German wrestler reaches final after suspensions for "brutality" in Baku

Germany's Marcel Ewald is confident of beating Viktor Lebedev after a fortunate route to the final at the European Games.

Lucky loser Marcel Ewald is confident of toppling two-time world champion Viktor Lebedev, despite only making the men's wrestling 57kg final because of the disqualification of two fighters.

Belarus's Uladzislau Andreyeu and Olympic silver medallist Vladimer Khinchegashvili of Georgia were both suspended after their semi-final for "brutality during the match".

As a result, Germany's Ewald and Islam Islamaj of Albania battled for a place in the final in Baku, with Ewald winning the bout 4-0.

"[Lebedev] is pretty strong, so for me I will go in and try to catch him. I will try to make it a little bit more open than in my quarter-final, but I have nothing to lose," Ewald told reporters.

"I don't want to say it, but it already feels like I've won. So now it's do or die, but in a good way."

The final will take place later this evening.

Georgia's Vladimer Khinchegashvili celebrates gold in the men's freestyle 57 kg category of the freestyle Wrestling European Championships in Vantaa, Finland on April 2, 2014
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