KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 21) – Defending champion Dyamal OTARSULTANOV (RUS) will be seeking his fourth triumph in five years in Krasnoyarsk as the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix kicks off the international freestyle wrestling season for 2015.

Otarsultanov, the London 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist at 55kg, prevailed at 61kg last year over 2013 world champion Bekhan GOIGEREEV (RUS), 10-4, for his third Yarygin crown. The three-time European champion has also won at 55kg in 2011 and 2012.

Goigereev returns to the Sports Palace in Krasnoyarsk along with 2014 world team member Aleksander BOGOMOEV (RUS), arguably making the non-Olympic weight category of 61kg the most competitive of January 23-25 event.

Hailed as one of the toughest tournaments on the international wrestling calendar, the Yarygin Grand Prix, however, is unlikely to have any of Russia’s five reigning world champions in action.

According to reports, three-time world champ Denis TSARGUSH (74kg) and newly crowned Soslan RAMONOV (65kg) have been training but are not yet in “the required shape.”

Meanwhile, world champions Abdusalam GADISOV (97kg), Abdulrashid SADULAEV (86kg) and Khetik TSABOLOV (70kg) remain question marks, even though Tsabolov won at 74kg at the Copa Brasil in November.

This opens the door for competitors from more than a dozen other countries to win a title in Krasnoyarsk. The last time a foreign wrestler won in Krasnoyarsk was in 2010 when three, including former world champion Aleksey SHEMAROV (BLR), reached the top of the medals podium.

In the last two years, only three visitors have managed to advance to the Yarygin finals, including Brent METCALF (USA), winner of last year’s Golden Grand Prix Final in Baku at 65kg.

Metcalf is back and joining him on the American squad is world bronze medalist Tervel DLAGNEV (125kg), who already owns silver and bronze medals from Krasnoyarsk, and junior world runner-up Aaron PICO (65kg).

Meanwhile, in the female events, three-time Olympic Games champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) has reportedly been scratched from the Japanese roster due to injury, but a squad of young hopefuls will attempt to keep the bar set high.

Two-time junior world champion Yu MIYAHARA (48kg) was runner-up to world champion Eri TOSAKA (JPN) at the Japanese national championships in December, while Asian Games gold medalist for Japan Rio WATARI (63kg) was a runner-up in Krasnoyarsk in 2013.

Also on the Japanese squad are Tokyo 2020 hopefuls Mayu MUKAIDA (53kg), a two-time cadet world champion who turns 18 in June, and junior world champ Masako FURUICHI (69kg), whose only loss internationally, thus far, was to Randi MILLER (USA) in the semifinals of the 2014 Klippan Open.

Russia’s hopes to improve on its three gold medals in 2014 have been dented with the news that defending champion Maria GUROVA (53kg) and world silver medalist Valeria KOBLOVA (58kg) are being held out as Russia looks ahead to hosting the women’s World Cup in St. Petersburg.

National team head coach Yuri SHAKHMURADOV (RUS) said the duo are recovering from minor injuries, adding that they should be ready for the March 7-8 World Cup. The coaching legend will be seeking to atone for an 8-0 drubbing suffered by Russia in last year’s final to Japan.

The host’s female squad will be led by London 2012 gold medalist Natalya VOROBIEVA (69kg), 2011 world silver medalist Ekaterina BUKINA (75kg) and Tashkent silver medalist Irina OLOGONOVA (55kg). The Russians also welcome back Lorissa OORZHAK (53kg), a four-time European champion at 48kg between 2005 and 2011.

SCHEDULE

January 22, Thursday

17:00-17:30 – Weigh-in & Draw: Female wrestling 53, 58, 60, 69kg; Freestyle 57, 74kg

January 23, Friday

10:00-14:00 – Preliminary bouts: Female wrestling 53, 58, 60, 69kg; Freestyle 57, 74kg
17:00-17:30 – Weigh-in & Draw: Female wrestling 48, 55, 63, 75 kg; Freestyle 61, 65, 70kg
17:00-18:00 – Repechage: Female wrestling 53, 58, 60, 69kg; Freestyle 57, 74kg
18:00-18:45 – Opening Ceremony
18:45-20:30 – Finals & Awards Ceremonies: Female wrestling 53, 58, 60, 69kg; Freestyle 57, 74kg

January 24, Saturday

10:00-14:00 – Preliminary bouts: Female wrestling 48, 55, 63, 75kg; Freestyle 61, 65, 70kg
17:00-17:30 – Weigh-in & Draw: Freestyle 86, 97, 125kg
17:00-18:00 – Repechage: Female wrestling 48, 55, 63, 75kg; Freestyle 61, 65, 70kg
18:30-20:30 – Finals & Awards Ceremonies: Female wrestling 48, 55, 63, 75kg; Freestyle 61, 65, 70kg

January 25, Sunday

10:00-14:00 – Preliminary bouts & Repechage: Freestyle 86, 97, 125kg
15:30-17:00 – Finals & Awards Ceremonies: Freestyle 86, 97, 125kg
17:30-18:30 – Closing ceremony