Bahraini wrestler Akhmed Tazhudinov crowned world champion!

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahraini wrestler Akhmed Tazhudinov was crowned world champion in the men’s freestyle 97kg category at the World Wrestling Championships 2023, held in Belgrade, Serbia.

Tazhudinov also secured his qualification for next year’s Paris Olympic Games.

Tazhudinov captured the gold medal after defeating Magomedkhan Magomedov of Azerbaijan 8-1 in the final, held late on Tuesday night.

Earlier in the semi-finals, Tazhudinov ousted two-time Olympic gold-medallist and five-time world champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev, who is nicknamed the “Russian Tank” and is Tazhudinov’s mentor.

Tazhudinov won their fight after Sadulaev retired. In the quarter-finals, Tazhudinov took out four-time Olympic and world champion Kyle Snyder of the US 11-0.

Earlier, Tazhudinov beat Maxwell Lacey of Costa Rica 10-0 in the round of 16 and Magomed Ibragimov of Uzbekistan 10-0 in the round of 32.

Joining Tazhudinov and Magomedov on the podium were Snyder and Givi Matcharashvili, who came away with the shared bronze medals following a repechage.

On the occasion of Tazhudinov’s achievement, General Sports Authority (GSA) vice-president and Bahrain Combat Sports Council chairman His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa extended his warmest congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad and to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

HH Shaikh Salman also congratulated His Majesty the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS) chairman His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa; and SCYS first deputy chairman, GSA president and Bahrain Olympic Committee chief His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The World Wrestling Championships, which continue until Sunday, are organised by United World Wrestling for the wrestling styles of freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling.