#EmperorsCup

Icho Pulls Off Dramatic Win over Kawai to Move Step Closer to Shot at Olympic 5-peat

Sunday, December 23, 2018 - 19:27 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO---Adding another chapter to her bulging legend, Kaori ICHO pulled off a dramatic last-second victory over the new titan on the block, and moved a step closer to gaining a shot at winning a historic fifth Olympic gold medal in her home country. 

Icho scored a takedown with 10 seconds left to clinch a 3-2 victory over fellow Rio 2016 Olympic champion Risako KAWAI in a nationally televised women’s 57kg final that brought a close to the All-Japan Championships in Tokyo.

Icho’s stunning victory came a day after Kawai, this year’s world champion at 59kg, edged the four-time Olympic champion 2-1 in a preliminary round-robin group match, handing Icho her first loss to a Japanese opponent since 2001. 

“I knew it was going to be a tough match, but I’m happy I could pull it off,” said Icho, who let out a short scream of joy and clenched her fists after the victory. “It’s been awhile since I’ve felt this nervousness, so I thought to just try and stay relaxed.”

The 34-year-old Icho won her first national title since 2015 and 13th overall dating back to 2002, despite spending more than two years away from the mat after winning the gold in Rio, which made her the first woman in Olympic history to win four straight titles in a single event.

She returned to competition in September as a prelude for the All-Japan Championships, also referred to as the Emperor’s Cup and which was serving as the first stage in the qualifying process for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. 

It is for that reason that Kawai and many other top wrestlers have shifted to Olympic weight classes, which put her and Icho on a well-hyped collision course. 

Icho had beaten Kawai in three previous encounters spanning 2013 and 2014, but she found a far more formidable and mature foe facing her across the mat at Komazawa Gym. 

Their first match on Saturday featured little action, and Kawai came out on top by being awarded two activity-clock points to Icho’s one. 

“Now I’m the challenger, and for two years, she’s been leading the pack in Japan and raised her level, which became clear to me when I faced her,” Icho said. “As the challenger, I thought all day how I could control the match.”

Sunday’s match was a slightly more open affair. Kawai took the lead, although a rule quirk left her with less points than she should have earned. With Icho on the activity clock and it about to expire, Kawai grabbed a single leg and had Icho perched on one foot, but could only managed to force Icho out for a point. 

Had she waited another three seconds for the activity clock to expire, she would have gotten a point each for the passivity and the step-out. 

She doubled the lead to 2-0 with an activity-clock point midway through the second period, before she was put on the clock and Icho gained a point with :26 remaining.

Four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO scored a takedown with 10 seconds left to clinch a 3-2 victory over fellow Rio 2016 Olympic champion Risako KAWAI. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

It was then Icho made her move and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. A quick snapdown and shuffle to the left left Kawai’s right leg open, and Icho latched onto it. When Kawai attempted a switch, Icho pressed ahead and stepped over to gain control and the crucial two points with just :10 left on the clock.  

“Actually, I wanted to go all out from the beginning, but Kawai’s defense was strong, I lacked the courage and I’m not completely back. So I couldn’t get an attack going. At the end, there was an emotional factor as well, and I was able to catch her leg.”

While Kawai was visibly shaken by the stunning loss, her dream of a second straight Olympic gold is not over. She will get another shot at Icho at the All-Japan Invitational Championships (Meiji Cup) in June, where a victory would force a playoff with Icho for the spot on Japan’s team to the 2019 world championships.

A medal at Astana 2019---a world gold for Icho would be her 11th and first since 2015--- would mean an automatic place on the Japan squad at the Tokyo Olympics, which is why this year’s Emperor’s Cup had taken on such importance.

Icho said she is considering her plans prior to Meiji Cup, which will likely mean an overseas trip for training and/or competition. She is also mulling the Asian Championships in Xian in April, she said. 

Rio Olympic champion Sara DOSHO returned from shoulder surgert and still won the 68kg gold medal. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Meanwhile, fellow Rio 2016 champion Sara DOSHO, returning from shoulder surgery necessitated from an injury at the Women’s World Cup in March, was less than her brutally dominating self, but still managed to capture the women’s 68kg gold for her eighth straight national title. 

With just five entries, the weight class had a round-robin format, and Dosho clinched the gold in her final match with a 2-1 victory over Rio WATARI, who had an inspirational return last year from life-threatening lymphoma. 

Dosho won all four of her matches by decisions, and in the finale against Watari, all points came with the opponent on the activity clock. Still, it’s a step in the right direction for Dosho, who won a world title in 2017. 

“I wasn’t concerned about the details of my match, I was thinking only to go for the win,” Dosho said. 

Reigning world champion Mayu MUKAIDA dropped down from 55kg and won the 53kg gold medal. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In the women’s 53kg class, Mayu MUKAIDA, who dropped down from 55kg, didn’t have to contend with fellow Budapest 2018 world champion Haruna OKUNO, but she had to sweat out some anxious moments at the end of her 8-6 victory over Nanami IRIE.

Mukaida scored with a takedown and ankle roll for an 8-2 lead early in the second period, only to see Irie fight back with a pair of slick takedowns. Mukaida then spent the final 20 seconds clinging desperately onto a single leg to clinch her third straight national title. 

Mukaida has appeared to learn her lesson from the Paris 2017 final, where she suffered a devastating last-second loss to Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BEL) that cost her the 53kg gold.

  “I saw my senior teammates fighting to the end, so I was determined to never give up,” Mukaida said. “It was tough cutting weight, but I want to get to the Olympics and I’m happy I could win the title.”

The other women’s title at stake on the final day of the four-day tournament at Komazawa Gym went to Yuki IRIE, who successfully defended her title at 50kg with a solid 6-0 victory over Kika KAGATA.

Irie defeated Rio 2016 gold medalist Eri TOSAKA in the semifinals, while her other main competition, Budapest 2018 champion Yui SUSAKI, had withdrawn after not fully recovering from a dislocated elbow suffered last month. 

“I think I was able to put out [on the mat] what I acquired in practice,” said Irie, who expressed confidence of winning out among the trio at the Meiji Cup for the ticket to Astana.

Reigning world champion Takuto OTOGURO defeated Daichi TAKATANI, 10-0, in the finals at 65kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Japan’s newest star among its male contingent lived up his billing, but anyone who blinked while Takuto OTOGURO was on the mat might have missed his victory in the freestyle 65kg final over Daichi TAKATANI.

Otoguro, who became the youngest-ever male Japanese world champion when won the gold in Budapest at 19 years 10 months, needed just 33 seconds to finish off a 10-0 technical fall over Takatani, topping off a double-leg takedown with four rapid-fire ankle rolls in succession.

In addition to winning his first senior national title, Otoguro also walked off with the prestigious Emperor’s Cup as the outstanding wrestler of the year. He swept through the competition despite falling behind in his preparation due to an injury that kept him out of the national collegiate championships in November. 

“I didn’t have practice that I could be satisfied with,” Otoguro said. “From now, the most important thing is to not take anything lightly.”

There was another tale of redemption when Paris 2017 world champion Kenichiro FUMITA regained the Greco 60kg title that he lost last year to long-time rival and Rio 2016 silver medalist Shinobu OTA.

Fumita, ahead 2-1 (all passivity points) with a minute to go, countered an Ota spinning arm throw attempt, sending his opponent sprawling onto his back for a 4-point move. An unsuccessful challenge made the final score 7-1.

“In the last minute, I was leading and while avoiding risk, I wanted to stand firm and ensure the victory. Last December while I was winning, I went half-heartedly on my attack and he countered and I lost. I wanted to make sure that didn’t happen this year.”

After Ota rallied to defeat Fumita in last year’s final, he earned the place on Japan’s team to Budapest when Fumita suffered a left knee injury in May and had to pull out of the Meiji Cup. 

Fumita, who considered quitting, returned to practice in mid-August, dead set on avenging the loss and making the Tokyo 2020 team.

“I lost in December, then just before the tournament that I had to win in June, I got injured. I was so depressed I was ready to throw it all away. But my dreams of a gold medal at Tokyo 2020 have never wavered.

“It was too soon to give up. And because of the injury, it gave me time to think about many things and look closely at my techniques, and I think that led to today’s result.”

Fumita now holds a 5-4 advantage over Ota in career meetings dating back to 2014. Ota might find some consolation in the fact that the two---they are both Nippon Sport Science University alumni and train together---have now alternated victories in seven straight matches.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

65kg (27 entries)
Final: Takuto OTOGURO df. Daichi TAKATANI by TF, 10-0, :33
3rdPlace: Rinya NAKAMURA df. Rei HIGUCHI by DEF.
3rdPlace: Koki SHIMIZU df. Yosuke KAWANO, 9-4

79kg (11 entries)
Final: Yuto ABE df. Yuto IZUTSU, 12-5
3rdPlace: Komei KAWABATA df. Daichi KURIHARA, 5-2
3rdPlace: Yudai TAKAHASHI df. Kazuto KATO by TF, 11-0, 3:27

Semifinals
Izutsu df. Kurihara by TF, 10-0, 1:44
Abe df. Takahashi by TF, 10-0, 4:47

Greco-Roman

6o kg (13 entries)
Final: Kenichiro FUMITA df. Shinobu OTA, 7-1 
3rdPlace: Kazuki YABE df. Kensuke SHIMIZU by FALL, 1:40 (3-0)
3rdPlace: Kyotaro SOGABE df. Kiyoshi KAWAGUCHI by TF, 8-0, 2:26

82kg (13 entries)
Final: Yuya OKAJIMA df. Yoji KAWAMURA, 3-1
3rdPlace: Kohei KITAMURA df. Kosuke KOBAYASHI, 6-5
3rdPlace: Satoki MUKAI df. Tatsuya FUJII, 5-5

Semifinals
Okajima df. Kitamura by TF, 9-0, 1:45
Kawamura df. Mukai by Fall, 4:21 (1-5)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg (8 entries)
Final: Yuki IRIE df. Kika KAGATA, 6-0
3rdPlace: Eri TOSAKA df. Remina YOSHIMOTO, 7-3
3rdPlace: Miho IGARASHI df. Chihiro SAWADA by TF, 10-0, 1:27

53kg (8 entries)
Final: Mayu MUKAIDA df. Nanami IRIE, 8-6 
3rdPlace: Yuka YAGO df. Katsura KONISHI by TF, 10-0, 1:58 
3rdPlace: Umi IMAI df. Momoka KADOYA, 2-0

57kg (7 entries)
Final: Kaori ICHO df. Risako KAWAI, 3-2
3rdPlace: Akie HANAI df. Hanako SAWA, 4-1

68kg (5 entries)
Round-Robin (Final Standings)
1. Sara DOSHO (4-0, 12 pts)
2. Rio WATARI (3-1, 12)
3. Chiaki SEKI (2-2, 8)
Key Match: Dosho df. Watari, 2-1 in 5thround

#WrestleBratislava

European Championships 2025 Preview

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 - 13:20 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 2) -- The European Championships 2025 will be held in Bratislava, Slovakia from April 7 to 13. It will be live on UWW+ on uww.org and the UWW app.

Follow United World Wrestling on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and TikTok.

Download the European Championships 2025 Preview here

(Text version)

The 2025 European Championships will be held in Bratislava from April 7 to 13 and has 24 returning champions. However, the six missing champions have made way for some historic battles.

The 125kg mainstays -- both Taha AKGUL (TUR) and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) -- are not competing, Haji ALIYEV (AZE) at 65kg has retired and so has Mariya STADNIK (AZE) in Women's Wrestling. There will be no Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in Greco-Roman as well.

And it won't only be about the wrestlers not in Slovakia. Olympic and world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) is searching for his first European medal and will participate in the tournament after nine years. Former world champion David BAEV (UWW) will make his European Championships debut this year. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) returns after missing it in 2024 after a bizarre situation in Romania.

Among the 24, who all will be able to defend their titles this year? Here's the breakdown of the three style and key storylines of the upcoming European Championships

Taha AKGUL (TUR)

Freestyle

For the first time in 13 years, the 125kg European champion will not be named Taha AKGUL (TUR) or Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO). The two have won every gold on offer in the continental tournament since 2012. But Akgul has retired and Petriashvili has not returned to action since winning the 2024 Paris Olympics gold.

Georgia is sending Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) and Turkiye is going with Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR). While they have age-group credentials, the two can find it challenging at the European Championships.

Paris bronze medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) will be the favorite for the gold medal along with Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (UWW) who won silver medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series. U23 European champion Georgi IVANOV (BUL) will once again make a run to end up on the podium at the senior level, a feat he has not achieved yet. Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN), the former mainstay at 97kg, is at 125kg.

Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW)Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) will be eyeing his sixth European title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

While Akgul and Petriashvili, both Olympic champions are not in Bratislava, four others are. Three former Olympic champions -- Zavur UGUEV (UWW), Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) -- are heading to Bratislava as UWW athletes while the fourth -- Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) -- will be in action for the first time since winning the gold medal at 86kg at the Paris Olympics.

Sadulaev, who will compete at the European Championships after five years, is going for this sixth title. While the gold medal looks very straightforward, the weight itself has a few big names. Apart from Sadualev, who won the world title at 92kg, Paris silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO), Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), Radu LEFTER (MDA) and Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) are also entered.

Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW)Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) is competing at the European Championships for the second time. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Sidakov may not have it as simple. Sidakov, who last wrestled at the 2023 World Championships and won gold, will face tough battles from Paris bronze medalist Chermen VALIEV (ALB) and Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), who has won four straight European gold medals.

Valiev won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series gold medal recently over Salkazanov but Sidakov will be a bigger challenge. He has managed to run Sidakov close, last losing to him 3-2 at the Russian National Championships in 2023.

For Uguev, the non-Olympic World Championships was a horror as he finished without a medal, losing first to Japanese sensation Masanosuke ONO (JPN) and then to Vitali ARUJAU (USA) in the bronze-medal bout.

And the European Championships will be nothing short of another challenging tournament. He will have Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) who defeated him at the 2023 World Championships, three-time European champion Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and youngsters in Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) and Andrii DZHELEP (UKR).

Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL)Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) will be competing for the first time since winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Ramazanov, who finished eighth last year, will enter 86kg as the Olympic champion. But gold will be of little weight as he faces a tough field. European U23 champion Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE), European U23 silver Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), former Olympic silver medalist Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) and his former rival Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) are all in.

Naifonov, Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, has a perfect record at the Euros, winning the title three times. But he last competed here in 2021 and his battle with Ramazanov will the one of the biggest in Bratislava.

At 65kg, returning champion and Olympic bronze medalist Islam DUDAEV (ALB) has a big task ahead of him especially after missing a medal at the Muhamet Malo. U23 world champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW), who also finished without a medal in Muhamet Malo, can set a fierce final.

But Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) will remember his medalless run last year and hope to reclaim his gold medal, one he won in 2023.

David BAEV (UWW)David BAEV (UWW) will be returning to international wrestling for the first time since 2019. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Back in 2019, David BAEV (UWW) enthralled everyone with his 70kg gold medal run at the World Championships. However, he never wrestled internationally again. Now, Baev is going for European gold at 70kg and there is little doubt that he will claim it.

Still, Baev will be up against Armenia's returning champion at 70kg Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) who had an incredible run in 2024, beating world champion  Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) and Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) in semifinal and final, respectively. Muszukajev will be back at 70kg in hopes of winning his second European title.

Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE)Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) is moving up to 92kg for the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The 92kg weight class can throw some surprises as Olympic bronze medalist Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) is wrestling up in that weight class. He is joined by world silver medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) and 2023 world silver medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE). Also in the mix are Boris MAKOEV (SVK) and former European champion Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR).

Nachyhn MONGUSH (UWW) at 57kg and defending 79kg champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) should have easy paths to gold.

Buse TOSUN (TUR)Buse TOSUN (TUR) is the defending champion at 68kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women's Wrestling

Can Turkiye improve on its three gold medals from 2024?

It will be the big question as the nation sends a strong team to Bratislava in Women's Wrestling. 

Led by Olympic bronze medalist and world champion Bose TOSUN (TUR), Türkiye also has two returning champions in Yasemin ADAR (TUR) and Nesrin BAS (TUR). The three will be the favorites to repeat in their respective weight classes -- 68kg, 76kg and 72kg.

Tosun, who won bronze at the Paris Olympics, can face Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) in what will be a rematch of the semifinals from last year which Tosun won 10-9. Kendra DACHER (FRA) and Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) can also finish on the podium.

Former world champion Adar already has five European gold medals and looks poised for sixth. She has Martina KUENZ (AUT), Laura KUEHN (GER), Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) and Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) as some of her opponents.

Bas, who own her third European U23 gold in March, will be the favorite again at 72kg. She has returning silver medalist Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), former world champion Alla BELINSKA (UKR) and Viktoryia RADZKOVA (UWW) as her challengers among others.

Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR)Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) is leading the Ukraine team and will compete at 65kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Ukraine can certainly challenge the likes of Turkiye. The nation is bringing a strong line-up led by Olympic silver medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) and young star Irina BONDAR (UKR).

Koliadenko, moving up a weight class to 65kg, is in a three-way battle for the title. The silver medalist at 62kg from Paris and the defending champion will have her fellow Paris medalist, Grace BULLEN (NOR). Former world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) is also going for the title at 65kg.

However, Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), returning silver medalist and who defeated Ringaci last year, will be the darkhorse in this weight class.

Iryna BONDAR (UKR)Iryna BONDAR (UKR) is the favorite to win the 62kg gold. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Bondar will be eyeing her first senior European title after exploits at the age-group level, the most recent being European U23 title. She will have to face the strength of a few senior wrestlers including former world champion Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), who won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), Sara LINDBORG (SWE), Veranika IVANOVA (UWW) and Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) are also listed.

Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) has not reached her top level since the return after a career-threatening injury in 2023. But she won the bronze medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series and will be a favorite to win the gold at 55kg in Bratislava.

In the list of wrestlers who can challenge her are Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW), Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), Tuba DEMIR (TUR). Veterans Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) and Roksana ZASINA (POL) are also going for another European medal.

The 50kg weight class, reserved for Mariya STADNIK (AZE), will have a new European champion. Any other time when there was a different champion in this weight class, it was because she was not participating that year.

Returning silver medalist Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR) will be hoping to upgrade her medal this year but she will face a tough time from Paris Olympian Oksana LIVACH (UKR) and Zagreb Open champion Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (UWW).

Watch out for Svenja JUNGO (SUI), the history-making Swiss wrestler, who will be at her second European Championships.

A rivalry to watch out for is at 57kg as Tokyo silver medalist and defending champion Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) and Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) return for another round. Azerbaijan's first-ever world U23 champion Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) and returning bronze Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) will look to earn a medal as well.

Defending champion at 59kg Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) and her final's opponent Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) are heading to Bratislava with Filipovych hoping to avenge the 3-3 loss from last year. Paris Olympian Aurora RUSSO (ITA) and two former world U20 champion Alesia HETMANAVA (UWW) and Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) are listed as well.

At 53kg, can four-time Olympian Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) win the elusive European gold medal?

She has eight European medals -- four silvers and four bronzes -- and will look to win the gold medal in Bratislava. Trying to stop her from making history include European champion Andreea ANA (ROU), U23 European champion Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE), returning bronze medalist Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) and Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW).

Greco-Roman

The only Paris Olympic champion from Europe, Semen NOVIKOV (BUL), will be eying his second European gold, now at 87kg, and the first since 2020. He also has a bronze medal from the 2023 edition. Novikov will need to shake off his loss against Saied ESMAEILI (IRI) at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series.

Defending 87kg champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) had a stunning run to the gold medal in 2024 but has not shown the same signs since in different competitions. He finished eighth at the Olympics and fifth at the season-opening Zagreb Open. David LOSONCZI (HUN) and Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) have continued to be big threats and will be strong contenders for the gold medal.

Young stars in Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA), Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO), Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) will look to challenge the seniors in this weight class.

One of the biggest names in Greco-Roman, Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), already has seven European gold medals and is going for his eighth. Aleksanyan, a four-time Olympic medalist, including gold in Rio, is leading the Armenian team.

However, Aleksanyan will have to fight for it. Former European champion Kiril MILOV (BUL), world bronze medalist Artur OMAROV (CZE), former world champion Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW) and world bronze medalist Artur SARGSIAN (UWW), who recently won the Zagreb Open Ranking Series, are vying for the title as well.

Aleksanyan has wins over most of them including Milov, who is the returning bronze medalist. Omarov, who pulled out of Paris Olympics due to an injury, will return after a year off. Sargasian, at 27, will be making his senior European Championships debut and can be biggest challenger to Aleksanyan. Maskevich is moving up from 87kg to 97kg and will be at his first European Championships at this weight class.

Among other big names, Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN), Alex SZOKE (HUN), Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) and Felix BALDAUF (NOR) are listed. European U23 silver medalist Richard KARELSON (EST) will be hoping for a medal at the senior level and match his father, also named Richard KARELSON, with a senior medal.

Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) will look to defend his 77kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Defending 77kg champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) is returning since winning bronze at the Paris Olympics. He will be the favorite to win gold but Sergei STEPANOV (UWW), who won the Zagreb Open 2025 gold on his return since 2021, can take every one by surprise. Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) did not have a good start to the year, finishing fifth at the Zagreb Open 2025. But he will be keen on winning a medal at the European Championships and get his form on track. Former world silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) is in medal-contention as well.

Moldova's mainstay at 77kg, Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), has made way for Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) at this weight class for European Championships. Solovei won the U23 European title recently at 82kg.

Azerbaijan has all three of its 2024 world champions heading to Bratislava along with other strong wrestlers to complete the line-up.

At 60kg, world champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) will have his task cut out with Victor CIOBANU (MDA), Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) and Sadyk LALAEV (UWW) chasing the gold medal.

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) will be favorite to win gold at 55kg despite his absence last edition, in which Artiom DELEANU (MDA) stunned a strong field to win gold. Multiple time world medalist Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) will be eyeing the gold medal that he last won in 2021.

Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE), world champion at 72kg, will have a tougher path. Among the top contenders in this weight class is two-time Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), moving up from 67kg, world champions Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) and Ali ARSALAN (SRB).

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) opened his season at the Zagreb Open. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 67kg, Paris bronze and defending champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) is going for his third straight gold medal. He injured his ear in Zagreb in January but will be fully fit for the European Championships. Silver medalist against Jafarov, Ruslan BICHURIN (UWW) is returning as well with a hope to avenge his 8-5 final loss to Jafarov.

Azerbaijan's defending 63kg champion Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) will eyeing a second straight gold medal but Kerem KAMAL (TUR), who won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series gold at 60kg, is back with a new-found motivation after missing the Paris Olympics.

U23 world champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), European U23 silver Hleb MAKARANKA (UWW) and Dinislam BAMMATOV (UWW) will be making Mammadov or Kamal's path to gold even more stiffer.

Veteran Sergei SEMENOV (UWW), who denied Riza KAYAALP (TUR) a historic 12th European title by pinning him in the 130kg final last year, has now emerged the favorite for the gold this year.

There are, however, young stars in Hamza BAKIR (TUR) and Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR), both of whom have proved themselves at the age-group levels. But can they challenge the seniors?

The weight class also has Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), London Olympic medalist 39-year-old Heiki NABI (EST) and Tokyo silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) among others.