Ivan Yarygin

Russia Bags Sixth Gold; Mensah Repeats

Saturday, January 27, 2018 - 13:48 By Eric Olanowski

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KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 27) – Russia once again swept that finals of the 2018 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix, winning all three weights on the second day of competition. Through the first six weight classes Russian wrestlers have captured 11 of the 12 finals berths.

Ilyas BEKBULATOV kicked off Russia’s gold rush at 65kg besting countrymen and 2017 world bronze medalist Akmed CHAKAEV via criteria, 3-3. Bekbulatov also defeated 2016 world champion, Logan Stieber in the quarterfinals.
Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) took the 79kg title with a commanding victory over Kyle DAKE (USA), 8-2. Dake was the only non-Russian to make the finals in the first day of competition.

At 125kg Muradin KUSHKHOV (RUS) took out Anzor Ruslanovitch KHIZRIEV (RUS) in a 1-1 grind match.

China, Japan and Mongolia each entered day two of women’s wrestling finals with a pair of wrestlers vying for gold.

Yu MIYAHARA (JPN) picked up two takedowns in the second period of the 53kg final terase Stalvira ORSHUSH’s (RUS) 4-0 lead and earn her first Yarygin title via criteria, 4-4.

After the medal ceremony Miyahara said, “My goal coming into the tournament was to come in and show my strength, show that I’ve trained a lot, and show that I have the power to wrestle with the best.”

Qi ZHANG (CHN) entered the 57kg finals looking to give China’s their third gold of the weekend and put a stamp on one of their most impressive team performances in years. Zhang faced a 4-0 deficit against ENKHBAT Gantuya (MGL) who had outscored her opponents 18-2 in her first three matches. Zhang trailed early, but used a late surge from a takedown and two gut wrenches to take the 6-4 victory.

Defending world champions PUREVDORJ Orkhon (MGL) rolled over Kiwa SAKAE (JPN) in the 62kg category, 10-0. Purevdorj’s victory prevented Japan from winning their fourth gold medal of the weekend.

At 68kg Tamyra MENSAH’s (USA) bested Yue HAN (CHN), 3-3 earning her the distinction as the first American to win back-to-back Yarygin titles.

When asked about becoming the first ever American to win two Yarygin titles, Stock “This wasn’t just given to me. I earned every single point that I got out there, so it’s pretty darn sweet.”

FINAL RESULTS
65kg
GOLD - Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) df. Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS), 3-3

BRONZE - Nachyn Sergeevitch KUULAR (RUS) df. Batmagnai BATCHULUUN (MGL), 12-2
BRONZE - Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR) df. Tsogtbaatar DAMDINBAZAR (MGL), 8-1

79kg
GOLD - Akhmed Shiabdinovitch GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Kyle DAKE (USA), 8-2

BRONZE - Radik VALIEV (RUS) df. Muhammet KUTANOGLU (TUR), 10-0
BRONZE - Alan ZASEEV (RUS) df. Rashid KURBANOV (UZB), 9-0

125kg
GOLD - Muradin KUSHKHOV (RUS) df. Anzor Ruslanovitch KHIZRIEV (RUS)

BRONZE - Zolboo NATSAGSUREN (MGL) df. Zachery William REY (USA)
BRONZE - Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) df. Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)

Women’s wrestling
53kg
GOLD - Yu MIYAHARA (JPN) df. Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS), 4-4

BRONZE -  Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS) df. Yujiao LIU (CHN), 4-4
BRONZE -  Natalia MALYSHEVA (RUS) df. Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL), 7-3

57kg
GOLD - Qi ZHANG (CHN) df. Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL), 6-4

BRONZE -  Lianna de la caridad MONTERO HERRERA (CUB) df. Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL), 8-4
BRONZE - Alexandra ANDREEVA (RUS) df. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), 6-6

62kg
GOLD - Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. Kiwa SAKAE (JPN), 10-0
BRONZE - Yaquelin ESTORNELL ELIZASTIGUE (CUB) df. Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ), 7-3
BRONZE -  J Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) df. Juan KANG (CHN), 10-0

68kg
GOLD -  Tamyra mariama MENSAH (USA) df. Yue HAN (CHN), 3-3

BRONZE - Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB) df. Iuliia MAKSIMOVA BARTNOVSKAIA (RUS), 3-0
BRONZE -  Rui XU (CHN) df. Galina BULATOVA (RUS)
 

#WrestleAthens

Uzbekistan closer to Women's Wrestling history at U17 Worlds

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 14:55 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (July 30) --  Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) is on the verge of creating history for Uzbekistan in Athens.

Wrestling at the World U17 Championships on Wednesday, Rakhimjonova became the first wrestler from Uzbekistan to reach the final of U17 Worlds.

 On Thursday, she will try to become the first wrestler to win a gold medal at any World Championships for Uzbekistan in Women's Wrestling.

She reached the 65kg final after beating European silver medalist Feenja HERMANN (GER), 6-1. In her earlier bouts, she had defeated Zuzanna HORBIK (POL), 6-4, and Alexandra MOISEI (MDA), 12-1.

Standing between her and the historic gold medal is Asian U17 champion Ashvini VISHNOI (IND), who was one of India's four finalists on Wednesday.

Vishnoi, who outscored her opponents 41-0 in four bouts, defeated European U17 champion Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW), 7-0, in the semifinal. After a slow start, Vishnoi got two takedowns in the second period, adding to her two stepouts and one passivity point in the match.

Former world U17 champion KAJAL (IND) will get a chance to avenge her loss from Asian Championships after she reached the final against Asian champion Wenjin QIU (CHN) at 73kg.

Qiu had humbled Kajal 10-0 in the final of the Asian U17 Championships a month ago in Vietnam. But if Kajal is in the form she showed on Wednesday, her chances to avenge that loss are high.

She defeated Pan-Am champion Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), 11-0, giving no chance to Poalillo. Kajal hit a couple of double-leg as counters to take down Poalillo.

Qiu pinned Deborah GARCIA (MEX) in the other semifinal when the Mexican tried to outside trip her. Qiu stood her ground and slammed Garcia before securing the fall.

Another Asian U17 Championships final will be replayed on Thursday, at 57kg, as champion MONI (IND) and silver medalist Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) won their respective semifinals and book their spots in the gold-medal bout.

Usmanov used a four-pointer against Sayuki TANADA (JPN) and secured the fall in two minutes and 36 seconds. With the loss of Tanada, Japan was left with only one finalist on Wednesday when five weight classes were in action.

Moni, like she had done all day, kept her defense and scored takedown whenever she could find an opening. After a passivity point, Moni scored three takedown to beat Alina BAROEVA (UWW), 7-0, in the semifinal.

At 43kg, RACHNA (IND) and Xin HUANG (CHN) made it to the final after contrasting wins. Rachna defended her 1-1 criteria lead over Madison HEALEY (USA) to win and make the final, Huang put on a takedown masterclass to beat European champion Raniia RAKHMANOVA (UWW) 8-0.

Turner closer to second world title

She is already a world U17 champion but there has been no lack of motivation for Morgan TURNER (USA) as she chases another at U17 level.

Morgan spent only two minutes and 24 seconds on the mat to win her three bouts on Wednesday and reach the final at 49kg in Athens.

A gold medalist from 2023 and bronze medalist from 2024, Morgan will face Yu KATAOKA (JPN) for the gold on Thursday. Like in typical Japanese style, Kataoka used five different takedowns to win 10-0 in her semifinal against Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW).

Morgan used a cradle to secure a fall over Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW), a returning bronze medalist and European champion.

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD: RACHANA (IND) vs. Xin HUANG (CHN)

SF 1: RACHANA (IND) df. Madison HEALEY (USA), 1-1
SF 2: Xin HUANG (CHN) df. Raniia RAKHMANOV (UWW), 8-0

49kg
GOLD: Morgan TURNER (USA) vs. Yu KATAOKA (JPN)

SF 1: Morgan TURNER (USA) df. Anhelina BURKINA (UWW), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Yu KATAOKA (JPN) df. Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW), 10-0

57kg
GOLD: Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) vs. MONI (IND)

SF 1: Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) df. Sayuki TANADA (JPN), via fall (5-0)
SF 2: MONI (IND) df. Alina BAROEVA (UWW), 7-0

65kg
GOLD: Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) vs. Ashvini VISHNOI (IND)

SF 1: Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) df. Feenja HERMANN (GER), 6-1 
SF 2: Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) df. Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW), 7-0

73kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) vs. Wenjin QIU (CHN)

SF 1: KAJAL (IND) df. Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), 11-0 
SF 2: Wenjin QIU (CHN) df. Deborah GARCIA (MEX), via fall