#WrestleOslo

Russian Wrestling Federation Updates #WrestleOslo Greco-Roman Entries

By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 27) -- When Roman VLASOV (RWF) failed to make the Russian Wrestling Federation's team for the Tokyo Olympics, he was unsure of continuing his career. But then he realized his childhood dream. Vlasov has always considered Greco-Roman great Alexander KARELIN (RWF) as his inspiration as they belong to the same state. He wanted to achieve what his hero had at the Olympics -- three gold medals.

So after winning in London and Rio, Vlasov began his quest for the third gold medal at the Olympics with Paris 2024 in mind. For that, he decided to compete at the Oslo World Championships.

Vlasov will lead a young Russian Wrestling Federation Greco-Roman team in Oslo as he qualified to compete at the 77kg weight class. Stephen MARYANYAN (RWF), the 2018 world champion, will also be in Oslo as he looks to win the 60kg world title.

Vlasov did not get a chance to compete at the trials for the Olympics earlier this year after he suffered a shocking loss at the Poland Open in June. But recently, Vlasov decided that he still wants to win a third Olympic gold which he can only do in 2024.

There has been a dearth of world titles for Vlasov since the 2016 Olympic gold as he failed to medal at 2017 and 2019 editions. However, he will try to win it back in Oslo as he won the 2020 Individual World Cup in December 2020.

MaryanyanStephen MARYANYAN (RWF) won the 2018 World Championships gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

It will be a similar story for Maryanyan as he also lost the final at the 2019 Worlds at 63kg. He will be competing at 60kg in Oslo after Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Sergey EMELIN (RWF) decided to skip the tournament.

He won a silver at the Individual World Cup but the Russian Wrestling Federation champion will be trying to cement his place at this Olympic weight class.

Olympic champion Musa EVLOEV (RWF) also decided to skip the event. Instead, the Russian Wrestling Federation is sending Artur SARGSYAN (RWF) at 97kg. The youngster has been on Evloev's tail for a few years now and has been the best among age-groups especially after he won the U23 European Championships earlier this year.

Sargsyan did not give up a single point in that tournament and if he can continue with the same form, he will be a serious threat to the gold medal in Oslo.

In the other Olympic weight classes, Nazir ABDULLAEV (RWF) will be wrestling at 67kg, Milad ALIRZAEV (RWF) will be at 87kg while Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RWF) was selected at 130kg after Tokyo bronze medalist Sergei SEMENOV (RWF) decided not to wrestle.

Abdullaev won the Individual World Cup in 2020 but doesn't have world championship experience. He will make his debut but will have his task cut out as Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) will also be present in Oslo. Like other Russian Wrestling Federation wrestlers, Abdullaev will be expected to reach the final and that pressure can make or break him.

Alirzaev, another U23 world champion, will also try to fill the big shoes of Davit CHAKVETADZE (RWF) in Oslo. He tried to win the qualification for Tokyo but failed. However, he won the Individual World Cup to show that he can step up and be the best in the world. He recently competed in Belarus but lost the final to Istvan TAKACS (HUN), a wrestler who will also be in Oslo.

The 87kg will be one of the stacked fields in Oslo. The weight will feature Tokyo bronze medalist Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB), Ukraine's star Semen NAVIKOV (UKR) and Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR).

At 130kg, Gedekhauri doesn't have the world medals to boast as his teammates, but he can be a medal contender in the absence of big names like Riza KAYAALP (TUR) and Mijain LOPEZ (CUB).

SEFERSHAEVEmin SEFERSHAEV (RWF) is the 2021 senior European champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 55kg, Emin SEFERSHAEV (RWF), another gold medalist from the Individual World Cup, will lead the Russian Wrestling Federation's challenge. He has been in several World Championships but has never won gold. After finishing with two silver and two bronze at the previous age group worlds, he will get a chance to win the whole thing in Oslo.

The youngster's performance in European Championships with wins over Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Akrem OZTURK (TUR) gave a glimpse of what we can expect from him.

Ibragim LABAZANOV (RWF), a silver medalist from the European Championships, will also be looking to win the gold medal for his country at 63kg. The 2016 Rio Olympian has the experience of performing on the big stage, and this could well be his chance to claim his spot back on the Russian Wrestling Federation's team.

Another European champion Adlan AKIEV (RWF) will be targeting gold at 82kg. He will be wrestling for the second World Championships after finishing seventh in the 2019 edition in Nursultan, Kazakhstan.

Sergei KUTUZOV (RWF) will be wrestling 72kg to round off the final weight class for Russian Wrestling Federation.

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 Day 3 Live: Sukhee vs Purevdorj in WW, Yazdani vs Emami at 74kg

By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (May 31) -- The Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 continues on day three with five Women's Wrestling and three Freestyle weight classes will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

14:05: Yones EMAMI (IRI) will wrestle for gold against Amirhommad YAZDANI (IRI) at 74kg. Emami humbles JAIDEEP (IND), 5-3, in the semifinal. Emami scored a bodylock takedown and then a turn to lead 4-0. In the second period, Jaideep gets stepout but is also warned for finger-grabbing which give Emami another point. A late takedown for Jaideep but he can't turn Emami and he goes down 5-3 to book a place in final against Yazdani.

14:00: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) gets his first action of the day in the 74kg semifinal against Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) and it's a thrilling display of wrestling. Yazdani hits a double and turn for 4-0 before a reversal for Toktomambetov for a point. Yazdani tries to chest wrap and throw but Toktomambetov has control and gets the two points to cut the lead to 4-3. Both wrestlers in in par terre but Yazdani gets out first and it's a point for Toktomambetov. Yazdani leads 4-4 on criteria at the break. Yazdani tries to score a takedown but fails to control his opponent who scores a stepout. Iran challenge but it's only a point and challenge is lost, making it 6-4 for Toktomambetov. Yazdani with a burst of attack in the final 15 seconds and Toktomambetov tries to avade but Yazdani manages to go-behind and a turn just on the edge to get two points. He leads 6-6 on criteria and wins the bout. He had three actions of two point each while Toktomambetov was two actions of two points each and two of one point which makes Yazdani's scoring higher, hence the win.

13:46: Osman GOCEN (TUR) with a pin in the semifinal at 86kg against Dayanbileg GAN OCHIR (MGL)! Gocen got on a single leg attempt before Gan Ochir threw himself on the mat and Gocen was happy to keep Gan Ochir on the back secure the fall.

13:43: In the first 86kg semifinal, Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) with a fall in the second period over Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL) to secure his place in the final.

13:30: We will see an all-Mongolian final at 62kg as Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) wins a wild 15-11 bout against Ekaterina KOSHKINA (UWW) while Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) pins Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) in their respective semifinals.

Purevdorj kept coming at Koshkina who countered her attacks as well. At one point, Purevdorj was lead 9-7 before a series of attacks saw her make it 15-9 but Koshkina also got exposure point but fell short.

In other semifinal, Sukhee was down 5-0 but got Kasabieva in on a leg attack and then put her on the mat before securing the fall.

The semifinals begin now.

13:07: In the final match before the semifinals, Yones EMAMI (IRI) closes out the session with a tense win over Tugsjargal ERDENEBAT (MGL) that was ultimately a pin. Emami needed a takedown in the second period to lead 3-1 as a tiring Erdenbat failed to keep up with the Iranian and faded away. Emami used a duck under for another takedown before Erdenebat did not try to defended and gave up the fall. Emami to face Jaideep in the 74kg semifinal. 

12:56: Gantsetseg BATSUKH (MGL) with some solid counterattacking wrestling as she beats MONIKA (IND) 14-3 in the 68kg Round 4 bout. Top moves from the Mongolian

12:51: Noorali ABOUZARI (IRI) gets on a single leg attack and finishes it with a leg lace during activity lock time for JAIDEEP (IND) to lead 5-0 at the break in their 74kg quarterfinal. Jaideep begins the second period with scramble and comes out with two points to cut the lead to 5-2. Another single leg attack but Jaideep defends and then cradles a tiring Abouzari for the fall and enter the semifinal.

12:47: Asian silver medalist Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) takes his time to pull off a 10-0 technical superiority win over Deleg SHINEBAYAR (MGL)  and enter the semifinal.

12:45: What could have been the big match of the tournament between Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) and Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) at 74kg is not happening as the Turkish wrestler pulls out injured. Yazdani into the semifinals at 74kg.

12:30: Osman GOCEN (TUR) was tested by Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) but the European medalist keeps his calm and wins 15-4 at 86kg. He will wrestle in the semifinal now against Dayanbileg GAN OCHIR (MGL).

12:15: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) may have done herself a huge favor by pinning MANISHA (IND) in the Round 3 bout. Purevdorj, who lost to Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), gets five classification points, Kasabieva has four and Manisha has three which means Asian champion Manisha is out of semifinal contention.

11:50: Deepak PUNIA (IND) has to work hard for his next win over Bat-Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL). Punia trailed 1-0 at the break but he gets two passivity points and a takedown in the second to win 4-1 at 92kg.

11:45: PUSHPA (IND), who had earlier lost in her group bout, makes sure to win by technical superiority Dulguun BOLORMAA (MGL) at 55kg and improve her chance to be in the semifinals from the group.

11:40: Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) with stunning win over Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) at 62kg. She first hits a four-pointer over Purevdorj before turning her for two points. When Purevdorj tries a big throw, Kasabieva with a cutback to get four and win. Purevdorj is not eliminated though as it is round-robin category.

11:15: World silver medalist Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) pins compatriot Tselmuun OTGONBAT (MGL) inside the first period to start with a win at 68kg, a weight class she is favorite to win here.

11:10: Askhab SAADULAEV (UWW) with a crafty whizzer for four points to deny Bat-Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) any chance of a comeback and he wins 7-2 at 92kg. 

11:05: Dayanbileg GAN OCHIR (MGL) gets ASHISH (IND) in a tangle and then secures the fall to win at 86kg. The 86kg weight class also has Nelson bracket and will be wrestled in two groups.

11:00: Asian silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) with his typical forward pressure wrestling and scores 10 points to Demchigdorj TUMURBAATAR (MGL) zero win 10-0 at 92kg.

10:50: Asian champion MANISHA (IND) scores two takedowns in her 5-0 win over  Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) begin with a win at 62kg. As it is Nelson bracket, the two can meet again in the final

10:40: Great start to the day for Mongolia as Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) pins PUSHPA (IND) at 55kg and Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) wins 11-0 against Ekaterina KOSHKINA (UWW) at 62kg.

10:30: The Ulaanbaatar Open will see Freestyle from today and Women's Wrestling will continue in the Mongolian capital. Freestyle will be in 74kg, 86kg and 92kg while WW will be 55kg, 62kg, 65kg, 68kg and 76kg.