Soronzonbold Shines in Capturing Yarygin Title as Otarsultanov Stumbles

By United World Wrestling Press

KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 25) -- Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL) posted impressive back-to-back wins over ranked opponents on Saturday to dominate the 63kg field during the second day of competition at the Ivan Yarygin International.

The 2010 world champion was spectacular in her semifinal matchup with former world No.1 Anastasia GRIGORIEVA (LAT). The throw-happy Battsetseg used a four-point arm spin and consecutive trapped arm guts to blank the Latvian grappler by technical fall in the second period.

Battsetseg capped her evening by cruising past Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) by fall in the night’s most back-and-forth, high-flying finale.

On the men’s side it was the semifinal matchup between Olympic champion Dymal OTARSULTANOV (RUS) and current world team member Alexander BOGOMOYEV (RUS) that left the crowd in a tizzy. Late in the second period with Otarsultanoc trailing by four, the former champion seemed to hit a clear four-point move. However, upon a challenge the score was changed from 4-4 to 8-2, an insurmountable gap for the Chechnya native with only 18 seconds remaining.

The call was so controversial that three-time Olympic champion Buvaisar SATIEV made his presence felt, though it ultimately amounted to no change in outcome.

For his part, Bogomoyev wrestled a brilliant tournament, managing to wiggle past some of the most talented countrymen on his side of the bracket, eventually winning the title over Nachyin KUULAR (RUS) by the score of 7-0.

The non-Olympic eight of 70kg saw Rasul DZHUKAEV (RUS) take on one of the few Iranian wrestlers to make an appearance in Said DADASHPUR. To make the finals the Iranian leader wrestled his way past hometown favorite Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (RUS), 10-9 in the semifinals. That match, like many on the second day was wrapped in controversy and the last exchange suffered from a lengthy review. In the end Dzhukaev proved one Russian too many for Dadashpur to overcome, as he fell to Dzhukaev, 9-2.

Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) found his way past an energetic and impassioned Brent METCALF (USA), 8-6 in the 65kg finals. Both wrestlers were unchallenged in the championship bracket, which set up for a clash that didn't disappoint for action or drama.

The 48kg gold in women’s wrestling went to Valentina ISLAMOVA (RUS) who defeated Elena VOSTRIKOVA (RUS), 7-2 to take her first Yarygin title. At 53kg it was Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) who used a four-point throw and tricky hips to best Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL), 4-3 in the finals.

At 75kg Canadian Erica WEIBE (CAN) earned her first Yarygin title with a hard fought 3-2 decision over Alena STARODUBTSEVA (RUS). Weibe, who as recently as this summer was the top-ranked wrestler in the world, will look to build on her victory over the coming months to challenge continental foe and defending world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) for the world’s top billing.

Wrestling begins tomorrow at 10am with the final three men’s freestyle weight classes of 86kg, 97kg and 125kg 

Men's Freestyle -- 61kg

GOLD: Alexander BOGOMOYEV (RUS) v. Nachyin KUULAR (RUS), 7-0
BRONZE: Dymal OTARSULTANOV (RUS) v. Gadjimurad RASHIDOV (RUS), 11-7
BRONZE: Vegor PONOMAREV (RUS) df. Bulat BATOYEV (RUS) by FALL 

Semifinal: Alexander BOGOMOYEV (RUS) df. Dymal OTARSULTANOV (RUS), 8-2 
Semifinal: Nachyin KUULAR (RUS) df. Bulat BATOYEV (RUS), 3-2

Men's Freestyle -- 65kg

GOLD: Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) df. Brent METCALF (USA), 8-6  
BRONZE: Zaurabek SIDAKOV df. Ali EMEYEV (RUS), TK
BRONZE: Evgeni JERBAEV (RUS) df. Ahmed CHAKAEV by FALL

Semifinal: Brent METCALF (USA) df. Ali EMEYEV (RUS) by TF, 12-2
Semifinal:  Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) df. Evgeni JERBAEV (RUS) by TF, 13-3

Men's Freestyle -- 70kg

GOLD:  Rasul DZHUKAEV (RUS) df. Said DADASHPUR (IRI), 9-2
BRONZE: Rasul ARSANALIEV df. Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (RUS), 16-12
BRONZE: Israil KASUMOV df. Rasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS), 8-4

Semifinal: Said DADASHPUR (IRI) df. Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (RUS), 10-9
Semifinal: Rasul DZHUKAEV (RUS) df. Rasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS), 6-5

Women's Wrestling -- 48kg

GOLD: Valentina ISLAMOVA (RUS) df. Elena VOSTRIKOVA (RUS), 7-2
BRONZE: Yu MIYAHARA (JPN) df. Zhasmin MIAN (CAN), TK
BRONZE: Bavmbazaya TSOGBATOR df. Alina MOREVA (RUS), 5-4

Semifinal: Valentina ISLAMOVA (RUS) df. Zhasmin MIAN (CAN) by FALL
Semifinal: Elena VOSTRIKOVA (RUS) df. Alina MOREVA (RUS) by FALL

Women's Wrestling -- 53kg

GOLD: Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) df. Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL), 4-3 
BRONZE: Nomin-Erdene BATBAATAR (MGL) df. Tatyana NOVICH (RUS) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE: Ekaterina GONCHAR (BLR) df. Anri KIMURA (JPN) by FALL at 6:00

Semifinal:  Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. Ekaterina GOCHAR (BLR), 9-8
Semifinal:  Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) df. Nomin-Erdene BATBAATAR (MGL), 3-2

Women's Wrestling -- 63kg

GOLD: Sorozonbold BATTSETSEG (MGL) df. Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) by FALL
BRONZE: Anastasia GRIGORIEVA (LAT) df. PRONTSEVITCH (RUS), 7-2
BRONZE:  MAMASHUK (BLR) df. Irina BOGDANOVA (RUS), 7-0 

Semifinal: Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) df. Irina BOGDANOVA (RUS) by FALL
Semifinal: Sorozonbold BATTSETSEG (MGL) df. Anastasia GRIGORIEVA (LAT) by TF, 10-0

Women's Wrestling -- 75kg

GOLD: Erica WEIBE (CAN) df. Alena STARODUBTSEVA (RUS), 3-2
BRONZE: Alena AFANASIEVA (RUS) df. Naranchimeg GELEGZAMTS (MGL), 8-2
BRONZE: Ekaterina BUKINA(RUS) via  No Match

Semifinal: Alena STARODUBTSEVA (RUS) df. Naranchimeg GELEGZAMTS (MGL) by FALL
Semifinal: Erica WEIBE (CAN) df. Vasilisa MARZALYUK (RUS), TK