#WrestleBudapest

#WrestleBudapest: Ranking points up for grabs at European Championships

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 23) -- Next week's European Championships will provide wrestlers with another massive opportunity to score ranking points. After the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event in Turkey last month, this is wrestling's second event of the year.

The Budapest event will also be the first time that Continental Championships will utilize the four-seeded wrestler system.

The points awarded at the Continental Championships are different than the Ranking Series events. However, additional points remain the same for both.

The points accumulated by Ranking Series events and Continental Championships will be used to decide the seeds for the World Championships to be held in Belgrade, Serbia in September.

Ranking Points for Continental Championships:
1st Place: 10,000 points
2nd Place: 8,000 points
3rd Place: 6,500 points
4th Place: 5,800 points
5th Place: 5,000 points
6th Place: 4,700 points
7th Place: 4,400 points
8th Place: 4,000 points
9th Place: 3,500 points
10th Place: 3,100 points
11th Place: 1,000 points
12th Place: 800 points
13th Place: 600 points
14th Place: 400 points
15th Place: 200 points
16th Place: 100 points

The wrestlers who can gain the most through medals at the European Championships are as follows.

Arsen HarutyunyanArsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) will be the top seed at 61kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan) 

57kg (12 participants)

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

Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) 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.

Mikyay NAIM (BUL) [15500 points] is also in a similar position as a gold medal would take him to ninth place. If he wrestles Egorov in the final, the Bulgarian has to win to get a better ranking.

Georgia's Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) is currently ranked 21st with 11400 points. A gold could help him break into the top-15.

Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) can also break into the top-15 with a gold medal finish in Budapest but has to hope that other results also go in his favor.

61kg (14 participants)

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

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) will be looking to win his first continental title at the senior level. He is currently ranked fourth and his historic title will take him to second rank. An addition of 13000 points can take his tally from 31000 points to 44000 points, just 1000 shy of top-ranked Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RWF).

With 18200 points, Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) can also break into the top-four by winning gold. An addition of 13000 points will take him to 31200 points. That'd move him into the fourth position. Silver, however, will take him to the fifth position.

A favorite to win the title is Suleyman ATLI (TUR). He's ranked 18th with 8520 points, but a run to the final will take him to the seventh position, irrespective of a win or loss.

The same is true for Eduard GRIGOREV (POL) but he will have to rise above expectations for that result.

65kg (12 participants)

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

Top-seeded Haji ALIYEV (AZE) has 41400 points and is ranked fourth in the world. He can improve to second by winning gold. The 13000 points will help him overtake Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) [51000 points] and Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) [53500 points]. However, he will be third with silver and remain fourth with any other result.

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

Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) is ranked 11th with 23000 points and he will be seventh if he can win gold in Budapest. He will remain at the same rank if he fails to win a medal.

Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) is ranked 28th but can break into top-15 with gold.

70kg (16 participants)

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

Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) won the bronze medal at the Yasar Dogu to climb up to the third position. Now, he's seeded first at the 70lg. Currently, he has 41200 points and will overtake first-placed Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), who has 45520 points, even with a ninth-place finish.

Ranked sixth with 25000 points, Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) will be ranked fourth if he can finish 10th or better.

Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA) 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)

After winning silver at the World Championships in Oslo, Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) will be wrestling for the first time after the break. He 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 Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) will be competing for the first time since the Olympics. He's the 11th ranked wrestler with 23000 points has a chance to break into the top-six by winning any medal.

Ranked 12th, Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) will be a top-10 wrestler if he can wrestle for a medal in Budapest.

Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL), ranked 15th with 15500 points, will also be a top-10 ranked if he can wrestle for a medal but also hope that Cabolov does not reach the medal bouts.

Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) and Soner DEMITRAS (TUR), ranked 16th and 19th, respectively, also fall in the same category but they need to win gold to be in the top-10.

Myles AMINETokyo bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR) is the top seed at 86kg. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

79kg (15 participants)

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

Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) is ranked fifth with 25000 points and can be ranked two by the end of the tournament if he can win the gold medal. That will take him to 38000 points, 1000 points more than the current second-ranked Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI). A top-10 finish will take him to third rank irrespective of other wrestlers winning any medal.

The U23 European champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) has 18200 points and is ranked seventh. Gold will take him to fourth place but even wrestling for a medal will take him to fifth position. However, he is unlikely to overtake Avagyan in the rankings.

Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA), ranked 11th and 17th Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) can move up to seventh or above if they can win at least a bronze medal.

86kg (16 participants)

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

Just like the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event, there will be no change in the top-three positions at 86kg. The fourth position is up for grabs as Tokyo bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR) holds that with 34200 points.

Oslo bronze medalist Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) is ranked fifth [31000 points], Boris MAKOEV (SVK) is sixth with 29600 points and Osman GOCEN (TUR) is seventh with 26500 points.

Amine can secure fourth place by reaching the final. If Abakarov wins the gold and Amine fails to reach the final, the Azerbaijan wrestler will be ranked fourth after the tournament.

Makoev and Gocen have to hope for Amine's medalless return to climb a spot in the ranking. Gocen can jump over Makoev if he reaches the final and the Slovak wrestler fails to win a medal.

Depending on the aforementioned four finish, Akhmed AIBUEV (FRA) has a chance to be in the top-five.

92kg (10 participants)

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

Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), who won a bronze in Oslo and is ranked fourth with 31000 points, is likely to move to the second spot. All he has to do is win a medal in Budapest. That will take him past Magomed KURBANOV (RWF) who has 37000 points.

Georgii RUBAEV (MDA) at 14th will move to seventh if he can win a gold medal. He won't be able to break into the top-10 if he finishes with bronze or less.

Ranked 23rd, Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) will break into top-15 if he can win a medal.

97kg (11 participants)

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

Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), ranked sixth with 31700 points, has the chance to be ranked third if he can win at least a bronze medal.

There won't be a big shift in the rankings as Radu LEFTER (MDA) [17000 points] can only move from 13th to 11th even if he wins gold.

Veteran Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) is ranked 15th and the best he can reach is 12th rank.

Burak SAHIN (TUR) is ranked 24th with 7000 points and can only reach 16th rank with the top medal.

125kg (13 participants)

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

World and Olympic silver medalist Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) [78400 points] and bronze medalist from the same events Taha AKGUL (TUR) [78200 points] are ranked second and third, respectively, with only 200 points separating them.

Given the two can only meet in the final, the wrestler winning the gold will be ranked second after the competition.

Eighth-placed Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) with 23200 points can only move to seventh even if he reaches the final while 15th ranked Robert BARAN (POL) can break into the top-10 if he manages to reach the final.

Epp MAEEpp MAE (EST), blue, and Yasmine ADAR (TUR) are the top two seeds at 76kg. (Photo: UWW / Max Rose-Fyne)

Women's Wrestling

50kg (11 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Emilia VUC (ROU)
No. 2 Miglena SELISHKA (BUL)
No. 3 Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
No. 4 Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR)

Emilia VUC (ROU) managed to jump to the fourth spot after winning gold at the Yasar Dogu event and now she has a chance to reach the second spot. A gold medal in Budapest will improve her tally from 42600 points to 52600 points.

Fifth-ranked Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) trails Vuc by only 700 points. The second rank will be taken by whoever finishes better in the tournament.

Anna LUKASIAK (POL), ranked 18th with 13600 points, and Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR), ranked 20th with 11600 points, will move upwards in the rankings.

53kg (11 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Iulia LEORDA (MDA)
No. 2 Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)
No. 3 Emma MALMGREN (SWE)
No. 4 Annika WENDLE (GER)

Iulia LEORDA (MDA) is at the third spot with 47200 points and can dethrone top-ranked Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) [56200 points] by winning a gold medal. Any finish with second to eighth will take her to the second spot.

Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) is ranked ninth with 31000 points and can only improve to sixth even if she wins the gold.

The 11th ranked junior world champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE) can improve to seventh by winning gold in Budapest and the same is true for Annika WENDLE (GER), who is currently ranked 12th.

55kg (9 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR)
No. 2 Andreea ANA (ROU)

Ranked third at 55kg, Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) has 29000 points and a medal will take her to second spot. But she cannot reach the top as Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) has 43000 points.

U23 European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) has 16200 points at the eighth spot and a gold or silver will help her improve to the fifth spot.

57kg (9 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)
No. 2 Anhelina LYSAK (POL)
No. 3 Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
No. 4 Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)

The winner of the Ranking Series event in Istanbul Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) [64200 points] will have a chance to consolidate her second spot with a gold. Top-ranked Helen MAROULIS (USA) is unsurpassable at the moment as she has 79200 points.

No other big moves are expected but 21st ranked Anhelina LYSAK (POL), 22nd ranked Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) and 31st ranked Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) are likely to move up in the rankings.

59kg (9 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL)
No. 2 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
No. 3 Jowita WRZESIEN (POL)
No. 4 Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) is ranked first in the weight class with 45000 points and is unlikely to be bothered by any other wrestler.

However, seventh-ranked Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) [22500 points] can improve her rank with a medal finish.

Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) [16400 points], who is ranked 10th, and 12th ranked Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) [11000 points] can only improve to the eighth position.

Taybe YUSEINTaybe YUSEIN (BUL) is the top seed at 62kg for the European Championships. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

62kg (12 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Taybe YUSEIN (BUL)
No. 2 Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR)
No. 3 Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)

Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), ranked third with 43200 points, has to reach the final in Budapest to overtake second-ranked Olympic champion Yukako KAWAI (JPN) [51000 points].

Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) is ranked ninth with 25000 points. A gold will improve her rank to sixth. Anything less than a bronze finish will not help the Ukrainian improve her rankings.

Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), ranked 20th, will jump to the 13th spot if she can reach the medal bouts.

65kg (6 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Kriszta INCZE (ROU)
No. 2 Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
No. 3 Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)
No. 4 Asli TUGCU (TUR)

Kriszta INCZE (ROU), ranked 10th with 16720 points, and Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), ranked 11th with 16400 points, can jump to the fifth spot with a gold. The better finish among the two will take the fifth spot while any other finish will help them reach the seventh spot.

Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) has 9000 points at 16th and even gold can only help her to 11th spot.

Asli TUGCU (TUR) is in a similar situation to Rizkho but is ranked three places below.

68kg (8 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
No. 2 Natalia STRZALKA (POL)

Two wrestlers have a chance to improve their rankings at 68kg as Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) can move from seventh to fifth by reaching the final.

Natalia STRZALKA (POL), who is ranked 19th, can move to 11th after the tournament if she wins the gold, 13th by winning a silver or bronze.

World champion at 65kg Irina RINGACI (MDA) will be the favorite to win the gold in Budapest and she can debut at the 17th position in the rankings.

72kg (9 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Anna SCHELL (GER)
No. 2 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR)
No. 3 Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)

After their intense battle in Istanbul, Anna SCHELL (GER) and Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) are likely to resume their rivalry in Budapest. The two can only meet in the final and third-ranked Schell is guaranteed the top spot if she reached the gold-medal bout.

Fourth-ranked Tosun has no luck when it comes to rankings. She will remain at the fourth spot even if she wins the gold medal. She will have 43000 points and be tied with world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN) and silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ). Since Bosun won a bronze, she cannot go over the two finalists in Oslo.

No. 15 Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) has a good chance to break into the top-10 if she can reach the final. Even a bronze will take her to the 11th spot.

76kg (12 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Epp MAEE (EST)
No. 2 Yasemin ADAR (TUR)
No. 3 Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTOVA (UKR)
No. 4 Francy RAEDELT (GER)

World silver medalist Epp MAEE (EST) is ranked with 52000 points and she can only better her points in Budapest. No wrestler can overtake her but she also cannot overtake top-ranked Adeline GRAY (USA) and second-ranked Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ).

Olympic bronze medalist Yasemin ADAR (TUR), ranked sixth, Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTOVA (UKR), ranked eighth, and Francy RAEDELT (GER), ranked 12th, are also unaffected by any results in the tournament.

Hasrat JAFAROVU23 world champ Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) will be seeded second at 67kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

55kg (10 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)
No. 2Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)
No. 3 Fabian SCHMITT (GER)

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) are ranked third and fourth, respectively, and both have 29000 points each. Both have a chance to be second if they can win at least a bronze medal. Whoever finishes ahead of the other will be ranked higher after the tournament.

No other wrestler can overtake the pair however Fabian SCHMITT (GER), ranked 10th, can jump to seventh with a medal finish in Budapest.

60kg (15 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Murad MAMMADOV (AZE)
No. 2 Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM)
No. 3 Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)
No. 4 Justas PETRAVICIUS (LTU)

Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), ranked seventh with 31000 points, and Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM), ranked ninth with 25000 points, can jump to the fifth spot if they win the gold. But Mammadov only needs to finish at least 14th to get that spot while Gharibyan needs to win gold to do the same.

24th ranked Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) and 27th ranked Justas PETRAVICIUS (LTU) will improve their rankings in Budapest.

63kg (12 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Leri ABULADZE (GEO)
No. 2 Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE)
No. 3 Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM)
No. 4 Victor CIOBANU (MDA)

Leri ABULADZE (GEO) is a world silver medalist and ranked second with 37000 points. He can be ranked first above world champ Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) if he wins gold in Budapest.

Fifth-ranked Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) has 30200 points and he will jump to the third spot after the competition if he finishes in the top-10. If he wants to be second, he has to win at least silver and hope Abuladze doesn't finish better than 10th.

15th ranked Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) will break into the top-10 if he can reach the final as he currently has 6600 points and can add at least 8000 points.

60kg world champ Victor CIOBANU (MDA) has 6400 points at the 16th rank and if he wins the gold, he can be ranked 10th.

67kg (18 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)
No. 2 Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)
No. 3 Murat FIRAT (TUR)
No. 4 Morten THORESEN (NOR)

World bronze medalist Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) has 56000 points at second rank and he will not make any move in the ranking. However, he will move closer to Olympic and World champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) who has 98000 points.

Junior and U23 world champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) and Murat FIRAT (TUR) are ranked ninth and 10th with 25000 points. Both can improve to fourth by reaching the final.

Morten THORESEN (NOR) has 21900 points at 12th place and at least a bronze medal in Budapest can help him to ninth spot.

72kg (16 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU)
No. 2 Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL)
No. 3 Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR)
No. 4 Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE)

Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) won a bronze in Istanbul to reach the second spot and now has a chance to be ranked number one if he can finish in the top-10 in Budapest.

Fourth-placed Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) has 31000 points and can jump to third place by winning a bronze medal. Sixth and seventh-ranked Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) and Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) can jump to fourth place.

Sanan SULEYMANOVSanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) is the top seeded wrestler at 77kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

77kg (17 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)
No. 2 Viktor NEMES (SRB)
No. 3 Yunus BASAR (TUR)
No. 4 Oliver KRUEGER (DEN)

World silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) has a chance to be number one in the category. Currently third with 46400 points, the Azerbaijan wrestler needs to finish eighth or better in Budapest to surpass second-ranked Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) and top-ranked Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI).

If ninth-ranked Viktor NEMES (SRB) can reach the medal bouts, he will reach the sixth spot after the competition.

Yunus BASAR (TUR), ranked 21st, and Oliver KRUEGER (DEN), ranked 22nd, will have a chance to improve their rankings.

World champ at 72kg Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) will be wrestling at 77kg and if he wins the gold, he will debut in the rankings at the 19th spot.

82kg (18 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)
No. 2 Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)
No. 3 Ranet KALJOLA (EST)
No. 4 Mihail BRADU (MDA)

Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) and Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) will once again battle for the top spot at 82kg. The former won the World Championships defeating Akbudak while the Turkey wrestler won the Ranking Series in Istanbul.

The Olympic bronze medalist has 50200 points at the top while Akbudak has 45000 points. Akbudak winning gold and Huseynov failing to finish on the podium is the only way Akbudak can overtake Huseynov for the top rank.

If the eighth-ranked Ranet KALJOLA (EST) can surprise everyone and reach the final and win, he will be ranked third in the rankings.

Mihail BRADU (MDA) is ranked 15th with 6400 points. He can break into the top-10 with at least a bronze in Budapest.

87kg (15 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB)
No. 2 Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL)
No. 3 Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN)
No. 4 Metehan BASAR (TUR)

He may have lost in Istanbul but world champion Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) remains the number one at 87kg. He will remain undisputed in Budapest as well.

Sixth-ranked Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL) can reach the third spot if he manages to reach the final. He will add enough points to his 34520 points to jump over Viktor LORINCZ (HUN), Kiryl MASKEVICH (BWF) and Lasha GOBADZE (GEO).

Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) has 25000 points at the eighth spot and will only move to seventh even if he wins the gold. If he fails to do so, and 12th ranked Metehan BASAR (TUR) finishes above him, Basar will be ranked seventh.

Islam ABBASOV (AZE) won the gold in Istanbul over Datunashvili and if he can repeat the performance, he will improve his 19th rank to ninth in the rankings.

97kg (18 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
No. 2 Kiril MILOV (BUL)
No. 3 Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA)
No. 4 Vilius LAURINAITIS (LTU)

Tokyo Olympics fifth-placer Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) has a chance to jump from seventh to in the rankings if he can reach the final. A bronze will help him to the fifth spot.

10th placed Kiril MILOV (BUL) can improve to sixth if he wins any medal while 11th ranked Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) can jump to ninth with bronze or better finish.

Vilius LAURINAITIS (LTU), ranked 13th with 22100 points, will break into the top-10 after the tournament.

Felix BALDAUF (Norway) is ranked 21st and can improve to 11th with a gold medal in Budapest.

130kg (15 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO)
No. 2 Riza KAYAALP (TUR)
No. 3 Oskar MARVIK (NOR)
No. 4 Beka KANDELAKI (AZE)

Olympic silver and world bronze medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) is the top-ranked wrestler at 130kg with 72400 points and he will remain at the same spot after the tournament.

Greco-Roman legend Riza KAYAALP (TUR) will be ranked second if he can finish with any medal in Budapest.

Bronze medalist in Oslo Oskar MARVIK (NOR) will improve from his ninth rank to sixth if he can manage a top-10 finish while 10th ranked Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), who pinned Kayaalp in Istanbul, can be ranked eighth with at least a bronze.

#WrestleBudapest

Russia, Georgia Win Two #WrestleBudapest GR Titles; Ukraine Shines on Day 6

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST (Hungary) July 24 --- The celebrations were subdued and all Daniil CHASOVNIKOV (RUS) could think of after winning his first world title was about his parents.

The 17-year-old Russian lost his parents when he was five and Saturday, he wished they were alive to see him win the cadet World Championships gold with a stunning win in the 110kg final.

"I made my mother and father happy," he said after the final, controlling his emotions as he spoke.

Chasovnikov was in a destructive mood as he hammered Nikita OVSJANIKOV (GER) 9-0 in the first period. After getting awarded for the German's passivity, Chasovnikov added eight points from par-terre in quick succession and claimed the win.

Cadet World Championships Budapest

His victory was an improved performance from the cadet Euros final in which the Russian had won 5-3. He later said that the final was exactly like he planned.

"My final match went very well. I have done everything as I planned. Rolled him in par-terre," he said. "I beat the same guy at the European championships final as well 5-3. Now 9-0. I have given it all."

He revealed that it was his confidence in Budapest that allowed him to win so strongly against the German wrestler. 

"Last time at the European Championships I was scared, it was my first international tournament, I didn’t believe in myself. But this time I concentrated well and everything went well," he said.

Chasovnikov was raised by his grandparents and after some training in football, it was his uncle, a former Greco-Roman wrestler, who put him in the same sport.

"I don’t have a mother and father," he said. "Since I was five, I was brought up by my grandmother and grandfather. My uncle is a former Greco-Roman wrestler. I started training in football, but I didn’t like it. My weight was already 45 kg when I was five years old. My uncle told me to start wrestling training. I didn’t like it in the beginning, then I started winning the competitions.

"I made my mum and dad happy. I dedicated the victory to my parents and all those people who supported me."

Valerii MANGUTOV (RUS)Valerii MANGUTOV (RUS) won the gold medal at 55kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The second Russian to win the gold Saturday was Valerii MANGUTOV (RUS) at 55kg as he beat Cory LAND (USA) 8-0 in the final.

Mangutov was in no mood to let his American opponent get any openings as he scored four points in each period to claim the victory and his world title.

“I am glad that I won the gold medal. It’s been a long way,” Mangutov said. “During the day I was trying to get ready morally. I prepared a plan on how to wrestle and everything went well [in the final].

His world title is even sweeter as he had lost in the first round of the 2019 Worlds in Sofia. In fact, his opponent Saturday, Land was also there but had failed to medal as well.

“I have corrected all the mistakes I had back in 2019, and today I got my gold,” he said and also revealed that it was his grandfather who introduced him to wrestling when he was five-years-old.

“My grandfather brought me to wrestling and since then my father comes to training every day.” he said. “I find inspiration in my close people, my parents who believe in me, all those people who support me. I am very grateful to all of them.”

Despite winning two gold medals, Russia trails Georgia in the Greco-Roman team title at the tournament. Georgia also won two gold and also a bronze to lead the race.

luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO)Luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO) celebrates after winning the 45kg gold medal in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

For Georgia, Luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO) should not have been in Budapest, let alone the podium. He had lost the Georgian national championships and his name was struck off the World team. It was only after the national winner failed to make the weight that Javakhadze's name was added again. On Saturday, he made the most of the lucky break.

Javakhadze claimed his first world title at the cadet level on the penultimate day, opening the country's account by winning the 48kg world title, beating cadet European silver medalist Servet ANGI (TUR) 7-5 in the final.

After leading 3-0 at the break in the final, the Georgian gave up five points in the second period but scored four for himself to win 7-5.

While he had all the luck he needed to be on the team and win, his teammate, Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) did not.

Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR)Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR) won the world title at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Putkaradze was wrestling in the 65kg final and was up 6-0 in the first 40 seconds of the bout against Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR). The two had met in the cadet European Championships final just two months back with Khudzhadze winning 9-4. But this time, Putkaradze had it figured out. Or so he thought.

Khudzhadze scripted an incredible comeback from 0-6 down to level it 6-6 and hold the criteria to beat his Georgian rival and win the cadet World Championships gold medal at 65kg, giving Ukraine it's first title.

"I can’t express what I feel. It was a very tough match," Khudzhadze said. "I was losing 6-0, but the will to get this belt helped me to score six points and win the match.

"Honestly, I didn’t expect the Georgian to be so assertive. He scored 6 points in the first 40 seconds of the match."

He also praised his opponent's skills despite knowing that he had lost to Khudzhadze just a couple of months back.

"I think I would not be able to concentrate that way against the guy I lost," he said. "The Georgian wrestler is unbelievable. I wish him all the best, I wish him a lot of victories, but not in my weight category."

Khudzhadze is a Georgia native with his father, who was born in Georgia, also being a wrestler. It was his father who put him in the sport.

After his loss, Putkaradze was unable to control his emotions, ruing the chance of joining his two other teammates who won gold medals Saturday as Greco-Roman got five new world champions in Budapest. Russia claimed the remaining two titles.

Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO)Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) defeated Kamaludin MAGOMEDOV (RUS) via fall at 80kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 80kg, a Georgia-Russia final saw Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) defeat Kamaludin MAGOMEDOV (RUS) via fall which made a big difference in the title race.

The cadet European champion Bolkvadze held a slender one point lead at 3-2 going into the break but was warned for passivity in the second period. At 3-3, the Georgian scored two points and then held Magomedov to his back to get the pin.

Ukraine puts three in final

After just one wrestler in the final Saturday, Ukraine managed to send three in the five finals that will take place Sunday – the final day of the World Championships in Budapest. Kyrgyzstan and Iran also improved their performances and sent two wrestlers each to the finals. Moldova, Belarus and Uzbekistan also marked their presence with one wrestler each in the final.

Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR)Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR) reached the final at 45kg in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 45kg, cadet European silver medalist in 2021 Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR) made his way to the final after a dominating 10-0 win over Nurbolot BERDIKULOV (KGZ) in the semifinal. He was flawless Saturday apart from the quarterfinal against as he claimed the win 1-1.

He will take on Ozodbek KHALIMBOEV (UZB) in the final. The Uzbek was in a class of his own as he won his first two bouts via fall and the semifinal via technical superiority. Combined, he outscored his opponents 24-0.

Yurii TOVT (UKR) was the second Ukrainian to reach the final and he will take on Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) at 51kg.

Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ)Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) defeated Beso MAKHARADZE (GEO) in the 51kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Tovt won the semifinal against Hayk LYUDVIGYAN (ARM) via fall, his second of the day while Suiorkulov, 16, defeated Beso MAKHARADZE (GEO) 8-3 in the semifinal.

“I feel no difference between 2019 and now at all, it feels the same,” Suiorkulov, who finished 12th at the 2019 Worlds, said. “I’ll prepare for the final well. I am ready to wrestle the final match even now.”

Another Kyrgyzstan wrestler who booked his spot in the final was Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ). In a close semifinal, he managed to hang on to a 10-0 victory over SUMIT (IND). It was his aggressive start in the first period that gave him a 10-6 lead at the break.

While Sumit did try to make a comeback and scored two points, he was not able to stop his Kyrgyz opponent from reaching the 60kg final in which he will wrestle Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI).

Seyyedmostafa Seyyedjafar REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI)Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI) will wrestle for the 60kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The Iranian wrestler completed a 3-0 win against Rati KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO). Rezaei Daryakenari was first awarded a passivity point which he carried into the break. Then he scored a takedown in the second period to complete the win.

His teammate at 71kg Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) also marched into the final with a 7-2 win over Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) in the semifinal.

He will take on Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) who defeated Dimitar RACHEV (BUL) 7-0 in the semifinal. Solovei was wrestling at the cadet Worlds in 2019 but was in his first year as cadet. His experience now helped him reach the final.

Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA)Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) made it to his first cadet Worlds final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

“In 2019, I was the youngest athlete there, my goal was just to get some experience on the international event,” the 17-year-old said. “I train hard, that’s why I could win the semifinal.”

Incidentally, in 2019, Solovei, who trains and studies in Kishinev, Moldova, had lost to an Iran wrestler and now wants to avenge the first-round loss to Hojat REZAEI (IRI) from 2019.

“I hope to become a world champion. It’s important not to make any mistakes,” he said.

In a rematch of the 2021 cadet European Championships final at 92kg, Vladyslav LUB (UKR) wrestled Timur CHERNYSHEV (RUS) in the semifinal in Budapest and won 2-1. It was Lub who won at the Euros as well.

He will now wrestle Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) in the final. The Belrusian notched up a 12-3 win over Harutyun KIRAKOSYAN (ARM) in the semifinal.

Lub, who trains in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, said that he has wrestled Khaslakhanau before, referring to his 8-5 win at the cadet Euros semifinal.

“I have wrestled against that guy from Belarus before as well,” Lub said. “With the help of God, everything will work out.”

Despite previously beating his Russian rival, Lub had his doubts of another win due his illness before coming here.

“When I stepped on the mat, I had some doubts that I would win again,” he said. “One week before the tournament I was staying in bed with a very high temperature.”

But he is now just one win away from being crowned a world champion on Sunday.

RESULTS GR Medal Bouts

48kg
GOLD: Luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO) df Servet ANGI (TUR), 9-5

BRONZE: Yussuf ASHRAPOV (KAZ) df Pavel BONDAR (RUS), 12-1
BRONZE: Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) df Otto BLACK (USA), 4-2

55kg
GOLD: Valerii MANGUTOV (RUS) df Cory LAND (USA), 8-0

BRONZE: Tamazi GLONTI (GEO) df RUPIN (IND), 5-1
BRONZE: Berati INAC (TUR) df Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ), 8-0

65kg
GOLD: Imed KHUDZHADZE (UKR) df Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO), 6-6

BRONZE: Ankit GULIA (IND) df Tair AMANGELDI (KAZ), 9-0
BRONZE: Nihat KARA (TUR) df Karl BAFF (SWE), 10-0

80kg
GOLD: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df Kamaludin MAGOMEDOV (RUS), via fall

BRONZE: Ivan TSYBANEV (UKR) df Hamza SERTCANLI (SWE), 5-5
BRONZE: Joju SAMADOV (AZE) df Beibit KORGANOV (KAZ), 8-0

110kg
GOLD: Daniil CHASOVNIKOV (RUS) df Nikita OVSJANIKOV (GER), 9-0

BRONZE: Rafail GKIRNIS (GRE) df Artur BOICHUK (UKR), 9-4
BRONZE: Artur SARKISJAN (CZE) df James MULLEN (USA), via fall

RESULTS GR Semifinals

45kg
GOLD: Ozodbek KHALIMBOEV (UZB) vs Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR)

SF 1: Ozodbek KHALIMBOEV (UZB) df Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 11-0
SF 2: Nikita DEMENTIEV (UKR) df Nurbolot BERDIKULOV (KGZ), 10-0

51kg
GOLD: Yurii TOVT (UKR) vs Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ)

SF 1: Yurii TOVT (UKR) df Hayk LYUDVIGYAN (ARM), via fall
SF 2: Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) df Beso MAKHARADZE (GEO), 8-3

60kg
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) vs Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI)

SF 1: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df SUMIT (IND), 10-8
SF 2: Seyyedmostafa REZAEI DARYAKENARI (IRI) df Rati KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 3-0

71kg
GOLD: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) vs Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI)

SF 1: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) df Dimitar RACHEV (BUL), 7-0
SF 2: Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) df Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE), 7-2

92kg
GOLD: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) vs Vladyslav LUB (UKR)

SF 1: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR) df Harutyun KIRAKOSYAN (ARM), 12-3
SF 2: Vladyslav LUB (UKR) df Timur CHERNYSHEV (RUS), 2-1