Rustam Assakalov

Rustam Skhatbievich Assakalov (Russian: Рустам Схатбиевич Ассакалов; born 13 July 1984) is a Russian-born Uzbekistani Greco-Roman wrestler of Adyg heritage. He won gold medals at the 2014 Asian Games and 2013 and 2015 Asian Championships, and silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games, 2015 World Championships and 2014 and 2018 Asian championships.^[1]

Rustam Assakalov

Assakalov at the 2018 Asian games
Personal information
Native name	Рустам Ассакалов
Full name	Rustam Skhatbievich Assakalov
Nationality	Russian Uzbek
Born	(1984-07-13) 13 July 1984 (age 40) Novorossiysk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Alma mater	Kuban State University
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Sport
Country	Russia Uzbekistan (since 2012)[1]
Sport	Greco-Roman wrestling
Club	Dynamo Taskent[2]
Coached by	Vladimir Kholodaev[1] Kamil Fatkulin[2] Ravshan Ruzikulov (national) Salim Abduvaliev (personal)[1]
Medal record Representing  Uzbekistan World Championships 2015 Las Vegas 85 kg 2019 Nur-Sultan 87 kg Asian Games 2014 Incheon 85 kg 2018 Jakarta 87 kg 2022 Hungzhou 97 kg Asian Championships 2013 New Delhi 84 kg 2015 Doha 85 kg 2018 Bishkek 97 kg 2014 Almaty 85 kg 2022 Ulaanbaatar 97 kg 2017 New Delhi 98 kg 2021 Almaty 87 kg Islamic Solidarity Games 2017 Baku 98 kg 2021 Konya 97 kg Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Tournament 2022 Istanbul 97 kg Bolat Turlykhanov Cup 2022 Almaty 97 kg

Assakalov took up wrestling in 1994 in Novorossiysk, Russia, following his father, a former wrestler.^[1] He placed third at the 2009 Russian Championships.^[3] His younger brother Bislan Assakalov is a World Cadet Champion.^[4]

In 2022, he won the gold medal in his event at the Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Tournament held in Istanbul, Turkey.^[5] He competed in the 97 kg event at the 2022 World Wrestling Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia.^[6]

Assakalov won one of the bronze medals in the 97 kg event at the 2022 Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China.^[7]

He competed at the 2024 Asian Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and he earned a quota place for Uzbekistan for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, finishing in fifth place.^[8] He lost his bronze medal match in the 97 kg event at the Olympics.^[9]