#Yariguin2019

Ten "Must Watch" Matches from the Ivan Yariguin

Wednesday, January 30, 2019 - 15:01 By Eric Olanowski

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There were countless great matches that took place over the four days of wrestling at the first Ranking Series event of the year, the Ivan Yariguin, and we took the time to compile a list of the ten best matches with the most action and biggest storylines. 

1. FS 74kg FINALS - Reigning world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) squared off against two-time world medalist Yakup GOR (TUR) in the 74kg gold-medal bout, and was the victor, 5-4. 

2. WW 72kg FINALS -  Tamyra MENSAH (USA) defeated Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) to become the first American wrestler in any style to win three Yariguin titles. 

3. FS 125kg FINALS - Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) stopped the two-time world and Rio Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) from winning his first Yariguin title 

4. FS 97kg Qualification - Rasul MAGOMEDOV (RUS) stunned the two-time world and Rio Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the opening round at 97kg. 

5. WW 68kg Qualification - Khanum VELIEVA (RUS), the four-time age-level world champion, got revenge on Cuba's first-ever women's wrestling world champion Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUES (CUB) in the opening round. This was a rematch of the U23 world championships, where Sanchez Rodrigues was victorious over Velieva, 5-0. 

6. FS 65kg Semifinal  - Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS), the two-time world bronze medalist, locked up his finals spot with a win over fellow Russian, Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS), who is a two-time world silver medalist. This was Rashidov's second tournament up at 65kg. He usually competes down at 61kg but will attempt to move up to 65kg this season. 

7.  WW 57kg Semifinal - SUKHEE Tserenchimed (MGL) stopped U23 world champion Grace BULLEN (NOR) and earned her spot in the Yariguin finals. 

8. FS 125kg Semifinal - Taha Akgul shut out 2018 world runner-up Zhiwei DENG (CHN) and earned his first trip to a Yariguin gold-medal bout.

 9. FS 79kg Qualification - Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS) halted 2018 world bronze medalist Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) in the opening round, but later fell to Gadzhimagomedov in the round-robin finals at 79kg. 

10. WW 68kg Quarterfinals - ENKH AMAR Davaanasan (MGL) picked up a huge win over Russia's four-time age-level world champion and UWW's Junior Female Wrestler of the Year Khanum Velieva in the semifinals and eventually went on to win the silver medal at 68kg. 

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UWW President Lalovic Visits Tajikistan

Monday, April 13, 2026 - 07:35 By United World Wrestling Press

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DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (April 13) -- United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC visited Tajikistan on Friday and held a meeting Rustam EMOMALI, Chairman of the city of Dushanbe and Chairman of Tajikistan’s National Assembly.

Emomali warmly welcomed Lalovic and the accompanying delegation on the occasion of their first visit to the Tajikistan and to the city of Dushanbe. He noted that the visit represents an important and effective step toward strengthening future cooperation in sport, particularly in wrestling, which is one of the most well-known and popular sports in the country.

Lalovic expressed his gratitude to Emomali for the warm welcome and conveyed his confidence that cooperation with the Tajikistan in this field will be developed at a high and effective level. During the meeting, the parties also discussed in detail the prospects for further cooperation and the development of wrestling in Tajikistan.

Apart from Lalovic, the UWW delegation comprised of UWW Vice-President Akhroldjan RUZIEV, UWW Asian Council President Mohammad AL-AWAMLEH, UWW Bureau Member Cholpon SULTANBEKOVA, UWW Development Staff Adinay KEMELOVA, and Advisor to President of UWW Asia for Women’s Affairs Takhmina KHODZHAEVA.