Two-time world champion Magomedrasul Gazimegmedov said that he will change his weight category to compete at the Tokyo Games. Originally scheduled to be held this year in July, Olympics were deferred to 2021 in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. With one year to go, the Russian grappler has decided to move up a weight class and compete in the 74kg freestyle from his usual 70kg. “I will do my best to participate in the Olympics. I am looking to participate in the Olympics in the 74kg weight category.
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He is currently training in his home in Makhachkala with his friend. The 29-year-old does endurance and strength training. Besides this, he practices his wrestling moves with his friend.
“I live in a house on the outskirts of Makhachkala. I train in the backyard and do strength and endurance training. I also do mat training with a friend,” he told Iranian news daily.
In the spare time, Gazimegmedov spends time reading books, talking to his family, scouring Instagram pages and sleeping.
But getting a spot in the Russian Olympic Wrestling team in 74kg will not be a piece of cake for him. Currently, the place is held by world champion Zaurbek Sidakov. Thanks to his performance at the 2019 Worlds in Nur-Sultan, Russia has booked a place for Tokyo.
However, given the time Gazimegmedov has to prepare he might give Sidakov a run for his money.
Meanwhile, talking about one of the best wrestlers his country has ever produced Abdulrashid Sadulaev, he says, “there are many good wrestlers in 97kg including an Iranian but I can only say with confidence that none of them can compete against Sadulaev”.
