WATCH: #WrestleBudapest Freestyle Finals

Thursday, March 31, 2022 - 10:11 By Eric Olanowski

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 31) --- The freestyle portion of the 2022 European Championships lived up to the hype in the Hungarian capital. Taha AKGUL (TUR), one of wrestling's biggest stars, added a ninth European gold medal to his resume, while new stars Georgios Kougioumtsidis (GRE), Magomedkhan Magomedov (AZE) and Myles AMINE (SMR) introduced themselves to the wrestling world en route to winning their first continental titles.

Here are the ten freestyle finals from the #WrestleBudapest European Championships.

57kg: Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) df. Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE), 8-6

Vladimir Egorov (MKD) wins the European gold medal for North Macedonia finishing a 23-year wait by defeating the U23 World Champion Aliabbas Rzazade (AZE) at 57kg.

Egorov began with a takedown. That was the only action in the first period and he led 2-0 at the break. But the second period saw him come out with an arm-trap and he scored six straight points to lead 8-0. Rzazade tried making it interesting with six points in the second period but the bout was not as close as the 8-6 scoreline suggests.

61kg: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Suleyman ATLI (TUR), 15-3

Arsen Harutyunyan (ARM) won his second European gold medal as he defeated former world silver medalist Suleyman Atli (TUR) in the 61kg final. In a dominating performance, Harutyunyan won, 15-3.

Harutyunyan caught Atli by surprise when he threw him for four and then leg laced to lead 6-0. Another single-leg takedown made it 8-0 but Armenia asked for another exposure and the win. He lost the challenge and Atli scored a takedown to cut the Armenian's lead to 8-3.

The U23 World champion went straight on the offensive in the second period and got the takedown, during which Atli called for a medical timeout. When the bout resumed, Atli was forced in par terre, and Harutyunyan managed to finish the bout 15-3 with two gut wrenches.

65kg: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) df. Haji ALIYEV (AZE), 12-1

Iszmail Muszukajev (HUN) may have broken his infamous curse of fizzling out in the second period of the bout.

What fans witnessed Tuesday was a different Muszukajev who not only ended Hungary's 19-year wait for a freestyle European champion, he destroyed two-time Olympic medalist Haji Aliyev (AZE) with a 12-1 victory in the 65kg final. "I didn’t expect that score," Muszukajev said.

"The opponent is really good and last time it was really difficult to win. This time I was in a better shape, after the Olympics I got down to training straight away and I was mentally preparing for the European Championships."

Muszukajev has once again put himself in the mix of top wrestlers at the deepest weight category in the world. He is now a European champion in Hungary, ending the 21-year wait for the host nation.

70kg: Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) df. Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), 2-1

At 70kg, 2017 world champion Zurabi Iakobishvili (GEO) captured his first-ever European title when he defeated Arman Andreasyan (ARM) in the final, 2-1.

"I had the gold medal of the Worlds but not a European gold," Iakobishvili said. "That's why I came here to Hungary and I am happy I’ve won it.

74kg: Tajmuraz Mairbekovic SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA), 7-5

At 74kg, Tajmuraz Salkazanov (SVK) defended his gold medal against two-time world champion Frank Chamizo (ITA) in a thrilling final, winning it 7-6 in the final second. Chamizo was set to win 5-5 on criteria, but Salkazanov managed to score a step-out before the clock expired to take the win.

Despite his back-to-back golds, the Oslo silver medalist was not satisfied with his wrestling and thought he could have won it a little easier.

"I am not satisfied with my wrestling," Salkazanov said. "In the beginning, I made a mistake, but even after that I didn't give up, I believed that I could win till the very end. I saw he stepped out and it seemed to me that I got the point. When I threw the challenge, I was still ready to keep wrestling. I was thinking that even if I get that one point, it doesn't mean anything. I had to do my best on the mat. So, I made it happen. I tried hard to attack and I made it."

"My main goal is to become the world champion," he said. "Last year I was one step away from it. After that, I was so disappointed because I was supposed to win that match. I hope this year I will make it happen."

79kg: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE), 7-6

Georgios Kougioumtsidis (GRE) became Greece's first-ever freestyle European champion after he won the 79kg gold.

Two weeks earlier, Kougioumtsidis had won the U23 European Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and was unsure of participating in the senior event. But after the perusal of his father and trainer, he accepted the challenge. "They told me that this experience can help me later in my career," Kougioumtsidis said.

"I am so proud and happy to be my country's first-ever gold medalist."

86kg: Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR) df. Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), 9-5

Tokyo bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR) added another page to San Marino's wrestling history when he won the nation's first-ever European Championships gold by beating Oslo bronze medalist Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), 9-5, in the final.

"He [Abakarov] is funky," Amine said. "I got in on that first shot and it felt too easy. His left leg is his best defense so I tried to get my attacks on his right leg and that kind of started working and I opened up my attacks. He was a guy that I had to adapt against otherwise I was going to probably lose that match."

Since winning San Marino's first-ever Olympic medal in wrestling, Amine has been improving and looks to continue that.

"Two weeks ago, I had a tough loss in the final of NCAA," he said. "I beat the guy in the final of Big 10 Championships. I was excited to come and compete to put that loss behind me. As much as I say that I have to agree that in the last 10 months, I have been blessed by god."

"I will take a few weeks off and come back again because that worked after Olympics. Go back to the drawing board and see where I can improve. I am sure I need to improve my par terre."

92kg: Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) df. Ahmed Sultanovich BATAEV (BUL), 6-1

Feyzullah Akturk (TUR) added a senior European title to his U23 title by defeating Ahmed Bataev (BUL), 6-1, in the 92kg final. Akturk scored four step-outs and a takedown in a final, which he called 'exhausting.' "I very proud to win and carry the [Turkey] flag," Akturk said.

"The final was exhausting but with the gold medal, all the burden of the final fight fades away."

97kg: Magomedkhan Magomedovitch MAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Vladislav BAITSAEV (HUN)

At 97kg, Magomedkhan Magomedov (AZE) wrestled Vladislav Baitsaev (HUN) in the summit clash and used two four-point throws in his 11-5 win. That result gave Azerbaijan its first gold of the night.

"I have wrestled Baitsaev before," Magomedov said. "I understood his wrestling and thankfully I was able to win my first gold."

125kg: Taha AKGUL (TUR) df. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 5-2

Akgul, the defending European champion, defeated Petriashvili, 5-2, in the 125kg gold medal bout at the European Championships in Budapest, Hungary. He won his ninth European title and extended his head-to-head record against the Georgian at the Continental Championships to 5-1.

"It was my goal to come here and break my own record of eight European gold," Akgul said.

"It was a great fight against a great wrestler." The mutual admiration between the two was visible at the medal ceremony, where Petriashvili did not hesitate to congratulate Akgul for his ninth title. "It's always dramatic with Geno [Petriashvili]," Akgul said.

"It's crazy that I keep beating him at the Europeans but he has a streak against me at the Worlds. So I will try to keep winning the gold at Euros and will soon break his streak against me at the World Championships."

#WrestleBudapest

Turkey Gets First Champ as Four Countries Win #WrestleBudapest WW Titles

Thursday, July 22, 2021 - 20:10 By Vinay Siwach

The Tuske Csarnok stadium in Budapest has seen a lot of historic feats over the years in wrestling. It witnessed yet another historic day as four countries crowed five world champions Thursday.

At the cadet World Championships, Turkey got their first-ever woman world champion while home country Hungary also won the gold medal, eight years since their last, at home. India had two world champions while Ukraine won their first title in six years.

Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) became her country's first ever cadet world champion since Turkey began participating in the tournament from 2011 – the year the Championships were reinstated in the calendar. In the 49kg final she defeated Tindra DALMYR (SWE) 4-0 to capture the gold medal.

Her two takedowns came in the first period and then she defended the lead despite continuous efforts from Dalmyr to get an opening. Ilyasoglu was at a loss of words after the win.

“I can't explain how I feel now,” Ilyasoglu said. “I am now the world champion, it was my goal, I believed in myself and won the title in the end."

Talking about the final bout, she said that she was excited before going on the mat but once she was there, she felt confident. The 17-year-old credited her coach for the win.

“My coach Elis Yldiz prepared me for the World Championships,” she said. “She paid for herself to come here to support me. I heard everything she was shouting.”

Now the Turk wrestler wants to repeat her golden performance in a month's time. “The next step is the junior World Championships in Ufa. My goal is to win another gold there.”

Eniko ELEKES (HUN) won the gold at 65kg in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Eniko ELEKES (HUN) received the loudest cheer from her Hungarian teammates as she claimed the 65kg world title in her home city by beating Ekaterina OLEINIKOVA (RUS) 10-6 in the final.

It was a tough victory as she trailed 2-4 at the end of the first period but racked up eight points compared to Oleinikova's two to secure the victory. Despite her thrilling win, the celebrations were subdued from the local girl.

“I don't feel something different. I am the same,” Elekes said but added “it feels different when I wrestle in different countries. Here, Hungarians are screaming”

The 16-year-old who trains in Budapest won the cadet European title just a month ago in dominating fashion and is now moving up to the junior group. But she has to go step-by-step.

“The first step is to wrestle in junior in Hungary and be the champion,” she said. “I have never wrestled at junior before.”

PRIYA IND Priya MALIK (IND) won the 73kg world title in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Out of the five golds, India captured two at 43kg and 73kg as Tannu MALIK (IND) and Priya MALIK (IND) dominated their finals. The two had incredible run at the competition and did not concde a single points their four respective matches.

At 43kg, Malik wrestled like a pro and her constant snapping made Valeryia MIKITSICH (BLR) struggle to hold positions. Every time the Belarusian tried to attack, Malik's strength would proved to be too much for her.

The Indian continued with a series of takedowns and finally exposed her opponent to the back to get the fall. In her previous three bouts, Malik had a wins via fall, technical superiority and fall, scoring 42 points over her opponents.

“I was a little nervous before the final,” Malik said. “But I had trained hard for this. Everyone is so happy.”

The Malik at 73kg was a little less dominant as she scored 30 points over her opponents but was equally superior. She also defeated a wrestler from Belarus to capture the gold medal at 73kg.

Kseniya PATAPOVICH (BLR) gave up a stepout point before two takedowns on either side of the break to surrender the final to the Indian.

Incidentally, the two hail from villages that have already seen produced world champions. Tannu Malik hails from Nidani in Jind, Haryana, the same village from which former cadet world champion and Tokyo Olympian Anshu MALIK (IND) comes from.

Priya Malik was born in Mokhra village which has produced the likes of India's first-ever woman Olympic medalist in wrestling Sakshi MALIK (IND).

Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) claimed the world title at 49kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Ukraine also had a world champion as Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) denied Svenja JUNGO (SUI) a historical gold at 49kg. She dominanted the final for a 11-0 win. She scored six points in the first period and five in the second. It was Ukraine's first gold medal at cadet Worlds after six years.

“It's great to be the world champion,” Yerfremova said. “I am so thankful to people who supported me. I am glad it all happened. I was sure I would win the bout.”

She revealed that it was a pleasant surprise for her and her family to win the gold medal.

“My dad and uncle [coaches] were shocked when I got the gold medal. I also didn't expect that to happen. I still can't believe in it,” she said.

USA gets three finalists

Amit ELOR (USA) will wrestle for the 69kg gold in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Returning bronze medalist Amit ELOR (USA) led the way as USA entered three wrestlers in the final, one more than Russia. Romania, India, Azerbaijan Ukraine and Bulgaria managed one each Thursday.

Elor was so dominant in Budapest that she only wrestled for a minute and 41 seconds over two bouts, winning both of them via technical superiority.

Barbara SERE (ROU) and Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR) were the two victims of Elor's wrath as she looks to win her first world title after losing in the semifinal last time.

“I feel amazing. The last time I competed at cadet Worlds, I lost my semifinal match,” the 17-year-old said. “To go out there and win is amazing.”

In the final, she will face Yevheniia SIEDYKH (UKR) who finished 10th at the 2019 edition in Sofia. The Ukrainian was also on song Thursday as she reached the final without conceding a single point.

Elor said she will like to work on some defence in the final. “I am going to work on defence of two techniques that my opponent will do and rest,” she said.

At 40kg, Erica PASTORIZA (USA) reached the final defearing her two opponents 10-0 and 4-0. She will wrestle Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU) in the final. The Romanian was lucky to escape the Elvina KARIMZADA (AZE) in the semifinal as she was trailing 5-2 but Karimzada tried for a big four. She ended up on her back to give Voiculescu four points.

“I was so nervous,” Pastoriza said who came to Budapest with her mother. “She was fast but I controlled her till the end of the match. For the final, I will get my head in it and not worry about it.”

Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) will like to add to her European title. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Katie GOMEZ (USA) was the third wrestler from USA to enter the final after a 9-1 win over Tuba DEMIR (TUR) in the semifinal. But she will wrestle cadet European champion Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) in the 53kg final.

With Beijing Olympic silver medalist Alena KARTASHOVA (RUS) and two-time World silver medalist Lorisa OORZHAK (RUS) in her corner, Khramenkova wrestled tough throughout the day to reach the final.

“I train in a very small town of Russia in Tetyushi, Tatarstan,” the 17-year-old said. “I was a bit anxious before stepping on the mat, but the moment I was there all the nerves were gone. I did what I was supposed to do. Everything my coach told me to do. I calmed down since I am now in the final match already.”

Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS) was the second Russian to reach the final as she booked the spot at 61kg. With wins recorded via technical superiority, fall and fall, Khusainova would like to finish the tournament with a gold medal.

But in her parth will be Sofi TENEVA (BUL). She scored two comebacks in the three matches to reach the final against Khusainova.

KOMAL IND KOMAL (IND) will defend her world title in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 46kg, returning world champion from 43kg in 2019, KOMAL (IND) secured the spot in the final against Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE). Komal survived a scare in the quarterfinal against Ava WARD (USA) as she trailed 7-4. But Komal produced the fall and later humbled Sviatlana KATENKA (BLR) 11-0 in the semifinal.

Mammadova too got a pin in the semifinal against Sevval CAYIR (TUR) after the Turkey wrestler went for a double leg but could not finish. Mammadova used this to pin Cayir to her back and get the fall.

“I hope I’ll win the gold medal. My semifinal bout was great,” Mammadova said. “I did everything I could. In the final I’ll wrestle either against an Indian girl or Belarusian, but it doesn’t matter to me.”

Greco-Roman wrestling will begin in Budapest on Friday with five weight classes apart from the medal bouts of the women in the evening session.

RESULTS: WW Medal Bouts

43kg
GOLD: Tannu MALIK (IND) df Valeryia MIKITSICH (BLR), via fall

BRONZE: Angelina DILL (USA) df Aida ALZHANOVA (KAZ), via fall
BRONZE: Liliana KAPUVARI (HUN) df Eda ERSOY (TUR), via fall

49kg
GOLD: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df Svenja JUNGO (SUI), 11-0

BRONZE: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) df Delia VOICULESCU (ROU), 10-0
BRONZE: Sevim AKBAS (TUR) df Wiktoria KAMELA (POL), 10-6

57kg
GOLD: Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) df Tindra DALMYR (SWE), 4-0

BRONZE: Uladzislava KUDZIN (BLR) df Tancholpon KYBALBEKOVA (KGZ), 10-5 BRONZE:Angelina PERVUKHINA (RUS) df Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 9-6

65kg
GOLD: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df Ekaterina OLEINIKOVA (RUS), 10-6

BRONZE: VARSHA (IND) df Duygu GEN (TUR), via fall
BRONZE: Khurshida KASIMOVA (UZB) df Daria KONSTANTYNOVA (UKR), 8-3

73kg
GOLD: Priya MALIK (IND) df Kseniya PATAPOVICH (BLR), 5-0

BRONZE: Lillian FREITAS (USA) df Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 4-0
BRONZE: Mariia AKULINCHEVA (RUS) df Veronika NYIKOS (HUN), via fall

RESULTS: Semifinal bouts

40kg
GOLD: Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU) vs Erica PASTORIZA (USA)

SF 1: Erica PASTORIZA (USA) df Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR), 4-0
SF 2: Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU) df Elvina KARIMZADA (AZE), 6-5

46kg
GOLD: KOMAL (IND) vs Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE)

SF 1: Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) df Sevval CAYIR (TUR), via fall
SF 2: KOMAL (IND) df Sviatlana KATENKA (BLR), 11-0

53kg
GOLD: Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) vs Katie GOMEZ (USA)

SF 1: Katie GOMEZ (USA) df Tuba DEMIR (TUR), 9-1
SF 2: Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) df Annatina LIPPUNER (SUI), 11-6

61kg
GOLD: Sofi TENEVA (BUL) vs Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS)

SF 1: Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS) df Nitika NITIKA (IND), via fall
SF 2: Sofi TENEVA (BUL) df Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR), 6-4

69kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) vs Yevheniia SIEDYKH (UKR)

SF 1: Yevheniia SIEDYKH (UKR) df HARSHITA (IND), 9-0
SF 2: Amit ELOR (USA) df Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR), via fall