Olympic Medalists Eye 2016 Games From European Championships

HELSINSKI (March 31) – Olympic Games gold medalist Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) and silver medalist Stanka ZLATEVA (BUL) become the latest London 2012 medal winners to rejoin major international competition when the European senior wrestling championships get under way on March 31.

Asgarov won the 60kg crown in men’s freestyle in London while Zlateva, a five-time world champion in women’s freestyle, had to settle for a second Olympic Games silver medal.

While Asgarov and Zlateva will appear on the mat for the first time since August 2012, a number of other London 2012 medalists have been active the last 12 months, apparently with an eye on the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero.

Most recently, 55kg freestyle gold medalist Dyamal OTARSULTANOV (RUS) won the Yarygin Grand Prix at 61kg in January and Iran’s Greco-Roman gold medal trio, led by Hamid SORYAN (IRI), raised some eyebrows at the Hungarian Grand Prix in early March.

In addition to Asgarov and Zlateva, David MODZMANASVILI (GEO), the silver medalist at 120kg in freestyle, and women’s 48kg silver medalist Maria STADNYK (AZE) also return to competition at the continental level in Valtii Areena near Helsinki.

The championships will feature competition in men’s and women’s freestyle with two weight categories in each style the first four days of the championships.  The final two days in Helsinski will be strictly Greco-Roman with four categories contested each day.

Schedule

Monday, March 30

18:00-18:30: Weigh-in FS 65kg, 97kg; FW 48kg, 58kg

Tuesday, April 1

10:00-14:00: Qualification rounds, repechage FS 65kg, 97kg; FW 48kg, 58kg

18:00-18:30: Weigh-in FS 57kg, 61kg; FW 53kg, 60kg

18:30-19:00: Opening ceremony

19:00-21:00: Finals and Awards ceremonies FS 65kg, 97kg; FW 48kg, 58kg

Wednesday, April 2

10:00-14:00: Qualification rounds, repechage FS 57kg, 61kg; FW 53kg, 60kg

17:15-17:45: Weigh-in FS 74kg, 125kg; FW 55kg, 69kg

18:00-20:00: Finals and Awards ceremonies, FS 57kg, 61kg; FW 53kg, 60kg

Thursday, April 3

10:00-14:00: Qualification rounds, repechage FS 74kg, 125kg; FW 55kg, 69kg

17:15-17:45: Weigh-in FS 70kg, 86kg; FW 63kg, 75kg

18:00-20:00: Finals and Awards ceremonies FS 74kg, 125kg; FW 55kg, 69kg

Friday, April 4

10:00-14:00: Qualification rounds and repechage FS 70kg, 86kg; FW 63kg, 75kg

17:15-17:45: Weigh-in GR 59kg, 66kg, 98kg, 130kg

18:00-20:00: Finals and Awards ceremonies FS 70kg, 86kg; FW 63kg, 75kg

Saturday, April 5

10:00-14:00: Qualification rounds and repechage GR 59kg, 66kg, 98kg, 130kg

17:15-17:45:  Weigh-in GR 71kg, 75kg, 80kg, 85kg

18:00-20:00: Finals and Awards ceremonies GR 59kg, 66kg, 98kg, 130kg

Sunday, April 7

10:00-14:00: Qualification rounds and repechage GR 71kg, 75kg, 80kg, 85kg

18:00-20:00: Finals and Awards ceremonies GR 71kg 75kg, 80kg, 85kg

Weight category favorites and challengers (based on entry lists submitted by participating countries):

Men’s Freestyle

57kg – Favorite: London 2012 silver medalist Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) replaces defending champion Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (GEO). Challengers: World bronze medalist Sezar AKGUL (TUR), 2013 European silver medalist Vladislav ANDREEV (BLR)

61kg – Favorite: world champion Bekhan GOYGEREEV (RUS) replaces 2013 champion Opan SAT (RUS).  Challengers: World and European silver medalist Vladimir DUBOV (BUL), Dan Kolov winner Haji ALIEV (AZE)

65kg – Favorites: London 2012 gold medalist Toghrul ASGAROV (AZE) joins world champion David SAFARYAN (ARM) as co-favorites.  Challenger: World bronze medalist and Yarygin GP winner Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS)

70kg – Favorite: Yasar Dogu winner and 2013 European runner-up at 66kg Yakup GOR (TUR).  Challengers: Yarygin GP winner Israil KASUMOV (RUS), Dan Kolov winner Ruslan DIBIRGADZHIYEV (AZE)

74kg – Favorite: Yarygin GP winner Aniuar GEDUEV (RUS) is defending champion.  Challengers: World bronze medalist Ali SHABANOV (BLR), Medved Prizes runner-up Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)

86kg – Favorite: London 2012 bronze medalist Dato MARSAGISHVILI (GEO) is the 2013 European champion.  Challengers: Yarygin GP winner Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS), GGP Final winner Gamzat OSMANOV (AZE).

97kg – London 2012 bronze medalist and world silver medalist Khetag GAZUMOV (AZE) won three continental crowns in a row, 2009-2011. Challengers: World bronze medalist Pavlo OLIYNIK (UKR) is 2013 European champion, Yarygin GP winner Abdusalam GADISOV (RUS)

125kg – Favorite: World bronze medalist Taha AKGUL (TUR) is defending champion.  Challengers: Universiade silver medalist Aleksander KHOTSIANIVSKI (UKR), Dan Kolov winner Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE)

Women’s Freestyle

48kg – Favorite: London 2012 silver medalist Mariya STADNYK (AZE) is three-time European champion. Challengers: Yarygin GP bronze medalist Valeria CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS) is defending champion. Dan Kolov winner Sumeyya SEZER (TUR), junior world champion Elitsa YANKOVA (BUL).

53kg – Favorite: Yarygin GP winner Maria GUROVA (RUS) was a European bronze medal winner in 2012.  Challengers: Yarygin GP runner-up Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), Dan Kolov winner Natalia BUDU (MDA), 2013 European bronze medalist Patimat BAGOMEDOVA (AZE).

55kg – Favorite: World silver medalist Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) is defending champion.  Challengers: 2012 world runner-up Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), world bronze medalist Emese BARKA (HUN), Medved Prizes runner-up Irina HUSYAK (UKR).

58kg – Medved Prizes winner at 60kg Anastassia HUCHOK (BLR) is defending champion. Challengers: 2011 world champion Anna VASILENKO (UKR), Medved Prizes runner-up Irina NETREBA (AZE), Klippan Open winner Petra OLLI (FIN)

60kg – World and Olympic bronze medalist Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE) was 2011 European champion. Challengers: world silver medalist Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), Yarygin Grand Prix winner Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS)

63kg – GGP Final and Klippan Open winner Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) is defending champion.  Challengers: Klippan Open runner-up Henna JOHANSSON (SWE), 2013 European runner-up Monika MICHALIK (POL), Dan Kolov runner-up Dzhanan MANOLOVA (BUL)

69kg – Favorites: London 2012 gold medalist Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) and world champion Alina MAKHINYA (UKR) are 2013 European champions at 72kg and 67kg, respectively. Challengers: Klippan Open winner Aline FOCKEN (GER) is 2013 bronze medalist, 2012 world champion Jenny FRANSSON (SWE)

75kg – Favorites: Medved Prizes winner Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR), Klippan Open runner-up Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS) are co-favorites.  Challengers: Five-time world champion Stanka ZLATEVA (BUL), 2013 European bronze medalist Katerina BURMISTROVA (UKR)

Greco-Roman

59kg – Favorite: World silver medalist Ivan KUYLAKOV (RUS) or London 2012 bronze medalist Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS). Challengers: Hungarian GP runner-up Rahman BILICI (TUR), Dan Kolov winner Aleksandar KOSTADINOV (BUL)

66kg – Favorite: World silver medalist Islambek ALBIEV (RUS) or 2013 runner-up Adam KURAK (RUS).  Challengers: world bronze medalist Frank STABLER (GER), 2013 European bronze medalist Hasan ALIYEV (AZE)

71kg – Favorite: Hungarian GP winner Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) is 2013 European champion at 66kg.  Challengers: GGP Final winner Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), London 2012 bronze medalist Manuchar TSKHADAIA (GEO), junior world champion Abuyazid MANTSIGOV (RUS)

75kg – Favorite: London 2012 gold medalist Roman VLASOV (RUS) or Ivan Podubbny winner Aleksander CHEKHIRKIN (RUS).  Challengers: World bronze medalist Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARM), world bronze medalist Emrah KUS (TUR)

80kg – No standout favorite.  Challengers: Yadegar Imam Cup winner Peter BACSI (HUN) is the FILA World Rankings leader.  GGP Final winner Rafik HUSEINOV (AZE), Ivan Poddubny winner Bekhan OZDOEV (RUS), Poddubny runner-up Viktor SASUNOVSKI (BLR)

85kg – Favorite: 2004 Olympic champion Alexei MISHIN (RUS) is the 2013 European champion and 2014 Ivan Poddubny winner.  Challengers: world silver medalist Saman TAHMASEBI (AZE), world bronze medalists Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) and Javid HAMZATOV (BLR), London 2012 bronze medalist Damian JANIKOWSKI (POL).

98kg – Favorite: World champion Nikita MELNIKOV (RUS) or junior world champion Musa EVLOEV (RUS).  Challengers: world silver medalist Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) is defending champion. Hungarian GP winner Cenk ILDEM (TUR), world bronze medalist Shalva GADABADZE (AZE)

130kg – Favorite: World silver medalist Riza KAYAALP (TUR) is defending champion.  Challengers: London 2012 bronze medalist Johan EUREN (SWE), Ivan Poddubny winner Vitali ILNITSKI (RUS), world champion Heiki NABI (EST).