2026 U17 World Championships

Labazanov Leads Russia to Two Golds at U17 World Championships

By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 28) -- Shamil LABAZANOV (RUS) shocked Ibrahim NASIBOV (UKR) and the Ukrainian could never recover from that.

The two clashed in the 65kg final of the U17 World Championships final in Baku on Tuesday. Nasibov had looked in top form coming into the final and Labazanov had scored a 29-seocnd win in the semifinal using a deadly front headlock.

Nasibov must have watched Labazanov's semifinal and thought that the front headlock will come. Yet, he was not able to stop it.

When Labazanov was awarded the par terre in the first period, he did not go for the traditional gut-wrench as Nasibov was prepared to defend it. But he went for the front headlock which Nasibov failed to defend.

Labazanov scored the first turn as Nasibov was still trying to stable himself to defend. But then he did it again with brute force and then again to lead 7-0. Nasibov was left playing catch from there on.

Nasibov managed to cut the lead to 7-2 before the break and despite the par terre in the second period, it was never enough as Labazanov won 7-5 to capture the 65kg title.

Wrestling Soltan IUSUPOV (RUS)Soltan IUSUPOV (RUS) with the world champion belt at the podium. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

This was the second gold medal for Russia on Tuesday, coming after Soltan IUSUPOV's (RUS) dominant win at 48kg. In the first final of the night, Iusupov and Ali ALMAS (KAZ) clashed and when the Kazakhstan wrestler got the par terre in the first period, it seemed that it will an even contest.

However, Iusupov did not think so. He first defended that position and then scored a takedown and turn in the first period to lead 4-1 at the break. He was not done yet as he began the second period also with a takedown, and then used a slideby to make it 8-1. He turned Almas in the same sequence to earn a 10-1 win. Kazakhstan challenged the last call and it was changed to one takedown and scored returned to 8-1.

Almas managed to bring him down in the final 20 seconds to cut the lead to 8-3 but that was all he managed despite getting the only par terer of the final.

Kazakhstan's moment of glory came at 55kg when Diyar AMANALI (KAZ) won the gold medal at 55kg after beating Keve KOVACS (HUN), 1-1 in the final. The two traded passivity but it was the Kazakhstan wrestler who kept the criteria as he got the par terre first.

Wrestling Alireza REZAEI (IRI)Alireza REZAEI (IRI) loads to launch Isfahan HASANOV (AZE) for a throw during the 80kg final in Baku. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Rezaei Gives Iran Gold

Iran's campaign got a breather after Alireza REZAEI (IRI) grabbed the 80kg gold medal by upsetting Isfahan HASANOV (AZE), 2-1, in the final and the home crowd. In the low scoring final, Rezaei was put in par terre first but he defended the position to keep Hasanov's lead to 1-0.

In the second period, Rezaei got his chance from par terre and while he could not perform a big move, he lifted and threw Hasanov out of bounds for a step out point to lead 2-1. This left Hasanov needing at least one point to win but the Iranian evaded any such situation to claim gold, the first medal for Iran in Baku.

Wrestling Tymofii Prykhodko (UKR)Tymofii PRYKHODKO (UKR) tries to pin Bruno PALLONE (USA) during the 110kg final at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Prykhodko's Golden Throws

Ukraine also went home with a gold medal as Tymofii PRYKHODKO (UKR) clinched the 110kg title after a big-throwing show in the final against Bruno PALLONE (USA). Both wrestler went all out and complete four-point throws with ease. However, Prykhodko never gave up the lead and eventually won 14-5.

Prykhodko began with an arm-spin which resulted in a takedown for two points. He then completed his first big throw for four points and had Pallone in danger for fall but the U.S. wrestler managed to escape the position. A stepout before the break gave Pallone a point which cut the lead to 6-1.

Instead of playing the waiting game, Pallone hit a four-pointer at the start of the second period and came within one point distance, 6-5, of Prykhodko. At one point, both wrestlers bear-hugged each other but it was the Ukrainian who risked a headlock and once again threw Pallone for four points.

Pallone had no choice but go for the big throw himself as Prykhodko kept the pressure. But when he did, it was in a bad position and he tamely fell on his own back, giving Prykhodko four points, the win and the gold medal.

Wrestling Bunyod HASANOV (UZB)Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) dominated his way to the 51kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Hasanov, Nazaryan Aim Repeat; Barotov Chases History

Two returning world champions, Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) and Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), will look to repeat as gold medalists after reach the 51kg and 71kg finals respectively on Tuesday.

Hasanov will aim to become the first wrestler from Uzbekistan two win the U17 world gold twice when he takes on returning bronze medalist from 45kg, Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE), in the 51kg gold-medal bout.

In the semifinal, Hasanov wrestled Vadim TARELUNGA (MDA) and completed a 10-0 victory inside the first period. He unleashed a strong gut-wrench from par terre for two turns and a 5-0 lead. 

Tarelunga tried a headlock throw but Hasanov blocked him to get two points and then turned the Moldova wrestler just in time to win but Moldova challenged the call as it may have been risk from Tarelunga but it was confirmed as takedown. The lost challenged added one more point to Hasanov's score.

Huseynli also went into a commanding 7-2 lead from par terre against Saba ABASHIDZE (GEO) but he had to defended as well when the Georgian got the par terre in the second. From 7-3, Huseynli got two stepouts for a 9-3 win.

Wrestling Janes NAZARYAN (ARM)Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), red, reached the 71kg final and will aim for his second world gold. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Nazaryan, who won gold last year at 65kg, will face U17 European champion at 65kg Aslan DZUEV (RUS) in the 71kg final after both posted commanding wins in the semifinals.

The Armenian blanked Kristiyan KRASTEV (BUL), 8-0, while Dzuev defeated Esmaeil ZAHERDOUST (IRI), 10-1, to reach the gold medal bouts.

At 45kg, U17 European champion Ali JAVADLI (AZE) will look to give the home country its first gold of the tournament when he takes on Rylen WAX (USA) for the gold medal.

In a bizarre turn of events, Javadli's opponent in the semifinals, Armin ESMAEILI (IRI) did not show up for the mat and gave a forfeit.

Wax controlled his semifinal against Afruzbek IBRAGIMOV (UZB) and completed a 2-1, win. When Ibragimov got the par terre, he lifted Wax but ended up giving up a reversal which gave Wax a 1-1 criteria lead. Wax got the par terre in second period for the 2-1 lead and the win.

Wrestling Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK)Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) has the chance to become Tajikistan's first-ever world champion in Greco-Roman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

More history in on the line on Tuesday as Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) will try to become Tajikistan's first-ever Greco-Roman world champion at any level after he reached the 60kg final. He defeated Alexandru LUNGU (ROU), 2-1 in the semfinals.

But the task will not be easy as he faces U17 Asian champion Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) who staged a stunning comeback for a close 5-4 victory over Elmir CHARKAZOV (AZE).

Charkazov got the first par terre of the match but did not score any points but he managed a pushout point before the break to lead 2-0. Tahmasbpour tried a duckunder in the second period which Charkazov countered with a takedown to double his lead to 4-0.

Tahmasbpour up the pace of the bout and Charkazov tried a blank throw, only to land on his own back and give up two. He tried another desperate throw but the Iranian did not land in danger, countering with a takedown to take a 4-4 criteria lead.

Azerbaijan challenged the decision, asking for two points for the throw but lost it which added one more point to Tahmasbpour's score.

At 92kg, U17 European champion Tomasz MITAL (POL) is one step away from adding the world gold medal. He pinned Yusuf AKSU (TUR) in the semifinal to reach the final where he will take on Hlib YEVSIEIEV (UKR) who had no trouble beating Mirjalol SHOVKATOV (UZB), 8-0.

Wrestling Photos

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Soltan IUSUPOV (RUS) df. Ali ALMAS (KAZ), 8-3

BRONZE: Ararat AVETISYAN (ARM) df. Benedek TOMBOR (HUN), 8-0
BRONZE: Omar SALMANOV (AZE) df. Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 7-1

55kg
GOLD: Diyar AMANALI (KAZ) df. Keve KOVACS (HUN), 1-1

BRONZE: Edem PAIZIEV (RUS) df. Danimir YORDANOV (BUL), 8-0
BRONZE: Vlad TRIP (ROU) df. Tsimafei SEMIANENKA (BLR), 6-2

65kg
GOLD: Shamil LABAZANOV (RUS) df. Ibrahim NASIBOV (UKR), 7-5

BRONZE: Imre JUHASZ (HUN) df. Vazgen MNATSAKANYAN (ARM), 3-2
BRONZE: Orkhan HABIBLI (AZE) df. Kunal DAGAR (IND), 7-5

80kg
GOLD: Alireza REZAEI (IRI) df. Isfahan HASANOV (AZE), 2-1

BRONZE: Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB) df. Ivan IVANOV (USA), 12-4
BRONZE: Benediktas BUBELEVICIUS (LTU) df. Abdulhalik BAL (TUR), 5-2

110kg
GOLD: Tymofii PRYKHODKO (UKR) df. Bruno PALLONE (USA), 14-5

BRONZE: Andrej SIMIC (SRB) df. Yahor SAVICH (BLR), 5-1
BRONZE: Aliakbar AKOO (IRI) df. Fedor SUKHAREV (RUS), 1-1

Semifinals

45kg
SF 1: Rylen WAX (USA) df. Afruzbek IBRAGIMOV (UZB), 2-1
SF 2: Ali JAVADLI (AZE) df. Armin ESMAEILI (IRI), via forfeit

51kg
SF 1: Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) df. Vadim TARELUNGA (MDA), 10-0
SF 2: Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) df. Saba ABASHIDZE (GEO), 9-3

60kg
SF 1: Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) df. Alexandru LUNGU (ROU), 2-1
SF 2: Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) df. Elmir CHARKAZOV (AZE), 5-4

71kg
SF 1: Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) df. Kristiyan KRASTEV (BUL), 8-0
SF 2: Aslan DZUEV (RUS) df. Esmaeil ZAHERDOUST (IRI), 10-1

92kg
SF 1: Tomasz MITAL (POL) df. Yusuf AKSU (TUR), via fall (7-3)
SF 2: Hlib YEVSIEIEV (UKR) df. Mirjalol SHOVKATOV (UZB), 8-0

#WrestleTirana

Ukraine Wins Team Title after Record Gold Haul

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (April 24) -- After three gold medals on Thursday, Ukraine added three more in Women's Wresting on Friday to win the team title at the European Championships in Tirana.

Two young stars in Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) and Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) and two-time Olympic medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) were the three champions for Ukraine. The six gold medals is record in the country's history, improving on last year's performance of four golds.

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It also won a silver and a bronze medals to finish with 193 points, well ahead of second-placed Turkiye which had 122 points. Poland finished third with 114 points.

"This performance for Ukraine was historic because we’ve never had a result like this before," Koliadenko said. "We’ve broken our previous record. Our previous record was seven finals and four golds. The team gave it their all. I’m so happy for the whole team."

Magdalena GLODEK LISZEWSKA (POL) won gold for Poland at 57kg while Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) earned at silver at 76kg which helped the country to third place. With the gold medal, Glodek became the first wrestler from Poland to win gold at European Championships in six years and first in Women's Wrestling in nine years.

The one remaining gold, at 62kg, was won by Grace BULLEN (NOR) in dramatic fashion, coming back from 9-0 down to pin Amina TANDELOVA (UWW).

Yefremova, 19, got the session to a good start for Ukraine with a win over 34-year-old defending champion Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) in a tight 53kg final. Prevolaraki, who had won gold in 2025 on her 14th attempt, looked good to repeat when she got the first points on board in the final through Yefremova's passivity.

But in the second period, Yefremova used a fireman's carry to put Prevolaraki's back on the mat for two points. While she did not get the fall, Yefremova's 2-1 lead was enough for her to defend even as Prevolaraki made continuous attacks.

"Such intense emotions for me," Yefremova said. "I came here convinced I’d win a medal, but I didn’t think I’d make it to the final because I knew there were more experienced athletes here. But I still had a little bit of hope in myself that I could reach the final and win that gold. I didn’t think it would all turn out this way for me."

Yefremova, a former U17 world champion and U20 world silver medalist, was making waves in Women's Wrestling before being suspended for 18 months a positive dope test.

"I can’t say I’m particularly worried about the fact that the wrestlers are more experienced than me," she said. "I’m just used to forging ahead, regardless of the obstacles. I’ve got a goal, and I’m going for it. I don’t really have anything else on my mind."

Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR)Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) celebrates after winning the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Koliadenko earned her fourth European title without giving up a single point throughout the tournament, a fact that left even her surprised. After two technical superiority wins in the quarterfinal and semifinal, Koliadenko faced world silver medalist Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) in the 65kg final. She controlled the final throughout and forged a 9-0 victory.

"I hadn’t planned on finishing with a clean slate -- not losing a single point throughout this European Championship. It went quite smoothly for me," Koliadenko said.

The 27-year-old first wrestled at the European Championships in 2020, winning a bronze medal. Her gold medals came in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2026. In 2025, she finished with a bronze as well, taking her total medal count to six.

"I suppose experience does play a part, and over the years every competition becomes quite a challenge psychologically," she said. "Physically, you’re always prepared, but mentally it’s a bit tough. Especially given the rather uncomfortable situation in Ukraine at the moment and all of that affects our results."

Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR)Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) scores exposure points on Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) in the 72kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 72kg, U20 and U23 world champion Sokolovska found a way to beat Choluj despite trailing for four points. Choluj was put on activity clock but she used a double-leg attack during the 30-second period to score a takedown which was scored two points.

As the match progressed Choluj found it difficult to answer the pressure from Sokolovska who managed a go-behind to score her first point before getting two more for exposure in the same scramble to lead 4-2 with 1:34 remaining.

Choluj challenged the call but it was a takedown and a clear cradle with no foul. The lost challenge added one more point to Sokolovska's score. Choluj managed a stepout with 28 seconds left but failed to score a takedown in the remaining time which could have given her the criteria victory.

Sokolovska, trained by her Greco-Roman wrestler father, won the gold at her debut European Championships to cap off a memorable tournament for Ukraine.

Apart the these three, Oksana LIVACH (UKR), Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) were the other three champions for Ukraine in Tirana.

Glodek Ends Poland's Wait

Poland's gold medal winner Glodek who denied Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR), who finished with a silver medal for a second time in a row.

After both wrestlers exchanged passivity points, Suleyman led 1-1 on criteria as her point was the latest. But Glodek used a strong snapdown to score a quick takedown and lead 3-1.

Suleyman tried her best to score a match-winning takedown including an arm throw but landed on her own back to give two more points to Glodek who ended a six-year wait for Poland to have a European champion in wrestling.

For Poland, Maogmedmurad GAZHIEV (POL) had won gold in Freestyle in 2020 while Monika MICHALIK (POL) won gold in Women's Wrestling in 2017.

 

Photo

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), 2-1

BRONZE: Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) df. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (UWW), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Annika WENDLE (GER) df. Roksana ZASINA (POL), via fall (2-3)

57kg
GOLD: Magdalena GLODEK LISZEWSKA (POL) df. Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR), 5-1

BRONZE: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) df. Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (UWW), via fall
BRONZE: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Evelina HULTHEN (SWE), via fall

62kg
GOLD: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Amina TANDELOVA (UWW), via fall (5-9)

BRONZE: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) df. Johanna LINDBORG (SWE), 3-1
BRONZE: Naemi LEISTNER (GER) df. Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 5-1

65kg
GOLD: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), 9-0

BRONZE: Natalia KUBATY (POL) df. Iris THIEBAUX (FRA), 11-6
BRONZE: Beyza AKKUS (TUR) df. Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE), 4-2

72kg
GOLD: Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) df. Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), 5-3

BRONZE: Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) df. Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK), 3-0
BRONZE: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Karolina POK (HUN), 9-6