BUCHAREST (June 26) – For a second day in a row, all members of Russia’s freestyle quartet advanced to the gold medal finals at the European Junior Wrestling Championships, making this year’s squad one of the most dominant in recent memory.
Cadet world silver medalist Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) kicked Russia’s rush to the finals with a 10-8 triumph over reigning junior world champion Makhir AMIRSLANOV (AZE), 10-8, in the round of 16 at 55kg.
Magomedov also pinned 2015 European cadet runner-up Petru CRACIUM (MDA) on his way to the gold medal bout where he will meet Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO), who held on in the semifinals for a 5-5 win over last year’s junior runner-up Mikyay NAIM (BUL).
At 66kg, former cadet world champion David BAEV (RUS) posted three technical falls, including a 13-2 romp over Giorgi SULAVA (GEO) in the semifinals, but faces the challenge of taking on defending champion Enes USLU (TUR) for the gold medal.
Another former cadet world champion Batyrbek TCAKULOV (RUS) also rang up three technical falls at 84kg, including an 11-0 win over Meki SIMONIA (GEO), a silver medalist at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.
Tcakulov will square off with Gazhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE), a bronze medalist from last year’s European junior meet in Istanbul.
In the finale of the championships at 120kg, newcomer Magomedamin DIBIROV (RUS), who defeated European cadet champion Alimagomed ALIKHMAEV (AZE) in the quarterfinals, will face another newcomer to the junior tourney in Huseyin CIVELEK (TUR) for the gold medal.
In last year’s European junior championships, the Russian freestyle team swept all four gold medals on the first day and raked in six gold medals and seven overall by the end of competition.
On Saturday, Russia grabbed three gold medals and a silver and with the results of Sunday’s morning session, Russia has guaranteed itself of medals – gold or silver – in all eight weight categories.
The nearest comparable result in recent years was four gold medals and four bronze medals won at the European junior meet in Wroclaw, Poland, in 2005.
In addition to the eight medals won by the Russian men, all eight Russian women returned home with a piece of tournament – two gold and six bronze medals.
Semifinal Results & Pairings for Sunday’s Medal Matches
Freestyle
55kg (18 entries)
Gold – Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) v Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)
Bronze – Makhir AMIRSLANOV (AZE) v Elmedin SEJFULAU (MKD)
Bronze – Mkhtiar GRIGORYAN (ARM) v Mikyay NAIM (BUL)
Semifinal – Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Elmedin SEJFULAU (MKD) by TF, 10-0, 4:22
Semifinal – Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) df. Mikyay NAIM (BUL), 5-5
66kg (22 entries)
Gold – David BAEV (RUS) v Enes USLU (TUR)
Bronze – Marc DIETSCHE (SUI) v Giorgi SULAVA (GEO)
Bronze – Csaba VIDA (HUN) v Maxim SACULTAN (MDA)
Semifinal – David BAEV (RUS) df. Giorgi SULAVA (GEO) by TF, 13-2, 3:00
Semifinal – Enes USLU (TUR) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 6-6
84kg (18 entries)
Gold – Batyrbek TSAKULOV (RUS) v Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE)
Bronze – Bendeguez TOTH (HUN) v Meki SIMONIA (GEO)
Bronze – Sargis HOVSEPYAN (ARM) v Semih YAZICI (TUR)
Semifinal – Batyrbek TSAKULOV (RUS) df. Meki SIMONIA (GEO) by TF, 11-0, 3:37
Semifinal – Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE) df. Semih YAZICI (TUR) by TF, 11-0, 0:32
120kg (13 entries)
Gold – Huseyin CIVELEK (TUR) v Magomedamin DIBIROV (RUS)
Bronze – Zuriko URTASHVILI (GEO) v Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL)
Bronze – Alimagomed ALIKHMAEV (AZE) v Marcel BOEHEME (GER)
Semifinal – Huseyin CIVELEK (TUR) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) by TF, 16-6, 5:57
Semifinal – Magomedamin DIBIROV (RUS) df. Marcel BOEHEME (GER), 8-0
