Armenia’s Suren Ishkhanyan Advances to U17 European Freestyle Wrestling Final
Suren Ishkhanyan of Armenia has secured his spot in the gold-medal match at the 2026 U17 European Championships, defeating Azerbaijan’s Abbas Shafiyev in a decisive semifinal bout on Friday.
In a remarkable display of skill, Suren Ishkhanyan triumphed over Abbas Shafiyev with a score of 15-4 by VSU1 in the 55 kg semifinal at the 2026 U17 European Championships. This victory not only advances Ishkhanyan to the final, but it also highlights his impressive performance throughout the tournament.
Ishkhanyan’s journey to the final has been nothing short of spectacular. He began the championships with a commanding 10-0 victory against France’s Ilan Churayev, followed by another dominant win of 15-4 against Hungary’s Kristóf Shumeiko. Each match showcased his technical prowess and determination, culminating in his semifinal victory against Shafiyev.
Following the match, a moment of sportsmanship was noted when Ishkhanyan attempted to assist Shafiyev, who had fallen to the mat, but was met with a push from the Azerbaijani wrestler, illustrating the competitive nature of the sport.
Ishkhanyan is set to face Russia’s Oleg Temirsultanov in the final, where he will aim for the championship title.