Bishkek Ranking Series entry list

Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 09:57 By Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (May 23) -- An entry list that will put most international tournaments to shame, the Bishkek Ranking Series will be attended by more than 400 wrestlers.

The third Ranking Series of the year will be headlined by 29 continental champions who won gold medals in the recently concluded championships across the world.

In freestyle, Azerbaijan is bringing a solid squad headlined by Haji ALIYEV (AZE) and Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE). The nation has also entered three wrestlers at 74kg -- Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE), Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) and Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) -- in a bid to get a clearer picture of its World Championships team.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia are also bringing some of their top names in freestyle while India will see the return of Olympic silver medalist Ravi KUMAR (IND), his first competition since the World Championships.

Women's wrestling will see powerhouse China bring a full squad as it continues to get international competition after missing out on some in the past three years.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine will be its biggest opponents as the three countries are also bringing their best teams.

In Greco-Roman, Iran will be the favourite in most weight classes as it has decided to land with a full strength squad for the Ranking Series event. Georgia and Turkiye too have a tough squad for the tournament.

Iran will be led by Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) and it also includes Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), Daniel SHORABI (IRI), Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) among others.

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will try to challenge the these countries when the competition begins June 1 in Bishkek.

Ravi KUMAR (IND) will be wrestling for the first time since the World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Freestyle

57kg
Wanhao ZOU (CHN)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)
Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO)
Abzal OKENOV (KAZ)
Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ)
Yerassyl MUKHTARULY (KAZ)
Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ)
Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ)
Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ)
Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)
Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
Nodirjon SAFAROV (UZB)

61kg
Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE)
Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO)
Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO)
Ravi KUMAR (IND)
PANKAJ (IND)
AMAN (IND)
Kairat AMIRTAYEV (KAZ)
Nurbolat ABDUALIYEV (KAZ)
Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ)
Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ)
Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ)
Ali M M ABURUMAILA (PLE)
Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR)
Sardor RUZIMOV (UZB)

65kg
Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG)
Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE)
Shaohua YUAN (CHN)
Maikai ABULIZI (CHN)
Nuerlaxi BIEKEZHATI (CHN)
Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO)
Anuj KUMAR (IND)
Meirzhan ASHIROV (KAZ)
Galymzhan IBADULLA (KAZ)
Ilyas AMANZHOLOV (KAZ)
Aden SAKYBAEV (KGZ)
Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ)
Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK)
Hamza ALACA (TUR)
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)
Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)

70kg
AGUDAMU (CHN)
Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO)
Davit PATSINASHVILI (GEO)
Mulaym YADAV (IND)
Orts ISAKOV (JOR)
Doszhan ASSETOV (KAZ)
Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ)
Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ)
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
Turbayar DAVAANYAM (MGL)
Servet COSKUN (TUR)
Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB)

74kg
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)
Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE)
Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN)
Adam THOMSON (CAN)
Shengsong XIA (CHN)
Nuerlanbieke WURENIBAI (CHN)
AWUSAYIMAN KELAN (CHN)
Amr Reda HUSSEN (EGY)
Otari BAGAURI (GEO)
YASH (IND)
Erzo T ISAKOV (JOR)
Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ)
Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ)
Alinur TAKIROV (KGZ)
Adilet ZHAPARKULOV (KGZ)
Kubat AZIZBAEV (KGZ)
Sumiyabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Magomet EVLOEV (TJK)
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
Ilyas BEKBULATOV (UZB)

79kg
Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN)
Hade AYIDUSI (CHN)
Tu Erxun AHEIYOU (CHN)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
Deepak DEEPAK (IND)
Daulet YERGESH (KAZ)
Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ)
Bibarys NURYLLAULY (KAZ)
Myrza ZHYRGALBEK UULU (KGZ)
Adilet MARATBAEV (KGZ)
Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Ermak KARDANOV (SVK)

86kg
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN)
Peilong LI (CHN)
Jumabieke ABAIYI (CHN)
Xiao SUN (CHN)
Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP)
Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO)
Zaur BERADZE (GEO)
Jointy KUMAR (IND)
Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Maksat SATYBALDY (KAZ)
Islyambek ILYASSOV (KAZ)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ)
Narbek IZABEKOV (KGZ)
Mukhammad ABDULLAEV (KGZ)
Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB)
Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB)

92kg
Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Jumabayi AERGEN (CHN)
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)
Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO)
Abdimanap BAIGENZHEYEV (KAZ)
Nurdaulet BEKENOV (KAZ)
Yeskali DAULETKAZY (KAZ)
Stambul ZHANYBEK UULU (KGZ)
Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL)
Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR)
Rustam SHODIEV (UZB)

97kg
Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)
Awusayiman HABILA (CHN)
Reheman RUSIDANMU (CHN)
Tuerxunbieke MUHEITE (CHN)
DEEPAK (IND)
Nursultan AZOV (KAZ)
Serik BAKYTKHANOV (KAZ)
Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ)
Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ)
Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Radoslaw BARAN (POL)
Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK)
Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR)
Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB)
Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB)

125kg
Catriel MURIEL (ARG)
Zhiwei DENG (CHN)
BUHEEERDUN (CHN)
Benxin DUAN (CHN)
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)
Anirudh KUMAR (IND)
Omar EYUBOV (KAZ)
Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ)
Muzafar ZHAPPUEV (KGZ)
Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ)
Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL)
Robert BARAN (POL)
Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB)
Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)

Grace BULLEN (NOR) will be competing in the 62kg weight class in Bishkek. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Kamila BARBOSA (BRA)
Madison PARKS (CAN)
Ziqi FENG (CHN)
Jiang ZHU (CHN)
Meng FAN (CHN)
Nada MOHAMED (EGY)
NEELAM (IND)
Gulzhazira AMANTAYEVA (KAZ)
Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ)
Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR)
Oksana LIVACH (UKR)
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)

53kg
Karla GODINEZ (CAN)
Samantha STEWART (CAN)
Li DENG (CHN)
Qianyu PANG (CHN)
Yongxin FENG (CHN)
Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)
Stalvira ORSHUSH (HUN)
POOJA (IND)
Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ)
Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL)
Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL)
Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR)
Liliya HORISHNA (UKR)
Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

55kg
SITO (IND)
Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ)
Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ)
Melda DERNEKCI (TUR)
Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)

57kg
Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)
Giullia PENALBER (BRA)
Qi ZHANG (CHN)
ZHUOMALAGA (CHN)
Luisa VALVERDE (ECU)
Kexin HONG (CHN)
Emma TISSINA (KAZ)
Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)
Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR)
Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB)

59kg
Sarita SARITA (IND)
Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)
Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
Othelie HOEIE (NOR)
Ebru DAGBASI (TUR)
Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)
Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR)
Yuliia LESKOVETS (UKR)

62kg
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
Lais NUNES (BRA)
Ana GODINEZ (CAN)
Xiaojuan LUO (CHN)
Jia LONG (CHN)
Lydia PEREZ (ESP)
Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)
SONAM (IND)
Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)
Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL)
Grace BULLEN (NOR)
Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR)
Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB)

65kg
MANISHA (IND)
MUKATAY (KAZ)
Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ)
Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)

68kg
Olivia DI BACCO (CAN)
Feng ZHOU (CHN)
Qian JIANG (CHN)
NISHA (IND)
Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB)
Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB)

72kg
REETIKA (IND)
Dalma CANEVA (ITA)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)

76kg
Martina KUENZ (AUT)
Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN)
Juan WANG (CHN)
QIANDEGENCHAGAN (CHN)
Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
Samar HAMZA (EGY)
Epp MAE (EST)
Cynthia VESCAN (FRA)
PRIYA (IND)
Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTOVA (UKR)
Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR)

Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) will be at his second Ranking Series event of the year at 72kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)
Rupin RUPIN (IND)
Poya DAD MARZ (IRI)
Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)
Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ)
Yersin ABYIR (KAZ)
Taalaibek BEISHENBEK UULU (KGZ)
Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB)
Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB)

60kg
Liguo CAO (CHN)
Haodong TAN (CHN)
Erbatu TUO (CHN)
Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY)
Pridon ABULADZE (GEO)
SUMIT (IND)
Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI)
Aibek SABYRBEKOV (KAZ)
Nursultan BAZARBAYEV (KAZ)
Olzhas SULTAN (KAZ)
Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ)
Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ)
Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ)
Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)
Umit DURDYYEV (TKM)
Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

63kg
Ainiwaer AIKEREMU (CHN)
Geminghan REHETI (CHN)
Ahmed BAGHDOUDA (EGY)
Leri ABULADZE (GEO)
Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI)
Madiyar MALTEKBAYEV (KAZ)
Dastan ZARLYKHANOV (KAZ)
Mukhamedali MAMURBEK (KAZ)
Baiaman KARIMOV (KGZ)
Dastan KADYROV (KGZ)
Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB)

67kg
HUSIYUETU (CHN)
Lei LI (CHN)
Sailike WALIHAN (CHN)
Luis ORTA (CUB)
Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO)
NEERAJ (IND)
ASHU (IND)
Danial SOHRABI (IRI)
Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ)
Daniyar KALENOV (KAZ)
Merey BEKENOV (KAZ)
Amanat SAMAT UULU (KGZ)
Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ)
Mihai MIHUT (ROU)
Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)
Abror ATABAEV (UZB)

72kg
Jian TAN (CHN)
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)
Otar ABULADZE (GEO)
VIKAS (IND)
Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI)
Yerassyl NURBOSSYNOV (KAZ)
Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ)
Khabibullo TYNCHTYK UULU (KGZ)
Selcuk CAN (TUR)
Abdullo ALIEV (UZB)

77kg
Rui LIU (CHN)
Halishan BAHEJIANG (CHN)
Yesitai ZIYINI (CHN)
Sachino DAVITAIA (GEO)
Iuri LOMADZE (GEO)
Sajan SAJAN (IND)
Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI)
Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ)
Azat SADYKOV (KAZ)
Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ)
Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ)
Alibek BERDIEV (KGZ)
Renat ILIAZ UULU (KGZ)
Jeyhun OVEZDURDYYEV (TKM)
Yunus BASAR (TUR)
Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR)
Samandar BOBONAZAROV (UZB)

82kg
Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)
Rohit DAHIYA (IND)
Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI)
Dias KALEN (KAZ)
Shamil BATYROV (KAZ)
Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ)
Beksultan NAZARBAEV (KGZ)
Temirlan BEKTURDIEV (KGZ)
Alperen BERBER (TUR)
Nurbek KHASHIMBEKOV (UZB)
Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB)

87kg
Chengwu WANG (CHN)
Yi YANG (CHN)
Talimubieke AYIDINGBIEKE (CHN)
Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO)
Kumar SUNIL (IND)
Naser ALIZADEH (IRI)
Baurzhan MUSSIN (KAZ)
Azamat KUSTUBAYEV (KAZ)
Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ)
Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ)
Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ)
Shyhazberdi OVELEKOV (TKM)
Ali CENGIZ (TUR)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

97kg
Yan LIU (CHN)
Yiming LI (CHN)
Maimaiti KAISAIER (CHN)
Artur OMAROV (CZE)
Narinder CHEEMA (IND)
Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI)
Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI)
Zhantas NURGALI (KAZ)
Yerulan ISKAKOV (KAZ)
Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ)
Arkyt OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM)
Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)

130kg
Lingzhe MENG (CHN)
Di XIAO (CHN)
Teliuhan HAIYISHAOER (CHN)
Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB)
Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY)
Sulkhan BUIDZE (GEO)
Sahil SAHIL (IND)
Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)
Mansur SHADUKAYEV (KAZ)
Anton SAVENKO (KAZ)
Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU)
Fatih BOZKURT (TUR)
Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB)

#WrestleBaku, #WrestleParis

Sadulaev leads star-studded line-up for European OG Qualifier

Sunday, March 31, 2024 - 20:48 By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (March 31) -- For the first time in his career, Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) will participate in 'qualifiers' hoping to earn a spot for the Paris Olympics. His previous two appearances at the Olympics, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, came after winning the preceding World Championships in 2015 and 2019, respectively.

Sadulaev, if he qualifies, won't go to Paris as the world champion. Nor would he be the clear pick to win the gold. However, Sadulaev will be the favorite in Baku.

The two-time Olympic champion, who withdrew from his semifinal at the 2023 World Championships due to injury, is set to compete in the European OG Qualifiers in Baku from April 5 to 7, aiming to secure a Paris quota as an Individual Neutral Athlete in the 97kg category. This marks his return to competition following the World Championships and subsequent neck surgery.

The 97kg bracket includes some notable contenders aiming to secure quotas for Paris 2024 including Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN), who clinched a bronze medal at the European Championships, veteran Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), Radoslaw BARAN (POL), and Tokyo Olympian Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (AIN).

Sadulaev is expected to be seeded second, barring any last-minute changes to the entries, while Erik THIELE (GER) is set to receive the top seed, placing him separate from Sadulaev. As a result, Bajcajev is likely to be the third seed, and if the seeds hold, he will meet Sadulaev in the semifinal, with the winner securing the Paris 2024 spot.

Baran is slated to be the fourth seed, positioning him in the top half of the bracket. Hushtyn, Nurov, Radu LEFTER (MDA), and Benjamin HONIS (HUN) will be drawn randomly.

Despite the time away from international competition and being in unfamiliar territory, Sadulaev will look to leave no doubt that he remains an unbeaten force.

Haji ALIYEV (AZE) wrestling at the World Championships where he lost in the quarterfinal. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Another wrestler hoping to earn a Paris 2024 spot is two-time Olympic medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE). When he last competed at a European qualifier, Aliyev had a relatively straightforward path to the final, securing his qualification for the Tokyo Olympics. However, this year may present different challenges.

Aliyev will have to tackle a lot, both on and off the mat, to qualify for his third Olympics. He will be dealing with some additional pressure of leading a formidable Azerbaijan team looking to qualify in five Olympic weight classes in Baku.

The 65kg bracket in Baku will feature the latest European champion, Islam DUDAEV (ALB), European silver medalist Mikyay NAIM (BUL), former European bronze medalist Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR), and 2024 European bronze medalist Andre CLARKE (GER), among others.

Dudaev won the gold in February after beating Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN) in the final, throwing his name in the mix to earn a Paris Olympic quota in Baku.

Aliyev will be seeded number three with Maxim SCULTAN (MDA) taking the top seed, Joshua FINESILVER (ISR) at number two and Nino LEUTERT (SUI) at number four.

The weight cut for Aliyev will also be a challenge. Since the Tokyo Olympics, he has participated in six United World Wrestling competitions, wrestling at 70kg in three of them. The Baku tournament will also mark his first competition since the World Championships in September last year, where he exited after suffering a loss to Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) in the quarterfinals.

Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) is looking to qualify Azerbaijan at 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Joining Aliyev in the Azerbaijan team are Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) at 57kg, Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) at 74kg, Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) at 86kg and Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) at 125kg.

Rzazade failed to move past the Round of 16 at the World Championships and even lost his cool in that bout. But with Stevan MICIC (SRB), Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) and Zavur UGUEV (AIN) already earning a spot from the World Championships, the European field does offer a huge opportunity for Rzazade.

He will be seeded fourth in a bracket that also has Tokyo Olympian Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), Horst LEHR (GER), Robert DINGASHVILI (GEO), Simone PIRODDU (ITA), Vladimir EGOROV (MKD), Suleyman ATLI (TUR) and Kamil KERYMOV (UKR).

Atli and Egorov, former European champions, will be drawn randomly while Vangelov will be seeded number three after Lehr, who is number two.

Artur NAIFONOV (AIN) is returning since the 2021 World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 86kg, Nurmagomedov will have to repeat his heroics from the 92kg weight class that saw him become a world silver medalist and European champion. Azerbaijan will hope that Nurmagomedov can finish the job in Baku and not leave things to the final qualifiers in Istanbul in May.

But it won't be easy as Tokyo bronze medalist Artur NAIFONOV (AIN) returns for his first competition in three years. He will be among the contenders to claim one of the two spots. A few familiar opponents will greet Naifonov as Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) will turn up for Bulgaria while Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) will turn up for Greece.

Naifonov last wrestled at the World Championships in Oslo in 2021, winning a bronze medal. He will now be in Baku to earn the 86kg spot as an Individual Neutral Athlete.

Kurugliev won the European Championships in February and will start among the favorites to win one of the two spots in Baku. But he has to look out for Naifonov who will be drawn at random in the bracket.

The top seed will be European bronze medalist Osman GOCEN (TUR) who impressed at the European Championships. He will followed by Ramazanov as the second seed and Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) as the third seed. Kurguliev will be fourth, putting him on the same side as Gocen.

Two-time World Championships medalist Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) at 79kg has entered 86kg since the start of the year with hopes of qualifying Georgia. Former world medalists Boris MAKOEV (SVK) and Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) are expected to surprise the field.

The 125kg can throw a few close match-ups with little to predict. European bronze medalists Meshvildishvili and Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) will look to seize this opportunity and earn Paris spots. Joining them is Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (AIN) who finished fifth in Bucharest, former Euro medalist Daniel LIGETI (HUN), Tokyo Olympian Abraham CONYEDO (ITA) and Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR).

Ligeti was a win away from getting the spot at the World Championships but he has another chance in Baku. He will be the top seed followed by Meshvildishvili at number two. Khotsianivskyi will be at number three and Khramiankou at number four.

Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (AIN) is a silver medalist in the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

74kg minefield

Perhaps the most unpredictable weight class in the world right now. A host of Olympic and World Championships medalists will make their way to Baku to earn Paris 2024 quotas. But many will leave without one.

Tokyo silver medalist Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (AIN), who exited the World Championships after a first-round loss, has some forgetful memories of a European qualifier as he suffered a heartbreaking 4-4 loss four years ago.

However, a European Championships silver medal in February will boost Kadzimahamedau's confidence as he heads to Baku unseeded.

Bayramov, who came agonizingly close to winning a Paris spot in Belgrade before being cautioned out, will lead the Azerbaijan challenge as the top seed. He finished with a bronze medal at the European Championships after dropping his semifinal against Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK).

Both will be separated in Baku as Salkazanov is seeded second and will be on the other side of the bracket. However, he will be drawn with Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), the third seed, and if the seeds hold, both will meet in the semifinals. The two wrestled in the European Championships final and Salkazanov won 5-0.

Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) will be the fourth seed for the competition which leaves Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) unseeded. They will be roaring after missing out on medals at the World Championships. Chamizo even spent 10 days in Tokyo to prepare for the qualifiers. (Yes, the video if you keep scrolling).

Out of the 22 wrestlers entered at 74kg, only two can earn the spots for the Paris Games. The others will have to give it another shot in Istanbul in May.

Bishkek Ranking Series entry list

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Sadulaev leads star-studded line-up for European OG Qualifier