Paris Olympics 2024 Update: Russian World Champion Wrestler Switches National Allegiance to Stacked Uzbekistan Team

As the Paris Olympics 2024 nears to happen, the Russian sports sphere faces additional complications. Previously, figure skater Kamila Valieva’s suspension because of the doping charges already brought a truckload of criticism to the national camp. To extend the humiliation in the international sporting fraternity, the watchdog, WADA, hurled attacks at the Russian Sports Council for not obeying rules and regulations. On the other hand, several Russian sporting luminaries are still not sure about their contention in the Paris Olympics 2024. The hosting committee already declared several selected Russian athletes as neutral participants in Paris. 

During this commotion, another piece of news surfaced from the Russian camp. This time, a budding wrestler changed his camp for a prized Paris Olympics 2024 participation chance. 

Will Razambek Zhamalov be able to stand out? 

In 2022, a budding wrestler of Russian origin soared high after defeating the phenom, David Baev. Eventually, in that year, that prodigy had claimed the All-Russian Spartakiad championship. At that moment the 22-year-old wrestler was full of hopes to earn a 70-kg place in the Russian Olympics-bound team. But in 2024, Razambek Zhamalov changed the discussion of that contention by changing his national camp. United World Wrestling’s X-post disclosed the news. It claimed, “Razambek ZHAMALOV, the former two-time Russian national champion and U23 world gold medalist, has transferred to Uzbekistan.” However, there are several complications for him to get a chance from Uzbek camp. 

The wrestling team of Uzbekistan has never been out of talent. Last year the Senior World Championship witnessed Uzbek sensations in most of the categories. Among those, Zhamalov’s usual category of 70 kg displayed Zafarev Otakhonov. The wrestler claimed the silver medal in the 2023 Asian Games. Ultimately, the 21-year-old wrestler earned the 18th position there. But he has a stellar domestic run. In such a situation, another contention will be on the card for Zhamalov’s Paris Olympics 2024 chance. 

The probability of changing the weight class 

After changing national allegiance, Razambek Zhamalov’s situation might not help him in the upcoming days. In a country that regards wrestling as a national sport, Razambek faces a plethora of competitors in the weight classes. Except for the 70-kg category, the 25-year-old holds the 74-kg category as his other wrestling spot. But this weight class holds the veteran Bekzod Abdurakhmonov.

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To solidify his chance in the category, the 33-year-old has the Olympic bronze from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, in 74 kg, Zhamalov had won his U23 World Championship in 2019. But to claim his berth on the Paris Olympics 2024 bound team, he has to win the Olympic qualifying tournaments. As of now, the Pan American Olympics qualifier is this month. So, Zhamalov would surely count on that tussle. 

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