#WrestleBudapest

Long Tops Stacked 68kg Field for Budapest Ranking Series Gold

Friday, July 17, 2026 - 21:46 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 17) -- In hindsight, Jia LONG's (CHN) failure to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games looks even more surprising. She was at the Tokyo Olympics, won a world silver in 2022 and was an Asian champion in 2023. Yet, she failed to book a ticket to Paris.

However, since missing the Paris Games, Long has put together one of the strongest runs in Women's Wrestling with a world title, a world bronze and an Asian title.

Entering the Budapest Ranking Series at 68kg, Long was among the favorites. The field, however, was one of the toughest assembled for a Ranking Series event, featuring European silver medalist Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR), Olympic silver medalist and Asian champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), European bronze medalist Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), European champion Nesrin BAS (TUR), among others.

Long opened with a 10-0 win over compatriot Zelu LI (CHN) but was quickly tested by young Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER), escaping with a close 4-2 win. Shauchuk awaited her in the quarterfinals and the Belarus wrestler got the first takedown to lead 2-0. However, Long used her powerful gut-wrench to complete an 8-2 win.

European champion Bas also managed to score two points on Long but could not sustain the pressure as Long won 7-2 to set up a final against Zhumanazarova, who had a simpler path to the final.

Aptly, the marquee match between Zhumanazarova and Long, Asian champions at 68kg and 72kg respectively, was scheduled as the last match of the session.

Long was aware of Zhumanazarova's defensive tactics but gave a taste of her own medicine in the gold medal bout. In the first period, Long got on a single leg attack and finished with a takedown. She then used her trademark high gut-wrench to expose Zhumanazarova and open up a 4-0 lead.

The second period went scoreless as Long shut down Zhumanazarova's offense, whatever little there is, keeping her lead for the win as the clock expired.

The gold medal capped an impressive campaign for Long as she builds towards 2026 World Championships and the 2028 Olympic Games, the only major event at which she is yet to win a medal.

Neha Strikes Gold

NEHA (IND) captured her second straight Ranking Series gold medal at 59kg, edging Abigail NETTE (USA), 6-4, in the final. Nette struck first with a stepout to take a 1-0 lead, but it was short-lived as Neha responded with a double-leg takedown for two points.

Just before the break, Neha used a snap to score a go-behind before adding a turn. Although Nette managed a reversal, Neha still carried a 6-2 lead at the break. Nette completed a single-leg takedown in the second period to cut the lead to 6-4, but Neha closed out the bout without giving her another opening, upgrading the silver medal she won in Budapest last year to gold.

The United States secured the 65kg gold medal after an all-American final. Unheralded Reese LARRAMENDY (USA) upset her senior teammate Jennifer PAGE ROGERS (USA), 7-1, to claim her first international medal.

The two were involved in an early scramble, with Larramendy emerging on top for the opening takedown and a 2-0 lead. Page was then put on the activity clock but failed to score, giving Larramendy a 3-0 advantage at the break.

Page opened the second period with a stepout to cut the deficit to 3-1 and continued to pressure Larramendy toward the zone. During one exchange, Page appeared to force Larramendy out of bounds, but the action was allowed to continue as the officials did not award a stepout. Larramendy capitalized by scoring a takedown to extend her lead to 5-1.

Larramendy sealed the victory when Page attacked the legs but was countered for two points, completing a 7-1 victory and earning the first international medal of her career.

Godinez Stuns Bullen

Ana GODINEZ (CAN) claimed the 62kg gold medal after MANSI (IND) was forced to withdraw through injury in the final. However, her toughest test came much earlier against European champion Grace BULLEN (NOR), who had defeated Godinez, 11-0, in the bronze medal bout at the Paris Olympics.

Trailing 6-4, Bullen scored a takedown and secured the fall but Godinez challenged the call. While the takedown was upheld, the fall was overturned after it was evident that Bullen had locked her hands behind Godinez's head.

Bullen held a 6-6 criteria advantage and needed only to protect it for the final 12 seconds. Godinez, however, scored a late stepout to secure a 7-6 victory and advance to the semifinals, where she defeated Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), 13-7.

Alameldin Shines at 77kg

The two Greco-Roman finals on Friday both ended in 1-1 criteria victories, with Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS) winning at 67kg and Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) taking the 77kg title.

In Greco-Roman, when a wrestler is called passive, his opponent receives one point and a par terre opportunity. If both wrestlers score only from passivity and the bout ends 1-1, the wrestler who scored first wins on criteria.

Alameldin, the 2024 U20 world champion at 67kg, completed a successful move up to 77kg. He claimed a 1-1 criteria victory over former U17 world champion Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) in the final. But before the final, Alameldin completed a stunning 8-0 victory over Levente LEVAI (HUN) in the quarterfinals and then held off Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS), 2-2, in the semifinals.

At 67kg, Bammatov faced U23 world champion Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY) in the final and earned the first passivity point. Abdelrehim received par terre in the second period, but neither wrestler scored from the position, allowing Bammatov to retain the criteria advantage and secure the title.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

59kg
GOLD: NEHA (IND) df. Abigail NETTE (USA), 6-4

BRONZE: Othelie HOEIE (NOR) df. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), 3-3
BRONZE: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Alexis JANIAK (USA), 8-1

62kg
GOLD: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) df. MANSI (IND), via inj. def.

BRONZE: SAVITA (IND) df. Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ), 14-5
BRONZE: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), 6-4

65kg
GOLD: Reese LARRAMENDY (USA) df. Jennifer PAGE ROGERS (USA), 7-1

BRONZE: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Virginia JIMENEZ (CHI), 8-2
BRONZE: Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE) df. Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN), via fall (10-0)

68kg
GOLD: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 4-0

BRONZE: Noémi SZABADOS (HUN) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (RUS), 5-3
BRONZE: Zelu LI (CHN) df. Nesrin BAS (TUR), 5-4

Greco-Roman

67kg
GOLD: Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS) df. Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY), 1*-1

BRONZE: Ruslan BICHURIN (RUS) df. Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADAA (AUS), 13-6
BRONZE: Din KOSHKAR (KAZ) df. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), via inj. def.

77kg
GOLD: Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) df. Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA), 1*-1

BRONZE: Danil GRIGOREV (RUS) df. Aleksa ILIC (SRB), 1*-1
BRONZE: Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS) df. Levente LEVAI (HUN), 6-2

#WrestleBudapest

Tazhudinov Battles Back for Budapest Gold Ahead of World Championships

Thursday, July 16, 2026 - 22:37 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 16) -- It was a flashback to the 2023 World Championships. A then little-known Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) turned Kyle SNYDER's (USA) double-leg attempt into a four-point throw that launched his rise to world champion.

On Thursday at the Budapest Ranking Series, Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) put Tazhudinov in almost the same position. Tazhudinov reached for the same counter. This time, it failed.

Wrestling UWW

Tsakulov got the four points and a surprised Tazhudinov threw a challenge that he lost. At that point Tsakulov led the 97kg final in Budapest 5-3. Though he rallied to win the final 13-7, the difference between those two counters sums up Tazhudinov's journey over the past two years.

He won the 2023 World Championships and then stormed to the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic. Following multiple surgeries, he returned at the 2025 Budapest Ranking Series and won gold with ease.

Despite the comeback gold, Tazhudinov never looked like the dominant wrestler who swept through the 2023 Worlds and Paris Olympics. He fell in the World Championships semifinals, finished fifth at the Islamic Solidarity Games and opened 2026 with bronze at the Asian Championships after a 15-6 loss to Arash YOSHIDA (JPN).

Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) tries to counter a move from Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) during the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The final suggested that while Tazhudinov is still working his way back to his best, he is learning to win without the overwhelming dominance that once defined him.

After trailing Tsakulov, Tazhudinov regrouped and scored a stepout and exposure to take a 6-5 lead at the break. He scored another stepout in the second period to lead 7-5 but Tsakulov answered with a duckunder for two points to lead 7-7 on criteria.

With 30 seconds remaining, Tsakulov attacked the legs again and tried to finish with forward pressure. This time, Tazhudinov landed the same counter that had failed him earlier in the bout, flinging Tsakulov over for four points and an 11-7 lead. A takedown at the end gave him a 13-7 win and the gold medal, a confidence booster as he prepares to reclaim the world title in Astana.

"I had some setbacks," Tazhudinov said. "I wasn't in my best form and I wasn't fully focused, so I was extremely motivated for this tournament. I managed to get into great shape. This is the second time I've become champion at this tournament, and I'm very happy with the result."

Though he is the 97kg defending champion at the Asian Games, Tazhudinov said he is more focused on the World Championships this year.

"We have the Asian Games coming up, followed two weeks later by the World Championships," he said. "However, our main focus will be on the World Championships. I want to prepare as well as possible, reach peak form."

The World Championships in Astana will see Tazhudinov joined by world champion Snyder, Asian champion Yoshida, former Olympic champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) and potentially 97kg star Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS), among others.

Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ)Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) captured the 125kg gold medal in Budapest. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Kassimbek Earns Gold

While the spotlight at the World Championships will be on the established stars, one youngster could emerge as a surprise. U20 world champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) will have home-mat advantage after taking another step forward with the 125kg title in Budapest.

The 19-year-old, who won silver at the Ulaanbaatar Open in June, posted a clutch win over Asian Championships silver medalist Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) in the quarterfinals, scoring a takedown in the final 10 seconds. 

Sharipov led 3-2 after a scramble in the first period and he tried defending that lead and managed to do that well. However, Kassimbek got to Sharipov's legs in the closing seconds and finished a head-outside takedown to seal a 4-3 victory before blanking BUHEEERDUN (CHN), 10-0, in the semifinals.

Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) advanced from the opposite side of the bracket but was unable to trouble Kassimbek, who claimed his first senior international gold with a 5-0 victory.

Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL), blue, won the 79kg final against Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), 5-1. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Asian bronze medalist Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) frustrated and defeated Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), 5-1, in the 79kg final to capture his first career gold at a United World Wrestling event.

Gadzhiev was put on the activity clock and as he failed to score in the 30 seconds, Olonbayar went up 1-0. The Mongolian then scored a takedown using a leg attack to extend his lead to 3-0. A quick counter when Gadzhiev attacked the legs resulted in another takedown, making the score 5-0.

As he fell behind, frustration crept in for Gadzhiev who was warned for an eye-poke. But Olonbayar kept his cool, gave up a harmless stepout at the end and won the gold medal.

At 92kg, European champion Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) won the gold medal after Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR) injured defaulted in the final. Prior to the final ending by injury default, both Tcokaev and Aliiev scored come-from-behind victories at some stage.

Tcokaev defeated Dustin PLOTT (USA), 8-6, after falling behind early while Aliiev pinned Anton VYHIVSKYI (SVK) despite being down 9-1 at the break. He scored a takedown as soon as the second period began and again brought down the tiring Vyhivskyi to secure the fall.

Ziqi FENG (CHN)Ziqi FENG (CHN) scores using the gut-wrench in the 50kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Feng Gut-Wrenches to Gold

Ziqi FENG (CHN) captured the 50kg gold medal in Women's Wrestling, showcasing the powerful gut-wrench that has long been a hallmark of Chinese Women's Wrestling. She faced unheralded Samara CHAVEZ (USA) in the final and the American scored the first takedown for two points.

However, Feng took a 2-2 criteria lead and then turned Chavez five times using a high gut-wrench to claim a 12-2 victory and the gold medal. The Paris Olympic bronze medalist had won the gold medal in Budapest in 2024 as well.

At 55kg, Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR) emerged champion after she posted a 5-0 win over Hansika LAMBA (IND) in the final.

RESULTS

Freestyle

79kg
GOLD: Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) df. Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), 5-1

BRONZE: Aykan SEID (BUL) df. Nurdaulet KUANYSHBAY (KAZ), 2-0
BRONZE: Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO) df. Shamsat TAIR (KAZ), 9-8

92kg
GOLD: Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) df. Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Dustin PLOTT (USA) df. Fatih ALTUNBAS (TUR), 10-0
BRONZE: Anton VYHIVSKYI (SVK) df. Zeteny GANGL (HUN), via fall (4-0)

97kg
GOLD: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) df. Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK), 13-7

BRONZE: Vasyl SOVA (UKR) df. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) df. Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR), 5-3

125kg
GOLD: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 5-0

BRONZE: Rajat RUHAL (IND) df. Mason PARRIS (USA), via inj. def.
BRONZE: BUHEEERDUN (CHN) df. Omar SAREM (ROU), 10-0

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Samara CHAVEZ (USA), 12-2

BRONZE: Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU) df. Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND), 4-2
BRONZE: Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) df. Oksana LIVACH (UKR), via inj. def.

55kg
GOLD: Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR) df. Hansika LAMBA (IND), 5-0

BRONZE: Karla GODINEZ (CAN) df. Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE), 5-0
BRONZE: Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) df. Tuba DEMIR (TUR), 9-8