Obituary

Magomed Aliomarov, Leader in Development of Women's Wrestling, Dies at 67

By United World Wrestling Press

MAKHACHKALA, Russia (May 13) -- Magomed ALIOMAROV, head coach of Russia's resurgent women's wrestling program, died Wednesday after a brief battle with COVID-19. He was 67.

Born in the small village of Tlyarosh, Dagestan, Aliomarov began wrestling as a child. After his competitive years, Aliomarov worked as a club coach in Dagestan from 1978-1992 before taking an administrative role as vice-president of the Azerbaijan Wrestling federation from 2008 to 2017. That nation saw great success during Aliomarov's tenure including a 2009 World Championship team title in women's wrestling. In 2011 Aliomarov became the head coach of Azerbaijan Women's Wrestling team, where he remained until 2015.

The Russian Federation hired Aliomarov back in February 2019 to lead its women's program. The move created instant results with Russia earning the team title at the 2020 European Championships in Rome and runner-up honors at the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan. The successes made Aliomarov and the Russian Wrestling Federation hopeful for the future of the women's program.
 
"I have no words. He was such an energetic person who had so many plans. Our women's team followed him, and that lead to very good results," said Mikhail Mamiashvili, President of Russian Wrestling Federation. "Our deepest condolences to the relatives and friends of Magomed Aliomarovich and the entire wrestling community."

Known to be a fierce advocate for his athletes, Aliomarov was widely respected by opposing coaches, while also enjoying the admiration of his athletes.

"It's difficult to believe," said Inna Trazhukova, who won a world championship in Nur-Sultan. "His death is a great loss for our team. He believed in me before the 2019 World Championships and I got the best result in my whole sports career."

"We had the great plans for Olympic Games and I'm very sad that they wouldn't come true."

United World Wrestling president Nenad LALOVIC also sent his condolences to the Russian Wrestling Federation and the families and friends of Aliomarov.

"We are very saddened by the news. The death of Aliomarov is a big loss for the sport and our community."

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open: Leydecker Makes Senior Debut with 53kg Gold

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 7) -- If Japan swept the gold medals in Women's Wrestling on day three of the Zagreb Open on Friday, day four on Saturday was a different story. Japan failed to win any gold medal as four different countries crowned champions.

U20 world champion Everest LEYDECKER (USA) threw her name in the mix at 53kg by winning gold in her first senior event. MANISHA (IND), Asian champion at 62kg, moved down to 57kg and managed to win gold in Zagreb.

At 72kg, Buse TOSUN (TUR) had a tough path but she managed find a way and win gold after beating Diksha MALIK (IND), 5-2, i the finals. The final gold of women's went to Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) who pinned Tristan KELLY (USA), via fall (9-1)..

Leydecker, just 18 years old, secured a one-sided victory over Roksana ZASINA (POL) in the final. She managed to score three takedowns and one point for activity clock against Zasina.

This was the American's first-ever senior event internationally but she showed no signs of being overawed by the situation.

In the semifinals, Leydecker faced two-time world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) and rallied on her one takedown to win the match 2-2 on criteria.

While the norm is to move up weight classes as wrestlers try and adjust into the Olympic weight, Manisha decided to move down from 62kg to 57kg. The decision could backfire but on Saturday, Manisha showed no mercy to her opponents and winning the gold medal at 57kg.

Facing Himeka TOKUHARA in the final, Manisha gave no chance to the Japanese in the final and two points in the first period and one in the second to close out a 3-0 blanking.

Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) brought the best for the last as she pinned Tristan KELLY (USA) in the 76kg final and capture a gold medal for Romania. Two huge throws resulted in four-points and after the second throw, Anghel held Kelly on the mat to secure the fall and the gold medal.

Paris bronze medalist Buse TOSUN (TUR), wrestling at 72kg, captured the season-opening Ranking Series gold after comfortably beating Diksha MALIK (IND), 5-2, in the final.

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD:  Everest LEYDECKER (USA) df. Roksana ZASINA (POL), 7-0

BRONZE: Umi IMAI (JPN) df. Annika WENDLE (GER), via forfeit
BRONZE: ANTIM (IND) df. Anjali KACHHAWA (IND), 10-0

57kg
GOLD: MANISHA (IND) df. Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN), 3-0

BRONZE: Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) df. Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR), 11-0
BRONZE: Amory ANDRICH (GER) df. Tindra DALMYR (SWE), 4-2

72kg
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Diksha MALIK (IND), 5-2

BRONZE: Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE) df. Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), 4-1
BRONZE: Veronika VILK (CRO) df. Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW), via inj. def.

76kg
GOLD: Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) df. Tristan KELLY (USA), via fall (9-1)

BRONZE: Kendra DACHER (FRA) df. PRIYA (IND), via fall (6-0)
BRONZE: Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. Shauna KUEBECK (CAN), 10-0

Greco-Roman

77kg
GOLD: Ali OSKOU (IRI) df. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), 9-1

BRONZE: Robert FRITSCH (HUN) df. Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO), 4-0
BRONZE: Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) df. Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL), 1-1

87kg
GOLD: Istvan TAKACS (HUN) df. Tamas LEVAI (HUN), 3-1

BRONZE: Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) df. Payton JACOBSON (USA), 2-1
BRONZE: Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) df. Matej MANDIC (CRO), 6-1