Ivan Yarygin

Sadulaev and Snyder Win Second Yarygin Titles

By

KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 28) -- Russian wrestlers capped off the third day of action at the 29th Annual Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix with three additional gold medals, bringing their tournament total to eight. The only two non-Russian wrestlers to capture gold medals were David TAYLOR (USA) and Kyle SNYDER (USA).

In this evenings first men’s freestyle bout, Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) took the 1-0 lead after Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) failed to score while on the shot clock. Tsabolov’s extended his lead to 3-0 with timely takedown that came off a single-leg in the second period, ultimately giving him the 74kg gold medal.

At 86kg, David TAYLOR (USA), 2017 Grand Prix of Paris champion wrapped up his day with back-to-back falls, winning his first Ivan Yarygin title.

Taylor evened the score up after Fatih ERDIN’s (TUR) two-point head- pinch. Taylor picked up his second takedown, taking the 4-2 lead half way through the first period. Taylor then caught Erdin on his back and secured the first period fall.

When asked about winning the Yarygin, Taylor said “Just to hear the national anthem almost brought tears to my eyes because I’ve envisioned hearing that so many times.”

In the 92kg gold medal bout, Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) used three takedowns to defeat Anzor URISHEV (RUS), 6-0. Sadulaev finished the day outscoring his opponents 26-0.This was Sadulaev’s first tournament win since dropping the gold medal bout at the 2017 World Championships. 

At 97kg, Kyle SNYDER (USA) added back-to-back Yargin titles to his resume, becoming the first American to ever do so. 

Snyder, the two-time world champion trailed in the first after being put on the shot clock. He went on to score four answered points, defeating Rasul MAGOMEDOV (RUS), 4-1.

In women’s wrestling, China capped off their impressive tournament by going five for seven in gold medal bouts, including going 2-0 on the third and final day.

Their sixth finalist, Juan WANG (CHN) used a four-point bodylock to defeat Masako FURUICHI (JPN) 4-1 in the 72kg final. WANG ‘s victory gave China their fourth gold medal of the tournament. China's fifth gold medal came when Qian ZHOU (CHN) was handed the 76kg  gold medal after Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS) injury defaulted.

FINALS RESULTS
74kg
GOLD - Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS), 4-1

BRONZE – Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM) df. Mandakhnaran GANZORIG (MGL), 9-0
BRONZE - Kakhaber KHUBEZHTY (RUS) df. Muhammet DEMIR (TUR), 10-0

86kg
GOLD -  David TAYLOR III (USA) df. Fatih ERDIN (TUR), 6-2

BRONZE –  Vladislav VALIEV (RUS) df. Zaur BERADZE (GEO),2-0
BRONZE - Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) df. Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB),2-1

92kg
GOLD -  Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df. Anzor URISHEV (RUS), 6-0

BRONZE –  Yury BELONOVSKIY (RUS) df. Serda BOKE (TUR), 9-3
BRONZE -  Turtogtokh LUVSANDORJ (MGL) df. Nicholas HEFLIN (USA), 4-2

97kg
GOLD - Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Rasul MAGOMEDOV (RUS), 4-1

BRONZE –  Vladislav BAITCAEV (RUS) df. Yunus DEDE (TUR), 11-0
BRONZE - Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) df. Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL), 10-0

Women’s wrestling
72kg

GOLD -  Juan WANG (CHN) df. Masako FURUICHI (JPN), 4-1

BRONZE – Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) df. Tatiana KOLESNIKOVA MOROZOVA (RUS), 9-0
BRONZE - Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Alena PEREPELKINA (RUS), 8-5

76kg
GOLD - Qian ZHOU (CHN) df. Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS),Inj def

BRONZE – Paliha PALIHA (CHN) df. Viktoriia FROLOVA (RUS), 10-0
BRONZE - Epp MAE (EST) df. Anzhela KATAEVA (RUS), 4-0

#WrestleSamokov

U.S. puts 2 in U20 Worlds finals; Kurugliyev closer to title

By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 18) -- Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) earned himself a chance to win his first U20 world title after he made it to 92kg final Monday in Samokov, Bulgaria.

Kurugliyev, a former world U17 champion, has made the trip to World U20 Championships twice before this year but finished fifth in 2023 and won bronze in 2024, both at 97kg. He moved down to 92kg for this year's tournament and already upgraded his medal.

In a tough semifinal against returning bronze medalist Anar JAFARLI (AZE), Kurugliyev won a close bout 9-6, thanks to an early four-pointer move which gave him a huge advantage. Jafarli got a couple of takedowns but never seemed to trouble the Kazakhstan wrestler.

Kurugliyev will now face Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) in the final after the Uzbekistan wrestler pinned Gadzhimurad GADZHIBATYROV (UWW) in the other semifinal at 92kg.

Poyonov, the Asian U20 champion, blocked Gadzhibatyrov in one of the attacks and then kept him on the mat, pinning his shoulders for the win. Poyonov will look to become the first Uzbekistan wrestler to win gold since 2022.

The U.S. got two finalists on Monday at 65kg and 79kg. At 65kg, Luke STANICH (USA) defeated European U20 and U23 champion Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) with some of the best wrestling in Samokov. Stanich kept his positions and defense and ultimately managed to score a takedown in the second period to beat Dzhandubaev 3-1 in the semifinals.

He will face Reiji UCHIDA (JPN) for the gold medal after the Japanese wrestler blanked Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), 10-0, using a series of stepouts and lace. Uchida is a product of the Yamanashi Gaikun University, the same university that produced world champion Masanosuke ONO (JPN) and Asian champion Takara SUDA (JPN).

Pan-American U20 champion William HENCKEL (USA) defeated Asian U20 champion AMIT (IND), 5-4, using a takedown and gut-wrench in the first period. He scored a stepout when put on activity period and then added a takedown and turn. Amit blocked the second turn attempt for two points but Henckel led 5-2 at the break.

Amit managed a stepout and point for passivity from Henckel but that was all for him as the U.S. wrestler moved into the final in which he will face returning bronze medalist and senior Asian champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI).

At one point in the semifinal, Yousefi was down against European U20 bronze medalist Said SAIDULOV (UWW). But he managed to score takedowns at regular intervals to defeat Saidulov 15-7.

At 57kg, Sumit MALIK (IND) dominated his semifinal against Ion BULGARU (MDA) and won 11-3 and booked place in the final against Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) who held on to a nervous 3-1 win over Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ) in the other semifinal.

Malik got on board first when he scored a stepout during his activity clock. He added a stepout and takedown to make it 4-0 at the break. He kept his attacks and got another takedown and stepout in the second period to build a 7-0 lead.

Bulgaru finally hit back with a takedown on the edge to cut the lead to 7-2 but Malik kept relentless forward pressure, scoring a stepout and takedown to lead 10-2. Both wrestlers were cautioned for open hands on faces but that did not affect Malik, who won 11-3 win.

Ozdamirov, who showed some crafty wrestling throughout the day, denied Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ), 3-1, thanks to a takedown in the second period.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) vs. Sumit MALIK (IND)

SF 1: Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) df. Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ), 3-1
SF 2: Sumit MALIK (IND) df. Ion BULGARU (MDA), 11-3

65kg
GOLD: Luke STANICH (USA) vs. Reiji UCHIDA (JPN)

SF 1: Luke STANICH (USA) df. Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW), 3-1
SF 2: Reiji UCHIDA (JPN) df. Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), 10-0

79kg
GOLD: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) vs. William HENCKEL (USA)

SF 1: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) df. Said SAIDULOV (UWW), 15-7
SF 2: William HENCKEL (USA) df. AMIT (IND), 5-4

92kg
GOLD: Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) vs. Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ)

SF 1: Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) df. Gadzhimurad GADZHIBATYROV (UWW), via fall
SF 2: Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) df. Anar JAFARLI (AZE), 9-6