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By Minh Khang  February 11, 2025 | 04:13 am PT
Belarusian wrestler Zakhar Dzmitrychenka turned heads at the traditional wrestling tournament in Hanoi, where his dominating strength left a lasting impression.
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Zakhar Dzmitrychenka lifts Japanese opponent Masafumi Arikawa during a match at a Vietnamese wrestling festival in Thanh Tri District, Hanoi, February 2025. Photo by Grappling Vietnam |
Dzmitrychenka's presence, with long tied-back hair, a goatee, a height of over 1.8 m and a muscular frame, attracted attention and led spectators to liken him to Thor, the God of Thunder, during the festival at Trieu Khuc Village, Thanh Tri District, last weekend.
Most local wrestlers refused to face him, admitting they stood little chance. The few who dared to step into the ring were quickly defeated.
In one match, Dzmitrychenka faced Japanese wrestler Masafumi Arikawa. With a single upper-body hold, Dzmitrychenka lifted Masafumi off the ground and threw him backward, ending the contest in seconds. Unfazed, Dzmitrychenka requested another match and again overpowered this opponent, lifting him up like a child before securing victory.
Dzmitrychenka's next challenger was female wrestler Nguyen Thi Thanh Truc, who weighs nearly 130 kg. Despite being lighter, Dzmitrychenka, at roughly 100 kg, maintained control and quickly won the match.
Dzmitrychenka, 29, is a Belarusian champion with a Master of Sports title in classical wrestling. He previously won a bronze medal at the IBWA World Championship and placed in the top 10 at the U23 World Championship.
Beyond wrestling, Dzmitrychenka made his MMA debut at Vietnam's LION Championship 19 event in Phu Quoc in November 2024, where he convincingly defeated Tran Quoc Toan of Vietnam in the 84 kg weight class.
Looking ahead, Zakhar plans to compete in other traditional wrestling festivals across northern Vietnam during the spring season, welcoming all challengers who dare to step into the ring.
