European Games

World No.1's Beleniuk, Semenov Among Greco Semifinalists at European Games

By United World Wrestling Press

MINSK, Belarus (June 29) - World No.1 Greco-Roman wrestlers Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) and Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) were among the dozen wrestlers to reach the semifinals of the European Games in Greco-Roman on Saturday at the Minsk Sports Palace. 

Beleniuk, a 2015 world champion and 2016 Olympic silver medalist, opened his tournament at 87kg with a tough test against 2017 world champion Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM). The Armenian scored first and led 1-0 at the break, but Beleniuk scored five unanswered points in the second period to win 5-1. He then claimed a 9-1 technical superiority over Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL). Beleniuk will face world No.6 Radzik KULIYEU (BLR) in the semifinals.

Also at 87kg, two-time U23 world medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE) topped two-time world bronze medalist Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) in the quarterfinals. His semifinal opponent will be Ivan HUKLEK (CRO), who advanced to the semifinals by beating Bekkhan OZDOEV (RUS). Ozdoev knocked off two-time returning world champion Metehan BASAR (TUR) 5-0 in a preliminary match, scoring all five of his points in the opening period.

Semenov, a returning world champion and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, opened with a 2-0 victory over Jello KRAHMER (GER) before defeating U23 world silver medalist Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) 7-1 in the quarterfinals. He will now meet Kiryl HRYSHCHANKA (BLR), one of three semifinalists for Belarus. The other semifinal at 130kg pits world No.7 Oskar MARVIK (NOR) against European silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO).

Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), a 2016 Olympic champion and three-time world champion, had to come from behind in each of his first two matches on Saturday to reach the semifinals at 97kg. In his first match, Aleksanyan gave up the first point against 2017 world bronze medalist Revazi NADAREISHVILI (GEO), but came back to win 2-1. In the quarterfinals, Daniel GASTL (AUT) took a 1-0 lead on Aleksanyan to the break. The 27-year-old Armenian came back with three unanswered points in the second period to win 3-1. His semifinal opponent will be two-time U23 world champion Aleksandr GOLOVIN (RUS). 

Olympic bronze medalist Cenk ILDEM (TUR) moved into the semifinals at 97kg with a 7-5 victory over world No.5 Mihail KAJALA (SRB). Ildem will face Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR) in the semifinals.

Saturday's semifinal matches are scheduled to begin at 18:00 local time.

SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS

87kg
SEMIFINAL - Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) vs. Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Radzik KULIYEU (BLR) vs. Zhan BELENIUK (UKR)

97kg
SEMIFINAL - Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR) vs. Cenk ILDEM (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Aleksandr GOLOVIN (RUS) vs. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)

130kg
SEMIFINAL - Kiryl HRYSHCHANKA (BLR) vs. Sergey SEMENOV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) vs. Oskar MARVIK (NOR)
 

#WrestleBucharest

European Championships Day 3 women's wrestling semis set

By United World Wrestling Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 14) -- After two breathtaking days of Greco-Roman, the European Championships enters day three with women's wrestling. Five weight classes in action will be 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 REPORT

Semifinals for the evening session

50kg
Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) vs. Miglena SELISHKA (BUL)
Oksana LIVACH (UKR) vs. Mariya STADNIK (AZE)

55kg
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) vs. Roksana ZASINA (POL)
Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) vs. Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)

59kg
Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) vs. Patrycja GIL (POL)
Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) vs. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

68kg
Buse TOSUN (TUR) vs. Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Tetiana SOVA RIZHKO (UKR) vs. Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL)

76kg
Enrica RINALDI (ITA) vs. Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR)
Yasemin ADAR YIGIT (TUR) Bernadett NAGY (HUN)

13:00: Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) locked both of Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) arms and tried a pin. However, Nichita with a great defense to avoid the fall. She controls the remaining bout to win 7-2. 

12:40: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) falls to Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) in the 68kg quarterfinals. In a low-scoring bout, Hristova beats Larroque 3-2 at 68kg.

12:30: A fall for Bose TOSUN (TUR)! Khanum VALIEVA (AIN) thought she had a chance but failed to stop Tosun's attacks and got pinned. Tosun moves into the 68kg semifinal against Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)

12:22: Mariya STADNIK (AZE) rolls to a technical superiority win over Milana DADASHAEVA (AIN) and moves into the semifinals at 50kg. She is going for her 10th European title, already a record

12:15: Home favorite and defending champion at 55kg Andreea ANA (ROU) uses leg lace against Sezen BELBEROVA (BUL) and moves into the quarterfinals for Romania.

12:00: Defending champion at 59kg Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) begins with a technical superiority over Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) and she moves into the quarterfinals in which she will face Tamara DOLLAK (HUN)

11:45: Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) with a big upset at 76kg as she defeats former European champion Epp MAE (EST) 3-2 in the 1/8 finals Mae led 2-0 but was called passive before Gaucaite scored a stepout. Mae challenged the call but it was confirmed and a lost challenge made it 3-2 for Gaucaite.

11:30: Returning silver medalist Oksana LIVACH (UKR) scores four points in the first period and then holds Anna LUKASIAK (POL) in the second period for a 4-1 win at 50kg. She was cautioned for a hair pull which cost her a point.

11:15: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) has a slow start but she controls her opening bout against Noémi SZABADOS (HUN) well to win it 3-0 and advance to the quarterfinals at 68kg.

11:00: The qualification round of women's wrestling will begin with 68kg. Khanum VELIEVA (AIN) beats Laura GODINO (ITA), Tetiana SOVA RIZHKO (UKR) beats Eyleen SEWINA (GER) and Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) is pinned by Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE).

10:45: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO), in the Greco-Roman repechage at 82kg, gets a big 9-0 win over Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE).

10:30: Welcome to the third day of the European Championships and we have women's wrestling in five weight classes.