#WrestleTokyo Olympic Games Preview: 97kg

Friday, July 30, 2021 - 12:29 By Eric Olanowski

TOKYO, Japan (July 21) – Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS), Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) head into the Tokyo Olympic Games looking to add a second Olympic title to their storied resumes. Sadulaev and Snyder won Olympic titles in Rio while Sharifov claimed his gold at the London Olympic Games.

Sadualev is unbeatably the world's top wrestler across all styles. The 25-year-old, who hails from the village of Tsurib, Dagestan, is up a weight class from his Rio title-winning weight of 86kg.

Sadulaev, known worldwide as "The Tank," defeated fellow Olympic champions Snyder and Sharifov in back-to-back world finals and brought his overall world gold medal tally to four.

But, those wins came after a heartbreaking loss to his American rival in the '17 world finals, dubbed as #SnyderLaev.

In '18, Sadualev avenged that Paris loss in spectacular fashion. In the opening minute of the long-awaited second meeting, he pinned Snyder, the then-reigning two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist. The following year, he shutout Sharifov, 4-0, in the 97kg gold-medal match and captured his fourth world title. In total, he's claimed world gold in '14, '15, '18 and '19.

Sadualev is the top-seeded wrestler at 97ig and is trailed by Snyder, Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) and Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD).

Yergali is seeded third at the weight. The 22-year-old from the Kulan, Merke Region of Kazakhstan, comes into Tokyo riding a four-tournament medal streak. He finished in second place at this year's Asian Championships. He ended his campaigns with bronze medals at the '21 Poland Open Ranking Series event and '20 Asian Championships and Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event.

Nurov is seeded fourth and will sit on the same side of the bracket as the man who ended his quest to reach the world finals, Sadulaev. Although he dropped his semifinals match in Nur-Sultan to "The Tank," Nurov won four matches and defeated Yergali in the bronze-medal match at the '19 World Championships.

In addition to the three Olympic champions entered, Rio Olympic bronze medalists Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) and Albert SARITOV (ROU) are other names to highlight on the 97kg entry list.

Meanwhile, there's a long list of former world medalists that also have Tokyo medal aspirations. Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA), Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI), Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) and Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) are four medal hopefuls who can disrupt the pecking order.

Mohammadian, a '14 world bronze medalist, showed in early '20 that he's worthy of sharing the mat with the heavy hitters at the weight. At the '20 Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event, he outscored his five opponents 41-0 en route to winning gold. His day was highlighted with a seismic win by pin over Snyder, but he also scored wins over a U23 world champion, a world bronze medalist and a world fifth-place finisher.

Since that Roman win last year, Mohammadian, the son of two-time Olympic silver medalist Askari MOHAMMADIAN (IRI), has continued his hot streak. He's won gold in the other two competitions he's entered. He won the Asian Olympic Qualifier and the Poland Open and earned the Iranian Olympic nod over Ali SHABANI (IRI) and Alireza KARIMI (IRI).

Odikadze is a guy who is always in the medal hunt. After consecutive World and Olympic fifth-place finishes '14, '15, '16 and '17, he finally broke down that wall and claimed a world bronze at the '18 World Championships. Since his fifth-place Tokyo Olympic qualification finish at the '19 World Championships, the 32-year-old Georgian won back-to-back bronze medals at the European Championships.

Conyedo Ruano, a '18 world bronze medalist, won the World Olympic Qualifier and punched his ticket to Tokyo. But, the former-Cuban-turned-Italian has struggled to put together back-to-back top-five finishes. In his last six appearances, he's struggled to put together consecutive podium finishes.

Cuba's explosive Salas Perez has a sneaky shot to pull an unexpected upset. He's a three-time world medalist. He made back-to-back world finals appearances in '13 and '14, but fell in both of those bouts. The 34-year-old will be wrestling in his second Olympic Games. He finished in fifth place at the '16 Rio Olympic Games.

Although Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR) is relatively inexperienced at 97kg, he's a guy to keep on your radar. He finished in eighth place at 92kg at the '19 World Championships but has wowed in his move up to 97kg. He made his initial ascent up to the Olympic weight at the '20 Individual World Cup. He won a bronze in Belgrade, then won gold at the International Ukrainian Tournament and silvers at the European Championships and European Olympic Qualifier.

Wrestling at the Tokyo Olympic Games kicks off August 1-7 at the Makuhari Messe with 97kg action beginning on August 6.

97kg
No. 1 Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS)
No. 2 Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA)
No. 3 Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)
No. 4 Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD)
Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE)
Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO)
Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN)
Mohammed FARDJ (ALG)
Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB)
Jordan STEEN (CAN)
Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR)
Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR)
Mohammadhossein Askari MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
Magomed Idrisovitch IBRAGIMOV (UZB)
Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA)
Albert SARITOV (ROU)

2026 Muhamet Malo

Muhamet Malo 2026 Day 3 Results: Yaneva wins 68kg; Ostaev Best in GR 87kg

Friday, February 27, 2026 - 18:59 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 27) -- World silver medalist Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) opened her 2026 season with a gold medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in Tirana. Just two months before the European Championships, Yaneva's gold medal makes her the favorite to win gold.

In a field that had Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), U23 world champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) and European medalist Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), Yaneva displayed tactical wrestling on her way to pick gold, blanking Zhumanazarova in the final.

While the final lacked action, it was full of some top-level defense with Yaneva being quick to throw her legs back whenever she was attack, circling to get in position and even remained active in both periods to be not put on the activity clock.

Zhumanazarova, however, was put on the clock twice and she failed to score both times, giving Yaneva a 2-0 lead, which was also the winning score.

Macey KILTY (USA) defeated Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) in the 62kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At the other Olympic weight class in action on Friday, world bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA) added a gold medal to her season opening bronze at the Zagreb Open three weeks ago.

Kilty, who has moved down to 62kg from 65kg this season, secured three victory via technical superiorities and one was a 9-0 blanking in the semifinals.

The 24-year-old opened the day with a 10-0 win over Amina CAPEZAN (ROU) and won next bout against Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) with the same score. Facing Zagreb Open silver medalist Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) in the semifinal, Kilty brought her counter-attacking game and won 9-0.

Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) was moving up to 62kg from 59kg and she felt the difference against Kilty in the final as the American was little too strong for Sidelnikova. Despite giving up two points in an exchange, Kilty controlled the final to win 12-2.

Kilty and Sidelnikova had met in the opening round at the Zagreb Open as well and the former had won via fall.

Othelie HOEIE (NOR) scores the match-winning takedown against Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 59kg, Othelie HOEIE (NOR) won her first international medal in over two years by Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW), 4-2, in the final.

In 2023, Hoeie had one of her best season, winning bronze at the World and European Championships. But since, she has failed to win a medal at six events over the past two years.

The drought finally ended and that too with a gold as Hoeie won three low scoring but tactical bouts in Tirana. She began with a 4-0 victory over Dilan TAN (TUR) before stopping Abigail NETTE (USA), 2-0, in the semifinals.

In the final against Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW), Hoeie was about to be called passive when her forward pressure took Lipatova towards the edge and Hoeie scored a takedown to open the scoring and lead 2-0.

Lipatova took a 2-2 criteria lead early in the second period with a powerful takedown that Hoeie failed to defend. As the clock ticked, Hoeie attempted various attacks but with no success.

But in the final minute, Lipatova defending a takedown by pressuring Hoeie's on the mat but the Norway wrestler managed snuggle out of that and score a clear takedown to lead 4-2.

She defended that lead for the final 44 seconds to win a Ranking Series gold, the first of her career.

Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) battles it out against Kriszta INCZE (ROU) in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

World silver medalist Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) kept it later to beat Kriszta INCZE (ROU). 4-2, for the gold medal.

Kasabieva was put on the activity clock in both periods and she failed to score any points in those, giving Incze a 2-0 lead. But as the second period expired, Kasabieva scored a takedown to make it 2-2 but led on criteria, thanks points via bigger technique.

Incze tried a last-ditch attempt in the final 10 seconds but an alert Kasabieva stepped backwards before scoring the match sealing takedown.

Alan OSTAEV (UWW) prepares to throw Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) during the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Ostaev, Stepanov Win Greco Golds

Former world champion Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) was in unreal form today looked like he is going to run away with the 87kg gold medal. He almost did as well.

In the final against Alan OSTAEV (UWW), Gobadze hit a reverse lift for four points to lead 5-3. But Ostaev managed to score a front headlock roll to cut the lead to 5-3.

It all changed in the second period when Ostaev exposed Gobadze's weak conditioning. He scored points using a gut-wrench from par terre and won the gold medal 12-5.

World champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) was also entered in the weight class but Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) stunned him 1-1 in the opening bout. Alirzaev lost his second bout to Gobadze, 6-6, before returning to win the bronze medal.

Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) kept it a simpler against Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW), pulling off a 4-0 victory in the 77kg final.

He began with a stepout against Baidusov which was doubled up as Baidusov was penalized for fleeing, giving a 2-0 lead to Stepanov. Then came the point for first par terre position. Though Stepanov failed to score any points, he was up 3-0 at the break.

In a rare occasion, Stepanov was awarded the second par terre position as well in the second. He again failed to score but held a 4-0 lead which he defended until the clock expired.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

59kg
GOLD: Othelie HOEIE (NOR) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Bediha GUN (TUR), 4-0
BRONZE: Abigail NETTE (USA) df. Dilan TAN (TUR), 3-1

62kg
GOLD: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW), 12-2

BRONZE: SAVITA (IND) df. Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA), 7-5
BRONZE: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) df. Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR). 7-4

65kg
GOLD: Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) df. Kriszta INCZE (ROU). 4-2

BRONZE: Emma BRUNTIL (USA) df. Aizhan SUIDUOVA (KAZ), 10-0
BRONZE: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Apeksha PATIL (IND), 4-3

68kg
GOLD: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) df. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 2-0

BRONZE: Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) df. KIRTI (IND), 8-4
BRONZE: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Solin PIEARCY (USA), 10-0

Greco-Roman

77kg
GOLD: Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) df. Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW), 4-0

BRONZE: Amir ABDI (IRI) df. Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ), 4-3
BRONZE: Robert FRITSCH (HUN) df. Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), 5-3

87kg
GOLD: Alan OSTAEV (UWW) df. Lasha GOBADZE (GEO), 12-5

BRONZE: Istvan TAKACS (HUN) df. Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), 8-4
BRONZE: Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) df. Islam ALIEV (UWW), 9-0

Morning Session Highlights

15:35: Greco 87kg semifinals - Two high scoring semifinals as Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) slams Islam ALIEV (UWW) twice using reverse lift to win 9-0 while Alan OSTAEV (UWW) scores takedowns at will against Istvan TAKACS (HUN) to beat him 8-0

15:25: Greco 77kg semifinals - Two Iranians fall in the semifinals at 77kg. Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) beats Amir ABDI (IRI), 3-2, after defending well in the second period. He scored a turn in the first period from par terre to take a 3-0 lead. When asked to go down on par terre in the second period, he gives up only a points to keep the 3-2 lead. He will take on Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW) for the gold medal after the UWW wrestler denied Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), 6-1.

15:15: 68kg semifinals - In what was the match of the day, Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) held Nesrin BAS (TUR) down with all her might to win the semifinals at 68kg. Zhumanazarova led 3-0 but Bas was given a point for Zhumunazarova's play and then the Kyrgyzstan wrestler was failed to score during the activity clock that made the score 3-2. Bas got on a single leg attack during the last 15 seconds but was unable to expose Zhumanazarova despite constant pressure. A lost challenge from Bas made the score 4-2 for Zhumanazarova.

For the gold medal, Zhumanazarova will face world silver medalist Yuliana YANEVA (BUL). A slow start to the semifinal between Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) and Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) with the former getting called passive and Sjoeberg leading 1-0 at the break. But Yaneva scores a takedown and a stepout in the second period to lead 3-1. Sjoeberg managed to get on an attack was about to takedown to Yaneva but the Bulgarian disturbed the Sweden wrestler and scored a lift to get two points and gave up one for the reversal to complete a 5-2 win.

15:00: 65kg semifinals - Apeksha PATIL (IND) gave an early scare to Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) but the latter manages to stand firm despite constant attacks from Patil. She counters those attacks and score five takedowns in her 12-2 win. She will face Kriszta INCZE (ROU) for the gold medal after the Romanian blanked Aizhan SUIDUOVA (KAZ), 10-0.

14:50: 62kg semifinals - Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) scores a stepout with four seconds remaining to win the semifinal against Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA). Nwachukwu led 3-2 but pressure from Sidelnikova forces the American out of the zone which gives Sidelnikova a 3-3 criteria lead. The U.S. challenges the call but loses to make it 4-3 with four seconds left. Nwachukwu doesn't give up and gets body lock and throws Sidelnikolva in time but the UWW wrestler does not land in danger, hence no points. Sidelnikova will face Macey KILTY (USA) after she denied Johanna LINDBORG (SWE), 9-0, in the first semifinals. She scored four takedown and a stepout. Lindborg got on her attacks multiple times but failed to finish them.

14:40: 59kg semifinals - Former world bronze medalist Othelie HOEIE (NOR) picks up a 2-0 win over Abigail NETTE (USA). Both points coming from activity clock points. She will face Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW) for the gold medal after Lipatova also managed a 2-0 win against Bediha GUN (TUR), points for a takedown in the first period.

Semifinals will begin at 14:00 hours local time

13:40: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), world bronze medalist, got the par terre in first period but failed to score any points from there. On the other hand, Alan OSTAEV (UWW) scored two takedowns in his 6-1 victory over Zhanyshov to advance to the semifinals at 87kg.

13:20: Istvan TAKACS (HUN) manages to defend his par terre position against Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ) to defeat the Kazakhstan wrestler 4-1 and advance to the semifinals at 87kg.

13:00: World silver medalist Yulia YANEVA (BUL) with a controlled 5-1 victory over KIRTI (IND) while Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) beats Solin PIEARCY (USA), 10-0, to advance to the semifinals at 68kg

12:50: Not to be for Grace BULLEN (NOR) in an all Nordic battle against Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) at 62kg. Lindborg was controlling Bullen in a pin position but failed to get it. However, her 8-2 lead was enough to get the victory over Bullen

12:45: World bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA) with a leg lace to build a 9-0 lead over Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) at 62kg. In the second period, Prokopevniuk with an aggressive move which forces the referees to caution her and award a point to Kilty, giving the American a 10-0 victory

12:30: Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), world silver medalist at 65kg, with a clean and controlled 6-0 victory over Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) at 65kg. Moments later, Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) beats SAVITA (IND) at 62kg, 11-0.

12:20: Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) got the par terre position in the second period over Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) with the score reading 6-2 in favor of the latter. But Alirzaev managed one turn to make it 6-4 with over a minute remaining. He needed three points for a victory. He scored a takedown to make it 6-6 but could not find one more point for the win. He drop the bout and with that world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) will not get a repechage and return home without a medal.

12:00: World bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) led 3-2 at the break against Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) and then scored two more points in the second period to complete a 5-2 victory at 87kg.

11:40: Alireza Morad ABDEVALI (IRI) with a stepout in the second period to beat U23 world champion Alexandru GUTU (MDA), 3-2, at 77kg. Gutu scored a takedown in the first period to lead 2-0. But he gave up a stepout before being put in par terre which made the score 2-2. As Abdevali was not able to score, Gutu held the criteria for a bigger move. But Abdevali scored a stepout to break the tie and win.

11:25: A quick win for Olympic Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) over Destiny ADEYELE (USA), finishing her first bout at 68kg, 11-0.

11:15: Grace BULLEN (NOR) was trailing 5-2 against MANSI (IND) with 10 seconds left but manages to bring down the Indian with an outside trip and a fall. While the fall was not confirmed before the clock expired, Bullen wins 6-5. Nothing else expected of Bullen

11:10: SAVITA (IND), a former U20 world champion, SAVITA (IND) with a fall over Lais NUNES (BRA) at 62kg. Savita overpowering Nunes there. But in the next match on Mat B, ANJLI (IND) gives up her lead and Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) beats her 14-7 at 62kg.

10:50: Alirzaev beats Komarov! World champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) is on the mat to face Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) at 87kg. Alirzaev gets the first par terre advantage but fails to score any points. In the second period, Komarov gets the position but he also fails to score. Alirzaev then defends his 1-1 criteria lead to win.

10:30: The third day of the Ranking Series will see the Greco stars take the mat with 77kg and 87kg while Women's Wrestling continues in 59kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 68kg.

#WrestleTokyo Olympic Games Preview: 97kg

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Muhamet Malo 2026 Day 3 Results: Yaneva wins 68kg; Ostaev Best in GR 87kg