KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 23) – Though wrestling without many of their top athletes, wrestlers from the Russian Republic took home top billing Friday in four of six contested weights.

Leading the charge was Viktor LEBEDEV (RUS) whose brilliant 7-1 finals victory over burgeoning Russian star Ismail MUSUKAYEV capped a banner day for the wrestler from Yakutsk. The 2010 and 2011 world champion won the 57kg title in front of adoring fans whom he’d impressed all afternoon with acrobatic counters and high-level finishes.

While Lebedev starred on the men’s side, it was Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) whose performance brought the crowd to their feet and reminded local fans of the exalted Ivan Yarygin.

In her 69kg quarterfinal matchup Vorobieva fought off a late double leg of Masako FURUICHI (JPN), reaching around her opponent’s neck and throwing an inside leg hook to land the “Yarygin” – a throw named after the late two-time Olympic champion. And she did so wrestling beneath a 50-foot banner of Yarygin executing the same move.

Though the day was a triumph for the Russians, it didn’t come without controversy. At 74kg Andrew HOWE (USA) was in late on a double leg against Ahmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS), but with the points seemingly locked up the referee stopped the action for an illegal hold. After the American coaches failed to challenge, the match ended 2-2, with Gadzhimagomedov winning by largest technical maneuver.

BAATARZHAV Shoovdor (MGL) was one of two champs to come from outside Russia, dominating the field at 58kg. Baatarzhak was winning 5-0 in the finals against Aysuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) after a four-point throw on the edge that ended the match. The throw caused a gruesome injury to Tynybekova forcing the Asian Championships runner-up to injury default.

Anastasia GUCHOK (BLR) used a quick throw to end the championship run of Svetlana LIPATOVA at 60kg. In the semifinals the Belarusian pinned Zhargalma TSIRENOVA (RUS) while leading 10-0.

Russia’s Olga HOROSHAVETSEVA and rounded out the night’s gold medalist, taking the 53kg title with an 8-3 win over Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN).

Wrestling resumes tomorrow at 10am local time with seven weight classes: Women’s wrestling at 48kg, 55kg, 63kg, 75kg and men’s freestyle at 61kg, 65kg and 70k. Follow the livestream, get results and browse event photos at unitedworldwrestling.org.

Results

Men's Freestyle -- 57kg

GOLD: Viktor LEBEDEV (RUS) df. Ismail MUSUKAYEV (RUS), 7-1
BRONZE: Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) df. Artyom GEBEKOV (RUS), 2-1
BRONZE: Nurgun SKRYABIN (RUS) df. Tcogtbaatar DAMDINBAZAR (MGL), 3-0

Semifinal: Viktor LEBEDEV (RUS) df. Nurgun SKRYABIN (RUS), 6-2
Semifinal: Ismail MUSUKAYEV (RUS) df. Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) byt TF, 11-1

Men's Freestyle -- 74kg

GOLD: Ahmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Andrew HOWE (USA), 2-2 (highest value)
BRONZE: Alexander ZELENKOV (RUS) df. Shamil OSMANOV (RUS), 8-5 
BRONZE: Isa DAUDOV (RUS) df. Boris MAKOYEV (RUS), 13-11

Semifinal: Andrew HOWE (USA) df. Boris MAKOYEV (RUS), 5-2
Semifinal: Ahmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Shamil OSMANOV (RUS), 5-1

Women's Wrestling -- 53kg

GOLD: Olga HOROSHAVETSEVA (RUS) df. Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN), 8-3
BRONZE: Nadezzhda SUSHKO (BLR) df. Irina KUROCHKINA (BLR) by FALL
BRONZE: DAAVASUH (MGL) df. Aizhan ISMAGULOVA (KAZ) by default

Semifinal: Olga HOROSHAVETSEVA (RUS) df. Nadezzhda SUSHKO (BLR), 2-2
Semifinal: Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Aizhan ISMAGULOVA (KAZ), 7-4

Women's Wrestling -- 58kg

GOLD: Shoovdor BAATARZHAV (MGL) df. Aysuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), by Inj. Def. (5-0 at time of injury)
BRONZE: Aiym ABDILDINA (KAZ) df. Daria BOGDANOVA (RUS) by FALL
BRONZE: Michelle FAZARI (CAN) df. Yukako KAWAI (JPN) by TF, 14-4

Semifinal: Aysuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Aiym ABDILDINA (KAZ), 5-0
Semifinal: Shoovdor BAATARZHAV (MGL) df. Michelle FAZARI (CAN), 3-2

Women's Wrestling -- 60kg

GOLD: Anastasia GUCHOK (BLR) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) by FALL
BRONZE: Natalia FEDOSEEVA (RUS) df. Angela FOMENKO (RUS), by FALL
BRONZE: Zhargalma TSIRENOVA (RUS) df. Kharuka SATO (JPN), 3-2

Semifinal: Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) df. Natalia FEDOSEEVA (RUS), 2-2 (last score)
Semifinal: Anastasia GUCHOK (BLR) df. Zhargalma TSIRENOVA (RUS) by FALL, 6:00

Women's Wrestling -- 69kg

GOLD: Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) df. Odonchimeg BADRAK (MGL) by FALL
BRONZE: BURAKOVA (RUS) df. Anastasia SHAVLINKSAJA (RUS), 4-3
BRONZE: Dorothy YEATS (CAN) df. Masako FURUICHI (JPN), 8-6

Semifinal: Odonchimeg BADRAK (MGL) df. Valeriya SUVOROVA (RUS) by TF, 10-0
Semifinal: Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) df. Dorothy YEATS (CAN) by FALL

Livestream: 

ONLINE MAT-A
ONLINE MAT-B
ONLINE MAT-C

SCHEDULE

January 24, Saturday

10:00-14:00 – Preliminary bouts: Female wrestling 48, 55, 63, 75kg; Freestyle 61, 65, 70kg
17:00-17:30 – Weigh-in & Draw: Freestyle 86, 97, 125kg
17:00-18:00 – Repechage: Female wrestling 48, 55, 63, 75kg; Freestyle 61, 65, 70kg
18:30-20:30 – Finals & Awards Ceremonies: Female wrestling 48, 55, 63, 75kg; Freestyle 61, 65, 70kg

January 25, Sunday

10:00-14:00 – Preliminary bouts & Repechage: Freestyle 86, 97, 125kg
15:30-17:00 – Finals & Awards Ceremonies: Freestyle 86, 97, 125kg
17:30-18:30 – Closing ceremony