#WrestleAlmaty

LIVE BLOG: Senior Asian Championships, Day Six

Sunday, April 18, 2021 - 05:04 By United World Wrestling Press

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Senior Asian Championships enters the final day in Almaty with Iran looking to win the team title as they did in Greco-Roman.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

1310 hrs: We are ready for the semifinals here in Almaty. Watch out for the 61kg semifinal between Ravinder and Asakarov.

1305 hrs: A thriller on Mat A! U23 world championships silver RAVINDER (IND) holds on for a 3-3 win over Majid Almas DASTAN (IRI)

1245 hrs: Deepak PUNIA (IND) continues to be on his way for showdown against Hassan YAZDANI (IRI). He beats Bakhodur KODIROV (TJK) 4-3

1230 hrs: Hassan Aliazam YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) doesn't mess around. He gets a 12-0 win over junior world champion Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN)

1200 hrs: Mostafa Mohabbali HOSSEINKHANI (IRI) will end Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) return to the mat with a 5-2 win at 74kg

1145 hrs: Deepak PUNIA (IND) off to a winning start as he beats Isa SHAPIEV (UZB) 9-2 in the opening bout. Unurbat PUREVJAV (MGL), the 74kg silver medalist from 2015 Worlds won a hard fought bout 8-8 against Yeskali DAULETKAZY (KAZ)

1130 hrs: Final day here in Almaty and freestyle action continues into day two. Keep your eyes on world champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)

#WrestleBudapest

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

Thursday, July 17, 2025 - 21:32 By Vinay Siwach

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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."