#WrestlePlovdiv

#WrestlePlovdiv Senior U23 European Championships Entry List

Tuesday, March 1, 2022 - 07:52 By Vinay Siwach

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PLOVDIV, Bulgaria (March 1) -- The first continental championships of the year will be the Senior U23 European Championships that begin March 7 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria and continues till March 13.

The freestyle field consists of two senior World Championships medalists and two U23 world champions. A big number of returning medalists have also entered the field as they look to change the color of their medals in Plovdiv.

The Greco-Roman field is even more stacked with several world and continental champions. A few wrestlers will have a chance to win medals that they missed at the last edition in Skopje, North Macedonia.

The women's freestyle entries are star-studded with senior world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) moving up to 68kg. Tokyo Olympians Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) and Andreea ANA (ROU) can also enthrall the fans.

Freestyle

Junior and U23 European champion Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) leads a strong freestyle team for Azerbaijan with teammate senior World bronze medalist Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) at 86kg. Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE), the junior Worlds silver and returning bronze at 65kg, is also on the team.

Various wrestlers can lay claim to gold medals in the 10 weights class. At 57kg, Horst LEHR (GER), who won a bronze medal at the Oslo Worlds, will be one of the favorites to win the gold.

Throw in returning bronze medalist Emre CIFTCI (TUR) and a three-way battle at 86kg can only spice up things in Plovdiv.

U23 world champion Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) will like to repeat that performance and claim his first-ever continental championships at any level.

Greco-Roman

The most intense battle in the traditional style can ensue at 97kg as three age-group world medalists and returning silver medalists eye the gold.

Returning silver medalist Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) can be called the favorite to win the gold but bronze medalist from U23 Worlds in Belgrade, Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) is also entered as he hopes to upgrade his bronze from last year.

The big surprise is Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) who won a silver medal at the Junior Worlds last year at 87kg but jumped up to 97kg for this competition.

Sterkenburg's brother Marcel is entered at 82kg. After winning the junior Worlds gold in Ufa, Russia last year, Marcel will like to add a continental title as well.

But junior Worlds 77kg silver medalist Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) may stop him from doing exactly that.

At 67kg, returning silver medalist Kadir KAMAL (TUR) has the last to win a continental title. He will be challenged by two-time junior world silver medalist Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM). Niklas OEHLEN (SWE), who won the 63kg silver at the last U23 Euros, is also entered at 67kg.

Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) had a decent 2021 at 72kg as he won the junior and U23 Worlds bronze medals but he will want to begin his 2022 with a gold in Plovdiv. He has the skills to do it but junior Euro champion and World silver Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) will be a big threat.

But if returning bronze Idris IBAEV (GER) can repeat his performance that helped him with the U23 World title in Belgrade last year, Khachatryan and Chkhikvadze will have a tough time.

At 87kg, it's a three-way battle as junior European champion Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) looks to add a U23 title. But the two returning bronze medalists from last year -- Istvan TAKACS (HUN) former junior world champ, returning bronze. senior 5th and Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM) -- will make life difficult for him.

Takacs is the favorite to win the gold as he has improved since then and even finished fifth at the senior Worlds. Tadevosyan won the Military World Championships last year.

Women's Freestyle

There is little matching the field in women's freestyle. Senior world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) headlines the entries that also have Tokyo Olympians Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) and Andreea ANA (ROU).

Ringaci is making a comeback since winning the Oslo Worlds at 65kg. She is entered a 68kg. This would well be the start of her Olympic journey since this is the first competition she is wrestling at 68kg after a long time.

Nichita, who won the gold in Istanbul a week ago, is entered at 59kg. She has all the continental titles so the tournament in Plovdiv could well be the warmup for the senior Euros three weeks later.

Silver at junior Euros Anna SZEL (HUN) will also try her luck to win a continental title.

Turkey has gone with young star and cadet world champion Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) as its entry at 59kg.

At 55kg, five wrestlers can be in line to win the gold. But the favorite will be the U23 world champion and Tokyo Olympian Andreea ANA (ROU). She became the first woman from Romania to win a world title in Belgrade.

Returning silver medalist and bronze in Belgrade, Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) has a big responsibility on her shoulders to lead a young Turkey team in the tournament. A gold in Plovdiv can only fast-track her career.

Junior Worlds silver medalist Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) and Othelie HOEIE (NOR) will be the other silver medalist looking to challenge Ana and Yetgil.

Returning silver medalist Patrycja GIL (POL) and silver medalist from 59kg, Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) can well be competing for the 57kg gold medal in Plovdiv.

At 72kg, U23 Worlds silver medalist Kendra DACHER (FRA) has a good chance to win the continental title but Junior Worlds silver medalist Lilly SCHNEIDER (GER) can also be a big threat to the gold medal.

Georgios PILIDISGeorgis PILIDIS (GRE) won the U23 World Championships title at 65kg in 2021. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

57kg
Edik HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
Tofig ALIYEV (AZE)
Milenov TISOV (BUL)
Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO)
Horst LEHR (GER)
Demian LIUTCANOV (MDA)
Aid SALIHASI (MKD)
Thomas EPP (SUI)
Yusuf DEMIR (TUR)

61kg
Endrio AVDYLI (ALB)
Norik HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
Ruhan RASIM (BUL)
Timourovitch ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)
Ramaz TURMANIDZE (GEO)
Nico MEGERLE (GER)
Leomid COLESNIC (MDA)
Besir ALILI (MKD)
Nino LEUTERT (SUI)
Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR)

65kg
Hrachya MARGARYAN (ARM)
Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE)
Ayub MUSAEV (BEL)
Stilyan ILIEV (BUL)
Said HOSSEINI (FIN)
Ahmed YEZZA (FRA)
Ross CONNELLY (GBR)
Gia UGRELIDZE (GEO)
Leon GERSTENBERGER (GER)
Georgios PILIDIS (GRE)
Karoly KISS (HUN)
Daniel RAFFI (ITA)
Pavel ANDRUSCA (MDA)
Muhamed FERUKI (MKD)
Stefan COMAN (ROU)
Dominik LARITZ (SUI)
Hamza ALACA (TUR)

70kg
Benedikt HUBER (AUT)
Murad EVLOEV (AZE)
Ivan STOYANOV (BUL)
Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO)
Shamil USTAEV (GER)
Roland BIRO (HUN)
Raul ZARBALIEV (ISR)
Gianluca COLETTI (ITA)
Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA)
Fati VEJSELI (MKD)
Viktor VOINOVIC (SRB)
Tobias PORTMANN (SUI)
Omer CAYIR (TUR)

74kg
Menua YARIBEKYAN (ARM)
Simon MARCHL (AUT)
Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)
Dimitar ANGELOV (BUL)
Erik REINBOK (EST)
Otari BAGAURI (GEO)
Tino RETTINGER (GEO)
Vasile DIACON (MDA)
Szymon WOJTKOWSKI (POL)
Krisztian BIRO (ROU)
Ismet CIFTCI (TUR)

79kg
Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM)
Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE)
Oktay HASAN (BUL)
Evsem SHVELIDZE (GEO)
Beat SCHAIBLE (GER)
Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
Marton RIZMAJER (HUN)
Grigori CARASTOIAN (MDA)
Patryk CIURZYNSKI (POL)
Abdulvasi BALTA (TUR)

86kg
Mher MARKOSYAN (ARM)
Benjamin GREIL (AUT)
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
Anton IVANOV (BUL)
Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)
Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO)
Lars SCHAEFLE (GER)
Angelos KOUKLARIS (GRE)
Milan MESTER (HUN)
Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT)
Lilian BALAN (MDA)
Cezary SADOWSKI (POL)
Emre CIFTCI (TUR)

92kg
Emiljano ONUZI (ALB)
Abduljalil SHABANOV (AZE)
Ilia HRISTOV (BUL)
Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)
Daviti KOGUASHVILI (GEO)
Joshua MORODION (GER)
Stylianos STAMATIS (GRE)
Krisztian ANGYAL (HUN
Auron SYLA (KOS)
Gheorghe ERHAN (MDA)
Redjep HAJDARI (MKD)
Viliam OROSS (SVK)
Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR)

97kg
Islam ILYASOV (AZE)
Tsvetan EVTIMOV (BUL)
Riveri MTSITURI (GEO)
Johannes MAYER (GER)
Richard VEGH (HUN)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Stole EFTIMOV (MKD)
Samet OCAK (TUR)

125kg
Hovhannes MAGHAKYAN (ARM)
Aydin AHMADOV (AZE)
Georgi IVANOV (BUL)
Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)
Milan KORCSOG (HUN)
Lior ALTSHULER (ISR)
Daniel PIRTACHI (MDA)
Uvejs FEJZULAHU (MKD)
Adil MISIRCI (TUR)

Idris IBAEVIdris IBAEV (GER) is the U23 world champion at 72kg. (Photo: UWW / Mohamed Yahia)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Azat SEDRAKYAN (ARM)
Denis DEMIROV (BUL)
Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO)
Steven ECKER (GER)
Ilias ZAIRAKIS (GRE)
Artiom DELEANU (MDA)
Denis MIHAI (ROU)
Emre MUTLU (TUR)

60kg
Tigran MINASYAN (ARM)
Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE)
Miroslav EMILOV (BUL)
Raymond LANGLET (FRA)
Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO)
Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN)
Melkamu FETENE (ISR)
Tommaso BOSI (ITA)
Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA)
Grzegorz KUNKEL (POL)
Mukremin AKTAS (TUR)

63kg
Vladimir HAROYAN (ARM)
Ziya BABASHOV (AZE)
Ilia MUSTAKOV (BUL)
Andy JUAN SUCH(ESP)
Giorgi SHOTADZE (GEO)
Levente TOTH (HUN)
Abere FETENE (ISR)
Corneliu RUSU (MDA)
Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR)

67kg
Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM)
Nikalas SULEV (BUL)
Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA)
Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)
Nikolaos KALAIDOPOULOS (GRE)
Shon NADORGIN (ISR)
Ignazio SANFILIPPO (ITA)
Konstantinas KESANIDI (LTU)
Kamil CZARNECKI (POL)
Niklas OEHLEN (SWE)
Kadir KAMAL (TUR)

72kg
Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM)
Adam HAJIZADA (AZE)
Dimitar STEFCHEV (BUL)
Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO)
Marcos SANCHEZ SILVA MEJIAS (ESP)
Joni KOMPPA (FIN)
Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)
Idris IBAEV (GER)
Georgios SOTIRIADIS (GRE)
Attila TOESMAGI (HUN)
Steve MOMILIA (ITA)
Vilius SAVICKAS  (LTU)
Valentin PETIC (MDA)
Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR)
Aleksander MIELEWCZYK (POL)
Michael PORTMANN (SUI)
Erik PERSSON (SWE)
Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR)

77kg
Ashot KIRAKOSYAN (ARM)
Khasay HASANLI (AZE)
Martin DIMITROV (BUL)
Edvin KIN (EST)
Akseli YLI HANNUKSELA (FIN)
Davit SOLOGASHVILI (GEO)
Deni NAKAEV (GER)
Andreas VASILAKOPOULOS (GRE)
Krisztofer KLANYI (HUN)
Niko NIKOLADZE (ISR)
Mihai PETIC (MDA)
Patryk BEDNARZ (POL)
Aleksa ILIC (SRB)
Rasmus AASTROEM (SWE)
Abdurrahman KALKAN (TUR)

82kg
Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM)
Intigam VALIZADA (AZE)
Zahari ZASHEV (BUL)
Karlo KODRIC (CRO)
Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN)
Beka GURULI (GEO)
Erik LOESER (GER)
Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE)
Andras MEZEI (HUN)
David ZHYTOMYRSKY (ISR)
Arminas LYGNUGARIS (LTU)
Semion BREKKELI (MDA)
Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)
Exauce MUKUBU (NOR)
Vasile COJOC (ROU)
Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB)
Samet YALDIRAN (TUR)

87kg
Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM)
Lachin VALIYEV (AZE)
Kaloyan IVANOV (BUL)
Matej MANDIC (CRO)
Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN)
Andreas VAELIS (EST)
Saba DJAVAKHICHVILI(FRA)
Beka MELELASHVILI (GEO)
Nikolaos IOSIFIDIS (GRE)
Istvan TAKACS (HUN)
Ruben BEEN (NOR)
Szymon SZYMONOWICZ (POL)
Mario VUKOVIC (SRB)
Christian ZEMP (SUI)
Muhittin SARICICEK (TUR)

97kg
Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM)
Markus RAGGINGER (AUR)
Mariyan MARINOV (BUL)
Richard KARELSON (EST)
Loic SAMEN (FRA)
Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO)
Patrick NEUMAIER (GER)
Arnoldas BARANOVAS (LTU)
Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED)
Marcus WORREN (NOR)
Gerard KURNICZAK (POL)
Aleksandar SIMOVIC (SRB)
Mustafa OLGUN (TUR)

130kg
Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE)
Ivaylo IVANOV (BUL)
Marcel ALBINI (CZE)
Giorgi TSOPURASHVILI (GEO)
Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE)
Dariusz VITEK (HUN)
Alberto META (ITA)
Tomasz WAWRZYNCZYK (POL)
Fatih BOZKURT (TUR)
Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR)

Irina RINGACIIrina RINGACI (MDA) is the 65kg world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Freestyle

50kg
Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE)
Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA)
Lisa ERSEL (GER)
Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN)
Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA)
Gabija DILYTE (LTU)
Maria LEORDA (MDA)
Amanda TOMCZYK (POL)
Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR)

53kg
Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE)
Nazife TAIR (BUL)
Chadia AYACHI (FRA)
Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)
Carmen DI DIO (ITA)
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)
Marija SPIRKOVSKA (MKD)
Beatrice FERENT (ROU)
Rahime ARI (TUR)

55kg
Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE)
Irena BINKOVA (BUL)
Erika BOGNAR (HUN)
Laura STANELYTE (LTU)
Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA)
Othelie HOEIE (NOR)
Wiktoria KARWOWSKA (POL)
Andreea ANA (ROU)
Mariia MARTYNCHUK (SVK)
Nova BERGMAN (SWE)
Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)

57kg
Sezen BELBEROVA (BUL)
Maria BAEZ DILONE (ESP)
Tamara DOLLAK (HUN)
Patrycja GIL (POL)
Denisa FODOR (ROU)
Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)

59kg
Fatme SHABAN (BUL)
Anne NUERNBERGER (GER)
Anna SZEL (HUN)
Morena DE VITA (ITA)
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)
Magdalena GLODEK (POL)
Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR)

62kg
Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Kelsey BARNES (GBR)
Luisa SCHEEL (GER)
Alina ANTIPOVA (LAT)
Viktoria OEVERBY (NOR)
Paulina DANISZ (POL)
Anna FABIAN (SRB)
Merve KARADENIZ (TUR)

65kg
Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE)
Nerea PAMPIN BLANCO (ESP)
Viktoria VESSO (EST)
Chiara HIRT (GER)
Elena ESPOSITO (ITA)
Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT)
Ewelina CIUNEK (POL)
Amina CAPEZAN (ROU)
Yagmur CAKMAK (TUR)

68kg
Nigar MIRZAZADA (AZE)
Siyka IVANOVA (BUL)
Marta OJEDA NAVARRO (ESP)
Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER)
Noemi SZABADOS (HUN)
Irina RINGACI (MDA)
Karolina KOZLOWSKA ((POL)
Adina IRIMIA (ROU)
Olha MASLOVSKA (SVK)
Asli DEMIR (TUR)

72kg
Marta PAJULA (EST)
Kendra DACHER (FRA)
Lilly SCHNEIDER (GER)
Tuende ELEKES (HUN)
Eleni PJOLLAJ (ITA)
Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL)
Maria NITU (ROU)
Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK)
Merve PUL (TUR)

76kg
Vanesa KALOYANOVA (BUL)
Carla LERA CELDA (ESP)
Bernadett NAGY (HUN)
Vincenza AMENDOLA (ITA)
Lolita OBOLEVICA (LAT)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Marion BYE (NOR)
Mehtap GULTEKIN (TUR)

#WrestleSamokov

U20 World Championships Freestyle Day 1 Results and Highlights

Sunday, August 17, 2025 - 06:36 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 17) -- The U20 World Championships kicks off in Samokov, Bulgaria on a Sunday. Four weight classes will be in action -- 70kg, 74kg, 97kg and 125kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | U20 WORLD PREVIEW

19:22: In the final match of the day one of the U20 World Championships, Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI) manages to hang on to his 1-1 criteria lead against former world U17 champion Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE). Mohmmad Nezhad got the one point for passivity in the second period which gave him the criteria.

19:15: A mini-upset in the 125kg semifinal as Asian U20 Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) beats Cole MIRASOLA (USA), 11-0, inside the first period. Two excellent counter takedowns from Kassimbek and then a locks Mirasola's legs around his head and turns him twice. A double-leg to finish things.

19:10: Returning bronze medalist at 97kg Justin RADEMACHER (USA) gets the better of European U20 champion Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO). Rademacher led 4-3 at the break but then scores a takedown for two points to start the second period, add another go-behind and another single-leg to takedown to lead 10-3. Petriashvili gets an attack for  two points but Rademacher is relentless in his wrestling and three more takedowns to win 16-5 and reach the final.

18:55: Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) hangs on for an 11-9 win over VISHAL (IND) who had Magomedov in all sorts of trouble. Magomedov led 10-4 when Vishal mounted a comeback against absolutely broken Magomedov. He scored a takedown and Magomedov was cautioned for a singlet foul which made it 10-7. As the bout was restart in par terre, India challenged for two more points but the referee had blown the whistle before control from Vishal. That challenge gave enough breathing time to Magomedov to managed to hang on to his lead and win 11-9 at 97kg.

18:40: Raul CASO (ITA) cannot repeat his heroics in the semifinal against Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ) at 74kg. Caso was down 3-2 and almost got a takedown but Akylebkov sneaks out and then Caso jumps over for control but the Kyrgyz wrestler is stands up quickly. Akylebkov wins 3-2. Italy challenge for two points but never there. One more point for Akylebkov

18:30: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) survives a scare against Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN) in the 74kg, pulling off a 7-3 win. However, it was Yamaguchi who threatened to score in the final 25 seconds when Khaniev was leading 3-3 on criteria. Yamaguchi hit a double-leg attack and planed Khaniev who did not landed in danger and exposed Yamaguchi for two points. Yamaguchi tried a desperate throw in the final 15 seconds but Khaniev blocked it for two more points to win and enter the final at 74kg.

18:20: Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) has had a dream run in Samokov and he has made it to the 70kg finals after beating Nurlan AGHAZADA (AZE) in the semifinals. What a turnaround after finishing 18th last year at the World U20 Championships. He rallies with three takedowns in the second period against Aghazada to win 7-4.

18:10: PJ DUKE (USA) is into the final! He beats Erfan ELAHI (IRI) 2-2 on criteria. Elahi gets the first point after Duke is put on activity clock but Duke gets a takedown when Elahi tries a stepout and lead 2-1. A stepout in the second period for Elahi to make it 2-2 but Duke leads on criteria. Elahi does not realize that he is down on criteria and doesn't really attack in the final minute. Duke beats Elahi 2-2 and enters hte final at 70kg

The semifinals will begin at 18:00 hours local time

13:40: Cole MIRASOLA (USA) downs Inal GAGLOEV (UWW) in the final bout of the session. Mirasola with a takedown to start off the scoring in the bout. he He added a stepout to lead 3-0 at the break. No more action in the second period and Mirasola wins 3-0 and enter the 125kg semifinal against Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ).

13:30: Ashab DADAEV (FRA) thought he is winning against Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the 97kg quarterfinals but he was down 3-2. Petriashvili had a takedown and stepout while Dadaev scored a stepout and a point for lost challenge from Petriashvili.

13:20: Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI) beats Levan LAGVILAVA (FRA) 11-4 at 125kg and storms into the semifinals in which he will face Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) who defeated Aleksandre ABRAMISHVILI (GEO) 5-0 in the quarterfinals

13:15: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ), the Asian U20 champion, pins Baejoon JANG (KOR) in the 125kg quarterfinals. Kassimbek has lost two world U17 finals and now has a chance to win at U20 level.

13:10: European fifth-placer Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) hands Islam KAZHAROV (UWW) a 8-3 loss. Big win for Gaidarli who finished 18th last year but has a silver medalist from 2024 European U20 Championships.

13:05: Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) keeps a strong defense after taking a 4-1 lead against Sungkar SEIDAKHMET (KAZ) at 70kg and wins 4-2. Elahi will face PJ DUKE (USA) in the semifinals after the U.S. wrestler defeated Abdoullah NAKAEV (FRA), 14-4, in the quarterfinals. This was Duke's third victory via fall or technical superiority. Nakaev had some good scrambles but Duke managed to finish better.

12:40: Raul CASO (ITA) with a takedown in the final second to beat Parvinder SINGH (IND) at 74kg. Caso had just six seconds to score two points to win 5-4.

12:37: European U20 silver medalist Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) with a quick fall over Ruije LI (CHN) at 125kg. The former world U17 champion is looking for a U20 world title.

12:35: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) got on board with a passivity point against Manuel WAGIN (GER) in their 74kg quarterfinal. Wagin could not get his duckunders going in that match as Khaniev underhooks were solid. Khaniev avenges his European U20 semifinal loss by beating Wagin 10-0

12:27: Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO), with his brother and Olympic champ Geno cheering from the stands, works a good 10-0 win over Andriyan VALKANOV (BUL) at 97kg.

12:20: Incredible comeback from Asian U20 champ Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) against Narantulga DARMAABAZAR (MGL) at 125kg. In a rematch of the Asian U20 final which the Kazakh wrestler won, Kassimbek breaks Darmaabazar and wins 15-12 after being down 12-5 at the break.

12:15: A third U.S. vs Turkiye head-to-head match today. Returning bronze medalist at 97kg Justin RADEMACHER (USA) is countered by Ibrahim BENEKLI (TUR) a couple of times in the first period but he holds a 6-6 lead for his four-pointer. The second period is very straightforward as Rademacher gets the leg lace to lead 10-6. Benekli gets two points on board but Rademacher ultimately gets the fall with a 17-8 score. The head-to-head score is 3-0 for U.S.

12:05: Returning fifth-place Nikolaos KARAVANOS (GRE) brings down Asian U20 champion Erfan ALIZADEH (IRI), beating the Iranian 7-5. He led 5-5 on criteria and Alizadeh tried to hit a takedown but Karavanos counters with a takedown and wins at 97kg.

11:40: Noah LEIBOWITZ (JPN) begins with a 5-0 win over Aitenir MAKSATOV (KGZ) at 97kg. Leibowitz is one of the more exciting talents in Japan heavyweight and right behind Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)

11:30: Unlikely that PJ DUKE (USA) will be stopped in Samokov! He pins Gabriel SANCHEZ (MEX) in his second bout and has stormed to the quarterfinals at 70kg.

11:20: European U20 silver medalist Raul CASO (ITA) hangs on for a 9-8 wins at 74kg over Asian U20 champion Mahdi MAMIVAND (IR). A four-pointer at the start of the match keeps him ahead. 

11:10: A potential final but we have it in 1/8 as returning silver medalist Ladrion LOCKETT (USA) takes on European U23 champion Ismail KHANIEV (UWW). Both trade stepout and Lockett leads 1-1 at the break. Khaniev gets another stepout for a 2-1 lead. Lockett is called for aggressive push and gets caution. Khaniev gets another point to make it 3-1. Khaniev is given another stepout but U.S. challenges the call. But clear stepout from Lockett and challenge is lost. A 5-1 lead for Khaniev with 24 seconds remaining. A stepout is all Lockett gets and Khaniev wins 5-2.

10:55: Big match at 74kg! European U20 champion Manuel WAGIN (GER) takes on senior European bronze medalist Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) at 74kg. Novruzov put on the shot clock but he scores a takedown after breaking Wagin's chest wrap and lead 2-0 at the break. Wagin gets on the leg in the second period but gets only a stepout. He adds another and a fleeing caution for Novruzov for Wagin to lead 3-2. Two beautiful duckunders from Wagin and earned two takedowns to lead 7-4. He wins the bout 7-2.

10:40: Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI), a former world U17 champion, almost made a mess of his first bout at 70kg against SAGAR (IND). He led 6-1 before Sagar tries to make a comeback against a tiring Elahi. A stepout for Sagar makes it 6-3 but only 13 seconds left. Elahi gives up another stepout and docked a point for fleeing, score changes to 6-5. But Sagar can't get two points to win in the final three seconds.

10:25: PJ DUKE (USA) hits the leg lace over Umut USLU (TUR) in his first bout to win 11-0 at 70kg. Duke will be on the senior U.S. team as well for the World Championships, a spot he won after beating Yianni DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) in the trials.

10:20: Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN) leg laces Catalin SPINU (MDA) to get the win at 74kg, a weight class which has good wrestlers on the same side. Asian U20 champion Mahdi MAMIVAND (IRI) breaks Aliaksandr VIARBITSKI (UWW) to win 9-2, eight of his points were scored in the second period.

10:10: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) and Ladrion LOCKETT (USA) roll to 10-0 win over Vatan ANNAORAZOV (TKM) and Tolui MUNKHBAT (MGL) respectively. Novruzov has to work little harder but wins against Stiliyan DZHOROV (BUL)

10:00: What a line-up to start the day in Samokov! Ismail KHANIEV (UWW), Ladrion LOCKETT (USA) and Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) all in action on three actions at 74kg.