Zhang Qi poses for photos after winning the women's 59kg freestyle at the 2023 Wrestling World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia on Sept. 19, 2023. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua)
China's Zhang Qi defeated Yulia Tkach of Ukraine 4-1, winning the gold medal in the women's 59kg competition.
BELGRADE, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Qi won a gold medal for China in the women's 59kg competition at the 2023 Belgrade Wrestling Championships on Tuesday.
Zhang defeated Yulia Tkach of Ukraine 4-1 to claim the title, while in the women's 55kg, another non-Olympic discipline, Japan's Haruna Okuno beat Jacarra Winchester of the United States 4-3.
Akhmed Tazhudinov of Bahrain defeated Azerbaijan's Magomedkhan Magomedov 8-1 to claim the title in the men's 97kg freestyle, while Ismael Musukaev won gold for Hungary by overpowering Sebastian Rivera of Puerto Rico 11-0 in the 65kg final.
Both Tazhudinov and Magomedov won tickets for the 2024 Olympic Games, as the event also serves as a Olympic qualifier.
Serbia's Stevan Andria Micic (top) and Japan's Higuchi Rei grapple during the men's 57 kg freestyle final on Sept. 18, 2023. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua)
Previously, in Monday's finals, Stevan Andria Micic of Serbia claimed the title in the men's 57kg freestyle, while Russia's Zaurbek Sidakov claimed the 74kg gold.
In Sunday's finals, world champion David Morris Taylor of the United States reclaimed his 86kg freestyle title, while Iran's Amir Hossein Abbas Zare won gold in the 125kg freestyle - both earning slots at the Olympics.
The 2023 Wrestling Championships in Belgrade conclude on September 24 and include freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's divisions. ■
