#Yariguin2019

Russia Crowns Quartet of Freestyle Champions on Day Four, Sweeps Ivan Yariguin

Sunday, January 27, 2019 - 16:58 By Eric Olanowski

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KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 27) – Russia closed out the final day of wrestling at the Ivan Yariguin with four gold medals and swept the freestyle competition, winning all ten gold medals. 

Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS), Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS), Magomed KURBANOV (RUS), and Shamil MUSAEV (RUS) were the quartet of Russian Day Four champions.

Zaurbek Sidakov, the reigning world champion, clinched a late 5-4 come-from-behind victory, edging Yakup GOR (TUR), the two-time world medalist, and kept Russia’s hopes of sweeping the freestyle competition alive. 

The Russian hit a slide by and led 2-0 before surrendering four points to trail 4-2. 

In the exchange that put the four-time Yariguin finalist behind, Sidakov shucked the Turkish wrestler by and nearly scored his second takedown of the match, but couldn’t get Gor’s knee to touch the match, therefore the takedown was never awarded. 

Sidakov worked to get Gor’s knee down to the mat but slipped off the right side of his Turkish opponent and handed him the 2-2 criteria lead. 

Gor held onto the bottom leg of Sidakov and turned him to his back, nearly picking up the fall and extended his lead to 4-2. 

But Sidakov, being the world-class wrestler that he is,  remained composed and fought back, forcing a step out to close Gor’s lead to 4-3. With under a minute remaining in the final period, Sidkov capitalized on a high crotch and gained the 5-4 advantage,  ultimately winning his second Yariguin title and first since 2016. 

The 86kg gold-medal bout was cut short and Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) was awarded the 12-1 technical superiority victory over the obviously hurt Fatih ERDIN (TUR). 

Kurugliev transition from a Russian tie to an unconventional left-handed high crotch led 2-0 in the first period. The Russian took a second shot and hurt the right knee of the Turkish returning Yariguin and world finalist. 

Before the takedown was awarded, Erdin attempted to notify the ref that he was hurt with an apparent right knee injury. But the ref didn’t stop the match, and with Erdin laying limp on the mat, Kurugliev scored the takedown and put together four gut wrenches to seal the match, 12-1. 

Magomed KURBANOV (RUS) went 4-0 on the weekend and won the 92kg round-robin tournament, but it was Shamil MUSAEV’s (RUS) back-and-forth 11-9 victory over Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) in the 97kg finals that provided Russia with their tenth freestyle gold medal of the tournament.

Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) and Hiroe MINAGAWA SUZUKI (JPN) claimed the final pair of women’s wrestling gold medals on the fourth and final day of competition in Krasnoyarsk. 

Mensah-stock scored a first-period fall over Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) in the 72kg gold-medal bout and became the first American wrestler in any style to win three Yariguin titles. 

Mensah grabbed an early takedown, then dumped Kagami to her back for the 6-0 lead, then picked up the fall at 2:34 of the opening period to reach the top of the podium at the Ivan Yariguin for the third consecutive year.

Hiroe MINAGAWA SUZUKI (JPN) won the battle of world medalists against Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) and handed Japan their third gold medal of the competition. 

Minagawa Suzuki, the two-time world bronze medalist, trailed 1-0 after giving up an inactivity point in the opening three minutes of the 76kg finals but outscored Marzaliuk, the 2017 world runner-up, 3-0 in the closing period to win her first Yariguin title. 

RESULTS 

Freestyle

Team Scores

GOLD - Russia (250 points)
SILVER - Mongolia (118 points) 
BRONZE - Turkey (83 points) 
FOURTH - United States (64 points) 
FIFTH - China (53 points) 

74kg 
GOLD - Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) df. Yakup GOR (TUR), 5-4 

BRONZE - Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) df. Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB), 4-3 
BRONZE - Azamat NURYKAU (BLR) df. Timur BIZHOEV (RUS), 7-3

86kg 
GOLD - Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) df. Fatih ERDIN (TUR), 12-1 

BRONZE - Vladislav VALIEV (RUS) df. Shota SHIRAI (JPN), via inj. def. 
BRONZE - Uitumen ORGODOL (MGL) df. Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB), via fall 

97kg  
GOLD - Shamil MUSAEV (RUS) df. Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR), 11-9 

BRONZE - Igor OVSIANNIKOV (RUS) df. Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL), 4-1 
BRONZE - Baki SAHIN (TUR) df. Namkhai BATDORJ (MGL), via fall 

Women’s Wrestling

Team Scores

GOLD - Russia (191 points)
SILVER - Mongolia (153 points) 
BRONZE - Japan (145 points) 
FOURTH - United States (79 points) 
FIFTH - Uzbekistan (57 points) 

72kg  
GOLD - Tamyra Mariama MENSAH (USA) df. Yuka KAGAMI (JPN), via fall (3:16) 

BRONZE - OCHIRBAT Nasanburmaa (MGL) df. Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB), via fall
BRONZE - Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) df. Tatiana KOLESNIKOVA MOROZOVA (RUS), 8-4

76kg 
GOLD - Hiroe MINAGAWA SUZUKI (JPN) df. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR), 3-1

BRONZE - Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) df. Mabelkis CAPOTE PEREZ (CUB), via fall 
BRONZE - Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Shakhribonu ELLIEVA (UZB), 12-2 

#WrestleTirana

Sadulaev shuts down Taylor in World Championships showdown

Wednesday, October 30, 2024 - 11:59 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (October 30) -- Two-time world champion at 92kg Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) would have expected his return to the World Championships to make all the noise in Tirana. After all, it had been two years since he last competed at the World Championships.

Enter Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) and David TAYLOR (USA). The former, who last won the world title in 2021, was not able to compete at the Paris Olympics and was injured during the semifinal of the 2023 World Championships.

Taylor, world champion in 2023, missed the Paris Olympics after losing the trials in the United States, announced his retirement and took a coaching job. He came out of retirement and decided to compete at the World Championships and retire.

Both are not 92kg wrestlers. Sadulaev has been a true 97kg for eight years now. Taylor is competing at this weight for the first time after dominating 86kg for years. But the two were pitted against each other in the opening round of the World Championships in Tirana at 92kg.

The small Feti Borova Sports Hall in Tirana did not have space to sit. So where one could, they stood to watch the two wrestle. Saudulaev in a singlet not meant for his 92kg body. Taylor, in his customary elbow on the thigh and waiting for his opponent.

No one knew what was going to happen. Sadulaev was reducing weight, and Taylor was gaining. How would the two match up? It was this lack that prompted the fans to cheer for both. But after the first period, the picture became much clearer. Sadulaev shut down Taylor's offense and came out of the pressure bout 7-0.

After the initial collar ties, Taylor went for the offense. He got on Sadulaev's leg and tried the lift but Sadulaev was swift to get out of the hold. Taylor continued his attack. That's the only way he knows wrestling. Taylor took another offensive shot and Sadulaev, with lessons from the previous attack, pressured forward to neutralize the attack and scored a go-behind for two. Sadulaev resorted to heavy snapdowns and Taylor wasn't able to defend the second one. Within two minutes, Sadulaev was up 4-0.

The speed and power was Sadulaev was impressively superior to that of Taylor who decided to change a little in the second period. He went for the far leg of Sadulaev. But Sadulaev was quick and spun behind Taylor and scored a takedown with less than two minutes left.

By this time, Ghasempour had finished his bout on the other mat. He defeated Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) 6-0 in a rather slow bout.

Sadulaev now had to defend his 5-0 lead. Taylor continued his aggressive approach and got on Sadulaev's right leg. What he did not expect was the quick counter from Sadulaev who pushed Taylor and scored an exposure for two. It was evident that Taylor could not match Sadulaev.

David TAYLOR (USA)David TAYLOR (USA) in the warm-up hall after his bout against Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) at 92kg in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

"I did not score on the two times I shot and he did," Taylor said after the bout. "That was the difference. I needed to score on those two occasions."

Taylor and Sadulaev went to the warm-up hall but the former sat for more than 45 minutes in silence. He finally broke his silence and talked to the United States coaches after his leg attacks. After spending 30 more minutes gathering his thoughts, Taylor packed his bags and left.

On the training mats, Ghasempour and Sadulaev jogged before cooling down after their bouts. If both continue to win, they are expected to meet in the semifinals.

The match will be rather important for Taylor as well. He will hope for a Sadulaev win which will give him the chance to wrestle for the bronze medal.

"I expect him to make the finals and come back tomorrow," Taylor said. "I need to wrestle better that is my focus for now."

If he does wrestle Thursday, fans will only be treated to another blockbuster. A Ghasemoour-Taylor bout. The only downside will be that one will go home empty-handed.