ОVATION, edition № 4

UNEXPECTED TURN

KOREAN AND RUSSIAN GOLD MEDALS

On Saturday, January 31, five sets of medals were contested at the Ivan Yarygin Cup. North Korean wrestlers competed in two women's finals, while Russian wrestlers competed in three men's finals.

Never give up until the end

The men's 65 kg final saw European champion Ibragim Ibragimov fight against World Youth Championship winner Bashir Magomedov.

In the first period, Ibragimov received a point for an unsuccessful attempt by his opponent, and in the second, another when he pushed his opponent off the mat. The wrestlers did not allow any more scoring opportunities, and the European champion was headed for victory. But in the final seconds, Magomedov went on the attack, landed a hold, tied the score, and snatched victory on the strength of his throw. A magnificent tournament for the 23-year-old wrestler! As a reminder, he had previously knocked out 2021 World and European Champion Abasgadzhi Magomedov from the gold medal race.

A life-giving challenge

In the women's 53 kg final, Tsoi Hyo Gyon faced world champion O Kyon Ryon. She was the first to attack and scored the first two points. O Kyon Ryon appeared to have tied the score, but her opponent's coach challenged her, and the judges ruled that Tsoi Hyo Gyon had scored first. The score became 4-1.

Tsoi Hyo Gyon immediately made the lead seem quite comfortable – 6:1. But  O Kyon Ryon  wasn't about to give up, even in a seemingly hopeless situation. In the final seconds, she landed a hold and made several counterattacks.

The scoreboard read 6:9. But Tsoi Hyo Gyon`s coach  called for another challenge, and after a lengthy investigation, the referees determined that only one of O Kyon Ryon`s attempts was flawlessly executed. The score dropped to 6:5 in Tsoi Hyo Gyon`s favor. Pure drama!

PEDESTAL   Women ► 53 kg  1. Tsoi Hyo Gyon (DPRK) 2. O Kyon Ryon (DPRK) 3. Natalia Malysheva (Russia) 3. Otgontuya Bayamunkh (Mongolia) ► 57 kg  1. Son Il Sim (DPRK) 2. Pkhyol Hong (DPRK) 3. Khulan Batkhuyag (Mongolia) 3. Kristina Mikhneva (Russia)   Men ► 65 kg  1. Bashir Magomedov (Russia) 2. Ibragim Ibragimov (Russia) 3. Gadzimagomed Gadzhiev (Russia) 3. Abasgadzhi Magomedov (Russia) ► 79 kg  1. Akhmed Usmanov (Russia) 2. Ismail Khaniev (Russia) 3. Gadzhimurad Alimkhaev (Russia) 3. Kasum Kasumov (Russia) ► 125 kg  1. Shamil Musaev (Russia) 2. Khabib Davudgadzhiev (Russia) 3. Abdulla Kurbanov (Russia) 3. Inal Gagloev (Russia)

Class confirmation

World Champion and two-time European Champion Akhmed Usmanov (79 kg) examined World U20 Championship winner Ismail Khaniev.

The experienced Usmanov fought sparingly. A single burst of energy was enough. Early in the second period, he took a shot, then hit two more. True, Akhmed injured his leg in the process, but he successfully held on until the end of the match.

A lesson for young Khanyev: he should fight more aggressively in the first period to wear down his opponent. Meanwhile, Usmanov won gold at the Yarygin tournament for the third time.

Korea's third gold

World Championship silver medalist Son Il Sim (57 kg) was more active than her compatriot Pkhyol Khon. While she only earned a point for activity in the first period, in the second, her more accomplished opponent scored a four-point throw. That proved enough.It's difficult to expect a lot of results from opponents of similar class, who also know each other very well. The DPRK women's team achieved a perfect record at the Yarygin Cup, winning three gold medals out of three possible.

Giants of Dagestan

In the super heavyweight (125 kg) category, two Dagestani fighters, Shamil Musaev and Khabib Davudgadzhiev, reached the final. The fight between the giants wasn't the most spectacular. In the first period, Musaev, who won the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix back in 2019, though at a lighter weight, took the lead thanks to his activity. In the second, he managed to perform a move and increase the score to 3-0. It seemed Musaev held onto his winning lead without much difficulty.

SIX RUSSIAN MEN AND ONE RUSSIAN WOMAN

On Saturday, January 31, preliminary bouts in four men's and four women's weight categories took place at the Ivan Yarygin Cup.

• WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CHAMPIONS?

In the men's 74 kg weight class, Olympic champion and three-time world champion Zaurbek Sidakov was considered the main favorite. He finally recovered from injury – at least, he won his first three bouts of the tournament with convincing victories.

Sidakov also had a commanding lead in the semifinal against Anzor Zakuev. With half a minute remaining, he was leading 5-0, but missed two attacks from his opponent that turned the score to 5-8.

Zaurbek Sidakov missed out on becoming a five-time champion at the Yarygin tournament. Ksenia Burakova will also be unable to compete for a fifth gold medal at the tournament. In the 72 kg semifinal, she failed to score a single point against Zhamilya Bakberbenova of Kazakhstan.

• SEVEN PARTICIPANTS – SEVEN FINALS

The North Korean women's team continues to dominate the tournament. All seven members of the team entered for the Yarygin Cup reached the finals. On Saturday, Oh Ju Kim (62 kg) and Sol Gum Pak (68 kg) confidently advanced to the decisive bouts. The former defeated Russian Valeria Dondupova by fall, while the latter dispatched Russian Championship medalist Ani Makhmudyan ahead of schedule. They also had equally impressive victories at other stages of the tournament.

• PATTERNS AND SURPRISES

Anzor Zakuev, the tournament's biggest sensation, will face the highly experienced Timur Bizhoev, a World and European Championship medalist. He advanced confidently through the tournament, although without any particularly impressive victories.

Olympic medalist Artur Naifonov (86 kg) will predictably compete for gold. Like Bizhoev, almost all of his bouts were fairly close.

In the 97 kg weight class, European champion and World Championship medalist Magomed Kurbanov will compete for gold. Interestingly, he won all three of his bouts by identical scores of 3-1.    

The finals on the final day of the women's competition are shocking for Russian fans. Of the eight competitors, only one is Russian: Alina Shevchenko in the 68 kg weight class, who will face the unstoppable Korean Sol Gum Park.

 Of course, many of the Russian participants are young athletes for whom  gain experience the Yarygin Cup is the best place to gain experience. The real surprise was the defeat of European champion Anastasia Sidelnikova in the second round.

She lost to Dilnaz Sazanova of Kyrgyzstan. However, this loss can be explained by the fact that the Russian leader in the 59 kg category decided to try her hand at the heavier 62 kg weight class.

TODAY ARE THE FINALS Women ► 62 kg O  Zhu Kim (DPRK) vs. Dilnaz Sazanova (Kyrgyzstan) ► 68 kg Sol Gum Pak (DPRK) vs. Alina Shevchenko (Russia) ► 72 kg Bolrtungalag Zorigt (Mongolia) vs. Zhamilya Bakbergenova (Kazakhstan) ► 76 kg Tarav Tuvshinjargal (Mongolia) vs. Anastasia Zimenkova (Belarus)   Men ► 74 kg Anzor Zakuev (Russia) vs. Timur Bizhoev (Russia) ► 86 kg Artur Naifonov (Russia) vs. Ibrahim Kadiev (Russia) ► 92 kg Maustafagadzhi Malachdibirov (Russia) vs. Amanula Gadzimagomedov (Russia) ► 97 kg Mukhamed-Tagire Khaniev (Russia) vs. Magomed Kurbanov (Russia)

Women's wrestling is celebrating its anniversary at the 2026 Yarygin Cup. It first appeared on the Yarygin tournament program in 2002, making this the 25th time women have competed in Krasnoyarsk. Today, our guest is the winner, runner-up, and participant of the 13th International Freestyle Wrestling Grand Prix Tournament "Ivan Yarygin" (2002).

NATALIA IVANOVA: "I HOPE IT BECOMES A DYNASTY"

World and European Championship medalist, 13-time Russian champion, and Honored Master of Sports Natalia Ivanova won the 2002 tournament.

• Of course, I remember that tournament. And even now, the emotions run high when I recall those moments.

• Do you remember who you were wrestling against back then?

• I wrestled in the 59 kg category. In the final, I faced Elvira Mursalova from Dagestan. I was in a very good shape and knew from my own state of mind that this tournament was mine and I had to win it, so it happened. I was overwhelmed with emotion. We were allowed to wrestle with men for the first time, and I wanted to do my best, to show that women are just as good as men. I remember that Krasnoyarsk wrestler Zaur Botayev won that same day, and we went out to the awards ceremony together. And today I met him, and it was so nice to hug him and remind him of those moments—he remembers them very well, by the way.

• How was that Yarygin tournament different from other competitions? For example, the Russian Championships?

• A huge difference. Women's championships are held separately, quietly and peacefully. Usually, only the athletes' relatives and friends are in the stands. But here, when the stands are packed, everyone's shouting, everyone's expecting you to win, it's energizing. You begin to understand that it's not just the public watching you, the entire country is watching – this is an international competition, after all. It was very invigorating at that moment.

• Did you compete in the Yarygin tournament again after that?

• Yes, I won prizes in the following years. I didn't manage to win again. I moved up to other categories, and other girls started to join our ranks. It's not like you can win every competition.

• And yet, you even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. Tell us about it.

• Yes, that's true. Firstly, I wrestled until I was 39. There are no wrestlers of that age in wrestling today. Secondly, by the number of sports titles I've won. Master of Sports of the USSR, Master of Sports of International Class... I also practiced sambo and judo...And then I had to confirm all these titles in Russia. And based on all these titles, I was included in the Guinness Book of Records. I was also included in the book "The Best People of Russia." I was awarded a special certificate and a medal.

• Tell us what you're doing now.

• While still an athlete, I started coaching. I formed two groups, continued competing myself, and coached girls. Now I'm also coaching boys, because there's interest in wrestling in our city of Angarsk. And we've had some success. Our students have competed in this tournament many times and won it several times. Katya Bukina, Lyuba Volosova, Alena Kartashova, Ira Bogdanova, Anna Sofina…They all trained under my control and my coach`s, Valery Mikhailovich Zaitsev.

• Is there anyone at the tournament now who could aspire to such high results?

• This year, Valentina Tokhtoeva will represent the Irkutsk region in the 72 kg category. The other girls are still young; I hope to make a name for themselves in a couple of years.I came to a women's wrestling seminar organized by Viktor Kirillovich Raikov, and I brought my daughter with me to show her what it's all about. She's 13, and she's also training with me. She'll meet many famous athletes here, wrestling legends, and that should motivate her even more. And, of course, I'm very pleased to bring her here, to the place where I used to win. I hope we can start a dynasty.

ANNA POLOVNEVA: "WHEN WE SAW THE SCALE OF IT, IT WAS SCARY"

European champion Anna Polovneva has participated in or witnessed every Yarygin women's tournament. She first competed as a young athlete, then became a winner, and now helps her students achieve victories.

• I was 17 then. I remember the feeling so clearly when we saw the sheer scale of the place, that enormous hall—it was even terrifying. And at the opening, there were some seemingly unattainable figures, like Leonid Tyagachev, President of the Russian Olympic Committee.

On the mat, I lost, I think, to an American and another one of our own, already an adult, and didn't make it into the top three. But at the next tournament, I was a prize-winner after which I started winning. But that was later, only after about the fifth time I won.

• Was the appearance of women at such a major tournament a significant event for you?

• Of course. Women's wrestling was just beginning to develop in Russia. I think it gave it a powerful boost.

• How has women's wrestling at the tournament changed over the past 25 years?

• The tournament is growing every year. This time, the women's wrestling national teams are stronger than ever. The Koreans came—world champions, very strong athletes. They trained with us before the tournament and had a chance to appreciate their level. The only thing is, during my active career, there were also Japanese and American wrestlers competing, leaders in wrestling. They'll be back someday...

I think women's wrestling not only in  Krasnoyarsk, but also in Russia  has made significant progress during this time. And this is despite the fact that it's very difficult to convince a girl to take up wrestling these days, as other sports pose serious competition.

• I think there are more technically skilled athletes who demonstrate spectacular wrestling.

• Yes, women's wrestling is developing. To some extent, it's become similar to men's wrestling. Faster and more technically skilled athletes have emerged. They look to other schools, other countries. And the development of women's wrestling, including in the region, has occurred, in part, thanks to the Yarygin tournament.

LIDIYA KARAMCHAKOVA: "THE YARYGIN TOURNAMENT IS ALWAYS A CELEBRATION FOR ME"

European champion and Honored Coach of Russia Lidiya Karamchakova won bronze at the 2002 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix.

• I competed for the Krasnoyarsk Territory team at the time. I competed in the 46 kg weight class. My coaches, Viktor Kirillovich Raikov and Valery Petrovich Alekseev, prepared me for the competition.

I remember that the cars were a great motivator for winning the tournament—they were on display right in front of the Sports Palace. It was hard to buy a car back then, so everyone dreamed of winning. I didn't get a car. I took third place in the 2002 tournament. My dream of owning a car only came true the following year, when I won the competition and became the owner of a VAZ model 15. It was pure happiness!

• But there was a medal in 2002 too...

• There weren't many foreign girls that year. Just from three countries—the USA, Poland, and Ukraine. And we Russians mostly competed against our own. I didn't get to compete against any foreigners at that tournament either."

I lost the finals match to our girl, Lilia Kaskarakova, a representative of the Khakassia team. She's now a coach and an Honored Master of Sports. I won the third-place match. I can't remember who I won against; it was too long ago. 

• How are today's athletes different from those of the early 2000s?

• Women's wrestling has changed a lot since then. Even the weight classes used to be different. The minimum was 44 kg. Now it's 50 kg. The upper limit is currently 76 kg, although I would raise it to at least 78 kg, considering the weight of the girls we have. I had several teenage students who weighed over 80 kg, and realizing they wouldn't be able to lose the weight due to their physiology, I reoriented them to a different sport.

In my opinion, female athletes used to be more technical. There were so many fantastic throws! Now, there are few of those, and the emphasis is on endurance. The stronger girls win. Take, for example, our main competitors, the Japanese. They don't use as many movements anymore, they don't throw as many, but their overall endurance is good, they work constantly for the entire six minutes of the match. After all, sport is a spectacle, and spectators prefer technique and throws.

• Has your attitude toward the tournament changed at all, both as an athlete and as a coach?

• Whoever I am, the Yarygin tournament is always a celebration for me. You look forward to it and prepare for it. It's held according to all international rules. And tournaments like this are quite rare these days. I'm pleased that there are so many foreigners at this year's Cup. It's an interesting competition, a clash of different schools and styles. For young athletes, it's a great opportunity to watch world-class wrestlers perform and a great motivation for further growth.

UNDER THE FLAGS OF 21 COUNTRIES THE 2026 CUP BROKE THE RECORD FOR THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS FOR ALL PREVIOUS YEARS!

According to the Credentials Committee, 496 athletes from 21 countries have participated in the 2026 Ivan Yarygin Cup: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Brazil, Greece, Georgia, Egypt, India, China, Cuba, Kazakhstan, the DPRK, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, North Macedonia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

• The men's tournament included 322 wrestlers from 19 countries (123 foreign wrestlers).

The 74 kg weight class proved to be the most popular among men, with 40 (!) wrestlers entering. It also turned out to be the most international, with 10 countries participating: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Korea, Mongolia, and Turkey. The least popular weight classes were 61 kg and 79 kg (5 countries each).

The 97 kg and 125 kg weight classes had fewer entries than the other categories, with 29 wrestlers each. Nevertheless, the super heavyweights also set a historic record.

Mongolia had the largest foreign team, with 51 wrestlers. Only Mongolia and Russia fielded wrestlers in all 10 weight classes. Rounding out the top four were Kazakhstan (21 wrestlers in 7 weight classes) and Turkey (12 wrestlers in 9 weight classes).

• The women's tournament featured 174 athletes from 12 countries. It`s worth saying  that there were more foreign athletes than Russian athletes – 97 versus 77.

The 53 kg weight class proved to be the most popular, attracting 29 medal contenders. Together with the 57 kg weight class, these two categories were the most international, with nine countries representing each.

The 68 kg weight class had the smallest number with just 10 athletes competing for a podium spot. While there were 13 athletes in the 72 kg weight class, the number of countries represented was minimal – just four: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Russia.

• Of the foreign teams, the largest were Mongolia – 26 people, Kazakhstan – 17, Kyrgyzstan – 16, Belarus – 11 and Uzbekistan – 10.

COUNTRY	M	F	TOTAL
1. Russia	199	77	276
2. Mongolia	51	26	77
3. Kazakhstan	21	17	38
4. Belarus	7	11	18
5. Kyrgyzstan	1	16	17
6. Turkiye	12	0	12
7. Egypt	6	5	11
8. DPRK	3	7	10
9. Uzbekistan	0	10	10
10. Azerbaijan	4	0	4
11. Turkmenistan	4	0	4
12. India	0	3	3
13. China	3	0	3
14. Tajikistan	2	1	3
15. Georgia	2	0	2
16. Korea	2	0	2
17. Cuba	2	0	2
18. Brazil	0	1	1
19. Bulgaria	1	0	1
20. Greece	1	0	1
21. North Macedonia	1	0	1
RESULT	322	174	496