The key facts
- In the semifinal of the up to 61 kg category, Uguev defeated Zelimkhan Abakarov (Albania) with a score of 3:0
- In the final on October 31, he will face Iran's Ahmad Mohammadnejad Javan
- Two more Russians — Ibragim Ibragimov and Abdulla Kurbanov — have also advanced to the finals
Uguev is one step away from a fourth world title
Russian freestyle wrestler Zaur Uguev has advanced to the final of the World Championships currently taking place in Astana. In the semifinal of the up to 61 kg weight class, the Olympic champion defeated Albania's Zelimkhan Abakarov with a score of 3:0, reports Life.ru. The decisive bout against Iran's Ahmad Mohammadnejad Javan will take place on October 31; with a victory, the 31-year-old Russian would become a four-time world champion.
Tournament path and other finalists
Over the course of the tournament, Uguev has already claimed three victories: over Kim Kwan Men of North Korea with a score of 10:0 and over Gulomjon Abdullaev of Uzbekistan — 3:2. Besides him, two more Russian wrestlers have reached the finals: Ibragim Ibragimov in the up to 70 kg category and Abdulla Kurbanov among the heavyweights up to 125 kg. The tournament will conclude on November 1.
Context: a national championship record
Before the World Championships, Uguev became the first in history nine-time Russian freestyle wrestling champion: at the national championship in Moscow he won the up to 61 kg category, defeating Ramiz Gamzatov in the final. With this achievement he surpassed the record of Russian national team head coach Khadzhimurat Gatsalov, who has eight national titles to his name. Uguev also holds three world championship golds and two European championship titles.
