#CWG2022

Two-Year Countdown to Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

By United World Wrestling Press

Today marks the two-year countdown to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, set for July 28, 2022.

The Commonwealth Games is an international multi-sport event held every four years with athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The sport of wrestling has been ncluded in every Commonwealth Games except 1990, 1998 and 2006. Women's wrestling made its debut at the Commonwealth games in 2010 in New Delhi, India.

"Today marks exactly two years to go until the official opening ceremony for Birmingham 2022 and we're on track with our plans to host a spectacular event which will not only put Birmingham and the West Midlands centre stage but will also be an integral part of the region’s recovery plan following the global pandemic, bringing jobs for local people and contracts for local businesses," said Ian Reid, chief executive officer for Birmingham 2022.

Over 100 wrestlers from 19 nations competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. Olympic gold medalist Erica WIEBE (CAN) and two-time Olympic medalist Sushil KUMAR (IND) were among the champions at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games wrestling events will take place at Coventry Stadium & Indoor Arena.

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series Live: Tazhudinov untroubled; Aoyagi, Suda win

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 17) -- The final Ranking Series of the season begins Thursday in Budapest with seven Freestyle weight classes -- 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg and 125kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | FREESTYLE PREVIEW

Budapest Ranking Series 2025 Day 1 Live Report

97kg: Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN), who wrestled for the first time since Paris last week with a gold medal in Grand Prix of Spain, continues his return at the Budapest Ranking Series at 97kg.

In his first bout, Tazhudinov was up against Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) and rolled to a 12-2 technical superiority win, making Viskhanov pay for his half-hearted attacks.

Tazhudinov began slow but hit a double-leg for four points and Viskhanov scored exposure for two points. But Tazhudinov scored a takedown and two turns from par terre to make it 10-2.

The bout went into the second period and Tazhudinov locked a cradle but Viskhanov avoided the fall, but failed to stop a Tazhudinov win.

His next bout was even shorter as he defeated Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (UWW) 10-0, thanks to a series of takedowns, and book  a spot in the semifinals.

65kg: Another Paris Olympic medalist, Islam DUDAEV (ALB), suffered an 11-0 loss to Asian U23 champion SUJEET (IND). After a slow start, Sujeet had a scoring spree in the second period and broke Dudaev down to post a win.

Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) has no trouble taking out Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL), 6-0, in the bout which included a huge suplex from quad-pod.

79kg: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), wrestling for the first time since the Paris Games, opens with a 12-1 win over European silver medalist Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) in a very aggressive match. Kougioumtsidis just too much for an aging Khadjiev.

70kg: Austin GOMEZ (MEX) gets the better of a very sluggish Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) 10-0. Muszukajev has not looked the same ever since the 2024 Olympic Games.

Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) hands Sina KHALILI (IRI) a defeated at 70kg. That means that Khalili may be out of the contention for the World Championships now.

57kg: World U20 champion Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) pulls of a last-second win over Niklas STECHELE (GER), 4-2 at 57kg. Lilledahl was down 2-2 on criteria but attacked a single-leg and both wrestlers went out-of-bounds. Lilledahl was given a point as Stechele's hand touched first.

Germany challenged the call but it was upheld and Lilledahl was awarded another point for lost challenge. He will take on RAHUL (IND) in the semifinals.