RIGA (March 8) – Local favorite Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) fashioned three one-sided wins to power her way through the opening session of the European championships and into Tuesday evening’s gold medal finals.
Grigorjeva told reporters that her berth in the gold medal final was “unexpected” – a surprising comment after her technical fall triumph over European Games gold medalist Marianna SASTIN (HUN) in the women’s 63kg semifinals.
“It has been a tough week preparing for the championships and I did not wrestle well in my first match today,” said Grigorjeva. “So reaching the final was unexpected.”
“But, I’m happy that I could show the fans a good match (in the semifinals) and I hope I will wrestle even better in the final,” Grigorjeva said as she exited the arena, smiling.
Grigorjeva, a three-time European champion, will face 2014 world champion Yulia TKACH (UKR) in the evening’s second final for women’s wrestling. Tkach defeated Yarygin Grand Prix winner Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS), 9-5, for her berth in the gold medal match.
In the women’s championship bout at 48kg, European Games champion Maria STADNYK (AZE) will face Alina VUC (ROU), a runner-up in last year’s European under-23 championships.
Stadnyk, who will be seeking her sixth overall European crown, had to battle from behind in the quarterfinals to defeat European Games bronze medalist Valentina ISLAMOVA-BRIK (RUS), 5-2.
Meanwhile, on the opening day of men’s freestyle action, Russia pushed two wrestlers into the gold medal matches with junior world bronze medalist Gadshimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) advancing at 57kg and Shamil KUDIYAMAGOMEDOV (RUS) notching three technical falls at 86kg.
In the semifinals, Kudiyamagomedov tagged 2013 world champion Ibragim ALDATOV (UKR) for an 11-0 victory and his first chance at a senior European crown. This year’s Yarygin Grand Prix winner finished in third place at last year’s European U23s.
Kudiyamagomedov will face Aleksander GOSTIEV (AZE), who has emerged triumphant his last two times out – at the Golden Grand Prix Final in November and at the Yasar Dogu tourney one month ago in Istanbul.
At 57kg, Yarygin bronze medal winner Rashidov defeated four opponents by a combined score of 36-0, including three technical falls, and will face 18-year-old Andrey YATSENKO (UKR) in the final.
Results
Men’s freestyle
57kg (21 entries)
Gold – Andrey YATSENKO (UKR) v Gadshimurad RASHIDOV (RUS)
Bronze – Mahir AMIRASLANOV (AZE) v Andrei DUKOV (ROU)
Bronze – Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) v Asadulla LACHINOV (BLR)
Semifinal – Andrey YATSENKO (UKR) df. Andrei DUKOV (ROU), 5-1
Semifinal – Gadshimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) df. Asadulla LACHINOV (BLR), 6-0
86kg (19 entries)
Gold – Shamil KUDIYAMAGOMEDOV (RUS) v Aleksander GOSTIEV (AZE)
Bronze – Shamir ATYAN TUR) v Ibragim ALDATOV (UKR)
Bronze – Dato MARSAGISHVILI (GEO) v Aleksandr HUSHTYN (BLR),
Semifinal – Shamil KUDIYAMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Ibragim ALDATOV (UKR) by TF, 11-0, 3:13
Semifinal – Aleksander GOSTIEV (AZE) df. Aleksandr HUSHTYN (BLR), 3-1
Women’s Wrestling
48kg (15 entries)
Gold – Alina VUC (ROU) v Maria STADNYK (AZE)
Bronze – Maryna MARKEVICH (BLR) v Eugenia BUSTABAD GARCIA (ESP)
Bronze – Valentina ISALMOVA-BRIK (RUS) v Elitsa YANKOVA (BUL)
Semifinal – Alina VUC (ROU) df. Eugenia BUSTABAD GARCIA (ESP) by Fall, 2:49 (6-1)
Semifinal – Maria STADNYK (AZE) df. Elitsa YANKOVA (BUL) by Fall, 3:29 (9-0)
63kg (13 entries)
Gold – Yulia TKACH (UKR) v Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT)
Bronze – Indre BUBELYTE (LTU) v Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS)
Bronze – Nadine WEINAUGE (GER) v Marianna SASTIN (HUN)
Semifinal – Yulia TKACH (UKR) df. Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS), 9-5
Semifinal – Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) df. Marianna SASTIN (HUN) by TF, 10-0, 4:25
