#Yariguin2019

Host Russia Wrestles Eight into Day One Finals of Ivan Yariguin

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

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)

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open: Iran, India, Bulgaria Win 2 Greco-Roman Golds

Thursday, June 4, 2026 - 12:22 By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 4) -- Payam AHMADI (IRI) emerged as the most dominant wrestler on day one of the Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series on Thursday.

At 55kg, Ahmadi outscored his opponents 33-0 in four bouts to claim the gold medal in the Nordic bracket, never looking in any kind of trouble.

The 2025 World Championships silver medalist was among the seven champions on day one of the tournament. Iran won two gold medals and so did India and Bulgaria. China won the remaining one to close out the day.

Payam AHMADI (IRI) blanked his opponents 33-0 in four bouts in Ulaanbaatar. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Ahmadi opened the day against Asian Championships silver medalist LALIT (IND) and secured an easy 8-0 technical superiority win in one minute and 57 seconds.

In Round 2, Ahmadi took only 33 seconds to see off Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL). He blocked Munkh Erdene's body lock attempt for four points and threw the Mongolian again for four more points. He took just 46 seconds to do the same to Sumiyabazar MUNKHZAYA (MGL) in Round 3.

His final bout was against Emin CAKIR (TUR) and Ahmadi two four-point throws from par terre to complete a 9-0 victory and claim the gold medal in the morning session itself.

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By the end of the day, Iran had its second gold medalist in Danial SOHRABI (IRI), who defended his title in Ulaanbaatar Open from 2025 at 72kg. Just like last year, Sohrabi's gold medal carried extra significance.

With the 72kg victory over Javad REZAEI (IRI) in the final, Sohrabi assured his spot on the Iran team for the 2026 World Championships where he will try to upgrade his bronze medal that he won in 2025.

Both Sohrabi and Rezaei followed identical paths to the final, dominating every bout they wrestled. They were even finishing the matches in quick time and via technical superiorities.

In the final, Sohrabi was the first to go in par terre and Rezaei did his best to turn Sohrabi twice and lead 5-0. Sohrabi seemed unfazed despite falling behind in the bout.

When the second period began, he managed to earn the par terre position for himself. However, he turned Rezaei only once. When Sohrabi tried a throw, Rezaei managed to defend it but the former was awarded a stepout which made the score 5-4.

A little time had passed when Sohrabi brought down Rezaei for a takedown and took a 6-5 lead. He then turned Rezaei to extend his lead to 8-5 which he defended to win the gold medal, his second straight at the Ulaanbaatar Open at 72kg.

NITESH (IND) throws Nurassyl AMANALY (KAZ) during the 97kg final in Ulaanbaatar. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

India, Bulgaria Win 2 Golds

Apart from Iran, India and Bulgaria also won two gold medals each. Two 2026 Asian medalists for India, NITESH (IND) and Sunil KUMAR (IND), won at 97kg and 87kg respectively.

Bulgaria's two golds medals came through Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL) winning at 82kg and Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL) claiming gold at 77kg.

Nitesh, the Asian silver medalist at 125kg, overcame a deficit twice in the final against Nurassyl AMANALY (KAZ) and beat the Kazakhstan wrestler 13-9. At one point in the bout, Amanaly led 5-3 but Nitesh made it 5-5 with Amanaly leading on criteria.

As Nitesh tried a bearhug body lock, Amanaly tossed the Indian for four points for a 9-5 lead with around two minutes remaining in the final. Those two minutes must have felt like eternity for Amanaly who was struggling with his conditioning. He gave up a three step outs and a point for fleeing as Nitest made it 9-9, still behind on criteria.

He then brought down Amanaly for a takedown and then turned him for two more points to build a 13-9 lead. Amanaly did not have anything left in himself to fight for the remaining time and Nitesh comfortably defended the score.

Sunil KUMAR (IND), blue, won the 87kg gold medal at the Ulaanbaatar Open. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Kumar followed a slightly different path as he managed to score a turn from par terre against Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ) and win 4-1. Salidinov got the par terre position in the first period to go 1-0 up. He tried a throw but no points were awarded for it. Kyrgyzstan challenged the call but lost, giving a point to Kumar.

In the second period, Kumar led 2-1 after given the par terre position and he used a gut wrench to turn Salidinov to score the winning points.

Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL) scores four points on Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) using an arm throw during the 82kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

In an all-Bulgarian final at 82kg, Dimitrov faced Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) and used an arm throw for four points to get on board and the big-scoring technique proved crucial in the end.

Mnatsakanian blocked Dimitrov when he was trying a turn for two points and then scored two points to make it 4-4 but Dimitrov led on criteria. In the second period, both wrestlers were given passivity warning which meant par terre positions and one point each. It made the score 5-5 but Dimitrov's four-point move took the precedent over Mnatsakanian who did not have any high-scoring technique.

Kubatov rolled to the gold medal at 77kg after he used a strong gut-wrench to beat Amuguleng BAI (CHN), 10-1, in the final.

Xinxin JIN (CHN) sets up a counter throw from the edge against Murat FIRAT (TUR) during the 67kg final at the Ulaanbaatar Open. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Jin Stuns Firat

The surprise champion of the day was Xinxin JIN (CHN) who upset European silver medalist Murat FIRAT (TUR) in the 67kg final. Firat got on the board first with par terre and he rolled Jin for two points to lead 3-0.

Next was Jin's turn for par terre in the second period and he managed a turn using a front headlock just before the referee's to get two points and take a 3-3 criteria lead. Firat tried to score a stepout in the final minute but Jin stamped himself right at the edge and tossed Firat for four points.

Turkiye challenged the call, asking that the stepout was scored first. But on review, the four-pointer was confirmed and Jin got another point of the lost challenge which made his lead 8-3, giving him his first-ever international medal.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Payam AHMADI (IRI)
SILVER: Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL)
BRONZE: Emin CAKIR (TUR)

67kg
GOLD: Xinxin JIN (CHN) df. Murat FIRAT (TUR), 8-3

BRONZE: Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (AUS) df. Ganbayar NAMSRAI (MGL), 9-0
BRONZE: ALAMUSI (CHN) df. Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND), 2-2

72kg
GOLD: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) df. Javad REZAEI (IRI), 8-5

BRONZE: Amanat SAMAT UULU (KGZ) df. Borgil TUVSHINBAATAR (MGL), 10-0
BRONZE: Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) df. Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ), via fall (11-5)

77kg
GOLD: Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL) df. Amuguleng BAI (CHN), 10-1

BRONZE: Yeonghun NOH (KOR) df. Jason BAUCAS (PHI), via fall
BRONZE: Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ) df. Ankit GULIA (IND), via fall

82kg
GOLD: Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL) df. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL), 5-5

BRONZE: Imur TEMIRBEKOV (KGZ) df. Lkhagvasuren DASHJAMTS (MGL), 9-0

87kg
GOLD: Sunil KUMAR (IND) df. Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ), 4-1

BRONZE: Seunghwan LEE (KOR) df. Usukhbayar BAATARKHUU (MGL), 10-1
BRONZE: Luis AVENDANO (VEN) df. Turbold GANBOLD (MGL), via forfeit

97kg
GOLD: NITESH (IND) df Nurassyl AMANALY (KAZ), 13-9

BRONZE: Minho LEE (KOR) df. Tuvshinsanaa ERDENEJARGAL (MGL), 12-3
BRONZE: Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) df. Juan DIAZ (VEN), via fall

Host Russia Wrestles Eight into Day One Finals of Ivan Yariguin

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Ulaanbaatar Open: Iran, India, Bulgaria Win 2 Greco-Roman Golds