U17 World Championships 2026 Day 5 Freestyle Video Highlights

Friday, July 31, 2026 - 06:20 By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 31) -- The U17 World Championships enters day five with five Freestyle weight class -- 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg and 110kg. The matches will go on till semifinals before the Women's Wrestling medal bouts at 18:00 hours.

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WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

Freestyle semifinals will begin at 17:00 hours local time

14:50: Amirhossein ESMALI (IRI) needed a four-pointer to steer clear of Behruz ASHIROV (UZB) and win 7-4 at 110kg and advance to the semifinals.

14:35: A 10-0 blanking of Hanto HAYASHI (JPN) by Magomed OMAROV (RUS) as he moves into the 110kg semifinals. Can the U17 European champion double up with a U17 world title?

14:30: AARYAN (IND) with another comeback at 48kg to beat Kooper DEPUTY (USA) in the quarterfinals. Deputy led 4-2 before Aaryan with a duckunder for four and then two more for exposure to lead 8-4. He got another exposure for two more points but Deputy was working on an armbar for a fall. But Aaryan managed to defend it and win 10-7

14:10: Jakhongir TULKUNOV (UZB) downs U17 Asian champion Arman ELAHI (IRI) at 55kg. Elahi, who had beaten Tulkonov, 9-6, at the U17 Asians failed to find any openings and Tulkunov was right in it to win 5-1

13:58: Amirhossein ESMALI (IRI) storms past Sergko CHOUTSISVILI (GRE) at 110kg after a 10-0 win. No issues for Esmali. He will face Behruz ASHIROV (UZB) in the quarterfinals.

13:40: First quarterfinal and Sam ARSHAD (IRI) comes from behind to beat Tymur ABUMISLIMOV (UKR) 13-6 at 65kg. Abumislimov just could not match Arshadgh in his pace

13:20: High stake match at 48kg as U17 European champion Huseyn RZAZADE (AZE) and AARYAN (IND) square off. Rzazade with an early takedown before a stepout from Aaryan. Rzazade leads 2-1 at the break. He continues to add stepouts in the second period and even got a point for lost challenge to lead 5-1. But Aaryan continued the pressure and got a stepout and point for fleeing, making it 5-3 with 18 seconds left. He goes a duckunder for his last move and gets the takedown for a 5-5 criteria lead and the win. Azerbaijan challenges to find its saviour but there is none. Aaryan moves on with a 6-5 win

13:10: Amirali FERASATI (IRI) in complete control of his 80kg bout against Kantemir ELMESOV (RUS). He scores a takedown on edge before getting an activity point. He scored a stepout to lead 4-0. Elmesov missed his attack which gave Ferasati chances to jump over for takedowns. The Iranian wins 8-2

12:52: Arsenii KIKINIOU (USA), who won silver and bronze medals last year in Greco-Roman and Freestyle, has lost his 65kg bout against Jovani SOLIS (PUR). Solis got a takedown and turn to get a 5-1 lead in the second period which changed the match. The U.S. challenged the two and two call but lost it which gave Solis a 6-1 win. Kikiniou did not win a medal in Greco-Roman this year but still has a chance to win bronze in Freestyle if Solis reaches the final

12:50: Chase KARENBAUER (USA) with a very tactical match against Kyosuke IKEDA (JPN) for a 6-4 win at 55kg. He got a takedown and turn in the second period and despite giving up a takedown, he comes out as a winner

12:45: Arman ELAHI (IRI) wrestles till the last second and is rewarded with a thrilling win against Temirlan MURAT (KAZ) at 55kg. Murat led 3-1 thanks to two stepouts and one passivity point. But Elahi scored a stepout to make it 3-2 with around 30 seconds left. He then caught Murat but failed to bring him down so went the other way to throw Murat and get two points for the win. Kazakhstan challenges and on review, the two is changed to four with a reversal for Murat. Elahi wins 6-4

12:35: Magomed IBRAGIMOV (RUS) with another second period show to beat Erik PAPIKYAN (ARM), 8-1, at 65kg. Papikyan led 1-0 at the break but Ibragimov with two takedowns to lead 4-1. He then launches Papikyan for a four

12:10: Returning bronze medalist Hakim TAGHIYEV (AZE) falls 3-2 against Behruz ASHIROV (UZB) at 110kg. Ashirov was up 2-1 when he got put on activity clock. The one point gave Taghiyev a 2-2 criteria but Ashirov with a stepout with 5 seconds left to win 3-2

12:00: Returning bronze medalist at 80kg Ayubjon BOZORZODA (TJK) completes an 8-6 victory over Jayden OFARRILL (USA). He was leading 5-2 at the break but was struggling with his conditioning. However, he still managed to defend the late attacks from Ofarrill

11:58: AARYAN (IND) with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Amirali RAGHEB (IRI) at 48kg. Aaryan with some beautiful duckunders to score his takedowns as Ragheb looked clueless in that bout

11:48: Deepanshu KHOKHAR (IND) was down 6-1 until the final 15 seconds against Layden ACEVEDO (PU). But he scores a four-pointer to make it 6-5 with 9 seconds left. Using all he got, Khokhar gets a stepout with less than two seconds left and wins 6-6 on criteria at 80kg

11:42: Chase KARENBAUER (USA) uses cradles to score exposure points on Valentin DELEANU (MDA) and completes a 10-0 win in the first period at 65kg.

11:33: KRISHAN (IND) and Magomed IBRAGIMOV (RUS) with an electric bout at 65kg. Leading 6-2, Krishan gave up a stepout. Ibragimov then hit a headlock throw which was initially scored two point, then a headpinch for two more before Krishan got the reversal making the score 7-7 on criteria. But India challenged perhaps because of all the confusion on the scoreboard. On review, the two for headlock was changed to four and Ibragimov got a 9-7 lead with 16 seconds left. Ibragimov got a double-arm lock and two rolls in that time to win 11-7

11:30: Saba MINDIASHVILI (GEO) with a 3-2 victory over Mustafa BERSANUKAEV (RUS) at 55kg. It needed a challenge from Mindiashvili to remove the a takedown that was awarded to Bersanukaev. With 3-1 lead and 36 seconds left, Mindiashvili gave up a stepout but held on to win the match.

11:10: Erik PAPIKYAN (ARM) was called passive in the first period Rashid NAZAROV (AZE) got one point. But in the second period, Papikyan scored a takedown on a missed shot from Nazarov, turned him three times using the gut-wrench and take an 8-1 lead. He also scored a stepout and in 9-1 and advance at 65kg.

10:55: Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) opens his Freestyle campaign at 65kg with a 7-0 blanking of Bidzina JINTCHARADZE (GEO). While he won't be a medalist in both styles this year, he can still repeat as Freestyle medalist

10:30: Freestyle will take centrestage in Baku with five weight classes. Russia, Iran and the U.S. will be eyeing the team title as well with hosts Azerbaijan also in with an outside chance.

Austria Develops Wrestling Future at UWW Performance Centre A.C. Wals

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - 08:50 By Jörg Richter

WALS-SIEZENHEIM, Austria (June 16) -- Anyone in Wals-Siezenheim, Austria, looking for the local wrestling centre is directed towards the fire station. Standing in front of it, you look up at the tall tower where the hoses are hung up to dry after call-outs, and at the garages housing the emergency vehicles. But the floor above the firefighters belongs to the wrestlers.

The training centre of wrestling champions A.C. Wals was inaugurated in 1994, completely renovated in 2022 and, a year later, declared the sixth United World Wrestling training centre worldwide by UWW President Nenad LALOVIC.

The former mayor of Wals-Siezenheim, Ludwig BIERINGER, visits the training centre almost daily and can recount stories about the development of the wrestling venue, as well as the sporting stronghold of Wals-Siezenheim, home to the Red Bull family.

His words, "if, by building the wrestling centre, we manage to keep even one young person away from drugs, then this investment will have been worth it,” are likely to hold just as much significance today as they did 32 years ago, when the training hall was completed.

h In Austria, wrestlers are battling against the dominance of winter sports; whilst every child knows the ski jumpers, downhill and slalom skiers, wrestlers have to work incredibly hard to also make it into the spotlight of the mainstream media.

In Toni MARCHL, the Austrian Wrestling Federation has a dedicated and passionate leader who has given himself fully to the growth of the sport. His extensive network spans business, politics, and the highest levels of international sport, including UWW European Council President Karl Martin Dittmann and UWW President Lalovic, with whom he has built a strong and trusted relationship.

AC Wals Fitness centre at A.C. Wals. (Photo: Austrian National Wrestling Centre)

Back to the training centre in Wals, which was designated a UWW higperformance centre in 2022, wrestlers from all over the world now come together to train. This naturally also benefits the ORSV wrestlers, who can now train alongside the world’s best on a selective basis – and do so at home, on their own mats. What’s more, thanks to the efforts of ORSV wrestlers can now be found in positions supported by the sports programme within the army, as well as in the police, judiciary and customs services.

A small boarding school accommodates male and female athletes from all over Austria who combine school, vocational training or work with the demands of competitive sport in Wals-Siezenheim, whilst also travelling there on an ad hoc basis for centralised training sessions.

A large team of coaches has also been established to pass on their experience to the wrestlers. Georg MARCHL (Freestyle), Jeno BODI and Amer HRUSTANOVIC (Greco-Roman), and Elena PITTL (Women's Wrestling) lead a well-trained and dedicated team of coaches, supported and supervised by sports director Benedikt ERNST, and trained in collaboration with former German heavyweight wrestler Sven THIELE. The medical sector is also well-equipped in Wals-Siezenheim, with physiotherapy and sports medicine staff.

AC Wals A.C. Wals

The UWW Performance Centre is having an impact on the larger Austrian clubs and federations, which are following its example in developing talent under ever-improving conditions, so that an ever-stronger elite is emerging from the existing base. But no champion falls from the sky, no talent becomes a world champion overnight; everything takes time.

The ORSV is firmly committed to the long-term development of its athletes, investing in homegrown talent and building a sustainable future for Austrian wrestling. This philosophy is reflected in the growth of wrestlers such as Markus RAGGINER, Daniel GASTL, Simon MARCHL, Benjamin GREIL, Johannes LUDESCHER, Aker ACHMIDT and, last but not least, 10-time international medallist Martina KUENZ.

Projects like the UWW Performance Centre in Wals-Siezenheim represent exactly the kind of investment that nurtures the next generation, creates lasting foundations for the sport, and ensures that Austria's wrestling future is built from within.

- by Jorg RITCHER, Ringsport Magazine

U17 World Championships 2026 Day 5 Freestyle Video Highlights

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Austria Develops Wrestling Future at UWW Performance Centre A.C. Wals