#wrestlebishkek

Bishkek Ranking Series entry list

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)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)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)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)

Wrestling 2026 Season Preview: Freestyle, Women's Wrestling, Greco-Roman

By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 2) -- The 2025 World Championships in Zagreb marked a turning point in international wrestling as 18 first-time world champions were crowned, signaling the arrival of a new generation well before the qualification cycle for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games begins.

A few scenes in Zagreb showed what the titles meant. A women’s champion hugging anyone she could find, a Freestyle winner delivering revenge, and a Greco-Roman champion lifting a nation’s pride. Now, 2026 will determine whether those champions can turn a breakthrough into sustained dominance, or if the veterans will reclaim control.

For traditional powers like the United States, Iran, and Japan, maintaining dominance will be harder than ever as more countries close the gap.

In Women’s Wrestling, Japan is being challenged by the DPR Korea, while in Freestyle the U.S. and Iran remain the central rivalry. In Greco-Roman, Iran is undoubtedly the best team in the world but Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are closing the gap as another strong season approaches.

As wrestling moves toward LA 2028, 2026 becomes the year where storylines start to stick. The UWW Pro Series is part of that shift, taking its final shape before launch. Wrestlers will be rewarded for their ranks for the year and will stand a chance to win a grand prize.

The fans can follow wrestling with United World Wrestling through UWW+ on uww.org, Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube.

Freestyle

A Sadulaev vs Yazdani final at the World Championships. A match-up like no other can happen in 2026.

The 2026 season begins with a question: when will Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) return? A dream match against Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) is now firmly on the cards. Yazdani, the 2016 Olympic champion at 74kg, is now competing at 97kg, ten years later. Sadulaev, who won Olympic gold at 86kg in Rio, moved to 97kg soon after that gold.

The Iranian may compete at the Zagreb Open or at the Tirana Ranking Series. If the return is delayed, world silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) will likely carry the weight for Iran early in the season.

At the same time, several major stars are preparing comebacks. Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) is expected to return after recovering from shoulder surgery, while Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) is also set to resume competition, most likely around May.

READ THE FULL FREESTYLE PREVIEW HERE

Women’s Wrestling

Japan captured five of the 10 medals on offer at the World Championships and nothing less is expected from its wrestlers. But out of the first four weight classes, it managed to win only one gold and missed out on medals in two of them.

Missing a medal at 50kg is rare for Japan. It happened in 2009, then in 2019 and in 2025. So what can be expected from the best country in Women's Wrestling or perhaps wrestling?

The DPR Korea, China, India, Ukraine and the United States keep challenging Japan at various competitions but it has managed to hold its own. With the gap closing, 2026 will be a similar story.

Continental Championships will be the first test for countries building towards the year-ending World Championships. But these tournaments can also witness the returns of a few wrestlers. Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), Amit ELOR (USA), Maria YEFREMOVA (UKR), and possibly VINESH (IND).

Additionally, several medal contenders are shifting weight classes in 2026, opening their paths to medals at the World Championships and later at the Olympics.

READ THE FULL WOMEN'S WRESTLING PREVIEW HERE

Greco-Roman

Iran ruled Greco-Roman in 2025 with dominant performances at all levels, and it was not even close. Barring that one battle with Uzbekistan at the U17 World Championships, Iran remained untouched. In 2022 and 2023, it showed signs of long-term dominance and in 2024, it won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Then in 2025, it won team titles at all age-group levels.

At the World Championships in Zagreb, it won four gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Out of the 10 wrestlers, eight won medals, missing only at 77kg and 60kg. Will 2026 be Iran's year again?

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) make the core team. World champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) has been the latest sensation, going unbeaten in 2025 and winning the U23 world gold at 87kg. Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI) is also a proven wrestler at 87kg having won an Olympic and world silver.

Iran has a second team which can challenge any established star in the world. U20 and U23 world champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) is a wrestler waiting for his turn at 130kg. Hedayati is getting closer to beating Mirzazadeh in selection for the Iran team.

Payam AHMADI (IRI), Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) and Ahmadi VAFA (IRI) are already part of the team while younger stars wait for their turns.

But there has been an influx of talent in Greco-Roman in the new cycle especially with Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Japan, Armenia and UWW wrestlers stepping up.

READ THE FULL GRECO-ROMAN PREVIEW HERE