Preview: Ivan Yariguin Memorial Invitational (Golden Grand Prix No. 1)
Once again, FILA begins its season with one of the most competitive tournaments of the year. Starting Friday, Jan. 24 and running until Jan. 26, over four hundred of the best wrestlers in the world descend on Krasnoyarsk, Russia for the Ivan Yariguin Memorial Invitational. Like the Daytona 500 in Nascar, the Yariguin will be the kickoff to FILA’s 2014 wrestling season.
The tournament, often called ‘The Toughest Wrestling Tournament in the World” signifies the first of three Golden Grand Prix’s for FILA. The Golden Grand Prix’s are a way for wrestlers to compete for a series of larger prizes, culminating in a finales in Baku later this year.
This 2014 Yariguin Grand Prix marks the first use of FILA’s new non-Olympic year weight classes. Wrestlers will now compete for medals in sixteen different weights: eight for the men and eight for the women. The large Russian contingent will likely dominate the men’s side of the competition, while smaller teams from world powers Ukraine, Iran, Belarus, Japan and the USA will fight to place wrestlers on the podium. On the women’s side, the Russians will face challenges in a squad of very good Japanese wrestlers, as well as a team of elite Mongolians.
Below is a look at the schedule and a preview of the most distinguished wrestlers from each weight class.
Schedule
Friday, Jan. 24: (FW 53, 58, 60, and 69 kg // FS 57 and 74 kg)
Elimination Rounds: 10:00 to 14:00
Repechage: 17:00 to 18:00
Finals: 18:30 to 20:00
Saturday, Jan. 25: (FW 48, 55, 63, and 75 kg // FS 61, 65, and 70 kg)
Elimination Rounds: 10:00 to 14:00
Repechage: 17:00 to 18:00
Finals: 18:30 to 20:00
Sunday, Jan. 26: (FS 86, 97, and 125 kg)
Elimination and Repechage: 10:00 to 14:00
Finals: 15:30 to 17:00
Men’s Freestyle
57 kg (FRIDAY)
Nariman Israpilov (RUS) should arrive in Krasnoyarsk as the heavy favorite. The Dagestani wrestler had a big 2013, winning Russian Nationals and the bronze medal in the World Championships in Budapest at 55 kg. Israpilov is currently ranked No. 3 in FILA's world rankings.
Bazaar Zhalsapov (RUS) and Azamat Touskaev (RUS) could also pose championship threats. Zhalsapov won a bronze medal at last year’s Yariguin and placed second at the 2013 Russian Nationals.
Defending Yariguin champion, Artyom Gebekov (RUS) will also be pressuring for the title.
61 kg (SATURDAY)
This weight features an unbelievable depth of talent. Top-ranked Bekhan Goygereev (RUS) brings his skills to the field. In Budapest, last year, he won a world championship, steamrolling the competition in the process.
A trio of distinguished Russians stand in Goygereev’s way. Former No. 1 ranked wrestlers Opan Sat was a 2013 European and Yariguin champ and Djamal Otarsultanov, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist at 55 kg should also be pushing for the title Victor Lebedev, a two-time world champion at 55 kg is also looking to make use of the increase in weight.
Past world and Yariguin medalist Daulet Niyazbekov (KAZ) should also contend for the podium.
65 kg (SATURDAY)
All the medalists from last year’s Russian Nationals are in Krasnoyarsk to vie for gold at 65 kg. In 2013, Magomed Kurbanaliev won Russian Nationals, the University World Championships and the bronze medal at the World Championships in Budapest. He currently enjoys FILA’s No. 3 ranking. Additionally, Soslan Romanov, second place at the 2013 Russian Nationals, contends for a podium spot alongside Russian Nationals bronze medalists Ilyas Bekbulatov and Alibekgadzhi Emeev. Bekbulatov is the reigning Yariguin champion. Alan Gogaev (RUS), 2012 Olympian and world silver medalist, will look to return to prominence with a medal at this weight.
From overseas, returning Yariguin finalist, world No. 15 Brent Metcalf (USA) seeks to improve on last year’s result.
70 kg (SATURDAY)
The most open field of wrestlers in the tournament, the top contender is likely to be Russia’s Israel Kasumov who placed third at Yariguin in 2012 at 66 kg, and won the Yakutsk tournament at 74 kg in 2013. The new weight is a good fit for his body type and the Russian coaches have been excited about his training.
74 kg (FRIDAY)
After a disappointing world championship, 2013 Russian national champion Tamar Khubezhty seeks redemption with a Yariguin gold medal. This weight also offers stiff competition in Atsamaz Sanakoev (RUS) and Aniuar Geduev (RUS). Sanakoev won the silver at the 2013 Russian Nationals, and Geduev is the reigning Yariguin champion.
Denis Tsargush (RUS) also enters the fray at 74 kg. He can win every tournament he enters. Tsargush has won back to back world championships, and in 2012 claimed a bronze medal at the London Olympics. Last year he won gold at the World University Games, and is currently No. 7 in the FILA rankings.
86 kg (SUNDAY)
Dagestani Shamil Kudiyamagomedov prevailed at Russian Nationals in 2013 to make his first world team. A Yariguin gold would solidify his place at the top of the Russian pecking order, and improve his No. 12 ranking. Kudiyamagomedov’s toughest test is 2012 Olympian Anzor Urishev (RUS), who won gold at last year’s Yariguin.
Albert Saritov (RUS) adds to the depth at this weight. In 2011 he placed third at the World Championships in Istanbul.
97 kg (SUNDAY)
This weight looks like a two-horse race. The winner between Anzor Boltukaev (RUS) and Abdusalam Gadisov (RUS) should win the tournament. The two met in the finals of last year’s Russian Nationals where Boltukaev came away the victor. Boltukaev, No. 4 in the world, placed third at the 2013 World Championships in Budapest. Gadisov was a 2012 Olympian.
Also at this weight, returning Yariguin champion Vladislav Baitsaev (RUS) seeks to recapture the magic from last year’s gold medal run.
125 kg (SUNDAY)
Khadzhimurat Gatsalov (RUS) wrote another chapter in his already sizable legend by winning the 2013 World Championships at 120 kg. His main competition at Yariguin comes from 2013 Russian national champion Alan Khugaev, and defending Yariguin champion Magomed Nurasulov (RUS).
Women’s Freestyle
48 kg (FRIDAY)
Two host-nation athletes form the class of this weight. Elena Vosrikova (RUS), No. 9 in the world, and Valeria Chepsarakova (RUS), No. 10 in the world, met in the Yariguin finals last year with Chepsarakova coming away the winner. Either wrestler could come away with a gold medal at this year’s Yariguin.
World University Games champion Yuki Irie (JPN) will challenge the highly ranked Russians.
53 kg (SATURDAY)
Kazakhstan sends two powerful competitors at this weight. Zulfia Yakhyarova is currently ranked No. 15 by FILA, and Tatyana Amanzhol-Bakatyuk will attempt to defend her 2013 Yariguin championship. Ekaterina Krasnova (RUS), No. 12 in the world, is her nation’s top wrestler at this weight, and a threat for a spot on the medal stand.
55 kg (FRIDAY)
FILA’s No. 9 wrestler Kanako Murata (JPN), a 2012 Asian champion, comes into this weight as the favorite along with Byambatseren Sundev (MGL), a Yariguin finalist last year and the No. 8 wrestler in the world. Sundev is joined by countrywoman Orkhon Purevdorj (MGL) who sits at No. 14 in the world rankings.
Nadeshda Tretyakova (RUS) won the 2013 Yariguin gold and will look to repeat.
58 kg (FRIDAY)
Kaori Icho (JPN), three-time Olympic champion and long-reigning world No. 1, enters Yariguin at this weight. She stands head and shoulders above every other wrestler in the world; no one should challenge her.
60 kg (FRIDAY)
Katsuki Sakagami (JPN) looks to establish herself as her nation’s top wrestler in this new weight. The Japanese wrestler won bronze at Yariguin last year at 59 kg.
63 kg (SATURDAY)
With Japan’s Icho out of this weight, world No. 2 Battsetseg Soronzobold (MGL) has an easier path to a Yariguin gold medal and world dominance. However, The Mongolian will have to deal with dangerous returning Yariguin champion Anastasija Grigorieva (LAT), No. 7 in the world.
This weight also features Yurika Ito (JPN), a 2012 World University Games champion and 2009 Asian champion, as well as Anastasia Bretchikova (RUS), No. 6 in FILA’s rankings.
69 kg (FRIDAY)
Natalya Vorobieva (RUS), No. 2 in the world, drops a weight hoping to regain her Olympic gold medal form and defend her Yariguin championship. The Siberian native faces extremely stiff competition in world No. 3 O. Nasanburmaa (MGL), and top- ranked Alina Stadnik-Makhinya (UKR).
Stadnik-Makinya is the defending world champion, while Ochirbat earned the bronze in last year’s World Championship in Budpest.
75 kg (FRIDAY)
A pair of Mongolians headline 75 kg, with O. Burmaa (MGL) FILA’s No. 3 wrestler and B. Odonchimeg (MGL) FILA’s No. 13 wrestler looking to make their way to the finals. O. Burmaa made the finals of the 2013 Yariguin, and won bronze at the 2013 World Championships in Budapest.
Ekaterina Bukina (RUS), the 2013 World University Games champion, should also contend for a medal at this weight.
