National Aik Mnatsakanyan finished fifth at the European Wrestling Championship in Bratislava, Slovakia, after losing to Moldovan Alexandru Solovey in the small final of 77 kg classic style, BTA reports.
Soloway broke Mnatsakanyan's nose in the first seconds of the bout and it was stopped repeatedly due to bleeding. The Moldovan won his first point by pushing the Bulgarian national, and the remaining two were awarded for passivity and disrespectful protest by Mnatsakanyan's camp for the final 1:3.
Mnatsakanyan recorded three victories in the qualifications - against Russian Maxim Shed with 3:1, German Idris Ibayev with 3:1 and against Hungarian Zoltan Levay with 6:1. In the semifinals, he met the 2021 world champion and three-time European champion Malkhas Amoyan from Armenia, whom he defeated 5:1. Thus, Mnatsakanyan reached the battle for bronze against Alexandru Solovei, who had a repechage match in the lunch session.
Bulgaria has two medals in Bratislava after Magomed Ramazanov's title in the 86 kg freestyle and Bilyana Dudova's bronze in the women's 62 kg.
Mnatsakanyan finished fifth at the European Wrestling Championship
Solovey broke his nose early in the bout
Apr 12, 2025 21:50 135
