2026 U20 World Championships

U20 Worlds 2018 Freestyle Champs: Where are They Now

By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (August 7) -- The U20 World Championships are back in Slovakia after eight years. The country hosted the U20 Worlds in 2018 at the Mestska Sports Hall in Trnava.

It was the first U20 World Championships with 10 weight classes in Freestyle, Women's Wrestling and Greco-Roman. Among the 30 U20 world champions from Trnava, a few went on to win Olympic and world gold medals at the senior level.

Watch the 2026 U20 World Championships on UWW+. Use code BUNDLE20 during checkout to get 20 percent discount.

Here's the list of the 10 Freestyle champions from the 2018 U20 World Championships and where are they now:

Wrestling Akhmed IDRISOV (RUS)
Akhmed IDRISOV (RUS), 57kg U20 world champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fyne)

57kg: Akhmed IDRISOV (RUS): WATCH 57kg Final - Idrisov vs NAVEEN (IND)

Idrisov was making his international debut at the 2018 U20 World Championships and he won the gold medal. Idrisov went on a scoring run of 46-6 in five bouts that also included a 9-2 victory over Arsen HARUTYUNAYAN (ARM) in the semifinals.

The Russian wrestler returned for the 2019 U20 World Championships and won bronze. In 2021, he won gold at U23 European Championships but has not competed internationally since.

Wrestling Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS), 61kg U20 world champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fyne)

61kg: Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS): WATCH 61kg Final - Magomedov vs TURMANIDZE (GEO)

Magomedov had one of the most dominant runs in Trnava, outscoring his opponents 50-4 in five bouts and winning gold. He had a breakout senior year in 2021 in which he won the gold medals at World and European Championships.

In 2023, Magomedov won silver medal at the World Championships and repeated as the European champion in 2024 before moving up to 65kg. After missing out on making the Russian team, Magomedov won the Russian National Championships in 2026 and will look to win his third world medal in Astana in October.

Wrestling Saiyn KAZYRYK (RUS)
Saiyn KAZYRYK (RUS), 65kg U20 world champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fyne)

65kg: Saiyn KAZYRYK (RUS) - WATCH 65kg Final - Kazyryk vs MAGHSOUDI (IRI)

In one of the most memorable finals in the tournament, Kazyryk defeated Amirhossein MAGHSOUDI (IRI), 8-7, to win the gold medal. A year later, he finished ninth at the U23 European Championships. However, Kazyryk failed to transitioned to the senior level.

After a six year gap, Kazyryk managed to break into the Russia team and participated at the World Championships, only to finish 10th after losing to Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN).

70kg: Khadzimurad GADHIYEV (AZE) - WATCH 70kg Final - Gadzhiyev vs JAMALOV (RUS/UZB)

One of the wrestler who has a win over Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB), Gadzhiyev was one of the most talked about wrestlers at U17 and U20 level. He won gold after a 4-3 win over Jamalov and then moved to 74kg in 2019, finishing with a bronze medal at U20 World Championships and seventh at the World Championships.

In 2021, he managed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics but an injury stopped him from participating. Two years later, he won bronze at the Zagreb and Budapest Ranking Series but has not competed since. 

Wrestling Mekhi LEWIS (USA)
Mekhi LEWIS (USA), 74kg U20 world champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fyne)

74kg: Mekhi LEWIS (USA) - WATCH 74kg Final - Lewis vs ABAKAROV (AZE)

Lewis competed at only one United World Wrestling tournament and won gold. Lewis won the 74kg gold after four wins, defeated Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) in the final. He recently competed at the Grand Prix of Spain, finishing fifth at 86kg. Lewis, in 2019, made history as Virginia Tech's first NCAA wrestling champion.

Wrestling Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN)
Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), 79kg U20 world champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fyne)

79kg: Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) - WATCH 79kg Final - Ishiguto vs BROOKS (USA)

Ishiguro won the gold medal after a thrilling final against Aaron BROOKS (USA) that he won 11-10. He would go on to be an Olympian. He competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics at 86kg and finished seventh. But his biggest achievement came in 2025 when he won the silver medal at the World Championships. Ishiguro has also won medals at the U23 World and Asian Championships.

Wrestling Arif OZEN (TUR)
Arif OZEN (TUR), red, U20 world champion at 86kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fyne)

86kg: Arif OZEN (TUR) - WATCH 86kg Final - Ozen vs PUNIA (IND)

Ozen remains Turkiye's last U20 world champion in Freestyle. He won a close final against Deepak PUNIA (IND), 2-1. He moved up to 92kg but has failed to make the Türkiye team for UWW events. At this year Yasar Dogu tournament, he finished seventh at 92kg.

Wrestling Abbas FOROUTANRAMI (IRI)
Abbas FOROUTANRAMI (IRI), 92kg U20 world champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fyne)

92kg: Abbas FOROUTANRAMI (IRI) - WATCH 92kg Final - Fouroutanrami vs YERGALI (KAZ)

The Iranian came to Trnava as U17 world silver and U20 Asia champion. He was among the favorites to win the gold medal and did not disappoint, winning four bouts and outscoring his opponents 40-3.

In 2019, Foroutanrami repeated as U20 world champion at 97kg, and later moved to 125kg in which he won gold at Yasar Dogu.

Wrestling Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV, then competing for Russia, won 97kg gold. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fyne)

97kg: Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (RUS/AZE) - WATCH 97kg Final - Magomedov vs ELAM (USA)

A bronze medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Magomedov showed his class by outscoring his opponents 53-1 in five bouts, including a fall. That was his only tournament for Russia before he moved to Azerbaijan.

In 2022, Magomedov won gold at the European Championships, silver and bronze at the World Championships before going to Paris. He also has silver medals at European Championships and other Ranking Series medals. Currently, Magomedov is at 97kg but is challenged domestically in Azerbaijan.

Wrestling Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS)
Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS), 125kg U20 world champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fyne)

125kg: Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS) - WATCH 125kg Final - Khinchagov vs BARGHOUT (CAN)

Among the five Russian who won gold, Khinchagov won five bouts. He defeated Aly BARGHOUT (CAN), 7-0, in the final. While he did not compete at any UWW competitions since, Khinchagov failed to replicate his success domestically and did not make the senior team.

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Greco-Roman Results & Highlights Updated

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 19) -- The final day of the Budapest Ranking Series 2026 will see six Greco-Roman weight classes - 55kg, 60kg, 63kg, 82kg, 97kg and 130kg. The biggest talking point is the return of Tokyo Olympic champion Musa EVLOEV (RUS).

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | GRECO-ROMAN STORYLINES

130kg semifinal - Marat KAMPAROV (RUS) clears the semifinal hurdle with a 1-1 criteria win over Wenhao JIANG (CHN) and he will face Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) for the gold medal after he won 5-1 against Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN).

97kg semifinals - Musa EVLOEV's (RUS) comeback is cut short by Alex SZOKE (HUN) in the 97kg semifinal. Evloev held a 1-1 criteria lead but Szoke pushed him towards the zone. Evloev, trying to prevent a stepout, went for the headlock throw but Szoke escaped and scored a takedown to take a 3-1 lead with 33 seconds left in the bout. He defend it to win. For the gold medal, he will face another Russian as Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS) blanked Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), 10-0. After scoring from par terre, Ermolenko scored a stepout to lead 6-0 and then threw Niftullayev for four points to win 10-0

82kg semifinals - Asian champion Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) enters the final after a 4-1 win over Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO). Badghimofrad managed a go-behind when Mikeladze slipped in the second period to lead 2-1. Georgia challenged that there was leg foul but lost the challenge which made the score 3-1. The Qatar wrestler got the par terre and won 4-1.

Gamzat GADZHIEV (RUS) with a throw from par terre against Mihail BRADU (MDA) to lead 5-0 and then defends from par terre to complete a 5-1 win.

63kg semifinals - Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS), who last wrestled internationally in 2021, Kerem KAMAL (TUR) counters with a throw but only gets a stepout to lead 1-1 on criteria. Kamal with a powerful takedown in the second period to extend his lead to 3-1. He tries a throw but cannot complete it but Russia challenge for two points as Lokyaev fell on top of Kamal. Challenge as lost as it was all Kamal's risk. The two keeping getting their holds and locks but Kamal manages another stepout for a 5-1 lead. A stepout for Lokyaev but Kamal enters the final after a 5-2 win. 

European champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS) holds on to a 1-1 criteria win over Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT).

60kg semifinals - Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) blanks Asian champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB). What a performance from Sharshenbekov as he starts with a takedown and then gets the par terre to lead 3-0. He starts the second period with an strong throw for four points but Uzbekistan challenge the call and it is called a leg-foul from Sharshenbekov and the score is reversed to 3-0. But no stopping Sharshenbekov as he scores a go-behind and gets two points and lead 5-0. A tiring Ganiev gives up a stepout which is again cancelled after challenge. But Ganiev cannot get a point on Sharshenbekov who 

Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) uses his experience to hold off  Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ), 10-6, in the other semifinal and will now face Sharshenbekov for the gold medal.

55kg semifinals - In a rematch of the Asian Championships final, Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) slams LALIT (IND) using an arm throw for four points. India challenges that it was only two points for the throw. Though the four points stood, Lalit got two points for a block in danger and Botirov came on top and got the reversal point, giving Botirov a 5-2 lead. There is no more action or points in this bout as Botirov enters the final.

Brady KOONTZ (USA) stuns Artiom DELEANU (MDA) , 8-5, after a takedown and two stunning throws. He gave four points in the second period but held his lead to enter the final

13:33: Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) hit a head throw against Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) and led 8-1. But Akbudak forfeits the match due to an elbow injury. It's the same one he had a surgery before. Badaghimofrad advances to 82kg semifinals

13:30: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) into the 60kg semifinal after a technical superiority 8-0 win over Mahmoud SAAD (EGY). He scored six points from par terre to lead 7-0 at the break and then gets the one point for the win in the second period

13:15: Asian champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB) with a 16-second pin over BAOYINJIYA (CHN) at 60kg. Might have been called a little too quickly

13:11: Asian champion Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) needed a late stepout to beat Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ), 6-5, at 55kg. Kurbayev with a beautiful suplex in the second period to lead 5-5 on criteria but failed to hold on to it.

13:10: Musa EVLOEV (RUS) moves into the 97kg semifinals after Kevin MEJIA (HON) has to forfeit due to injury. Evloev got the par terre but failed to score as Mejia defended. Mejia actually scored a reversal but was cancelled on a challenge. Evloev then scored a takedown and Mejia called for a medical timeout.

12:58: European champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS) keeps Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) at bay and wins 5-1 at 63kg. He got two par terre position and scored three stepouts in his win.

12:40: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) counters Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) with a block after takedown and launches the Asian champion for two turns and lead 8-2. He thought he finished the match when a correct throw was counted for two points but Kyrgyzstan challenged and the points were cancelled as Taalaibek Uulu never came in danger. The second period remained pointless and Kamal won 8-2

12:30: Sergei SEMENOV (RUS) worked on a great throw for four points on Gino DILBERT (HON) but seemed to have injured his knee when landed. He forfeits the 130kg after the injury

12:20: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) needed a challenge to survive. Leading 6-5, Akbudak was struggling with conditioning and Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) pushed him out for one point and make it 6-6 with Akbudak leading on criteria. However, Akbudak challenged and on review, Zhadrayev was seen grabbing the singlet. The stepout was cancelled and Akbudak led 6-5 again. Moreover, it gave him time to catch a breather. He gave up a stepout at the end but Akbudak was still a 6-6 criteria winner. Kazakhstan challenged for fleeing but lost it to add one more point to Akbudak's score and win 7-6

12:15: Alex SZOKE (HUN) gets the par terre in the first period but fails to score. Hayk Khloyan (ARM) gets the par terre in the second period but fails to score. With the score 1-1, Szoke wins on first-point scored criteria. 

12:12: Asian champion Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) begins his 82kg campaign with a 4-1 win over Azimjon SOATULLAEV (UZB) at 82kg.

11:42: Musa EVLOEV (RUS), first time competing at UWW tournament in 5 years, begins with a 3-0 win over Timothy YOUNG (RUS) at 97kg. He got two points for par terre in each period and one stepout for the win.

11:40: World silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) with a close 2-1 win over Enes BASAR (TUR) at 60kg. Ganiev with a stepout from par terre to lead 2-0 and then Basar doesn't score any points from par terre and Ganiev defends his lead.

11:35: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) looking incredibly locked in! After his first victory via fall, he now beats Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) 10-0 in the second bout at 63kg. Sharshenbekov, who built a 7-0 lead from par terre, needed 39 seconds in the second period to score a takedown against Aliyev to win. Aliyev challenged the takedown but lost it to add one more point to the score of Sharshenbekov.

11:20: Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) gets one back in his rivalry against Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ). The Kazakhstan wrestler, who defeated Makhmudov at the Paris 2024 and went on to win silver, pins Makhmudov at 82kg. Makhmudov tried to gut-wrench Zhadrayev from par terre but Kazakhstan wrestler blocked and grabbed the arm to get the fall.

11:12: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) with some highlights. He launches Sunny KUMAR (IND) for two massive throws, second of which was a five-point slam as he win at 63kg, 10-0

11:00: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM), who recently defeated Musa EVLOEV (RUS), now gets the better of Paris 2024 Paris medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) at 97kg. Khloyan scored a turn from par terre in the first period and then was awarded par terre in the second period as well. He scored another gut-wrench to lead 6-0. Dzhuzupbekov did not score any points from par terre and lost a challenge as well to hand a 7-1 win to the Armenian

10:45: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) hits Dalton ROBERTS (USA) with an underhook throw and completes the fall in in quick time. Sharshenbekov, who wrestled at 63kg at the Ulaanbaatar Open in his first tournament since Paris 2024, is now at 60kg.