#WrestleBelgrade

UWW finalizes schedule for 2022 World Championships

By Eric Olanowski

BELGRADE, Serbia (June 2) --- United World Wrestling announced Thursday the schedule of events for the 2022 World Championships (September 10-18) in Belgrade, Serbia.

UWW revealed that Greco-Roman, women’s wrestling and freestyle will be the style-order for the 2022 edition of the World Championships.

Greco-Roman action opens the competition with four weight classes on September 10-11, before sharing the mat with women’s wrestling on September 12.

Women’s wrestling takes center stage September 13-14 with four weights per day.

Following suit from the schedule of events from the 2019 and 2021 World Championships, freestyle action closes out the competition beginning on September 15.

For a full breakdown of the 2022 World Championship schedule, click HERE.

Competition Schedule
September 10 – Greco-Roman (55-72-77-87kg)
September 11 – Greco-Roman (63-67-82-97kg)
September 12 – Greco-Roman (60-130kg) and Women’s Wrestling (55-62kg)
September 13 – Women’s Wrestling (50-53-65-76kg)
September 14 – Women’s Wrestling (57-59-68-72kg)
September 15 – Freestyle (70-79-86-125kg)
September 16 – Freestyle (57-74-92kg)
September 17 – Freestyle (61-65-97kg)
September 18 – Remaining freestyle finals

#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."