NOVI SAD, Serbia (May 6) – Felix BALDAUF (NOR) stunned Rio 2016 gold medalist Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) in the 98kg quarterfinals on Saturday, opening the Greco-Roman events at the European Senior Wrestling Championships with a bang.
Baldauf scored a quick armspin for two points to kick off the quarterfinal match at Spens Sport Hall, then battled strongly at centermat as former three-time European champion Aleksanyan could only pull back a pair of individual points, giving Bauldauf the tie-break advantage.
The Paris Grand Prix winner then defeated 2015 world bronze medalist Dimitry TIMCHENKO (UKR), 7-7, in the semifinals to become the first wrestler from Norway in a decade to reach the gold medal final in Greco-Roman at the European championships.
Rio 2016 bronze medalist Stig Andre BERGE (NOR) was the last wrestler from Norway to reach the finals of the European championships, when he advanced to the 60kg final at the 2007 meet in Sofia.
The 22-year-old Baldauf will square off with 2016 bronze medal winner Aleksander HRABOVIK (BLR) in Saturday evening’s finals with a chance to end Norway’s 25-year drought without a European gold medalist.
Aleksanyan, meanwhile, defeated Artur OMAROV (CZE) in the consolation bracket and will wrestle in one of the bronze medal matches in the eveining against Timchenko.
Also among the early upset victims on Saturday was defending champion Nikita MELNIKOV (RUS), who fell to Mikheil KAJAIA (SRB), 2-1, in the preliminary bouts. Melnikov was the eliminated from the competition when Kajaia lost, 5-1, to Aleksanyan.
Meanwhile, Serbia’s own Rio 2016 champion Davor STEFANEK (SRB) had the crowd on their feet throughout the morning session as he notched four wins to reach the 66kg final against 2015 European Games gold medalist Artem SURKOV (RUS).
Las Vegas 2015 world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) also muscled his way into the 130kg gold medal bout, pinning Christian JOHN (GER) in the semifinals. Kayaalp will be seeking his sixth straight and seventh overall European crown when he faces former junior world champ Balint LAM (HUN) in the gold medal bout.
At 59kg, Ivo ANGELOV (BUL), who won the European and world titles in 2013, edged defending champion Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS), 3-2, in the semifinals with a late takedown. Angelov faces another hometown hero in the gold medal match, Kristijan FRIS (SRB).
Pairings for Saturday evening’s medal matches and semifinal results:
Greco-Roman
59kg (16 entries)
Gold – Ivo ANGELOV (BUL) v Kristijan FRIS (SRB)
Bronze – Erik TORBA (HUN) v Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS)
Bronze – Joakim FAGERLUND (SWE) v Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO)
Semifinal – Ivo ANGELOV (BUL) df. Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS), 3-2
Semifinal – Kristijan FRIS (SRB) df. Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO), 2-1
66kg (23 entries)
Gold – Artem SURKOV (RUS) v Davor STEFANEK (SRB)
Bronze – Goga GOGIBERASHVILI (GEO) v Atakan YUKSEL (TUR)
Bronze – Mate KRASZNAI (HUN) v Soslan DAUROV (BLR)
Semifinal – Artem SURKOV (RUS) df. Atakan YUKSEL (TUR), 2-0
Semifinal – Davor STEFANEK (SRB) df. Soslan DAUROV (BLR), 4-1
98kg (19 entries)
Gold – Aleksander HRABOVIK (BLR) v Felix BALDAUF (NOR)
Bronze – Oliver HASSLER (GER) v Balasz KISS (HUN)
Bronze – Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) v Dimitry TIMCHENKO (UKR)
Semifinal – Aleksander HRABOVIK (BLR) df. Balasz KISS (HUN), 3-1
Semifinal – Felix BALDAUF (NOR) df. Dimitry TIMCHENKO (UKR), 7-7
130kg (18 entries)
Gold – Riza KAYAALP (TUR) v Balint LAM (HUN)
Bronze – Levan ARABULI (GEO) v Christian JOHN (GER)
Bronze – Vitali SHCHUR (RUS) v Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU)
Semifinal – Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Christian JOHN (GER) by Fall, 2:31 (7-0)
Semifinal – Balint LAM (HUN) df. Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU), 4-1
