEO)

SF 1: Giorgi KOCHALIDZE (GEO) df. Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE), 3-1
SF 2: Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) df. Brian SANTIAGO (DEN), 9-1

67kg
GOLD: Daniial AGAEV (RUS) vs. William REENBERG (DEN)

SF 1: William REENBERG (DEN) df. Azat SARIYAR (TUR), 5-2
SF 2: Daniial AGAEV (RUS) df. Farid KHALILOV (AZE), 8-0

72kg
GOLD: Oliver PADA (FIN) vs. Rabil ASKEROV (RUS)

SF 1: Rabil ASKEROV (RUS) df. Leonard IURASCU (ROU), 9-0
SF 2: Oliver PADA (FIN) df. Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE), 7-3

82kg
GOLD: Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO) vs. Elmin ALIYEV (AZE)

SF 1: Elmin ALIYEV (AZE) df. Illia VALEUSKI (BLR), 8-2
SF 2: Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO) df. Gamzat GADZHIEV (RUS), 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) vs. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR)

SF 1: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) df. Robin USPENSKI (EST), 8-0
SF 2: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Darius KIEFER (GER), 6-1

WATCH: Grand Prix Zagreb Open Greco-Roman Finals

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Aliev, Amirov Comebacks Help Russia Win Three Greco Golds