2004 Dave Schultz Memorial International to feature the Russian team, including Olympic Champion Mou

<< Back to Articles
Amy Ufnowski (USA Wrestling)
01/18/2004


The sixth annual Dave Schultz Memorial International Tournament will bring elite wrestlers from over 10 countries to the mats in Colorado Springs, Colo., February 6-8.    This tournament will be hosted at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Sports Center 1, and will feature top senior-level athletes in men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman, and women's freestyle wrestling.     Countries expected to compete in men's freestyle wrestling are Albania, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Mongolia, Niger, Nigeria, Russia, and Tajikistan.     Greco-Roman teams that have indicate they will attend include Egypt, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, and Niger.     In the women's freestyle division, teams from Canada, Germany,  India, Japan, Mongolia, and Nigeria are expected to compete.    The competition will be fierce feauturing a strong Russian freestyle team, including 2000 Olympic Champion Mourad Oumakhanov, who now competes at 60 kg/132 lbs. Oumakhanov has recently returned to international competition after over three years off.    Also competing for Russia will be Alexander Kovalevski at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., who placed fifth in the 1996 Olympic Games and eighth in the 2000 Olympic Games, competing for Krygyzstan. Also on the Russian team is Inal Dzagourov at 74 kg/163 lbs., a 2001 World Military Championship.    A special element to this tournament is the involvement of Anatoli Beloglazov, the 1980 Olympic Champion, who will lead the Russian delegation. He is the twin brother of USA Wrestling Freestyle Coach Sergei Beloglazov of Colorado Springs, Colo., who was also an Olympic Champion in 1980 and 1988.      This is an open tournament, therefore U.S. wrestlers do not have to pre-register. Many of America's top athletes in all three styles are expected to compete.  More information on foreign rosters and expected American entries will be posted at a later date.    "USA Wrestling is honored to host this event in memory of wrestling legend Dave Schultz," said USA Wrestling Director of National Events Pete Isais. "This major event will provide a preview of some  great individual battles between our top US athletes as they begin their quest to make the 2004 Olympic Team.  With the addition of top International athletes this will  undoubtedly be a great competitive event."     USA Wrestling and the Dave Schultz Wrestling Foundation have worked together to create the Dave Schultz Memorial International. The event honors the memory and achievements of Olympic Champion Dave Schultz, who was tragically killed in 1996.    Men's freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's freestyle preliminaries will begin Saturday, February 7 at 9:00 a.m. , with the second session set for 4:00 p.m. All three styles will continue on Sunday, February 8 starting at 9:00 a.m. with semifinals and third place matches. Finals will start at 3:30 p.m. (This schedule is subject to change.)    Tickets are available at the door. Prices are as follows:  Adult all-session ticket - $15  Adult Saturday and Sunday - $10 each (or $5 per session)  Adult Medals and Final Matches (only) - $8  High school students with I.D. and senior citizens 62+ - $5 per day   Youth - $4 per day  Coaches FREE with five paid wrestlers    For more information on the Dave Schultz Memorial International Wrestling Tournament, contact USA Wrestling at 719-598-8181 or visit TheMat.com    Russia Roster for Dave Schultz Memorial International  Men's freestyle  55 kg/121 lbs. - Jargal Dondupov  60 kg/132 lbs. - Mourad Umakhanov  74 kg/163 lbs. - Inal Dzagourov  84 kg/185 lbs. - Georgi Ketoev  120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Alexander Kovalevski  Coaches -  Anatoly Beloglazov, Victor Alexeev, Alan  Kaziev, Zourmakan Oumaev