#Yariguin2019

Yariguin Final Pairings Set for Saturday Night

Friday, January 25, 2019 - 20:50 By Eric Olanowski

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KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 25) -  The Russian Federation inserted at least one wrestler into the finals in six of the seven weight classes that'll be up for the taking on Saturday night. 

In freestyle, Russia continued to plow through the competition and prove why they’re the most dominant freestyle nation in the world. They followed Friday's three gold medal performances by claiming five of Saturday’s six finals spots. 

Turkish big-man Taha AKGUL, a two-time world and Rio Olympic champion, is the only non-Russian freestyle wrestler that'll compete for a gold medal on Saturday night. He'll wrestle Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) in the 125kg gold-medal match. 

In women’s wrestling, Russia won a pair of gold medals on Friday night and has an opportunity to claim three additional golds on Saturday night when five wrestlers compete in the finals. 

The lone weight class where a non-Russian woman can claim a Yariguin gold medal is at 68kg. This weight class will feature the all-Mongolian battle between 2015 world champion SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg and ENKH AMAR Davaanasan. 

The finals are set to begin on Saturday at 18:00 (local time). 

Finals Matchups

Freestyle 
65kg - Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) vs. Nachyn KUULAR (RUS)
79kg - Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) vs. Magomed RAMAZANOV (RUS)
125kg - Taha AKGUL (TUR) vs. Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS)

Women’s Wrestling 
53kg - Natalia MALYSHEVA (RUS) vs. Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA)
57kg - Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) vs. Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL)
62kg - Anzhela FOMENKO (RUS) vs. Anna SHCHERBAKOVA (RUS)
68kg -  Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL) vs. ENKH AMAR Davaanasan (MGL)

#Yariguin2019

Three "Must Watch" Day Two Matches at the Ivan Yariguin

Thursday, January 24, 2019 - 19:01 By Eric Olanowski

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KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 24) - The brackets for the second day of freestyle and women's wrestling at the Ivan Yariguin have been released and here are three potential matches that you can't afford to miss. 

1. Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) vs. Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS)

This 65kg semifinals match is a long-shot and would require several pieces to fall perfectly into place, but if they do, the matchup between two-time world bronze medalist, Akhmed Chakaev and two-time world runner-up Gadzhimurad Rashidov will be a high-flying electric showdown. 

Here’s the scenario that would give wrestling fans this matchup: 

  1. Rashidov wins the special wrestle-in against Alan's champion Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS). 
  2. Rashidov beats the United States’ 2017 65kg world team representative Zain RETHERFORD (USA) in the quarterfinals.
  3. Chakaev wins his quarterfinals matchup against Cristian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB). 

2. Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) vs. Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUES (CUB) 

This 68kg qualification match between four-time age-level world champion Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) and 2018 U23 world champion Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUES (CUB) is a quarterfinals rematch of the 2018 Bucharest U23 World Championships, where the Cuban wrestler topped the Russian, 5-0. 

Sanchez Rodrigues’ 5-0 quarterfinal win over Velieva, who was named United World Wrestling’s 2018 Female Junior Wrestler of the Year, helped catapult her to the top of the world podium and played a pivotal role in her becoming the first Cuban woman to win a world title in any age group.


Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) will wrestle Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) in a battle of previous world finalists. (Photo: Sachiko HOTAKA) 

3. Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) vs. Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA)

This 53kg qualification bout features the pair of previous world silver medalists, Sarah Hildebrandt and Ergenechimeg Sumiya. 

Sarah Hildebrandt is the reigning world runner-up at this 53kg, while Erdenechimeg, a four-time top-10 finisher at the world championships, is a 2013 world runner-up at 51kg. 

This is the first time these world finalists have met in their storied careers.