SKOPJE, Macedonia (May 14) - The 2018 Cadet European Championships kicked off today with seven different nations, including the host Macedonia claiming at least one spot in Tuesday nights freestyle finals. Armenia, Russia, and Turkey led the way on the first day of competition, each placing a pair of wrestlers in the finals.

Besir ALILI (MKD) gives the host nation Macedonia their first finalist of the 2018 Cadet European Championships. (Photo by Gabor Martin)

Besir ALILI (MKD) came into the semifinals as the only Macedonian vying for a spot in the finals. Alili gave the host nation their first finalist of these championships after stopping Stanislau MAZOK (BLR), 11-1 in the 45kg semifinals.

He'll wrestle Rafayel HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), who also picked up a technical superiority victory to seal his spot in the finals. 

Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) hung on to defeat Samvel TERZIAN (RUS) in the 51kg semifinal. (Photo by Gabor Martin) 

While three nations had a pair of wrestlers make the finals, those nations will only have wrestlers meet in one of the five final bouts. 

Adem UZUN (TUR) and Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) will wrestle for the 51kg gold medal.

In the semifinals, Armenia’s Manvel Khndzrtsyan stayed defensively sound in the second period to hold off Russia’s Samvel TERZIAN (RUS), 3-2. 

Khndzrtsyan will wrestle Adem Uzun, who made his way to the finals by dominating Aleksandrs MOROZOVS (LAT), 10-0. 

MATCH-UPS
45kg
GOLD - Besir ALILI (MKD) vs. Rafayel HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)

Semifinal - Besir ALILI (MKD) df. Stanislau MAZOK (BLR), 11-1
Semifinal - Rafayel HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), 10-0 

51kg
GOLD - Adem Burak UZUN (TUR) vs. Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM)

Semifinal - Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) df. Samvel TERZIAN (RUS), 3-2.  
Semifinal - Adem Burak UZUN (TUR) df. Aleksandrs MOROZOVS (LAT), 10-0.

60kg
GOLD - Hamza ALACA (TUR) vs. Stanislav NOVAC (MDA)

Semifinal - Hamza ALACA (TUR) df. Bagrat PANDARIIA (RUS), 11-8
Semifinal - Stanislav NOVAC (MDA) df. Balint BALAZS (HUN), 10-0. 

71kg
GOLD - Ramazan ABUZAGIDOV (RUS) vs. Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO)

Semifinal - Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO) df. Muhammet CAVUS (TUR), 9-1
Semifinal - Ramazan ABUZAGIDOV (RUS) df. Marian Luca RALL (GER), 10-0 

92kg
GOLD - Gadzhi GAMZATOV (RUS) vs. Johannes MAYER (GER)

Semifinal - Gadzhi GAMZATOV (RUS) df. Cagri Can BAYRAM (TUR), 8-6 
Semifinal - Johannes MAYER (GER) df. Danylo STASIUK (UKR), 2-1