Belarusian wrestlers won 13 medals at the 45th Grand Prix tournament for Alexander Medved's prizes

The representatives of the Belarusian team took 13 medals at the 45th international freestyle wrestling tournament of Grand Prix category for Alexander Medved's prizes that was hell in the Sports Palace in Minsk. Belarusian Wrestling Federation shared this information with BELTA.

At the end of the tournament Belarusian athletes took 5 medal places. Irina Kurochkina (weight category up to 53 kg) and Vasilisa Marzalyuk (75) were awarded with medals in women's competitions. The latter defended the title of the tournament winner twice in a row. She also achieved a number of victories on the national starts. She became the silver medalist of the European Championships(2011, 2014), bronze medalist of the EC(2013), and also bronze medalist of the World Championships (2011, 2013).

In men's competitions, Belarusian wrestlers Jean Safyan (70 kf) and Alexander Gushtyn (86 kg) took the silver on the second day of tournament. In the weight category up to 86 kg the third place went to Omargadzhi Magomedov.

As it was reported, at the start of the competitions Vladislav Andreev (57 kg) and Azamat Nurikov (65 kg) became the best in their categories, among women Zalina Sidakova (55 kg). Ekaterina Gonchar took the second place in the category up to 55 kg. Anastasia Ivanova (60 kg), Alexander Kontoev (65 kg), Rasul Tihaev and Ali Shabanov (both - 74 kg) became bronze medalists.

300 athletes from 28 countries were participating in the tournament. For the athletes it was an important competition because it became a qualifier for the first European Games that are to be held in Baku (Azerbaijan) in June.

The organizers of the 45th international freestyle wrestling tournament of Grand Prix category for Alexander Medved's prizes were Sports and Tourism Ministry, National Olympic Committee, Minsk City Executive Committee, Belarusian Wrestling Federation, President`s Sports Club.

The tournaments for Alexander Medved's prizes have been held in Minsk since 1970. Since 1994 by the decision of the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (now - United World Wrestling) the tournament was given the Grand Prix category.

Translated by Alexey Sokolov, the student of the 4th year of Interpreting and Translation’s school, MSLU

Photo by Veranika Sushko