2026 U17 World Championships

Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine Lead the Way into U17 World Championships Finals

Monday, July 27, 2026 - 19:24 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 27) -- Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine were the best performing countries on day one of the U17 World Championships that kicked off with Greco-Roman in Baku, Azerbaijan on Monday.

In the five weight classes that were in action on Monday, the three nations put a two finalists each while Hungary, hosts Azerbaijan, Iran, and the United States had one each.

U17 World Championships 2026

Ali ALMAS (KAZ) was the first wrestler to enter the final when he defeated Ararat AVETISYAN (ARM), 4-1, in the 48kg semifinals. Avetisyan, who finished 13th last year, was hoping to enter his first final at the world level but Almas gave no chance to the Armenian and secured the victory by scoring a turn from par terre.

Almas will now face Soltan IUSUPOV (RUS), who ended the hopes of Omar SALMANOV (AZE) of making the final in front of the home crowd with a 3-1 victory in the semifinal. Iusupov managed to lift Salmanov from par terre in the second period and scored a correct throw on the edge to complete the victory.

Diyar AMANALI (KAZ)Diyar AMANALI (KAZ), blue, reached the 55kg final at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kazakhstan's second finalist came at 55kg after Diyar AMANALI (KAZ) handed Danimir YORDANOV (BUL) a solid 8-1 defeat in the semifinal. Amanali changed the bout in the second period when he scored a takedown and two turns using a trap-arm gut.

Keve KOVACS (HUN) will try to stop Amanali in the final on Tuesday after he defeated Tsimafei SEMIANENKA (BLR), 2-1, in the other 55kg semifinal.

In a one-sided 65kg semifinal, Shamil LABAZANOV (RUS) took only 29 seconds to defeat Vazgen MNATSAKANYAN (ARM), 8-0. He scored a takedown to get the first two points before using the front headlock throw for four points to lead 6-0. He continued the action with another headlock roll and ended the bout with a technical superiority.

Ibrahim NASIBOV (UKR)Ibrahim NASIBOV (UKR), blue, defeated Orkhan HABIBLI (AZE), 4-3, in the 65kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Taking on Labazanov for the gold medal at 65kg will be Ibrahim NASIBOV (UKR) who ended the hope of yet another home wrestler, Orkhan HABIBLI (AZE), with a close 4-3 win in the semifinals. Habibli took a 3-1 lead after scoring from par terre but when Nasibov got the position in the second period, he lifted Habibli and transitioned into a gut-wrench to lead 3-3 on last-point criteria. Habibli challenged at the end of the bout but it was lost, adding one more point to Nasibov's score.

 

Iran had a rather humbling first day with just one final. But the one finalist, Alireza REZAEI (IRI), took out the best at 80kg to reach the final. Rezaei denied defending world champion Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB) a repeat after a 5-1 victory in the semifinals.

Kholmirzaev got the par terre first but did not score and then gave up a throw when Rezaei got par terre in the second period. Down 3-1, Kholmirzaev tried some desperate attacks and was close to scoring a takedown in the final 20 seconds but Rezaei defended his cartwheeling attempt and scored exposure points late in the match to win.

Rezaei will now face Isfahan HASANOV (AZE), who made sure Azerbaijan had at least one finalist at home on the opening day. Hasanov used a correct throw from par terre to get two points on Benediktas BUBELEVICIUS (LTU) and lead 3-0 before the Lithuanian scored a stepout in the same sequence to cut it to 3-1.

Bubelevicius, who got par terre in the second period, could not change the 3-2 score and as the match neared the end, he challenged for finger blocking from Hasanov which was denied, adding one more point to the Azerbaijan wrestler's score.

Bruno PALLONE (USA)Bruno PALLONE (USA) counters Andrej SIMIC (SRB) for four points during the 110kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

A U.S. vs Ukraine final is set at 110kg after two contrasting semifinals. Bruno PALLONE (USA) took on Andrej SIMIC (SRB) in the semifinal and scored a counter four-point throw to lead 6-2. Simic and Pallone went back-and-forth in second period but the latter always had control of the lead. He used a half-nelson to secure the fall while leading 12-5.

Tymofii PRYKHODKO (UKR) denied U17 European champion Fedor SUKHAREV (RUS) a chance to win a world title after winning 1-1 in the other semifinal, thanks to the first-point criteria when the match ends 1-1 and both points are scored for passivity.

Photo

RESULTS

48kg
SF 1: Soltan IUSUPOV (RUS) df. Omar SALMANOV (AZE), 3-1
SF 2: Ali ALMAS (KAZ) df. Ararat AVETISYAN (ARM), 4-1

55kg
SF 1: Diyar AMANALI (KAZ) df. Danimir YORDANOV (BUL), 8-1
SF 2: Keve KOVACS (HUN) df. Tsimafei SEMIANENKA (BLR), 2-1

65kg
SF 1: Shamil LABAZANOV (RUS) df. Vazgen MNATSAKANYAN (ARM), 8-0
SF 2: Ibrahim NASIBOV (UKR) df. Orkhan HABIBLI (AZE), 4-3

80kg
SF 1: Alireza REZAEI (IRI) df. Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB), 5-1
SF 2: Isfahan HASANOV (AZE) df. Benediktas BUBELEVICIUS (LTU), 4-2

110kg
SF 1: Bruno PALLONE (USA) df. Andrej SIMIC (SRB), via fall (12-5)
SF 2: Tymofii PRYKHODKO (UKR) df. Fedor SUKHAREV (RUS), 1-1

#WrestleBudapest

Malmgren Captures Important Budapest Gold, First in Two Years

Sunday, July 19, 2026 - 00:14 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 18) -- Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) did not know how her first bout in Budapest will go.

She was nervous as she is still trying to reach the peak of her wrestling, having spent most of the last year recovering from a neck injury.

Wrestling NISHU (IND) in her opening bout, Malmgren gave up a takedown but kept her composure to win 6-2. Once the initial nerves settled down, Malmgren was flowing.

Madison PARKS (CAN) was up next but Malmgren did not waste any time, getting a quick fall to enter the semifinals in which she faced European champion Andreea ANA (ROU). After the initial scare as Ana led 3-0, Malmgren regrouped and pinned Ana.

A marquee clash against world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) was set. The Indian also had an exceptional day as she defeated Bianka FATH (HUN), Yuxuan LI (CHN)  and Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) via technical superiority. In the semifinals, she defended a fall position for around two minutes against Asian champion Jin ZHANG (CHN) and later won 7-5.

However, Antim gave a walkover to Malmgren due to injury. Standing on top of the podium and collecting the gold medal Malmgren, is on the right path to recovery.

Asian champion at 57kg Kexin HONG (CHN) captured her second gold medal of the year by winning in Budapest. After a slow start in the final, Hong managed an easy takedown and then rolled Neha SHARMA (IND) on her back. She held the Indian on the mat till the fall was confirmed, finishing the bout in 1:36.

This was Hong's fourth dominant victory of the day. She began with a 10-0 win over Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN) in her opening bout before winning by similar score against Tokyo Olympic medalist Iryna
KURACHKINA (BLR). In the semifinals, she posted another 10-0 technical superiority win over Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE).

The 72kg weight class had only four wrestlers and European silver medalist Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) emerged as the gold medalist after she won all three of her bouts. After beating  Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ) and Diksha MALIK (IND), she faced Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) in Round 3.

Bakbergenova was called passive in the first period and Choluj got a point, the only point of the period. When she was on the activity clock in the second period, Choluj brought Bakbergenova down for four points and then turned her for two more to lead 7-0.

Choluj gave up a takedown as Bakbergenova cut the lead to 7-2 with 45 seconds remaining. But hopes of a miraculous comeback were dashed when Choluj escaped an attempted attack from the Kazakhstan wrestler and she scored a takedown and two turns to win 13-2.

This was Choluj's second straight Ranking Series gold medal as she had won the 72kg gold at the Ulaanbaatar Open as well. 

In a comical ending at 76kg, Dymond GUILFORD (USA) celebrated a little too early when she won a challenge and thought she won 3-3 on criteria against KAJAL (IND). However, it was the Indian who held the criteria and won gold.

Guilford scored a stepout and Kajal was docked a point for fleeing, giving the American a 2-0 lead. She was then put on the activity clock in the second which gave Kajal her first point before she added an impressive takedown to lead 3-2 with 13 seconds remaining.

A powerful underhook from Guilford dragged Kajal out-of-bounds which was not scored a stepout as the time expired. However, on review, the stepout was in time and the score changed to 3-3. Guilford celebrated with a dance thinking she won on last-point criteria.

However, as Kajal had a two-point move compared to three one-point moves of Guilford, she held the bigger-technique criteria, giving her the gold medal.

Two more Greco-Roman weight classes were competed on Saturday, with Georgia and Russia winning gold medals at 72kg and 87kg respectively.

Nika BROLADZE (GEO) put on an electric performance in the 72kg final to beat U23 European champion Rabil ASKEROV (RUS), 10-0. He got the first point after a challenge as Askerov stepped out first but the referees had awarded the Russian a point.

Askerov tried to drag Broladze around but the Georgian managed to defended the drag and scored a takedown to lead 3-0 before launching Askerov for four points. He continued the action and rolled him for two more points for a 9-0 score.

Russia challenged the scoring but Broladze made clear moves and the scoring was upheld upon review. The lost challenge added another point to Broladze's score who won 10-0.

At 87kg, Islam ALIEV (RUS) and Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) reached the final but the former won gold after Alirzaev pulled out of the final due to an injury, giving gold to Aliev.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) df. ANTIM (IND), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Jin ZHANG (CHN) df. Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA), 5-2
BRONZE: NISHU (IND) df. Andreea ANA (ROU), 2*-2

57kg
GOLD: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Neha SHARMA (IND), via fall (4-0)

BRONZE: Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) df. Giullia PENALBER (BRA), 6-4
BRONZE: Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), 9-2

72kg
GOLD: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL)
SILVER: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ)

76kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) df. Dymond GUILFORD (USA), 3*-3

BRONZE: Shuiyan CHENG (CHN) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), 10-0
BRONZE: Wenji LI (CHN) df. PRIYA (IND), 5-3

Greco-Roman

72kg
GOLD: Nika BROLADZE (GEO) df. Rabil ASKEROV (RUS), 10-0

BRONZE: Mishiko ALEKSANDRIA (GEO) df. ANIL (IND), 5-2
BRONZE: Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) df. Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO), 3-1

87kg
GOLD: Islam ALIEV (RUS) df. Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) df. Matej MANDIC (CRO), 5-3
BRONZE: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) df. Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), via inj. def.