#Yariguin2019

Five Things We Learned From the Ivan Yariguin

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

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)

#WrestleUlaanbaatar, #OffTheMat

Purevdorj reignites Olympic quest with Ulaanbaatar Open gold

Friday, June 20, 2025 - 09:31 By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 18) -- The last time Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) wrestled in front of home crowd in Ulaanbaatar, she was one of the top wrestlers in the world at 62kg.

She was the 2017 world champion and a year before that, she had ended Kaori ICHO's (JPN) 13-year long unbeaten streak at the Ivan Yaryguin Grand Prix. Then in 2018, she won the Asian Championships in Bishkek and the Mongolian Open gold medal in Ulaanbaatar.

Few months later, she failed a dope test at the Asian Games, where she had won the gold medal in 62kg. Her rise turned into a fatal fall and Purevdorj was left to serve the four-year ban. During her long hiatus, Purevdorj focused on personal life.

“I was very sad but I decided to just live and raised my son. I kept myself busy with him,” Purevdorj says. “The most important thing is my mind. It's important to be strong.”

Purevdorj, who still remains Mongolia last world champion in wrestling, made her comeback in 2022 and was part of the Mongolian team to the World Cup. She won silver medal at the Asian Championships in 2023 and qualified for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Seven years since the ban and now in the twilight of her wrestling career, Purevdorj is hoping to reignite the fire to wrestle. She took the first step by winning a gold medal at hte Ulaanbaatar Open. The 31-year-old won in 62kg in front of her family and local fans to once again stamp herself as the best wrestler in Mongolia and even Asia.

"I am wrestling for the second time [first time internationally] this year but it's hard," she says after her gold-medal bout against compatriot and rival Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) who she defeated 11-2 to win the gold medal.

At the Buyant Ukhaa Sport Palace in Ulaanbaatar, Purevdorj is joined by her husband, son and even parents as they watch her wrestle live after a long time. It's not an ideal start for her as she gets hammered 10-0 by Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), a wrestler she has defeated multiple times in her career before.

That's not what Purevdorj or her family expected in the first bout itself. But she runs back to the warm-up hall and prepares for the second bout, this time against Asian champion MANISHA (IND). And Purevdorj looked in form against the Indian, winning via fall. [The 62kg bracket at the Ulaanbaatar Open was a round-robin bracket, hence giving Purevdorj the second chance].

The fall helps Purevdorj get five classification points and a place in the semifinal over Manisha. She will wrestle Ekaterina KOSHKINA (UWW) for a spot in the final. Her son, six years old, keeps cheering every time he sees his mother on the mat.

Koshkina takes Purevdorj to the limits scoring via counters. Still, Purevdorj led 9-7 at the break and both resumed their dynamic wrestling. Purevdorj managed to defend some of the attacks from Koshkina and ultimately won 15-11.

In a high-affair all-Mongolian final at 62kg, Purevdorj put on a defensive masterclass to beat Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL), 11-2, and capture the gold medal.

"I was able to win because I played calmly," she said after the final. "In the first match, I was not good mental state and was not ready. But next match I was better."

Purevdorj celebrated with a few photos with her family and coaches. She looked visibly tired after the four bouts and could use some rest days.

"As I said, it's hard. I am not sure about anything," said Purevdorj, who was wrestling a UWW tournament for the first time since the Paris Games.

Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) celebrating after becoming a world champion in 2017. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

When she began wrestling 17 years ago in Ulaanbaatar after her cousins introduced her to the sport, Purevdorj did not think she will reach this level. So being a world champion makes her feel happy and she is proud that she choose this sport.

“I'm seventh child in my family and only I am a wrestler. My cousins were wrestlers but they stopped soon but I never stopped. I really loved it."

But she regrets not having an Olympic medal. She has been on that stage twice but fell short. In Rio 2016, she lost in the repechage while in Paris, she lost to her long-time rival Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) in the bronze-medal bout.

Now, the only motivation to be at the 2028 Los Angeles is to get an Olympic medal which may complete her journey. A medal will make her the third Mongolian wrestler to win a medal in Women's Wresting.

“I'm not sure about wrestling till Los Angeles. But I'm just trying,” she said. “The last Olympics were so hard for me in my career. I'm trying again, and I've started this year. There are many wrestlers in 62kg who are better but I have to train more.”