Belgrade World Championship highlights feature Usmanov’s 79 kg triumph and Sadulayev’s bid for bronze
In Belgrade, Akhmed Usmanov, a Russian freestyle wrestler competing in the lightest authorized category, emerged as the 2023 World Champion in the 79 kilogram division. The championship stage brought a standout performance from Usmanov, who navigated a field of strong contenders to reach the final and claim the gold with a decisive victory over Vladimir Gamkrelidze of Georgia. The final score stood at 4 to 1, underscoring Usmanov’s control and tactical discipline throughout the match. This landmark win marked a significant milestone for the Russian team, representing their first gold of consequence at these world-level championships in recent cycles and signaling a strong start to their campaign on the global stage.
On the same competition day, September 18, another notable performance occurred in the 97 kilogram weight class where Abdulrashid Sadulayev of Russia faced a tough semifinal. He encountered Akhmed Tazhudinov, a Dagestani athlete competing under Bahrain’s flag, and the bout ended with Tazhudinov earning a 9:2 advantage before the match could proceed further. The referee halted the action with one minute remaining due to the mounting score disparity at that moment. Sadulayev, dealing with a neck injury, could not continue, which shifted the immediate outlook toward potential opportunities for bronze and the pursuit of Olympic qualification in the ensuing matches.
Despite the setback in the semifinals, the trajectory for Sadulayev remained focused on securing a bronze medal and the coveted Olympic license. The event schedule allowed him to regroup for the subsequent day, as the competition continued into September 19 with a renewed emphasis on achieving the podium position and the associated Olympic pathway that the world championships confer when held in a country hosting the event.
As the championship unfolded in the Serbian capital, athletes from Russia and Belarus competed under neutral status. This nuance defined several matchups and narratives, shaping the atmosphere of the tournament and contributing to the broader context of international wrestling competition. The Belgrade championship, culminating on September 24, represented a focal point for athletes seeking world titles and Olympic pathways, while the neutral status framework influenced how teams approached their campaigns and public expectations during the event.
Historically, the World Wrestling Championships have seen shifts in competitive dynamics among Ukrainian, Russian, and other national teams, with rivalries and alliances playing out across weight categories and rounds. The 2023 edition in Belgrade continued that tradition by presenting a mix of breakthrough performances and challenging defeats, all contributing to a broader narrative about national programs, training cycles, and the ongoing quest for Olympic prestige on the world stage.