Beleniuk Moves to Top of Olympic Podium; Geraei, Kawai Strike Gold

Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - 15:16 By Ken Marantz

CHIBA, Japan (August 4) --- Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) likes to get more aggressive in the second period, figuring it might give him the last-point advantage in matches decided on passivity points. He didn't need that edge in winning his first Olympic gold medal.

Beleniuk scored four points out of the par terre in defeating Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) 5-1 in the Greco-Roman 87kg final on Wednesday night at Makuhari Messe Hall A, giving Ukraine its first Olympic gold in Greco since 1996.

In other finals on a night which featured wrestlers with siblings in the Olympics, Mohammedreza GERAEI (IRI) notched Iran's first wrestling gold with a solid victory at Greco 67kg, and Yukako KAWAI (JPN) did the same for the host country by taking the women's 62kg crown.

Beleniuk's victory was a repeat of the final at the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan, in which Beleniuk won 2-1 with all points awarded for passivity. On Wednesday, the Ukrainian star put up technical points by rolling Lorincz twice from the par terre position in the second period.

For Beleniuk, it caps a crusade to the top of the Olympic podium after having to settle for the silver at the 2012 London Games, which he went into as reigning world champion.

"This journey has been bumpy and hard," Beleniuk said. "The Olympics were postponed. Practice was not ideal during COVID. A dream came true today and I don't believe it. It will take some time to realize but tomorrow morning I will wake up with a smile."

Beleniuk said he felt the pressure of giving Ukraine its first Greco gold since Vyatsheslav OLEYNIK (UKR) won the country's lone previous one at 90kg at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. It was the fourth wrestling gold overall won by Ukraine.

"Yes, of course I have felt all the tension and pressure," Beleniuk said. "I was the favorite and everybody was expecting and this is something that can not helped. I am a sports psychologist. My knowledge helps me with difficulties and focus on things."

The 30-year-old Beleniuk has one of the more unique background stories among Olympic wrestlers. He was born in Kyiv to a Ukrainian mother and Rwandan father, who was a pilot studying at the city's National Aviation University but would die in the Rwandan civil war.

While excelling as a wrestler, winning two world and three European titles, Beleniuk also got involved in politics and became the first Black member of the Ukrainian Parliament.

"I have won everything thanks to God," Beleniuk said. "I'm an MP [Member of Parliament] and I have been combining the two things. This has made life difficult. Anyway, now I'll rest, focus on work in Parliament."

Yukako KAWAI (JPN) became Olympic champion at 62kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

While Lorincz's loss kept him from joining older brother Tamas as an Olympic champion, after the latter won the Greco 77kg gold on Tuesday, that dream remained in tact for the Kawai sisters of the host country.

Yukako Kawai, the younger sister of 57kg gold medal hopeful Risako KAWAI (JPN), defeated rival and reigning world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) 4-3 in the women's 62kg final, the first medal won by Japan's powerful women's team halfway through the six weight classes.

"I've faced her a number of times and I've won and I've lost," said Kawai, the 2018 world silver medalist and 2019 world bronze medalist. "This time it was at the Olympics hosted by Japan, so I really wanted to win no matter what. I wanted to show my best to everyone."

After giving up an activity point, Kawai successfully scored with a single-leg takedown to end the first period leading 2-1. It was the first points given up by Tynybekova in four matches.

"I don't remember why, I just did it without thinking," Kawai said of the takedown. "During the match, I just leave it up to what I've done in practice."

In the second period, Kawai padded her lead by spinning behind for 2 on a takedown counter. From that point, it was a battle against the clock as Tynybekova tried to find a way to break down her opponent's defenses.

She came close one time which ended in a stalemate, then got a takedown with 5 seconds remaining that left her one point short.

"This is a sport," said Tynybekova, who won her first medal in three Olympic appearances. "Allour life it's been wrestling and everybody wants to win. Everybody fights according to their style and I did like that. According to the results, Japan is the winner."

Kawai had lost to Tynybekova in their first two encounters, including a defeat by fall at the 2019 World Championships where Tynybekova became Kyrgyzstan's first-ever world champion--and raised hopes of become the country's first-ever Olympic gold medalist in any sport.

"To Kyrgyzstan, yes, I have won the first silver medal for women's wrestling," she said. "I wanted gold. I went to great lengths in my training and did not spare any opponent. Thank you to everyone who helped and waited for the medal. I did everything. But today I could not make history. For now, I have to be satisfied with this silver."

Kawai finally got the best of her rival at the 2020 Asian Championships, setting the stage for a high-level showdown at the Olympics. Kawai had used the one-year postponement of the Tokyo Games to work on building strength, and it paid off by her ability to fend off Tynybekova's attacks.

"In other sports that came before ours, I watched others win gold medals and I thought, 'That's cool, I definitely want one too.' I prepared coming into this, so I'm really happy to win a gold medal."

Earlier in the session, Kawai's older sister Risako earned a shot at a second straight Olympic gold by making the 57kg final. The two have long talked about winning Olympic golds together, and now they are one match away from having it come true.

"It's like a dream," Yukako said. "This was the stage I've always wanted to be on. I was able to get the ideal medal. I'm really happy....Up to now, I've always been second or third...To hear 'Olympic champion,' I'm happy, it's the best day ever."

For Tynybekova, she will have to wait another three years for the chance to earn that moniker.

"In general, my team, my coach and I prepared well," she said. "My coach did well to put me in the right mood. I felt very good in Tokyo. In the final match I could not do everything perfectly according to my coach's instructions."

Mohammadreza GERAEI Mohammedali GERAEI (IRI) won the GR 67kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Geraei, who saw older brother Mohammedali lose in the bronze-medal match at 77kg the day before, gave the family something to celebrate by sweeping past Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) for the Greco 67kg gold with a 9-1 technical fall.

"I did my best to win the gold," said Geraei, the 2019 world U-23 and Asian champion at 72kg. "It was the dream of my life. Unfortunately, my brother could not because he had an injury fromIran. I hope he makes it in the next Olympics."

Leading 3-1 in the second period, Geraei scored 4 points off a driving tackle. An unsuccessful challenge of that call gave him another point, and then he finished off the technical fall at 4:09 by sidestepping a charging Nasibov and scoring a stepout.

Geraei said he expects to return to 72kg for this year's World Championships in Oslo in October, but is undecided beyond that.

"My future plan will be based on my coaches, weight category change as well," Geraei said. "In Norway I will fight at 72kg. For the next Olympics, I will do my best to win the next time with my brother. Hopefully the gold."

In bronze-medal matches, Germany came away with two medals, with 32-year-old Frank STAEBLER (GER) heading into retirement with a hard-earned and first Olympic medal at Greco 67kg to go with his three world titles.

Frank STAEBLER (GER) announced his retirement after winning bronze at 67kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Staebler, making his third Olympic appearance, chalked up a 4-point throw from the par terre position in the first period against Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) , then held off the 2018 world U-23 silver medalist for a 5-4 win.

World bronze medalist Denis KUDLA (GER) caught fire in the second period of his Greco 87kg clash with Mohamed METWALLY (EGY), gut-wrenching his way to a big lead before ending the match by fall at 5:36.

Egypt, however, will not leave Tokyo empty-handed as 2018 and 2019 world U-23 champion Mohammed ELSAYED (EGY) defeated Artem SURKOV (ROC) 1-1 at Greco 67kg. Both points were for passivity, and Elsayed fought off one final stint in the bottom of par terre to clinch the win.

The other Greco 87kg bronze went to Georgian-born Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB), who gave his adopted country just its second Olympic wrestling medal ever by beating Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) 6-1.

European champion Datunashvili scored a takedown and a pair of gut wrenches in the first period to provide all the points he would need in denying Croatia its first-ever Olympic wrestling medal.

Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), the 2018 world champion, needed less than a minute to capture a women's 62kg bronze in her second Olympics. Yusein, who lost to Kawai 3-2 in the semifinals, gained a quick takedown against Liubov OVCHAROVA (ROC), then reeled off a combination of rolls and tilts for a 10-0 technical fall in :56.

Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) won the other 62kg bronze, scoring two stepouts in the second period of a 3-1 win over Anastasjia GRIGORJEVA (LAT), who had been aiming to win Latvia's first Olympic wrestling medal since 1936.

Elder Kawai holds off Maroulis in clash of Rio champs

Risako KAWAI (JPN), left, and Helen MAROULIS (USA) acknowledge after semifinal at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

Earlier, Risako KAWAI (JPN) emerged victorious in a highly anticipated clash of Rio 2016 champions, holding off Helen MAROULIS (USA) 2-1 in the semifinals of the women's 57kg class.

Kawai was the Rio gold medalist at 63kg and Maroulis took the 53kg gold with her historic victory over Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) which made her the first American woman to win an Olympic wrestling gold.

At the Tokyo Olympics, they split the difference and met in the middle, aiming for the gold in the weight class in which Kaori ICHO (JPN) won in Rio her unprecedented fourth gold medal.

Icho had actually aimed for a fifth, but lost out in Japan qualifying to Kawai.

In their first-ever meeting, neither Kawai nor Maroulis could break through the other's defenses. In the end, all of the points were scored on the activity clock, with Kawai, regarded as the more aggressive, gaining two.

"The result is the most important thing," Kawai told Japanese TV. "The issues that came up in the morning I talked over with my coach and resolved."

Kawai said she was prepared for the showdown. "She applies a lot of pressure. I had never faced her before, but I saw videos. When we tied up, I felt right away that it was different from those I practiced with and I felt I could handle it."

For Maroulis, the journey to the Tokyo Olympics was a challenge in itself. She had suffered from concussions and a knee injury, and might not have even given it a shot had the Games not been postponed for a year.

"In that year my health actually started getting better, so that was just a blessing," Maroulis said. "If you told me a year ago that I was gonna feel this healthy today and be like 100 percent, I would have probably not believed you. So to be here like this, I'm so grateful."

With the seconds ticking down, Maroulis desparately launched attacks, but was repelled each time.

"In those last 30 seconds, 40 seconds, I really felt like I pushed the pace, but I felt like I got out-positioned," Maroulis said. "I felt like I would be really close to getting her to maybe open up so I could get a takedown, but it just didn't happen."

Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) df. Artur NAIFONOV Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) wrestle Artur NAIFANOV (ROC) in the 86kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

Another match for the ages was set up in Thursday's freestyle 86kg final, where Rio Olympic and reigning world champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) will battle it out with David TAYLOR (USA) in a long-awaited rematch of the 2018 world final won by the American.

Yazdani, who won the 74kg gold in Rio before moving up to the next Olympic weight class and winning the 2017 world title, scored a takedown and a 4-point counter lift in the second period to oust 2019 world bronze medalist Artur NAIFONOV (ROC) 7-1 in the semifinals.

Taylor stormed into the final with his third technical fall of the day, manhandling world silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) 10-0 in 2:49.

"I am excited for the final," Taylor said. "Yazdani is a great competitor, we’ve had battles, one of the best wrestling stars out there. For wrestling to grow you need stars to wrestle each other."

Yazdani is aiming to become the first-ever two-time Olympic champion for wrestling-mad Iran, while Taylor is shooting for a gold medal in his Olympic debut.

"I have to go out there and get it," Taylor said. "It’s not gonna be given to me at all."

Taylor missed the 2019 World Championships after undergoing knee surgery, while Yazdani has been unbeaten since that loss in Budapest in 2018, including winning a second Asian title this year.

Taylor won their two previous meetings, a victory by fall in the 2017 World Cup in Iran and an 11-6 win in the first round at the 2018 worlds.

In the freestyle 57kg semifinals, favorite Zavur UGUEV (ROC) looked more like the two-time world champion than he did in two close victories in the early rounds, notching an 8-3 victory over 2019 Asian champion Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI).

Uguev gave up a roll early on, but came back with a takedown to make it 2-2 going into the second period. A stepout and a pair of takedowns put him in control as he repeated his victory over the Iranian from the quarterfinals at the 2019 World Championships.

In the final, Uguev will face Ravi KUMAR (IND), who rallied from the brink of defeat for a stunning victory by fall over fellow 2019 world bronze medalist Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ).

Kumar never gave up after falling behind 2-9 in the second period, going on the attack to score two takedowns and clamping down for a fall at 5:21 after the second.

Kumar, looking to avenge a loss to Uguev from the semifinals at the 2019 worlds, will get a chance to become India's first-ever Olympic wrestling champion, after becoming just the second in history to make an Olympic final. Sushil KUMAR (IND) took the freestyle 66kg silver at the 2012 London Olympics.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

57kg
SF1 - Ravi KUMAR (IND) df. Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) by Fall, 5:21 (7-9)
SF2 - Zavur UGUEV (ROC) df. Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI), 8-3

86kg
SF1 - Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) df. Artur NAIFONOV (ROC), 7-1
SF2 - David TAYLOR (USA) df. Deepak PUNIA (IND) by TF, 10-0, 2:49

Greco-Roman

67kg
GOLD - Mohammedreza GERAEI (IRI) df. Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) by TF, 9-1, 4:09

BRONZE - Frank STAEBLER (GER) df. Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO), 5-4
BRONZE - Mohammed ELSAYED (EGY) df. Artem SURKOV (ROC), 1-1

87kg
GOLD - Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) df. Viktor LORINCZ (HUN), 5-1

BRONZE - Denis KUDLA (GER) df. Mohamed METWALLY (EGY) by Fall, 5:36 (8-1)
BRONZE - Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) df. Ivan HUKLEK (CRO), 6-1

Women's Wrestling

57kg
SF1 - Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. Helen MAROULIS (USA), 2-1
SF2 - Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) by TF, 11-0, 4:42

62kg
GOLD - Yukako KAWAI (JPN) df. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), 4-3

BRONZE - Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Anastasjia GRIGORJEVA (LAT), 3-1
BRONZE - Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) df. Liubov OVCHAROVA (ROC) by TF, 10-0, :56

#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.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PREVIEW HERE

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).

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