#Yariguin2019

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

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 

#WrestleTirana

Three nations aim to get first Greco U23 world champs

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 21) -- Kyrgyzstan, the United States and Uzbekistan will stand a chance to crown their first-ever U23 world champion in Greco-Roman.

It was after the countries had one finalist each on day one of the U23 World Championships that kicked off in Tirana, Albania on Monday.

The United States and Uzbekistan have already had a historical day, confirming their first-ever U23 World Championships medals in Greco-Roman. Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) reached the 82kg final while Alisher GANIEV (UZB) made it to the 55kg final. Both countries had fifth as their best finishes before Monday in the history of the U23 Worlds, which came into existence only in 2017.

Kyrgyzstan will be banking on Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) to win the first Greco-Roman gold medal at U23 Worlds after he reached the 67kg final. Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) is the only other Greco wrestler to reach the final in 2019 but lost.

Georgia and Armenia were the only countries with two finalists on day one of the tournament. Surprisingly, Iran managed only one finalists out of the five weight classes that were in action.

Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) tries to complete at throw. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) and Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) were the two finalists for Georgia at 67kg and 72kg respectively. Both had finished with silver medals at the U20 World Championships in 2021 but will look to win the gold together on Tuesday.

Chkhikvadze defeated Daniial AGAEV (AIN), 4-4, in the semifinal with a correct throw in the last minute to take two points and a criteria lead. He will now take on Beishekeev who defeated Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) 10-0 to win the other semifinal.

Giorgi was in much more control of his 7-0 win over Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) in the semifinal and will now take on Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM). The two had met in the semifinals of the U20 World Championships in 2021 and Giorgi won that meeting.

Khachatryan took no time to see off Georgios BARBANOS (SWE) 9-0 in the semifinal, his fourth technical superiority in the tournament, including a fall over Danial SOHRABI (IRI).

The second Armenian to reach the final was Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) at 97kg after he held off senior European silver medalist Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) 3-3 in the semifinal. Both exchanged par terre and one turn in gut-wrench but Khloyan performed it in the second period, keeping the criteria to him.

He will face Paris Olympian Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) in the final. Khaslakhanau won his semifinal Richard KARELSON (EST), 2-1.

Beka MELELASHVILI (USA)Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) confirmed the U.S. first ever Greco medal at U23 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The U.S. has already achieved its best result ever in U23 Worlds in Greco but Melelashvili would look to make it golden on Tuesday. He will face Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) in the final.

Melelashvili wrestled Elmin ALIYEV (AZE) in the semifinal and fell behind 3-0 at the break. But he returned the favor to Aliyev in the second period. Initially not scored, Melelashvili got the two points for a gut wrench after a challenge. Naghousi defeated former U20 world champion Deni NIKAEV (GER), 6-1, in the semifinal.

Ganiev has already won Uzbekistan's first-ever U23 World Championships medal but will look to win one more bout and get his name in history books in golden. He humbled Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) 9-0 in the semifinals and will now face Dinislam BAMMAPTOV (AIN).

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) vs. Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN)

SF 1: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Nihad GULUZADE (AZE), 9-0
SF 2: Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN) df. Pridon ABULADZE (GEO), 4-1

67kg
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) vs. Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL), 10-0
SF 2: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Daniial AGAEV (AIN), 4-4

72kg
GOLD: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) vs. Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df. Georgios BARBANOS (SWE), 9-0
SF 2: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ), 7-0

82kg
GOLD: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) vs. Beka MELELASHVILI (USA)

SF 1: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) df. Deni NAKAEV (GER), 6-1
SF 2: Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) df. Elmin ALIYEV (AZE), 3-3

97kg
GOLD: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) vs. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN)

SF 1: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) df. Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN), 3-3
SF 2: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) df. Richard KARELSON (EST), 2-1