#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

#WrestleBudapest

Big-throwing Machado claims debut Ranking Series gold

Monday, July 21, 2025 - 11:08 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 20) -- Thamires MACHADO (BRA) made brief headlines at the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifiers in Mexico. She threw Amit ELOR (USA) for a lateral drop for four points. Machado had Elor in trouble which could have seen Elor, the champion in Paris Games, lose early. However, Machado fizzled out and lost her bout 6-4.

A year later on Saturday, the Brazilian won her first major gold medal at the Budapest Ranking Series after a stunning show of strength and big throws at the Ranking Series over the weekend.

"In every practice back home, I try to do the four-point moves. I want to throw," Machado said after receiving the gold medal.

In other weight classes, Grace BULLEN (NOR) had another epic match with Irina RINGACI (MDA) and won gold at 65kg and Kennedy BLADES (USA) won another Ranking Series gold to remain undefeated at 68kg going into the World Championships.

European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) and Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) won at 55kg and 62kg respectively.

Machado, competing in her first-ever Ranking Series event, won the 76kg gold medal with wins over Asian champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and world U20 champion PRIYA (IND) in semifinal and final, respectively.

In the gold-medal bout, Machadofaced former world U17 and U20 champion Priya and used a similar lateral drop like she did against Elor to score a four-pointer over Priya in the first minute.

Priya was pushing for a stepout and Machado used that momentum to drop her for four-points. It was catch-up from there on for Priya who failed to score any points in the first period. She got a stepout in the second get on board. Struggling to get to Machado's legs, Priya forced another stepout to make it 4-2.

Machado was put on the activity clock in the last minute but she was happy to conceded that point than to go for all-out attack during those 30 seconds. Priya also waited for the activity clock to expire before pushing for a point, perhaps a mistake to take her foot of the pedal in the final minute.

During that time, Machado managed to catch her breath and defended all attacks, including one in the last five seconds to win 4-3 and the gold medal.

"I am happy to win this gold medal in Ranking Series," she said. "This is so special for me"

In the semifinals, Machado got the better of Medet Kyzy, who opened the scoring with a double-leg takedown for two points. She led 3-0 at the break as Machado failed to score after being put on the 30-second activity clock.

Machado got her first points when she defended a leg attack from Medet Kyzy and scored a go-behind takedown. She then launched a powerful gut-wrench and turned her three times to lead 8-3. Two stepouts in quick succession for Medet Kyzy cut Machado's lead to 8-5 but the Kyrgyzstan wrestler had only a minute left to score more points and secure the win.

As they scrambled for the final minute, Machado and Medet Kyzy locked each other at the edge but it was the latter who fell outside of the zone first which gave another point to Machado with 33 seconds left. Machado held her positions better than Medet Kyzy and managed to score another stepout to lead 10-5 and win the bout.

Born in one of the favellas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Machado was part of one of the social project by the local council which taught wrestling to young kids. She joined the program and managed to learn wrestling.

In 2019, she won gold medal at the Pan-Am U20 Championships, her second ever competition. For five years, she was away from wrestling, but in 2024, she returned and won the Henri Deglane Grand Prix and was second at the 2025 Pan-Am Championships.

Bullen survives Ringaci

If both remain at the same weight class in the future, the Bullen-Ringaci rivalry can be the most fearsome in Women's Wrestling. The latest example was their 65kg final in Budapest where Bullen, down 16-8, pinned Ringaci was claim her second win over the former world champion in four months.

Ringaci, who needed one more turn from par terre or just survive the pin from Bullen, was frustrated with yet another loss and pushed aside Bullen after the bout.

The match began with a wonderful counter from Ringaci, who hit a cut-back after a Bullen snap to pass-by and got four points. Watch above. While Bullen survived the fall attempt, she fell behind 6-0.

A little later, it was Ringaci's chance survive a pin attempt from Bullen who lifted Ringaci well over her waist-level and slammed her for four. The first period ended with Bullen leading 6-6 on criteria.

Bullen tried the exact move of snap to pass-by in the second period and this time she succeeded, scoring two points and taking a clear 8-6 lead. Ringaci scored a takedown 30 seconds into the second period and scored six more points using three gut-wrenches. As she was going for the final turn to win the bout, Bullen blocked and got the headlock to pin Ringaci.

An aghast Ringaci was left in tears as Bullen herself was shocked to have won the bout, having snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

At 68kg, Kennedy BLADES (USA) had a fine tournament, winning her second Ranking Series event and third tournament of 2025. In the final, she defeated Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 13-2, a wrestler she had defeated 10-0 at the Zagreb Open in February.

The only bout she was not able to win via technical superiority was her semifinal against Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) as the Bulgarian was able to stop Blades to a 6-2 win. Blades had little injury scare in the final few seconds of the match but managed to continue.

Verbina captured the 55kg gold medal after a controlled 6-1 win over Karla GODINEZ (CAN) in the final while Tandelova blanked Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) 3-0 in the 62kg final.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) df. Karla GODINEZ (CAN), 6-1

BRONZE: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) df. Amory ANDRICH (GER), 10-0

62kg
GOLD: Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) df. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), 3-0

BRONZE: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) df. Nikolett SZABO (HUN), 10-0
BRONZE: MANISHA (IND) df. Krystsina SAZYKINA (UWW), via fall (9-0)

65kg
GOLD: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA), via fall (10-16)

BRONZE: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. Ekaterina KOSHKINA (UWW), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Kadriye KOCAK AKSOY (TUR), 10-4

68kg
GOLD: Kennedy BLADES (USA) df. Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 13-2

BRONZE: Brooklyn HAYS (USA) df. Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR), 5-4
BRONZE: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW), 11-1

76kg
GOLD: Thamires MACHADO (BRA) df. PRIYA (IND), 4-3

BRONZE: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW), 11-0
BRONZE: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Seoyeon JEONG (KOR), 12-1