#ChinaOpen2018

World Champion Tkach Closes out China Open with First Gold of the Year

Saturday, June 23, 2018 - 14:34 By Eric Olanowski

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TAIYUAN, China (June 23) - Yuliia TKACH (UKR), the 2014 world champion improved on her second-place finish at the Klippan Lady Open, stopping China’s BAO Lingling (CHN), 4-1 in the 62kg finals to claim her first gold medal of the year. 

“I thought about the mistakes I made at the Klippan Lady Open and just wanted to win here. This is wrestling, and wrestling is my work and my life. I like wrestling and I’m happy that I took first place.” 

Tkach‘s lack of activity in the opening period of the finals put her in a 1-0 hole heading into the break. The three-time Olympian said, “I have to start wrestling if I want to win.” 

Last year's world runner-up got to work in the second period, scoring four points off a high crotch and a leg lace. “Overall, I thought I was aggressive. In the first period, not so much. But in the second period, I was go-go-go, and I was able to pick up the win.” 

At 68kg, fellow Ukranian Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) joined Tkach as a gold medalist after sticking Xiaoqian WANG (CHN) in the second China versus Ukraine match-up of the night.  

 

China wrapped up the final day of competition in Taiyuan with three gold medals, bringing their tournament total to four overall championship performances. 

TANG Chuying (CHN) captured the host nations first gold medal of the day, pummeling Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS), 11-0 in the 65kg finals.
 
In the first period, Tang led 1-0 before transitioning into two leg laces from a low-single. The Chinese wrestler held the 7-0 advantage heading into the final period. 

Tang closed out the match with a four-point throw, giving her an eleven-point technical superiority victory and China their second overall gold medal of the tournament. 

China's second gold medal went to WANG Juan (CHN) who won the 72kg Nordic tournament with four wins on the day, including a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Japan’s Masako FURUICHI (JPN). 

In the final bout of the tournament, Paliha PALIHA’s (CHN) second-period takedown helped her stop HUANG Yuanyuan (CHN), 3-1 in the all-China battle at 76kg, handing China their fourth gold medal of the tournament. 

TEAM SCORES 
GOLD – China (210 points)
SILVER – Russia (119 points)
BRONZE – Japan (110 points)
Fourth – Korea (90 points)
Fifth – Ukraine (65 points)

RESULTS
62kg (One bronze)
GOLD - Yulia TKACH (UKR) df. BAO Lingling (CHN), 4-1

BRONZE - CUI Fengfeng (CHN) df. HANG Jungwon (KOR), 5-1 

65kg (One bronze)
GOLD -  Chuying TANG (CHN) df. Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS), 11-0

BRONZE - Na LU (CHN) df. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), 6-4

68kg (One bronze)
GOLD - Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) df. WANG Xiaoqian (CHN), via fall 

BRONZE - QIN Suning (CHN) df. WANG Jiao (CHN), 12-2

72kg (One bronze)
GOLD - WANG Juan (CHN)
SILVER - Masako FURUICHI (JPN)
BRONZE - WANG Kunming (CHN)

76kg (One bronze)
GOLD - Paliha PALIHA (CHN) df. Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN), 3-1

BRONZE - Zsanett NEMETH (HUN) df. Eunju HWANG (KOR), 6-1

#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."