Takatani stretches streak of national titles; Kanazawa wins historic GR crown

Thursday, December 22, 2022 - 17:22 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (December 22) -- As veteran Sohsuke TAKATANI balances a number of off-the-mat pursuits, he still managed to extend his streak of national titles to the second-longest ever, while a Tokyo high schooler nearly half his age also etched his name in the history books.

Takatani held on for a 12-8 victory in the freestyle 92kg final over teen collegian Arashi YOSHIDA to notch his 12th straight title on the opening day of the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships on Thursday in Tokyo.

A short time earlier, Kohaku KANAZAWA became the first-ever high schooler to win a national crown in Greco-Roman when he scraped out an 8-7 victory over world U20 bronze medalist Taiga ONISHI at 55kg in the tournament serving as the first of two domestic qualifiers for next year's World Championships in Belgrade.

And in the first of what will be a succession of battles between current Olympic and/or world champions and medalists over the four-day event at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym, world silver medalist Ami ISHII and world 65kg champion Miwa MORIKAWA advanced to a highly anticipated final in the women's 68kg division.

The clashes of the titans on tap are all due to the tournament's link with the 2024 Paris Olympics. As the Japan federation has decreed that a wrestler who wins a medal in Belgrade in an Olympic weight will automatically fill the spot in Paris that they have secured, that has added urgency to qualify for Belgrade, particularly among the women, where a world medal is accessible. It has also funneled the top wrestlers into the six Olympic divisions in each style.

All wrestlers who lose here will get another shot in June at the second qualifier, the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships. Winners of both tournaments will automatically earn a ticket to Belgrade, with a playoff determining the spot if the winners are different.

For this year's Emperor's Cup, the federation tweaked the format by running the Olympic weight classes over two days, the same as is done at the Olympics and the worlds. Non-Olympic weights are being started and ended on the same day.

Sohsuke TAKATANI (JPN) Sohsuke TAKATANI rolls Arashi YOSHIDA early in the freestyle 92kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Takatani, the 2014 world silver medalist at 74kg who plans to move down to 86kg at the Meiji Cup in a bid to make his fourth Olympics, advanced to the 92kg final with a pair of technical falls, but met some unexpected resistance there from national collegiate champion Yoshida of Nihon University.

The 33-year-old Takatani stormed to an 8-0 lead with a driving takedown and three rolls off a lace lock. But Yoshida, whose Iranian father runs the kids' wrestling club in nearby Chiba Prefecture where he got his start, came back with a takedown to cut it to 8-2 at the break.

In the second period, Yoshida scored three more takedowns to offset a takedown and two stepouts by Takatani, but it wasn't enough to dethrone the champion, whose run of titles has come over four different weights. The 12 crowns overall also put him in fifth place on Japan's all-time list of total titles, one behind both Kaori ICHO and Saori YOSHIDA.

"I've been working hard every year and I've kept it going well for 12 years," Takatani said. "Many young wrestlers have put up a challenge and it's my mission to keep from losing."

As he keeps his career going, the outgoing Takatani also stays busy as the head coach at his alma mater, Takushoku University, by preparing for a doctoral course at Tsukuba University, and as a new father after his wife gave birth to their first child, a son, in September.

"I thought about entering at 86kg here, but I thought that if I put out energy too early, I would peter out in the second half," he said. "So I decided I will build up a little more [mentally and physically] and then go for it. If I get a chance, I might give 97kg a try. But I think that would irritate some people."

Kohaku KANAZAWA (JPN) High schooler Kohaku KANAZAWA and Taiga ONISHI grapple for position in the Greco 55kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

In the Greco 55kg final, Kanazawa trailed 2-4 going into the second period against Waseda University's Onishi, but went ahead 5-4 with a gut wrench from par terre. Onishi came back to take the lead with a takedown to the back, but it was only temporary, as Kanazawa quickly reversed to go ahead 6-6 on criteria. He then added a takedown, and allowed only a late stepout for the win.

"I didn't feel any pressure and just went all out," said Kanazawa, who finished fifth at this year's world U17 in his international debut. "I'm surprised."

Kanazawa is a second-year student at Jiyugaoka Gakuen High School, the alma mater of 2021 champion Yu SHIOTANI, the world bronze medalist who has moved up to the Olympic weight of 60kg and a possible clash with Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Kenichiro FUMITA.

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) Moe KIYOOKA, left, and Rino KATAOKA, teammates at the recent World Cup, square off during the women's 55kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

Meanwhile, Moe KIYOOKA, who pulled off an age-group double this year with titles at both the world U20 and world U23, defeated two of her World Cup teammates en route to her first senior national title at women's 55kg.

Kiyooka scored a first-period takedown and made that hold up for a 2-0 victory over Rino KATAOKA, who wrestled at 53kg on the young Japanese team that lost two close matches at the World Cup two weeks ago in the U.S. The top Japanese wrestlers skipped the World Cup because of its proximity to the Emperor's Cup.

In her opening match in the quarterfinals, Kiyooka chalked up an 11-0 technical fall over Ruka NATAMI, the Japan team's 57kg entry in Coralville.

"We didn't talk about this All-Japan tournament in particular," said Kiyooka, a freshman at Ikuei University. "But for me, while we were warming up, I kind of got an idea of how I could do and I felt that if there was something lacking, I had a week until the All-Japan and could make adjustments."

It was at the World Cup that Kiyooka was dealt her first career loss by a non-Japanese wrestler when she fell 3-0 to the world bronze medalist at 57kg Alina HRUSHNYA (UKR).

"The match I lost at the World Cup was one that I have to reflect on because it showed how weak-hearted I can be," Kiyooka said. "The opponent faced [Ikuei teammate] Tsugumi SAKURAI at the World Championships and I was there for that match, so I have an image of her as being strong. That made me feel weak. But because of that, I made sure to brace myself for this All-Japan."

Kiyooka said her goal remains a gold medal in Paris and at this point, she plans to drop to 53kg for the Meiji Cup, which would mean getting on a collision course with Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI and 2021 world champion Akari FUJINAMI. Kiyooka faced Shidochi in this year's Meiji Cup final at 55kg and lost by technical fall.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) Miwa MORIKAWA clamps down on Miyu IMAI in holding on for a 3-0 victory in the women's 68kg semifinals. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

Morikawa's striking means of motivation

When the dust settled at women's 68kg, Morikawa and Ishii were the last left standing in a field that included four current or past world gold or silver medalists, not to mention a pair of former world junior champions.

Morikawa advanced to Friday's final with a 3-0 victory over 2018 world junior champion Miyu IMAI in a rematch of last June's Meiji Cup final, also won by Morikawa. Imai, who went to the World Cup and split her two matches at 65kg, had set up the clash by edging 2021 world 72kg champion Masako FURUICHI, 2-1.

"Unlike recent competitions, I didn't have to cut any weight, so my condition was a little flat going into the tournament," Morikawa said. "I wondered if I would be alright."

Morikawa said that she moved up to 68kg -- her natural weight -- because her previous experience of dropping to 62kg left her too drained and she missed out on the Tokyo Olympics.

"Up to now, I've built up experience in the non-Olympic weight of 65kg, but I still have regrets to this day of not making it to the Tokyo Olympics," Morikawa said. "I thought that I don't want to have that feeling ever again.

"It's not like I want to win this tournament so much that I'll die for it, but I want to take the mat feeling that will definitely win it. I hope I can win it and get off to a good start [heading to the Olympics]."

Before each match, Morikawa showed what was providing her with extra motivation. As she waited at matside for the previous match to end, she wore a Japan national soccer team T-shirt with the No. 8 of striker Ritsu DOAN.

Japan's run into the knockout round of the recent World Cup in Qatar, where the Samurai Blue stunned powerhouses Germany and Spain in the group stage, thrilled and inspired the nation, none more so than Morikawa and her soccer-loving family.

"I watched more than half of the World Cup matches," Morikawa said. "I saw the final this week. On the Japan team, I really like Doan. I think there are parts of me that are similar to Doan's boldness. So when I wear his t-shirt or use his towel, it raises my motivation and gets me ready for what's ahead."

Ishii advanced to the final with a 12-2 technical fall over 2019 world U20 champion Naruha MATSUYUKI, but that came after surviving a scare against 2021 world silver medalist Rin MIYAJI in which she overcame a four-point deficit to post a 6-4 victory.

The 2022 world silver medalist looked flat in giving up a pair of first-period takedowns to Miyaji. But she used her counterattack to get back into the match and went ahead 4-4 on criteria with a takedown with 25 seconds left.

Ishii scored a last-second takedown when Miyaji stopped fighting after the back of her head collided with Ishii's front teeth. That opened up a cut that caused Miyaji to be taken to the hospital.

It was another physically painful ending for Miyaji. At the 2021 World Championships, her shocking victory by fall over Olympic champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) in the semifinals was tempered by a serious knee injury she suffered in a loss in the final to Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ).

Ayano MORO (JPN) Teenager Ayano MORO prepares for battle ahead of her semifinal match with Nanaha TAKASU at women's 76kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

One anticipated match-up that didn't come off Thursday was at women's 76kg, where world bronze medalist Yuka KAGAMI pulled out of the competition with a torn right pectoralis major muscle after winning the opening match of her round-robin group.

That kept Kagami from a potential first meeting with 17-year-old world U20 champion Ayano MORO, who won all three of her matches by technical fall to make Saturday's final against Nodoka YAMAMOTO.

Moro, who is making her first appearance in a senior-level tournament, has not lost since being beaten by Ishii in the final of the national junior high school invitational in 2017. That run includes a 4-2 victory in the final of the Junior Queen's Cup in April over Yamamoto, who notched two impressive victories at the World Cup.

"This was my first Emperor's Cup, but I'm aiming to make the 2024 Paris Olympics, so it doesn't matter if it's the first," Moro said. "It's only natural to think of winning. That's what I practiced for. Since I started high school, I think this is the best I've ever wrestled."

Kagami said she suffered the injury 10 days ago in practice, and after being unable to launch any form of attack in her 2-1 victory over Yamamoto -- all points were scored on the activity clock -- she decided to withdraw.

Had there been one more entry in the seven-women field, she said she might have stuck it out, as it would have meant a straight knockout format and a maximum of three matches. But she said the prospect of four more matches would be too much to bear.

"During the match, I could hear it popping," Kagami said. "At the time, I could withstand the pain, but after the match, I couldn't move and had no power.

"Two and a half years ago I injured my ankle, and because it was my leg, I couldn't move. This time, I could use my left arm, so I tried to think of a way I could win. Still, this doesn't mean the Paris Olympics is completely gone. I can still reach [No. 1] at the next World Championships, so at least my goal has become clearer."

Day 1 Results

Freestyle

74kg (14 entries)
Semifinal - Daichi TAKATANI df. Jintaro MOTOYAMA by TF, 10-0, 3:oo
Semifinal - Kirin KINOSHITA df. Kota TAKAHASHI, 4-4

92kg (14 entries)
Gold - Sohsuke TAKATANI df. Arashi YOSHIDA, 12-8

Bronze - Takeshi YAMAGUCHI df. Akinobu TAKEUCHI by Fall, :20 (2-0)
Bronze - Ryoichi YAMANAKA df. Hikaru ABE by Fall, 4:51 (4-2)

Semifinal - Sohsuke TAKATANI df. Takeshi YAMAGUCHI by TF, 11-0, 3:21
Semifinal - Arashi YOSHIDA df. Hikaru ABE by TF, 11-0, 3:44

97kg (10 entries)
Semifinal - Takashi ISHIGURO df. Toyoki HAMADA by TF, 11-0, 3:45
Semifinal - Hibiki ITO df. Hiroto NINOMIYA, 4-2

125kg (10 entries)
Semifinal - Daiki YAMAMOTO df. Takuya HIGUCHI by Def.
Semifinal - Ryusei FUJITA df. Yuji FUKUI, 7-3

Greco-Roman

55kg (15 entries)
Gold - Kohaku KANAZAWA df. Taiga ONISHI, 8-7

Bronze - Shoya ITO df. Shu HIRATA by TF, 10-1, 1:54
Bronze - Mizuki ARAKI df. Kagetora OKAMOTO by Def.

Semifinal - Kohaku KANAZAWA df. Shoya ITO, 10-6
Semifinal - Taiga ONISHI df. Kagetora OKAMOTO by TF, 8-0, 2:21

87kg (10 entries)
Semifinal - Masato SUMI df. Daisei ISOE by TF, 8-0, :32
Semifinal - So SAKABE df. Kaito MIYAMOTO by TF, 9-0, 1:58

97kg (11 entries)
Semifinal - Yuta NARA df. Yuri NAKAZATO, 5-0
Semifinal - Masayuki AMANO df. Kyo KITAWAKI by Fall, 1:15 (8-0)

130kg (10 entries)
Semifinal - Shion OBATA df. Daigo NISHI by TF, 9-1, 3:57
Semifinal - Sota OKUMURA df. Ryuta KONO by TF, 11-2, 4:52

Women

55kg (14 entries)
Gold - Moe KIYOOKA df. Rino KATAOKA, 2-0

Bronze - Kanon YAMASHITA df. Ruka NATAMI, 9-4
Bronze - Neon GOMI df. Misaki YOSHIBA, 2-1

Semifinal - Moe KIYOOKA df. Kanon YAMASHITA, 12-6
Semifinal - Rino KATAOKA df Neon GOMI, 4-2

65kg (10 entries)
Gold - Mahiro YOSHITAKE df. Rin TERAMOTO, 5-3

Bronze - Misuzu ENOMOTO df. Nagisa ITO by TF, 10-0, 2:09
Bronze - Momoko KITADE df. Kaede HIRAI, 5-1

Semifinal - Mahiro YOSHITAKE df. Misuzu ENOMOTO, 12-10
Semifinal - Rin TERAMOTO df. Momoko KITADE, 2-2

68kg (9 entries)
Semifinal - Ami ISHII df. Naruha MATSUYUKI by TF, 12-2, 5:55
Semifinal - Miwa MORIKAWA df. Miyu IMAI, 3-0

76kg (7 entries)
Semifinal - Nodoka YAMAMOTO df. Mizuki NAGASHIMA, 4-0
Semifinal - Ayano MORO df. Nanaha TAKASU by TF, 10-0, 1:10

#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.

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).

Takatani stretches streak of national titles; Kanazawa wins historic GR crown

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