RIO DE JANEIRO (August 20) – World champions Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and Devid SAFARYAN (ARM) top the bracket at 65kg while Reza YAZDANI (IRI) and Khetag GAZYUMOV (AZE) anchor the 97kg pairings for the final day of wrestling at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

But even before the tournament progresses to the top of the lightweight bracket, London 2012 bronze medalist Yogeshwar DUTT (IND) and 2014 world champion Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) will get things rolling in two of the five preliminary bouts at 65kg

Dutt will face two-time world bronze medalist GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL) in one prelim while Ramonov squares off with Haislan VERANES GARCIA (CAN), making his third trip to the Olympic Games.

Chamizo and Safaryan will kick off the round of 16 at 65kg, while London 2012 gold medalist Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) lurks as a likely opponent semifinal opponent. European champion Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) could also be a factor.

Survivors of the preliminary bouts will join the bracket in the lower half of the bracket, which is led by world silver medalist Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) meeting Asia champion Adam BATIROV (BRN) as Bahrain makes its debut in the Olympic Games wrestling venue.

At 97kg, a pair of Russian veterans join world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the top half of the heavyweight bracket. Beijing 2008 bronze medalist Georgi KETOEV (ARM) and 2011 world bronze medal winner Albert SARITOV (ROU) step onto the mat for Armenia and Romania, respectively.

The biggest challenger to Snyder in Sunday’s semifinals could be European Games silver medalist Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), who faces Ketoev in the round of 16.

Two key bouts in the bottom half of the bracket could see London 2012 silver medalist Valeri ANDRIITSEV (UKR) take on European champion Anzor BOLTUKAEV (RUS) in the round of 16. And, if two-time world champion Yazdani and world and Olympic bronze medalist Gazyumov win their preliminary bouts, they will square off in R16.

Freestyle 65kg (21 entries)

Preliminary Round
Pr1 - Borislav NOVACHKOV (BUL) v Meisam NASIRI (IRI)
Pr2 - Yogeshwar DUTT (IND) v GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL)
Pr3 - YEERLANBIEKE Katal (CHN) v Sahit PRIZRENI (AUS)
Pr4 - Haislan VERANES GARCIA (CAN) v Soslan RAMONOV (RUS)
Pr5 - Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB) v Mustafa KAYA (TUR)

Round of 16
Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) v Devid SAFARYAN (ARM)
Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) v Amas DANIEL (NGR)
Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) v Andriy KVYATKOVSKY (UKR)
Frank MOLINARO (USA) v Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL)

Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) v Adam BATIROV (BRN)
Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) v Winner Pr1
Winner Pr2 v Winner Pr3
Winner Pr4 v Winner Pr5

Freestyle 97kg (19 entries)

Preliminary Round
Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) v Bedopassa BUASSA DJONDE (GBS)
Reza YAZDANI (IRI) v Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR)
Radoslaw BARAN (POL) v Khetag GAZYUMOV (AZE)

Round of 16
Kyle SNYDER (USA) v Javier CORTINA LACERRA (CUB)
Albert SARITOV (ROU) v Nicolai CEBAN (MDA)
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) v Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ)
Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) v Georgi KETOEV (ARM)

DORJKHAND Khuderbulga (MGL) v Magomed MUSAEV (KGZ)
Valeri ANDRIITSEV (UKR) v Anzor BOLTUKAEV (RUS)
Soso TAMARAU (NGR) v Winner Pr1
Winner Pr2 v Winner Pr3