#Yariguin2019

Yariguin Final Pairings Set for Sunday Afternoon

By Eric Olanowski

KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 26) - Russia continued its stronghold on the freestyle competition and inserted three additional wrestlers into Day Four Yariguin finals. They also have two of the four wrestlers competing for the top spot in the 92kg round-robin tournament.

The Russian Federation has already won six gold medals and has an opportunity to sweep the freestyle competition. If they can find a way to remain undefeated during Sunday’s final session, they’ll claim a gold medal in each of the ten weight classes. 

In women’s wrestling, Russia leads the gold medal race with a trio of champions, but Japan, who has a pair of champions and a pair of day four finalists, can take control of the gold medal race if they win each of their two gold medal matches on Sunday.  

Belarus and the United States claimed the remaining two women’s wrestling finalist spots. 

Belarus is looking for their first Yariguin gold medal of 2019, while Tamyra Mariama MENSAH is looking to give the United States their second women’s wrestling title in the past two days. 

If Mensah wins against Japan’s Hiroe MINAGAWA SUZUKI, she’ll become the first American wrestler in any style to win three Yariguin titles. 

The final day of wrestling begins at 11:00 (local time), with the finals expected to start at (13:00).

FINALS

Freestyle

74kg - Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) vs. Yakup GOR (TUR)
86kg - Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) vs. Fatih ERDIN (TUR)  
97kg - Shamil MUSAEV (RUS) vs. Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR)

Women’s Wrestling
 
72kg - Tamyra Mariama MENSAH (USA) vs. Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)
76kg - Hiroe MINAGAWA SUZUKI (JPN) vs. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR)

Obituary

Habibi, Iran's first Olympic champion, dies aged 94

By United World Wrestling Press

TEHRAN, Iran (August 24) -- Emamali HABIBI (IRI), Iran's first-ever Olympic gold medalist and United World Wrestling Hall of Fame member, passed away Sunday aged 94.

Habibi was born Babol in 1931 and won the first Olympic gold medal for Iran in 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Facing Alimbeg BESTAEV in the final round to decide the gold medalist, Habibi secured a fall in the 67kg final and etched his name in history, became first Olympic champion for Iran.

It was a rare feat in those times as he had never wrestled at an international event before the Olympics. He would make his World Championships debut in 1959, winning gold medal at 73kg. He defended his title in 1961 and added a third gold medal in 1962 at 78kg.

Emamali HABIBI (IRI)Emamali HABIBI (IRI) with his World Championships gold medal.

He participated in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome at 73kg and finished fourth. Habibi also has a gold medal at the 1958 Asian Games, held in Tokyo, Japan.

Habibi's legacy also includes his diverse wrestling techniques and speed on the mat which allowed him to win bouts with domination. He is widely considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of his times. He was included in the UWW Hall of Fame in 2007 for his contribution to wrestling.

UWW offers its condolences to Iran Wrestling Federation and the Habibi family.