WRESTLING – BAHRAIN’S Paris 2024 Olympic champion Akhmed Tazhudinov was named Wrestler of the Month for July by United World Wrestling (UWW), the sport’s international governing body.
Tazhudinov claimed his honour in freestyle wrestling, where the former world champion is widely considered as the best in the world, pound for pound.
Tazhudinov is expected to be a massive favourite when he attempts to go for gold in the men’s 97kg weight class at this year’s Senior World Championships. He won his crown in the 2023 edition of the worlds, but last year did not compete as events were only held in non-Olympic weight categories.
“Overall, I’m satisfied with my performance,” Tazhudinov was quoted as saying by UWW after he struck gold last month in the Polyak Imre and Varga Janos Memorial, also known as the Budapest Ranking Series, held in Budapest, Hungary.
“I would say I’m not yet in full form, so I’m pleased with how I did,” added the 22-year-old. “I’ll reach 100 per cent form by the world championships.”
The worlds are scheduled to be held September 13 to 21 in Zagreb, Croatia, where Tazhudinov is expected to spearhead Bahrain’s senior men’s wrestling national team.
Tazhudinov captured his gold medal in Hungary in the men’s 97kg division. He won all four of his matches by technical superiority – dominantly outscoring his opponents 46-2.
Tazhudinov’s gold was one of two won by Bahrain’s wrestlers in the meeting, which was part of the UWW Ranking Series. The other was claimed by Shamil Sharipov in the men’s 125kg category, while Magomedrasul Asluev took a bronze in the men’s 74kg event.
Prior to competing in Budapest, Tazhundinov had also clinched gold last month in the men’s 97kg competition at the Grand Prix of Spain 2025 in Madrid.
His Spanish foray marked Tazhudinov’s first competition since the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he suffered a shoulder injury and had since been recovering.
Joining Tazhudinov in Madrid were Magomedrasul Asluev in the men’s 74kg, Khidir Saipudinov in the men’s 79kg, and Shamil Sharipov in the men’s 125kg division – all of whom also won gold. Alibeg Alibegov took a bronze in the men’s 65kg category.
Tazhudinov was also supposed to compete in the Senior Asian Championships in March of this year in Amman, Jordan. He was entered but eventually decided to skip the competition as his “shoulder is not ready” yet, according to UWW.
After suffering his shoulder injury in Paris last year, Tazhudinov needed season-ending surgery, which cut short his dream campaign.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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