Murayama upends Kiyooka, twice, to make Japan's world team

Saturday, June 21, 2025 - 16:41 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 21) -- When Paris Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI announced she was moving up to 57kg, it seemed that everyone was ready to bequeath the opening at 53kg to
reigning world 55kg champion Moe KIYOOKA.

On Saturday, Haruna MURAYAMA said not so fast. Not once, but twice.

Murayama defeated Kiyooka in the women's 53kg final at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships in Tokyo, then came back a short time later and did it again in a playoff to earn a place on Japan's team and a shot at a fourth world gold at this year's World Championships.

"I only had two matches today, but I totally focused on each one in turn," said Murayama, whose previous world titles came under her maiden name of OKUNO.

"After that, it was important to win, but because I want to keep going at 53kg, this tournament had more meaning. Of course, I was aiming for a good result, but I wanted to get something out of this tournament."

Murayama and Kiyooka had beaten each other a number of times, but Kiyooka got the upper hand when she won a playoff last year for the Non-Olympic World Championships, where she succeeded Murayama as the gold medalist at 55kg.

With Fujinami was still on her post-Olympic hiatus, Kiyooka moved down to 53kg and won the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships last December, the first of two domestic qualifiers for the World Championships along with the Meiji Cup.

Winning both tournaments secured an automatic place on the world team, while a playoff determined the spot if case of different winners.

Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) Haruna MURAYAMA reacts after beating Moe KIYOOKA in the world team playoff at women's 53kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Murayama won the 55kg title at the Emperor's Cup, but took a risk and dropped down to 53kg to challenge Kiyooka at the Meiji Cup, a move that paid off and left her young opponent in tears.

"Olympic weight classes and non-Olympic weight classes are completely different," Murayama said. "I've been in international tournaments as well as domestic meets at various weights, and, I can't really put it into words, but you can feel it in your skin.

"I won at a non-Olympic weight at the Emperor's Cup and if I had entered that weight here and won, I would have gone to the World Championships at 55kg. It would be rude to say it is meaningless, but in a career that is limited, you want to compete at the highest level. So I want to continue at 53kg from here."

The 26-year-old Murayama won her first world title at 55kg in 2017, added a second at 53kg in 2018, then went five years before adding a third at 55kg in 2023. In between she suffered the heartbreak of having her Olympic dreams smashed twice, first by Mayu MUKAIDA (now SHIDOCHI) before the Tokyo Olympics, and then by Fujinami in the runup to Paris.

Her performance at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym -- which included a quarterfinal victory over Shidochi, who was returning after a two-year layoff -- puts her smack in middle of discussions for the 2028 Los Angeles.

Murayama did it with nearly identical victories over Kiyooka, winning 3-1 in the Meiji Cup final and then 4-1 in the playoff.

In both matches, she gained an activity point in the first period, then scored a takedown off a low single in the second. Kiyooka, who wore a headgear after suffering a recent skull injury in practice, was constantly kept at bay and only launched one attack that Murayama fended off.

"The rules now favor the aggressor, and that also leads to activity points," Murayama said. "I'm not the type who goes for tackles much at the beginning. But I came up with a style where my tying up leads to tackles.

"Recently, it wasn't working so well. I've been having more chances to face younger opponents, and they like to go on the attack right away, which makes me feel pressure. There were many matches that went awry at the end that I couldn't finish off. This time, I was able to keep her under control in the first period, then wrestle my way to end the match."

Ironically, Murayama and Kiyooka were teammates at a pair of international tournaments earlier this year, where they had positive results. Murayama won the 55kg title and Kiyooka the 53kg gold at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series tournament in Tirana in February, then took a bronze and a silver, respectively, at the Asian Championships in March in Amman, Jordan.

"I recently was able to go to some international tournaments, and the overseas wrestlers have gotten better," Murayama said. "We're in an era where you can soon view a video of a match and I feel that I have been well scouted. I look forward to using my skills against them."

Ami ISHII (JPN) Ami ISHII secures a fall over Seia MOCHINAGA to secure her ticket at women's 68kg to the World Championships. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Ishii cruises to world berth; Aoyagi bounces back in playoff

In other action on the third day of the four-day tournament, Ami ISHII, who won the women's 72kg gold at the non-Olympic worlds as consolation for missing out on the Paris Olympics, will be heading back to the regular World Championships at 68kg.

Ishii easily won out in a four-women field that was thinned to three by injury, finishing up with a victory by fall over Seia MOCHINAGA in her final round-robin match.

Ishii said she is looking forward to possibly facing Kennedy BLADES (USA), the Paris Olympic silver medalist at 76kg who recently won the U.S. trials at 68kg. And she wants to not only win, but win big.

"I won't be seeded, so I don't know when or if I will face her," Ishii said. "It doesn't have to be the final. I want it to be one of those matches where you go, 'Wow.' I want to win big with a technical fall like Masanosuke ONO. I don't want it to come down to the wire."

One other women's world team spot was filled, with Asian bronze medalist Nodoka YAMAMOTO beating Yasuha MATSUYUKI 3-1 to win the round-robin at 76kg as Paris Olympic champion Yuka KAGAMI continues to remain out of competition.

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) Yoshinosuke AOYAGI works to turn Shoya MIURA in the world team playoff at freestyle 70kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Among the three world team playoffs in freestyle, world silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI bounced back from his stunning semifinal loss on Friday by romping to an 11-0 victory over Shoya MIURA.

Aoyagi chalked up a pair of takedown-roll combinations in the first period, then ended the match by using his leg to catch Miura on his back during a scramble.

"I was down [after the loss] and still felt that way today," Aoyagi said. "But to do it, I had to pull myself together. I got advice from various people, and keeping in mind all of those supporting me, I was finally able to come around."

Miura had won the title with a 6-5 victory over world U20 champion Ryoya YAMASHITA, who had stunned Emperor's Cup champion Aoyagi in the semifinals. Miura's win can be credited to a 4-point counter throw that could have gone either way but was awarded on challenge.

Aoyagi acknowledged that Miura presented a less formidable foe, although he would have liked to have had a chance to avenge his loss to Yamashita.

"I wanted to get revenge and of course I had come up with a plan and asked around for advice," Aoyagi said. "Next week, we're going to Nittaidai [Nippon Sport Science University] for joint practice and I'll ask him to spar with me. I lost and will be the challenger, but I will turn the tables."

There was one thing that Aoyagi did before the playoff that left many people befuddled.

Normally, a wrestler who goes to a playoff after losing before a final skips the bronze-medal match, which is held a few hours earlier.

But Aoyagi showed up for his match, which he won with an 11-0 victory in 3:44. Why even bother?

The 23-year-old Aoyagi, who joined the corporate team Clean-up out of Yamanashi Gakuin University, said he did it out of loyalty to his company and its employees, who formed a small supporting section in the stands.

"I thought that at the very least, I had to get a medal from the standpoint of my company," Aoyagi said. "There were many people from the company who came in support and I wanted them to know they could believe in me and I would give it my all. If I didn't do that match and only went to the World Championships, it might leave a bad impression."

Aoyagi, who won the Muhamet Malo tournament and finished third at the Asian Championships this year, said he will be confident but wary in Zagreb, which will be his last tournament at 70kg before making a planned move up to 74kg.

"Last year I finished second and I'm currently ranked No. 1, but it's not going to be so easy," Aoyagi said. "I placed third at the Asian Championships and strong opponents are constantly coming up. The luck of the draw is important, but I will practice harder and become a wrestler who doesn't present openings. If I prepare thoroughly for the World Championships, of course I can win the title."

In another playoff, Emperor's Cup champion Ryunosuke KAMIYA avenged a semifinal loss to Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI by beating him 3-0 for the freestyle 79kg ticket to Zagreb. Gharehdaghi had taken the title with a 2-2 win over Subaru TAKAHARA.

At 61kg, Takara SUDA, the Emperor's Cup champion who had to miss the tournament, scored a late takedown to defeat 2021 world bronze medalist Toshihiro HASEGAWA 4-3. Suda was not entered after his school, Yamanashi Gakuin University, reportedly missed the registration deadline.

Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) Yuri NAKAZATO puts the pressure on Takahiro TSURUDA in the Greco 97kg final of the Meiji Cup. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

In Greco, Yuri NAKAZATO will get a chance to see if he can make a breakthrough for Japan in the upper weights after he defeated Takahiro TSURUDA 4-0 to take the 97kg crown and secure a place on the world team.

The Okinawa native, a 2023 world U23 bronze medalist, showed some potential by winning a silver medal at this year's Asian Championships. That made him the first Japanese to make the final in a weight class 90kg or over in 11 years, and just the ninth ever.

Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) Mayu SHIDOCHI, right, assured she would not go home empty-handed from her first tournament in two years by taking a bronze medal at women's 53kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Shidochi finishes up comeback with bronze

Tokyo Olympic champion Shidochi bounced back from her loss to Murayama by winning her bronze-medal match at 53kg, beating Saki YUMIYA 5-0.

After gaining an activity point in the first period, Shidochi pulled away in the second with a takedown and gut wrench.

Shidochi was competing for the first time since losing to Fujinami in the semifinals at the 2023 Meiji Cup, giving birth to her first child in the interval.

"When it comes down do it, I lost yesterday and it's really hard to take," Shidochi said. "But I came back and won the third-place match, which I hope will lead to better things. I was able to bounce back and, although it wasn't the gold medal, I could still finish up with a medal."

Shidochi gives herself credit for not taking the easy path in her return to the mat.

"I decided to make a challenge at an Olympic weight and I realize that in reality, it is not so easy," she said. "In the second round I faced world champion Haruna. I had lost to her the last time and wanted to get revenge, but I wasn't able to do it and that's disappointing.

"It was my first tournament in two years. It comes down to getting that match sense again, and I was pretty nervous this time. There are many things I need to work on."

Day 3 Results

Freestyle

57kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Rin SAKAMOTO df. Rikuto NAGAI, 7-4
SF 2: Kento YUMIYA df. Rikuto ARAI, 2-1

61kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Toshihiro HASEGAWA df. Akito MUKAIDA by TF, 15-5, 4:51

BRONZE: Taichi YAMAGUCHI df. Aiki KAWAI, 7-0
BRONZE: Meiryu AKAMINE df. Takuto OSEDO, 5-3

World Team Playoff: Takara SUDA df. Hasegawa, 4-3

65kg (9 entries)
SF 1: Kaisei TANABE df. Ryuto SAKAKI, 5-0
SF 2: Kotaro KIYOOKA df. Yuto NISHIUCHI, 8-1

70kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Shoya MIURA df. Ryoya YAMASHITA, 6-5

BRONZE: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Raita MATSUDA by TF, 11-0, 3:44
BRONZE: Makoto HOSOKAWA df. Yamato FUKUI by TF, 13-2, 3:46

World Team Playoff: Aoyagi df. Miura by TF, 11-0, 3:50

74kg (12 entries)
SF 1: Kota TAKAHASHI vs Hikaru TAKATA by TF, 12-2, 5:40
SF 2: Masaki SATO df. Toki OGAWA, 6-0

79kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI df. Subaru TAKAHARA, 2-2

BRONZE: Kohei KITAMURA df. Ryunosuke KAMIYA by Def.
BRONZE: Natsura OKAZAWA df. Hirotaka ABE by TF, 11-0, 3:39

World Team Playoff: Kamiya df. Gharehdaghi, 3-0

Greco-Roman

60kg (8 entries)
SF 1: Kaito INABA df. Seima TOKUHARA by TF, 11-1, 4:32
SF 2: Yu SHIOTANI df. Koto GOMI by TF, 10-0, 1:49

67kg (12 entries)
SF 1: Katsuaki ENDO df. Kensuke SHIMIZU, 7-3
SF 2: Kyotaro SOGABE df. Haruto YABE, 13-6

77kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Kodai SAKURABA df. Shu YAMADA by TF, 9-1, 4:50
SF 2: Nao KUSAKA df. Naoki KADODE by TF, 12-1, 2:04

87kg (7 entries)
GOLD: So SAKABE df. Tatsuya FUJII, 9-0, 2:18

BRONZE: Isshin ONITSUKA df. Genki YAHAGI by Fall, 2:27 (10-0)

97kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Yuri NAKAZATO df. Takahiro TSURUDA, 4-0

BRONZE: Masayuki AMANO df. Ryosei KATAMATSU by TF, 8-0, 1:51
BRONZE: Sorato KANAZAWA df. Asahi IMAMURA by TF, 9-0, 1:51

130kg (7 entries)
GOLD: Yuta NARA df. Sota OKUMURA, 3-1

BRONZE: Shion OBATA df. Ayumu IWASAWA, 6-1

Women's Wrestling

50kg (9 entries)
SF 1: Remina YOSHIMOTO vs Mai OGAWA by TF, 10-0, 5:27
SF 2: Umi ITO df. Miyu NAKAMURA, 6-0

53kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Haruna MURAYAMA df. Moe KIYOOKA, 3-1

BRONZE: Haruna MORIKAWA df. Natsumi MASUDA, 3-0
BRONZE: Mayu SHIDOCHI df. Saki YUMIYA, 5-0

World Team Playoff: Murayama df. Kiyooka, 4-1

57kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Himeka TOKUHARA df. Sara NATAMI, 3-1
SF 2: Sae NANJO df. Ichika ARAI, 9-0

62kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Nonoka OZAKI df. Misuzu ENOMOTO, 10-2
SF 2: Sakura MOTOKI df. Shirin TAKEMOTO by TF, 10-0, 2:23

68kg (4 entries)
GOLD: Ami ISHII (3-0)
SILVER: Seia MOCHINAGA (2-1)
BRONZE: Kaede MATSUYAMA (1-2)

Key match: Ishii df. Mochinaga by Fall, 2:06 (6-0), in Round 3

76kg (4 entries)
GOLD: Nodoka YAMAMOTO (3-0)
SILVER: Yasuha MATSUYUKI (2-1)
BRONZE: Mizuki NAGASHIMA (1-2)

Key match: Yamamoto df. Matsuyuki 3-1 in Round 3

#WrestleAthens

U17 World Wrestling Championships 2025 Preview

Friday, July 25, 2025 - 16:28 By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (July 23) -- Eight years after it last hosted the World U17 Championships, Greece gears up for another.

The 2025 World U17 Championships will be held in Athens from July 28 to August 3 at the Ano Liosia Olympic Hall, the historic venue where wrestling competition during the 2004 Olympics was held.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PREVIEW HERE

While the wrestlers will be making new memories, one former wrestler will be reliving old memories. Four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) will be revisiting Athens, this time as Japan’s team coach, 21 years after she won her first gold medal at the Games in 2004.

Japan is expected to reclaim the Women's Wrestling team title it lost to India in 2024. The United States, Ukraine and China are also sending strong teams.

In Freestyle, the U.S. will battle it out with Iran, the top two countries last year. Meanwhile, in Greco-Roman, Iran will face challenges from Asian counterparts and Azerbaijan.

The competition will begin with Greco-Roman on July 28 with five weight classes and will follow a two-day format. Women's Wrestling will begin July 30 and Freestyle on August 1. The repechage and medal bouts of each weight category will be held the next day.

The action from the World U17 Championships will be live on UWW+ on uww.org and the UWW App. Follow United World Wrestling on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube.

Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) is one of the returning world U17 champions in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

The defending team champion the U.S. boasts a quality line-up including world champ Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) and four Pan-Am champions from 2025 -- Ariah MILLS (USA), Alexander TAYLOR (USA), Jayden JAMES (USA) and Arseni KIKINIOU (USA).

Iran, which missed the Asian U17 Championships, has wrestlers who have previous success at Asian level and in ISF Gymnasiade. It won only two gold medals last year, but it hopes Morteza HAJ (IRI), Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI), Arian MEHRALIZADEH (IRI) and Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI) will help it better that number this year.

Said PASHAYEV (AZE) is the European champion at 92kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Six out of the 10 European champions from 2025 are set to be in Athens with Azerbaijan entering three. Ravan HASANZADE (AZE) at 48kg, Ruslan ALIZADA (AZE) at 55kg and Said PASHAYEV (AZE) at 92kg will be the biggest hopes for Azerbaijan to win gold, a medal the country was denied last year.

The other European champs are Zorab ALOIEV (UKR) at 61kg, Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) at 80kg and Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) at 110kg.

Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ) won the 60kg gold at the Asian U17 Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan had a successful Asian U17 Championships in Vietnam after the no-show of Iran and Japan's subdued performance.

Kazakhstan won two gold medals in Vietnam and both wrestlers, Ibrahim YSKAKBEK (KAZ) at 55kg and Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ) at 60kg, will be in Athens and try to win a world gold, a medal the country has not won since 2022.

Kyrgyzstan also had two gold medalists, Arnur NURSAIDOV (KGZ) at 45kg and Dovudbek BAKHADIROV (KGZ) at 48kg, at Asian Championships. The onus will be on these to lead the team as it looks for a second straight top-three finish. Last year, it placed third, the highest for the country at the world level.

Uzbekistan won only one gold in Vietnam but every wrestler competed for a medal, helping it finish third. Japan and India, fourth and fifth in Vietnam, are likely to be the dark horses in Greece.

A few others who can surprise the field including returning silver medalist Frederick BACHMANN (PUR) at 60kg, returning champ Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) at 51kg, Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB) at 55kg, returning silver medalist Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) at 65kg and Hasan HASANOV (AZE) at 60kg.

KAJAL (IND) was one of India's five world U17 champions in 2024. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Women's Wrestling

Japan will undoubtedly be favored to win the team title but in the last few years, Japan's supremacy has been challenged by both the United States and India.

India won the team title last year for the first time with an incredible performance, winning five gold medals while Japan only won one.

Can Japan bounce back? Certainly.

Yu KATAOKA (JPN) at 49kg and Rion OGAWA (JPN) at 53kg have dominated the continental level and have been unbeaten internationally. They will lead a team that also includes An NAKANISHI (JPN), Sayuki HIBARINO (JPN) and Hanano OYA (JPN).

Japan will have to step up when it comes to heavier weight classes if it wants to capture the trophy. The presence of Icho as coach should serve as motivation for the young wrestlers, who take on the world.

India will have six current and former continental champions in Athens. KAJAL (IND), world champ at 69kg, will be at 73kg this year but will still be the favorite to win the gold medal. She was dealt a shock loss at the Asian Championships by Wenjin QIU (CHN) in the final. Qiu will also be in Athens and a potential clash with Kajal is on the cards.

Asian champ RACHANA (IND), who has silver from 2023 Worlds, will be at 43kg hoping to win gold. Kasish GURJAR (IND) was the Asian champion in 2023, MONI (IND) is the Asian champ at 57kg while Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) is a two-time continental champion at 65kg. MANISHA (IND), who won gold in Vietnam, will lead India's charge at 69kg.

Former world u17 champion Morgan TURNER (USA) is one of the favorites to win at 49kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The U.S. is bringing a host of Pan-American champions but its biggest star will be 2023 world champ Morgan TURNER (USA), who also won the bronze medal in 2024. She will be at 49kg, a weight class in which she won the Pan-Am gold this year.

At 40kg, Maisie ELLIOTT (USA) is a Pan-Am champion and so is Emma BACON (USA) at 57kg, Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) at 61kg, Violette LASURE (USA) at 65kg, Cassandra GONZALES (USA) at 69kg and Ella Jo POALILLO (USA) at 73kg.

Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA), who also won Pan-Am gold at 46kg, is a returning bronze medalist and will be one of the favorites for the gold medal this year.

From Europe, nine 2025 continental champions are entered for Athens. European champion at 40kg Valia HARSAN (ROU) will test herself against Asian champion Shokhista SHONAZAROVA (UZB) along with other big names in the field including European silver medalist Polina TIMSINA (EST), European bronze medalist Finja STRAUCH (GER) and Daria MASLENNIKOVA (UWW), who is three-time European U15 champion.

Raniia RAKHMANOVA (UWW) was the champion at 43kg and will be the favorite for the gold medal as well.

At 46kg, Nazrin AHMADLI (AZE) is a returning bronze medalist from 40kg but will contend with Janka SILLEI (HUN) in the weight class. Sillei is unbeaten internationally and won the European gold in Skopje. Local wrestler and world silver from 43kg Maria GKIKA (GRE) will hope to win a medal for the hosts. Additionally, Gurjar, Hanano OYA (JPN), world silver from 40kg Kamila KUCHMA (UKR), Bouzakis and European silver Irina TSYDEEVA (UWW) will have their eyes on gold.

A battle between Kataoka and Turner is expected at 49kg which also has Asian silver medalist Saniya SOLTANGALI (KAZ) and returning bronze medalist and European champ Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW).

SAARIKA (IND) won the Asian U20 Championships gold medal after a close win over Mihoko TAKEUCHI (JPN), a Klippan Lady Open champion and 2022 World U17 Championships silver medalist. But for success in Athens, Saarika will have to battle it out with European champion at 53kg Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), Japanese star Ogawa, two-time European silver Fatma YILMAZ (TUR) and Euro U15 champ Yuliia HOLHOVSKA (UKR), who is 15 years old and Elison.

Japan has unheralded Sayuki TANADA (JPN) at 57kg which also has Asian champion MONI (IND), Asian silver Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ), European silver Ivanna LUKIANENKO (UKR) and Bacon. This is the only weight class in which the European champion has not entered.

Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) is Georgia's first-ever European champion in Women's Wrestling. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 61kg, history-maker for Georgia's Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) has entered hoping to win a world medal for Georgia in Women's Wrestling. She was the first European champ for Georgia in Women's Wrestling. But she will face resistance from Asian champ Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ), European silver Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) and European champ Zalina TOTROVA (UWW).

Germany's Feenja HERMANN (GER) finished seventh at 57kg last year but managed to win the European silver medal at 65kg this year. She will be hoping for a world medal as well. Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) is a two-time Asian champ at this weight class and Japan has Mitsuki OKAWA (JPN). Lasure and European champ Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW) will also be presenting their challenges.

Another of Germany's big hope is Ayla SAHIN (GER) who won the gold medal at the Europeans at 69kg. She was 10th last year at the Worlds at 65kg. But Asian champ MANISHA (IND), Mao TERAOKA (JPN), Pan-Am silver Linda MARTINEZ (MEX), Pan-Am champ Gonzales and European silver medalist Zukhra KAZULAEVA (UWW) are also in the mix.

Apart from the Kajal-Qiu match-up at 73kg, European silver medalist Greta TVERSKYTE (LTU), European champion Eylem ENGIN (TUR), a returning medalist from 57kg, returning fifth-placer Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR) and Pan-Am champ Poalillo will make this category worth a watch.

Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) is one of the three Asian U17 champions for Uzbekistan in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

Last year, Uzbekistan was a standout in Greco-Roman at the U17 level, winning the Asian U17 team title and finishing second at the World Championships. It continued this success at the Asian level this year, with each wrestler winning a medal, including three golds.

Uzbekistan will once again be in the team race and threaten Iran, the defending champions.

All three of its Asian champs -- Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) at 71kg, Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB) at 80kg and Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB) at 92kg -- will compete in Athens.

Iran will rely heavily on its heavyweights Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) at 92kg and Yazdan Reza DELROUZ (IRI) at 110kg for gold medals.

Last year's 15th-placer Hossein KAZEMI (IRI) at 71kg will be a handful for his opponents and Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) will be the favorite at 55kg. Amir HAJIVAND (IRI) at 48kg and Amirmohammad HAJI (IRI) at 51kg will compete in the gold-medal hunt as well.

Azerbaijan is another country that is bringing a strong squad to Athens. It has three European champions and three medalists from Skopje making the trip.

While the lighter and heavier weight classes have seen Asian wrestlers do well, the middle weight classes have been dominated by European wrestlers, especially at 65kg, 71kg and 80kg.

Since the weight classes were shuffled in 2018, only three Asian wrestlers have managed to win gold medals at 65kg, 71kg and 80kg. Reza SAKI (IRI) won at 71kg in 2022 and Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) claimed gold at 80kg in 2023. In 2024, Amir SAEIDI (IRI) broke the jinx at 65kg.

Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) is the European 65kg champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

In Athens, at 65kg, European champ Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) will lead the charge. Other key European wrestlers include silver medalist Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), bronze medalist Kyliane EDDOUH (FRA), home favorite Iason MARGARITIDIS (GRE) and many other strong competitors from the European Championships in Skopje.

Asian champion Dosbol SHAMIL (KAZ), who finished seventh at 60kg at the last World Championships, will look to break European dominance at this weight class. So will Pan Am champ Arseni KIKINIOU (USA), who is competing in Freestyle as well.

At 71kg, it can very well end up being a European champion vs Asian champion match to decide it all. Giorgi GOGELASHVILI (GEO) will look to add a world title to his European one while Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB), the Asian champion, will have a chance to upgrade his bronze medal from last year to gold.

Despite his 14th-place finish this year at the European Championships, Yusif AHMADLI (AZE) is a strong contender for gold. He finished seventh at the World Championships last year and has a silver medal in 2023 at 65kg. European silver medalist Ignat MEICO (MDA) and bronze medalist Matias ONNENLEHTO (FIN) are also entered.

European U17 champion Senik VARDANIAN (UWW) will look to add a world title to his name. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

As many as 12 European wrestlers from Skopje are entered at 80kg for Athens. Senik VARDANIAN (UWW) was the champion and will be the favorite to win gold in Athens. He is joined by silver medalist Benediktas BUBELEVICIUS (LTU) and bronze medalists Nijat YEYLAGALIYEV (AZE) and Ismail BEREKET (TUR).

Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB), the Asian champ, and Pan-Am champion Isai FERNANDEZ (USA) have a big task ahead of them to capture the gold medal.

An interesting entry at 92kg is Said PASHAYEV (AZE), the European Freestyle champ, who will also compete in Greco-Roman. He finished 16th in Skopje. He may not be the favorite but has a chance to trouble the likes of European champion Vadim DRAGUSHAN (UWW) and Asian champion Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB), who also is a returning bronze medalist.

Filling the line-up are Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI), Asian silver medalist Adilet TOISHY (KAZ), European silver medalist Tymur LARIN (UKR) and Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW), who will be the dark horse at this weight class. The hosts Greece will bank on European bronze medalist Ioannis MOUTOUSIDIS (GRE) to win a medal at home.

Iran has been denied the 110kg gold since 2019 but it hopes that Yazdan Reza DELROUZ (IRI) will bring it back. Although, it won't be easy. The field includes European champion Rihad IBRAHIMLI (AZE) and silver medalist Denis LAZAROV (BUL). Asian champion HARDEEP (IND) may trouble the Iranian and so can Emrullah CAPKAN (TUR), who finished fifth last year.

European silver medalist Ali NAZAROV (AZE) will be the favorite at 60kg as he dominated the European field barring the final. His biggest challenge can come from Asian champ Damir AKAN (KAZ) in an otherwise weak weight class.

At 45kg, Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) is the European champ and he has a good chance to win the world title as well. But the lowest weight class always has a surprise in store. Saba ABASHIDZE (GEO) will look to avenge his European final's loss to Huseynli while Ararat AVETISYAN (ARM), European bronze medalist, is also entered. But can Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ), the Asian champion, spoil their party?

Another Asian champion from Kazakhstan, Nurdaulet KUMARULY (KAZ), will be challenging the 48kg field that includes European champion Stanislav IVANOV (BUL), silver medalist Martin MANJIKYAN (ARM), and bronze medalist Gurban MAJNUNOV (AZE).

Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), left, and Aslanbek KOSTOEV (UWW) are likely to face each other at 51kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Armenia's gold at the World Championships can come from Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), who won the European Championships gold medal at 51kg and a world silver medal at 45kg last year. He will also have a chance to avenge his 2024 Worlds final's loss to Aslanbek KOSTOEV (UWW), who is also entered at 51kg.

The 55kg category is again dominated with European entries including champion Danil LOZHKIN (UWW) and silver medalist Giorgi CHACHUA (GEO). Asian Championships finalists are also entered with champion Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ) and silver medalist Sadriddin TULKINBOEV (UZB).

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