#IndiaWrestling

UWW lifts Wrestling Federation of India suspension

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 - 13:34 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 13) -- The United World Wrestling has lifted the suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India with immediate effect.

UWW had placed the WFI under provisional suspension on August 23 last year after the Indian body failed to hold an election in due course. The UWW Disciplinary Chamber decided that it had sufficient grounds to impose the provisional suspension on the body as the situation in the federation prevailed for at least six months.

The UWW Bureau met on February 9 to review the suspension among other topics and considering all the elements and information, it decided to lift the suspension under the following conditions:

The WFI has to re-convene the elections of its Athletes’ Commission. The candidates for this commission shall be active athletes or retired for no longer than four years. The voters shall be exclusively athletes. These elections shall take place during trials or any senior national championships where this operation can take place, but no later than July 1, 2024.

The WFI has to immediately provide UWW with written guarantees that all wrestlers will be considered for participation without any discrimination in all WFI events, in particular trials for the Olympic Games and any other major national and international events. This non-discrimination includes the three athletes who protested against alleged wrongdoings by the former President.

UWW remains in touch with the wrestlers and will follow up with them in the coming days.

This also means that Indian wrestlers will be able to compete under their country's flag at the next UWW event. Under the suspension, the Indian wrestlers had to compete under a UWW flag.

#WrestleBudapest

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

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 - 21:01 By Vinay Siwach

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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."