WALYBRZYCH, Poland (March 24) – Former world bronze medalist Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) snatched a 12-11 victory from Paris Grand Prix winner Magomed MUSLIMOV (AZE) to advance to the finals on the opening day of the European Under-23 Wrestling Championships.
Chamizo had to battle from behind three times, twice with four-point throws and then a go-behind takedown in the closing seconds of the 65kg final to defeat Muslimov, who came into the tourney ranked No.4 in the men’s freestyle rankings at 65kg.
“I had (Muslimov) on his back with the second throw and I thought I had him pinned. But the referee didn’t see it,” said Chamizo, who posted three technical falls on his way to the semifinals.
After giving up a late force-out, the 22-year-old Cuba native explained that was worried about scoring the final points. “I knew I could win because we practice getting the last points all the time in practice.”
Meanwhile, Medved Prizes winner Omar GUSOSHVILI (GEO) also notched three technical falls to advance to the gold medal final at 97kg where he joined teammates Zarubi IAKOBASHVILI (65kg) and Zurab ERBOTSONASHVILI (74kg) in the championship bouts.
Gusoshvili will face junior European champion Nurmagomed GADZHIEV (AZE) for the u23 crown on the first day of men’s freestyle competition at Aqua Zdroj Sports Center.
Iakobashvili, still looking for his first international title, squares off with Chamizo at 65kg while Erbotsonashvili, also seeking his first trip to the medals podium abroad, takes on senior European silver medalist Grigor GRIGORYAN (ARM) at 74kg.
At 57kg, 2013 junior world silver medalist Ismail MUSUKAEV (RUS) edged 2014 runner-up Mirjalai HASANZADE (AXE), 7-5, for a berth in the finals opposite Georgi VANGELOV (BUL).
Also at 74kg, junior world champion Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) gave up a late takedown and gut wrench to fall 7-8 to Kubilay CAKICI (GER) in the round of 16. Cakici, who fell in the quarterfinals, will face junior world bronze medalist Murat ERTURK (TUR) in a third-place final.
Pairings for the first-day medal bouts:
57kg (17 entries)
Gold - Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) v Ismail MUSUKAEV (RUS)
Bronze - Juan Pablo GONZALEZ (ESP) v Nebi UZUN (TUR)
Bronze - Beka BUDZHIASHVILI (GEO) v Mirjalal HASANZADE (AZE)
65kg (18 entries)
Gold - Zarubi IAKOBASHVILI (GEO) v Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)
Bronze -Narek SIRUNYAN (ARM) v Evgeni ZHYERBAEV (RUS)
Bronze - Maxim PERPELITA (MDA) v Magomed MUSLIMOV (AZE)
74kg (21 entries)
Gold - Grigor GRIGORYAN (ARM) v Zurab ERBOTSONASHVILI (GEO)
Bronze - Mihaly NAGY (HUN) v Ismail ENGIN (BUL)
Bronze - Kubilay CAKICI (GER) v Murat ERTURK (TUR)
97kg (19 entries)
Gold - Omar GUSOSHVILI (GEO) v Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE)
Bronze - Alxios KAOUSLIDIS (CYP) v Yusuf Can ZEYBEK (TUR)
Bronze - Zaynulla KURBANOV (RUS) v Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
