#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)

#WrestleBudapest

Takahashi marks return from injury with Ranking Series gold

Friday, July 18, 2025 - 20:08 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 18) -- The last memories of Kota TAKHASHI (JPN) on the mat were painful. He had a heavily strapped right knee and was wrestling at the Non-Olympic World Championships in Tirana last year. He was torn.

A surgery and nine months later, Takahashi returned to international wrestling at the Budapest Ranking Series on Friday and captured the 74kg gold medal.

The world U23 champion was the third gold medalist from Japan in Budapest after Takara SUDA (JPN) and Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) won at 61kg and 70kg, respectively.

In the other two weight classes that were in action on Friday, Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) and Trent HIDLAY (USA) captured the gold medal at 86kg and 92kg as Freestyle came to a close at the Ranking Series.

Takahashi, who won the Asian Championships gold in 2024, made himself a gold-medal threat for the World Championships in Zagreb with an impressive performance that saw him score wins over Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) and David CARR (USA).

"This was my first international competition since my right knee surgery, and I wanted to show my true abilities," Takahashi said. "I'm very happy that I was able to win by thoroughly executing my tackles and aggressive wrestling style."

Takahashi was up against Salkazanov in his first match and began by blasting two double-leg attacks to race to a 4-0 lead. But the second period was not the same as he was put on the activity clock and Salkazanov cut the lead with a takedown during that.

Just when it seemed that Salkazanov can take the lead, Takahashi hit a low leg-attack and converted it into takedown to make the gap 6-3. Salkazanov did not let it go and scored a stepout with nine seconds left.

Takahashi was happy to not engage in those nine seconds, and happily gave a stepout and a caution. He won 6-6 and set up a quarterfinal against Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN). He did not need any of those attacks as he managed a 3-0 win.

The semifinal against Carr was a challenging one as Takahashi struggled to keep his conditioning for six minutes. He opened with a stepout and Carr was called for fleeing. As Carr used a chest wrap to stop Takahashi's double-leg attack, he fell on his back with hand opens. Only Takahashi was awarded two points which made his lead 4-0. Two stepouts later, it was 6-0.

Carr got going in the final two minutes as he scored two takedowns inside 20 seconds to make it 6-4. So far, Takahashi had remained low in his stance and cancelled Carr's long reach. However, his defense began to break up.

As Carr tried to turn Takahashi after the second takedown, Takahashi blocked the turn and got two points. Carr scored a reversal to make it 8-5. He then made it 8-7 with 10 seconds remaining but that was the final scoring action of the bout.

"Car is very aggressive, and I am also good at aggressive wrestling, but in the second half, my opponent's attacks were superior to mine. I ended up conceding points," he said. "I think that was my mistake. In the second period, I tried to attack, but the opponent kept attacking repeatedly. I ended up just defending, and that was the reason I lost points. I need to be more aggressive and attack more."

Takahashi's aggressive wrestling was once again on show in the final against another former world U23 champion Magomed KHANIEV (AZE). He scored two takedowns and defending so well that Khaniev was not able to score a point and Takahashi won gold medal, 4-0.

But the Japanese accepted the chinks in his armor and has decided to work on them before the World Championships where he knows that the competition will be even tougher.

"Similar story against Salkazanov. I want to review my stamina to maintain an aggressive attack throughout the six minutes without breaking my stance, and keep solid stance," he said. "In the second half, my desire to attack weakened, and I ended up being attacked by the opponent, leading to them scoring points. I need to improve on that."

Carr returned for the bronze medal bout and defeated Salkazanov 4-4, avenging his previous to the Slovak from Zagreb.

Trent HIDLAY (USA)Trent HIDLAY (USA) defeated Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) 7-2 in the 92kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Trent HIDLAY (USA), a 86kg silver medalist last year in Budapest, upgraded to gold medal after beating world silver medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 7-4, in the 92kg final.

Hidlay was in red-hot form the whole day as he began with a win over Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)  and then posted a 10-0 win over Krizstian ANGYAL (HUN) in the quarterfinal. He began the semifinal against Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) with a powerful double-leg takedown.

As Kurugliev fell, he landed on his knee and suffered an injury so bad that he was unable to walk off the mat. Hidlay reached the final after the injury forced Kurugliev to stop.

It was Maisuradze who opened the scoring in the final with a snapdown to takedown for two points but Hidlay answered with two stepouts and the Georgian led 2-2 on criteria at the break.

Hidlay opened the second period with a takedown to take a 4-2 lead and then continued to put pressure on Maisuradze. It paid off as he scored another takedown on the edge to lead 6-2. Georgia challenged that both wrestlers were already out of the zone and it should be one point. But the challenge was lost, making it 7-2 for Hidlay with 1:47 left on the clock.

That was all in the bout as Hidlay captured the gold and put his name in contention for the gold medal at the upcoming World Championships.

At 86kg, Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) was the gold medalist after European silver medalist Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) pulled out of the final injured.

Kadzimahamedau suffered a knee injury in the semifinal against Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) as the Iranian did not let go off his knee despite it turning more than 90 degrees.

RESULTS

74kg
GOLD: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Magomed KHANIEV (AZE), 4-0

BRONZE: David CARR (USA) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 4-4
BRONZE: Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) df. Yeldos KUANYSHBAY (KAZ), 8-2

86kg
GOLD:  Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) df. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Osman GOCEN (TUR) df. Boris MAKOEV (SVK), 3-2
BRONZE: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) df. Nurzhan ISSAGALIYEV (KAZ), 3-0 

92kg
GOLD: Trent HIDLAY (USA) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 7-4

BRONZE: Benjamin HONIS (ITA) df. Musza ARSUNKAEV (HUN), via fall (5-5)
BRONZE: Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) df. Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE), via inj. def.