Ukraine's Livach Upends Defending U23 World Champion Demirhan

ISTANBUL, Turkey (June 7) - On the heels of Oksana LIVACH's (UKR) 5-2 upset victory over defending U23 world champion Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) in the 50kg gold medal bout, Ukrainian women banked two of the five possible gold medals on the fourth day of competition at the U23 European Championships. 

Livach, a 2017 U23 world team member trailed 1-0 heading into the second period after failing to score on the activity clock.

In the final period, Livach scored a pair of counter-offensive takedowns and collected a point for Turkey's lost challenge in the final 90 seconds to upset Demirhan, 5-2. 

Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) gold medal at 76kg gave Ukraine their second gold medal of the day. (Photo by Martin Gabor)

Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) gave Ukraine their second gold medal of the day after securing a pair of takedowns and a step out point in the 76kg finals, nearly shutting out Kristina SHUMOVA (RUS), 5-2.

Bulgaria, Russia, and Turkey also had wrestlers reach the podiums top spot on the fourth day of competition. 

Nina MENKENOVA (RUS) gets her hand raised after winning the 55kg gold medal. (Photo by Martin Gabor)

At 55kg, Nina MENKENOVA (RUS), the 2017 U23 European Championship third-place finisher shutout Elena Heike BRUGGER (GER), 5-0 in the gold-medal bout. 

Menkenova, last year’s U23 world bronze medalist scored a takedown in each period, with her fifth point coming after Brugger failed to score on the activity clock. 

Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) defeated Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), 3-1 to win the 59kg gold medal. (Photo Martin Gabor)

Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) joined 63kg Greco-Roman champion Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU) as the only two wrestlers to win both 2018 Senior and U23 European Championships after she defeated Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), 3-1 for the 59kg gold medal. 

Dudova nabbed a takedown after being dinged on the activity clock, taking the 2-1 lead after the first three minutes. She would add a step out point in the second period, ultimately winning the gold medal with a 3-1 victory. 

Buse TOSUN (TUR), 68kg U23 European Champion. (Photo by Martin Gabor)

Buse TOSUN (TUR) won the action-packed battle against Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) in the 68kg gold-medal match. 

Tosun, the three-time U23 European medalist, and 2016 U23 European champion bulldozed Velieva out of bounds to close the score to 3-1 after giving up a takedown and a step out in the opening period. 

The Turkish wrestler found herself in a three-point hole after 2017 U23 bronze medalist scored a takedown and accumulated a point from a lost challenge.  

Buse TOSUN (TUR) remained offensive and locked up a takedown to a leg lace to win the match, 6-5. 

RESULTS
50kg
GOLD - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 5-2

BRONZE - Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR) df. Stefania Claudia PRICEPUTU (ROU), 12-2
BRONZE - Ellen RIESTERER (GER) df. Agata Marta WALERZAK (POL), 8-0

55kg
GOLD - Nina MENKENOVA (RUS) df. Elena Heike BRUGGER (GER), 5-0

BRONZE - Elif YANIK (TUR) df. Jeannie Agnes KESSLER (AUT), 10 - 0 BRONZE - Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) df. Sviatlana LAMASHEVICH (BLR), 6-4

59kg
GOLD - Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) df. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), 3-1

BRONZE - Elin Johanna NILSSON (SWE) df. Katarzyna MADROWSKA (POL), 10-2
BRONZE - Olena KREMZER (UKR) df. Kornelija ZAICEVAITE (LTU), 10-2

68kg (One bronze)
GOLD - Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Khanum VELIEVA (RUS), 6-5

BRONZE - Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. Yauheniya ANDREICHYKAVA (BLR), 4-3

76kg
GOLD - Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) df. Kristina SHUMOVA (RUS), 5-2

BRONZE - Iselin Maria Moen SOLHEIM (NOR) df. Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE), 4-0
BRONZE - Catalina AXENTE (ROU) df. Francy RAEDELT (GER), 11-6