On Monday, July 21, a match of the Russian and USA fighters took place in Budapest. The long -awaited confrontation of our athletes with the strongest rivals, and even without ridiculous restrictions like neutral status, can be safely perceived as another step in the full return of Russia to the international sports arena. It is even more pleasant that in this battle our athletes defeated the Americans.

The hardest victory in the first match meeting for the joy of all Russian fans!

Under the flag of the country

In the process of Russia’s return to the international arena, after a ban from the IOC in 2022, they gradually move from words to business. Many international federations have already begun to allow our athletes for tournaments, and after discussing the highest level of Russian-American matches in different sports, a chance to see in our business and under the flag of the country.

In the struggle, they managed to agree on the specifics and organize the first meeting in the neutral territory. On July 21, in Hungary at the PWL 9 tournament, the freestyle -style fighters from the two countries came together on the carpet in order to determine the strongest power.

Initially, the option was considered in which all the leaders of the national teams will enter the carpet, but the two-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion Abdulrashid Sadullaev still has difficulties with the visas of European countries, and in the absence of a friend and opponent there was nothing to do in Budapest to the Olympic champion and three-time champion of the world, Kale Svider. As a result, with rare exceptions to Hungary, it was decided to send the second and third numbers of the teams. But the plans have two more meetings – in Russia and the USA. And there, most likely, fans will be able to see in the strongest case.

Debat to the equator

It was nice to see the tricolor and the letters “Rus” on the form of our athletes. Russian wrestlers in Hungary went to the carpet under the songs of the war years in modern processing, and the name of the tournament “The Struggle for Peace” hinted at the friendly relations of rivals. In the end, outside the carpet, there really are no significant disagreements between fighters from Russia and the United States.

There was no question on the carpet of friendship: without any compromises, the fighters fought for victory. Initially, Russians did not have problems: Musa Mekhtikhanov (up to 57 kg), Muslim Mehtikhanov (up to 61 kg), Abasgadzhi Magomedov (up to 65 kg), Sayyn Kazyryk (up to 70 kg), Magoma Dibirgadzhiev (up to 74 kg) won the fights confidently, in most cases prematurely.

Zelimkhan Khizriev / Photo: © Federation of Russian Wrestling

The devastating score 5-0 to the equator of the tournament was somewhat surprised. Yes, in the same category, the Americans had to make a replacement due to a participant’s injury, putting a Greco-Roman style fighter against the Russian, but otherwise they were quite strong athletes. At that moment, it was thought that they would really lose 0-10? But subsequent fights forced Russian fans to get worried.

“The great powers united”

In the category up to 79 kg of Mohmad Nasirkhaev, he was close to winning the sixth victory, but received damage to the ribs, after which he could no longer provide worthy resistance. Then, already without any injuries, he missed the advantage in the ending of Amanal Rasulov. At the same time, some judicial decisions raised big questions: to turn 1 second before the end of the fight of 16, for which the American broke the stroke of the duel, was somewhat strange. But it remained only to accept the second defeat.

He did not confirm the status of the favorite in the category up to 92 kg Amanl Gadzhimagomedov. And here, too, there are questions for refereeing: points that the Russian seemed to have earned at the beginning of the fight, for some reason went to the American. Konstantin Pshenichnikov in the category of up to 97 kg lost his duel already without any excuses-with a score of 1: 8. Of course, in this weight we are dominated by Sadullaev, but it was not easier at a particular tournament, because the score 5-0 turned into 5-4.

In the event of the victory of the American Trent Hilder in the confrontation of the heavyweights of the fans, another fight awaited. Moreover, the participants would determine the lot. And after all, the wrestler from the United States was considered a favorite in the confrontation with Zelimkhan Hizriev. But our fighter, realizing all responsibility, gathered and held a duel close to the ideal.

Hizriev quickly led 2-0, which after the American challenged turned into 3: 0. Then he added four more balls with a successful counterattack. Quickly, the score was 11-0 in favor of the Russian, which meant early victory in a specific battle. And in the match, Russia won-6-4.

– I believe that there was a very significant and serious event that showed everything, and not only sports, the world, that there are unshakable tools, such as sport and art. And including through these tools today there is a great opportunity to build fraternal, good -neighborly relations. Of course, this is not a panacea. Nevertheless, the two great powers today united in the sports and partnerships. Now the two powers in sports and honest struggle congratulate each other and live by the hope of visiting Russia and taking revenge, ”the President of the Russian Wrestling Federation Mikhail Mamiashvili summed up the tournament in an interview with Match TV.