2026 U17 World Championships

Iran, Russia in Tight Team Title Race After Omarov, Ibragimov Golds

By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (August 1) -- Among the three nations that had two finalists each in Saturday's gold-medal bouts at the U17 World Championships in Baku, only Russia was able to win two golds with Iran winning one and Uzbekistan suffering losses in both finals.

The two golds put Russia in the race for the team title in Freestyle along with Iran with defending champion the United States not in contention.

Russia and Iran went head-to-head in the 110kg final between U17 European champion Magomed OMAROV (RUS) and U17 Asian silver medalist Amirhossein ESMALI (IRI), the last match on Saturday.

The first period of the final saw little action on the mat as both Omarov and Esmali were warned by the mat chairman of open-hand wrestling. Omarov was put on the 30-second activity clock and Esmali led 1-0 at the break.

The match picked up pace in the second period and Omarov found and opening to hit a double-leg attack that resulted in four points, giving him a 4-1 lead. Iran, surprisingly, challenged the call and lost it which made Omarov's lead 5-1.

Esmali had 1:30 left in the match to make it count and he began with a stepout to cut the lead to 5-2. He then scored a takedown to make the score 5-4 but still needed two points to win with 31 seconds left. That's when Omarov called for a medical help.

When he returned to centre, Omarov had a spring in his step and defended the attacks of Esmali, who pushed him towards the zone. Esmali tried reaching the legs of Omarov who threw them behind and scored an easy go-behind and lead 7-4, his winning score.

The second gold medalist for Russia was Magomed IBRAGIMOV (RUS) at 65kg after an electric final against Shokhiddin ALIEV (UZB). Both Ibragimov and Aliev were at the 2025 event as well and finished 10th and 13th respectively.

Ibragimov stunned Aliev with a double-arm lock throw for four points to open the scoring in the final. But Aliev blocked Ibragimov from turning and tried to pin him for the remaining minute in the first period. Unable to complete the fall, Aliev went into the break down 4-2 and a lost opportunity.

The two continued their high-paced wrestling and Aliev pushed Ibragimov towards the zone but the Russian circled and scored a go-behind to lead 6-2. Aliev then tried to inside trip Ibragimov who countered it with a throw for four points. Aliev got two points for exposure but Ibragimov led 10-4 at this point.

Aliev managed to use the inside-trip to throw for two points with six seconds left and then he tried front headlock that was blocked by Ibragimov, who planted Aliev on the mat for a fall and win the gold medal.

Iran's victory came at 80kg as Amirali FERASATI (IR) completed his dominant run with a gold medal, beating Zeteny TUGYI (HUN), 10-0, in the final.

The U17 Asian champion outscored his opponents 35-2 in four bouts in Baku and never looked in any sort of trouble in the tournament.

Against Tugyi, Ferasati built a 4-0 lead in the first period, thanks to three stepout and a point for passivity from Tugyi. Ferasati scored his first takedown in the second period after tiring out Tugyi and rolled him for two more ponits to lead 8-0.

Tugyi went for a deep shot without much conviction and Ferasati countered with a takedown to complete a technical superiority win with 23 seconds remaining.

At 48kg, Bakdaulet AGABEK (KAZ) used a deadly leg-lace to end high-flying AARYAN's (IND) run at the tournament, winning the gold medal 10-0. He became Kazakhstan first U17 world champion in Freestyle after four years.

Agabek scored a stepout, which India challenged and lost, to open the scoring in the final and lead 2-0. As both wrestlers were fight for position, Agabek did a snap which disbalanced Aaryan and the Kazakhstan wrestler scored a takedown.

He then transitioned into wrapping Aaryan's legs around his head and scored three turns, enough for the victory and the gold medal. With the 10-0 win, Agabek outscored his opponents 47-3 in the tournament with four technical superiority wins.  

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Bakdaulet AGABEK (KAZ) df. AARYAN (IND), 10-0

BRONZE: Farrukh MAKHMUDOV (UZB) df. Muslikhiddin KHODZHIEV (TJK), via fall (6-1)
BRONZE: Volodymyr BOIKO (UKR) df. Kooper DEPUTY (USA), 11-0

55kg
GOLD: Jovanni TOVAR (COL) df. Jakhongir TULKUNOV (UZB), 11-0

BRONZE: Arman ELAHI (IRI) df. Davit BALEYAN (ARM), 5-2
BRONZE: Prathmesh PATIL (IND) df. Chase KARENBAUER (USA), 8-0

65kg
GOLD: Magomed IBRAGIMOV (RUS) df. Shokhiddin ALIEV (UZB), via fall (12-6)

BRONZE: Jovani SOLIS (PUR) df. KRISHAN (IND), via fall (6-6)
BRONZE: Sam ARSHAD (IRI) df. Zamir DANIYAR (KAZ), 9-0

80kg
GOLD: Amirali FERASATI (IRI) df. Zeteny TUGYI (HUN), 10-0

BRONZE: Volkan BILGIN (TUR) df. Yassin EZZAT (EGY), 11-1
BRONZE: Kantemir ELMESOV (RUS) df. Takahiro HAGINO (JPN), 9-7

110kg
GOLD: Magomed OMAROV (RUS) df. Amirhossein ESMALI (IRI), 7-4

BRONZE: Behruz ASHIROV (UZB) df. Murtaz BAGDAVADZE (GEO), 3-2
BRONZE: Arush RANA (IND) df. Sagyndyk TEMIRGALY (KAZ), 9-1

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Day 2 Results & Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 16) -- The second day of the Budapest Ranking Series will see four Freestyle and two Women's Wrestling weight classes. In Freestyle, it will be 79kg, 92kg, 97kg and 125kg while for Women's it will be 50kg and 55kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

WW 55kg semifinals - Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR) scored one takedown before the break and then hung on that 2-1 lead to beat Karla GODINEZ (CAN) and enter the final. She will face Hansika LAMBA (IND) for the gold medal after the Indian mounted a comeback to beat Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER), 10-7. Down 7-2, Lamba powered her way to four different takedowns to claim the win and a spot in the final.

WW 50kg semifinals - Samara CHAVEZ (USA) with a fall over Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) to move into the final at 50kg. She scored a takedown and then turn to hold Bayanova in the position and secure the pin. She will face Ziqi FENG (CHN) for the gold after she rolled to a 12-2 victory over Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU).

125kg semifinals - Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) uses the lace to beat BUHEEERDUN (CHN) via technical superiority and set up a clash against Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) in the final. Kosciolek used a headlock and three turns to be up 6-0 against Mason PARRIS (USA) and got one point for lost challenge from the United States. He then used a bodythrow to get his 13-0 victory.

97kg semifinals - Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) forfeits his 97kg semifinal against Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) due to an injury. Tsakulov, the European silver medalist, will face Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) for the gold medal after the Bahrain wrestler pinned Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL). Tazhudinov built a 6-0 lead before a takedown and cradle for the fall.

92kg semifinals - Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR) has no problem in seeing off Zeteny GANGL (HUN) completing an 11-0 win. But he will have his task cut out in the final against European champion Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) who also posted an 11-0 win over Fatih ALTUNBAS (TUR).

79kg semifinals - Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) with a late takedown to complete a 5-3 win over Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO) and make the final. He will take on Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) who scored a come-from-behind victory over Aykan SEID (BUL), winning 9-7.

13:05: Upset of the day as U17 world champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) scores a takedown in final 10 seconds to beat world bronze medalist Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) 4-3 at 125kg and advance to the semifinals.

12:55: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) with a comeback and win over Karadeniz SULEYMAN (TUR) to advance to the 97kg semifinal. Aitmukhan was down 3-1 but scored a takedown to make it 3-3 on criteria before chipping away for a 6-4 win.

12:40: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) into the 97kg semifinals with a 12-0 win over Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA). He began with a stepout when Viskhanov was on the activity clock and then scored two points for exposure to lead 4-0. Viskhanov was cautioned for fleeing and the bout restarted in par terre with Tazhudinov leading 6-0. He did not score there but managed four-pointer little later to win

12:30: A stunning result at 50kg as Samara CHAVEZ (USA) beats European champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR), 11-0, in the quarterfinals. She did not let Livach settle down and went for it straight off the whistle. Solid win for Chavez

12:05: Asian bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) with that strong gut-wrench to beat Katie DUTCHAK (CAN) and advance at 50kg.

12:00: Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND) with a fall over Pan-American champion Katie GOMEZ (USA) at 50kg. Gomez was the first to take the lead but Prajapat gets on the legs and finishes the bout with a pin.

11:45: Aykan SEID (BUL) will move into the second round at 79kg after Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) forfeits due to an injury. 

11:40: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) left it late but still managed to beat DINESH (IND) in his opening bout at 125kg. Sharipov was called passive and then gave a stepout as Dinesh built a 2-0 lead. But Sharipov with a takedown and turn in the final 30 seconds to claim the victory.

11:30: European champion Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) survives a scare against Dustin PLOTT (USA) at 92kg. After a sequence, Tcokaev was down 6-2 but managed to score a four-point throw when Plott tried to hit a head pinch but Tcokaev blocked him. He then scored a takedown to claim an 8-6 win.

11:25: 2023 world champion at 92kg Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) with a fall over Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) at 97kg. Aitmukhan trailed Margishvili but managed to score a takedown and hold the Georgian till the fall was called. 

11:20: Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority win over Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) in his opening bout.

11:15: Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR) and Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) kept scoring on each other and put on 28 points in the 92kg bout. Aliiev comes out as a 16-12 winner against Maisuradze is really bizarre bout

11:05: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) holds on to his 3-1 lead against Robert BARAN (POL) and start his campaign at 125kg with a win.

11:00: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) manages to hold on for a 5-3 win over Yerkhan ABIL (KAZ) at 79kg. He led 4-3 and went into the defensive. Kazakhstan challenged at the end for fleeing but lost the challenge to add one more point to his score.

10:50: A close win for European champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR) in her opening bout against former U17 world champion Kaura COLES (CAN) at 50kg. Livach with a double-leg attack for the takedown and two stepouts to claim a 4-0 win.

10:40: Former world silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND), who is wrestling to at 97kg, drops his opening bout against Benjamin HONIS (ITA), 6-3. He led 1-0 at the break but Honis clearly had the upper hand in strength and answered with three takedowns in the second period.