U20 European Championship: First Women’s Wrestling Champions Crowned

The U20 European Wrestling Championship continues in Caorle, Italy. On Wednesday, July 3, the first medal bouts in the women’s wrestling division took place. Medals were awarded in five weight categories — 50, 55, 59, 68, and 76 kg.

Team Russia started with four medals: two silver and two bronze. Zlatoslava Stepanova (68 kg) and Diana Titova (76 kg) reached the finals but lost their gold medal matches. Violetta Biryukova (50 kg) and Elena Kurova (59 kg) claimed bronze in their respective categories.

Gold medals went to athletes from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Hungary. Ukrainian wrestlers had an especially strong day, with Oleksandra Rybak (68 kg) and Nadia Sokolovska (76 kg) winning titles in the heaviest weights. Gerda Terek of Hungary won the 55 kg division, while Azerbaijan’s Gunay Gurbanova triumphed at 59 kg. The lightest weight category (50 kg) was won by Belarusian Kseniya Kostsenich.

The U20 European Championship is held from June 30 to July 6 and includes all three wrestling styles — freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women’s wrestling.

On July 4, the men’s freestyle tournament begins, alongside the women’s wrestling finals in the remaining weight classes.

Women’s Wrestling Results (July 3) — First Five Weight Classes

50 kg

1. Kseniya Kostsenich (Belarus)

2. Josephine Wrench (Germany)

3. Violetta Biryukova (Russia) & Laura Fath (Hungary)

55 kg

1. Gerda Terek (Hungary)

2. Valeria Mikitich (Belarus)

3. Fabianna Rinella (Italy) & Amelia Tomala (Poland)

59 kg

1. Gunay Gurbanova (Azerbaijan)

2. Sevim Akbas (Turkey)

3. Elena Kurova (Russia) & Marta Hetmanova (Belarus)

68 kg

1. Oleksandra Rybak (Ukraine)

2. Zlatoslava Stepanova (Russia)

3. Laura Koeler (Germany) & Ayse Erkan (Turkey)

76 kg

1. Nadia Sokolovska (Ukraine)

2. Diana Titova (Russia)

3. Elmira Yasin (Turkey)