2026 U17 World Championships

Russia Edges Iran to Claim U17 World Freestyle Team Title

Monday, August 3, 2026 - 09:21 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (August 2) -- Russia claimed its first Freestyle team title at the U17 World Championships in six years after edging Iran by a single point in a dramatic finish to the tournament on Sunday in Baku.

Iran held a narrow 110-106 lead over Russia after three of the five weight classes on the final day. With one gold-medal bout and one bronze-medal bout remaining for each team, Iran needed to win both matches or have Russia lose one to secure the title. Neither scenario unfolded.

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Reza SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) won the gold medal at 71kg, while Mokhmad BAISULTANOV (RUS) earned bronze, extending Iran's lead to 135-121 heading into the final weight class.

Wrestling Abdurazak SHABANOV (RUS)Abdurazak SHABANOV (RUS) tries to score on Salah TSARNI (USA) during the 92kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

It all came down to the final bout of the tournament at 92kg. After Reza ISAZADEH (IRI) lost his bronze-medal bout, Iran was stuck at 145 points. All Abdurazak SHABANOV (RUS) needed to do was win the 92kg final against Salah TSARNI (USA) to clinch the team title for his country by one point.

Shabanov did not have the best of starts to the final as Tsarni took a 3-0 lead in the opening period. The Russian opened the second period with a stepout before scoring a go-behind and lead 3-3 on criteria.

Tsrani was quick to return to his feet but Shabanov maintained control from behind and executed a four-pointer before giving up a reversal. Tsarni, down 7-4 with 43 seconds remaining, needed at least four points to win. Instead, Shabanov controlled the bout, adding a late stepout along with a point after Tsarni was called for fleeing to seal a 9-4 win.

The win secured Russia the team title with 146 points and broke the hearts of Iran which finished second with 145 points. India finished third with 123 points, followed by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan with 101 and 93 points respectively.

Defending champion the United States finished seventh with 68 points, an uncharacteristically low finish for one of the world's traditional wrestling powers.

Wrestling Reza SHAMSIPOUR (IRI)Reza SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) tries to score on Bohdan KVANTALIANI (GEO) during the 71kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 71kg, Shamsipour survived a tense finish to defeat Bohdan KVANTALIANI (GEO), 5-4, and claim Iran's third Freestyle gold medal of the tournament.

After conceding a passivity point, Shamsipour stormed back with quick takedowns in the second period to build a 4-1 lead. With 19 seconds remaining, he was penalized for fleeing, and then again with two seconds from the end when Kvantaliani forced a stepout. However, Shamsipour held the criteria at 4-4, thanks to his higher-scoring techniques.

Georgia challenged for another fleeing call in the closing seconds, but the challenge was unsuccessful, awarding Shamsipour an additional point and confirming the victory.

Wrestling Benyamin ASHOFTEH (IRI)Benyamin ASHOFTEH (IRI) celebrates after winning the 51kg final against Ibrahim HASANOV (AZE). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Iran's won the gold medal at 51kg as well after U17 Asian champion Benyamin ASHOFTEH (IRI) defeated Ibrahim HASANOV (AZE), 5-1, in the final.

Hasanov was the first to score after Ashofteh failed to score during the activity period, giving a point to the Azerbaijan wrestler. In the second period, Ashofteh took a 1-1 criteria lead after Hasanov was placed on the activity clock.

Soon after, Ashofteh managed to score a takedown with 55 seconds remaining as Hasanov backed away, then transitioned into a gut-wrench for two more points to lead 5-1 with 37 seconds remaining.

Ashofteh would hang on to his lead while Hasanov, the U17 European champion, settled for silver in front of the home crowd, which was again denied a home world champion.

Wrestling SITENDER (IND)SITENDER (IND) using the two-on-one to set up his takedown against Sergei KARMRIAN (RUS). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Sitender Repeats

World champion Sushil KUMAR (IND) had been India's only wrestler to win consecutive U17 world titles, but SITENDER (IND) joined him on Sunday by successfully defending his 60kg crown.

Sitender, who maintains a strong position and powerful defense, never seemed troubled by either U17 European champion Sergei KARMRIAN (RUS) or the pressure of the World Championships final.

The opening period saw little action before Sitender was put on the activity clock. As he failed to score during the 30-second period, Karmrian took a 1-0 lead into the break.

The bout did not change in the second period as well with Karmrian eventually put on the activity clock. During the 30-second window, Sitender capitalized, using a two-on-one grip and a slide-by, to score the decisive takedown for two points.

Karmrian pressed until the final whistle but was unable to produce the takedown he needed, allowing Sitender to retain his world title.

Wrestling Photos

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Nelson VILLAFANE (PUR) df. Rylen WAX (USA), 7-1

BRONZE: Mukhammad RAKHIMJONOV (UZB) df. Luka DOTIASHVILI (GEO), 9-8
BRONZE: Hanumant JADHAV (IND) df. Mahdi DAMERCHELI (IRI), 7-1

51kg
GOLD: Benyamin ASHOFTEH (IRI) df. Ibrahim HASANOV (AZE), 5-1

BRONZE: Islam KURAKHMAEV (RUS) df. Giorgi NARIMANIDZE (GEO), 7-3
BRONZE: Masamune USHIMADO (JPN) df. William SOTO (PUR), 15-13

60kg
GOLD: SITENDER (IND) df. Sergei KARMRIAN (RUS), 3-1

BRONZE: Mardan ORYNBASSAR (KAZ) df. Davit MDZEVASHVILI (GEO), via fall (5-2)
BRONZE: Mykyta KUZMENKO (UKR) df. Bekzodbek IBROHIMOV (UZB), via fall (4-1)

71kg
GOLD: Reza SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) df. Bohdan KVANTALIANI (GEO), 5-4

BRONZE: Mokhmad BAISULTANOV (RUS) df. Vitali HARDZEI (BLR), 10-0
BRONZE: Adilet RYSBAY (KAZ) df. Mekan HUDAYBERENOV (TKM), 6-4

92kg
GOLD: Abdurazak SHABANOV (RUS) df. Salah TSARNI (USA), 9-4

BRONZE: Marshall EVERETT (GBR) df. Nuradin MUSTAFAEV (GEO), 10-6
BRONZE: SAKSHAM (IND) df. Reza ISAZADEH (IRI), 3-2

#WrestleTirana

Proud to Break Karelin's Record: Says Kayaalp After 13th European Gold

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - 21:34 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 21) -- Soon after he broke Aleksandr KARELIN's record of 12 European Championships gold medals, Riza KAYAALP (TUR) was asked to go through the journey of winning 13 European gold medals in his career.

Kayaalp gave a smirk before going on to replay his journey from his first European Championships title in 2010.

"When you look back, you realize you’ve made 15 finals," Kayaalp said after winning the 130kg gold medal in Tirana. "Back then, I was just thinking whether I could win one or two medals. But then, making the final every time at the European Championships, it’s like a child being born and growing up to 15 years old.

"That’s how long this journey has been. It’s difficult. It requires great consistency. It requires respect for what you do."

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Kayaalp's consistency led him to 15 European Championships finals from which he won 13, taking him past Karelin's record. Apart from 2026, Kayaalp won gold in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2010.

"It’s an incredible feeling," he said. "This was my 15th final, and in my 15th final, I achieved my 13th title. I truly believe I’ve set a record that will be very difficult to break. This title is especially valuable to me because achieving such long-term and consistent success -- especially in Europe, where there are very strong nations -- is not easy. I’m very proud to have broken such a big record."

READ MORE: Riza KAYAALP Breaks Karelin's 26-Year Old Record 

Wrestling Tirana for the record, Kayaalp won four bouts, including a 1-1 criteria win against Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW) bruised Kayaalp with aggressive wrestling.

"The matches were not easy. I had tough matches," he said. "One of my matches ended 1–1. In the semifinal, I can say I was subjected to some disrespect from a strong opponent in a very intense bout. But compared to those, the final match was more meaningful for me."

WATCH: All of Kayaalp's 13 European Gold Medals

But the final followed a different script as Kayaalp used his gut-wrench to beat Darius VITEK (HUN), 7-1, and finally claim the gold after falling short in 2024 and missing the tournament in 2025.

"When it became 7-0, well, I’m an athlete who doesn’t like to concede points," he said. "I don’t like giving points away, so I managed to protect that score. I can say I went through the second period quite comfortably, and having a 7–0 lead helped."

The 16-year dominance in Europe has taken a big part of Kayaalp's career but the five-time world champion believes that his commitment sets an example for the young wrestlers in Turkiye. 

"This comes from the respect I have for wrestling," he said. "If I’m going to do this, I have to do it at the highest level. I believe this success came because I always aimed to be the best. I’ve always done it with love.

"There are tens of thousands of wrestlers in Turkiye. We’ve been able to set an example for them. That’s very important. There are also many people around the world who look up to us."

WATCH: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) vs Darius VITEK (HUN)

Though they were not present in Tirana, Kayaalp dedicated his title to his wife and daughter. He shared that when he was away from wrestling, his daughter would pray for his return to the mat.

"[I want to dedicate this medal] to my wife and daughters, who have always been by my side through both good and bad times," he said. "To my family, to my father, to everyone who loves us, to my coaches, my fellow athletes, and to the Turkish people. I dedicate this great success to all of them."