#BudaWrestle2018

Russia Goes 3-for-3 in Quarterfinals, Aleksanyan Rallies to Reach Semifinals

Saturday, October 27, 2018 - 13:35 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 27) -- Russia went 3-for-3 in the Greco-Roman quarterfinals on Saturday, advancing Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (77kg), Musa EVLOEV (97kg) and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg) to the semifinals at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

After winning his first match, the 32-year-old Chekhirkin faced a tough round to the semifinals at 77kg. In his second match he battled returning world champion Viktor NEMES (SRB) and prevailed 2-1. He then blanked two-time world bronze medalist Elvin MURSALIYEV (AZE) 3-0 in the quarterfinals at 77kg. 

Evloev, a returning world silver medalist, picked up victories over Kyrgyzstan and Iran to reach the 97kg quarterfinals against Luillys PEREZ MORA (VEN). The Russian captilized on a first-period passivity and locked up a throw for two points to give him a 3-0 lead. The score would remain that way the rest of the match, giving Evloev a spot in the semifinals.

The Olympic bronze medalist Semenov threw Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) in his quarterfinal match to earn a second-period fall. 

Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) remains on track in his quest for his fourth world title to go along with an Olympic gold in 2016, but it didn't come without a scare. After opening with a 5-1 win over Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA), Aleksanyan faced Felix BALDAUF (NOR) in his next match. 

Baldauf dominated Aleksanyan in the early part of the match and took a 6-0 lead into the break. But the Armenian star came back late, using a pinch headlock to score four points and cut the deficit to 6-4. He then scored with three consecutive gut wrenches to build a four-point lead and grab a 10-6 win. In the quarterfinals, Aleksanyan trailed Revazi NADAREISHVILI (GEO) 1-0 at the break but came back to win 4-3. 

Aleksanyan will face Evloev in the semifinals at 97kg. The other semifinal at 97kg will pit Kiril MILOV (BUL) against Mihail KAJALA (SRB).

Milov was impressive in the quarterfinals, using two throws in the first minute to roll to a 9-0 technical fall over Laokratis KESIDIS (GRE). Milov first threw Kesidis for five points before using a headlock to close out the technical fall. Kajala controlled Ondrej DADAK (CZE) 5-1 in the quarterfinals.

At 130kg, two-time world champion Heiki NABI (EST) made a strong run to the semifinals, beating three-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) 2-1 in his first match before punching his ticket to the semifinals with a 2-1 win over Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI) in the quarterfinals to set up a semifinal match against Semenov. 

Adam COON (USA), a past junior world bronze medalist, advanced to the semifinals at 130kg with three falls. In the quarterfinals, Coon came back to earn a fall over Eduard POPP (GER). Popp led 3-1 late in the opening period before Coon used a body lock to throw Popp to his back for a fall. The American now meet Minseok KIM (KOR) in the semifinals. Kim scored a takedown with a little over a minute left in the match help him edge Alin CIURARIU (ROU) 3-2.

At 77kg, 2012 Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) used a four-point body lock on his way to an 8-0 technical fall over returning world bronze medalist Fatih CENGIZ (TUR) in the quarterfinals. His opponent in the semifinals will be Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), a 2012 Olympic silver medalist and two-time world bronze medalist. The Hungarian blanked Bilan NALGIEV (UZB) 3-0 in the quarterfinals, scoring all three of his points off passivity.

Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) edged Igor BESLEAGA (MDA) 4-4 on criteria in a quarterfinal match at 77kg. Kessidis trailed 1-0 at the break but came out with a four-point throw early in the second period to take a 4-1 lead. The Moldovan mounted a late comeback but Kessidis held on for the win.

Semifinal Matchups

Greco-Roman

77kg
Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) vs. Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) 
Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) vs. Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) 

97kg
Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL) vs. Mihail KAJALA (SRB)
Musa EVLOEV (RUS) vs. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)

130kg
Heiki NABI (EST) vs. Sergey SEMENOV (RUS)
Adam COON (USA) vs. Minseok KIM (KOR)
 

#WrestleUlaanbaatar, #OffTheMat

Purevdorj reignites Olympic quest with Ulaanbaatar Open gold

Friday, June 20, 2025 - 09:31 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 18) -- The last time Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) wrestled in front of home crowd in Ulaanbaatar, she was one of the top wrestlers in the world at 62kg.

She was the 2017 world champion and a year before that, she had ended Kaori ICHO's (JPN) 13-year long unbeaten streak at the Ivan Yaryguin Grand Prix. Then in 2018, she won the Asian Championships in Bishkek and the Mongolian Open gold medal in Ulaanbaatar.

Few months later, she failed a dope test at the Asian Games, where she had won the gold medal in 62kg. Her rise turned into a fatal fall and Purevdorj was left to serve the four-year ban. During her long hiatus, Purevdorj focused on personal life.

“I was very sad but I decided to just live and raised my son. I kept myself busy with him,” Purevdorj says. “The most important thing is my mind. It's important to be strong.”

Purevdorj, who still remains Mongolia last world champion in wrestling, made her comeback in 2022 and was part of the Mongolian team to the World Cup. She won silver medal at the Asian Championships in 2023 and qualified for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Seven years since the ban and now in the twilight of her wrestling career, Purevdorj is hoping to reignite the fire to wrestle. She took the first step by winning a gold medal at hte Ulaanbaatar Open. The 31-year-old won in 62kg in front of her family and local fans to once again stamp herself as the best wrestler in Mongolia and even Asia.

"I am wrestling for the second time [first time internationally] this year but it's hard," she says after her gold-medal bout against compatriot and rival Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) who she defeated 11-2 to win the gold medal.

At the Buyant Ukhaa Sport Palace in Ulaanbaatar, Purevdorj is joined by her husband, son and even parents as they watch her wrestle live after a long time. It's not an ideal start for her as she gets hammered 10-0 by Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), a wrestler she has defeated multiple times in her career before.

That's not what Purevdorj or her family expected in the first bout itself. But she runs back to the warm-up hall and prepares for the second bout, this time against Asian champion MANISHA (IND). And Purevdorj looked in form against the Indian, winning via fall. [The 62kg bracket at the Ulaanbaatar Open was a round-robin bracket, hence giving Purevdorj the second chance].

The fall helps Purevdorj get five classification points and a place in the semifinal over Manisha. She will wrestle Ekaterina KOSHKINA (UWW) for a spot in the final. Her son, six years old, keeps cheering every time he sees his mother on the mat.

Koshkina takes Purevdorj to the limits scoring via counters. Still, Purevdorj led 9-7 at the break and both resumed their dynamic wrestling. Purevdorj managed to defend some of the attacks from Koshkina and ultimately won 15-11.

In a high-affair all-Mongolian final at 62kg, Purevdorj put on a defensive masterclass to beat Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL), 11-2, and capture the gold medal.

"I was able to win because I played calmly," she said after the final. "In the first match, I was not good mental state and was not ready. But next match I was better."

Purevdorj celebrated with a few photos with her family and coaches. She looked visibly tired after the four bouts and could use some rest days.

"As I said, it's hard. I am not sure about anything," said Purevdorj, who was wrestling a UWW tournament for the first time since the Paris Games.

Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) celebrating after becoming a world champion in 2017. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

When she began wrestling 17 years ago in Ulaanbaatar after her cousins introduced her to the sport, Purevdorj did not think she will reach this level. So being a world champion makes her feel happy and she is proud that she choose this sport.

“I'm seventh child in my family and only I am a wrestler. My cousins were wrestlers but they stopped soon but I never stopped. I really loved it."

But she regrets not having an Olympic medal. She has been on that stage twice but fell short. In Rio 2016, she lost in the repechage while in Paris, she lost to her long-time rival Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) in the bronze-medal bout.

Now, the only motivation to be at the 2028 Los Angeles is to get an Olympic medal which may complete her journey. A medal will make her the third Mongolian wrestler to win a medal in Women's Wresting.

“I'm not sure about wrestling till Los Angeles. But I'm just trying,” she said. “The last Olympics were so hard for me in my career. I'm trying again, and I've started this year. There are many wrestlers in 62kg who are better but I have to train more.”