#wrestlebishkek

Tkach reignites Olympic hope with Bishkek gold

Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 23:16 By Vinay Siwach

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (June 3) -- For some moments in the 59kg final, Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) thought she could overcome the Yuliia TKACH (UKR) challenge. Both Ukrainians had met in Round 2 of the Nelson bracket and Tkach pinned Vynnyk. As the two faced each other in the final, Vynnyk managed to race to a 6-0 lead. It looked like she would upset Tkach with ease and win the competition.

But Tkach is a willy veteran. She worked her way back in the final and managed to switch gears to score points with ease. She ultimately won the gold medal by a 9-6 scoreline.

Later, Tkach said that it was a deliberate attempt to go slow in the final before mounting a comeback to beat Vynnyk.

"I already wrestled Solomiia earlier today and I won via fall," Tkach said. "But in our second match, I started a little bit at ease and gave up points, then I realized it was time to score and I turned my turbo button on and won."

Tkach winning the gold brings further proof that the former world champion is still one of the best in the world. But with Paris Olympics just over a year away, she will have to move to an Olympic weight class.

"I will definitely go up at 62kg," she said. "Olympic Games is a gift from God."

Tkach has wrestled at the 2008 Beijing Games, 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio Games but failed to win a medal at any of the Olympics. But Paris gives her a new hope.

"I wrestled at three Olympics but never made a medal. For sure, I would love to have one, but it’s all about God’s will."

And she is leaving no stone unturned for it as the Ukraine team will fly to Japan for a training camp and then participate in the Budapest Ranking Series event. Tkach also said that one should believe in oneself till the end.

"It’s important to believe in yourself till the very end," she said. "As Oksana LIVACH won against the Chinese wrestler in the last two seconds, that was an amazing win."

Meng FAN (CHN)Meng FAN (CHN) celebrates after beating Oksana LIVACH (UKR). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 50kg, Livach was trailing against Zigi FENG (CHN) but she rallied to beat her 5-4 to reach the final against Meng FAN (CHN). Livach would be cursing her luck as she ended up losing the final in the last 10 seconds against Fan.

Fan was trailing 4-2 with only 10 seconds remaining when she brought Livach down and got the match-winning two points.

While Fan won gold, Feng won bronze and the second bronze was also won by a Chinese wrestler Chun LEI (CHN). This marks the second time that all three Chinese wrestlers are on the podium in 50kg at a Ranking Series event.

Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) defeated fellow Mongolian Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL) in the 53kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 53kg, three Mongolians -- Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL), Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL) and Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) -- reached the semifinals. World silver medalist Batkhuyag faced Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) and won via fall. The second semifinal also saw a similar result as Ganbaatar pinned Olympic bronze medalist Bat Ochir.

In the final, Batkhuyag gave no chance to Ganbaatar and won 8-0 in the gold medal bout. The Asian silver medalist from 2022 defended any attempts from Ganbaatar as well and countered them with takedowns of her own to blank her and win the final.

Kazakhstan won two gold medals in women's wrestling as Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) won the 55kg gold while Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) won the gold at 72kg.

Sedneva won her career's fifth Ranking Series medal and third gold as she came out on top against world bronze medalist Karla GODINEZ (CAN) 3-1 in the final.

In a Nelson brack, Sedneva faced compatriot Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ) and won 6-1, pinned Melda DERNEKCI (TUR) next round and followed that with another pin to win against Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) despite trailing 4-0 in the semifinals.

Bakbergenova was one of the three wrestlers at 72kg but the world silver medalist was a level above the other two. In her first two bouts, she defeated Dalma CANEVA (ITA) 6-0 and then defeated REETIKA (IND) 4-0 in Round 3 to win the gold medal.

Since Reetika defeated Caneva 7-0, the Indian won a silver medal at 72kg.

India also won a gold medal as MANISHA (IND) made her way through a tough Nelson bracket with four dominating wins to win the 65kg weight class.

She began with a 15-4 win against Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) before adding an 11-0 victory over another Kazakhstan wrestler Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ). She won via technical superiority over Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL), 10-0 before clinching the gold by beating Yuliia LESKOVETS (UKR) 6-2 in Round 5.

Tazhudinov wins gold

Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) emerged as the breakout star on Saturday as the 20-year-old followed his Asian Championships gold with another gold in Bishkek.

Opening his day, Tazhudinov wrestled Serik BAKYTKHANOV (KAZ) and won 10-0 before beating another Kazakhstan wrestler Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ) 5-2 in the quarterfinals. The semifinals saw him emerge 10-0 victorious against veteran Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB).

The final at 97kg was against Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) who he had wrestled in the Asian Championships final around two months ago. Tazhudinov had won that bout 11-0 and there was no change in the story as the Bahrain wrestler once again defeated Habila. Tazhudinov won 10-1 to capture his first Ranking Series gold.

"This was our third match in the last two months," Tazhudinov said. "I had a confident win back at the Asian championships, but it doesn’t mean that it made it any easier for me. I was preparing a lot for it."

Despite his top wins, Tazhudinov struggles with stamina in a bout. He accepts that there is scope for improvement in his game.

"There are things I have to still work on and improve," he said. "There is no time to relax. We will be back and keep training for the next tournament which will be in Armenia. I’ll wrestle there and then we will decide with the coach what’s next for us."

Tazhudinov expressed his desire to wrestle world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) at 97kg. 

"At 97kg there are many great wrestlers. But most of all I would like to wrestle with Kyle Snyder as I want to give it a try."

Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) met Zhiwei DENG (CHN) in the first round at 125kg and the former continued his unbeaten record over the Chinese with a narrow 4-3 win.

An 8-3 win against Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) in the quarterfinals put him against Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) in the semifinal but Petriashvili was up to the task with a 10-0 thrashing.

In the final, Petriashvili raced to a 12-1 win over Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB).

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RESULTS

Women's wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Meng FAN (CHN) df. Oksana LIVACH (UKR), 4-4

BRONZE: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ), via fall
BRONZE: Chun LEI (CHN) df. Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB), 2-1

53kg
GOLD: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) df. Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL), 8-0

BRONZE: Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) df. Meiying JIANG (CHN), via fall
BRONZE: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) df. Stalvira ORSHUSH (HUN), 4-0

55kg
GOLD: Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ)
SILVER: Karla GODINEZ (CAN)
BRONZE: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)

59kg
GOLD: Yuliia TKACH (UKR)
SILVER: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)
BRONZE: SARITA (IND)

65kg
GOLD: MANISHA (IND)
SILVER: Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Yuliia LESKOVETS (UKR)

72kg
GOLD: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
SILVER: REETIKA (IND)
BRONZE: Dalma CANEVA (ITA)

Freestyle

97kg
GOLD: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) df. Awusayiman HABILA (CHN), 10-1

BRONZE: Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) df. Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ), 5-2
BRONZE: Nursultan AZOV (KAZ) df. Tuerxunbieke MUHEITE (CHN), 2-2

125kg
GOLD: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB), 12-1

BRONZE: Zhiwei DENG (CHN) df. Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB), 5-0
BRONZE: BUHEEERDUN (CHN) df. Reheman RUSIDANMU (CHN), 4-2

#WrestleNoviSad

Yakushenko levels up with first U23 World Championships gold

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - 15:49 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 22) -- Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) has lost only one bout in 2025 but that one loss remains tied to him when he steps on the mat.

At the U20 European Championships final, Yakushenko lost to Darius KIEFER (GER), 5-3, losing his gold medal to the German wrestler. But using that loss as a lesson and motivation, Yakushenko has now won two world titles in the space of two months.

The 19-year-old won gold at the U20 World Championships in August and on Wednesday at the U23 World Championships in Novi Sad, Yakushenko won his first U23 world title.

"If I hadn’t lost at the Europeans, I wouldn’t have won at Worlds," Yakushenko said. "Sometimes a loss can be for the better. It motivated me and helped me mentally."

Yakushenko, who avenged that loss to Kiefer at U20 Worlds, wrestled with great temperament at the U23 Worlds despite carrying an injury after his first bout. In four matches, he began with a win over Luka GABISONIA (GEO), held off Abubakar KHASLAKHANU (UWW) and defeated Richard KARELSON (EST) in the semifinals.

Facing senior Asia silver medalist Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) in the final, Yakushenko used a stepout and turn from par terre to lead 4-0. Matsiyev was docked two points for a defensive foul as Yakushenko extended his lead to 6-0.

When Matsiyev got the par terre position in the second period, Yakushenko easily defended it and managed to win the final 6-1, thus claiming gold.

"I’m euphoric right now," he said. "I feel that it really wasn’t that easy. I guess I just worked hard and prepared well, went through good training. My shoulder hurts a little. But I think it’s actually from the rib."

Yakushenko was in Porec, Croatia at the preparatory camp for senior World Championships. Though he did not participate in the tournament, Yakushenko was part of the Ukraine team and watched the matches in Zagreb.

"We had a camp in Croatia, where many countries were present," he said. "I watched, got motivated, I was overwhelmed with emotions. My weight category is very strong, but I think everything is within my reach."

The two-time U20 world champion believes that needs to build more strength to be ready for the senior level but will not shy from a chance to earn his spot on the senior Ukrainian team next year.

"I still need to build more physical strength," he said. "But technically, I don’t think I have problems, and my endurance is good too. 

"There should be the Ukrainian Cup in November, I’m not sure yet. It’s the qualification event for the European Championships. Maybe I’ll compete there, give our senior team a bit of a shake-up. I don’t know yet, I’ll depend on what my coach says. Whatever he decides, I’ll do."

Iran closer to cleansweep

Iran won its third gold medal in Greco at the U23 World Championships and has now all-but-confirmed the team trophy. With the team title in Novi Sad, Iran will assert its domination in Greco as it won team titles in all World Championships -- U17 in Athens, U20 in Samokov and senior in Zagreb -- to go with the one in Novi Sad, Serbia.

It consolidated its position on the top when former U23 world champion at 63kg, Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) won gold at 72kg on Wednesday. Mohammadi defeated Abror ATABAEV (UZB), 5-1, in the final.

Mohammadi was awarded the par terre in he first period and he hit a front headlock which was scored two and one more point was awarded for a stepout. But Iran challenged, claiming four points on the throw, which was confirmed on review but the stepout point was removed as it was a push.

After the challenge, Mohammadi led 5-0 and when Atabaev was given par terre in the second period, Mohammadi defended that position with ease and went on to win the gold medal.

Azerbaijan won its second gold medal in Greco-Roman after Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) held off Alibek AMIROV (UWW), 3-2, in the 55kg final. With the win, he also avenged his U23 European Championships semifinals loss to Amirov.

Egypt got its first world title at any level since 2023 and first at U23 in six years after Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY) blanked Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 3-0, in the 67kg. Incidentally, Egypt's other two U23 world titles, both won by Mohamed EL SAYED (EGY) in 2018 and 2019, have come at 67kg.

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) completes a five-pointer. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Gutu in third straight final

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) is a win away from becoming the first three-time U23 world champion after he reached the 82kg final in Novi Sad.

Gutu, wrestling at the U23 Worlds for the fifth time, reached the his fourth straight final after beating Ibrahim TABAEV (BEL) in the semifinals. Gutu won gold medals in 2023 and 2024 and has a silver medal from 2022.

He began with a takedown before adding a stepout for a 3-0 lead. The par terre gave him one more point and he threw Tabaev out-of-bounds for one more point and lead 5-0. The second period saw him add one stepout as he won the semifinal 6-0.

For his third straight gold medal, Gutu will face Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR) who defeated Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO), 1-1, in the other semifinal, thanks to the first-point criteria in a 1-1 finish.

Koto GOMI (JPN)Koto GOMI (JPN) celebrates after winning the 60kg semifinal against Maxwell BLACK (USA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 60kg, Koto GOMI (JPN) will try to the six-year gold medal drought for Japan after he reached the 60kg final on Wednesday after a dominant performance. He faced Maxwell BLACK (USA) in the semifinals and like his previous bouts, he began by scoring as soon as the match began.

An arm-drag to takedown gave him a 2-0 lead before he got the par terre position and scored three rolls using high gut-wrench and win 9-0.

He will face Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI) for gold after he made a remarkable comeback in the final 20 seconds. Down 3-1 against Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB), Abbaspour scored a stepout which was also called fleeing with 13 seconds left. However, Bakhramov still held the criteria at 3-3 as he had a two-point move.

But Abbaspour did not give up and scored another stepout with five seconds left, giving him a match-winning 4-3 lead. Uzbekistan challenged it but only to lose it and add one more point to Abbaspour's score.

The 5-3 defeat left the teenager Bakhramov in tears while the Iran corner celebrated the unexpected win in the semifinals.

U.S. perfect

Audrey JIMINEZ (USA) will get another chance of winning her first-ever world title after she reached the 50kg finals after posting a controlled 5-2 win against Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) in the semifinals. Jiminez, who had four age-group world silver medals, scored a takedown and one turn in the second period to overcome a 2-1 deficit and post the win.

She will face Jinyue LIANG (CHN) for that much-awaited gold after Liang saw off Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) in the other semifinal. Liang scored a takedown in the second period to lead 2-1 and then got in scramble which that scored two points each. She then hit a headlock for four to make the score 8-3, her winning score in the final.

Former U20 world champion Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) reached the final at 72kg with her third technical superiority win in three bouts. She defeated former U17 world champion Veronika VILK (CRO), 10-0, in the semifinals using her trademark double blasts.

Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) will look to stop Robinson from winning her first U23 world title after she reached the final at 72kg after beating Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), 6-3.

Returning champion at 72kg, Kylie WELKER (USA), who moved up to 76kg, reached the final after a 16-6 technical superiority win over Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX).

Welker began with a four-pointer before two turns made it 8-0. But Villalba also hit a four-pointer to cut the lead to 8-4. She then had Welker in danger to make it 8-6 bit a reversal and three lace turns tilted the semifinal 15-6 in favor to Welker, who scored a stepout in the second period for the win.

She will take on returning bronze medalist Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) who posted a 4-1 win over Elmira YASIN (TUR) in the other semifinal.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) df. Alibek AMIROV (UWW), 3-2

BRONZE: Khojiakbar KUCHKAROV (UZB) df. Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI), 8-0
BRONZE: Vishvajit MORE (IND) df. Yerassyl MAMYRBEKOV (KAZ), 5-4

67kg
GOLD: Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY) df. Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 3-0

BRONZE: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) df. Hleb MAKARANKA (UWW), 7-1
BRONZE: Otto BLACK (USA) df. Attila JOZSA (HUN), via inj. def.

72kg
GOLD: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Abror ATABAEV (UZB), 5-1

BRONZE: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) df. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM), 3-1
BRONZE: Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ) df. Danil GRIGOREV (UWW), 10-0

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ), 6-1

BRONZE: Richard KARELSON (EST) df. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (UWW), 7-7
BRONZE: Maksim AVERIN (UWW) df. Arshak GEGHAMYAN (ARM), 1-1

Greco-Roman Semifinals

60kg
GOLD: Koto GOMI (JPN) vs. Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI)

SF 1: Koto GOMI (JPN) df. Maxwell BLACK (USA), 9-0
SF 2: Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI) df. Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 5-3

82kg
GOLD: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) vs. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR)

SF 1: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Ibrahim TABAEV (BEL), 6-0
SF 2: Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR) df. Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO), 1-1

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) vs. Jinyue LIANG (CHN)

SF 1: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) df. Aida KERYMOVA (UKR), 5-2
SF 2: Jinyue LIANG (CHN) df. Natalia PUDOVA (UWW), 8-3

72kg
GOLD: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) vs. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ)

SF 1: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) df. Veronika VILK (CRO), 10-0 
SF 2: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) df. Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), 6-3

76kg
GOLD: Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) vs. Kylie WELKER (USA)

SF 1: Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) df. Elmira YASIN (TUR), 4-1
SF 2: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX), 16-6