Georgia's Vladimir Khinchegashvili after winning an Olympic gold medal in 2016 (Photo/Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)With the European, African, and Asian Olympic Games qualifiers completed, we now have a better understanding of what to expect the field will look like for the world Olympic qualifier where the US will be sending Jordan Oliver to qualify 65 KG. To qualify their country for the Olympics, athletes must make the finals of the last chance qualifier.
The Big Four
#3 (70) Ilyas Bekbulatov (UZB)- 2015 Russian Nationals champion, 2017 European champion, 2018 European runner-up, 4x Yarygin champion ('13,'15,'17,'18), 2021 Russian Pro League champion.
Key Wins: Soslan Ramonov (2015 Russian Nationals finals), #7 (74) Magomed Kurbanaliev (2015 Russian Nationals), #8 David Baev (2021 70 KG Russian Pro League finals), #10 Akhmed Chakaev (2018 Yarygin finals), #11 Naachyn Kuular (2018 Yarygin).
Key Losses: #7 (74) Magomed Kurbanaliev (2014 Intercontinental Cup), Toghrul Asgarov (2015 European Games), #4 Haji Aliyev (2018 European Championships finals), Soslan Ramonov (2018 Indian Pro League), Julian Gergenov (2019 Russian Nationals), Ernazar Akhmataliev (2021 Asian OG qualifier)
#13 Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL)- 2016 70 KG European champion, 2017 65 KG world runner-up, 2017 70 KG European runner-up, 2018 70 KG European runner-up, 2019 70 KG European bronze, 2020 70 KG European champion 2019 70 KG world bronze, 2020 70 KG Individual world cup champion.
Key Wins: #1 (70) Israil Kasumov (2017 70 KG European championships), #4 Haji Aliyev (2018 International Ukrainian tournament), Vladimir Khinchegashvili (2018 International Ukrainian tournament) #5 Heydar Yavuz (2020 70 KG Individual World Cup finals) #14 (70) Zurab Iakobishvili (2019 70 KG world bronze medal match), #1 (74) Zaurbek Sidakov (2016 70 KG European championships).
Key Losses: #4 (74) Frank Chamizo (2015 world championships, 2017 70 KG European championships finals), #7 (74) Magomed Kurbanaliev (2018 70 KG European finals), Frank Molinaro (2016 Olympics), #14 (70) Zurab Iakobishvili (2017 65 KG world finals), #8 David Baev (2019 70 KG world championships), #2 Vazgen Tevanyan (2021 European OG Qualifier)
Jordan Oliver (USA)- 2019 U.S. Open champion, 2019 Bill Farrell Memorial champion, 2021 Olympic Trials champion, 2020 Matteo Pellicone runner-up.
Key Wins: #14 Yianni Diakomihalis (2021 Olympic Trials), Joey McKenna (2019 U.S. Open finals, 2021 Olympic trials finals), Toghrul Asgarov (2018 Beat the Streets).
Key Losses: #15 Bajrang Punia (2019 Dan Kolov finals, 2020 Matteo Pellicone finals), #14 Yianni Diakomihalis (2019 U.S. Open), #10 Akhmed Chakaev (2018 Ziolkowski).
Vladimir Khinchegashvili (GEO)- 2015 57 KG world champion, 2016 57 KG Olympic champion, 2017 61 KG European champion, 2017 61 KG world bronze medalist, 2019 European Games runner-up.
Key Wins: #1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2016 57 KG world cup), Hassan Rahimi (2015 57 KG world finals), #7 (57) Rei Higuchi ( #4 Haji Aliyev (2016 61 KG European championships, 2016 Olympics), #10 Akhmed Chakaev (2017 European championships finals, 2019 European Games), Logan Stieber (2017 61 KG world championships).
Key Losses: #3 (70) Ilyas Bekbulatov (2018 European championships), #10 Akhmed Chakaev (2018 world championships), #1 Gadzhimurad Rashidov (2017 61 KG world championships), #3 Ismail Musukaev (2019 world championships), #4 Haji Aliyev (2019 European Games finals), #2 Vazgen Tevanyan (2021 European OG Qualifier).
The Breakdown
A very credentialed trio of wrestlers will be standing opposite of Oliver in the form of #3 (70) Ilyas Bekbulatov (UZB), #13 Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL), and 2016 57 KG Olympic champion Vladimir Khinchegashvili (GEO). Bekbulatov, a 2017 European champion for Russia and 2020 European champion, was the heavy favorite to qualify Uzbekistan at the Asian qualifier, but was chin whipped and pinned by eventual champion Ernazar Akhmataliev of Kyrgyzstan. Two-time world medalist #13 Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (POL) and 2x World/Olympic champion Vladimir Khinchegashvili (GEO) have prestigious resumes with multiple wins over world and Olympic medalists, but failed to qualify at the European Olympic qualifier due to losses to 2020 Individual World Cup champion #2 Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM).
Now that we know the big three that Jordan Oliver will be dealing with, how does he stack up against the field? While there is no easy match at all against the trio of Gadzhiev, Bekbulatov, and Khinchegashvili, each one has a specific path to victory that Oliver can realistically pull off.
Khinchegashvili would test Oliver's ability to chain wrestle through his leg attacks and having the gas tank to keep pressure on opponents late into a match which, based on Oliver's showing at the Olympic Trials, he should be fine. Gadzhiev will test Oliver's patience and reattacks as Gadzhiev is notoriously defensively stingy and a master at winning low-scoring matches. Bekbulatov will be the most well rounded of the three against Oliver, but if Oliver can control his ties and not get behind off an early score to Bekbulatov's chest wrap, arm throw, or uchi mata and take advantage of Bekbulatov's suspect gas tank late, like Haji Aliyev in the 2018 European finals, then Oliver can definitely take come out on top of this field.
There is a possibility that Turkey could be sending #5 (70) Heydar Yavuz or 2019 European champion Mustafa Kaya, but even with them having the greater pedigree than Selehattin Killicsallyan, who was the European qualifier rep, both men have notorious hard cuts down to weight so it's still up in the air who Turkey would send. Both Yavuz and Kaya are clear title contenders and I am interested to see what choice Turkey makes moving forward.
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