Involuntary struggle: what caused the scandal between Mamiashvili and Valiev

The European Wrestling Championship was held in Bratislava on April 7-13. Russian athletes, even in the absence of their leader Abdulrashid Sadulaev, showed outstanding results in Slovakia, winning five medals of the highest dignity in freestyle wrestling. The purely Russian final also turned out to be in the category up to 74 kg, where Chermen Valiev, currently representing Albania, turned out to be stronger than the titled Zaurbek Sidakov. After the award ceremony, a scandalous episode was released with the participation of Valiev and the head of the Russian Wrestling Federation (FSBR) Mikhail Mamiashvili.

Dominance in freestyle wrestling

In the 57 kg category, the gold medal was won by the representative of Russia Nachyn Mongush, who defeated Azamat Tuskaev, who plays for Serbia (7-4) in the final. Earlier, the Tuvan passed the representative of Azerbaijan Islam Bazarganov (5-0), Armenian Manvel Khndzrtsyan (4-1) and Bulgarian Ivaylo Tisov (11-0). Belarusian wrestler Aryan Tyutrin took the bronze medal: in the fight for the third place, he defeated German Niklas Stehele 4-1. Another bronze medalist is Azerbaijani Islam Bazarganov.

In 65 kg, Russian Ibragim Ibragimov became the best, defeating French representative Khamzat Arsamerzuev 3-0 in the final. On the way to the final, Ibragimov defeated Georgian Goga Otinashvili (11-0), Armenian Vazgen Tevanyan (3-2), Bulgarian Mikay Naim (10-0) and Pole Krzysztof Bienkowski (10-0). The bronze medals were awarded to the aforementioned Vazgen Tevanyan and Azerbaijani Ali Rahimzade.

In the weight category up to 70 kg, Russian wrestler David Bayev took the gold award: in the final, he left no chance for Armenian Armen Andreasyan (4-1). Earlier, Bayev defeated Azerbaijani Kyanan Heybatov (3-0), Serbian Viktor Voinovich (10-0) and Hungarian Ismail Musukayev (10-0). The bronze medals were awarded to Georgian Akaki Kermetelidze and Kyanan Heybatov.

In 79 kg, the gold medalist was the representative of Russia, Ahmed Usmanov, who easily defeated Zelimkhan Khadzhiev, who plays for France (9-1), in the final. Earlier, Usmanov defeated Spain's Mohammed Mottaginia (7-0), Ukraine's Vasil Mikhailov (2-1) and Georgia's Vladimir Gamkrelidze (3-1). The bronze medals were taken by Askarbek Gulaev (Slovakia) and the already mentioned Gamkrelidze.

In the up to 97 kg category, where Abdulrashid Sadulaev was supposed to compete (the two-time Olympic champion from Russia was not given a visa), the gold medal was won by Georgian wrestler Givi Matcharashvili, who defeated Magomed Kurbanov, who replaced Sadulaev, 3-2 in the final. Batyrbek Tsakulov (Slovakia) and Richard Vech (Hungary) finished third on the podium.

The final day of the competition was opened by representatives of the category up to 61 kg. In the final, Russian Zaur Uguev defeated Armenian Arsen Harutyunyan with a score of 7:5. Earlier, Uguev defeated Belarusian Dmitry Shamela (10-0) and Ukrainian Andrei Dzhelep (11-1). The bronze medals were won by Zelimkhan Abakarov (Albania) and Andrei Jelep.

In the fight for the gold medal in the category up to 86 kg, Magomed Ramazanov, representing Bulgaria, defeated Magomedhabib Kadimagomedov, who plays in the national team of Belarus, with a score of 9-5. On his way to the final, Kadimagomedov passed Poland's Sebastian Jerzhansky (9-0), Israel's Matt Finesilver (10-0) and Turkey's Osman Gechen (5-0). The third place was shared by Russian Artur Naifonov and Osman Gechen.

In the category up to 92 kg, the gold medal was taken by the representative of Greece, Dauren Kurugliev, who defeated Osman Nurmagomedov (Azerbaijan) in the final. Earlier, Kurugliev defeated Turkey's Feyzulla Akturk, Moldavian Ivan Ichijli (10-0) and Bulgarian representative Ahmed Bataev (5-0). Miriani Maisuradze and Feyzulla Akturk took the bronze.

The heavyweight division was won by Azerbaijani representative Giorgi Meshvidishvili, who defeated Georgian wrestler Solomon Manashvili in the final. Kamil Kosciolek (Poland) and Denis Khromenkov (Belarus) won the bronze.

In the final of the category up to 74 kg, Chermen Valiev, representing Albania, defeated Zaurbek Sidakov with a score of 4-2. On the way to gold, Valiev defeated Aganazar Novruzov (6-0), representing Albania, Ramazan Ramazanov (10-0), and Ion Marcu (14-3) from Moldova. Bronze medals went to Aganazar Novruzov and Taimuraz Salkazanov (Slovakia).

An unusual award

A scandalous situation occurred during the award ceremony. Mikhail Mamiashvili, the head of the FSBR and vice-president of the United World of Wrestling (UWW), approached Chermen Valiev, they exchanged remarks, after which Mamiashvili put a medal around Valiev's neck, but he did it with an emphatically unfriendly, sharp gesture, and it was obvious from the athlete's expression that he was outraged. As Chermen later reported, Mamiashvili called the athlete a traitor, after which the incident was noticed by the head coach of the Azerbaijani national team Khetag Gozyumov and began to resent the disrespect for Valiev.

At the same time, Mamiashvili himself stated that he only congratulated Valiev and there were no insults.

"I congratulated him on his victory and wished him success,— Mikhail Mamiashvili told Izvestia. — Maybe he was surprised that I was awarding him, because a year ago, literally four months before the Olympics, he was on our national team. The national team trained him, but today he is already under the Albanian flag with tears in his eyes. Maybe it confused him? For people like Chermen, what difference does it make which flag? Albanian today, Bulgarian tomorrow. These are young guys who, unfortunately, do not fully realize the value of the banner on their shoulders. They don't understand the responsibility for the country that made them and gave them the opportunity. Yes, sometimes in difficult conditions, but nevertheless, great Russia has made athletes out of them. And so the Albanian flag is in their hands.

Russia has six medals in women's wrestling. Ekaterina Verbina (up to 55 kg), Olga Khoroshavtseva (up to 57 kg) and Anastasia Sidelnikova (up to 59 kg) took gold in Bratislava. Bronze medals went to Nadezhda Sokolova (up to 50 kg), Natalia Malysheva (up to 53 kg) and Dinara Kudaeva (up to 65 kg).