#ChinaOpen2018

Three-Time Olympian and World Champion Tkach Cruises to China Open Finals

Saturday, June 23, 2018 - 06:28 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article

TAIYUAN, China (June 23) - In her first competition back since missing the European Championships in Dagestan, Russia, three-time Olympian and 2014 world champion Yuliia TKACH (UKR) cruised to the 62kg China Open finals with three dominant wins. 

In her opening round match-up, Tkach stuck Fengfeng CUI (CHN) in the second period while leading 1-0. “Against the Chinese wrestler, I wasn’t happy only scoring one point in the first period. She was smart and waited for me to attack, and it slowed me down.” 

Tkach followed that win up with another second-period fall, but this time it was over Russia’s Elizaveta SOROKINA. 

In the semifinals, Tkach blanked HANG Jungwon (KOR), 8-0, locking up her spot in tonight’s finals, which begin at 5:30 pm local time. 

The Ukrainian wrestler will take on BAO Lingling (CHN) in the 62kg championship bout.

“I know she’s a smart wrestler and likes to attack legs. I have to wrestle my match, use my technique, be quick and I think I can win,” said Tkach after being asked about her Chinese opponent. 

Tkach, the Klippan Lady Open silver medalist said “This is my second finals of the year. I lost in the Klippan Open finals, but I learned from that loss. I didn’t wrestle smart – I wrestled stupid, and I can’t do that in tonight’s finals.” 

#ChinaOpen2018 Medal Matches 
62kg 
GOLD - Yulia TKACH (UKR) vs. BAO Lingling (CHN)

BRONZE - HANG Jungwon (KOR) vs. CUI Fengfeng (CHN)

65kg
GOLD -  Chuying TANG (CHN) vs. Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS) 

BRONZE - Na LU (CHN) vs. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)

68kg
GOLD -  Xiaoqian WANG (CHN) vs. Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) 

BRONZE - Suning QIN (CHN) vs. Jiao WANG (CHN)

72kg
Round Five 
Juan WANG (CHN) vs. Duishan ALEDAGULI (CHN) 
Kunming WANG (CHN) vs. Kristina EREMINA (RUS)

76kg
GOLD - Xiaoqian WANG (CHN) vs. Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR)

BRONZE - Suning QIN (CHN) vs. Jiao WANG (CHN)

#BeachWrestling

Asian Beach Games: Iran Sweeps Men's Golds; India Wins 2 in Women's

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 - 08:20 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

SANYA, China (April 29) -- Iran swept the gold medals in men's Beach Wrestling at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, winning all four finals.

In women's, India won two golds, hosts China one and Sri Lanka won a historic gold medal, its first of the Games which began on April and will close on April 30.

The gold rush of Iran began when Aliakbar ZAROUDI (IRI) defeated SIDDHARTH (IND) convincingly in the 70kg final, 3-0. The second gold medal came at 80kg as Ali GHOLAMI (IRI) pinned Muhammad Asad ULLAH (PAK) in the final.

In two of the matches of the day, Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) defeated former Beach Wrestling world champion Muhammad INAM (PAK), 3-0, not letting the Pakistan wrestler stay in his defensive shell as he is rather used to.

The +90kg final between Seyedamirreza SAHRAEIMAHALI (IRI) and the seven feet tall Da LU (CHN) also ended in Iran winning 3-0, dashing the hopes of hosts China winning at least one gold in men's weight categories.

"It is the best gift for the people back home," said ​Iran coach Ali BAZYAR. "I hope this brings some happiness during the tough times our nation is navigating."

PRIYA (IND)PRIYA (IND) won the gold medal in +70kg weight category in Sanya. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

India Wins 2 Golds

India had two finalists in women's and both came home with gold medals. Former U17 and U20 world champion PRIYA (IND) earned the gold medal in +70kg in a thrilling final against Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL). Priya needed a late point to win 3-2 against a tiring Zorigt to give India its third gold of the Games.

The second gold came from Pushpa YADAV (IND) who stunned Asian champion and local favorite Mengyu XIE (CHN), blanking her 3-0 in the 60kg final.

But Jia LONG (CHN) made sure the host China claim at least one gold in Beach Wrestling as she won the 70kg gold medal over Thi Linh DANG (VIE), pinning the Vietnam wrestler in the final.

Sri Lanka's historic gold in Beach Wrestling was won by Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI), who held on to a 3-1 victory over Thi Kim Oanh DOAN (VIE) in the 50kg final.

“This is my first international medal, and it is a gold medal, so I am very happy with my performance," Hewa Pedige was quoted as saying by OCA.

RESULTS

Men's Beach Wrestling

70kg
GOLD: Aliakbar ZAROUDI (IRI) df. SIDDHARTH (IND), 3-0

BRONZE: Adis RAKHAT UULU (KGZ) df. Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK), 3-0

80kg
GOLD: Ali GHOLAMI (IRI) df. Muhammad Asad ULLAH (PAK), via fall

BRONZE: Feng LU (CHN) df. Yermakhan KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ), 3-0

90kg
GOLD: Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) df. Muhammad INAM (PAK), 3-0

BRONZE: Turbold GANBOLD (MGL) df. Peilong LI (CHN), 3-1

+90kg
GOLD: Seyedamirreza SAHRAEIMAHALI (IRI) df. Da LU (CHN), 3-0

BRONZE: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Muzafar ZHAPPUEV (KGZ), 3-0

Women's Beach Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI) df. Thi Kim Oanh DOAN (VIE), 3-1

BRONZE: Funa YANO (JPN) df. Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND), via inj. def.

60kg
GOLD: Pushpa YADAV (IND) df. Mengyu XIE (CHN), 3-0

BRONZE: Thi My Hanh NGUYEN (VIE) df. Youngjin KWON (KOR), 4-0

70kg
GOLD: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Thi Linh DANG (VIE), via fall

BRONZE: Jaspreet KAUR (IND) df. Beibit SEIDUALY (KAZ), 2-0

+70kg
GOLD: PRIYA (IND) df. Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL), 3-2

BRONZE: Wenji LI (CHN) df. Alina YERTOSTIK (KAZ), 2-0