Youth OIympic Games

Iran Wins Pair, Japan's Sasaki Registers Incredible Comeback

Friday, October 12, 2018 - 23:00 By Tim Foley

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BUENOS AIRES (October 12) – Iran notched their first two gold medals of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games Friday night at the Asian Pavilion at Youth Olympic Park in Buenos Aires, while Japan’s Wataru SASAKI lodged one of the most impressive Olympic comebacks in years.

Facing Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO) in the 51kg finals Sasaki was put on the backfoot from the start, being tossed for five points early in the first period. Another takedown made the score 7-0 to end the first period, but in the second period it was all Sasaki.

Waturu SASAKI lands a four-point throw to overtake Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO) in the finals of the 51kg weight category (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

The slenderer wrestler weaved behind Tokhadze for a quick takedown followed by a gut wrench to score four points. Next Sasaki locked up a front head lock and through the Georgian to four points to take the lead 8-0 – much to the delight of the Argentinian crowd. Sasaki would tack on another takedown and a lost challenge by the Georgian made the final score 11,-7 in favor of Sasaki.

For the often-dominant Iranian team it was business as usual. Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (45kg) was unstoppable against Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU), pressuring the South American wrestler into a series of missteps and racking up a pair of takedowns. After Dehbozorgi found his second takedown, he followed it up with a step out point to win gold, 8-0

Mohammad NOSRATI (IRI) celebrates his 92kg gold medal after defeating Osman AYAYDIN (TUR), 3-1 (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Mohammad NOSRATI (92kg) imposed his size on Turkey’s Osman AYAYDIN, controlling the mat for four minutes to win the final title of the evening, 3-1. The big man was jubilant after the match, speaking to reporters and interacting with fans.

“This was a great event for me,” said Nosrati. “I have to thank my fans and the people of Iran for their support during the Games.”

Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) celebrates after defeating Elmirbek SADYROV (KGZ), 9-0 (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) at 60kg and Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)at 71kg each won gold via technical superiority. Gutu out-muscled Stepan STARODUBTSEV (RUS), 8-0 while Chkhikvadze racked up four takedowns on route to a 9-0 victory.

Women’s Wrestling begins Saturday at 10am local/9am ET, with finals at 5pm local/4pm ET. 

Greco-Roman, 45kg
GOLD: Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) df. Jeremy Renzo PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU), 8-0
BRONZE: Edmond Armen NAZARYAN (BUL) v. Arslanbek ZAKIRBAYEV (TKM), 8-0
FIFTH: Abdalla M. SHAABAN (EGY) df. Densel Jaffet DE JESUS VALERIO (HON), 12-1

Greco-Roman, 51kg
GOLD: Wataru SASAKI (JPN) df. Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO), 11-7
BRONZE: Axel Andre SALAS ESQUIVEL (MEX) df. Eduardo LOVERA (ARG), 5-3
FIFTH: Mehdi JOUINI (TUN) df. Alexander ADINIWIN (MHL), via FALL

Greco-Roman, 60kg
GOLD: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Elmirbek SADYROV (KGZ), 9-0
BRONZE: Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM) df. Miguel Angel UGALDE AGUILAR (MEX), 9-0
FIFTH: Ahmed Abdelhakim MERIKHI (ALG) df. Arapo Ngatuerua George KELLNER (NZL), 10-2

Greco-Roman, 71kg
GOLD: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Stepan STARODUBTSEV (RUS), 8-0
BRONZE: Shu YAMADA (JPN) df. Lamjed MAAFI (TUN), 4-0
FIFTH: Brandon CALLE PEREZ (COL) df. Lynch Xavier Tanglao SANTOS (GUM), 14-6

Greco-Roman, 92kg
GOLD: Mohammad Ghorbanali NOSRATI (IRI) df. Osman AYAYDIN (TUR), 3-1
BRONZE: Mukhammad EVLOEV (RUS) df. Shady Elkhalil Ibrahim A. WEHIB (EGY), 11-2
FIFTH: Igor Fernando ALVES DE QUEIROZ (BRA) df. Ariston Faamalosi BARTLEY (ASA), 10-0

2027 World Championships

Las Vegas to Host 2027 World Championships

Sunday, May 10, 2026 - 16:07 By United World Wrestling Press

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LAS VEGAS (May 10) -- The 2027 World Championships will be held in Las Vegas, United States.

United World Wrestling and USA Wrestling have announced that next year's Senior World Championships, that will also serve as the first Olympic qualifier for 2028 LA Games, will be held at the historic Thomas & Mack Center, University of Las Vegas, Nevada from September 11 to 19. The center has a capacity of around 20,000.

The announcement came on the sidelines of the Pan-American Championships that are being held in Coralville, Iowa from May 7 to 10. The 2027 World Championships will mark a return of the mega event to the U.S. after 12 years as the country hosted the competition in 2015.

It will also award the first direct quotas for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The 72 medalists in 18 Olympic weight classes at the 2027 World Championships will earn quotas for their respective National Olympic Committees.

"USA Wrestling is thrilled to bring the World Championships back to U.S. soil for the first time since 2015,” said Rich BENDER, USA Wrestling Executive Director. "Las Vegas will provide an elite experience for our world-class athletes and spectators, while building great momentum for the sport leading into the 2028 Olympic Games down the road in Los Angeles."

Earlier in January, UWW had detailed how wrestlers can qualify their respective NOCs for LA 2028 trough World Championships, Continental Olympic Qualifiers, UWW Rankings and the World Olympic Qualifiers.

The calendar for "Road to LA 2028" was also shared by UWW last week, detailing an expansive calendar with World Championships, Continental Championships, UWW Ranking Events and World and Continental Olympic Qualifiers.

Age-Group Worlds Calendar

In addition to the Senior World Championships, UWW also announced the U17, U20 and U23 World Championships for 2027.

The World Championships season will kick off in Amman, Jordan which will host the U17 World Championships from August 2 to 8. Two weeks later, Novi Sad, Serbia will play host to the U20 World Championships from August 23 to 29.

Next up will be the Veteran World Championships that will travel to the scenic town of Porec, Croatia and will be held from October 5 to 10. The last world event for the year will be the U23 World Championships and Brasov, Romania is scheduled to host it from October 18 to 24.

2027 World Championships
U17 - AMMAN, Jordan (August 2-8)
U20 - NOVI SAD, Serbia (August 23-29)
Senior - LAS VEGAS, U.S. (September 11-19)
Veteran - POREC, Croatia (October 5-10)
U23 - BRASOV, Romania (October 18-24)

As previously communicated by UWW, the age-group World Championships will see a significant change starting 2028 calendar. The U20 World Championships will be held before the U17 World Championships and the U23 World Championships will take place before the Senior World Championships.

The detailed progamme of the World Championships will be shared by UWW in due time. For more information about wrestling events, visit uww.org/events.