#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2026 Day 1: Gamkrelidze beats Valencia; Sujeet, Lee in finals

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 - 09:34 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 4) -- The Zagreb Open 2026 begins with six weight classes in Freestyle -- 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg. Stars like Zahid ZALENCIA (USA),  Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), AMAN (IND) are in action.

Please read the 2026 SEASON PREVIEW on uww.org

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | PREVIEW

Here's a recap of the morning session: 61kg medalists are already decided with Austin DESANTO (USA) winning gold and AMAN (IND) finishing with silver. 

Spencer LEE (USA) and Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) will face each other in the 57kg gold medal bout. SUJEET (IND) won two bouts via technical superiority and will now wrestle for gold at 65kg. At 74kg, a big final is set as David CARR (USA) and Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) will clash. And at 86kg, world champion Zahid VALENCIA (USA) and 79kg world champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), who is now up at 86kg dropped their opening bouts. However, with Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) making it to the final, Valencia is pulled back while Kougioumtsidis has been knocked out.

13:38: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), who defeated Zahid VALENCIA (USA) in the opening bout at 86kg, scores a late stepout to take a 2-2 criteria lead and beat Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) at 86kg semifinals. Gamkrelidze will wrestle Parker KEKEISEN (USA) for gold after he scored a 9-5 victory over Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) in the other semifinal.

13:20: 74kg semifinals - David CARR (USA) with another technical superiority win at 74kg. He advances to the final after beating Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) 12-1. Four different takedowns and two gut-wrenches in that win for the American. A huge final coming up as world champion at 70kg Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) hangs on for a 4-3 win over Seyfulla ITAEV (FRA). The French wrestlers was up 2-1 but Aoyagi scored a stepout and takedown before giving up a stepout but managed to win the bout.

13:05: 70kg semifinals - Sina KHALILI (IRI), U23 world silver medalist, rolls to a 10-0 victory over ABHIMANYOU (IND) using gut-wrenches. He makes it to the final and will wrestle Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) for the gold medal. The Georgian defended his lead against Caleb HENSON (USA) to win 6-3. After leading 6-0, Kemertelidze gave up a takedown and then a stepout to Henson. But the American could not score the four points needed to win the semifinals.

12:55: 65kg semifinals - SUJEET (IND) continues his dominance at 65kg, beating Joseph MCKENNA (USA), 11-0 in the semifinal in semifinal. He will now wrestle for gold against Peyman NEMATI (IRI) who scored a comeback win over Gamzatgadzhi KHALIDOV (HUN). The Hungarian had a 2-0 lead before Nemati managed to turn it around and complete a 4-2 win

12:40: 57kg semifinals - Spencer LEE (USA) completes a dominant 10-2 victory over Fuga SASAKI (JPN). He managed an early 6-2 and then continued to dominate the match, eventually winning 12-2. He will face Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) for the gold medal after the Mexican defeated Milad VALIZADEH (IRI). Bravo Young kept his false attacks and change of direction was excellent throughout the bout

Semifinals begin at 12:30 local time

So far, world champion Zahid VALENCIA (USA) has suffered a technical superiority loss at 86kg while Takara SUDA (JPN), moving up from 61kg to 65kg, dropped his match against Joseph MCKENNA (USA). At 61kg, Austin DESANTO (USA) has captured the gold medal after winning three bouts in a Nordic bracket

12:15: In what was a virtual final at 61kg, Austin DESANTO (USA) not only needed a victory over AMAN (IND), he also need to win via technical superiority or fall. He does exactly that by pinning Aman after taking an 8-0 lead and win the gold medal at 61kg. Aman finishes with a silver medal.

12:12: U23 world champion SUJEET (IND) finishes his quarterfinal at 65kg with a 10-0 victory over Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) and sets up a quarterfinal against Joseph MCKENNA (USA) who defeated Takara SUDA (JPN) 7-0 in the other quarterfinal.

12:08: Sina KHALILI (IRI) took a 9-1 lead over Ian PARKER (USA) but was gave a stepout with a minute remaining. However, he had little trouble holding on to his 9-3 lead and win his bout at 70kg.

12:00: Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA) hangs on for an easy 4-0 victory over European silver medalist Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) at 57kg. He moves into the semifinals in which he will wrestle Fuga SASAKI (JPN)

11:55: Fuga SASAKI (JPN) hangs on for a 7-1 victory over ANKUSH (IND) in 57kg quarterfinals. Sasaki goes for three takedown and one stepout in his win over Ankush who failed to get any attacks going.

11:50: Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) shuts down Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) at 70kg for a 3-0 win. Not much action in the match but Kemertelidze is happy with the win here.

11:45: Roman BRAVO-YOUNG (MEX) continues his excellent form and wins his quarterfinal against Anthony KNOX (USA), 12-2. He will wrestle in the semifinal at 57kg.

11:35: World champion Zahid VALENCIA (USA), who did not concede a single point at the World Championships, drops his quarterfinal against Vladimir GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 11-0. Gut-wrench from par terre for Gamkrelidze

11:25: Former U20 world bronze medalist ANKUSH (IND) uses the Figure 4 turn to great effect to beat Ali YAHYAPOUR (IRI), 11-0, at 57kg. Ankush has long been seen as the biggest challenge to Olympic bronze medalist AMAN (IND) at the weight class

11:15: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) off to solid starts at 86kg as he takes out Sandeep MANN (IND) 11-0 in the opening bout at 86kg. Valencia is the world champion at 86kg, a title he won at the same Arena Zagreb in September last year

11:05: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), world champion at 70kg, makes his 74kg debut with a controlled 6-1 victory over James GREEN (USA). Aoyagi scored a stepout to lead 2-1 before scoring two counter takedowns to finish the bout as the winner.

10:55: David CARR (USA) took his own time to get going but he manages a victory via fall over Aliakbar FAZLI (IRI) after building a 13-2 lead at 74kg.

10:45: World champion at 79kg Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) seemed in complete control of his first bout at 86kg against Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI), leading 6-1 with a minute remaining. However, Shamsipour mounts a comeback, scoring six points in the final minute and beat the Greek world champion 7-6  

10:40: First period technical superiority, 10-0, win for AMAN (IND) against Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO) who is in action for the first time since winning a gold medal at the Ulaanbaatar Open in June last year.

10:30: Welcome to the Zagreb Open Ranking Series. Day one of the competition and we have six Freestyle weight classes in action. Multiple Olympic and world medalists in action today.

#WrestleTirana

European Championships 2026 Greco-Roman Highlights

Sunday, April 19, 2026 - 19:02 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 20) -- The European Championships in underway in Tirana, Albania with five Greco-Roman weight classes -- 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg. The big question is if Riza KAYAALP (TUR) will be successful in breaking Aleksandr KARELIN's record of 12 European gold medal.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | GRECO-ROMAN BRACKETS | UWW PREVIEW

Semifinals

55kg
Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) vs. Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM)
Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) vs. Omer RECEP (TUR)

63kg
Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) vs. Kerem KAMAL (TUR)
Mairbek SALIMOV (POL) vs. Sergey EMELIN (UWW)

77kg
Robert FRITSCH (HUN) vs. Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)
Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) vs. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)

87kg
Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) vs. Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR)
Islam ABBASOV (AZE) vs. Semen NOVIKOV (BUL)

130kg
Darius Attila VITEK (HUN) vs. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE)
Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW) vs. Riza KAYAALP (TUR)

13:25: Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) books his spot in the semifinals at 87kg after an 8-0 technical superiority win over Dogan KAYA (TUR). Novikov with a big throw for four to start the bout before he scores a takedown to go 6-0 up at the break. He takes 36 seconds in the second period to score two stepouts and win.

13:20: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) is into the 87kg semifinals at the European Championships after a technical superiority win over Ihar YARASHEVICH (UWW). Bisultanov with a takedown to start the match before he is awarded the par terre position. He manages exposure points to lead 5-0. A stepout in the second period makes it 6-0. Yarashevich tries a front headlock throw but Bisultanov blocks him and lands on top for the match-winning two points.

13:15: Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR), a returning bronze medalist, is into the semifinals with a 3-1 victory over Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) at 87kg. No last second problems for Filchakov like last year in which Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) defeated him with 2 seconds remaining.

13:10: Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) is in total shock after Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) throws him twice using the front headlock for four-pointers and finishes the match 10-2. Yilmaz scored the first takedown but Gutu answered quickly with one of his own. He then continued the scramble for the two big throws.

13:00: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) goes big from par terre and scores a four-point throw to make it 7-0. He then scores an takedown to complete a 9-0 victory over Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR) and advance to the semifinals at 77kg.

12:53: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) may have crossed his biggest hurdle towards winning the 13th gold medal as he holds off Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) in the 130kg quarterfinals, 1-1. Kayaalp gets the first par terre and manages half turns so no points. Kamparov gets the second par terre which gives him the point but Kayaalp holds the criteria. The Turkiye wrestler was struggling in the final minute but manages to stop Kamparov's attacks.

12:40: Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW) with two four-pointers against Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA) and he advances to the 130kg semifinals. Hlinchuk looking good for a medal here

12:35: World champion at 55kg Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) goes all big and fast and he wins Stefan GRIGOROV (BUL), 9-0. Two takedowns and two turns from par terre were his scoring action

12:30: Defending champion at 63kg Kerem KAMAL (TUR) shows up big time in the quarterfinals and takes out U23 world champion Ziya BABASHOV (AZE).

12:20: Olympic champion and returning silver medalist Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) gets his second victory at 87kg as he beats Marjan KOLA (ALB), 9-0, and advances to the quarterfinals.

12:15: Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) continues his good form from Dan Kolov Nikola Petrov tournament in which he won gold, and beats Alan OSTAEV (UWW), 1-1, to start his campaign at 87kg

12:05: An emotional moment for world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) after his opening round loss to Ihar YARASHEVICH (UWW). Komarov dropped his match 5-2 and was about to take off his shoes, a sign of retirement, but the Serbian coaches run and pull him off the mat and stop him from retiring, for now.

11:55: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) with three stepouts in his 9-0 technical superiority win over Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM). When he scored the last stepout for an 8-0 score, Armenia challenged but lost it which added one more point to Bisultanov's score

11:50: Four-time European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) with a controlled 4-0 win over Edvin BAFF (SWE) at 77kg. He got the par terre in the first period before scoring a throw for two points. He got the par terre in the second period as well to win 4-0.

11:48: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) went murder-mode on Vilius SAVICKAS (LTU) from par terre, scoring two massive reverse throws and wins 10-0

11:33: Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) holds off for a 1-1 criteria victory over Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) in his 130kg bout. Next up for him is Riza KAYAALP (TUR). Can Kamparov stop Kayaalp from making history?

11:30: No rust from 12-time European champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) as he uses an arm-throw to pin Albert VARDANYAN (ARM) and start his quest for a historic 13th title at 130kg.

11:22: Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), a former U23 world champion at 97kg and still looking small for 130kg, gets three turns from par terre and beats Jacob LOGAARD (SWE), 7-1 at 130kg.

11:15: Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR), a former U20 world champion, with a massive arm throw for four and holds Apostolos TSIOVOLOS (GRE) for a victory via fall at 130kg.

11:02: Defending champion at 63kg Kerem KAMAL (TUR) with a technical superiority victory over Maksym LIU (UKR). Kamal with turn from par terre to lead 3-0 and Liu is called for a defensive leg foul. Ukraine challenges but the foul is confirmed and Kamal leads 6-0 and the bout restarts in par terre. A side throw for four to finish the bout 10-0

10:58: Paris Olympic bronze medalist and former European champion Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) with a technical superiority victory over Matej MANDIC (CRO). He scored four turns from par terre to win 9-0

10:50: Looking for his first European medal, U23 world champion Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) starts off with a 4-0 victory over Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) at 87kg. He gets the stepout and par terre in the first period and then a takedown to win the match.

10:42: Returning silver medalist medalists at 77kg Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) begins his 77kg campaign with a 8-2 victory over Marcos SANCHEZ (ESP).

10:30: Welcome to the Albanian capital Tirana as the European Championships kicks off with Greco-Roman weight classes.