Development

Wrestling Hosts Virtual Educator Meeting

Thursday, February 11, 2021 - 16:51 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 12) -- The United World Wrestling development department hosted three virtual educator meetings Tuesday with UWW educators conducting each meeting in a different language (French, English, Russian and Spanish).

The meetings were focused on informing attendees on how to use the new Academy platform and become familiar with its functions and how it will be used in future courses. The groups reviewed administrative requirements for conducting courses and discussed future training opportunities for educators over the course of the year.  

The meetings also provided an opportunity for the department to provide updates on Olympic Solidarity courses and NF courses.  

“This UWW Academy platform is a great tool which advances education of new generations of coaches and referees to a higher level, in line with trends of today’s modern world,” said UWW Referee Educator Davor Petanjek (CRO). “I look forward jumping into this train to a brighter future!”  

"The meetings were great," said UWW Education Manager Zach Errett. "It gave us an opportunity to connect with all the outstanding educators around the world and to hear the great projects they have been working on during the pandemic. Many of them are excited and hopeful to get back to conducting courses and helping to develop and improve wrestling around the world."  

It is also important to notify that despite the Covid 19 pandemic, educators have kept their motivation to develop the fight in their country, either through seminars during events, or through training organized spontaneously by their federations. They took advantage of the opportunities available to them to continue to make their contribution to our sport. 

To conclude Madam Déqa Niamkey Director of the Development Department to congratulate them and encourage them to continue on this positive side. And to say "we are a team, a family and I am proud to belong to this great family of wrestling."
 

#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."