Moldovan Greco-Roman Duo Doubles Up at European U23’s

WALBRZYCH, Poland (March 28) – On the Internet, the technique is known as “The Flying Squirrel”. But in Moldova, it will now be known as “Ciobanu”. 

Viktor CIOBANU (59kg) unleashed the “squirrel” in the final 10 seconds of his championship battle with 2012 junior world champion Zaur KABALOEV (RUS) to claim – after the “required” challenge – the 59kg gold medal at the European Under-23 Wrestling Championships.

Thirty minutes later, teammate Daniel CATARAGA (MDA) captured the 71kg title on the first day of Greco-Roman competition at Aqua Zdroj Sports Center in Walbrzych -- to double, in one evening, Moldova’s total of continental wrestling crowns. 

Marin CAZAC (43kg) won a cadet title for Moldova in 2005 and Serghei SPITARI (46kg) grabbed a junior crown in 1996.

On Saturday, senior European silver medalist Ciobanu rolled into the finals with a pair of technical falls and a hard-fought 6-2 win over another 2012 junior world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) in the semifinals. 

In the final, however, Ciobanu fell behind with a bodylock takedown that drifted out of bounds and was ruled two points for Kabaloev. A rejected challenge made it 3-0 in the first period.

Ciobanu battled back for two and with only 10 seconds remaining in the bout, dove over his opponent, knocking him down and scrambling behind for an apparent come-from-behind 4-3 victory.

“I’ve done this technique in competition before, so I trusted it would work,” the 22-year-old from Chisinau said.  But, the Russian corner challenged the call and a video replay was displayed for the entire arena to see.

As the video showed Ciobanu scramble behind at 5:58, the arena erupted in approval and Ciobanu was awarded a bonus point for the failed challenge.

“When it came to the challenge, I knew 100 percent that I was going to be awarded the win,” said the newly minted champion with the gold medal dangling around his neck.

Asked about his name for his technique, Ciobanu replied “I don’t have a name for it.”  But, his coaches quickly added “From now on in Moldova, it will be called ‘The Ciobanu’.”

Cataraga, meanwhile, took a different approach to falling behind early in the 71kg final against Nordic junior champion Daniel SOINI (SWE) – less flying squirrel and more determined pit bull.

The 19-year-old, also from Chisinau, pursued his opponent relentlessly throughout the final, driving him out of bounds repeatedly until he had a 10-2 technical fall triumph.

“I have my parents and coaches to thank for all of the energy I have and my style of wrestling,” said Cataraga, who cruised to his first European title on the strength of three technical falls.

He admitted that he was “a little worried” after falling behind 0-2 early, but added “My only plan (after that) was to win. 

Meanwhile, in the other finals, Takhti Cup winner Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) forged an early lead in the 80kg final and then held on for a 3-2 victory over junior world bronze medalist Sargis KOCHARYAN (ARM).

At 98kg, Turkey earned its first gold medal of the championships -- after eight bronze medals -- when 2013 junior world bronze medal winner Fatih BASKOY (TUR) scored four points with an arm throw in the first period and made it stand for a 6-2 win over former Nordic junior champion Tuomas LAHTI (FIN).

Wrestling concludes on Sunday with competition in the final four weight categories of Greco-Roman.

Results of Saturday evening’s medal finals:

59kg (17 entries)
Gold - Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Zaur KABALOEV (RUS), 5-3
Bronze - Khvicha TCHITAVA (GEO) df. Firat MURAT (TUR) by TF, 8-0, 0:55
Bronze - Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Tamas NADJ (SRB), 6-1

71kg (20 entries)
Gold - Daniel CATARAGA (MDA) df. Daniel SOINI (SWE) by TF, 10-2, 4:58
Bronze - Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) df. Nicolas CHRISTEN (SUI) by TF, 1:34 (4-0)
Bronze - Aleksei KIYANKIN (RUS) df. Tsimur BERDIEV (BLR), 9-3

80kg (16 entries)
Gold - Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) df. Sargis KOCHARYAN (ARM), 3-2
Bronze - Radik KULIEV (BLR) df. Jonas PLATO (SWE), 9-7
Bronze - Dogan GOKTAS (TUR) df. Zoltan KERI (HUN), 8-2  

98kg (15 entries)
Gold - Fatih BASKOY (TUR) df. Toumas LAHTI (FIN), 6-2
Bronze - Kukuri KIRTSKHALIA (GEO) df. Peter OHLER (GER) by Fall, 5:40 (4-1)
Bronze - Evgeni GENCHEV (BUL) df. Martin Hamlet NIELSEN (NOR), 2-1

Dans les autres finales, le gagnant de la Takhti Cup Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) a rapidement pris le contrôle de sa finale à 80 kg et a gardé son avantage pour gagner 3-2 face au médaillé de bronze junior Sargis KOCHARYAN (ARM).

A 98 kg, la Turquie a remporté sa première médaille d’or des Championnats – après huit médailles de bronze – lorsque le champion du monde junior de 2013 Fatih BASKOY (TUR) a marqué quatre points grâce à un arm throw en première période et a gagné 6-2 face au champion nordique junior Tuomas LAHTI (FIN).

La compétition se termine dimanche avec quatre catégories de lutte gréco-romaine.

Résultats des finales de samedi soir:

59kg (17 inscriptions)
Or - Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Zaur KABALOEV (RUS), 5-3
Bronze - Khvicha TCHITAVA (GEO) df. Firat MURAT (TUR) par SP, 8-0, 0:55
Bronze - Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Tamas NADJ (SRB), 6-1

71kg (20 inscriptions)
Or - Daniel CATARAGA (MDA) df. Daniel SOINI (SWE) par SP, 10-2, 4:58
Bronze - Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) df. Nicolas CHRISTEN (SUI) par SP, 1:34 (4-0)
Bronze - Aleksei KIYANKIN (RUS) df. Tsimur BERDIEV (BLR), 9-3

80kg (16 inscriptions)
Or - Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) df. Sargis KOCHARYAN (ARM), 3-2
Bronze - Radik KULIEV (BLR) df. Jonas PLATO (SWE), 9-7
Bronze - Dogan GOKTAS (TUR) df. Zoltan KERI (HUN), 8-2  

98kg (15 inscriptions)
Or - Fatih BASKOY (TUR) df. Toumas LAHTI (FIN), 6-2
Bronze - Kukuri KIRTSKHALIA (GEO) df. Peter OHLER (GER) par tombé, 5:40 (4-1)
Bronze - Evgeni GENCHEV (BUL) df. Martin Hamlet NIELSEN (NOR), 2-1