#WrestleBudapest

#WrestleBudapest: European Championships freestyle bracket reactions

By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 27) -- The European Championships get underway Monday in Budapest, Hungary with five freestyle weight classes. The competition will see 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg on the first day.

The brackets for the freestyle weights were drawn Monday with the four-seed system put in place for the first time at a competition.

Here are the freestyle brackets could play over the next two days.

57kg (12 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
No. 2 Mikyay NAIM (BUL)
No. 3 Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO)
No. 4 Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)

U23 world champion Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) will be wrestling Levan METREVELI VARTANOV (ESP) in the opening round and the winner will take on number two seed Mikyay NAIM (BUL).

Top seed Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) will be waiting for the winner of Gary GIORDMAINA (MLT) and Niklas STECHELE (GER) for his quarterfinal bout. He also has the best chance to jump up in the rankings. Currently, he's ranked 15th with 17000 points. He will jump to ninth-place with a top-two finish. However, if he finishes with a bronze medal, he'll still be ranked 10th.

Georgia's Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) is seeded third and will have the winner of Martin ZIDZIK (SVK) and Razvan KOVACS (ROU) in the quarterfinal. For rankings, he is currently ranked 21st with 11400 points. A gold could help him break into the top-15.

61kg (13 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
No. 2 Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)
No. 3 Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
No. 4 Eduard GRIGOREV (POL)

Another U23 world champion Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) is the favorite to win the gold at 61kg. He is also the top seed in the weight class and will wait for the winner of Adam BIBOULATOV (BUL) and Besir ALILI (MKD) for his first match. He is also looking to win his first continental title at the senior level and jump from the fourth rank to second.

A favorite to win the title and third seed Suleyman ATLI (TUR) and second seed Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) can meet in the semifinal but they have to go through Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) and Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO) to reach there.

Vangelov can also break into the top-four by winning gold while Atli, ranked 18th with 8520 points, can be the seventh if he reaches the final.

65kg (13 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
No. 2 Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
No. 3 Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
No. 4 Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)

A fan-favorite match-up at 65kg between Haji ALIYEV (AZE) and Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) can be the final in Budapest. But for that, the two have to win their side of the bracket which some big names like Munir AKTAS (TUR) and world champion Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) for Aliyev, Stevan MICIC (SRB) and Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM) for Muszukajev. 

Aliyev can also improve his ranking from fourth to second if he can win the gold medal. However, he will be third with silver and remain fourth with any other result.

Number two seed Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL), ranked 10th, has 25000 points and can remove Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) at fifth by winning the gold medal.

For Muszukajev, he can only be seventh if he wins gold in Budapest but will remain at the same rank if he fails to win a medal.

70kg (16 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)
No. 2 Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)
No. 3 Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA)

With 16 participants in the weight category, 70kg will begin with pre-quarters and top seed Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) has Marc DIETSCHE (SUI) in the opening round. The winner will get the winner Daniel CHOMANIC (SVK) and Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) in the quarterfinals. An interesting match-up for Iakobishvili can occur against U23 European champion Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) in the semifinal.

In rankings, Iakobishvili is in the third position and will overtake first-placed Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), who has 45520 points, even with a ninth-place finish. 

From the lower side of the bracket, Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR), second seed Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) and third seed Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA) will be wrestling for the two semifinal spots.

Andreasyan will be ranked fourth if he can finish 10th or better while Grahmez is ranked 20th but will be in the top-eight if he can reach the medal bouts in Budapest.

74kg (17 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
No. 2 Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)
No. 3 Hetik CABOLOV (SRB)
No. 4 Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL)

The deepest weight class in Budapest will be 74kg and like the last European Championships, a rematch between defending champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) and Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) will be for the gold medal. But he has Kamil RYBICKI (POL) in the first round and in all likelihood wrestle Malik AMINE (SMR) in the quarterfinals.

Fourth seed Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL) will be a big test in the semifinals if Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) cannot make it to the last four from the top side.

Salkazanov has 37000 points and is ranked fifth but can be second if he wins the gold medal in Budapest. He is guaranteed to be ranked third after the competition.

Two-time world champion Chamizo is seeded second and wrestles Giorgi SULAVA (GEO) in the first round. If he wins, he will get the winner for Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR) and Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR).

A semifinal against third seed Hetik CABALOV (SRB) is also on the cards for Chamizo who has a chance to break into the top-six by winning any medal.

Ranked 12th, Cabolov will be a top-10 wrestler if he can wrestle for a medal in Budapest.

Bayramov and Demitras, ranked 16th and 19th, respectively, also fall in the same category but they need to win gold to be in the top-10.

79kg (14 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Arman AVAGYAN (ARM)
No. 2 Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
No. 3 Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA)
No. 4 Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)

Despite garnering the No. 1 seed, Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) has one of the toughest roads to the finals. He’ll have to get through the winner of the fourth-seeded Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) or Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) to improve on his fifth-place finish from last season. In Warsaw last year, the Armenian fell to eventual European champion Gulaev, 11-1, in the quarterfinals before dropping his bronze-medal match against Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO).

The bottom side of the chart is highlighted by reigning U23 world champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) and European runner-up Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA). The Greek wrestler is seeded second, while Alekma is seeded third. 

86kg (15 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Myles AMINE (SMR)
No. 2 Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
No. 3 Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
No. 4 Osman GOCEN (TUR)

A week removed from a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships, San Marino’s Myles AMINE returns to competition as the top-seeded wrestler at 86kg. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist will be looking for his third consecutive European medal. He finished in second and third, respectively, in ’20 and ’21.

His toughest test on the top side will be the fourth-seeded Osman GOCEN (TUR). The Turkish wrestler is coming off five wins at the Yasar Dogu – including a semifinal win against Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB).

World medalists Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) and Boris MAKOEV (SVK) are the second and third, respectively. 

Makoev, the Paris world runner-up, has the tougher road of the two. He’ll likely have European Games bronze medalist Ahmed DUDAROV (GER) in the quarterfinals before meeting last year’s Oslo bronze medalist Abakarov for a spot in the finals.

92kg (10 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
No. 2 Georgii RUBAEV (MDA)
No. 3 Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)

Top seed and Oslo bronze medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) should not have a hard time reaching the final at 92kg from the top side of the bracket. He is ranked fourth with 31000 points and is likely to move to the second spot with a medal in Budapest.

Second seed Georgii RUBAEV (MDA) will face the winner of Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) and Benjamin GREIL (AUT) in his first bout. But a tougher test awaits if he can manage to reach the semifinal and third seed Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) also reaches the semifinal.

97kg (11 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD)
No. 2 Radu LEFTER (MDA)
No. 3 Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO)
No. 4 Burak SAHIN (TUR)

Top seed Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) and transfer to Hungary Vladislav BAITSAEV (HUN) can clash in the quarterfinals at 97kg to give fans a top-class bout. The winner gets the winner of Erik THIELE (GER) and fourth-seed Burak SAHIN (TUR).

Nurov, ranked sixth with 31700 points, has the chance to be ranked third if he can win at least a bronze medal.

Second seed Radu LEFTER (MDA) Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE), veteran Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) and Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) on his side and the path to the semifinal will be a tough one.

125kg (12 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
No. 2 Taha AKGUL (TUR)
No. 3 Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
No. 4 Robert BARAN (POL)

World champions Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Taha AKGUL (TUR) are seeded first and second, respectively, and sit on opposite sides of the bracket. If history repeats itself and both guys stay undefeated until the finals, they’d meet at the European Championships for the sixth time in their careers.

Petriashvili won their initial meeting in 2016, but since that win, Taha has won four consecutive European bouts against his Georgian rival.

For the blockbuster finals match to take place, Petriashvili has to pass a solid quarterfinals test against Italy’s fellow Olympic bronze medalist Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO. This will be the Cuban-turn-Italian’s first competition up at 125kg after bumping up from his Olympic-medal winning weight of 97kg.

#WrestleAmman

Asian C'ships 2025 Day 4 Women's Wrestling Finals Set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (March 28) -- After five Women's Wrestling weight classes, it's turn for the remaining five -- 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg and 72kg -- at the Asian Championships which enters day four.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 REPORT

72kg gold medal bout: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs Yuqi LIU (CHN)

14:17: Yuqi LIU (CHN) earns a shot at adding the senior Asian 72kg gold to the U20 one she won last year when she notches a 5-2 victory over Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB). Early in the first period, Liu misses an opportunity when she gets Oknazarova's leg into the air, only to see the Uzbek twist herself free. Liu gets an activity point and that accounts for the lone score of the first period. The action opens in the second period, and Liu scores with a single-leg takedown, but Oknazarova responds with a double-leg that puts Liu onto her back, but is scored only as a 2-pointer. Liu adds an insurance takedown on a counter. 

14:15: Former world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN) and four-time world medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) battle it out in the 72kg semifinals and it's a snoozefest. Bakbergenova gets the 1-0 lead after Furuichi fails to score when put on activity clock in the first period. Furuichi gets the 1-1 criteria lead when Bakbergenova fails to score in the second. Bakbergenova is hit with another passivity in the second period and Furuichi leads 2-1 with 43 seconds on the clock. Bakbergenova gets Furuichi out of bounds but she is on her knees and it's called no points. Furuichi defends with all might but Bakbergenova scores the stepout this time to win 2-2. Bakbergenova with the win with 0.6 seconds left despite Japan's challenge.

65kg gold medal bout: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) vs. Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL)

14:02: World 59kg champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) manages to cut Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) lead to 4-2 with a takedown but Morikawa gets two takedowns in the final minute and Zhang gets one. Morikawa wins 8-4 to enter the final at 65kg. In her only other Asian Championships appearance in 2022, Morikawa won gold but it was a round-robin bracket in which she did not get to celebrate the win in final, a fact she rued that year. 

13:58: Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) will get a chance to improve on her silver from last year, advancing to the 65kg final with victory by fall over Shakhzoda ALLANIYAZOVA (UZB). Tuvshinjargal gets in deep on a double, and when Allaniyazova goes over the top in defense, Tuvshinjargal twists backward for a 2-point exposure. She then works her way up to fall position and pins Allaniyazova down at 1:59.

62kg gold medal bout: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) vs MANISHA (IND)

13:54: After three consecutive bronze medals, MANISHA (IND) will finally be fighting for the gold when she chalks up a 5-1 victory at 62kg over Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ). Limited to an activity point in the first period, Manisha starts the second period with a stepout, then adds a snap-down takedown. She scores another stepout with a minute to go, then inadvertently gives up one when she goes out spinning behind for a takedown.

13:50: In perhaps the match of the semifinal session, Ok Ju KIM (KIM) secures the fall over Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) at 62kg. Kim tried the cradle, then went for the half-nelson before pinning Ozaki and make it to the 62kg final on international debut for the 24-year-old.

57kg gold medal bout: Il SIM SON (PRK) vs Sara NATAMI (JPN)

13:42: Il Sim SON (PRK) follows Natami by also bringing an early end to her 57kg semifinal, using a barrel roll to put Youngjin KWON (KOR) onto her back, then moving to a headlock and leg wrap to secure the fall in 2:08.

13:41: Kexin HONG (CHN) can't catch a break getting pinned via step overs from her opponents. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) did it in the semifinals at the Paris Olympics now at the Asian Championships, Sara NATAMI (JPN) gets the fall.

53kg gold medal bout: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) vs. Hyogyong CHOE (PRK)

13:40: In a much-anticipated clash between young stars, Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) goes on the offensive as expected in their 53kg semifinal and ANTIM (IND) does what she does best, fending off. For one period at least. Kiyooka, limited to an activity point in the first period, breaks through with Antim on the activity clock for a single-leg takedown, then adds a thigh-lock roll. The world 55kg champion then repeats the process to end the match with a 10-0 win in 4:10.

13:35: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) takes only a minute and 13 seconds to complete her leg lace and win 10-0 against Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) and reach the 53kg final.

Semifinals will begin 13:30 Amman time.

13:00: ANTIM (IND) with a low single as soon as the whistle goes for the 53kg quarterfinal against world U20 champion and senior world silver medalist Jin ZHANG (CHN). She adds a takedown to make it 4-0 inside the first minute. Zhang with a double hand lock throw but Antim survives the pin attempt. Another takedown for Antim and she leads 6-2 at the break. Antim adds another takedown with snapdown for an 8-2 lead. Her double underhooks help her defend whatever Zhang is throwing at her. Zhang gets two points after Antim defends with a chestwrap but Zhang exposes her. She adds another to cut the lead to 8-6. Both wrestlers in a tangle and referees call for a consultation. It is scored two for Antim, two for Zhang, giving Antim a 10-8 win. China challenge the decision. On review it is Antim is awarded two points twice and she wins 10-6

12:47: Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) with a fall over Jeongae BARK (KOR) in the 65kg quarterfinal. Perfect headlock for the fall

12:44: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) had to launch a big four-pointer to lead 4-2 against Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ) in the 65kg quarterfinal.. Mukatay had countered the first attack secured a 2-0 lead. Morikawa begins the second period with a stepout. Step over defense from Morikawa to make it 9-2 before securing the fall with 1:46 left on the clock.

12:41: MANISHA (IND) muscles her way into the 62kg semifinals with a victory by fall over Hanbit LEE (KOR). As she receives an activity point, Manisha uses double underhooks on the mat to leverage Lee over and gains the fall in 2:25.

12:38: Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) explodes for nine points in the second period to notch a 10-4 victory over Miyasar KUSHMURATOVA (UZB) and advance to the 62kg semifinals

12:36: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) gets over a major hurdle in her quest for a third Asian gold when she grinds out a 4-1 victory over Lili LILI (CHN) to make the 62kg semifinals. Ozaki gets an activity point in the first period and early in the second to lead 2-0. She gets in on a single-leg and gets the leg into the air, only for Lili to mule-kick her way out of the predicament. Lili receives an activity point, adding to the tension as the clock ticks down. With :10 left, Lili attempts a last-ditch front headlock roll, but Ozaki stuffs it for a final 2.

12:33: Sara NATAMI (JPN) puts on a technical masterclass of takedowns and wins 11-0 against Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) to enter 57kg semifinals.

12:27: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), last year's world and Asian champion at 55kg who has moved down to 53kg, puts on a takedown clinic in cruising to a 10-0 victory over Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE). She topped off her fourth takedown with a quick lace lock to end the match in 1:58.

12:25: Youngjin KWON (KOR) did not let Danielle LIM (SGP) from the headlock and secures the fall after a 7-0 lead to advance to the 57kg semifinals.

12:24: Shakhzoda ALLANIYAZOVA (UZB) loses a challenge for a counter to a counter-lift by Maysa YUSUPJANOVA (TKM) that would have ended the match on a technical fall, but goes on to pancake her opponent to mat and score an actual fall to advance to the 65kg semifinals. 

12:21: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) needs just 46 seconds to get a takedown against Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ), rip off four lace-lock rolls and secure her spot in the 53kg semifinals with a 10-0 win.

12:20: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) begins the 72kg quarterfinal with the typical Mongolian headlock throw for four against Yuqi LIU (CHN). Liu answers with a takedown but Zorigt leads 4-2. With just over a minute remaining, Liu gets Zorigt on her back to the mat and secures a fall and enter the semifinals.

12:20: Qi ZHANG (CHN) builds up a 7-2 lead in the first period against Asian U23 silver medalist Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ). The two trade stepouts in the second period before Zhang adds a late takedown for a 10-3 win and a possible semifinal clash with Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN). 

12:12: Il Sim SON (PRK) is into the semifinals at 57kg with a victory by fall over Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ).

12:10: Four-time world medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) begins her quest for a third Asian gold and sixth medal overall with a 10-0 victory over Sehee KIM (KOR) to advance to the semifinals at 72kg. After her third takedown, Bakbergenova rolls Kim twice to end the proceedings. 

12:08: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), former Asian champion and Paris bronze medalist at 68kg, is back to 62kg. She had to make the desperate move to 68kg but losing the domestic qualifiers at 62kg in Japan. She defeated Ami ISHII (JPN) to get the spot at 68kg for Paris. She returned to 62kg at the Emperor's Cup and won the gold to qualify for Asian Championships. Up against Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL), Ozaki opens up a 4-0 lead before takedowns are exchanged and Ozaki leads 6-2 at the break. The second period starts with a single-leg attack from Ozaki for two. Sukhee is quick with her attacks as well but Ozaki resets and defends to score takedwon. Sukhee keeps shooting on the legs and score a stepout as Ozaki is feeling the heat of the weight cut. Another sweep single from Sukhee, Ozaki defends for a while but gives up another takedown as Sukhee cuts her lead to 10-5 with 25 seconds remaining. Sukhee attempts a big throw but Ozaki with a whizzer and secures a 12-5 win.

12:06: Masako FURUICHI (JPN), one of the few wrestlers on the planet who has completed the "Grand Slam" of all four world age-group titles, faces a rising star in her opening match at 72kg in Jyoti BERWAL (IND), the world U20 champion at 76kg. An actionless first period sees Berwal take a 1-0 lead into the second. It's more of the same, as Berwal gets an activity point, but gives up a penalty point. In the final 20 seconds, Furuichi comes to life and completes a single-leg takedown with :10 left for a 3-2 win. 

12:05: Asian U23 bronze medalist Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) is trailing 2-0 when she slams Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) to her back for a fall at 72kg.  Nurtaeva was last year's Asian U23 champion at 68kg.

12:02: Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE), a silver medalist from 2021, with a buzzer-beating exposure to beat Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) at 53kg! Akhmedova was leading 5-3 but allowed Hsieh the leg attacks and while backtracking on her hips, there was exposure. Uzbekistan challenged but the decision was upheld as Hsieh won 6-5

11:57: Another historic first at these Asian Championships as Aylah MAYALI (PLE) becomes the first-ever female participant from Palestine when she faces Shakhzoda ALLANIYAZOVA (UZB) in a qualification-round match at 65kg. Allaniyazova opens the scoring with a double-leg takedown, then counters a Mayali shot to a stalemate. Allaniyazova adds another takedown at the edge to lead 4-0 at the break. In the second period, Allaniyazova gets a takedown and gut wrench, but Mayali reverses for her first points. In the end, the Uzbek proves too much and comes away with a 12-2 win, but not a bad effort for the debutante.

11:56: MANISHA (IND), last year's champion at 65kg, has dropped down to 62kg and starts strong with an 11-0 win over Asian U23 silver medalist.  Tynys DUBEK (KAZ).

11:49: Il Sim SON (PRK), looking to do her part for DPR Korea in the team standings, starts off with a nice fireman's carry and never lets off the gas in posting an 11-0 win over Pei Ying LIAO (TPE) at 57kg in just under two minutes.

11:50: Jordan had its first wrestler in women's wrestling at the senior Asian Championships on Thursday and today Balqis TAAIBIN (JOR) is the second. However, she cannot produce a win for the hosts as Jeongae BARK (KOR) beats her 12-2 at 65kg.

11:45: Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ) with a headlock to fall over Dieu Thuong LAI (VIE) at 65kg. Lai was leading 6-0 but Mukatay with a reversal to get the fall.

11:42: World U23 bronze medalist Neha SHARMA (IND) advances at 57kg with an 8-1 victory over Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ), a 2023 Asian bronze medalist.

11:39: Qi ZHANG (CHN), last year's champion and the 2023 world chamipion at 59kg, gets her campaign at 65kg started with lightning quick 10-0 rout of MONIKA (IND).

11:38: Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) only got going in the second but she did well and secured a fall over Thi Hien DANG (VIE) after building a 14-7 lead.

11:38: In the opening match on Mat B, Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI) seemed on the road to a rare victory for Sri Lanka, using an impressive double-leg takedown in taking leads of 6-0 and 8-4, only to get caught in a cradle by Youngjin KWON (KOR) and lose by fall at 57kg.