Sadulaev wins selection bout for world wrestling championships

Abdulrashid Sadulaev earned the right to compete at the 2026 world wrestling championships by defeating Magomed Kurbanov in a selection bout in Vladikavkaz on October 14. He won 5–3 in the 97 kg freestyle category.

Kurbanov won the Russian national championships this year. Sadulaev missed that competition because of health problems, so the selection contest determined which wrestler would represent Russia in their weight class.

The 30-year-old Sadulaev is a two-time Olympic champion, with titles from 2016 and 2020. He has also won six world championships and five European championships.

This year’s world championships are scheduled for October 24 to November 1 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The programme includes freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s wrestling. United World Wrestling confirms the dates and lists Barys Arena as the venue.