Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! December 10, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing Russia's Ivan Yarygin qualification process. Also reviewing results from the Alans and Haparanda Cup.  

1. Dzambolat Tedeev Clarifies 2019 Ivan Yarygin Qualification Process
Dzambolat Tedeev, the head freestyle wrestling coach for the Russian Federation, clarified the qualification process for January’s Ivan Yarygin, which takes place in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Only three Russian wrestlers will qualify for the "Toughest Tournament in the World." Each of the 2018 world team members, along with the Alans and Mindiashvili winners will each punch their ticket to the Ivan Yarygin. 

In an interview with WRESTRUS.RU’s correspondent, Tigran Avanian, Tedeev said, “The first members of the Russian national team, mainly those who wrestled in Budapest, can still compete in the Alans. They already have an admission to Yarygin, but only in the weight in which they wrestled in Budapest.” Meaning the below world team members have qualified at the following weights.

57kg - Zaur UGUEV
61kg - Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV 
65kg - Akhmed CHAKAEV 
70kg - Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV 
74kg - Zaurbek SIDAKOV 
79kg - Ahmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV 
86kg - Dauren KURUGLIEV
92kg-  Batyrbek TSAKULOV
97kg - Abdulrashid SADULAEV 
125kg -  Anzor HIZRIEV

In order to provide further clarification, coach Tedeev  continued by saying, “If an athlete decides to change his weight category, he needs to establish himself in the new weight, which means he’ll have to win either the Alans or the Mindiashvili tournament, and only then he will be able to wrestle in Krasnoyarsk."


70kg Alans champion, David BAEV (RUS) Photo by Marion Stein. 

2. Vladikavkaz Hosts Yarygin Qualification Tournament, the Alans 
Loads of fans showed up to the sold-out Sports Center Arena in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia-Alania, Russia, for one of the country’s most important tournaments, the Alans. As mentioned above, the Alans served as a qualification for the January’s Ivan Yarygin in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. 

Arguably, the most impressive gold medal winner was the 70kg champion, David BAEV (RUS). Baev, the two-time age-level world champion, and 2018 U23 world runner-up knocked off back-to-back- world medalists on his run to the top of the podium. In the semifinals, Baev defeated two-time world medalist, James GREEN (USA), 8-6. He followed that up with a 5-3 finals win over 2016 world champion, Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS). 

Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the United State each had wrestlers medal, but it was the Russian Federation who won nine of ten possible gold medals. The lone non-Russian champion was reigning two-time world champion, Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) who won the 125kg gold medal over Iran's Jaber SADEGHZADEH. 

RESULTS 
57kg
GOLD - Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
SILVER - Khuresh Ool DONDUK OOL (RUS) 
BRONZE - Ramiz AMZATOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Ibragim ABDURAKHMANOV (RUS) 

61kg 
GOLD - Ramazan FERZALIEV (RUS) 
SILVER - Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) 
BRONZE - Iulian GERGENOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Aleksandr BOGOMOEV (RUS) 

65kg 
GOLD - Muslim SAIDULAEV (RUS)
SILVER - Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS)
BRONZE – Nachyn KUULAR (RUS)
BRONZE – Alan GOGAEV (RUS)

70kg 
GOLD - David BAEV (RUS) 
SILVER - Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS)
BRONZE - James Malcolm GREEN (USA) 
BRONZE - Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) 

74kg 
GOLD - Timur BIZHOEV (RUS) 
SILVER - Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) 
BRONZE - Akhmed USMANOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Kakhaber KHUBEZHTY (RUS) 

79kg 
GOLD - Gadzhi NABIEV (RUS) 
SILVER - Atsamaz SANAKOEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Alan ZASEEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Khalil AMINOV (RUS)

86kg 
GOLD - Vladislav VALIEV (RUS)
SILVER - Magomedsharif BIIAKAEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Slavik NANIEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Soslan KTSOEV (RUS)

92kg
GOLD - Anzor URISHEV (RUS)
SILVER - Magomed KURBANOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) 

97kg
GOLD - Vladislav BAITCAEV (RUS)
SILVER - Shamil MUSAEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Zaynulla KURBANOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Igor OVSIANNIKOV (RUS)

125kg 
GOLD - Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) 
SILVER - Jaber Taghi SADEGHZADEH (IRI) 
Mukhamagazi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
Vitalii GOLOEV (RUS)

3. Tehran to Host 2018 World Wrestling Clubs Cup 

Tehran, Iran is set to host the fifth annual World Wrestling Clubs Cup on December 13-14. 

Last year, 16 World and Olympic medalists took part in the two-day competition, but it was Iran's Easy Pipe Kashan who edged defending champions from the United States, Titan Mercury, 6-4, while Setaregan Sari (IRI) downed Khimori (MGL) in the third-place dual.

One interesting note regarding this year's World Wrestling Clubs Cup, the United State's will not be sending a team to Tehran. Due to the World Championships being pushed back to October, the United States decided to rest their athletes and not send them to Iran. 

2017 Finals Results 
57kg - Reza ATARI (Easy Pipe) df. Thomas GILMAN (TMWC), 6-4 
61kg- Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (Easy Pipe) df. Alan WATERS (TMWC), 7-0
65kg- Farzad AMOUZAD KHALILI df. (Easy Pipe) Bernard FUTRELL (TMWC), 6-3
70kg- Mohammad NADERI (Easy Pipe) df. Franklin GOMEZ (TMWC), 2-2
74kg- Nazariy KULCHYTSKYY (TMWC) df. Hossein ELYASI (Easy Pipe), 5-4 
79kg- Kyle DAKE (TMWC) TF. Reza AFZALI (Easy Pipe), 12-0
86kg- David TAYLOR (TMWC) df. Alireza KARIMI (Easy Pipe), 3-1 
92kg- Hossein SHAHBAZI (Easy Pipe) df. Nickolas HEFLIN (Titan), 4-2
97kg- Kyle SNYDER (TMWC) TF. Vladislav BAITSAEV (Easy Pipe), 11-0
125kg - Geno PETRIASHVILI (Easy Pipe) df. Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (Titan), 6-5


Aleksander KOMAROV (RUS), 82kg Haparanda Cup champion. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

4. Russia Wins Quartet of Golds at 2018 Haparanda Cup
Over 60 wrestlers made the trip to Haparanda, Sweden to compete in the annual Haparanda Cup. Per usual, the Russian Federation was locked and loaded, winning four of the nine overall Haparanda Cup gold medals. 

The most notably gold medal came at 82kg where the Russian youngster Aleksander KOMAROV (RUS) competed in his first tournament since September when he captured the 2018 junior world title in Tampere, Finland. This was Komarov’s second junior world title, but his fourth overall age-level world title. He also won back-to-back cadet world titles in 2015 and 2016. 

Without a doubt, Komarov has the most impressive Greco-Roman resumes in recent memory. Since stepping on the international scene back in 2015, he’s entered 13 tournaments and has yet to face defeat at any of those 13 tournaments. 

In addition to his four age-level world and European titles, Komarov also has five senior-level tournament gold medals to his name. 

Russia also had a trio of other gold medalists. They were Yuri DENISOV (RUS), Ivan CHERNOV (RUS), and Maxim SAYARYAN (RUS). Russia was the only country to win more than one gold medal. Finland, Norway Sweden, Ukraine, and the United States were the remaining five nations who won a solo gold medal. 

RESULTS 
60 kg   
GOLD - Maksym LIU (UKR)
SILVER - Christoffer SVENSSON (SWE)
BRONZE - Roope MIETTUNEN (FIN)

63kg 
GOLD - Alexander BICA (SWE)
SILVER - Colton RUSHE (USA)

BRONZE - Raffaele MASI (USA)

67kg  
GOLD - Håvard JORGENSEN (NOR) 
SILVER - Jamel JOHNSON (USA)
BRONZE - Denis BOLUNOV (EST)
BRONZE - Serhii HRUSHYN (UKR)

72kg  
GOLD - Yuri DENISOV (RUS) 
SILVER - Akseli  KISALIJAT (FIN)
BRONZE - Ihor BYCHKOV (UKR)
BRONZE - Vladyslav KRAVCHENKO (UKR)

77kg  
GOLD - Ivan CHERNOV (RUS)
SILVER - Sakke PUROLAINEN (FIN) 
BRONZE - Pat SMITH (USA)
BRONZE - Roni PUROLAINEN (FIN)

82kg   
GOLD - Aleksander KOMAROV (RUS)
SILVER - Dmytro GARDUBEI (UKR)
BRONZE - John STEFANOWICZ (USA) 
BRONZE - Vitalii ANDRILOVYCH  (UKR)

87kg
GOLD - Rami HIETANIEMI (FIN) 
SILVER - Joe RAU (USA) 

BRONZE - Duguchiev MOVSAR (RUS)
BRONZE - Valentyn SHKLIARENKO (UKR) 

97kg 
GOLD – Maxim SAYARYAN (RUS)
SILVER - Billy RAAF (SWE)

BRONZE - Daniel MILLER (USA) 
BRONZE - Kalle PERSSON (SWE)

130kg 
GOLD - Trent OSNES (USA) 

5. United World Wrestling Yearly Awards to be Released Over Next Few Weeks 
As the 2018 calendar year comes to a close, it leaves an opportunity for the wrestling world to reflect on successes over the previous twelve months. In the next few weeks, United World Wrestling will be releasing their annual year-end awards. Like past year’s awards, this year’s awards will look at some of the best matches, athletes, and performances from 2018. 

If you have a favorite moment, match, or wrestler that you think should be included in our annual awards; please share your thoughts on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

1.Big Move Monday! 
2.  Flipping into the week like. 
3. Black and white photos from #BudaWrestle2018 
4. Steam coming off a young Indian wrestler 
5. Matcharshvili outscored his opponents 40-0 to win the 97kg U23 world title.

#WrestleZagreb

Bisultanov stamps authority at 87kg with Zagreb Open gold

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 9) -- David LOSONCZI (HUN) must have thought that Saturday was a perfect chance to avenge his Paris 2024 loss to Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) at the Zagreb Open.

Bisultanov, however, wasn't keen on that.

READ MORE: Zagreb Open Day 4 Results

The Paris bronze medalist put on an even better show than the one six months ago and beat Losonczi in a more dominant fashion, winning the gold medal at the 87kg weight class in Zagreb, claiming his first-ever Ranking Series gold.

"I'm not even in good shape," Bisultanov said. "It's crazy because after the [U23] World Championships, my coach and me were talking about how I can just enjoy my wrestling. Before it was like, I had to make the results. Now, I have all the results. At every tournament, I just have to enjoy, be calm, wrestle, and then go back."

While Paris was a dull affair with Bisultanov pulling off a 2-1 one, Zagreb saw him hit all the right notes despite falling behind early against the 2023 world champion.

Losonczi got the first par terre advantage and Bisultanov, who has struggled with his ground defense in the past, gave up a gut wrench but did not let Losonczi run away with it. 

The former European champion roared back after being 3-0 down, first with a stepout, then a counter body throw for two. Losonczi was docked two points for fleeing and asked to restart in par terre. However, Bisultanov did not score from there.

With a 5-3 lead at the break, Bisultanov kept the pressure on Losonczi who seemed to be tiring out as the final went on. After some failed attempts, Losonczi did score a stepout in the final few seconds but Bisultanov was well in control of the final and won 5-4.

"I'm so happy because this is my first ranking series gold and I beat very good guys," he said.

Bisultanov's run in Zagreb included a few impressive victories at 87kg. He began with a 5-0 win over U20 world champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), blanked Islam ABBASOV (AZE) 4-0 and planned out a 1-1 victory over Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN).

Earlier in his career, Bisultanov conceded points from par terre but he brought out his best defense in Zagreb, giving up two points only in the final.

"I am more happy because I wanted to try some things out here that I will be better at for the World Championships like improving my par terre," he said. "I am definitely more confident with my wrestling after Paris Olympics. Normally, maybe I would panic after a gut wrench. [In the final], I was behind 3-0 against a very tough guy. But I started immediately and then got five points very quickly."

Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)The only gut wrench Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) gave up was in the final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

A few of those changes include score stepouts when he gets a chance. Undoubtedly, Bisultanov uses his short stature against taller wrestler to get under their shoulders and push them out.

"It's good for my style because I want to move forward all the time, so my shoulder is below their shoulder," he said. "I'm smaller than them, then it's easier to get down on the hook. It's the small things that make a big difference."

The former European champion will skip this year's European Championships in April and participate in two more Ranking Series events, in Tirana and Budapest, before the World Championships in September.

"I will skip Europeans," he said. "The main goal is World Championships. For Europeans, you have to prepare to be 100 percent and I have already won it before. I need to get some [ranking] points for the World Championships and not think too much about it."

Sergei STEPANOV (AIN)Sergei STEPANOV (AIN), left, defeated Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) 4-3 in the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 77kg, Sergei STEPANOV (AIN) ran through a top field and won the gold medal by beating former world silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) 4-3 in the final.

Stepanov was last in action at the 2021 U23 World Championships in which he won a bronze medal. For the last four years, Stepanov has been away from international wrestling.

Returning to the mat for the first time since 2021, Stepanov scored wins over Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) 4-0 in the quarterfinal and then destroyed Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) in the semifinal, winning 8-0. He performed a spectacular back lift throw from par terre for five points against Kutuzov that got the applaud from the crowd.

Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) defeated Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) 7-4 in the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Women's Wrestling

Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) survived a late headlock throw from U23 world champion Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) in the 57kg final to win the gold medal 7-4. Winchester and Aliyeva were the only two wrestlers competing in the weight class and the final lived up to the expectations.

Winchester led 7-2 and Aliyeva kept trying to succeed in a 2-on-1. She managed to score a takedown with 20 seconds on the clock to cut the lead to 7-4 and then headlocked Winchester for a big throw and was awarded four points for it as she claimed a 8-7 win.

But the United States challenged and on review, the move was cancelled as it was not finished as the clock expired.

"It was kind of a dual meet match but a good match," Winchester said. "I have a lot stuff to take from the match. I figured that I was going to win from how the match was going, but just the mindset of finishing it. I know I got the experience. No matter if it is one match, five matches or 10, you still got be present in the moment and not look ahead."

Skylar GROTE (USA)Skylar GROTE (USA) wrestles Veronika VILK (CRO) in 72kg round-robin bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The U.S. won two more gold medals at 72kg and 76kg as Skylar GROTE (USA) and Yelena MAKOYED (USA) dominated their weight classes for the top medal.

Grote, competing in a Nelson bracket, had four wins out of four bouts with three technical superiorities. In the Round 5 bout against Paula LECARPENTIER (FRA) Grote settled for a 2-0 win.

The bronze medal in this weight class was claimed by Veronika VILK (CRO) to a loud cheer from the home fans. Vilk pinned Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN) to claim the medal. In 2022, Vilk became Croatia's first-ever wrestling world champion at any level or style.

"I feel amazing and so proud of myself," Vilk said. "I don't know how to explain this. In my home, in my country, amazing."

The 18-year-old hails from Slatina, a city in north-east Croatia but trains in Koprivnica, a city in north Zagreb, where she also attends high school.

"For my weight category, it's difficult to get partners," she said. "I train with boys which is very hard. When I have camps, I train with other girls."

Makoyed, a U23 world champion, claimed gold medal at 76kg after winning all three bouts that she competed in a four-wrestler bracket. Makoyed pinned two of her opponents and won the third via superiority.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

57kg
GOLD: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) df. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), 7-4

72kg
GOLD: Skylar GROTE (USA)
SILVER: Paula LECARPENTIER (FRA)
BRONZE: Veronika VILK (CRO)

76kg
GOLD: Yelena MAKOYED (USA)
SILVER: Valeria TRIFONOVA (AIN) 
BRONZE: Kamile GAUCATE (LTU)

Greco-Roman

77kg
GOLD: Sergei STEPANOV (AIN) df. Zotlan LEVAI (HUN), 4-3

BRONZE: Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) df. Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 3-1
BRONZE: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) df. Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), 3-1

87kg
GOLD: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) df. David LOSONCZI (HUN), 5-4

BRONZE: Islam ABBASOV (AZE) df. Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN), 5-5
BRONZE: Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) df. Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB), 5-0