World Cup, United States, Cuba, Russia, Mongolia, Los Angeles

Susceptible Russian Side Leaves Door Open for USA, Cuba and Mongolia

Wednesday, April 8, 2015 - 18:43 By Tim Foley

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Men’s Freestyle World Cup: Group A Preview

LOS ANGELES (April 8) – Without a single World or Olympic medalist on the roster for the 2015 United World Wrestling World Cup team, fans looking to see the dominance of the Russian Federation at this weekend’s World Cup at the Forum in Los Angeles, California, might have to wait. 

The 2014 Word Cup finalists won’t be the heavy favorites many wrestling fans may have expected after the country’s dominant performance at last year’s United World Wrestling Championships.

One of the most successful wrestling nation in Olympic history, the Russian Federation won five of the eight gold medals in Tashkent, Uzbekistan at September’s World Championships and placed first as a team in freestyle. With none of those champions traveling to Los Angeles, Group A squads Mongolia, Cuba and the United States have the opportunity to upend the Russians and move into Sunday’s gold medal finals.

Maybe the biggest threat to Russian dominance are the host Americans, who have two Olympic gold medalists from London in their lineup, Jake VARNER (97kg) and Jordan BURROUGHS (74kg). Burroughs has won three world titles and won a bronze in Tashkent, while Varner failed to place. 

Also looking to help the U.S. in its quest for a 14th team title will be Olympic bronze medalist Coleman SCOTT (65kg) along with world No. 8 Brent METCALF (65kg) who earned a runner-up finish earlier this year at the Yarygin Grand Prix in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Clayton FOSTER (86kg), who ranks No. 10 in the world, will likely split mat time with Ed RUTH (86kg), a member of the 2014 U.S. world team.

While the Americans are hoping for expected outcomes from seasoned veterans, the Russians are hoping for exceptional output from young performers.

Israel KASUMOV (70kg) has seen plenty of success on the mats, winning the 2014 Yarygin Grand Prix and earning a bronze medal in the 2015 edition. A former world No. 1, Kasumov is currently ranked No. 8 at 70kg. 

Akhmed CHAKLAEV (65kg), ranked 16th in the world, was second in the 2009 Yarygin Grand Prix and won bronze in the 2014 Ivan Yarygin. He was the 2011 and 2013 Ramzan Kadyrov Cup champion in Russia and the 2013 International Ukrainian Tournament champion.  

Russian upper weight and 2010 World University champion Yuri BELONOVSKI (97 kg) comes to Los Angeles ranked No .13 in the world.

The Cubans, who’ve won two World Cup titles in freestyle, bring a loaded squad of world and continental medalists to the Forum. Highlighting the island nation’s pool of medalists is 74kg star Livan LÒPEZ, who earned bronze at the 2012 Olympics, a silver medal in Tashkent, and bronze medals at the 2011 and 2014 World Championships 

Three-time World medalist Reineris SALAS PEREZ (86 kg) and 2014 bronze medalists Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (61kg) and Javier CORTINA LACERRA (97kg) are also expected to take the mats. 

Mongolia will be led by 2014 World bronze medalist ENKHSIAKN Nyam-Ochir (61kg) ranked No. 5 in the world, and 2014 world bronze medalist GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (65kg) who comes in ranked sixth.

Talented youngster and 2013 Junior world silver medalist BATBOLD Nomin is expected to compete at 57kg and is ranked 13th in the world. 

Competition Schedule
Saturday, April 11 (All Times Listed are Pacific Standard Time)
Session I
3:00 p.m. – Mat A: USA vs. Cuba; Mat B: Iran vs. Belarus
4:30 p.m. – Mat A: Russia vs. Mongolia; Mat B: Azerbaijan vs. Turkey
 
Session II
6:15 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
6:30 p.m. – Mat A: USA vs. Russia; Mat B: Iran vs. Turkey
8:00 p.m. – Mat A: Mongolia vs. Cuba; Mat B: Belarus vs. Azerbaijan
 
Sunday, April 12
Session III
11:00 a.m. – Mat A: USA vs. Mongolia; Mat B: Turkey vs. Belarus
12:30 p.m. – Mat A: Azerbaijan vs. Iran; Mat B: Cuba vs. Russia
2:00 p.m. – Mat A: Fifth Place Dual; Mat B: Seventh Place Dual
 
Session IV
4:15 p.m. – Mat A: Third Place Dual
5:45 p.m. – Mat A: Championship Dual

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UWW Wrestlers of the Year: Tazhudinov, Tynybekova, Orta

Tuesday, December 19, 2023 - 13:11 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 18) -- When the world was glued to their screens to watch a potential Kyle SNYDER (USA) vs Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) semifinal at the World Championships in Belgrade. But Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) ruined those hopes by beating both Snyder and Sadulaev in back-to-back bouts.

For his scintillating run in 2023, a year in which the 20-year-old won gold at the World Championships, Asian Championships, Asian Games and a Ranking Series, Tazhudinov has been named the Freestyle Wrestler of the Year.

His incredible performances throughout the year also earned him 87,520 Ranking Series points helping him reach the number one rank at 97kg.

Having failed to medal at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series, Tazhudinov managed to change his fortunes with the Asian Championships, winning gold. He followed that up with a gold medal at the Bishkek Ranking Series.

Yet, Tazhudinov did not start as a favorite to win the world title. However, he was sure of winning the gold medal.

"On my way to Belgrade, I knew I could become the world champion," Tazhudinov said after winning the gold medal in Belgrade. "If I didn’t believe in myself, I wouldn’t have even come here."

With that confidence, he earned technical superiority wins over Rio bronze medalist Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB), Maxwell LACEY (CRC), and returning world champion Snyder. The semifinal against Sadulaev was seen as his big test as Tazhudinov, a student of Sadulaev School in Dagestan, was up against his mentor.

Sadulaev, a two-time Olympic champion, waned as the bout progressed and eventually pulled out due to injury. The final was no trouble for Tazhudinov as he pinned Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE).

A week later, Tazhudinov traveled to Hangzhou, China and won the Asian Games gold medal at 97kg with a comfortable victory over Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI).

Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year: Luis ORTA (CUB)

When Luis ORTA moved to 67kg at the start of the year, he handled two young stars Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) and Danial SOHRABI (IRI) with ease at the Zagreb Open. But he fell to HUSIYUETU (CHN) in the semifinal. But he returned to the mat with a gold medal at the Pan-Am Championships. Looking to make his name in the new weight class, Orta traveled to Bishkek for the Ranking Series but Husiyuetu once again humbled him.

The World Championships in Belgrade was a big test for Orta, the Olympic champion at 60kg. In 2022, Orta missed a medal at the World Championships at 63kg. But with the Paris Olympics qualification on the line, a different Orta showed up.

After two victories via technical falls, Orta faced returning world champion and home favorite Mate NEMES (SRB). Orta would keep his nerves and eke out a 3-2 win. Slavik GLATSYAN (ARM) troubled him a little but Orta put him away 5-3. A final against Jafarov was never going to be easy but a defensive show managed to help Orta hang on for a 4-3 win and the title, his first.

"I already beat Jafrarov once, but all finals are different," Orta said after winning the title. "They can't be compared. We had a tough match. I think he was a very good opponent, and our fight was worthy of a final match for gold."

Orta was not done yet. His 2023 campaign had golds at the Pan-American Games, Central American and Caribbean Games, and the Henri Deglane tournament. His wins around the world helped Orta tally 86,400 points to emerge as the best Greco-Roman wrestler of the year.

Women's Wrestler of the Year: Aisuluu TYNYNBEKOVA (KGZ)

Every time people count out Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), the Kyrgyzstan legend marks a thumping return. 2023 was Tynybekova's year as she orchestrated a stunning return to the top of the global stage, amassing an unparalleled 95,575 Ranking Series points after winning titles at the World Championships, Asian Championships, Hungarian and Egyptian Ranking Series events, while also closing out the season with an Asian Games bronze medal.

Tynybekova, 30, was denied world and Asian titles in 2022 by Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) but she avenged both her loss at the Asian Championships in Astana to win the 62kg gold.

Japan threw a new challenge at her in Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) at the World Championships but Tynybekova was up for it, beating Motoki 3-2 in the 62kg final to win her third world title.

The 2023 season also included a Ranking Series gold in Alexandria, a quick turnaround after losses at the Zagreb Ranking Series. Tynynbekova ended the season with a bronze medal at the Asian Games after losing to Ozaki.

Tynynbekova will be chasing history in Paris as she tries to become Kyrgyzstan's first Olympic champion after falling one win short in Tokyo. The silver medalist will have a strong to beat if she wants to win the top medal.