#Yariguin2019

Host Russia Wrestles Eight into Day One Finals of Ivan Yariguin

Thursday, January 24, 2019 - 15:40 By Eric Olanowski

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KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 24) - The Russian Federation dominated the opening day of the “Toughest Tournament in the World,” Ivan Yariguin, and qualified eight wrestlers for the finals at each of the opening day’s three freestyle and four women’s wrestling weight categories. 

The reason the Yariguin is often referred to as the “Toughest Tournament in the World” is that the road to the finals often travels through a world medalist or sees several Russian-on-Russian showdowns. 

That was the case for two-time world champion Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS), who will square off against Mongolia’s two-time world bronze medalist and Rio Olympian GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL) for the 70kg gold medal. 

To make it to Ganzorig, Gazimagomedov shutout a young but hard-nosed 2018 world runner-up Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS), 6-0, in his opening round match. He then breezed past America’s Jason CHAMBERLAIN (USA), 10-0, before running into the buzzsaw that is U23 world runner-up David BAEV (RUS). 

Baev, the Alans champion, fought the reigning world champion for everything that he had and nearly picked up the upset victory, but Gazimagomedov squeaked out the 2-2 criteria win. 

It wasn’t easy, though. Baev scored an inactivity point in the opening period and controlled the narrow 1-0 lead heading into the final 3 minutes. Gazimagomedov struck first in the closing period and gained the 2-1 advantage. With under a minute to go, Gazimagomedov knew that he could not give up a takedown, but could risk giving up a step out and still win on criteria, which he did and put himself into the finals for a second straight year. 

Though he does have two world titles, Gazimagomedov has yet to win a Yariguin title.


Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) defeated two world medals on the opening day of the Yariguin to make the 57kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

At 57kg, Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) stunned back-to-back world medalists on his way to the finals.

In the quarterfinals, Magomedov commanded a 12-6 lead over 2017 Thomas GILMAN (USA) before planting him on his back for the fall.

It was in the second period when Gilman scored a takedown to cut Magomedov’s lead to 10-6. The American tried to score an another two with a gut wrench, but the Russian stopped him in his tracks and scored the fall with under 30 seconds left in the final period. 

Magomedov then upset two-time world bronze medalist ERDENEBAT Bekhbayar (MGL), 3-3, to reach the Yariguin finals for the first time in his career. 

Erdenbat, a 2016 Olympian, ended the first period with a step out and a takedown and led 3-0 heading into the second period. 

The final period is when Magomedov jump-started his motor and increased his attack rate. Mogomedov cut the lead to 3-1 with a step out and later scored the match-winning takedown with under a minute left to win the match on criteria, 3-3. 

He’ll wrestle fellow Russian Muslim SADULAEV (RUS) in tomorrow night’s finals. 


Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS) will wrestle one of two non-Russian freestyle finalists, Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU), for the 65kg gold medal. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

At 61kg, U23 world champion Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS) bounced back to his winning ways and made the Yariguin finals after a disappointing fifth-place finish at December’s Alans. 

Idrisov, the reigning Russian National champion at this weight, was one match away from representing Russia at the world but fell to eventual world runner-up Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) in a special wrestle-off at the Poland Open. 

Idrisov’s picked up a 5-2 quarterfinals win over Ramazan FERZALIEV (RUS) and an 8-2 thrashing over Mongolia’s GANSUKH Otgonbaatar (MGL) to set up a finals meeting with Romania’s Nikolai OKHLOPKOV, who is one of only two non-Russian freestyle wrestlers to make the day two finals. 

A quick side-note regarding Idrisov, he’s the older brother of 2018 junior world champion Akhmed IDRISOV (RUS). 

 
Japan will meet Russia for each of the four gold medals on the second day of competition at the Ivan Yariguin. (Photo: Sachko Hotaka) 

In women’s wrestling, Japan and Russia will go toe-to-toe for all four of the day two gold medals. 

There were traditional brackets at 50kg and 65kg, and round-robin brackets at 55kg and 59kg. 

In the first traditional bracket at 50kg, after her seventh Yariguin appearance, Anzhelika VETOSHKINA (RUS) finally broke down the barrier and made it to her first Yariguin finals. The two-time Yariguin bronze medalist will take on Japan’s four-time age-level world champion Kika KAGATA (JPN) in the 50kg gold-medal bout. 

Tomorrow’s finals are Kagata’s fifth straight finals appearance at a senior-level competition, but she’s looking to reach the top of the podium for the first time since winning the 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial. She has very few blemishes on her record, but most of them come within the past year after dropping the finals of the Beat the Streets, World University Championships, and the Japan Championship. 

The finals of the second tradition bracket, 65kg, will feature Yariguin rookies, Misuzu ENOMOTO (JPN) and Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS). 

In the round-robin bracket finals, Nao TANIYAMA (JPN) and Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS), who both went undefeated, will fight for the 55kg gold medal, and undefeated wrestlers Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) and Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) will meet in the 59kg gold-medal bout. 

Freestyle 

57kg 
GOLD - Muslim SADULAEV (RUS) vs. Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Wanhao ZOU (CHN) vs. Lkhangarmaa NARMANDAKH (MGL)
 BRONZE - Winner 101 vs. Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL)

61kg 
GOLD - Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS) vs. Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU)
BRONZE - Ramazan FERZALIEV (RUS) vs. Otgonbaatar GANSUKH (MGL)
BRONZE - Winner 84 vs. Eduard GRIGORIEV (RUS)

70kg 
GOLD - Mandakhnaran GANZORIG (MGL) vs. Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS)
BRONZE -  Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL) vs. Askhat SLYAMKHANOV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Winner 68 vs. David BAEV (RUS)


Women’s Wrestling 

50kg 
GOLD - Kika KAGATA (JPN) vs. Anzhelika VETOSHKINA (RUS) 
BRONZE - Dauletbike YAKHSHIMURATOVA (UZB) vs. Anudari NANDINTSETSEG (MGL)
BRONZE - Elena VOSTRIKOVA (RUS) vs. Victoria Lacey ANTHONY (USA)

55kg
GOLD - Nao TANIYAMA (JPN) vs. Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS)
BRONZE - Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) vs. Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS)

59kg 
GOLD - Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) vs. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS)
BRONZE - Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) vs. SADRADDINOVA Zelfira (RUS)

65kg
GOLD - Misuzu ENOMOTO (JPN) vs. Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS)
BRONZE - SALIKHOVA Dinara (RUS) vs. Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL)
BRONZE - Yulia PRONTSEVITCH (RUS) vs. Forrest Ann MOLINARI (USA)

#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