KRASNOYARSK, Russia (26 January) – Last September, Russia was the only country to qualify all six weight categories in a single style at the world championships in Las Vegas when it received medal-winning performances from its six entries in freestyle.

And, having qualified their country for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, these six wrestlers, along with most of the other 102 “qualifiers” from Las Vegas, begin the arduous task of securing their tickets for Rio over the next three months.[[{"fid":"7676","view_mode":"wysiwyg","type":"media","link_text":null,"attributes":{"height":800,"width":1200,"style":"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;","class":"media-element file-wysiwyg"}}]]

Events have already been held this month in Finland, Iran, Russia and Croatia, but for many of the other Rio hopefuls, the process begins this weekend in one of six wrestling tournaments being held around the world – including Brazil, the United States and Turkey.

Leading this crowded schedule of mat madness is the midwinter freestyle classic in Krasnoyarsk -- the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix. 

World champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) and bronze medalist Viktor LEBEDEV (RUS) lead Russia’s freestyle hopefuls into Ivan Yarygin Sports Palace for three days of competition.

But, four other “qualifiers” from Las Vegas -- 2014 world champions Soslan RAMONOV (65kg) and Abdusalam GADISOV (97kg) as well as Aniuar GEDUEV (74kg) and Bilyal MAKHOV (125kg) have reportedly decided to sit out and begin their Olympic quest at a later date.

Their absence, however, opens the door for others -- most notably,  defending Yarygin champion Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS), considered by many the favorite at 74kg.

Challenges, however, could come from Khetik TSABALOV and Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV, world champions at the non-Olympic category of 70kg the last two years.  Both are moving up for their chance at the brass ring to Rio.

And, of course, there is always three-time world champion Denis TSARGUSH, but the London 2012 bronze medalist remains a question mark.

The Yarygin Grand Prix has also regularly attracted some of the top wrestlers from abroad and this year’s field will include world champions Kyle SNYDER (USA) and, quite possibly, Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) as the Italian team makes their first visit to Krasnoyarsk.[[{"fid":"7607","view_mode":"wysiwyg","type":"media","link_text":null,"attributes":{"height":800,"width":1200,"style":"width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;","class":"media-element file-wysiwyg"}}]]

If Chamizo enters at 65kg, he would join a field featuring defending champion Ilyas BEKBULATOV (RUS), Pan American Games gold medalist Brent METCALF (USA) and November’s Golden Grand Prix winner Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) and GGP runner-up Logan STIEBER (USA). 

And, at 97kg, there has been speculation that Sadulaev might move up to heavyweight for a showdown of world champions with Snyder. But indications from Russian sources suggest that Sadulaev will be at 86kg.

Meanwhile, in the women’s events, world champion Natalia VOROBIEVA (69kg) reportedly will be another no-show in Krasnoyarsk. The London 2012 gold medalist is headed to Rio de Janiero for in an Olympic Games test event this weekend.

But the marquee name for the women in Krasnoyarsk will be three-time Olympic Games gold medalist Kaori ICHO (JPN), seeking her fourth Yarygin title. Icho will be joined by 2014 world champion Chiho HAMADA (53kg) and two-time junior world champ Masako FURUICHI (69kg).

Two-time Olympic Games medalist Gouzel MANYUROVA (KAZ) heads up a strong delegation from Kazakhstan with an eye on the Asian qualifier for Rio 2016 in March. Manyurov won a silver medal at Athens 2004 for Russia, then grabbed a bronze for Kazakhstan at London 2012.

The main qualification process for Rio 2016 gets under way with Pan American qualification meet, March 4-6, and concludes with the second world qualifier in Istanbul, May 6-8.

Schedule for the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix at Ivan Yarygin Sports Palace:

Thursday, January 28
16:30-17:30 – Medical Examination & Weigh-in: FW 48, 58, 60, 69kg; FS 57, 74kg

Friday, January 29
10:00-14:00 – Elimination rounds: FW 48, 58, 60, 69kg; FS 57, 74kg
16:30-17:30 – Medical Examination & Weigh-in: FW 53, 55, 63, 75kg; FS 61, 86, 125kg
17:00-18:00 – Repechage: FW 48, 58, 60, 69kg; FS 57, 74kg
18:00-18:45 – Opening Ceremony
18:45-20:39 – Finals & Awards Ceremonies: FW 48, 58, 60, 69kg; FS 57, 74kg

Saturday, January 30
10:00-14:00 – Elimination rounds: FW 53, 55, 63, 75kg; FS 61, 86, 125kg
16:30-17:30 – Medical Examination & Weigh-in: FS 65, 70, 97kg
17:00-18:00 – Repechage: FW 53, 55, 63, 75kg; FS 61, 86, 125kg
18:30-20:30 – Finals & Awards Ceremonies: FW 53, 55, 63, 75kg; FS 61, 86, 125kg

Sunday, January 31
10:00-14:00 – Elimination Rounds & Repechage: FS 65, 70, 97kg
15:30-17:00 – Finals & Awards Ceremonies: FS 65, 70, 97kg
17:30-18:30 – Closing Ceremony