#WrestleGuatemalaCity

Yepez Apunta a Volver a Lo Más Alto del Podio en #WrestleGuatemalaCity

By Taylor Miller

Hoy Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) busca su primera medalla del Campeonato Panamericano Juvenil. Ella ya es finalista en la categoría de 50 kg en su primera competencia juvenil.

Con solo 18 años, Yépez ya tiene mucho éxito internacional.

En adición a sus cuatro medallas panamericanas, Yépez resultó dos veces entre las primeras cinco mejores del campeonato mundial. En 2017, ganó una medalla de bronce en el Campeonato Mundial de Cadetes.

Ya ha ganado títulos panamericanos en las categorías U15 y cadetes. Los dos vinieron en 2016. En 2017, ganó una medalla de plata, y el año pasado reclamó la medalla bronce.

Hoy en la competencia, Yépez tiene tres victorias por puesta espalda, derrotando a los oponentes de Brasil, Canadá y Panamá.

Esta noche se enfrentara a la Campeona Olímpica Juvenil y Campeona Mundial en la categoría cadetes Emily SHILSON (USA) por el oro.

“Como yo he siempre dicho, nunca hay que tener miedo a ningún rival y para la final lo que voy a hacer es caerle encima y dar lo mejor de mí. Que gane la mejor,” dijo Yepez.

Mira el torneo en vivo en unitedworldwrestling.org. Las finales comienzan a las 6 p.m. CST.

#WrestleBudapest

Ranking Series: Tazhudinov Shows No Rust on His Way to Gold

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 17) --  Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) gave an early preview to what to expect from him at the World Championships in September.

The Paris Olympic champion won the gold medal in the 97kg weight class at the Budapest Ranking Series, outscoring his opponents 44-2 in four bouts and never appearing in trouble on the mat.

"I feel very good," Tazhudinov said. "I'm very happy to be back on the mat. It’s been almost a year I haven’t been competing  and it’s such a pleasure for us when you come back and win a gold medal."

The final Ranking Series event of the season kicked off in Budapest on Thursday with several familiar names winning gold medals. Asian champion Takara SUDA (JPN), world silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), world U20 champion Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) and SUJEET (IND) were among the gold medalists on day one.

But none were as dominant as Tazhudinov.

The Bahrain star returned to competition for the first time since Paris Olympics competing last week in Madrid, where he won gold at the Grand Prix of Spain. In Budapest, he followed it up with another flawless run, claiming his second gold medal in as many weeks.

"Overall I’m satisfied with my performance. I would say I’m not yet in full form, so I’m pleased with how I did. I’ll reach 100% form by the World Championships," he said.

Wrestling in just his third career Ranking Series, Tazhudinov capped the day with an 11-0 technical superiority win over veteran Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) in the final.

He opened the tournament with a 14-2 win over Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA), who clearly looked smaller for the weight class and had trouble matching Tazhudinov in every aspect of the game.

Tazhudinov hit a big double-leg attack for four points but Viskhanov got two points for exposure. But that was only opening Tazhudinov allowed for the rest of the bout. Viskhanov tried a few leg attacks but Tazhudinov scored a takedown and two turns to be up 10-2 before an arm-bar attempt turned into takedown for his win.

In the quarterfinals, Tazhudinov needed just one minute to defeat Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (UWW). In the semifinals, he dispatched Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO) in 1:48, winning 10-0.

Despite the dominant performance in Budapest, Tazhudinov admitted the World Championships would present a tougher challenge. He’s expected to defend his 97kg world title in Zagreb.

"We’ll have two training camps leading up to the World Championships, and I think after those camps I’ll be fully ready," he said. "There will be very strong, tough opponents. So I’ll prepare thoroughly and focus on performing even better."