Arsen Harutyunyan Falls Again to Zaur Uguev at the 2026 European Championship

Armenian wrestler Arsen Harutyunyan has failed for the second consecutive year to claim his fifth European Championship gold medal. In the semifinal of the 2026 continental championship in Tirana, he was defeated by Russia’s Olympic champion Zaur Uguev.

The bout was dramatic. Harutyunyan started confidently and took a 3:0 lead, but later conceded a scoring throw. As the match progressed, Uguev capitalized on his momentum and finished the contest early with a fall (pin), securing the victory.

The Russian wrestler advanced to the final, where he will face Albania’s representative Zelimkhan Abakarov. Meanwhile, Harutyunyan will continue competing for the bronze medal.

It is worth recalling that a year ago at the European Championship, Harutyunyan and Uguev also met in the decisive bout, where the Russian wrestler prevailed 7:5. The rivalry continues to unfold unfavorably for the Armenian athlete.