Sassari City Matteo Pellicone Memorial Preview

Monday, May 20, 2019 - 17:34 By Eric Olanowski

SASSARI, Italy (May 20) -- The Palestra Comunale, located minutes away from the sandy beaches of the Italian island of Sardinia, will host United World Wrestling’s third Ranking Series event of the year, the Sassari City Matteo Pellicone Memorial on May 23-25. The endless list of star-studded entries features four Olympic champions, 18 returning world medalists, and three wrestlers who sit atop of this month’s world ranking.

The four wrestlers who’ve reached the top of the podium at the Olympic Games are Rio gold medalists Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) and Erica WIEBE (CAN), and London Olympic champions KIM Hyeonwoo (KOR) and Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS).

There’ll also be at least five returning medalists per style from last year’s Budapest World Championships and three No. 1-ranked wrestlers in action starting on Thursday.

Both freestyle and Greco-Roman will feature five returning world medalists, including a pair of world silver-medal finishers. There will also be a pair of Budapest silver medalists in women’s wrestling, but women’s wrestling boasts eight 2018 world podium finishers.

The trio of top-ranked wrestlers that’ll be in action in Sardinia are Suleyman ATLI (TUR), Fatih ERDIN (TUR), and Kim Hyeonwoo. Atli and Erdin are the No.1-ranked freestyle wrestlers at 57kg and 86kg, respectively, and Kim is ranked first in Greco-Roman at 77kg.

Freestyle

The freestyle entry list is littered with wrestlers who’ve reached the pinnacle of the sport on the world and Olympic stage, but with the tournament taking place in Italy, all eyes will be on Italian superstar Frank CHAMIZO.

Chamzio, Italy’s two-time world champion, is looking to follow up on his gold-medal performance from last month’s European Championships. In Bucharest, Chamizo went a perfect 4-0 and picked up his third continental title since transferring from Cuba back in 2013.

If the Cuban-born Italian can come out on top of the 74kg bracket, it’d be his second career Ranking Series title and first since defeating London Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) in the Yasar Dogu finals last year. More importantly, a podium finish for fourth-ranked Chamizo (56 points) would give him the upper hand on Burroughs for the world’s second-ranking heading into the fourth and final Ranking Series event, the Yasar Dogu.

For Chamizo to reach the podium this week, he’ll have to navigate through three world-class competitors. His most significant threats at 74kg are 2017 world runner-up Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS), three-time European champion Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) and two-time world bronze medalist Yakup GOR (TUR).

Chamizo defeated both Tsabolov and Gor in their previous meetings and would be favored if they were to meet again this week. Chamizo beat Gor in Paris at the 2017 World Championships and pinned Tsabolov at the 2018 European Championships.

But, if Chamzio were to take on Demirtas, he’d be the underdog. Demirtas stunned Chamzio by scoring a late stepout in last year’s European semifinals before ultimately grabbing his third continental title.

Another massive storyline to follow at this weight is the placement of the Turkish wrestlers, Demirtas and Gor.

Demirtas has represented Turkey at five consecutive World Championships and the Rio Olympic Games, where he was a bronze medalist, but his streak is in jeopardy. Gor, who bumped up to 74kg last season, stole Demirtas' spot at this year's European Championships but fell to a disappointing nine-place finish.

It's not official, but my guess is the highest placing wrestler at this week's Sassari City Matteo Pellicone Memorial will have the upper hand at getting a shot to be Turkey's 74kg representative at the European Games in Minsk, Belarus, in June.

Freestyle will also feature the Turkish pair of No.1-ranked wrestlers in Suleyman Atli and Fahti Erdin.

Atli, who sits atop of the world rankings at 57kg, will be making his debut as the world’s top-ranked wrestler after winning the European title last month in Bucharest, Romania.

Atli will be chased by Italy's Givi DAVIDOVI. The Italian is the only other ranked wrestler competing at 57kg. Davidovi, who has 16 Ranking Series points, is ranked 18th coming into the Sassari, but a win would catapult him up the rankings to the eighth spot behind world fifth-place finisher Thomas GILMAN (USA).

Both wrestlers would hold 32 points, but Gilman would hold criteria because of his placement at last year's World Championships.

Fatih Erdin is Turkey’s second No.1-ranked wrestler.

Erdin holds a four-point advantage over returning world champion David TAYLOR (USA) and would have 100 if he were to win a the Sassari. If he’s able to win the gold medal this week, Erdin could lock up the No. 1 seed at 86kg at the World Championships. Erdin would have a 20 point advantage over the American, and the most points Taylor would be able to earn with a Yargar Dogu title (in a weight with 20+ entries) would be 18 points.

But, Erdin, who has fallen short in two Ranking Series gold-medal matches, will have a steep road to win his first Ranking Series title. The route will go through reigning European champion Vladislav VALIEV (RUS) or Olympic runner-up Selim YASAR (TUR).

Valiev, who won the 86kg European title, is ranked sixth in the world with 34 points. A podium finish for the Russian would bump him up into the third spot in next month’s rankings. If Valiev moves into the third spot, he’d be pitted against reigning world champion David Taylor in the semifinals of the Nur-Sultan World Championships.

Selim Yasar is another wrestler at 86kg who is looking to dethrone top-ranked Erdin.

But, Yasar has struggled as of late. The three-time world and Olympic medalist finished outside of the top-10 once in his career (2013 Ali Aliev) before falling short of a top-10 finish in his last three tournament appearances. Yasar has placed 10th, 11th, and 14th at the Ivan Yariguin, Alexander Medved, and Dan Kolov, respectively.

Rio Olympic champion Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) will be making his international return for the first time since having back surgery in November. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Ramonov Returns to International Competition

Rio Olympic champion Soslan Ramonov will return to international competition for the first time since undergoing spinal surgery in early November to correct a back issue that has long troubled him.

Ramonov told United World Wrestling, “I’ve returned to the mat. I’m going to wrestle at the Russian National Championships and possibly the World Championships.” He also told UWW, “I expected to return to the mat in January, and hopefully enter a tournament at 65kg closer to the fall.” But, Ramonov isn't wrestling at 65kg just yet. This week in Sardinia, the Russian will wrestle up 5kg as 70kg with hopes of moving down to 65kg closer to July's Rusian Nationals.

For a healthy Ramonov to represent Russia in Nur-Sultan, he'll have to make a run in one of the countries deepest weight classes. The 65kg weight class in Russia houses returning 65kg world bronze medalist Akhmed Chakaev, returning two-time 61kg world runner-up Gazhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) and Yariguin runner-up Nachyin KUULAR.

Other Budapest World Medalist to Watch:
92kg - Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI)
125kg - Parviz HADIBASMANJ (IRI)

Greco-Roman

In Greco-Roman, Korea’s Olympic champion and No.1-ranked Kim Hyeonwoo tops the list of entries that features five returning Budapest world medalists.

Kim is one of the only wrestlers across all styles who’s medaled at the World and Continental Championships and the first two Ranking Series events.

Kim, the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the world at 77kg, was last year’s world bronze medalist. The Korean tightened his stronghold on the rest of the Asian Greco-Roman competition at 77kg, winning his fifth continental title last month in Xi’an, China. He also owns a pair of Ranking Series bronze medals this season, finishing in third place at the Zagreb Open and Hungarian Grand Prix.

Hungary's Loaded Squad, Head-Scratcher at 87kg

Hungary, who elected to sit a majority of their first-teamers at the European Championships, is bringing a solid squad to Sardinia. Their team will feature 2018 world runner-ups Balint KORPASI and Tamas LORINCZ, U23 world champion Erik SZILVASSY, and two-time Ranking Series champion Viktor LORINCZ, among many others.

Korpasi and Tamas Lorincz are entered at 72kg and 77kg, respectively, but Szilvassy and Viktor Lorincz will both compete at 87kg.

Szilvassy and Lorincz being at the same weight leaves Hungary with a head-scratcher moving forward to the European Games and World Championships.

Szilvassy, who is coming off a bronze-medal finish at the European Championships, is ranked third in the world at 87kg. Szilvassy has an eight-point advantage over Viktor Lorincz, who’s currently ranked fifth with 36 points.

Although Szilvassy sits in front of Lorincz in the latest rankings, he fell to his fellow Hungarian teammate in the semifinals of the first two Ranking Series events, the Zagreb Open and Hungarian Grand Prix.

Women’s Wrestling

The headlining women’s wrestling weight class is 76kg. This weight will be home to Canada’s Rio Olympic champion Erica Wiebe, Russia’s London Olympic champion Natalia Vorobeva, and nine of the world’s top-20 ranked wrestlers. Maybe more impressive, six of those wrestlers sit inside the top-ten of United World Wrestling’s latest rankings.

The highest ranked wrestler is Germany’s 2017 world runner-up Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER). Rotter Focken is ranked fourth with 56 points and is coming off bronze-medal finishes at the European Championships, Dan Kolov, and the Ivan Yariguin.

Kazakhstan’s Elmira SYZDYKOVA is ranked fifth with 42 points after bronze-medalist finishes at the Dan Kolov and Ivan Yariguin.

Olympic champion Erica Wiebe, who was a bronze medalist at last year's Budapest World Championships, fell to No. 1-ranked Adeline GRAY (USA) in the Pan-American Championships but fought back for a bronze medal. The Canadian is ranked sixth in the world with 39 points.

Zsanett NEMETH (HUN) enters the Sassari as the seventh-ranked wrestler with 36 points. Nemeth is coming off a bronze-medal finish at the European Championships. Her continental third-place finish came month's after she was injured in the bronze-medal bout in the World Championships and had to settle for fifth place in front of her home crowd.

Estonia’s Epp MAE and Norway’s Iselin SOLHEIM round out the top-10, where they’re ranked eighth and tenth, respectively.

Top-20 Ranked Wrestlers at 76kg
No. 4 Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER)
No. 5 Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ)
No. 6 Erica WIEBE (CAN)
No. 7 Zsanett NEMETH (HUN)
No. 8 Epp MAE (EST)
No. 10 Iselin Maria Moen SOLHEIM (NOR)
No. 15 Genesis Rosangela REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
No. 19 Vasilisa MARZALIUK
No. 20 Eunju HWANG (KOR)

Barka and Dhanda to Compete at 57kg

At 57kg, world bronze medalists Emese BARKA (HUN) and Pooja DHANDA (IND) have entered their name into the Sassari. Barka comes into this week ranked fifth in the world at 57kg a month removed from winning the European title with a 4-2 win over Tetyana KIT (UKR).

Dhanda’s ranked just behind Barka in the sixth spot and has 37 points after her fifth-place finish at the Asian Championships. The Indian wrestler fell to returning world champion and No. 1- ranked RONG Ningning (CHN) in the semifinals, then dropped her match against eighth-ranked SUKHEE Tserenchimed (MGL) in the bronze-medal bout.

Though they’re not returning world medalists, two other dangerous wrestlers to keep an eye on at 57kg are U23 world champion Grace BULLEN (NOR) and 2017 world finalist Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR).

Bullen’s ranked third in the world with 58 points, and Adekuoroye is ranked fourth with 46 points.

Mensah Looking for Third Ranking Series Title of the Year

Tamyra MENSAH (USA) heads into the third Ranking Series event of year undefeated, having won gold medals at the Ivan Yariguin, the Dan Kolov and the Pan-American Championships. Her pair of Ranking Series titles and continental gold medal came after she claimed a bronze medal at last year’s World Championships. She’s the second-ranked wrestler in the world at 68kg with 59 points.

For Mensah to win her third consecutive Ranking Series gold of the year, she’ll have to stop Canada’s title-contender Danielle LAPPAGE.

Lappage, last year’s world runner-up at 65kg, will be bumping up to 68kg for the second time since her run to the world finals last year. She also competed at the Grand Prix of Germany, where she finished with a silver medal.

Trio of Other Olympic Medalists Competing

Outside of the duo of Olympic champions competing at 76kg, three other Olympic medalists will be in action. They are Marwa AMRI (TUN), Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), and Sofia MATTSSON (SWE).

Amri, who is ranked No. 12 in the world, will compete at 62kg. The Tunisian is coming off winning her tenth African title.

Fransson, the No.13-ranked wrestler at 68kg, just finished with a bronze medal at the European Championships, But, Fransson will be bumping up and competing at 72kg.

Mattsson, the tenth-ranked wrestler in the world, will be competing at 55kg.

The Comeback of Koumba Larroque

Koumba LARROQUE, France’s four-time age-group world champion, and two-time senior level world medalist, will make her return to the mat for the first time since falling in the Budapest World finals to Ukraine’s Alla CHERKASOVA. Larroque was leading the 68kg gold-medal bout 6-0 before falling into a leg lace that tore ligaments in her knee, forcing her to have surgery and sit out the last six months.

Larroque will compete at 72kg, where she’s ranked No. 5 in the world with 40 points.

Other Budapest World Medalist to Watch:
53kg - Diana WEICKER (CAN)
62kg - Mallory VELTE (USA)

The three-day Sassari City Matteo Pellicone Memorial, which starts on May 23, will begin with Greco-Roman. Women's wrestling takes over on the second day, and freestyle closes out the tournament on May 25. All the action can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ramazanov Returns to Shake Up 86kg; Strong DPR Korea Squad in Ulaanbaatar

Tuesday, June 2, 2026 - 08:49 By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 1) -- Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) is finally returning to the mat. He has been out of action for more than a year but will be at 86kg for this week's Ulaanbaatar Open, the third Ranking Series in Mongolia from June 4 to 7.

Ramazanov's return is significant for 86kg and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Out of the four 86kg medalists from Paris 2024, none participated in the 2025 World Championships at 86kg. Zahid VALENCIA (USA) became the world champion, Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) won silver, and Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) and Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) winning bronzes. All four were first-time world medalists in this weight class.

This year began with the Ranking Series and Parker KECKEISEN (USA) won in Zagreb and Ibragim KADIEV (RUS) in Tirana. At the continental championships, Kadiev became the European champion, Ghasempour won the Asian Championships and Valencia dominated the Pan-American Championships.

Ramazanov's return, and if he wins gold, will make him the favourite to win the gold medal at the 2026 World Championships that will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan from October 24 to November 1. The Ranking Series will also be a test of how healthy the Olympic champion is after his surgery.

The 32-year-old will in the field along with former world silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) who is moving up from 79kg for the first time. It will be a test for the Iranian as he prepares to claim the 86kg spot on the Iran team.

Asian silver medalist Mukul DAHIYA (IND) is also entered and his relentless pace troubled many at the Asian Championships in Bishkek. However, he still lacks the technicality of being among the top at 86kg.

Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) and Malik SHAVAEV (KGZ) will try to challenge the field along with Abdulmuslim ABULMUSLIMOV (RUS).

In other Freestyle weight classes, a mouth-watering clash awaits at 65kg. World champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) will open his season in Ulaanbaatar with hopes of winning gold.

In all likelihood, a clash against Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) awaits Amouzad. The two met at the 2023 World Championships and Mamedov defeated Amouzad in the bronze-medal bout, 8-6. Mamedov returned to international wrestling in April at the European Championships but did not win medal.

SUJEET (IND), in red-hot form and unbeaten this year, was also entered for the tournament but he confirmed to United World Wrestling that he is unlikely to travel as he competed and won the Asian Games selection trial in India on May 31. India is still likely to send U23 Asian champion Mohit KUMAR (IND) and ROHIT (IND)

Kwang Jin KIM (PRK), a silver medalist at the 2025 Asian Championships, is also in the mix along with Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ), Ossimzhan DASTANBEK (KAZ) and Christopher COMPOSTO (USA).

Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) Khaniev brothers -- Takhir, left, and Ismail -- won the U23 European Championships gold medal at 97kg and 79kg respectively. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Khaniev brothers, Ismail and Takhir, will be in action at 79kg and 97kg respectively for Russia before they challenge the big names domestically for the World Championships spot in July. Takhir made headlines when he defeated Kyle SNYDER (USA) at the Tirana Ranking Series at 97kg and later won a silver medal.

Takhir, who also won gold at the U23 European Championships, should have a straight forward win at 97kg in Mongolia.

Ismail, at 79kg, will have to face U20 world champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) and the two youngsters are likely to give a match to remember if they face each other.

ABHIMANYOU (IND) defeated Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) in the 70kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

For hosts Mongolia, Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) will lead the charge at 70kg and he will have a chance to avenge his loss to ABHIMANYOU (IND) from the Asian Championships final.

Abhimanyou stunned the field in Bishkek, beating favourites Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) and Tumur Ochir to win the 70kg gold. He defeated the Mongolia, 5-3, but the Ranking Series will show if his win in Bishkek was one off or not.

The DPR Korea's world champion Chong Song HAN (PRK) comes to Ulaanbaatar as a firm favourite at 57kg, His electric wrestling and strength has troubled even established names.

A clash against European silver medalist Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS) will be a treat if it happens. Mekhtikhanov, known for some crafty wrestling, will have navigate Han's strength if he hopes to win a gold medal.

A few other names include Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) and Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ) as Kazakhstan continues to select its team for the World Championships and the Asian Games. It has registered at least two wrestlers in maximum weight classes and will hope to return with at least one gold.

It has veteran Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) competing at 92kg, a weight class which has a few tough names including two more names Bekzat AMANGALI (KAZ) and Yelnar SHILDEBAY (KAZ). Former Asian champion Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) and defending Ulaanbaatar Open champion Askhab SAADULAEV (RUS) are among the opponents that will try to stop Dauletbekov.

A big test awaits youngster and U20 world champion and Asian bronze medalist Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) at 125kg. The teenager has made a steady climb and won bronze in Asia on his senior debut. He will face the likes of BUHEEERDUN (CHN), DINESH (IND), Robert BARAN (POL) and Timur KOTAEV (RUS).

At 74kg, with none of the big names entered, Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ), Tamir ESHINIMAEV (RUS) and Tumen BODIEV (RUS) can make it all the way. If Sagar JAGLAN (IND) lands in Ulaanbaatar, he will be getting much-needed experience as he continues to regain form.

Iran has brought Ahora KHATERI (IRI) back to 61kg after a brief stint at 65kg at the U20 World Championships. He will be among the favourites to win gold despite the presence of Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ), Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) and Bair BAIANDUEV (RUS).

World champion Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) will lead a strong DPR Korea squad at the Ulaanbaatar Open. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Women's Wrestling

The DPR Korea sent seven wrestlers in Women's Wrestling for the 2025 World Championships. The country won two golds, two silvers, a bronze medal, a fifth-place finish and one 18th-place finish and finished second overall behind Japan. A strong eight-member DPR Korea women's squad is now headed to Ulaanbaatar for the Ranking Series.

In perhaps its last competition before the Asian Games and the World Championships, DPR Korea will be hoping a strong outing and a rich medal haul at the Ranking Series, its first-ever.

World champion Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) leads the charge along with both the silver medalists from Zagreb, Il Sim SON (PRK) and Ok Ju KIM (PRK).

Oh will be at 53kg, down from 55kg, as she bids for the Asian Games spot. Her move sets up a top-tier clash against Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) who is among the three Japanese wrestlers participating in the Ranking Series. Oh had shown no chinks in her armour last year but Kiyooka may be able to exploit some. However, importantly the wrestlers will have a two-kilogram weight allowance which will give Oh the upper hand.

Apart from Kiyooka and Oh, the 53kg weight class has Asian silver medalist MEENAKSHI (IND), former Asian medalist Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL), 55kg European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) and Natalia MALYSHEVA (RUS), making the weight class among the most competitive.

The regular 53kg wrestler from the DPR Korea, Paris Olympic and world bronze medalist Hyo Gyong CHOE (PRK), is at 55kg and a young Tuba DEMIR (TUR) will look to challenge her in the weight class.

Il Sim SON (PRK) is the world silver medalist at 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

World silver medalist at 57kg Son is undoubtedly the best in the field. Her exploits at the World Championships helped her almost beat Helen MAROULIS (USA) in the final. Son's defence will be difficult to breach for her opponents including former Asian champion MANISHA (IND), former world silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) and European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR).

World and Asian silver medalist Ju Kim has her eyes set on the gold medal at 62kg. In the World Championships final, she was on her way to win gold but fumbled in the dying seconds when Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) tossed her for four points to snatch victory.

Kim's opponents in Ulaanbaatar include European silver medalist Amina TANDELOVA (RUS), European bronze medalist Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), former world champion Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) and world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) among others.

Tandelova has the best chance to upset Ju Kim, who has struggled in the past with conditioning. And Tandelova's style and pace helped her in the European Championships final that she led 9-0 against Grace BULLEN (NOR) before being hit by Bullen classic trip and give up a fall.

The 50kg weight class will see Asian silver medalist Son Hyang KIM (PRK) among the favourites. She will joined by Olympic bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) who finished with a bronze medal at the Asian Championships. Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR) is also in the mix at this weight class.

European champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) will be the favorite at 68kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Paris Olympian Sol Gum PAK (PRK) has a tougher bracket at 68kg with European champion and world silver medalist Nesrin BAS (TUR) and European silver medalist Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU). Bas has won nine medals, including four golds, out of the 10 tournaments she has participated in since the Paris Olympics.

Former world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) will be carrying the hopes of the host nation which has entered its first team for the Ranking Series.

Mongolia is also banking on Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) and Erdenebulgan LKHAGVASUREN (MGL) to win medals at 65kg, a weight class that will see Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK), Asian Championships silver medalist at 62kg, moving up to 65kg.

The 59kg weight class is rather open one with Asian bronze medalist NEHA (IND), European medalist Bediha GUN (TUR), home-favourite Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) among the mix with Pyol HONG (PRK), the only DPR Korea wrestler who did not wrestle for a medal at the World Championships.

The two weight classes that the DPR Korea is not sending any wrestlers are 72kg and 76kg. As is the case around the world, the 76kg category is stacked for Ulaanbaatar Open as well.

Age-group stars from Asia -- Saihan AO (CHN), Wenji LI (CHN), KAJAL (IND) and PRIYA (IND) -- are all expected to descend upon the Mongolian capital along with veteran Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) and Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)

Former European champion Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) and another age-group star Valeriia TRIFONOVA (RUS) are also wrestling as the heaviest weight class continues to be among the most competitive one.

At 72kg, European silver medalist Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) will be the favourite with veteran Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) and HARSHITA (IND), who defeated Bakbergenova at the Asian Championships.

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will return to international competition after close to two years. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

The much-awaited return of Olympic bronze medalist and former world champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will be the talking point of Greco-Roman in Ulaanbaatar. After a near two-year absence, Sharshenbekov will step out the mat for his first competition at 63kg.

Sharshenbekov was at the national camp with the Kyrgyzstan team and trained under Raul TRUJILLO DIAZ (CUB) who is in the country to prepare the wrestlers. Sharshenbekov also attended the Greco camp in Porec in February.

In Ulaanbaatar, he will be facing a field that includes Zagreb Open champion and Asian silver medalist Erfan JARKANI (IRI) and world bronze medalist Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI). Both Jarkani and Keshtkar may well be involved in their own selection trial for the World Championships if they face each other.

Incidentally, Jarkani lost the Asian final to Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ), who is coached by Sharshenbekov. The Ranking Series gives a perfect platform for Sharshenbekov to return and assess his condition before the World Championships if he participates in it.

Iran's selections for World Championships will go through Ulaanbaatar and apart from 63kg, the 72kg weight class will also see a wrestle-off between Javad REZAEI (IRI) and Danial SOHRABI (IRI).

Rezaei won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series and finished with a silver medal at the Asian Championships. He has been in good form while Sohrabi, a world bronze medalist, has not been to international competition since September. He is, however, the defending 72kg champion in Ulaanbaatar.

Others medal threats at this weight class include former U23 world champion Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) and Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ).

World silver medalist Payam AHMADI (IRI) will be in action at 55kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Iran is also bringing its world silver medalist Payam AHMADI (IRI) at 55kg. He will be challenged by Asian silver medalist LALIT (IND) and Emin CAKIR (TUR), who finished fifth at the World Championships.

At 60kg, former U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) will continue for Iran as the country continues its efforts to find a mainstay at the weight class.

U23 Asian champion SUMIT (IND) will look to stand on the podium and so will Yu Chol RO (PRK), the Asian bronze medalist at 55kg now moving up to 60kg.

Although it seemed that he was injured at the Asian Championships, world silver medalist Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) will return to the mat two months later. He won a silver medal at 63kg last year in Ulaanbaatar but has moved up to 67kg.

He will be joined by European silver medalist Murat FIRAT (TUR) who almost defeated Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) in the final. Firat will be among the favourites to win the gold medal. Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND) and Karajit SINGH (IND), both past Ranking Series medalists, will be hoping to finish among the medalists again.

In other weight classes, Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) and Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL) will compete at 82kg perhaps to earn the first spot on the national team.

At 77kg, Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL) has AMAN (IND), Ankit GULIA (IND) and Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ) while the 87kg has Asian bronze medalist Sunil KUMAR (IND), PRINCE (IND), Rohit BURA (IND) and Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ) among others.

Asian silver medalist NITESH (IND) will be up against Paris Olympian Kevin MEJIA (HON), Nurassyl AMANALY (KAZ) and Juan DIAZ (VEN) at 97kg.

Sassari City Matteo Pellicone Memorial Preview

Comments

Ramazanov Returns to Shake Up 86kg; Strong DPR Korea Squad in Ulaanbaatar