#worldcupiowacity

Late Additions Mongolia and India Hope to Play Spoiler at World Cup

By Tim Foley

IOWA CITY, United States (April 3) – Men’s freestyle powers Mongolia and India have been added to the 2018 Men’s Freestyle World Cup. The nations will take the group positions of Iran and Russia, respectively.

The lineup change came this week after Russia suffered significant delays in the approval of their visas. The Wrestling Federation of Iran withdrew in March.

Group A will now be the United States, Georgia, Japan and India, while Group B will be Azerbaijan, Cuba, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Mongolia brings a talented team of high-ranking youngsters to Iowa City, with five holding top position in the World Rankings. Of special note to wrestling fans is world No.1 Turtogtokh LUVSANDORJ (92kg), who wrestled collegiately in the United States and is expected to receive a warm welcome by the Iowa fans.

Freestyle World Cup Schedule

Saturday, April 7 (All Times, CST)

10:00am: United States v. India (Mat A) // Mongolia v. Kazakhstan (Mat B)
11:15am: Japan v. Georgia (Mat A) // Azerbaijan v. Cuba (Mat B)

-- 2:00 pm: Opening Ceremonies --

2:30pm: United States v. Japan (Mat A) 
4:30 pm: Mongolia v. Cuba (Mat B)
5:45 pm: India v. Georgia (Mat A) // Azerbaijan v. Kazakhstan (Mat B)

Sunday, April 8 (All Times, CST)
10:00am: United States v. Georgia (Mat A) // Mongolia v. Azerbaijan (Mat B)
11:15am: India v. Japan (Mat A) // Kazakhstan v. Cuba (Mat B)

12:30pm: Fifth Place Match (Mat A) // Seventh Place Match (Mat B)
2:15pm: Bronze Medal Match (Mat A)
4:00pm: Gold Medal Match (Mat A)

 

#UWWAwards

UWW 2023 Wrestler of the Year Freestyle Nominees

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 6) — United World Wrestling has released the five nominations for the 2023 Freestyle Wrestler of the Year, which is awarded to the best senior-level freestyle wrestler.

The nominations reflect the results from this year’s World Championships, Continental Championships, Continental Games and Ranking Series events.

 

The five finalist are:

David TAYLOR (USA)
- 2023 86kg world champion 
- Ranked No. 6 in the world with 45000 points

Ismail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
- 2023 65kg world champion 
- Ranked No. 3 in the world with 62520 points

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) 
- 2023 125kg world champion 
- 19th Asian Games champion
- Zagreb Open Ranking Series champion
- Ranked No. 1 in the world with 69000 points

Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN)
- Ranked No. 2 in the world with 45000 points
- 2023 74kg world champion

Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)
- 2023 97kg world champion 
- 19th Asian Games champion
- Kyrgyz Ranking Series champion
- Asian Championships champion
- Ranked No. 1 in the world with 87520 points

The voting for the UWW Wrestler of the Year in Freestyle is open till December 17 and winners will be announced on December 18.