#Yariguin2019

Three "Must Watch" Day Three Matches at the Ivan Yariguin

Friday, January 25, 2019 - 19:55 By Eric Olanowski

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KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 25) - The brackets for the third day of freestyle and women's wrestling at the Ivan Yariguin have been released and here are three potential matches that you can't afford to miss. 

1. Kyle SNYDER (USA) vs. Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) 

This 97kg semifinals match would be a rematch of last year’s Beat the Streets in New York City where Snyder, the two-time world and Rio Olympic champion, overcame an 8-1 deficit to beat the Cuban 2014 world silver medalist, 9-8. 

Salas Perez scored a takedown, a right-sided gut wrench, and a massive four-point throw to build his 8-1 lead. But, the American superstar was able to close out the inaugural period with a pair of one point exchanges, slimming the differential to five points heading into the final period. 

From there, Snyder’s smothering pace proved to be too much for Perez, as the reigning world and Olympic champion closed the match on an 8-0 run, and ultimately won the bout, 9-8.

Magomed KURBANILIEV (RUS), 2016 world champion, makes his debut at 74kg 

2. Magomed KURBANILIEV (RUS) vs. Yakup GOR (TUR) 

This 74kg quarterfinal sticks a pair of former 70kg hammers against each other for a spot in Saturday's Yariguin semifinals. 

Kurbanaliev, the world and European champion down at 70kg, is making his debut up at 74kg.  This is the Russian’s first weight change since 2016 when he bumped up from 65kg to 70kg. 

On the flip side, Gor, a two-time world medalist down at 70kg, made the leap up to one of the toughest weight classes in the world last season and failed to make Turkey’s world team after five consecutive trips to the world championships. 

This match is only possible if Kurbanaliev wins his all-Russian wrestle-off match against 2018 Russian Nationals bronze medalist Nikita SUCHKOV, and both wrestlers win their qualification matches. 

Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER), 2017 world runner-up, makes her return after falling short of a medal at the 2018 World championships. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

3. Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) vs. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) 

This 76kg semifinal match pits the pair of world finalist from two seasons ago against each other. 

Both Focken and Marzaliuk are looking to bounce back after underperforming at the 2018 world championships. The German wrestler went 2-1 in Budapest and fell 6-4 to eventual bronze medalist Erica WIEBE (CAN), while the Belarusian went 0-1 and lost 8-6 to eventual fifth-place finisher Zsanett NEMETH (HUN). 

The pair were in the same bracket at last year's Poland Open and the World Championships, but this would be their first career meeting. 

#BeachWrestling

Asian Champs Long, Xie Shine for Hosts China at 6th Asian Beach Games

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 - 15:47 By United World Wrestling Press

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SANYA, China (April 28) -- Just two weeks ago, Jia LONG (CHN) and Mengyu XIE (CHN) were winning Asian Championships gold medals on mat in Bishkek.

Now on the beach in home country, Long and Xie entered the Beach Wrestling finals at the 6th Asian Beach Games that are underway in Sanya, China.

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Apart from China, India and Vietnam also entered two wrestlers each in the gold medal bouts while Sri Lanka and Mongolia managed one each.

In men's, Iran has a chance to sweep the gold medals after all four its wrestlers reached the final. Pakistan was the most successful country after Iran with two wrestlers in the final whereas India and China made one final each.

Beach WrestlingBeach Wrestling at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Beach Wrestling got underway at the Games on April 28, Tuesday, with knockout rounds, group round-robin bouts, quarterfinals and semifinals in eight weight categories -- four men's and four women's.

Also Read: Inam Reaches For Beach Wrestling Glory

Asian champion at 72kg Long reached making the 70kg final in Sanya. Long defeated Beibit SEIDUALY (KAZ), 3-1, in the semifinals. She will now face Thi Linh DANG (VIE) for the gold medal after the Vietnam wrestler pinned Jaspreet KAUR (IND) in the other semifinal.

The host country's chances of gold were further boosted when Asian champion at 59kg Xie reached the final in 60kg. She had to battle it out against Thi My Hanh NGUYEN (VIE) but prevailed 3-2. She will now take on Pushpa YADAV (IND) who claimed a 3-1 win over Asian bronze medalist Youngjin KWON (KOR).

PRIYA (IND)PRIYA (IND) defeated Wenji LI (CHN) in the +70kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Former U17 and U20 world champion PRIYA (IND) reached the final at +70kg after a close 2-0 win over Asian bronze medalist Wenji LI (CHN). She will now face Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) who defeated Alina YERTOSTIK (KAZ), 3-0, in the other semifinal.

At 50kg, Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI) has put her country within reach of its first gold medal of the Games after making the final with fall over Funa YANO (JPN). She will now have to beat Thi Kim Oanh DOAN (VIE) for the historic gold. The Vietnam wrestler made it to the final after beating Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND), 3-0, in the other semifinals.

Seyedamirreza SAHRAEMAHALI (IRI)Seyedamirreza SAHRAEMAHALI (IRI) defeated world bronze medalist Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) in the +90kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Iran Puts 4 in Finals

Iran's first finalist came at 70kg as Aliakbar ZAROUDI (IRI) defeated Adis RAKHAT UULU (KGZ), 2-0, in a close semifinal. He will face SIDDARTH (IND) who defeated Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK), 1-0 to advance.

At 80kg, winner of Katerini World Series in 2025 Ali GHOLAMI (IRI) had no trouble beating Yermakhan KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ) via fall in the semifinals. He will take on Muhammad Asad ULLAH (PAK) for the gold medal after the Pakistan wrestler confirmed a 4-0 victory over world bronze medalist Feng LU (CHN).

Muhammad INAM (PAK)Muhammad INAM (PAK) reached the 90kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling File)

A mouth-watering final is set in 90kg after former Asian Championships bronze medalist and Katerini World Series gold medalist Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) secured the spot in last two against former Beach Wrestling world champion Muhammad INAM (PAK).

While Kavousi secured a 3-0 win over Peilong LI (CHN), Inam defeated Turbold GANBOLD (MGL) by 1-0 to enter the finals.

The +90kg category will see Seyedamirreza SAHRAEIMAHALI (IRI) take on Da LU (CHN) in the final. Sahraeimahali stunned Asian Championships silver medalist Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) by pinning him to enter the final. Lu also won via fall, pinning Muzafar ZHAPPUEV (KGZ).

Da LU (CHN)Da LU (CHN) reached the +90kg final at the 6th Asian Beach Games. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

RESULTS

Men's Beach Wrestling

70kg
SF 1: SIDDHARTH (IND) df. Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK), 1-0
SF 2: Aliakbar ZAROUDI (IRI) df. Adis RAKHAT UULU (KGZ), 2-0

80kg
SF 1: Muhammad Asad ULLAH (PAK) df. Feng LU (CHN), 4-0
SF 2: Ali GHOLAMI (IRI) df. Yermakhan KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ), via fall

90kg
SF 1: Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) df. Peilong LI (CHN), 3-0
SF 2: Muhammad INAM (PAK) df. Turbold GANBOLD (MGL), 1-0

+90kg
SF 1: Seyedamirreza SAHRAEIMAHALI (IRI) df. Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), via fall
SF 2: Da LU (CHN) df. Muzafar ZHAPPUEV (KGZ), via fall

Women's Beach Wrestling

50kg
SF 1: Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI) df. Funa YANO (JPN), via fall
SF 2: Thi Kim Oanh DOAN (VIE) df. Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND), 3-0

60kg
SF 1: Mengyu XIE (CHN) df. Thi My Hanh NGUYEN (VIE), 3-1
SF 2: Pushpa YADAV (IND) df. Youngjin KWON (KOR), 3-1

70kg
SF 1: Thi Linh DANG (VIE) df. Jaspreet KAUR (IND), via fall
SF 2: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Beibit SEIDUALY (KAZ), 3-1

+70kg
SF 1: PRIYA (IND) df. Wenji LI (CHN), 2-0
SF 2: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) df. Alina YERTOSTIK (KAZ), 3-0