Yakushenko Marches on With Another Gold
Sunday, March 15, 2026 - 19:31 By Vinay Siwach
ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 15) -- Since 2024, Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) has suffered only one loss -- to Darius KIEFER (GER) at the U20 European Championships in 2025.
Before the loss, Yakushenko had won two age-group European titles and one U20 world title. After that loss, which the Ukrainian has since avenged, he won the U20 and U23 world titles in 2025.
On Sunday, Yakushenko added his second U23 European title in Zrenjanin, Serbia after defeated former U23 world champion and Paris Olympian Abubakr KHASLAKHANAU (BLR), 3-1, who perhaps was his toughest opponent, yet.
In the final, he was awarded the first passivity point and the par terre position. He lifted Khaslakhanau and brought him towards the edge of the mat but the failed to land the Belarussian wrestler in danger. He was awarded a point for the stepout which gave him a 2-0 lead.
Khaslakhanau got his chance in the second period but he failed to score any points when Yakushenko was put in par terre. With a 2-1 lead, Yakushenko needed to defend his lead for just under two minutes.
While he had a couple of slip-ups during that time, Yakushenko did not give up any points. He was later warned for fleeing but he managed to remain in contact for remaining match. Belarus challenged for fleeing in the last 10 seconds but it was ruled out, adding one more point to Yakushenko's score.
World bronze medalist Daniel AGAEV (RUS) led an inspired performance from Russia as it won the Greco-Roman team title at the U23 European Championships. Russia won the Freestyle team title as well in Zrenjanin.
With 190 points, Russia was the best team. Armenia managed 113 points to finish second and Georgia finished third with 106 points.
Agaev need only 37 seconds to win his 67kg final against William REENBERG (DEN). He scored a takedown and transitioned into a gut-wrench, winning 8-0.
Russia's second gold medal came at 77kg Rabil ASKEROV (RUS) blanked Oliver PADA (FIN), 6-0, in the final. Wrestling in only his third international tournament, Askerov began the final with a stepout before getting the par terre position. He did not score any points from the position but led 2-0.
A arm-drag and takedown doubled the lead to 4-0 as the wrestlers broke for the break. In the second period, Askerov got another takedown to extend his lead to 6-0. The takedown also ended any hopes for Pada to get the par terre position as Askerov never seemed passive.
He would go on to defend the lead and win the gold medal at 77kg, his first major medal.
Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) captured his first U23 European title after a series of suplex to beat Giorgi KOCHALIDZE (GEO), 9-0, in the 60kg final.
The former U20 champion was awarded the par terre in the first period which gave him a 1-0 lead. Kochalidze did well to defend the position but Aghajanyan moves his grip towards the chest and throws Kochalidze in opposite direct for two points.
He continues the same move with the grip closer to the neck. He is awarded four points for the second throw, giving him a7-0 lead. The third throw is also scored four points, confirming an 11-0 victory for Aghajanyan.
Georgia challenged the decision, hoping that the throws will be scored two points each, but upon review, the first throw is also scored four points instead of two originally. With the second throw also being a four-pointer, the final was over, 9-0, a technical superiority win for the 2025 U23 world bronze medalist.
Georgia suffered a second loss in the final at 82kg after Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO) dropped the final against Elmin ALIYEV (AZE), 3-2.
Aliyev was down 2-0 at the break after giving up a stepout and passivity point in the first period. However, he managed to score a stepout at the start of the second period which later proved to be a crucial moment in the final.
Down 2-1, Aliyev gets the par terre position which gives him a 2-2 criteria lead. He failed to score any points from par terre but the criteria of scoring the last points remains with him as he wins the final.
Georgia threw a late challenge, asking for fleeing from Aliyev. But there was no evident fleeing and Georgia loses the challenge, giving one more point to Aliyev, who wins 3-2.
RESULTS
60kg
GOLD: Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) df. Giorgi KOCHALIDZE (GEO), 9-0
BRONZE: Yevhen POKOVBA (UKR) df. Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE), 3-1
BRONZE: Ilian AINAOUI (FRA) df. Brian SANTIAGO (DEN), 1-1
67kg
GOLD: Daniial AGAEV (RUS) df. William REENBERG (DEN), 8-0
BRONZE: Azat SARIYAR (TUR) df. Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL), 4-1
BRONZE: Farid KHALILOV (AZE) df. Petro ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), 6-3
72kg
GOLD: Rabil ASKEROV (RUS) df. Oliver PADA (FIN), 6-0
BRONZE Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) df. Leonard IURASCU (ROU), 5-4
BRONZE: Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE) df. Ashot KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 4-1
82kg
GOLD: Elmin ALIYEV (AZE) df. Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO), 3-2
BRONZE: Illia VALEUSKI (BLR) df. Szabolcs SZINAY (HUN), 10-1
BRONZE: Gamzat GADZHIEV (RUS) df. Alexander AEMAES (NOR), 9-0
97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (BLR), 3-1
BRONZE: Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Robin USPENSKI (EST), 6-4
BRONZE: Darius KIEFER (GER) df. Luka GABISONIA (GEO), 9-3
Imam ALIEV (RUS) celebrates after securing the fall over Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA) in the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)
Alibek AMIROV (RUS) won the 55kg gold medal at the U23 European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)
Danil GRIGOREV (RUS) battles it out against Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM) during the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)
Aramasyis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), red, defeated U20 world champion Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) in the 130kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)
Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) loads to launch a throw against Dordzhi SHUNGURTSIKOV (RUS) during the 63kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)
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