MINSK (March 6-7) – Defending champion Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) capped a successful run for the home team as Belarus wrestlers won three categories in the women’s events at the Alexander Medved Prizes international wrestling tournament. 

Marzaliuk, last year’s European silver medalist, forged a 2-0 win over veteran Svetlana SAENKO (MDA) in the 75kg final at the Palace of Sport in Minsk for her third overall title at the Medved classic.

Joining Marzaliuk on the top step of the medals podium for Belarus were 2014 junior world team member Irina KURACHKINA (53kg) and 2012 world silver medalist Zalina SIDAKOVA (55kg). 

In the 55kg final, Sidakova prevailed in an 11-9 free-for-all with Yarygin Grand Prix bronze medalist Katsiaryna HANCHAR (BLR).

On the first day of competition, Russia grabbed a pair of titles despite having many of its top wrestlers in St. Petersburg for the World Cup of women’s wrestling.

Former European champion Valeria CHEPSARAKOVA (48kg) defeated Russian Open bronze medalist Daria LEKSINA (RUS) for her first title in over a year, while Darima SANZHEEVA (69kg) edged 2013 world champion Alina MAKHINIA (UKR), 3-1, for her first win outside of Russia in 20 months.

Meanwhile, 2013 world champion Marianna SASTIN (HUN) needed a late four-point drop to defeat Asian bronze medalist Aiym ABDILDINA (KAZ), 9-5, in the 58kg final for only her second title since winning the world crown in Budapest.
The remaining two titles went to 2011 world champion Anna VASILENKO (UKR) at 60kg and two-time Olympic Games bronze medalist Jackline RENTERIA (COL), who pinned 2013 world bronze medalist Ekaterina LARIONOVA (KAZ) in the second period of the 63kg final.

Medal Match Results:

48kg (19 entries)
Gold – Valeria CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS) df. Daria LEKSINA (RUS), 4-1
Bronze – Elenora ABUTALIPOVA (KAZ) df. Violeta CHYRYK (BLR), 2-1
Bronze – Carolina CASTILLO (COL) df. Alina RYZHOVA (BLR), 2-2

53kg (19 entries)
Gold – Irina KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Sayury CANON (COL), 4-0
Bronze – Natalya MALYSHEVA (RUS) df. Lubov SALNIKOVA (RUS) by TF, 10-0
Bronze – Iulia LEORDA (MDA) df.Zulfia YAKHYAROVA (KAZ) by Fall

55kg (12 entries)
Gold – Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) df. Katsiaryna HANCHAR (BLR), 11-8
Bronze – Aishan ISMAGULOVA (KAZ) df. Svetlana LAMASHEVICH (BLR), 12-10
Bronze – Larisa SKOBLYUK (UKR) df. Nadeshda TRETYAKOVA (RUS) by Fall

58kg (14 entries)
Gold – Marianna SASTIN (HUN) df. Aiym ABDILDINA (KAZ), 9-5
Bronze – Maria CHERDINA (MDA) df. Anzhela TITENKO (RUS) by Fall
Bronze – Irina HUSYAK (UKR) df. Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) by FF, 0:00

60kg (10 entries)
Gold – Anna VASILENKO (UKR) df. Natalya FEDOSEEVA (RUS), 2-0
Bronze – Anastasia IVANOVA (BLR) df. Krystina TSAN (BLR), by fall
Bronze – Giedre BLEKAITYTE (LTU) df. Ayaulm KASSYMOVA (KAZ), 10-8

63kg (10 entries)
Gold – Jackeline RENTERIA (COL) df. Ekaterina LARIONOVA (KAZ) by Fall, 4:14
Bronze – Gabriella SLEISZ (HUN) df. Solomiya VOLSKA (UKR), 3-1
Bronze – Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) df. Dalma CANEVA (ITA) by TF, 11-0

69kg (18 entries)
Gold – Darima SANZHEEVA (RUS) df. Alina MAKHINIA (UKR), 3-1
Bronze – Khourshid ENAS (EGY) df. Danute DOMIKITYTE (LTU) by Fall
Bronze – Laura SKUJINA (LAT) df. Oksana VASHCHUK (UKR) by FF, 0:00

75kg (10 entries)
Gold – Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) df. Svetlana SAENKO (MDA), 2-0
Bronze – Anzhela KATAEVA (RUS) df. Zsanett NEMETH (HUN), 1-1
Bronze – Elena PEREPELKINA (RUS) df. Nadia ANTER (EGY) by Fall