#Yariguin2019

Host Russia Wrestles Eight into Day One Finals of Ivan Yariguin

Thursday, January 24, 2019 - 15:40 By Eric Olanowski

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KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 24) - The Russian Federation dominated the opening day of the “Toughest Tournament in the World,” Ivan Yariguin, and qualified eight wrestlers for the finals at each of the opening day’s three freestyle and four women’s wrestling weight categories. 

The reason the Yariguin is often referred to as the “Toughest Tournament in the World” is that the road to the finals often travels through a world medalist or sees several Russian-on-Russian showdowns. 

That was the case for two-time world champion Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS), who will square off against Mongolia’s two-time world bronze medalist and Rio Olympian GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL) for the 70kg gold medal. 

To make it to Ganzorig, Gazimagomedov shutout a young but hard-nosed 2018 world runner-up Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS), 6-0, in his opening round match. He then breezed past America’s Jason CHAMBERLAIN (USA), 10-0, before running into the buzzsaw that is U23 world runner-up David BAEV (RUS). 

Baev, the Alans champion, fought the reigning world champion for everything that he had and nearly picked up the upset victory, but Gazimagomedov squeaked out the 2-2 criteria win. 

It wasn’t easy, though. Baev scored an inactivity point in the opening period and controlled the narrow 1-0 lead heading into the final 3 minutes. Gazimagomedov struck first in the closing period and gained the 2-1 advantage. With under a minute to go, Gazimagomedov knew that he could not give up a takedown, but could risk giving up a step out and still win on criteria, which he did and put himself into the finals for a second straight year. 

Though he does have two world titles, Gazimagomedov has yet to win a Yariguin title.


Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) defeated two world medals on the opening day of the Yariguin to make the 57kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

At 57kg, Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) stunned back-to-back world medalists on his way to the finals.

In the quarterfinals, Magomedov commanded a 12-6 lead over 2017 Thomas GILMAN (USA) before planting him on his back for the fall.

It was in the second period when Gilman scored a takedown to cut Magomedov’s lead to 10-6. The American tried to score an another two with a gut wrench, but the Russian stopped him in his tracks and scored the fall with under 30 seconds left in the final period. 

Magomedov then upset two-time world bronze medalist ERDENEBAT Bekhbayar (MGL), 3-3, to reach the Yariguin finals for the first time in his career. 

Erdenbat, a 2016 Olympian, ended the first period with a step out and a takedown and led 3-0 heading into the second period. 

The final period is when Magomedov jump-started his motor and increased his attack rate. Mogomedov cut the lead to 3-1 with a step out and later scored the match-winning takedown with under a minute left to win the match on criteria, 3-3. 

He’ll wrestle fellow Russian Muslim SADULAEV (RUS) in tomorrow night’s finals. 


Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS) will wrestle one of two non-Russian freestyle finalists, Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU), for the 65kg gold medal. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

At 61kg, U23 world champion Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS) bounced back to his winning ways and made the Yariguin finals after a disappointing fifth-place finish at December’s Alans. 

Idrisov, the reigning Russian National champion at this weight, was one match away from representing Russia at the world but fell to eventual world runner-up Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) in a special wrestle-off at the Poland Open. 

Idrisov’s picked up a 5-2 quarterfinals win over Ramazan FERZALIEV (RUS) and an 8-2 thrashing over Mongolia’s GANSUKH Otgonbaatar (MGL) to set up a finals meeting with Romania’s Nikolai OKHLOPKOV, who is one of only two non-Russian freestyle wrestlers to make the day two finals. 

A quick side-note regarding Idrisov, he’s the older brother of 2018 junior world champion Akhmed IDRISOV (RUS). 

 
Japan will meet Russia for each of the four gold medals on the second day of competition at the Ivan Yariguin. (Photo: Sachko Hotaka) 

In women’s wrestling, Japan and Russia will go toe-to-toe for all four of the day two gold medals. 

There were traditional brackets at 50kg and 65kg, and round-robin brackets at 55kg and 59kg. 

In the first traditional bracket at 50kg, after her seventh Yariguin appearance, Anzhelika VETOSHKINA (RUS) finally broke down the barrier and made it to her first Yariguin finals. The two-time Yariguin bronze medalist will take on Japan’s four-time age-level world champion Kika KAGATA (JPN) in the 50kg gold-medal bout. 

Tomorrow’s finals are Kagata’s fifth straight finals appearance at a senior-level competition, but she’s looking to reach the top of the podium for the first time since winning the 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial. She has very few blemishes on her record, but most of them come within the past year after dropping the finals of the Beat the Streets, World University Championships, and the Japan Championship. 

The finals of the second tradition bracket, 65kg, will feature Yariguin rookies, Misuzu ENOMOTO (JPN) and Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS). 

In the round-robin bracket finals, Nao TANIYAMA (JPN) and Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS), who both went undefeated, will fight for the 55kg gold medal, and undefeated wrestlers Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) and Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) will meet in the 59kg gold-medal bout. 

Freestyle 

57kg 
GOLD - Muslim SADULAEV (RUS) vs. Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Wanhao ZOU (CHN) vs. Lkhangarmaa NARMANDAKH (MGL)
 BRONZE - Winner 101 vs. Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL)

61kg 
GOLD - Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS) vs. Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU)
BRONZE - Ramazan FERZALIEV (RUS) vs. Otgonbaatar GANSUKH (MGL)
BRONZE - Winner 84 vs. Eduard GRIGORIEV (RUS)

70kg 
GOLD - Mandakhnaran GANZORIG (MGL) vs. Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS)
BRONZE -  Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL) vs. Askhat SLYAMKHANOV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Winner 68 vs. David BAEV (RUS)


Women’s Wrestling 

50kg 
GOLD - Kika KAGATA (JPN) vs. Anzhelika VETOSHKINA (RUS) 
BRONZE - Dauletbike YAKHSHIMURATOVA (UZB) vs. Anudari NANDINTSETSEG (MGL)
BRONZE - Elena VOSTRIKOVA (RUS) vs. Victoria Lacey ANTHONY (USA)

55kg
GOLD - Nao TANIYAMA (JPN) vs. Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS)
BRONZE - Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) vs. Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS)

59kg 
GOLD - Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) vs. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS)
BRONZE - Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) vs. SADRADDINOVA Zelfira (RUS)

65kg
GOLD - Misuzu ENOMOTO (JPN) vs. Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS)
BRONZE - SALIKHOVA Dinara (RUS) vs. Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL)
BRONZE - Yulia PRONTSEVITCH (RUS) vs. Forrest Ann MOLINARI (USA)

#WrestleAthens

U17 Worlds: U.S. wins 3 golds to shock Iran for FS team title

Sunday, August 3, 2025 - 16:32 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (August 3) -- Three gold medals for the United States and Iran's incredible choke on Sunday saw the U.S. defend its Freestyle team title at the World U17 Championships in Athens, Greece.

Going into the final day, Iran needed to win one bout out of four it had wrestlers in to claim the title irrespective of U.S. results. On the other hand, U.S. needed to win all its four bouts, including two head-to-head finals, and hope that Iran loses all its other matches as well.

That is exactly what transpired on the mat as U.S. put on an inspired show and won three gold and one bronze medal to reach 154 points. Iran finished with 150 points after its three loses in the finals and one in a bronze-medal bout.

Kazakhstan managed to pip Azerbaijan by one point and finish third with 91 points. Azerbaijan finished fourth 90 points and Japan got 79 points and finished fifth.

On Saturday, Ariah MILLS (USA) had won one gold as well apart from Japan, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and one UWW wrestler winning gold medals.

It began with Keegan BASSETT (USA), who gave hope to U.S. by claiming the gold medal at 45kg, as he pinned Parsa TAHMASBI (IRI) in the final inside the first period.

The first scramble saw the two wrestlers called back to center as neither wrestler was able to break the arm-lock. Bassett got the first takedown to lead 2-0 and then a turn made it 4-0. The American wrestler got another takedown and kept Tahmasbi's back on the mat.

The referees took their time but eventually called the fall, giving Bassett the gold medal at 45kg. Incidentally, its the same weight class his brother Bowen won the world U17 gold medal in 2021.

"Ever since I started wrestling, this was one of my goals to be a world champ," Bassett said. "It feels unbelievable to find a way to do it."

Over the two days he wrestled, Bassett showed how technically sound and physically strong he is at the weight class.

"I wrestled pretty good overall. First match was a little rough; nerves, and it was my first match in about three months," he said. "But I think I got better overall as the weekend went on and that's what I needed."

Four years ago, he was in Budapest watching Bowen win the gold medal in similar fashion as he pinned his opponent in the final. Keegan recalled that day.

"I definitely had that in mind going into this," he said. "Four years, that's unreal. I was there for him when he won in Budapest. I cried then, I cried now. It's just means so much. We work so hard and it's just truly such a surreal moment."

Samuel SANCHEZ (USA)Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) scores the gold winning takedown against Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) in the 51kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Samuel SANCHEZ (USA), a returning world champion facing another returning world champion Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB), consolidated U.S. position by winning a thrilling 51kg final.

Rashidov was put on the passivity clock in the first period which gave Sanchez a 1-0 lead. He tried to score a go-behind and was awarded two points in the sequence. The U.S. challenged the decision and on review, it was clear that Rashidov never passed behind Sanchez and the two points were removed.

Sanchez came out attacking in the second period and got on a single-leg attack. Rashidov got his best defense of the match and defended that attack. Soon, Sanchez was put on the clock but he got the takedown on the edge with another leg attack to lead 3-0 and also got the activity time removed .

While Rashidov did get a front headlock turn in the final five seconds, Sanchez did not let him another and planted Rashidov's back on the mat for two more points as the time expired.

"I knew he was going to be a tough opponent," Sanchez said. "I got a little tired in the match, but I  kept going, kept digging deep and going through it. I got a couple shots but wasn't able to finish. But my last shot, I was able to take him out of bounce and get the two-point takedown."

Sanchez now has two gold medals at the World U17 Championships, having won at 45kg last year.

"This year I was definitely better than I was last year at controlling my opponent and moving him around," he said. "Not letting them on my legs as much. Last year, I was down like 5-0 in the finals. This year, didn't take me down."

Jayden JAMES (USA)Jayden JAMES (USA) defeated Arsham VAHABIAN (IRI), 9-2, in the 71kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Jayden JAMES (USA) put the U.S. closer to the title as he humbled Arsham VAHABIAN (IRI), 9-2, in the 71kg.

Vahabian was looking for his leg attacks but they never came as James showed some of the best defense of the night. He countered and scored a takedown. That remained the theme of the match as James kept going and did not even return to his corner during the break.

Soon, James had Vahabian broken and he ended the bout as Vahabian tried to pull of a headpinch. The win made U.S. go to 139 points while Iran was on 130 points.

In the 92kg bronze medal bout, Tanner HODGINS (USA) rallied to beat Elguja LOMIDZE (GEO), 10-0, and took the final tally of U.S. to 154 points.

David DZEBISOV (UWW)David DZEBISOV's (UWW) win over Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI) in the 92kg final indirectly helped the U.S. win the team title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

It was now on Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI), who needed to win his 92kg final, a win which would have propelled Iran to 155 points and the team title.

But David DZEBISOV (UWW) ruined that party. Dzebisov defeated Alizadeh 6-2 in the 92kg final to deny Iran and earn a world title for himself.

Dzebisov scored the first takedown to lead 2-0 but Alizadeh fired one back on the second period to make it 2-2 and lead on criteria. He went into defense mode after that.

He, however, got caught in a tangle with Dzebisov who managed to finish on top and score two points and a lead of 4-2. There was only desperation from Alizadeh after that as he gave up two more points to drop the final 6-2.

In the only final in which neither Iran nor the U.S. featured, SITENDER (IND) won India's first Freestyle gold medal by beating Rihito HIURA (JPN) in the 60kg final.

A takedown masterclass saw Sitender break Hiura to the core and he was not able to finish his attacks nor defend the ones from Sitender.

The gold was first in Freestyle for India at U17 Worlds since 2022 and only the second time ever that the country had gold medals in all three styles.

USAThe 10 United States Freestyle wrestlers with the champion's team trophy. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Keegan BASSETT (USA) df. Parsa TAHMASBI (IRI), via fall (6-0)

BRONZE: Mirjalol MUKAMMILOV (UZB) df. Arnur NURSAIDOV (KGZ), 4-4
BRONZE: Ibragim VELIULLOV (UWW) df. Bakdaulet AGABEK (KAZ), 9-2

51kg
GOLD: Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) df. Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB), 5-2

BRONZE: Danael ABDYKASSYM (KAZ) df. Temuri TUTARASHVILI (GEO), 9-4
BRONZE: Dzhamal BAKAEV (UWW) df. Haruku SHIINA (JPN), 12-5

60kg
GOLD: SITENDER (IND) df. Rihito HIURA (JPN), 9-4

BRONZE: Hasan HASANOV (AZE) df. Nathan NASH (CAN), 5-4
BRONZE: Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ) df. Arian MEHRALIZADEH (IRI), 9-0

71kg
GOLD: Jayden JAMES (USA) df. Arsham VAHABIAN (IRI), 9-2

BRONZE: Ayubjon BOZORZODA (TJK) df. Jason KEIL (GER), 6-0
BRONZE: Yeghishe MOSESYAN (ARM) df. Farrukhbek JUMANAZAROV (UZB), 7-6

92kg
GOLD: David DZEBISOV (UWW) df. Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI), 6-2

BRONZE: Tanner HODGINS (USA) df. Elguja LOMIDZE (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE: Said PASHAYEV (AZE) df. Beibarys YERGALI (KAZ), 5-3