The Russian wrestling championship yielded victories for competitors hailing from Yakutia.
**Russian Wrestlers Shine at National Championships**
The 2025 Russian Wrestling Championship in Moscow saw some exciting battles and noteworthy performances from the country's top wrestlers. Among them was Konstantin Kaprynov, who reached the final in the 70kg weight class but ultimately lost to Sayin Kazyryk.
Kaprynov, a silver medalist at the Yarygin Tournament in an unspecified year, demonstrated his competitive prowess throughout the tournament. He began his run with a decisive attack against Habib Mehtikhanov in the 1/8 final, trailing 1:1 just 15 seconds before the buzzer. His impressive display continued as he defeated Stanislav Svynoboyev in the semifinals with a score of 10:0.
However, in the final, Kaprynov faced a tough challenge from Kazyryk and lost by a narrow margin of 8:8. Despite this setback, Kaprynov's performance in Moscow confirmed his status as a prominent figure in Russian wrestling.
Regional competitions indicate that Kaprynov is no stranger to competing among Russia's elite wrestlers. He participated in the Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin in 2025, further highlighting his competitive level on the national stage. In addition, Kaprynov won a prestigious tournament in Mongolia in an unspecified year, showcasing his international success.
Another standout performer at the Russian Championship was Sergin Nyrgun. He defeated the European and World champion Magomed-Tagir Khaniev (6:2) in the 92kg category and also overcame Vladislav Valeev, the Russian and World Cup holder, with a score of 3:1. Nyrgun, however, slipped up against Yusup-Haji Aidayev from Chechnya in the final seconds of the bronze medal match, falling for a counter-attack.
Meanwhile, Lev Pavlov, last year's vice-champion, did not win a medal at the 2021 Russian Championship in Yakutsk. Pavlov, who is considering moving west to train under a higher-class coach instead of traveling from Sunatar to Moscow, challenged the referee's decision in the 1/8 final of an unspecified tournament but lost.
Alexander Avlov also had a successful tournament, winning the bronze medal in the 61kg weight class. He defeated Khalid Magomedov on the last seconds of the bronze medal match, winning by 4 points (8:3). Avlov also came back from a 2:3 deficit just 20 seconds before the end to defeat Erdem Borogoshonov in the 61kg weight class with a score of 8:3. However, he suffered a loss to Olympic Champion Zaur Uguev in the same weight class.
In a historic moment for Tuva, Ayan Ondar won the gold medal at the Russian Championships in 2002, marking the first victory for Tuva's wrestlers at the event. Inar Ketiya, a World Championship winner, was defeated by Kaprynov in the 70kg weight class at the 2021 Russian Championship with a score of 11:9.
As the fall approaches, Sayin Kazyryku is the top contender for the World Championship. With the performances of Kaprynov, Nyrgun, and others, Russian wrestling continues to show its strength on the international stage.
- Despite the loss to Sayin Kazyryk in the 2025 Russian Wrestling Championship, Kaprynov showcased his skills in sports, demonstrating his competitive prowess both domestically and internationally.
- Sergin Nyrgun, another notable Russian wrestler, proved his mettle in sports with impressive victories over notable opponents, including the Russian and World Cup holder Vladislav Valeev, at the 2025 Russian Wrestling Championship.
