Asian Games Freestyle Preview: Tazhudinov, Yazdani in star-studded field

Saturday, September 30, 2023 - 18:33 By Vinay Siwach

HANGZHOU, China (September 30) -- It’s rare that Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) is second best on the mat. It’s rarer that he isn’t the biggest star at a wrestling competition, that too in Asia.

But the Asian Games in Hangzhou is one such rare occasion when Yazdani has to take a back seat. It’s not because his form has deteriorated or he isn't the favorite in his weight class.

It's because a new star has taken the wrestling world by storm in the last two weeks.

WOMEN'S WRESTLING PREVIEW | GRECO-ROMAN PREVIEW

20-year-old Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) is the newly-crowned world champion at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) will have everyone glued to their screens as he competes two weeks after setting the World Championships ablaze, winning the 97kg gold medal in what was arguably the most thunderous run in recent times.

Beating Olympic champions Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) in back-to-back matches, Tazhudinov became the first world champion from Bahrain and also qualified the nation for the Paris Olympics.

The 20-year-old will be under the limelight at the Lin’an Sports Culture and Exhibition Center, the venue for wrestling at the Asian Games which began September 23. Wrestling will take place from October 4 to 7 in the 18 Olympic weight classes.

Tazhudinov is one of the seven 2023 crowned world champions who will be in Hangzhou, hoping to win the gold medal. He is expected to capture gold without trouble but can have a rematch with Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) and Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI).

Tazhudinov defeated Ibragimov in the World Championships and had a 13-8 win over Goleij in the Asian Championship, a tournament in which he won gold after beating Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) 11-0 in the final and the Chinese wrestler will be keen on avenging that loss if the two meet in Hangzhou.

38-year-old Ibragimov is a returning bronze medalist and will hope to add one more medal to his cabinet. Goleij, who lost to Sadulaev in a thriller at the World Championships, has to hope his gas tank holds on if he wants to win a medal.

For Kazakhstan, Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) is back at 97kg and can complicate the medal standings as a dark horse.

Yazdani, who has won six World and Olympic medals since his gold at the Jakarta Asian Games, will come to Hangzhou after his latest world silver medal. It will be key for Yazdani to have recovered both physically and mentally after another grueling final match against David TAYLOR (USA).

The Rio Olympic champion has not lost to a wrestler not named Taylor at 86kg and a loss in the Asian Games looks unlikely. However, a few will look to challenge him.

World bronze medalist Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) has the potential to push the Iranian and the Kazakhstan wrestler has shown in the past that he is improving consistently. Kazakhstan will put a lot of hopes on Dauletbekov to end their gold-medal drought as the country last won a Freestyle title at the Asian Games in 1994, its only gold. The 2018 Games saw Kazakhstan win four silver and six bronze medals.

Former world silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) will be back in action at 86kg after a long time. Punia has not been in the thick of things since finishing fifth at the Tokyo Olympics. Another Tokyo fifth Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) will be competing at his first Asian Games. He finished fifth at the World Championships after suffering a last-second loss to Dauletbekov in the bronze-medal bout. He will be a big medal contender in Hangzhou.

Bat-Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) finished seventh at the World Championships but will look to make his mark at the Asian Games. For Korea, Gwanuk KIM (KOR) won a bronze medal in 2014 but missed out in 2018.

World champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) is the favorite to win gold at 125kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Yazdani and Goleij are not the only members of Iran’s World Championships team on this trip. World champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI), Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and Yones EMAMI (IRI) are also on the team as Iran looks to improve the gold medal bout. 57kg will be represented by Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) who defeated Alireza SARLAK (IRI) in a domestic trial to win the spot.

He will be high on confidence after he reclaimed the world title he lost to Taha AKGUL (TUR) in Belgrade. He will need it as he faces a few big names to win his first Asian Games gold medal.

2022 world silver medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) will be Zare’s biggest hurdle in Hangzhou. Munkhtur won the Asian Championships in April, a competition Zare skipped, to earn his first-ever Asian gold. If Zare needs to beat the big Mongolian, his underhook and active wrestling will be key as it will test Munkhtur’s conditioning.

Another test for Zare will be Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) who was a takedown away from beating him at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup in June 2022. He can trouble the Iranian again due to his strong gut-wrench which Zare can avoid by building an early lead.

37-year-old Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) returned to the mat in June after the Tokyo Olympics and reached the 1/16 finals at the World Championships. He will be at the Asian Games as a medal threat but will have to manage the younger wrestler who will beat him by fitness.

A consistent performer at the age levels, Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) has not been able to replicate that success at the senior. He will return to the mat after four months and can upset a few stars if he is at the top of his game. Sumit MALIK (IND) will hope to improve on his fifth-place finish from the 2018 edition and win his first Asian Games medal.

Bekzod ABDURAKHAMONOV (UZB) Bekzod ABDURRAKHOMOV (UZB) is the defending champion at 74kg. (Photo: UWW / Assem Shalgumbayeva)

At 74kg, both Emami and Bekzod ABDURAKHAMOV (UZB) will be disappointed to not win a medal or an Olympic qualification at the World Championships for Iran and Uzbekistan respectively. Both lost to eventual world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) and in repechage, Abdurkhamanov lost to Avantdil KENTCHADZE (GEO) in the repechage while Emami suffered a close loss to Hetik CABOLOV (SRB).

But at the Asian Games, Abdurakhamonov comes in as the defending champion. He won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and unsuccessfully tried switching to 86kg before moving back to 74kg as the Olympics near. His experience will be useful to beat the likes of Emami, a world bronze medalist from 2022.

The Iranian will back himself to beat Abdurakhamonov but it will be a close battle as the Uzbek is known for his strong defense as well.

Asian champion at 74kg, Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ) will look to spoil the party for both Emami and Abdurakhamonov. He will spearhead Kazakhstan's challenge to win the gold medal and end the drought.

Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN) was second to Yessengali at the Asian Championships and will be a big medal threat. Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), who has a few senior-level medals at 70kg, is moving up to 74kg for the Asian Games.

Returning bronze medalist Byunmin GONG (KOR) will have the responsibility of winning another medal for Korea. He lost to Kinoshita at the Asian Championships and later to Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL). But Mongolia has decided to send 2021 Asian bronze medalist Sumiyabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) to Hangzhou.

Another defending champion coming to Hangzhou is Bajrang PUNIA at 65kg. The five-time world and Olympic medalist is returning to the mat after a year of absence. He has not competed since winning the bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships.

Punia will have to go through a minefield if he wants to defend his title from Jakarta. 2022 world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) will be at his first Asian Games and will start as the favorite being a two-time Asian champion. Joining Amouzad is Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL) who has improved considerably since finishing fifth at the 2019 World Championships.

Both Tumur Ochir and Amouzad are beasts with their underhooks and have managed to beat a few of the best wrestlers in the world with Amouzad beating Punia in the 2022 Asian final and then repeating as champion in 2023 defeating Tumur Ochir.

But Punia and Tumur Ochir can take confidence from the fact that Amouzad failed to win a medal at this World Championships and finished fifth. His conditioning for a six-minute bout appeared weaker than in previous years.

Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB) is replacing Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) from the initial squad after the latter got injured during the World Championships. Rakhmonov stunned Punia last year by beating the Indian in the final second of their Ranking Series bout.

U20 Asian champion Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK), a recent transfer, is a big medal threat. He finished third at the Bishkek Ranking Series after losing to Tumur Ochir 4-0. 2019 U20 world champion Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN) and 2021 world bronze medalist Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) are also entered.

AMAN (IND) was the 57kg champion at the Asian Championships. (Photo: UWW / Assem Shalgumbayeva)

The 57kg weight class will see Asian champion AMAN hoping to repeat the golden performance in the Games. While he will be the favorite, Iran is sending Khari, Toshiro HASEGAWA (JPN) is a bronze medalist from 2021 Worlds at 61kg while China has Tokyo Olympian Minghu LIU (CHN), also a multiple-time Asian medalist, Kazakhstan is going with Asian bronze medalist Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ) while Kyrgyzstan has young star Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ).

Aman is trying to fill the shoes of Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Ravi KUMAR who has been sidelined for more than a year due to injuries. He is currently under rehabilitation for an ACL injury.

India's first-ever U23 world champion Aman had a golden run at the Asian Championships, beating Rikuto ARAI (JPN), Wanhao ZOU (CHN) and Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ). But the Games come with different pressures.

Former U23 world champion Hasegawa, who pinned Kumar to win that gold in 2018, will look to finally get a big medal at the senior level and the Asian Games could be his chance. A technically gifted wrestler, Hasegawa has not been able to find a firm footing at 57kg, mainly due to the weight cut.

If he wins the gold, it will not only be special for Hasegawa but for Japan as well. Japan has not had a Freestyle gold medal in the last two editions of the Asian Games. In fact, London Olympic champion Tatsuhiro YONEMITSU (JPN) is the only Freestyle wrestler from Japan to win gold since the 1994 edition. In the last 28 years, apart from Yonesmitsu, Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) is the only wrestler to reach the final. He lost to Punia in the 65kg final in 2018.

Liu was at the 2018 Asian Games and finished fifth. So he will be hoping to win a medal at the home Games and has all the class to do so as well.

#WrestleAthens

U17 World Wrestling Championships 2025 Preview

Friday, July 25, 2025 - 16:28 By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (July 23) -- Eight years after it last hosted the World U17 Championships, Greece gears up for another.

The 2025 World U17 Championships will be held in Athens from July 28 to August 3 at the Ano Liosia Olympic Hall, the historic venue where wrestling competition during the 2004 Olympics was held.

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While the wrestlers will be making new memories, one former wrestler will be reliving old memories. Four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) will be revisiting Athens, this time as Japan’s team coach, 21 years after she won her first gold medal at the Games in 2004.

Japan is expected to reclaim the Women's Wrestling team title it lost to India in 2024. The United States, Ukraine and China are also sending strong teams.

In Freestyle, the U.S. will battle it out with Iran, the top two countries last year. Meanwhile, in Greco-Roman, Iran will face challenges from Asian counterparts and Azerbaijan.

The competition will begin with Greco-Roman on July 28 with five weight classes and will follow a two-day format. Women's Wrestling will begin July 30 and Freestyle on August 1. The repechage and medal bouts of each weight category will be held the next day.

The action from the World U17 Championships will be live on UWW+ on uww.org and the UWW App. Follow United World Wrestling on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube.

Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) is one of the returning world U17 champions in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

The defending team champion the U.S. boasts a quality line-up including world champ Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) and four Pan-Am champions from 2025 -- Ariah MILLS (USA), Alexander TAYLOR (USA), Jayden JAMES (USA) and Arseni KIKINIOU (USA).

Iran, which missed the Asian U17 Championships, has wrestlers who have previous success at Asian level and in ISF Gymnasiade. It won only two gold medals last year, but it hopes Morteza HAJ (IRI), Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI), Arian MEHRALIZADEH (IRI) and Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI) will help it better that number this year.

Said PASHAYEV (AZE) is the European champion at 92kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Six out of the 10 European champions from 2025 are set to be in Athens with Azerbaijan entering three. Ravan HASANZADE (AZE) at 48kg, Ruslan ALIZADA (AZE) at 55kg and Said PASHAYEV (AZE) at 92kg will be the biggest hopes for Azerbaijan to win gold, a medal the country was denied last year.

The other European champs are Zorab ALOIEV (UKR) at 61kg, Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) at 80kg and Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) at 110kg.

Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ) won the 60kg gold at the Asian U17 Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan had a successful Asian U17 Championships in Vietnam after the no-show of Iran and Japan's subdued performance.

Kazakhstan won two gold medals in Vietnam and both wrestlers, Ibrahim YSKAKBEK (KAZ) at 55kg and Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ) at 60kg, will be in Athens and try to win a world gold, a medal the country has not won since 2022.

Kyrgyzstan also had two gold medalists, Arnur NURSAIDOV (KGZ) at 45kg and Dovudbek BAKHADIROV (KGZ) at 48kg, at Asian Championships. The onus will be on these to lead the team as it looks for a second straight top-three finish. Last year, it placed third, the highest for the country at the world level.

Uzbekistan won only one gold in Vietnam but every wrestler competed for a medal, helping it finish third. Japan and India, fourth and fifth in Vietnam, are likely to be the dark horses in Greece.

A few others who can surprise the field including returning silver medalist Frederick BACHMANN (PUR) at 60kg, returning champ Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) at 51kg, Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB) at 55kg, returning silver medalist Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) at 65kg and Hasan HASANOV (AZE) at 60kg.

KAJAL (IND) was one of India's five world U17 champions in 2024. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Women's Wrestling

Japan will undoubtedly be favored to win the team title but in the last few years, Japan's supremacy has been challenged by both the United States and India.

India won the team title last year for the first time with an incredible performance, winning five gold medals while Japan only won one.

Can Japan bounce back? Certainly.

Yu KATAOKA (JPN) at 49kg and Rion OGAWA (JPN) at 53kg have dominated the continental level and have been unbeaten internationally. They will lead a team that also includes An NAKANISHI (JPN), Sayuki HIBARINO (JPN) and Hanano OYA (JPN).

Japan will have to step up when it comes to heavier weight classes if it wants to capture the trophy. The presence of Icho as coach should serve as motivation for the young wrestlers, who take on the world.

India will have six current and former continental champions in Athens. KAJAL (IND), world champ at 69kg, will be at 73kg this year but will still be the favorite to win the gold medal. She was dealt a shock loss at the Asian Championships by Wenjin QIU (CHN) in the final. Qiu will also be in Athens and a potential clash with Kajal is on the cards.

Asian champ RACHANA (IND), who has silver from 2023 Worlds, will be at 43kg hoping to win gold. Kasish GURJAR (IND) was the Asian champion in 2023, MONI (IND) is the Asian champ at 57kg while Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) is a two-time continental champion at 65kg. MANISHA (IND), who won gold in Vietnam, will lead India's charge at 69kg.

Former world u17 champion Morgan TURNER (USA) is one of the favorites to win at 49kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The U.S. is bringing a host of Pan-American champions but its biggest star will be 2023 world champ Morgan TURNER (USA), who also won the bronze medal in 2024. She will be at 49kg, a weight class in which she won the Pan-Am gold this year.

At 40kg, Maisie ELLIOTT (USA) is a Pan-Am champion and so is Emma BACON (USA) at 57kg, Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) at 61kg, Violette LASURE (USA) at 65kg, Cassandra GONZALES (USA) at 69kg and Ella Jo POALILLO (USA) at 73kg.

Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA), who also won Pan-Am gold at 46kg, is a returning bronze medalist and will be one of the favorites for the gold medal this year.

From Europe, nine 2025 continental champions are entered for Athens. European champion at 40kg Valia HARSAN (ROU) will test herself against Asian champion Shokhista SHONAZAROVA (UZB) along with other big names in the field including European silver medalist Polina TIMSINA (EST), European bronze medalist Finja STRAUCH (GER) and Daria MASLENNIKOVA (UWW), who is three-time European U15 champion.

Raniia RAKHMANOVA (UWW) was the champion at 43kg and will be the favorite for the gold medal as well.

At 46kg, Nazrin AHMADLI (AZE) is a returning bronze medalist from 40kg but will contend with Janka SILLEI (HUN) in the weight class. Sillei is unbeaten internationally and won the European gold in Skopje. Local wrestler and world silver from 43kg Maria GKIKA (GRE) will hope to win a medal for the hosts. Additionally, Gurjar, Hanano OYA (JPN), world silver from 40kg Kamila KUCHMA (UKR), Bouzakis and European silver Irina TSYDEEVA (UWW) will have their eyes on gold.

A battle between Kataoka and Turner is expected at 49kg which also has Asian silver medalist Saniya SOLTANGALI (KAZ) and returning bronze medalist and European champ Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW).

SAARIKA (IND) won the Asian U20 Championships gold medal after a close win over Mihoko TAKEUCHI (JPN), a Klippan Lady Open champion and 2022 World U17 Championships silver medalist. But for success in Athens, Saarika will have to battle it out with European champion at 53kg Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), Japanese star Ogawa, two-time European silver Fatma YILMAZ (TUR) and Euro U15 champ Yuliia HOLHOVSKA (UKR), who is 15 years old and Elison.

Japan has unheralded Sayuki TANADA (JPN) at 57kg which also has Asian champion MONI (IND), Asian silver Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ), European silver Ivanna LUKIANENKO (UKR) and Bacon. This is the only weight class in which the European champion has not entered.

Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) is Georgia's first-ever European champion in Women's Wrestling. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 61kg, history-maker for Georgia's Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) has entered hoping to win a world medal for Georgia in Women's Wrestling. She was the first European champ for Georgia in Women's Wrestling. But she will face resistance from Asian champ Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ), European silver Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) and European champ Zalina TOTROVA (UWW).

Germany's Feenja HERMANN (GER) finished seventh at 57kg last year but managed to win the European silver medal at 65kg this year. She will be hoping for a world medal as well. Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) is a two-time Asian champ at this weight class and Japan has Mitsuki OKAWA (JPN). Lasure and European champ Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW) will also be presenting their challenges.

Another of Germany's big hope is Ayla SAHIN (GER) who won the gold medal at the Europeans at 69kg. She was 10th last year at the Worlds at 65kg. But Asian champ MANISHA (IND), Mao TERAOKA (JPN), Pan-Am silver Linda MARTINEZ (MEX), Pan-Am champ Gonzales and European silver medalist Zukhra KAZULAEVA (UWW) are also in the mix.

Apart from the Kajal-Qiu match-up at 73kg, European silver medalist Greta TVERSKYTE (LTU), European champion Eylem ENGIN (TUR), a returning medalist from 57kg, returning fifth-placer Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR) and Pan-Am champ Poalillo will make this category worth a watch.

Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) is one of the three Asian U17 champions for Uzbekistan in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

Last year, Uzbekistan was a standout in Greco-Roman at the U17 level, winning the Asian U17 team title and finishing second at the World Championships. It continued this success at the Asian level this year, with each wrestler winning a medal, including three golds.

Uzbekistan will once again be in the team race and threaten Iran, the defending champions.

All three of its Asian champs -- Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) at 71kg, Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB) at 80kg and Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB) at 92kg -- will compete in Athens.

Iran will rely heavily on its heavyweights Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) at 92kg and Yazdan Reza DELROUZ (IRI) at 110kg for gold medals.

Last year's 15th-placer Hossein KAZEMI (IRI) at 71kg will be a handful for his opponents and Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) will be the favorite at 55kg. Amir HAJIVAND (IRI) at 48kg and Amirmohammad HAJI (IRI) at 51kg will compete in the gold-medal hunt as well.

Azerbaijan is another country that is bringing a strong squad to Athens. It has three European champions and three medalists from Skopje making the trip.

While the lighter and heavier weight classes have seen Asian wrestlers do well, the middle weight classes have been dominated by European wrestlers, especially at 65kg, 71kg and 80kg.

Since the weight classes were shuffled in 2018, only three Asian wrestlers have managed to win gold medals at 65kg, 71kg and 80kg. Reza SAKI (IRI) won at 71kg in 2022 and Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) claimed gold at 80kg in 2023. In 2024, Amir SAEIDI (IRI) broke the jinx at 65kg.

Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) is the European 65kg champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

In Athens, at 65kg, European champ Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) will lead the charge. Other key European wrestlers include silver medalist Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), bronze medalist Kyliane EDDOUH (FRA), home favorite Iason MARGARITIDIS (GRE) and many other strong competitors from the European Championships in Skopje.

Asian champion Dosbol SHAMIL (KAZ), who finished seventh at 60kg at the last World Championships, will look to break European dominance at this weight class. So will Pan Am champ Arseni KIKINIOU (USA), who is competing in Freestyle as well.

At 71kg, it can very well end up being a European champion vs Asian champion match to decide it all. Giorgi GOGELASHVILI (GEO) will look to add a world title to his European one while Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB), the Asian champion, will have a chance to upgrade his bronze medal from last year to gold.

Despite his 14th-place finish this year at the European Championships, Yusif AHMADLI (AZE) is a strong contender for gold. He finished seventh at the World Championships last year and has a silver medal in 2023 at 65kg. European silver medalist Ignat MEICO (MDA) and bronze medalist Matias ONNENLEHTO (FIN) are also entered.

European U17 champion Senik VARDANIAN (UWW) will look to add a world title to his name. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

As many as 12 European wrestlers from Skopje are entered at 80kg for Athens. Senik VARDANIAN (UWW) was the champion and will be the favorite to win gold in Athens. He is joined by silver medalist Benediktas BUBELEVICIUS (LTU) and bronze medalists Nijat YEYLAGALIYEV (AZE) and Ismail BEREKET (TUR).

Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB), the Asian champ, and Pan-Am champion Isai FERNANDEZ (USA) have a big task ahead of them to capture the gold medal.

An interesting entry at 92kg is Said PASHAYEV (AZE), the European Freestyle champ, who will also compete in Greco-Roman. He finished 16th in Skopje. He may not be the favorite but has a chance to trouble the likes of European champion Vadim DRAGUSHAN (UWW) and Asian champion Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB), who also is a returning bronze medalist.

Filling the line-up are Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI), Asian silver medalist Adilet TOISHY (KAZ), European silver medalist Tymur LARIN (UKR) and Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW), who will be the dark horse at this weight class. The hosts Greece will bank on European bronze medalist Ioannis MOUTOUSIDIS (GRE) to win a medal at home.

Iran has been denied the 110kg gold since 2019 but it hopes that Yazdan Reza DELROUZ (IRI) will bring it back. Although, it won't be easy. The field includes European champion Rihad IBRAHIMLI (AZE) and silver medalist Denis LAZAROV (BUL). Asian champion HARDEEP (IND) may trouble the Iranian and so can Emrullah CAPKAN (TUR), who finished fifth last year.

European silver medalist Ali NAZAROV (AZE) will be the favorite at 60kg as he dominated the European field barring the final. His biggest challenge can come from Asian champ Damir AKAN (KAZ) in an otherwise weak weight class.

At 45kg, Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) is the European champ and he has a good chance to win the world title as well. But the lowest weight class always has a surprise in store. Saba ABASHIDZE (GEO) will look to avenge his European final's loss to Huseynli while Ararat AVETISYAN (ARM), European bronze medalist, is also entered. But can Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ), the Asian champion, spoil their party?

Another Asian champion from Kazakhstan, Nurdaulet KUMARULY (KAZ), will be challenging the 48kg field that includes European champion Stanislav IVANOV (BUL), silver medalist Martin MANJIKYAN (ARM), and bronze medalist Gurban MAJNUNOV (AZE).

Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), left, and Aslanbek KOSTOEV (UWW) are likely to face each other at 51kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Armenia's gold at the World Championships can come from Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), who won the European Championships gold medal at 51kg and a world silver medal at 45kg last year. He will also have a chance to avenge his 2024 Worlds final's loss to Aslanbek KOSTOEV (UWW), who is also entered at 51kg.

The 55kg category is again dominated with European entries including champion Danil LOZHKIN (UWW) and silver medalist Giorgi CHACHUA (GEO). Asian Championships finalists are also entered with champion Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ) and silver medalist Sadriddin TULKINBOEV (UZB).

Asian Games Freestyle Preview: Tazhudinov, Yazdani in star-studded field

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U17 World Wrestling Championships 2025 Preview