The Alan International wrestling event starting from Saturday, in Vladikavkaz, Russia is gaining in status as after Kyle Snyder, 4 more Rio Olympic medallists have confirmed their participation in the tournament. The organizers have confirmed that the 3rd edition of Alan international tournament will be attended by wrestlers from 25 countries.
Along with the Rio Olympic Champion Snyder from USA, the tournament will have three time world champion Geno Petriashvili of Georgia, Olympic medallists Ihtior Navruzov, Magomed Ibragimov from Uzbekistan & Selim Yashash of Turkey in its roaster. Snyder is already in Ossetia sparring with Russian wrestlers and preparing for the tournament.
On the first day of the competition, preliminary rounds will be held in all weight categories, and on the second day – the medal rounds will be played.
SNYDER of USA is set to lead a highly experienced American team to Vladikavkaz, Russia, for the Alans International Tournament. The 3 time Olympic & World champion Snyder will make his comeback to the wrestling event with this event. This will be the first event for Snyder after the defeat to Sharif Sharifov of Azerbaijan in the world championships semi-finals. Since then Snyder has shifted his training base to Penn State and is all geared up for the Tokyo2020 Olympic trials.
To begin his preparations, Snyder along with some of his other team-mates have has decided to compete in the Aland International Tournament in Russia. The Menezh Sports Palace in Vladikavkaz will host the three-day tournament from December 5-8. The tournament has prize fund of 100,000 USD and will be played over 10 Freestyle weight categories.
Thomas GILMAN, James GREEN and Nick GWIAZDOWSKI are the trio of world medalists that’ll join Snyder, the two-time world and Olympic champion, in Vladikavkaz over the weekend. In total, the American team that’s entered combines for nine world medals and an Olympic title. Gilman, a 2017 world silver medalist, will wrestle in Russia for the third time in the last three months. In October, Gilman went 5-0 and won the 57kg gold medal at the Yusup Abdulsalamov Tournament in Dagestan, Russia. He followed that up a week later with a bronze-medal finish at the Intercontinental Cup in Khasavyurt, Russia.
Green, a two-time 70kg world medalist, will try to improve his bronze medal from last year’s Alans Tournament. But, he won’t be doing so at his normal weight of 70kg. Green will make his first appearance at the Olympic weight of 74kg, where he’ll look to challenge teammate Jordan BURROUGHS for the Tokyo Olympic spot.
The fourth world medalist on USA’s team is two-time world bronze medalist Nick GWIAZDOWSKI, who’ll wrestle at 125kg. Zain RETHERFORD and Mike MACHIAVELLO round out the six-man roster for the United States. Retherford, a two-time world team representative, will compete at 65kg, while Machiavello will wrestle at 92kg.
Other than America, leading wrestlers from Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and various other nations will be seen in action during the 3 day event.
Prize Money
GOLD – $5000 $ + $1000 to the coach
SILVER – $2000
BRONZE – $1000 (each bronze medalist)
