BELGRADE, SERBIA -- Hot off of an NAIA National Championship season, Gulomjon Abdullaev is prepared to compete in the 2023 Senior World Championships happening in Belgrade, Serbia on September 16-19. Abdullaev will be taking the mats on Sunday, September 17th and Monday, September 18th and is representing his home country of Uzbekistan. He will be wrestling in the 57 kg freestyle weight class. Three of the four World medalists from the 2022 World Championships are in the top six seeds of the 57 kg group to make one of the most competitive brackets in the tournament.
Gulomjon 's Wrestling Background
Gulomjon has wrestled for Uzbekistan nationally since 2014 where he debuted as a cadet. After making a name for himself, he jumped to the junior level in 2016 where he earned Bronze at the World Championships. He then became a gold medalist at the Asian Championships in 2018. From there he began competing at the senior level where he continued his successes. Abdullaev took silver at the Yasar Dogu in 2020 and gold at the international Ukrainian tournament. And in 2020, he earned his Olympian status after earning 7th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. In his most recent appearance nationally, Gulomjon placed 7th at the 2022 Senior World Championships. Now, he is set to compete again in the 2023 Senior World Championships!
Successful First Run as an Oak
A sophomore from Urgench, Uzbekistan, Gulomjon made his Menlo debut in the 2023 wrestling season. At the culmination of his first year in the States, he was named the NAIA's Wrestler of the Year. Abdullaev posted a 214-31 point spread through his 18 matches as an Oak, and was only taken down 5 times. He ended his freshman year 18-0, with 8 tech falls, 4 pins, 3 major decisions, and 3 decisions. He is the NAIA 133-pound National Champion, Cascade Collegiate Conference Champion, an All-American, named CCC All-Conference, named Outstanding Wrestler at the CCC Conference Tournament, and was featured as a CCC Wrestler of the Week.
Head Coach of Menlo Wrestling, Joey Martinez, mentions, "I am very excited about the opportunity for Gulomjon wrestling in the world championships. He is coming off a great year and has been preparing for this event. The Menlo wrestling family will be cheering him on".
Follow the Action!
Click here to follow Gulomjon Abdullaev as he competes on Sunday September 17 at 1:30am PST.