2026 U17 World Championships

Athimni Wins Historic Medal for Tunisia, Now Chases World Title

Thursday, July 30, 2026 - 15:05 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 30) -- Tasmin ATHIMNI (TUN) has the chance to become Tunisia's first-ever world champion in wrestling. She has already created history by reaching the 40kg final at the U17 World Championships in Baku on Thursday.

Before Athimni, no other U17 wrestler from Tunisia had won a medal at the tournament. Moreover, she is only the second ever world finalist for the country, nine years after Tunisian legend Marwa AMRI (TUN) did it at the 2017 Paris World Championships at the senior level.

Tunisia Wrestling Tasmin ATHIMNI (TUN)Tasmin ATHIMNI (TUN): 40kg wrestler from Tunisia. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 40kg semifinal, Athimni managed to compose a 6-3 win over Sirin ASKARA (TUR), but her dream run began in Baku began with a 5-0 win over Azzaya BATTULGA (MGL), before she pinned home favorite Gulkhanim SHIRINOVA (AZE) in the quarterfinals.

Standing between her and the historic gold medal is Natsumi SASAKI (JPN) who managed a close 4-2 win against Sophia VALDEZ (USA). Sasaki fell 2-2 behind on criteria but scored a stepout to take a 3-2 lead before adding another for the win.

Three falls in three bouts and Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) made it to her third U17 World Championships final. She is hoping to become the first non-Japanese wrester to three U17 world titles. Her first two came at 61kg but Fernandez is now at 69kg.

She picked up a 33-second fall against Maja WEJCHAN (POL) in the semifinal and will now face U17 European champion Kiymet TEZCAN (TUR) who posted a controlled 5-1 win over Milana ULANOVA (KGZ) in the other 69kg semifinal.

Two other wrestlers from the United States made it to the finals on Thursday, giving the country a strong position in the team title race. Marlee SOLOMON (USA) and Landri VON GONTEN (USA) will wrestle for the gold medal on Friday at 53kg and 61kg respectively.

Solomon secured a fall over Alejandra SERRANO (COL) in the semifinal while Von Gonten survived a battle against Aruzhan BAKYTNUR (KAZ) and win 7-6, thanks to a slight exposure when Bakytnur was trying a leg-lace in the final 20 seconds. Von Gonten will now face U17 European champion Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) in the 61kg final after the Turkiye wrestler blanked Graciela ENINGO (ESP), 6-0.

AKSHARA (IND) will try to stop Solomon in the 53kg final after she picked up a quick fall over Rion OGAWA (JPN) in the other semifinal.

At 46kg, Sandhya VISHNOI (IND) and Kokona MAKINO (JPN) will face each other for the gold medal after both picked up dominant wins in the semifinals. Vishnoi defeated Inzhu BAKKOZHA (KAZ) via fall while Makino secured a 10-0 technical superiority win over Vivien SZENTPAL (HUN).

RESULTS

40kg
SF 1: Natsumi SASAKI (JPN) df. Sophia VALDEZ (USA), 4-2
SF 2: Tasmin ATHIMNI (TUN) df. Sirin ASKARA (TUR), 6-3

46kg
SF 1: Sandhya VISHNOI (IND) df. Inzhu BAKKOZHA (KAZ), via fall
SF 2: Kokona MAKINO (JPN) df. Vivien SZENTPAL (HUN), 10-0

53kg
SF 1: AKSHARA (IND) df. Rion OGAWA (JPN), via fall
SF 2: Marlee SOLOMON (USA) df. Alejandra SERRANO (COL), via fall

61kg
SF 1: Landri VON GONTEN (USA) df. Aruzhan BAKYTNUR (KAZ), 7-6
SF 2: Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) df. Graciela ENINGO (ESP), 6-0

69kg
SF 1: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) df. Maja WEJCHAN (POL), via fall
SF 2: Kiymet TEZCAN (TUR) df. Milana ULANOVA (KGZ), 5-1

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026: Greco-Roman Storylines to Watch

Monday, July 13, 2026 - 09:20 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 13) -- Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Russia, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan are among the countries bringing full Greco-Roman squads for the Budapest Wrestling Ranking Series, scheduled from July 15 to 19.

Among the many stars and storylines that will be played out in Budapest, a few will be under extra spotlight. Here's what to watch in Greco-Roman at the final Ranking Series stop for the year:

Wrestling UWW+

Evloev Returns After 5 Years

Musa EVLOEV (RUS) was among the best wrestlers in the world and he confirmed that by winning the 97kg Greco-Roman gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. A two-time world champion, Evloev was at the peak of his career from 2018 to 2021.

After losing to legend Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) at the 2017 World Championships, Evloev went on an unbeaten run. He defeated Aleksayan in the 2018 World Championships final, 2020 Individual World Cup and the Tokyo final.

However, Evloev has not competed since. He made his comeback at the Benur Pashayan Memorial held in Armenia, but lost his first bout, 3-2, to U23 world champion Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM).

In Budapest, Evloev would be keen on addressing his shortcomings and getting used to competing, especially under new Greco-Roman rules.

In addition to Khloyan, world bronze medalist Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), two German young stars Darius KIEFER (GER) and Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), European medalist Alex SZOKE (HUN), Asian silver medalist NITESH (IND), former U20 world champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), and Olympic bronze medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) are also in the entries.

Uzbekistan's Top Team

Uzbekistan is bringing a strong squad to Budapest led by world champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB). Since winning the 63kg gold last year, Khalmakhanov has moved up to 67kg and won the Zagreb Open and U23 Asian Championships.

He will now face the 67kg field in Budapest that includes European medalist Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), U23 world champion Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY), European medalist Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), among others.

World silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) is also in a tough bracket at 60kg. Olympic medalist Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will be at 60kg after a stint at 63kg at the Ulaabaatar Open in which he lost a group bout but still won gold.

Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) and Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) both will be tough opponents for Ganiev, who is be joined by compatriot Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB). Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) and Sadyk LALAEV (RUS) too, can cause trouble.

Uzbekistan, perhaps to select teams for the World Championships and the Asian Games, have entered two wrestlers in almost all weights. At 77kg, world medalist Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) and Asian medalist Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) will be up against some big names.

Former U20 world champion Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) has moved up to 77kg while age-group world champion Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) will be making his senior debut. Hungary has entered three wrestlers, Robert FRITSCH (HUN), Levente LEVAI (HUN) and Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), making the field even deeper.

Others at 77kg include Idris IBAEV (GER), Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA), Ali ARSALAN (SRB) and Joel ADAMS (USA).

Can Cengiz Challenge?

Since finishing 10th at the Paris Olympics, former world champion Ali CENGIZ (TUR) has not been competing. He will mark his return in Budapest at 87kg, but can he challenge the young field after his two-year absence?

Asian champion Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) will be his biggest test apart from the three Hungarian hammers Tamas LEVAI (HUN), Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) and Istvan TAKACS (HUN).

Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) is also entered in the bracket and can make a run to the gold medal on his day.

Battles Everywhere

At 82kg, Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) will be up against old nemesis Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), the Paris Olympic silver medalist who shattered Makhmudov's dreams of winning a gold medal.

Asian champion and Qatar history-maker Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) at 82kg will be among the wrestlers eyeing gold in Budapest. A win here will make him one of the favorites to win gold in Astana. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) is also entered.

Kerem KAMAL (TUR) will have his task cut out at 63kg against Asian champion Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ), European champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS) and Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS), who will also wrestle for the first time since 2021.

At 130kg, most countries have gone with two wrestlers. Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) and Darius VITEK (HUN) are medal contenders at home. Kazakhstan has gone with Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ) and Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ).

Former European champion Sergei SEMENOV (RUS) is back and will battle youngster Marat KAMPAROV (RUS) as both seek places on Russia's World Championships team. The United States has gone with three wrestlers, Aden ATTAO (USA), Adam COON (USA) and Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA).