#Yariguin2019

Five Things We Learned From the Ivan Yariguin

Tuesday, January 29, 2019 - 22:15 By Eric Olanowski

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The first Ranking Series event of the year, the Ivan Yariguin, wrapped up in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, and here are five things that we learned from the "Toughest Tournament in the World." 

1. Russia Boasts Serious Depth at 97kg 

The Russian Federation already has their main man at 97kg for the foreseeable future in Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS), the three-time world and Rio Olympic champion, but after the Ivan Yariguin, we learned that they have more than one viable option that they could plug in if anything were to happen to “The Russian Tank.” 

Even without their two best 97kg options, the aforementioned Sadulaev and 2018 European champion Vladislav BAITSAEV (RUS), Russia won a pair of Yariguin medals at 97kg and knocked out Kyle SNYDER (USA), the two-time world champion and Rio Olympic gold medalist, in the opening round. 

Shamil MUSAEV (RUS) reached the top of the podium, while Igor OVSIANNIKOV (RUS) finished with a bronze medal. They also scored a huge win from their “first-teamer” coming into Krasnoyarsk, Rasul MAGOMEDOV (RUS). Magomedov used a massive four-point throw to stun Snyder in the opening round but lost in the quarterfinals to Mongolia’s Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN, which ultimately knocked Snyder out of the tournament. 

Post-Yariguin Russian 97kg Ladder
1. Abdulrashid Sadualev 
2. Vladislav Baitsaev 
3. Shamil Musaev 
4. Igor Ovsiannikov
5. Rasul Magomedov 

SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL) was one of three Mongolian women who medaled at 68kg at the Ivan Yariguin. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka) 

2. Mongolian Women Three Deep at 68kg 

After their trio of remarkable performances this weekend, Mongolia wrestled themselves into a conundrum at 68kg. Mongolia showed that they have multiple women who can compete with the best wrestlers in the world, winning three of the four medals at 68kg, including qualifying a pair of wrestlers for the gold-medal bout. 

SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL),  ENKH AMAR Davaanasan (MGL), and ENKHSAIKHAN Delgermaa (MGL) finished the tournament in first, second, and third place respectively.

The trio of Mongolian women went 5-0 against non-Mongolian opponents and picked up wins over Russia’s four-time age-level world champion Khanum VELIEVA and Japan’s 2016 Olympian Rio WATARI (JPN), while also finishing ahead of Cuba’s U23 world champion Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUES.


Taha AKGUL (TUR)made his return to the mat after failing to medal in Budapest and left Krasnoyarsk with a silver medal. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

3. Taha Still Working on Getting Back to the Top 

Turkey’s two-time world and Rio Olympic gold medalist Taha AKGUL (TUR) returned to competition after failing to medal at the world championships for the first time in his storied international career. 

Akgul made it to the Yariguin finals after shutting out 2018 world finalist DENG Zhiewie (CHN), 10-0 in the semifinals, but showed he has work to do after falling to Russia’s Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) 7-3 in the gold-medal bout. 

Akgul was in deep on several low-level shots, but Khizriev capitalized on a pair of crotch lifts in the final period and stopped the Turkish big man from winning his first Yariguin title.

Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) made his 2019 65kg debut and won the bronze medal. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

4. Russians Making Weight Changes Need Time to Adjust  

Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) and Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) made their 2019 debuts at new weight classes, and even though they finished with bronze medals, they still need time to adjust to their new weight classes. 

Rashidov, the two-time world runner-up, moved up from 61kg to 65kg and went 2-1 on the weekend. Rashidov’s only loss was to eventual champion, two-time world bronze medalist, Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) in the semifinals. 

Magomed Kurbanaliev, the world and European champion, was the second world-class Russian who made his debut up at a new weight class. Kurbanaliev moved up from his 2018 European title-winning weight of 70kg to 74kg and went 3-1. His only loss was to Yakup GOR (TUR), Turkey’s two-time world medalist. 


Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS), 61kg champion, was one of seven Dagestani wrestlers who won a gold medal at the Ivan Yariguin (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka) 

5. Dagestani Dominance 

Russia swept the freestyle competition in Siberia, winning all ten gold medals that were up for the taking, but Dagestan proved that they are the most dominant wrestling region, in the most dominant wrestling nation. Dagestani wrestlers led the way with a mind-blowing seven gold medalists. The three weight classes where a Dagestani wrestler didn’t win a gold medal were at 57kg, 74kg, and 125kg. Anzor KHIZRIEV (125kg) and Muslim SADULAEV (57kg) were the two Chechen gold medalists, and Zaurbek SIDAKOV, who is from Ossetia, won the final gold medal. 

Ivan Yariguin Freestyle Champions 
57kg - Muslim SADULAEV (Chechnya) 
61kg - Magomedrasul IDRISOV (Dagestan)  
65kg - Akhmed CHAKAEV (Dagestan)  
70kg - Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (Dagestan)  
74kg - Zaurbek SIDAKOV (Ossetia) 
79kg - Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (Dagestan)  
86kg - Dauren KURUGLIEV (Dagestan) 
92kg - Magomed KURBANOV (Dagestan)    
97kg - Shamil MUSAEV (Dagestan)  
125kg - Anzor KHIZRIEV (Chechnya) 

#WrestleSamokov

Kyrgyzstan, Moldova earn chance to end U20 World title drought

Sunday, August 17, 2025 - 18:58 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 17) -- Kyrgyzstan and Moldova earned a chance to end their gold-medal drought at the U20 World Championships.

On the first day of the 2025 World U20 Championships in Samokov, four Freestyle weight classes were in action. Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ) was the surprised finalist at 74kg and will try to become Kyrgyzstan's first gold medal at the U20 World Championships in 20 years. He will take on European U23 champion Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) in the final.

At 70kg, Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) earned the final and will now try to become Moldova's first U20 world champ in Freestyle since 1999. He will take on returning bronze medalist PJ DUKE (USA) in the gold-medal bout.

The 125kg weight class will see an all-Asian final as Asian U20 champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) earned a shot for the world title against Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI), a wrestler over whom Kassimbek has a 3-0 head-to-head record.

Two returning bronze medalists, Duke and Justin RADEMACHER (USA), upgrade their bronze medals from last year and earn themselves a chance to win gold on Monday at 70kg and 97kg respectively.

Akylbekov, who had finished at 17th at 79kg last year, had a dream run on Sunday and ended one for Raul CASO (ITA) in the semifinals. Caso had posted two last-second victories, however, he failed to repeat those heroics in the semifinal against Akylbekov.

Caso was 3-2 and went attack-mode in the final 15 seconds. He almost scored a takedown over Akylbekov who managed to sneak out and then Caso jumped over to take control for a takedown. However, the Kyrgyz wrestler stood up to avoid giving up any points. Italy challenged for two points but lost that on review, giving one more point to Akylbekov.

While Caso was leaving it late in his wins, Akylbekov was contrastingly dominating them. He defeated Nicholas HOOPER (CAN), 12-0, in the opening bout, blanked Titas PIJORAITIS (LTU), 10-0 and then handed Dosszhan KUL GAIYP (KAZ) a 6-1 loss.

Ismail KHANIEV (UWW)Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) defeated Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN), 7-3, in the semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

He will now face Khaniev, who earned himself his first world medal at any level. Khaniev defeated Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN), 7-3, in a very close semifinal than the scoreline suggests.

Khaniev led 3-3 on criteria but Yamaguchi constantly threatened to score in the final 25 seconds. He hit a double-leg attack and planted Khaniev, who somehow managed to not land in danger. In a counter, Khaniev exposed Yamaguchi for two points and took a 5-3 lead. Yamaguchi tried a desperate throw in the final 15 seconds but Khaniev blocked it for two more points to win.

Earlier in the day, Khaniev avenged his European U20 Championships loss to Manuel WAGIN (GER) with a technical superiority win after he had beaten returning silver medalist Ladrion LOCKETT (USA).

Duke had his first big challenge of the day in the semifinals against former world U17 champion Erfan ELAHI (IRI) at 70kg. Duke scored a takedown while Elahi had a point for stepout and Duke's passivity. Duke's two-point scoring move gave him the criteria.

However, Elahi somehow thought he has the criteria and did not think of attacking in the final 30 seconds. When the bout was over, Elahi celebrated as if he had won only to realize that he has lost 2-2.

Duke will look to win his first a world title before wrestling at the senior World Championships later in September. He will take on Gaidarli for the gold-medal after the Moldovan won his semifinal 7-4 against Nurlan AGHAZADA (AZE).

Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA)Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) reached the 70kg final in Samokov. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Gaidarli became the first Moldovan Freestyle wrestler to reach the final at U20 Worlds since 2019 after a stunningly good run in Samokov. He defeated European U20 champion Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO), 13-3, avenging his loss from Carole, Italy.

In the semifinals, he scored three takedowns in the second period against Aghazada to win 7-4, bettering his 18th-place finish from last year and earning a chance to end the gold-medal drought for Moldova.

Returning bronze medalist at 97kg Rademacher defeated European U20 champion Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals and will now try to win gold. Rademacher led 4-3 at the break extended his lead with a takedown for two points to start the second period, add another go-behind and single-leg to takedown to lead 10-3.

Petriashvili got an attack for two points but Rademacher was relentless in his wrestling and scored three more takedowns to win 16-5.

Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW)Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) survived to win 11-9 against VISHAL (IND) in the 97kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

For the gold medal, he will face Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) who survived, with some help, for an 11-9 win over VISHAL (IND) who had Magomedov in all sorts of trouble. Magomedov led 10-4 when Vishal mounted a comeback against an absolutely broken Magomedov. He scored a takedown and Magomedov was cautioned for a singlet-pull foul which made it 10-7.

As the bout was restart in par terre, India challenged for two more points but the referee had blown the whistle before control from Vishal. That challenge gave enough breathing time to Magomedov to managed to hang on to his lead and win 11-9.

Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ)Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) celebrates after winning his 125kg semifinal against Cole MIRASOLA (USA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Kassimbek had a very dominant semifinal as he defeated Cole MIRASOLA (USA), 11-0, inside the first period. He had two excellent counter takedowns and then locked up Mirasola's legs around his head and turns him twice. He finished things with a double-leg takedown.

Kassimbek has lost to two World U17 Championships finals before but he will have a good chance to win his first world title. He will take on Mohammad Nezhad, a wrestler he has defeated three times before.

The Iranian denied former world U17 champion Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) after a 1-1 victory in the semifinal. Mohmmad Nezhad got the one point for passivity in the second period which gave him the criteria.

Mohammad Nezhad lost to Kassimbek for the first time in 2023 Asian U17 Championships final, 8-1, then at the same tournament in 2024, 2-2 in the semifinals. His third loss to Kassimbek came in the semifinals of the 2024 World U17 Championships, 4-3.

RESULTS

70kg
GOLD: PJ DUKE (USA) vs. Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) 

SF 1: Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) df. Nurlan AGHAZADA (AZE), 7-4
SF 2: PJ DUKE (USA) df. Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI), 2-2

74kg
GOLD: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) vs. Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ)

SF 1: Adilet AKYLBEKOV (KGZ) df. Raul CASO (ITA), 4-2
SF 2: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) df. Kanata YAMAGUCHI (JPN), 7-3

97kg
GOLD: Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) vs. Justin RADEMACHER (USA)

SF 1: Justin RADEMACHER (USA) df. Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 16-5
SF 2: Magomedgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. VISHAL (IND), 11-9

125kg
GOLD: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) vs. Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI)

SF 1: Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI) df. Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE), 1-1
SF 2: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) df. Cole MIRASOLA (USA), 11-0