Free fishing: how Russian wrestlers performed at the World Cup in Zagreb
The men's freestyle wrestling tournament ended at the World Championships in Zagreb. The winners of the medal standings were the Americans, who won three gold medals (Valencia in 86 kg, Hidley in 92 kg, Snyder in 97 kg). Iran and Japan have two wins each, but the Iranians are in second place due to the total number of awards (six versus four). Russia has one gold (Uguev in 61 kg), but only three medals. For our team, the tournament was the worst since the Paris World Cup in 2017. Then our wrestlers could not take any gold, but won five medals of other merits: three silver and two bronze. This time there is gold, but there are two fewer medals than in Paris. Of course, Sadulaev's absence had an effect, but even if he had been in Croatia and won the gold, it would not have put the Russian team in the lead.
Six years later
It's hard to figure out the reasons for the failures, as the wrestling federation is almost the most opaque in Russian sports. Some experts see a problem in the head of the federation, Mikhail Mamiashvili, while others see a change of coach. Someone thinks that the general line of training is wrong, there is too much emphasis on technique, but there are big flaws in physical fitness and psychology.
Of course, there was a bit of bad luck — Sadulaev did not come for political reasons, and Sidakov lost in the semifinals because of unnecessary nobility. He led 4-0 with 38 seconds left, launched Valiev into the aisle, who accidentally butted him in the chin, Zaurbek fell from the blow and gave up his leg. Valiev took two points and put the squeeze on his opponent on a successful wave — 6:4. Sidakov was obliged to take the challenge, the judges would have considered a blow to the chin and Valiev's two points were reset. But Zaurbek waved to the coach, saying that it was not worth it, and gave away the most important advantage. Maybe it was the fraternal relations, it wasn't fraternal to take challenges, maybe something else, but the fact remains that this moment influenced the medal standings.
Valiev was not successful in the finals. Called by many the best wrestler in the world in the 74 kg category (many people are sure that Zhamalov won against him in Paris thanks to the judges), he could not cope with Japanese Kota Takahashi and lost — 2:8. With the score 2:3, the Ossetian representing Albania was injured and for almost the entire second period only indicated resistance.
But Zaur Uguyev was pleased, pulling the national team to the gold medal. He fought very hard throughout the tournament, showed phenomenal defense, tenacity, positional skills and confidently took the gold. For him, it's his third at the World Championships and, most impressively, his first after a six-year hiatus. Uguev took first places at the 2018 and 2019 World Cups, and then passed by medals for six years. Right now, he can be called the best Russian wrestler, regardless of weight categories.
MVP and unexpected success
The defeat in the semifinals of another Dagestani school pupil, Ahmed Tazhudinov, representing Bahrain, can be called a sensation. A great and already mature talent, the reigning world and Olympic champion lost to the Iranian Azarpira — 2:5. Tazhudinov's form caused many questions, there was no previous freshness and functionality.
Ahmed still took the bronze, but they expected only gold from him. In the bronze match, by the way, Akhmed Magamaev, representing Bulgaria, launched Tazhudinov with a 4-point lateral deflection. It's not often you see an Olympic champion flying off into a deflection.
American Kyle Snyder won gold in this weight category. Having reached the finals very confidently — 10:0 with Ecuadorian Sarco in 1/8, 5:0 with Pole Baranowski in 1/4 and 9:1 with Japanese Yoshida in the semifinals — he faced serious difficulties in the main bout. Azarpira led the scoring, it was he who made the only high—quality action in the fight - he went behind his back, but Snyder showed character and won 4-2 due to ejections.
As a result, the American, whom we like to belittle, and one honored Soviet champion called him a "stump" for his primitive technique, became a 4-time world champion and an 8-time medalist. In terms of the total number of World Cup medals, he is now among the legends.
18-year-old Jax Forrest from the 61 kg category was vividly remembered by the American team. It was he who gave the hardest fight to Zaur Uguev in the semifinals, led 2-0 and held 2-2 with a minute and a half left. The skinny teenager, who is still in high school, won the selection for the World Cup from Vito Orujev, the world champion and last year's bronze medalist of the World Cup (by the way, Orujev won the bronze at the 2024 World Cup from Uguev). In body structure and manner, Forrest is a bit like Buvaysar Saitiev — long, thin and viscous. It will be interesting to look at him when he grows muscles, although with muscles he is unlikely to fit 61 kg.
Two more highlights worth mentioning are the comeback of the American Hidley in the final bout with Gadzhimagomedov and the revenge of the Iranian Amuzad against the Japanese Kiyoka for the defeat in the final of the Paris Olympics.
Trent Hidley lost in the final of the category up to 92 kg to our Amanula Gadzhimagomedov 2:10, but in an incredible way he managed to win 13:10. Amanula led 6-0 in the first 20 seconds, launching Hidley on the reverse by four points and then going behind by two. The American quickly scored 2 points with a two—legged pass, but the Dagestani made another attempt to pass in two legs with a 10:2! Before the end of the period, Hidley takes off 2 more points with a two-point pass and a point for losing the challenge. The wrestlers leave for the break at 10:5.
The score is saved for 1:10 to the end, but suddenly the American punches his left hand and passes in two legs — 10:7! The opponents are returned to the center, and immediately Hidley again punches his left hand with an underhook and puts it in two again — 10:9! Amanula looks confused and tired, he is passive, and Hidley makes a side pass in one leg with a transition to two and makes an amplitude landing on the fifth point — 4 points! Trent takes the lead for the first time in the match — 13:10!
Gadzhimagomedov has 20 seconds to save himself, but he doesn't have the strength. He pushes Trent to the edge of the carpet, but Trent once again punches his left arm with an underhook, and then dives into his leg, where he remains until the siren. 13:10, a stunning comeback by an American athlete, his first World Cup victory.
The success of the Iranian Amuzad, who took revenge on the Japanese Kiyoki for his defeat in the final of the Paris Olympics, was also brilliant. He beat the Japanese tech 10:0 in the first period and became a two-time world champion at the age of 23.
A historic victory was won by the Greek Georgios Kugiomtsidis in the category up to 79 kg, this is the first Greek gold at the World Cup among men's freestyle wrestlers in history.
The sensation was made by North Korean Jang Song Han in 57 kg, no one had talked about him before this tournament.
The MVP of the championship was, perhaps, the American Zahid Valencia in 86 kg. He raced through the tournament as spectacularly as possible, the only one of all the champions who did not give a single point. The total score for the five fights is 49:0.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
