2020 57 KG Russian Nationals Preview
Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images
Names to know
#1 Zavur Uguev: 2x Russian nationals champion (2017 & 2018), 2x world champion (2018 & 2019), 2019 European Games champion
#2 Azamat Tuskaev: 2x (‘13 & ‘15) Russian nationals bronze medalist, 2017 Alans champion, 2020 Yarygin champion, 2020 European champion
#7 Akhmed Idrisov: 2018 junior world champion, 2019 Alans champion, 2020 Yarygin runner-up
Ramiz Gamzatov: 2020 Russian nationals champion.
Khasanhusein Badrudinov: 2019 Russian nationals bronze medalist
Muslim Sadulaev: 2019 Yarygin champ, 2019 European runner-up, 2019 Russian nationals runner-up
Khuresh-Ool Donduk-Ool: 2018 Russian nationals runner-up
Mikhail Ivanov: 2019 Russian nationals bronze medalist
Naachyn Mongush: 2019 Russian nationals champ, 2020 Russian nationals runner-up
THE BRACKET BREAKDOWN
Reigning two time national and world champion #1 Zavur Uguev is the man to beat here but there is a slew of veteran and young Russian talent that will push the sixth ranked pound for pound wrestler in the world. Placed on the top half of the bracket, Uguev’s best competition through the quarterfinals would be Petr Konstantinov who hasn’t had great tournament placement but did upset 2019 61 KG U-23 world champion #5 (61) Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov of Kyrgyzstan at the Medved last year. The bottom half of the top bracket is especially interesting with three of the returning medalists in it, with Khasanhusein Badrudinov and Mikhail Ivanov meeting in the first round. The winner would have returning national runner-up Muslim Sadulaev in the quarters and get the chance to wrestle Uguev in the semis. I would lean towards seeing a Sadulaev/Uguev semi final which I see being all Uguev, but Badrudinov is a young talent and showed out last year so I could definitely see him pushing through this top half bracket.
The bottom half of the bracket is where things get really interesting. #2 Azamat Tuskaev, the reigning Yarygin and European champion and Uguev’s only domestic in the past 3 years (the finals of the 2017 Alans), has looked absolutely incredible since his capturing bronze at the Alans and following it up with Yarygin and European gold. But facing him in the quarters would be red hot #6 Akhmed Idrisov, a 2018 junior world champ and 2019 Alans champ, with prestigious wins over the likes of Tuskaev, 3x European champion Giorgi Edisherashvili of Azerbaijan, #8 Reineri Andreu Ortega of Cuba, #11 Bekhbayar Erdenebat of Mongolia. This is one of my favorite matches of the tournament and I hope it can materialize as the series is tied at 1-1 with Idrisov taking it at the Alans and Tuskaev winning in the Yarygin finals. Look to see returning national champion #20 Ramiz Gamzatov come out to make the semis opposite Tuskaev with Tuskaev emerging the victor to set up a Tuskaev/Uguev national final. This would be the fourth match in their series if it does materialize Uguev having a 2-1 lead with wins at the 2019 Ali Aliev finals and the 2018 Yarygin finals and Tuskaev emerging victorious over Uguev in the 2017 Alans finals.
While Tuskaev has looked fantastic, he has also had a history of underperforming at nationals plus with Idrisov having such a high upside, I very much can see a possibility that Idrisov reminds everyone why he had so much deserved hype last year and make the finals and push Uguev. Overall one of my favorite weights to watch.
