#Yariguin2019

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

By Eric Olanowski

KRASNOYARSK, Russia (January 24) - The brackets for the second 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. Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) vs. Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS)

This 65kg semifinals match is a long-shot and would require several pieces to fall perfectly into place, but if they do, the matchup between two-time world bronze medalist, Akhmed Chakaev and two-time world runner-up Gadzhimurad Rashidov will be a high-flying electric showdown. 

Here’s the scenario that would give wrestling fans this matchup: 

  1. Rashidov wins the special wrestle-in against Alan's champion Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS). 
  2. Rashidov beats the United States’ 2017 65kg world team representative Zain RETHERFORD (USA) in the quarterfinals.
  3. Chakaev wins his quarterfinals matchup against Cristian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB). 

2. Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) vs. Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUES (CUB) 

This 68kg qualification match between four-time age-level world champion Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) and 2018 U23 world champion Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUES (CUB) is a quarterfinals rematch of the 2018 Bucharest U23 World Championships, where the Cuban wrestler topped the Russian, 5-0. 

Sanchez Rodrigues’ 5-0 quarterfinal win over Velieva, who was named United World Wrestling’s 2018 Female Junior Wrestler of the Year, helped catapult her to the top of the world podium and played a pivotal role in her becoming the first Cuban woman to win a world title in any age group.


Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) will wrestle Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) in a battle of previous world finalists. (Photo: Sachiko HOTAKA) 

3. Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) vs. Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA)

This 53kg qualification bout features the pair of previous world silver medalists, Sarah Hildebrandt and Ergenechimeg Sumiya. 

Sarah Hildebrandt is the reigning world runner-up at this 53kg, while Erdenechimeg, a four-time top-10 finisher at the world championships, is a 2013 world runner-up at 51kg. 

This is the first time these world finalists have met in their storied careers. 

#WrestleTirana

UWW holds 2024 Congress, three women elected to Bureau

By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (October 27) -- United World Wrestling held its Congress in Tirana on Sunday, on the sidelines of the World Championships in Non-Olympic Weight Classes.

The Congress touched upon topics related to the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the budget, the calendar for 2025 and the prospect of launching a UWW Pro League.

Different commission of UWW presented their reports for 2024 and Amateur MMA and Pankration.

The elections for Bureau and Vice Presidents were also held with at least two new women Bureau members. In the elections held on Sunday in Tirana, five Bureau members were due for re-election, with four being re-elected.

UWWFrom left to right: Peter BASCA, Buyandelger PELJEE, Pedro SILVA, Cholpon SULTANBEKOVA, Natalia YARAGUINA and Zamel AL SHAHRANI. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women ruled the elections with one new Vice President and two new Bureau members were elected.

Pedro SILVA, Peter BASCA, Zamel AL SHAHRANI and Natalia YARAGUINA were re-elected in the Bureau. Bruce BAUMGARTNER was the newly elected member of the Bureau.

Since two new Bureau members could not be elected in the first round of elections, a second round was held, in which the two highest-placed candidates earned elections. Buyandelger PELJEE and Cholpon SULTANBEKOVA earned the most votes, collecting their Bureau spot.

UWW Bureau member and President of UWW Associated Styles Rodica YAKSI and Bureau member and President of African Council Fouad MESKOUT were elected as Vice Presidents in the first meeting of the newly elected Bureau.

Mikhail MAMIASHVILI, Natalia YARAGUINA, Theodoros HAMAKOS and Akhroldjan RUZIEV were re-elected as Vice Presidents.

UWW Vice President Stan DZIEDZIC was not eligible for re-election, as he reached his term limit according to the UWW Constitution. However, he was made the Honorary Vice President of UWW on Monday.