#BeachWrestling

Beach Wrestling named a core discipline for 2023 & 2025 ANOC World Beach Games

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (August 20) -- The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) has named wrestling, with the specific discipline of Beach Wrestling, as one of nine sports to its core program for both the 2023 and 2025 ANOC World Beach Games.

We are proud to announce that during the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the president of United World Wrestling (UWW), Nenad Lalovic, has signed an agreement with ANOC’s Secretary General, Gunilla Lindberg, for Beach Wrestling to be part of the mandatory events of the ANOC World Beach Games sports program for the 2023 and 2025 editions of the event.

We are delighted to sign a MoU with ANOC and solidify Beach Wrestling for the World Beach Games in 2023 and 2025. ANOC organized world-class Games in Qatar and I am very pleased we will continue to grow beach wrestling and the Beach Games together,” states UWW’s president Lalovic.

Part of the 10 core sports, Beach Wrestling is planned to continue with the same format as in 2019 with 8 categories, 4 men and 4 women. 80 athletes in total, with 64 under qualification process established by the UWW plus 16 invitations.

Beach Wrestling was part of the first ANOC World Beach World Games, held in Qatar in 2019. The inclusion as a core sport for the upcoming two editions represent a major development for the UWW’s fastest growing discipline, as ANOC is an important organization with ties to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the various international federations of Olympic sports (IF), in addition to serving the National Olympic Committees.

All further details will be announced in due time!

Find out all about the Beach Wrestling World Series and watch the competitions live at www.beachwrestling.org

Follow us on social media
IG @uwwbeachwrestling
FB @ Beachwrestlingworldseries
YT @ https://www.youtube.com/c/BeachWrestlingWorldSeries

#WrestleBudapest

Sharipov Sets His Sights on Dominating 125kg One Gold at a Time

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 14) -- Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) and Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) have just spent a couple of hours training on the eve the eve of Budapest Ranking Series. By the end of it, Sharipov has dictated the sparring. The 125kg wrestler clearly has edge over Tazhudinov due to his weight but he clearly looks more physically fit than his compatriot.

The two will step on the mat on Thursday at the Ranking Series tournament where medals will bring them vital ranking points for the World Championships. A year ago, Tazhudinov would have walked into any tournament as the favorite to win. In Budapest, that status has changed.

Sharipov, on the other hand, has quickly become the second best 125kg wrestler in the world and is the firm favorite to win gold on Thursday.

"I won the first ranking series and I want to repeat that result now in Budapest," Sharipov said.

After the official draw, Sharipov will open his campaign against Ulaanbaatar Open winner DINESH (IND) and a likely quarterfinal against Kazakhstan's young star Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ). European champion Giorgi MESHDESHVILI (AZE) will likely be the semifinal opponent.

Sharipov knows that a good run in Budapest will make him one of the favorites for the World Championships and more opponents will be keeping an eye on him. But the Asian silver medalist is waiting to get to his hands on Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI).

"As you said, I am now one of the leaders of this weight class so people are learning about me but I am ready," he said. "One of my tough opponents is Zare and when the World Championships comes closer, I will plan and find a way to wrestle him."

For Tazhudinov, it will be an opportunity to get a win back over Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), who defeated the Bahrain wrestler at the Islamic Solidarity Games. Maintaining that he has fully recovered from his injuries, Tazhudinov is locked in for the tournament and later for the World Championships where he will look to win the title he lost last year.

"My goal is always the same. I come to win and this ranking series is not an exception. We have been through a good camp and the mat will show," Tazhudinov said. "I need to get 100 percent for the World Championships."