U17 European Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships: Russia and Armenia Lead After First Finals

The U17 European Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships continue in Samokov, Bulgaria. Today, May 12, the first sets of medals were awarded in five weight categories: 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg and 110 kg.

It was a very successful day for Team Armenia. Armenian wrestlers won four medals: one gold, one silver and two bronze. The main hero of the day was 15-year-old Vahe Hoveyan, who confidently won the final in the 80 kg weight category.

In the decisive bout, Hoveyan faced Hungary’s Dominik Szilagyi and claimed an early victory with an 8:0 score. The final lasted just one minute. During the tournament, the Armenian wrestler also defeated opponents from Turkey, Poland and Lithuania, completing his title-winning run without serious difficulties.

Armenia’s silver medal was won by Zaven Mezhlumyan in the 65 kg category. In the final, he lost to Russia’s Aslan Dzuev with a score of 3:6.

The bronze medalists for Armenia were Ararat Avetisyan in the 48 kg category and Gegham Yeghiazaryan in the 55 kg category. Avetisyan defeated Ukraine’s Timur Makharramov 10:4 in the bronze-medal bout. Yeghiazaryan had a particularly dramatic match against Hungary’s Keve Kovacs: the bout ended 3:3, but the victory went to the Armenian wrestler on criteria.

After the first day of finals, Team Armenia already has four medals at the U17 European Championships: one gold, one silver and two bronze.

Results of the First Finals Day at the U17 European Championships — May 12

48 kg

Final:
Artem Tkachenko (Russia) — Omar Salmanov (Azerbaijan) — 5:1

Bronze-medal bouts:
Timur Makharramov (Ukraine) — Ararat Avetisyan (Armenia) — 4:10
Samil Sahan (Turkey) — Benedek Tombor (Hungary) — 7:1

Final standings:

1. Artem Tkachenko (Russia)
2. Omar Salmanov (Azerbaijan)
3. Ararat Avetisyan (Armenia) and Samil Sahan (Turkey)

55 kg

Final:
Gurban Mazhnunov (Azerbaijan) — Edem Payziev (Russia) — 1:2

Bronze-medal bouts:
Rakhman Gamidov (Ukraine) — Abu Bakar Saga (Norway) — 1:2
Keve Kovacs (Hungary) — Gegham Yeghiazaryan (Armenia) — 3:3

Final standings:

1. Edem Payziev (Russia)
2. Gurban Mazhnunov (Azerbaijan)
3. Abu Bakar Saga (Norway) and Gegham Yeghiazaryan (Armenia)

65 kg

Final:
Aslan Dzuev (Russia) — Zaven Mezhlumyan (Armenia) — 6:3

Bronze-medal bouts:
Orkhan Khabibli (Azerbaijan) — Oleksandr Venets (Ukraine) — 9:0
Ramin Yousefi (Finland) — Imre Juhasz (Hungary) — 0:9

Final standings:

1. Aslan Dzuev (Russia)
2. Zaven Mezhlumyan (Armenia)
3. Orkhan Khabibli (Azerbaijan) and Imre Juhasz (Hungary)

80 kg

Final:
Dominik Szilagyi (Hungary) — Vahe Hoveyan (Armenia) — 0:8

Bronze-medal bouts:
Luka Buiglishvili (Georgia) — Daniil Melnychuk (Ukraine) — 10:0
Abdulkhalik Bal (Turkey) — Benediktas Bubelevicius (Lithuania) — 1:3

Final standings:

1. Vahe Hoveyan(Armenia)
2. Dominik Szilagyi (Hungary)
3. Luka Buiglishvili (Georgia) and Benediktas Bubelevicius (Lithuania)

110 kg

Final:
Fedor Sukharev (Russia) — Mateusz Tomelka (Poland) — 2:1

Bronze-medal bouts:
Saba Takidze (Georgia) — Maksym Sokoliuk (Ukraine) — 6:4
Osma Turunen (Finland) — Yegor Savich (Belarus) — 3:10

Final standings:

1. Fedor Sukharev (Russia)
2. Mateusz Tomelka (Poland)
3. Saba Takidze (Georgia) and Yegor Savich (Belarus)

Team Standings After the First Finals

Armenia Still Has Two More Finals Ahead

The Armenian team’s medal campaign in Samokov is not over yet. On May 13, Armenia will be represented in two more finals.

In the 71 kg category, Janes Nazaryan will compete for gold. His opponent will be Ramaz Basilia of Georgia. In the 92 kg category, Aleksan Shaldjian has reached the final, where he will face Tomasz Mital of Poland.

Final Pairs for May 13

45 kg:
Ali Javadli (Azerbaijan) — Umar Bogatyrev (Russia)

51 kg:
Inal Temirsultanov (Russia) — Islam Isaev (Sweden)

60 kg:
Cristiano Liebzeit (Germany) — Georgi Markov (Bulgaria)

71 kg:
Ramaz Basilia (Georgia) — Janes Nazaryan (Armenia)

92 kg:
Tomasz Mital (Poland) — Aleksan Shaldjian (Armenia)