#Yariguin2019

Pair of Russians Looking to Build on World Titles at Ivan Yariguin

Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - 02:12 By Eric Olanowski

KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 22) - The 2019 Ivan Yariguin Grand Prix in freestyle is scheduled to include two Olympic champions, five world champions, and a number of Russia’s fastest-rising stars.

While some wrestlers will be looking to climb back to the top, more are looking to build on their 2018 season. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) and Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) reached the top of the podium at the world championships and are looking to bring their hot streaks into Siberia.

On the other hand, Rio Olympic champions Taha AKGUL (TUR) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) come into the Yariguin with a chip on their back and have something to prove. Snyder returns to the mat for the first time since giving up the 70 second fall in the finals at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest in October. Likewise, Akgul is looking to climb back on the medal stand after a subpar performance at the World Championships that saw him go home medaless for the first time in his international career.

Snyderlaev III Postponed

Snyder was expected to face rival Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) at 97kg, but Russian head freestyle coach Dzambolat TEDEEV informed the press earlier this month that the “The Russian Tank” would be sitting out the winter classic. He’ll be joined on the sidelines by Russia’s other high-octane 97kg wrestler, European champion and Yariguin bronze medalist, Vladislav BAITSAEV (RUS).

For Snyder to become the first-ever American to win three straight Yariguin titles, the detoured road now travels through the trio of Russians, Shamil MUSAEV, Igor OVSYANNIKOV, and Rasul MAGOMEDOV.

Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) returns to the mat for the first time since leaving the world championships without a medal. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Deng and Akgul on Collision Course

Heavyweight will see the return of 2016 Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR), who will be making his first return to the mats since missing out on a medal at the Budapest World Championships.

To win his first Yariguin title, Akgul will most likely have to knock off China’s reigning world silver medalist, DENG Zhiwei (CHN).

Deng captured a silver medal at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary and became China’s first-ever freestyle world medalist. For his world silver medal efforts, Deng earned United World Wrestling’s Freestyle History Maker of the Year award.

Zaurbek Sidakov is one of two reigning world champions entered into the 2019 Ivan Yariguin. (Photo: Martin Gabor)

Russian Middleweights Looking Golden

Aside from the pair of Olympic champions in attendance, two reigning world champions are also set to compete. The duo of Russian world champions who will be in action this week are Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (70kg) and Zaurbek Sidakov (74kg).

Gazimagomedov, the two-time world champion, has never placed higher than second in his three previous Yariguin appearances. His highest finish came a year ago when he lost to 2016 world champion Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) in the 70kg finals. Though he didn't get the opportunity to avenge that loss to Kurbanaliev at Russian Nationals, he did defeat Arbak SAT (RUS), who beat Kurbanaliev. That win helped him earned his spot on Russia’s 2018 world team. He later went to Budapest and reached the top of the world podium for the second time since 2015.

The second Russian reigning world champion that’s expected to compete this weekend is Zaurbek Sidakov. Sidakov returns to competition for the first time since defeating four-time world and London Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS and two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO on his way to his first world title.

This will be Sidakov’s fifth time wrestling at the Yariguin. He’s medaled in each of his four previous trips. Since his Yariguin debut in 2015, Sidakov has finished in third, first, second and second respectively.

In preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games, TUMENBILEG Tuvshintulga (MGL) will move down to 57kg with hopes of making Mongolia's Tokyo 2020 team. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Uguev Out Means Mongolian Moves into Title Contention

The Russian Federation announced that they’ll be without reigning 57kg world champion, Zaur UGUEV (RUS). Without the Russian lightweight hammer who has won the last two Yariguin titles, the door remains open for the takes, but two Mongolian’s are among the favorites to win it all.

Uguev’s absence means the easiest picks for title contenders go to the wrestlers with the most world-level success, and that happens to be Mongolia’s pair of world bronze medalists ERDENEBAT Bekhbayar (MGL) and TUMENBILEG Tuvshintulga (MGL).

Tumenbileg, a 2018 world bronze medalist at 61kg will be moving down to the Olympic weight of 57kg with hopes of denying Erdenebat a second straight trip to the Olympic Games.

The pair, who are fighting for country supremacy, have ruled the lower weights in Mongolia for the past few years. Erdenebat has represented Mongolia at 57kg at five straight world championships and the Rio Olympic Games, while Tumenbileg has represented Mongolia at 61kg at the world championships four times since 2012.

America’s 2017 world silver medalist Thomas GILMAN (USA) will also be title-hunting at this weight. This will be Gilman's first time stepping back on the mat since dropping the bronze-medal bout at the world championships to take fifth place.

New Season, New Weight for Rashidov and Kurbanaliev

The bearded Dagestani two-time world runner-up, Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS), will attempt to make one of the most difficult leaps in wrestling and bump up from 61kg to 65kg. The 23-year-old reigning Yariguin champion will try to break the streak of failed attempts to bump up from 61kg to 65kg.

Reigning Yariguin champion Magomed Kurbanaliev has proven that he’s one of the top wrestlers in the world at 70kg. He’s been one of the most consistent wrestlers in the world at 70kg, reaching the top of the podium at the world and European championships. But now, he’ll try to redirect his attention to moving up to one of the deepest weight classes in the world, 74kg, with hopes of proving that he belongs in the discussion with the likes of Sidakov, Burroughs, and Chamizo.

Ahmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) is looking to win his fourth Yariguin title. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

79kg Without American Superstars Burroughs and Dake

Jordan Burroughs, the four-time world and London Olympic champion was apart of the early entries and was expected to make the trip to Siberia for the first time in his career. Burroughs was registered at 79kg and was taking the place of world champion and last year’s Yariguin runner-up Kyle DAKE (USA), who welcomed a new baby two weeks ago, but has since decided to pull out.

Without those two American superstars, the USA’s hopes of stopping Russia’s Ahmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) from winning his fourth Yariguin title ride on the back of Alexander DIERINGER (USA).

Though he’s relatively unknown, Dieringer has medaled at five straight tournaments and has won gold medals at the Alexander Medved Prizes and the International Ukrainian Tournament.

What’s at Stake?

The Ivan Yariguin is the first of four Ranking Series events of the year.

The winner of each Ranking Series event will be awarded eight (8) points, with second, third and fifth place grabbing six (6), four (4), and two (2) points respectively. In addition to the placement points, wrestlers will receive points based on the number of participants in their bracket. For weight categories with 10 or fewer entries, an additional six (6) points will be added. For categories with 11-20 wrestlers entered an additional eight (8) points will be added. Ten (10) points will be added to any weight category with more than 20 entries.

The points wrestlers gain this weekend are used as a part of the seeding process for the 2019 Astana World Championships. The number of points competitors accumulate from last year's World Championships, along with the 2019 Continental Championships and the Ranking Series events, will be combined and the wrestlers with the four highest cumulative points will be award the top four seeds.

SCHEDULE (Local time)

January 23 (Wednesday)
08.00 - Arrival of delegations
15.30 - Referees clinic
15.30 - Press conference with the Organizing Committee representatives, main referees body, team leaders and coaches
16.30 - Draw: Women: cat: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: cat: 57,61,70 kg

January 24 (Thursday)
08:30 - Medical examination and weigh-in cat: Women: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: 57,61,70 kg
11.00 - Elimination rounds cat: Women: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: 57,61,70 kg
16.00 - Draw cat: Women: 53,57,62,68 kg Men: 65,79,125kg
17.00 -1⁄2 finale cat: Women: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: 57,61,70 kg

January 25 (Friday)
08:15 - Weigh-in cat: Women: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: 57,61,70 kg
08:30 - Medical examination and weigh-in cat: Women: 53,57,62,68 kg Men: 65,79,125kg
11.00 - Elimination rounds and 1⁄2 finale cat: Women: 53,57,62,68 kg Men: 65,79,125kg - Repechage cat: Women: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: 57,61,70 kg
16.30 - Draw cat: Women: 72,76 kg Men: 74,86,92,97 kg
16.00 - Opening ceremony
17.00 - Finals cat: Women: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: 57,61,70 kg

January 26 (Saturday)
08:15 - Weigh-in cat: Women: 53,57,62,68 kg Men: 65,79,125kg
08:30 - Medical examination and weigh-in cat: Women: 72,76 kg Men: 74,86,92,97 kg
11.00 - Elimination rounds and 1⁄2 finale cat: Women: 72,76 kg Men: 74,86,92,97 kg - Repechage cat: Women: 53,57,62,68 kg Men: 65,79,125kg
18.00 - Finals cat: Women: 53,57,62,68 kg Men: 65,79,125kg

January 27 (Sunday)
09:00 - Weigh-in cat: Women: 72,76 kg Men: 74,86,92,97 kg
11.00 - Repechage cat: Women: 72,76 kg Men: 74,86,92,97 kg
13.00 - Finals cat: Women: 72,76 kg Men: 74,86,92,97 kg

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: Ganiev, Beishekeev end title droughts for Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 - 23:31 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 22) -- Alisher GANIEV (UZB) was a little harsh on himself when he failed to win gold at the U20 Asian Championships in July. He even called it a 'painful defeat'. Little did he know that three months later, he would be creating history for Uzbekistan.

The 19-year-old Ganiev became the first U23 world champion for Uzbekistan in any style. The country did not have a medalist at the U23 World Championships in Greco-Roman until Ganiev changed that with a gold medal.

"Last year, I finished third at the U20 World Championships," Ganiev said. "That loss gave me a lot of motivation. This is my first Worlds gold. I lost at the U20 Asian championships this year. That was a painful defeat. I guess those losses hugely influenced the way I prepared for this World championships."

Ganiev won all his bouts on Monday via technical superiority and on Tuesday, he defeated Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN) 8-4 in the 60kg final to clinch the first-ever gold medal for his country.

"The final was the most difficult one," he said. "But the right plan and technique made my dream come true."

Ganiev was off to a flyer and finished the final in the first period when he tossed Bammatov for four points and the referees called a foul on Bammatov to give a 9-0 lead for Ganiev. However, on challenge, Bammatov received a lifeline as he had not committed a foul and the scored was reversed to 7-0.

But the gap was too big got Bammatov to make a comeback in the second period. He managed to score four points over Ganiev but he failed to change the outcome of the final.

"It might have looked so easy but it was definitely tough," he said. "We have been preparing the tactics for every single opponent. That’s why it worked out."

Kyrgyzstan too crowned its first U23 world champion in Greco-Roman as Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) clinched the 67kg with a 6-1 victory over European bronze medalist Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) in the final. Beishekeev got the early advantage as he used an arm-throw to get four points and since, Chkhikvadze was only playing catch-up.

In the last few years, Kyrgyzstan has got its first senior world champion, a U23 world champion and more recently a U20 world champion. The last time it won a U17 world title was won by Kyrgyzstan wrestler, was in 2018. Incidentally, Beishekeev was the last U17 world champion.

Another wrestler chasing a first for his country fell short as Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) defeated Beka MELELASHVILI (USA), 4-3, in the 82kg final.

Melelashvili was the first Greco-Roman wrestler from the United States to secure a medal at the U23 World Championships and had the chance to become the first champion. However, Naghousi kept his cool and managed to eke out a 4-3 win.

At 97kg, Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM), who has never placed on a podium before, won the gold medal by beating Paris Olympian Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN), 11-6, in the final.

Prior to the World Championships, Khloyan had finished 14th and fifth. But none of that mattered on Tuesday as he built a 7-0 lead over Khaslakhanau. Khloyan got the first par terre advantage and to everyone's surprise, managed to turn Khaslakhanau three times to lead Iran. Khaslakhanau got his opportunity in the second period but he failed to get even a single turn.

Georgia was also crowned a champion at 72kg after Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) defeated Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1, in the gold medal bout.

Chkhikvadze was leading 1-1 on criteria but the referees awarded a third passivity to Khachatryan who went for a par terre position. As he tried to turn Chkhikvadze, Khachatryan was blocked during the turn and Chkhikvadze scored two points for exposure.

This was Chkhikvadze's first world title as he had finished with a silver at the U20 World Championships in 2021. He had defeated Khachatryan in the semifinals of that tournament. However, Khachatryan leveled the head-to-head score by beating Chkhikvadze in the opening round of the U23 World Championships.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN), 8-4

BRONZE: Pridon ABULADZE (GEO) df. SURAJ (IND), 9-1
BRONZE: Denis MIHAI (ROU) df. Nihad GULUZADE (AZE),

67kg
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 6-1

BRONZE: Daniial AGAEV (AIN) df. Yanis GUENDEZ NIFRI (FRA), 2-1
BRONZE: Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) df. Farid KHALILOV (AZE), 8-4

72kg
GOLD: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1

BRONZE: Imran ALIEV (AIN) df. Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ), 11-1
BRONZE: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) df. Georgios BARBANOS (SWE), 9-0

82kg
GOLD: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) df. Beka MELELASHVILI (USA), 4-3

BRONZE: Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO) df. Elmin ALIYEV (AZE)
BRONZE: Deni NAKAEV (GER) df. Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY), 5-1

97kg
GOLD: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) df. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN), 11-6

BRONZE: Shayan HABIBZARE (IRI) df. Richard KARELSON (EST), 8-5
BRONZE: Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) df. Anton VIEWEG (GER), 11-0

Semifinals

55kg
GOLD: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) vs. Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE)

SF 1: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) df. Vishvajit MORE (IND), 14-5
SF 2: Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Kohei YAMAGIWA (JPN), 12-2

63kg
GOLD: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) vs. Komei SAWADA (JPN)

SF 1: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Arman VARDANYAN (ARM), 14-5
SF 2: Komei SAWADA (JPN) df. Bekir ATES (TUR), 7-0

77kg
GOLD: Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) vs. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)

SF 1: Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) df. Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO), 2-1
SF 2: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), 6-1

87kg
GOLD: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) vs. Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)

SF 1: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) df. Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), 2-1
SF 2: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) df. Yasin YAZDI (IRI), 5-1

130kg
GOLD: Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN) vs. Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)

SF 1: Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN) df. Albert VARDANYAN (ARM), via fall
SF 2: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Koppany LASZLO (HUN), 8-0