Tazhudinov Leads Bahrain Hunt for Budapest Glory

Olympic champion heads six-man squad to Hungary ranking event as kingdom targets fresh medal podium

TDT | Manama

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Olympic champion Ahmed Tazhudinov headlines Bahrain's six-strong wrestling team at this week's Budapest Ranking Series, as the kingdom targets a repeat of the medal haul it delivered at the same event a year ago.

The tournament runs from July 13 to 17, drawing top-ranked wrestlers from around the world chasing points on the international circuit. Bahrain arrive sharpened by a two-week training camp in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the squad worked under coach Eldar Eldarov from June 28 to July 12.

Tazhudinov will compete in the 97kg category — the same weight class in which he claimed gold in Budapest last year. Shamil Sharipov, also a 2025 gold medallist in the Hungarian capital, returns at 125kg. The squad is completed by Mohammed Sharipov at 92kg, Khidir Saibudinov at 86kg, Mohammed Rasul Asluyev at 74kg and Ali Bek at 65kg.

Bahrain Wrestling Federation president Abdulredha Haji said the tournament was a significant test for the squad. He said the team aimed to demonstrate the kingdom's growing strength in wrestling and continue delivering results that reflected the support given to sport by the national leadership.

Haji said the Baku camp had gone to plan and that wrestlers and coaching staff were fully prepared for competition.

Bahrain's 2025 Budapest performance saw Tazhudinov win 97kg gold, Sharipov claim the 125kg title and Asluyev take bronze at 74kg — a benchmark the squad will be eager to match or surpass this week.