65 KG: Men's Freestyle 2019 World Championship Preview
Photo courtesy of Tony Rotundo/WrestlersAreWarriors
One of the most captivating weights of the world championships, 65 KG looks to be guaranteed fireworks, but with the caveat that unlike 65 KG it is very top heavy and there is a rather pronounced drop off in depth once you get past the title contender tier. Even with this being the case, 65 KG is still one of the premier weights to watch in Nursultan.
Title Contenders:
#1 Bajrang Punia (IND)- 2018 world runner-up, 2019 Dan Kolov champ, 2018 Asian Games champ, 2019 Ali Aliev champ, 2018 70 KG Yasar Dogu champ, 2013 60 KG world bronze medalist Key Wins: Alejandro Valdes Tobier (2018 World semis, 2019 DRL 2x), Haji Aliyev (2019 Indian Pro League), Julian Gergenov (2019 Dan Kolov), Kurban Shiraev (2019 Ali Aliev), Daichi Takatani (2018 Asian Games finals), Mustafa Kaya (2018 Yasar Dogu) Key Losses: Takuto Otoguro (2018 world finals), Yianni Diakomihalis (2019 Grapple at the Garden), Daichi Takatani (2018 Asian championships), Soslan Ramonov (2018 Indian Pro League), Zurab Iakobishvili (2017 world’s), Mustafa Kaya (2017 world’s repechage)
#2 Alejandro Valdes Tobier (CUB)- 2x world bronze medalist (2017 & 2018), 2019 Pan-Am Games champ, 2016 Ziolkowski champ. Key Wins: Haji Aliyev (2018 world cup, 2018 world’s), Azamat Nurikov (2017 world bronze medal match), Ilyas Bekbulatov (2018 DRL), Vladimir Khinchegashvili (2019 DRL 2x), Mustafa Kaya (2016 Olympics) Key Losses: Bajrang Punia (2018 World semis, 2019 DRL 2x), DaichI Takatani (2018 world cup), Soslan Ramonov (2016 Olympics), Haislan Garcia (2016 Olympics repechage)
#3 Takuto Otoguro (JPN)- 2018 world champ. Key Wins: Akhmed Chakaev (2018 world semis), Bajrang Punia (2018 world finals). Rei Higuchi (2019 Japanese world team wrestle-off, 2018 All Japan championships), Logan Stieber (2018 world cup), Daichi Takatani (2018 All-Japan championships). Key Losses: Rei Higuchi (2019 All Japan championships finals).
#4 Haji Aliyev (AZE)- 3x61 KG world champ (‘14,’15,’17), 2019 European Games champ, 3x European Champ (2014, ‘18, ‘19). Key Wins: Vladimir Khinchegashvili (2019 European Games finals), Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2017 61 KG world finals), Naachin Kuular (2019 Euros quarters), Ilyas Bekbulatov (2018 European championships finals). Key Losses: Alejandro Valdes Tobier (2018 world cup, 2018 world’s), Vladimir Khinchegashvili (2016 Olympics, 2016 Euros), Soslan Ramonov (2018 Indian Pro wrestling league), Ilyas Bekbulatov (2018 Indian pro wrestling league), Bajrang Punia (2018 Indian Pro wrestling league).
#5 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (RUS)- 2x 61 KG world runner-up (‘17 & ‘18), 2x European champ (‘16 & ‘18), 2018 Yarygin champ, 2018 Ziolkowski champ Key Wins: Nachyin Kuular (2019 Russian nationals finals), Akhmed Chakaev (2017 Russian nationals semis), DaichI Takatani (2019 world cup), Vladimir Khinchegashvili (2017 world quarters), Logan Stieber (2017 world’s round of 16), Alexander Bogomoev (2018 Yarygin), Ismail Musukaev (2018 yarygin finals), Magomedrasul Idrisov (2018 Ziolkowski) Key Losses: Akhmed Chakaev (2017 & 2019 Yarygin), Haji Aliev (2017 world finals), Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (2018 world finals).
#9 Vladimir Khinchegashvili (GEO)- 2015 57 KG world champ, 2016 57 KG Olympic champ, 2017 61 KG world bronze, 2019 European Games runner-up, 2017 European champ. Key Wins: Haji Aliev (2016 European championships), Akhmed Chakaev (2017 Euro finals, 2019 European Games), Logan Stieber (2017 world’s repechage), Rei Higuchi (2016 Olympics finals). Key Losses: George Bucur (2019 Henri Deglane challenge), Naachin Kuular (2018 Alans, 2019 European championships), Ismail Musukaev (2017 Alans), Rustam Abdurashidov (2017 Alans bronze medal match), Haji Aliev (2019 European Games finals), Akhmed Chakaev (2015 Alrosa cup, 2018 world’s), Alejandro Valdes Tobier (2019 DRL).
#1 Bajrang Punia has been one of the most busy men in all of wrestling after his world silver medal finish last year in Budapest. The talented Indian grappler added two wins over #2 Alejandro Valdes Tobier early in the year at the Deutsche Ringerliga (DRL), then took out 3x world champ Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan at the Indian Pro League, and winning the Dan Kolov, Asian championships, Ali Aliev, and the Tbilisi GP notching wins over Jordan Oliver, #12 Julian Gergenov, #13 Kurban Shiraev, #17 Islam Dudaev and #18 Viktor Rassadin while suffering his only loss to American talent #11 Yianni Diakomihalis. While Bajrang does tend to start matches slow, his ability to wear guys down with his pace and handfighting along with his snatch single, front head lock series, and underhooks should serve him well against a rugged field.
#2 Alejandro Valdes Tobier recovered from his bronze medal finish in Budapest last year by disposing of 2x World/Olympic champ #9 Vladimir Khinchegashvili of Georgia twice in the DRL but also falling twice to Bajrang at the DRL. Tobier’s won the Pan-Am Games this year and is in serious contention to improve upon his two past bronze medal performances at world’s and with wins over #4 Haji Aliyev, #7 Ilyas Bekbulatov, and #9 Vladimir Khinchegashvili he’s shown the capability of doing just that. Returning world champion #3 Takuto Otoguro (JPN) was electrifying in his title winning performance last year and if healthy should be in prime position to repeat and emerge with his second world title. But Otoguro is at the number three spot in the rankings and this preview due to the fact he was tech falled at the All-Japan championships by 2018 U-23 world champ #10 Rei Higuchi. #4 Haji Aliyev rebounded from failing to place at his first World/Olympic championships since 2013 after a qualification round loss to #2 Alejandro Valdes Tobier by winning the European championships and European Games in impressive fashion with his best win coming in dominating 10-2 fashion over #9 Vladimir Khinchegashvili in the finals along with a win over #6 Naachyin Kuular of Russia at the European Championships.
A two time world runner-up at 61 KG, #5 Gadzhimurad Rashidov of Russia rebounded from a broken hand in January to win Russian Nationals in July over #6 Naachyin Kuular. Rashidov defeated #9 Vladimir Khinchegashvili at 2017 world’s to burst onto the scene and his wins over other Russian hammers in #6 Kuular, #9 Akhmed Chakaev, and #13 Kurban Shiraev show that he’s in good position to improve upon his past two world silver medals. #9 Vladimir Khinchegashvili, a past two World/Olympic champ recovered from an up and down 2018 by dispatching of old foe #9 Akhmed Chakaev of Russia to make the European Games finals. Khinchegashvili would lose to #4 Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan in lopsided fashion in the finals but is always a title threat if peaked,
Medal Contenders:
#14 Zain Retherford (USA): 2019 Final X champ, 2016 Olympic trials bronze, 2017 Grand prix of spain champ, 2012 63 KG cadet world champ Key Wins: Yianni Diakomihalis (2019 Final X), James Green (2016 Olympic Trials), Daichi Takatani (2019 world cup). Key Losses: Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2019 Yarygin), Yianni Diakomihalis (2019 Yasar Dogu), Adam Batirov (2017 world’s)
Ismail Musuakev (HUN)- 2017 61 KG Alans champ, 2018 61 KG Yarygin runner-up, 2015 Baku GGP champ, 2x Russian nationals runner-up (‘15 & ‘18), 2018 Intercontinental Cup champ, 2015 Kadyrov Cup runner-up. Key Wins: Vladimir Khinchegashvili (2017 Alans), Zelimkhan Abakarov (2017 Alans finals), Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg (2017 Alans), Makhir Amiraslanov (2015 Baku GGP), Dzhamal Otarsultanov (2015 Baku GGP), Bekhbayar Erdenebat (2015 Baku GGP finals), Artem Gebek (2018 Russian nationals) Key Losses: Aznaur Tavaev (2018 Alans), Yianni Diakomihalis (2018 Yasar Dogu), Magomedrasul Idrisov (2018 Russian Nationals finals), Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2018 Yarygin finals).
After a tumultuous selection process, it was #14 Zain Retherford who would ultimately earn his second world team spot for the United States with a win over #11 Yianni Diakomihalis at Final X during labor day weekend. Retherford also has a strong tech fall win over #15 Daichi Takatani of Japan at the world cup. Ismail Musukaev popped onto the radars of many domestic fans when he went and pushed #11 Yianni Diakomihalis to the brink at the Yasar Dogu before gassing out and being cautioned out of his match. Musukaev, a Russian transfer, is far more then what he showed against Diakomihalis and should be considered a very real medal threat if he’s healthy as he’s notched past wins over #3(61) Zelimkhan Abakarov, #9 Vladimir Khinchegashvili, and Olympic champ Dzhamal Otarsultanov.
Dark Horse:
Gor Ogannesyan (UKR)- 2019 European Games bronze medalist, 2019 Ziolkowski runner-up, 2017 International Ukrainain tournament runner-up. Key Wins: Georgi Koliev (2019 European Games), Vasyl Shuptar (2019 Ziolkowski), Daulet Niyazbekov (2019 Ziolkowski), Magomed Muslimov (2017 International Ukrainian tournament), Andrey Kviatkovski (2017 International Ukrainain tournament). Key Losses: Haji Aliyev (2019 European Games semis), Yianni Diakomihalis (2019 Ziolkowski finals), George Bucur (2017 International Ukrainiain tournament finals)
European Games bronze medalist Gor Ogannesyan of Ukraine has been one to keep an eye on this year, as he’s pushed #4 Haji Aliyev and #11 Yianni Diakomihalis to the brink at the European Games and the Ziolkowski respectively, and taken out 2018 Asian championships gold medalist Daulet Niyazbekov (KAZ) and 2015 world bronze medalist Vasyl Shuptar (UKR) at the Ziolkowski. I’m excited for his potential in Nursultan and am not sure of his ability to put away some of the top title contenders but he could be an extremely problematic early round matchup.