#WrestleBudapest: Akgul beats Petriashvili to capture ninth European title

Wednesday, March 30, 2022 - 21:29 By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 30) -- It was a lasting image. Taha AKGUL (TUR) and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) finished their 125kg final but had no energy to stand up for the winner's announcement. Instead, the two sat, perhaps admiring each other after another memorable chapter in their fancied rivalry. The embrace after the bout was even more emotional.

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.

Five wrestlers claimed gold on Wednesday night, but the biggest of the lot was the 125kg match-up. Akgul was under pressure after finishing with bronze at the Olympics and World Championships, while Petriashvili had won silver at those two events.

Akgul held the center in the first period while Petriashvili was satisfied to play it out. Akgul scored three step-outs and a takedown to lead 5-0 at the break. But Petriashvili leveled up in the second period. There were a few scrambles where Petriashvili nearly scored, but Akgul managed to sneak out.

The Rio Olympic champion went for a double leg, but Petraishvili countered that with a go behind and cut the Turkish legend's lead to 5-2. The Georgian finally had the break he wanted, but Akgul was determined to have the gold around his neck.

Akgul Taha AKGUL (TUR), blue, and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) after their 125kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

"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.

The Tokyo silver medalist enjoys a superior record against Akgul at the World Championships and the Turkey legend hopes he can break that streak soon.

"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."

But it will be interesting to see when Petriashvili steps on the mat again. After suffering a heartbreaking loss in the Olympic final in Tokyo, many questioned if he would call it quits. Instead, he tried to become a world champion in Oslo, which ended with a silver medal.

Silver in Budapest may be the final nail in the coffin for Petriashvili who stepped down from the podium waving to the small section of Georgian fans in the stands, thanking them for the support of one of Georgia's greatest ever wrestlers.

Akturk Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) added a senior European title to his U23 title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Turkey won its second gold at 92kg when Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) defeated Ahmed BATAEV (BUL), 6-1, in the 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."

Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) defended his 74kg European title in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

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.

The bout began with a big whizzer from Chamizo, which gave him four points. Salkazanov thought his opponent had stepped out and challenged the call. However, he lost the challenge, and Chamizo led 5-0.

But in the second period, Salkazanov scored an out-of-bounds takedown and then added another. He scored the first step-out with seven seconds remaining and then the final one at the end.

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."

It was similar to their 1/8 final bout of the '21 European Championships in Warsaw and where Salkazanov scored a four-pointer in the final 10 seconds to beat Chamizo.

But Salkazanov, who lost to Kyle DAKE (USA) in the final in Oslo, wants to better his result at the World Championships in Belgrade later this year.

"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."

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) won his second European gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) also 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.

Myles AMINE (SMR) defeated Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) in the 86kg final to claim the gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

San Marino wins first gold

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.

Amine, who finished second at the USA's NCAA final two weeks ago, performed with exceptional composure against Abakarov to secure the gold.

"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."

Amine was leading 5-4 at one point, but then he scored two takedowns in the final two minutes to steer clear of any Abakarov comeback.

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."

RESULTS

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

BRONZE: Eduard GRIGOREV (POL) df Besir ALILI (MKD), 12-2
BRONZE: Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) df Gamzatgadzhi KHALIDOV (HUN), via inj. def.

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

BRONZE: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) df Zurab KAPRAEV (ROU), 2-1
BRONZE: Giorgi SULAVA (GEO) df Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM), 17-5

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

BRONZE: Osman GOCEN (TUR) df Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR), 8-8
BRONZE: Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) df Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT), 6-0

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

BRONZE: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df Damian IGLESIAS VILELA (ESP), 11-0
BRONZE: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) df Georgii RUBAEV (MDA), 7-2

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

BRONZE: Robert BARAN (POL) df Abraham CONYEDO RUANO (ITA), 3-2
BRONZE: Daniel LIGETI (HUN) df Magomedgadzhi NURASULOV (SRB), 6-4

WW Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) vs Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR)

SF 1: Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) df Anna LUKASIAK (POL), 4-2
SF 2: Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR) df Emilia VUC (ROU), 8-5

55kg
GOLD: Andreea ANA (ROU) vs Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR)

SF 1: Andreea ANA (ROU) df Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 6-0
SF 2: Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) df Bediha GUN (TUR), via fall

59kg
GOLD: Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) vs Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

SF 1: Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) df Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE), 3-1
SF 2: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df Elena BRUGGER (GER), 8-0

68kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA) vs Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA)

SF 1: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE), via fall
SF 2: Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) df Natalia STRZALKA (POL), 3-2

76kg
GOLD: Epp MAEE (EST) vs Yasemin ADAR (TUR)

SF 1: Epp MAEE (EST) df Catalina AXENTE (ROU), 10-0
SF 2: Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df Bernadett NAGY (HUN), via fall

#WrestleNoviSad

Eriomenco, Farokhi run through U23 Worlds field to reach finals

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - 00:57 By Vinay Siwach

NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 20) -- Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) has already won the gold medal at the U23 World Championships. The Moldovan won gold in the 63kg weight class in Tirana, Albania last year.

In a bid to repeat, Eriomenco entered the 2025 edition as well, making it his fifth appearance the season-ending World Championships. Now, Eriomenco is one win away from defending his world title.

The recent bronze medalist in Zagreb, Eriomenco made it to the 63kg final at the U23 Worlds in Novi Sad, Serbia on Monday and will face a familiar opponent in the final in Ziya BABASHOV (AZE).

The two met in the U23 European Championships final earlier this year which Eriomenco won 3-1. However, Babashov had defeated the Moldovan in the final of the same tournament in 2024.

With the head-to-head locked at 1-1, Eriomenco and Babashov will clash Tuesday, the second day of the U23 Worlds which kicked off in Serbia on Monday with four Greco-Roman weight classes.

Iran and Ukraine had two finalists each while Georgia and Armenia also managed to get one each on the first day. Iran was led by world 82kg champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) who has moved up to 87kg but unbothered by the weight change. Defending champion at 130kg Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) returned to the final as well.

Eriomenco was heads above the field at 63kg as he won his four bouts via technical superiority. In the semifinals, he faced Kuttubek ABDURAZAKOV (KGZ) but had no trouble beating the Kyrgyzstan wrestler 10-1, scoring four turns from par terre.

Babashov on the other hand had to work hard for his 2-1 victory over Servet ANGI (TUR) in the other semifinal. He got on the scoreboard first as he scored a stepout using a two-on-one to lead 1-0. He was given the par terre position soon after but he failed to score. He still had a 2-0 lead going into the break.

Angi got his chance in the par terre in the second period but he failed to score any points over Babashov who defended his 2-1 lead to enter the final. He would now hope to repeat the performance from 2024 U23 Euro final which he won against Eriomenco 3-2.

At 87kg, Farokhi was also in top form, winning all his four bouts via technical superiority. He faced Payton JACOBSON (USA) in the semifinals but took no time as he rolled him four times from par terre to win 9-0 and advance to the final.

He will face Ivan CHMYR (UKR) for the gold medal bout after the Ukrainian defeated a surprise semifinalist in Yassine BEN LABED (POL), 2-1. Chmyr, who finished fifth at the U23 European Championships this year, held his own to beat Ben Labed.

Chmyr began with a win over Andrija MIHAJLOVIC (SRB) before beating Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO), 1-1. He then handed U23 Euro silver medalist Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA) a 3-1 defeat.

In the semifinals against Ben Labed, who had beaten Ruben GEVORGYAN (ARM), Deni NAKAEV (GER) and Brian RUIZ (VEN) to reach last four, Chmyr threw Ben Labed out of bounds from par terre to lead 2-0.

But when Ben Labed got a chance in par terre, there were no points scored and Chmyr booked a place in the final against world champion Farokhi.

Hedayati, the multiple-time age-group world champion, is closer to another title at 130kg after he reached the final. He defeated Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), 4-0, in the semifinals using a stepout and a takedown on either side of the par terre position.

He will face Ramzik KURDYAN (ARM) in the final after the Armenian defeated Aleksandr MELEKHOV (UWW), 5-1, in the final. Kurdyan, who has a silver from U17 Worlds in 2019, rolled Melekhanov twice from par terre after defending his par terre position to win 5-1.

At 77kg, Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR) upset European 72kg champion Levente LEVAI (HUN), 2-2, to reach the final as he looks to better his silver medal from 2022. Levai had a clear 2-1 lead in the semifinals when he scored takedown on the edge.

Levai increased his lead to 4-1 but Ukraine challenged and a foul was confirmed by Levai and he docked a point for stepping out which made the score 2-2 with Mirzoiev lead on last-point scored criteria. He defended that lead to reach the final for the second time in his career.

Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO) will try to stop him from winning the gold medal on Tuesday after he got the better of U23 Asian champion Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), 6-2.

Nakibov got the first par terre position but was blocked by Orjonikidze who scored a reversal and turn to lead 3-1. Georgia challenged asking for four points and on review it was confirmed that Nakibov fell in danger for four points.

With a 5-1 lead, Orjonikidze went into the passive mode and was put down in par terre in the second period. Nakibov tried to score with a turn but Orjonikidze never came in danger.

Uzbekistan challenged asking for two points but it was lost, giving one more point to Orjonikidze who won 6-2 and reach the final.

RESULTS

63kg
GOLD: Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) vs. Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA)

SF 1: Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) df. Servet ANGI (TUR), 2-1
SF 2: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Kuttubek ABDURAZAKOV (KGZ), 10-1

77kg
GOLD: Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO) vs. Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR)

SF 1: Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO) df. Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), 6-2
SF 2: Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR) df. Levente LEVAI (HUN), 2-2

87kg
GOLD: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) vs. Ivan CHMYR (UKR)

SF 1: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) df. Payton JACOBSON (USA), 9-0
SF 2: Ivan CHMYR (UKR) df. Yassine BEN LABED (POL), 2-1

130kg
GOLD: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) vs. Razmik KURDYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), 4-0
SF 2: Razmik KURDYAN (ARM) df. Aleksandr MELEKHOV (UWW), 5-1

#WrestleBudapest: Akgul beats Petriashvili to capture ninth European title

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Eriomenco, Farokhi run through U23 Worlds field to reach finals