#Yariguin2019

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

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

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

#WrestleZagreb

U.S. Wins Four Golds at Zagreb Open; World Champ Valencia Stunned

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 - 22:40 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 4) -- Four months ago, Zahid VALENCIA (USA) seemed untouchable.

He had stunned Arena Zagreb with a victory over Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), eventually cruising to 86kg gold at the 2025 World Championships without conceding a single point.

On Wednesday, Valencia returned to Arena Zagreb, but the script flipped. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), a former world silver medalist at 79kg, blanked the world champion 11-0 at the season-opening Zagreb Open Ranking Series.

While Valencia recovered to claim bronze, it was international debutant Parker KECKEISEN (USA) who rose to the occasion, taking gold after defeating Gamkrelidze.

Zahid VALENCIA (USA), red, tries to fight a gut-wrench against Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Valencia wasn't the only giant to fall during a chaotic Wednesday. Olympic bronze medalist AMAN (IND) was pinned, and Asian champion Takara SUDA (JPN) left without a medal. Meanwhile, world champion Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) missed the top spot, and Georgios KOUGIOUMSTIDIS (GRE) saw his 86kg debut end in the opening round.

Despite the upsets, the United States dominated, winning four of the six available gold medals. Spencer LEE (USA), David CARR (USA), and Austin DESANTO (USA) joined Keckeisen atop the podium.

At 65kg, U23 world champion SUJEET (IND) continued his rise and captured the gold medal in a dominant fashion.

For Iran, the only gold medal came through Sina KHALILI (IRI) who outscored his opponents 42-3 in four bouts.

Parker KECKEISEN (USA) won gold medal at Zagreb Open, his debut international tournament. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Keckeisen's golden debut

While Zahid Valencia was the heavy favorite at 86kg, it was Keckeisen who stole the spotlight. Keckeisen flew under the radar to reach the final after a gritty 9-5 victory over Ali Savadkouhi (IRI).

In the final, Keckeisen entered as the underdog against Gamkrelidze. He maintained a 3-1 lead with under a minute remaining. The match defining moment came when Gamkrelidze scored a stepout and challenged the call, seeking two points instead of one. The lost challenge awarded Keckeisen an extra point, extending his lead to 4-2.

Despite a late stepout from Gamkrelidze with ten seconds left, Keckeisen held on to secure the gold.

With Gamkrelidze making it to the final, Valencia found his form in repechage and won bronze after pinning U17 world champion Abofazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI).

Spencer LEE (USA) scores a takedown before Roman BRAVO YOUNG forfeited the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Lee repeats, Carr shines

Lee repeated as the Zagreb Open champion with a strong performance, just like last year. After dominant wins over Azamat TSUKAEV (SRB) and Fuga SASAKI (JPN), Lee met Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) in the final.

The Olympic bronze medalist opened strong with a takedown and turn, but the match ended prematurely when Bravo-Young forfeited due to injury, handing Lee his second consecutive gold.

Bravo Young was clutching his tapped knee when he got up after the gut-wrench from Lee who helped the Mexican off the mat after enquiring about the injury.

At 74kg, Carr navigated a tactical final against 70kg world champion Aoyagi, who now wrestles at 74kg. Aoyagi led 1-1 on criteria after the two wrestlers exchanged activity points when he was placed on the 30-second activity clock for a second time.

His failure to score put Carr ahead 2-1 with 30 seconds remaining. A desperate late attack by Aoyagi allowed Carr to score a counter takedown, sealing a 4-1 victory.

In September, Carr missed out on a bronze medal bout at the World Championships after losing to Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) in the final five seconds, while Lee was eliminated after losing to Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM).

Austin DESANTO (USA) won the gold medal at 61kg in Zagreb. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Desanto recovers

At 61kg, Desanto recovered after a heartbreaking 11-11 loss to Reza MOMENI (IRI) in the opening bout of the Nordic bracket to win gold. Needing a big win against Aman, Desanto delivered a pin, earning five crucial classification points.

His total of 15 points placed him safely ahead of Momeni, who was mathematically eliminated from gold regardless of his final result against Giorgi GHONIASHVILI (GEO).

Ultimately, DeSanto secured the gold, while Aman took silver, despite being tied with Momeni at 13 points. Aman held the tiebreaker thanks to his head-to-head victory over the Iranian.

SUJEET (IND) tries to finish a takedown on Peyman NEMATI (IRI) in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Sujeet wins gold

U23 World Champion Sujeet continues to demonstrate his growth on the international stage, capturing his second career Ranking Series gold medal.

Sujeet, who took gold in Budapest last year, secured two technical superiority wins over Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) and Joseph MCKENNA (USA) to reach the final. There, he shut out Peyman NEMATI (IRI) with a disciplined 3-0 victory.

In the final, he was put on the activity clock in the first period but responded quickly with a takedown to take a 2-0 lead. When Nemati was placed on the activity clock in the second period, Sujeet extended his lead to 3-0.

Following a series of scoreless scrambles, Sujeet successfully defended his lead until the whistle.

At 70kg, U23 World silver medalist Khalili put on a dominant display in his gold-medal match. Khalili overwhelmed Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO), using a series of gut wrenches to secure a 10-0 technical superiority victory.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Spencer LEE (USA) df. Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX), via inj. def. (4-0)

BRONZE: Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) df. Atish TODKAR (IND), 10-0
BRONZE: Fuga SASAKI (JPN) df. Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB), 4-1

61kg
GOLD: Austin DESANTO (USA)
SILVER: AMAN (IND)
BRONZE: Reza MOMENI (IRI)

65kg
GOLD: SUJEET (IND) df. Peyman NEMATI (IRI), 3-0

BRONZE: Nika ZAKASHVILI (GEO) df. Gamzatgadzhi KHALIDOV (HUN), 11-6
BRONZE: Joseph MC KENNA (USA) df. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), 4-1

70kg
GOLD: Sina KHALILI (IRI) df. Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO), 10-0

BRONZE: ABHIMANYOU (IND) df. Ian PARKER (USA), 6-3
BRONZE: Caleb HENSON (USA) df. Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), 5-4

74kg
GOLD: David CARR (USA) df. Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), 4-1

BRONZE: Seyfulla ITAEV (FRA) df. James GREEN (USA), via fall
BRONZE: Aliakbar FAZLI (IRI) df. Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO), 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Parker KECKEISEN (USA) df. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 4-3

BRONZE: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI), via fall
BRONZE: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) df. Mukul DAHIYA (IND), 6-5

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

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U.S. Wins Four Golds at Zagreb Open; World Champ Valencia Stunned