MAKHACHKALA, August 24 – RIA Dagestan. Competition at the U20 World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, intensified on Saturday, August 22, as medals were contested across four weight divisions, with Dagestan-born wrestlers claiming all of Russia's two golds and one bronze.
The team's first gold was claimed by Magomed Magomedov (57 kg), a lightweight representing Gamidov Sports School. A student of national youth team coach Arslanbek Aliyev, he defeated American Isai Cortez 8–4 in the final. A day earlier, Magomedov had posted four victories, two of them by early stoppage.
Team captain Ismail Khaniev (79 kg) lived up to his billing as favourite, capturing his second consecutive U20 world title. A student at the School of Olympic Reserve, he finished all four of his preliminary bouts early, outscoring opponents by a combined 42–2.
In the final match, the trainee of Russian junior national team coach Zelimkhan Guseinov defeated Japan's Keivan Garedagi 8-0. Wrestling fans will remember the Japanese athlete for his victory at the Asian Championships, where he beat Olympic champion Razambek Zhamalov in the final. Notably, earlier this year Khaniev won the senior Russian National Championship, reached the final of the Ivan Yarygin Cup and claimed gold at both the U20 and U23 European Championship.
A bronze medal was awarded to Khaniev's teammate Zalimkhan Umarov (65 kg), who defeated Turkey's Haji Zade 13-2 in the bronze medal match. During the preliminary rounds, Umarov lost to the eventual tournament champion, American Bo Bassett.
The Russian team now holds a total of five medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze). Tomorrow, on the final day of competition, Rodion Sanakoev (97 kg) will wrestle for gold, while Islam Kazharov (74 kg) and Soslan Gabuev (125 kg) will compete in the repechage.