2021 Russian Wrestling Nationals Day 4 Recap
#5 Gadzhimurad Rashidov makes a return to form for fourth national title at 65 KG, Omarov and Kudiev impress in repechage
In the finals facing off against returning bronze medalist #9 Zagir Shakhiev, Rashidov was ever the patient yet explosive technician he’s been known to be his whole career and with time winding down in the second was able to get a takedown and convert right into a lace to secure the 5-3 win over Shakhiev and his right to wrestle in Tokyo. Gadzhimurad Omarov and Abdulmazhid Kudiev were able to impress on the backside of the bracket, albeit with different results. Omarov upset 2020 61 KG nationals bronze medalist #7 (61) Ibragim Abdurakhmanov 2-0 in the second round of repechage and won on criteria 2-2 over Julian Gergenov in the third round of repechage to make the bronze medal match against #4 (70) Kurban Shiraev which he lost 3-0. 2020 U-23 national runner-up Abdulmazhid Kudiev’s efforts were more successful though as he upset two time nationals bronze medalist #14 Murshid Mutalimov 3-3 to qualify for bronze where he tech falled returning two time 61 KG nationals runner-up #2 (61) Ramazan Ferzaliev 10-0
65 KG was great for a lot of reasons, namely for showing that 2019 world champion #5 Gadzhimurad Rashidov hasn’t lost a step and also for the incredibly impressive performance of U-23 level talent like Gadzhimurad Omarov and Abdulmazhid Kudiev that show that Russia is still the king at producing and maintaining young talent to take control. Also, condolences to Edward Gallo as his favorite wrestler 2019 70 KG world champion #1 David Baev was beaten 8-2 in the round of 16 by #14 Murshid Mutalimov and he has been in shambles ever since.
GOLD: #5 Gadzhimurad Rashidov over #9 Zagir Shakhiev 5-3
BRONZE: Abdulmazhid Kudiev over #2 (61) Ramazan Ferzaliev 10-0
BRONZE: #4 (70) Kurban Shiraev over Gadzhimurad Omarov 3-0
Malik Shavaev takes gold at 79 KG with dominant performance against top ranked Akhmed Usmanov
Malik Shavaev was on fire in his finals match against returning Russian nationals champion #1 Akhmed Usmanov. A crucial takedown and two leg laces gave him the 6-4 win over the #1 Akhmed Usmanov and cemented him as one of the top performers from Russian nationals for his victories over Usmanov and #5 Radik Valiev in yesterday’s semifinals. In the bronze medal match, #5 Radik Valiev was able to fend off a late charge by returning national runner-up #2 Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev for a 6-5 win while 2019 world bronze medalist Gadzhi Nabiev earned his fifth straight Russian nationals medal with a 6-1 win over 2019 Junior world champion #10 Amkhad Tashukhadzhiev
GOLD: Malik Shavaev over #1 Akhmed Usmanov 6-4
BRONZE: #5 Radik Valiev over #2 Gadzhimurad Alikhmaev 6-5
BRONZE: Gadzhi Nabiev over Amkhad Tashukhadzhiev 6-1
#10 Muslim Mektikhanov pushes #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov in the finals but comes up short as Magomedov goes back to back.
#10 Muslim Mekhtikhanov has been one of the big revelations of the weight since February when he posted a runner-up finish at the North Caucasian Federal District where he beat two time Russian nationals bronze medalist #11 Zelimkhan Abakarov before a 2-2 loss in the finals to 2019 nationals bronze #9 Dinislam Takhtarov. While many believed that in the absence of #2 Ramazan Ferzaliev #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov would not be pushed at all on his path to winning consecutive national titles, Mekhtikhanov proved them wrong as he pushed the returning champion in a 4-1 loss in a fantastic overall performance.
Taking bronze was Aldar Balzhinimaev over Rustam Karakhanov 5-4 and Cherman Tavitov 2-0 over Nodar Arabidze
GOLD: #1 Abasgadzhi Magomedov over #10 Muslim Mekhtikhanov 4-1
BRONZE: Aldar Balzhinimaev over Rustam Karakhanov 5-4
BRONZE: Cherman Tavitov over Nodar Arabidze 2-0
#1 (92) Alikhan Zhabrailov proves weight is just a number and wins third national title up at 97 kilograms.
#1 (92) Alikhan Zhabrailov was the consensus pick to win at 97 KG and he did not disappoint. The 2019 world bronze medalist, 2020 Individual World Cup champion at 92 KG put together a strong run that culminated with a 5-0 finals win over returning national runner-up #17 Aslanbek Sotiev. Taking bronze was 2016 Junior world bronze medalist Znaur Kotsiev 3-0 over Tazhudin Mukhtarov and 2020 U-23 national runner-up Khokh Khugaev by pin over 2019 nationals bronze medalist Georgi Gogaev
GOLD: #1 (92) Alikhan Zhabrailov over #17 Aslanbek Sotiev 5-0
BRONZE: Znaur Kotsiev over Tazhudin Mukhtarov 3-0
BRONZE: Khokh Khugaev over Georgi Gogaev by pin