#WrestleNice

Updated (Jan. 14) Henri Deglane Grand Prix of France Preliminary Entries

Thursday, January 7, 2021 - 20:43 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article

Nice, FRANCE (January 8) -- The 47th Annual Henri Deglane Grand Prix of France kicks off January 14-18 and will feature nearly 315 athletes from 26 different nations.

*Please note: These are preliminary entries and are subject to change.

Freestyle

57kg
Chakir ANSARI (MAR)
Mahir AMIRASLANOV (AZE)
Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE)
NilsL EUTERT (SUI)
Niklas STECHELE (GER)
Adam BIBOULATOV (FRA)
Temerlan AZIZOV (FRA)
Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO)
Razvan KOVACS (ROU)
Andrei DUKOV (ROU)
Vitali ARUJAU (USA)
Thomas GILMAN (USA)
Nicholas SURIANO (USA)

61kg
Nino LEUTERT (SUI)
Viktor LYZEN (GER)
Nico MEGERLE (GER)
Arman ELOYAN (FRA)
Valentin DAMOUR (FRA)
Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)
Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)
Leomid COLESNIC (MDA)
Ayub MUSAEV (BEL)
Ivan GUIDEA (ROU)
Anvar SUVINIITTY (FIN)
Joseph COLON (USA)


World and Olympic champion Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) highlights a stacked list of 65kg entries. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

65kg
Juan Pablo GONZALEZ (ESP)
Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE)
Alexander SEMISOROW (GER)
Marwane YEZZA (FRA)
Quentin STICKER (FRA)
Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA)
Théo MAZOYER-VEAUTIER (FRA)
Magomedmurad GADZIHEV (POL)
Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO)
Maxim SACULTAN (MDA)
Evghenii VOLKOV (ROU)
Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU)
Alexandru MATEA( ROU)
Stefan COMAN (ROU)
Agustin Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG)
John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA)
James GREEN (USA)

70kg
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
Tobias PORTMANN (SUI)
Kevin HENKEL (GER)
Abdulla TOMOV (FRA)
Zurab ILAKOBISHVILI (GEO)
Mihail SAVA (MDA)
Vasile DIACON (MDA)
George BUCUR (ROU)
Norbert MOLNOS (ROU)

74kg
Jonathan ALVAREZ (ESP)
Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE)
Joshgun AZIMOV (AZE)
Gadzhimurad OMAROV (AZE)
Joel MEIER (SUI)
Marc DIETSCHE (SUI)
Kubilay CAKICI (GER)
Matthias SCHMIDT (GER)
Charles AFA (FRA)
Sofiane PADIOU BELMIR (FRA)
Eduard GREGOREW (POL)
Avtandi lKENTCHADZE (GEO)
Daviti TLASHADZE (GEO)
Valentin BORZIN (MDA)
Avghenii NEDEALCO (MDA)
Zurab KAPRAEV (ROU)
Jorge Ivan LLANO (ARG)
Mitchell Louis FINESILVER (ISR)
Kyle DAKE (USA)

79kg
Eduard TATARINOV (GER)
DanielS ARTAKOV (GER)
Andreas WALTER (GER)
Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA)
Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)
Simon MARCHL (AUT)
Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Stanislav NOVAC (MDA)
Grigore CARASTOIAN (MDA)

86kg
DamianI GLESIAS (ESP)
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Stefan REICHMUTH (SUI)
Lars SCHAEFLE (GER)
Akhmed AIBUEV (FRA)
Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL)
Radoslaw MARCINKIEWIC (POL)
Benjamin GREIL (AUT)
Dato MARSAGISHVILI (GEO)
Andrian GROSU (MDA)
Zahid VALENCIA (USA)

92kg
Samuel SCHERRER (SUI)
Robin FERDINAND (GER)
Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL)
Irakli MITSURI (GEO)


A potential Nur-Sultan semifinal rematch of Olympic champions Sharif SHARIFOF (AZE) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) could be brewing at 97kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

97kg
Alejandro CANADA (ESP)
Sharif SHARIFOF (AZE)
Erik THIELE (GER)
Radoslaw BARAN (POL)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Kyle SNYDER (USA)

125kg
Jose CUBA (ESP)
Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
Asghar LAGHARI (GER)
Kamil KOSCIOTEK (POL)
Johannes LUDESCHER (AUT)
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
Jere HEINO (FIN)
Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)


World champion Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) will compete at 55g. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

55kg
André SILVA (POR)
Sargis GEVORGIZYAN (AUT)
Nugzar iTSURTSUMIA (GEO)
Ekrem ÖZTÜRK (TUR)
Serif KILIÇ (TUR)
Elcin ALİ (TUR)

60kg 
António CABRAL (POR)
Albert BAGUMYAN (ESP)
Murad MAMMADOV(AZE)
Kerem KAMAL (TUR)

63kg
Julinho DJU (POR)
Andy JUAN (ESP)
Murad BAZAROV (AZE)
Tigran GALUSTYAN (FRA)
Yanis NIFRI (FRA)
Mcateusz SZEWCZUK (POL)
Abdurahman ALTAN (TUR)
Mehmet ÇEKER (TUR)
Fatih ÜÇÜNCÜ (TUR)
Colton RASCHE (USA)
Devin HESTER (USA)

67kg
Marcos SANCHEZ SILVA (ESP)
Namaz RUSTAMOV (AZE)
Islambek DADOV (AZE)
Stefan CLEMENT (FRA)
Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA)
Yasin OZAY (FRA)
Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA)
Aleksander MILEWCZYK (POL)
Aker AL OBAIDI (AUT)
Atakan YÜKSEL (TUR)
Jamel JOHNSON (USA)
Raymond BUNKER (USA)

72kg
Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE)
Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA)
Selcuk CAN (TUR)
Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR)

77kg
Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)
Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)
Evrik NIKOGHOSYAN (FRA)
Johnny BUR (FRA)
Patryk BEDNARZ (POL)
Maksym ZAKHARCZUK (POL)
Beka MAMUKASHVILI (GEO)
Yunus Emre BAŞAR (TUR)
Fatih CENGİZ (TUR)
Patrick SMITH (USA)
Peyton WALSH (USA)

82kg
Alejandro CONCEPCION (ESP)
Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)
Michael WAGNER (AUT)
Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)
Emrah KUS (TUR)
Salih AYDIN (TUR)
John STEFANOWICZ (USA)

87kg
Yuisralembert CARRION (ESP)
Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED)
Saba DJAVAKHICHVILI (FRA)
Michal DYBKA (POL)
Szymon SZYMONOWICZ (POL)
Lesyan Osvaldo COUSIN OTOMURO (JAM)
Guram KHETSURIANI (GEO)
Emrah KUŞ (TUR)
Terrence ZALESKI (USA)
Vaughn MONREAL BERNER (USA)

97kg
Pedro GARCIA (ESP)
Jesus GASCA (ESP)
Murad LOKIAEV (AZE)
Loic SAMEN (FRA)
Piotr CHUDZIK (POL)
Gerard KURNICZAK (POL)
Daniel GASTL (AUT)
Markus RAGGINGER (AUT)
Giorgi MELIA (GEO)
Metehan BAŞAR (TUR)
Daniel MILLER (USA)

130kg
Sabah SHARIATI (AZE)
Sulkhani BUIDZE (GEO)
Jakob KAJAIA (GEO)
Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI)
Diego ALMENDRAS (CHI)
Cenk ILDEM (TUR)


Reigning world champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) will take the mat at 68kg. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Ana TORRES (ESP)
Jonna MALMGREN (SWE)
Lisa ERSEL (GER)
Julie SABATIÉ (FRA)
Félicia GALLO (FRA)
Taru VAINIONPÄÄ (FIN)
Evin DEMİRHAN (TUR)
Aynur ERGE (TUR)
Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA)
Amy FEARNSIDE (USA)

53kg
Marina RUEDA (ESP)
Sofia MATTSSON (SWE)
Nina HEMMER (GER)
Annika WENDLE (GER)
Angelina PURSCHKE( GER)
Hilary HONORINE (FRA)
Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA)
Florine SCHELDER (AUT)
Zeynep YETGİL (TUR)
Esra PUL (TUR)
Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)
Sara ETTAKI (ITA)
Oriana DI STEFANO (ITA)
Carmen DI DIO (ITA)


Olympic champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) headlines the entries at 57kg. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

57kg
Maria VICTORIA BAEZ (ESP)
Graciela SANCHEZ (ESP)
Johanna LINDBORG (SWE)
Laura MERTENS (GER)
Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
Elena HeikeBRUGGER (GER)
Josefine PURSCHKE (GER)
Mathilde RIVIERE (FRA)
Gaëlle RUIZ (FRA)
Jeannie KESSLER (AUT)
Bediha GÜN (TUR)
Mehlika ÖZTÜRK (TUR)
Lauren LOUIVE (USA)
Helen MAROULIS (USA)
Arianna CARIERI (ITA)
Francesca INDELICATO (ITA)
Aurora RUSSO (ITA)
Morena DE VITA (ITA)

63kg
Lydia PEREZ (ESP)
Luisa Helga Gerda NIEMESCH (GER)
Andrea GRASRUCK (GER)
Anne NURNBERGER (GER)
Améline DOUARRE (FRA)
Gamze NurADAKAN (TUR)
Cansu AKSOY (TUR)
Kayla MIRACLE (USA)
Macey KILTY (USA)
Rebecca DE LEO (ITA)
Aurora CAMPAGNA (ITA)
Sara DACOL (ITA)
Elena ESPOSITO (ITA)
Yulia TKACH (UKR)

68kg
Nerea PAMPIN (ESP)
Maria SELMAIER (GER)
Eyleen SEWINA (GER)
Kendra DACHER (FRA)
Luz Clara VAZQUEZ (ARG)
Asli DEMİR (TUR)
Nesrin BAŞ (TUR)
Nazar BATIR (TUR)
Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA)
Forrest MOLINARI (USA)
Victoria FRANCIS (USA)
Veronica BRASCHI (ITA)

76kg
Carla LERA (ESP)
Francy RADELT (GER)
Johanna MEIER (GER)
Lilly SCHNEIDER (GER)
Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA)
Cynthia VESCAN (FRA)
Martina KUENZ (AUT)
Epp MAE (EST)
Ay Segul ÖZBEĞE (TUR)
Merve PUL (TUR)
Vahide Nur GÖK (TUR)
Elenj PJOLLAJ (ITA)
Enrica RINALDI (ITA)

#WrestleTirana

Interview: Iran Greco-Roman coach Hassan Rangraz

Sunday, February 16, 2025 - 10:38 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 14) -- Iran won its first Olympic gold medal in Greco-Roman at the 2012 London Games. Rio 2016 was a blank but Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) won at the Tokyo Olympics. Soon, Iran changed the coaching staff and brought in Hassan RANGRAZ to lead the Iran team.

Rangraz enjoyed success at various levels but the 2024 Paris Olympics was one of the best that Iran had. Two gold medals, one silver and one bronze made it the most successful Olympics for Iran.

The 44-year-old soft-spoken former world champ has a different personality while coaching. He rarely takes the role of first coach during the bouts. But he is always animated in the corner, shouting instructions to his wrestlers and sometimes reacting to the referee's decisions.

As the new Olympic cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Games begins, United World Wrestling caught up with Rangraz at the season opening Zagreb Open Ranking Series. Rangraz explained the success of Iran's Greco-Roman team, training in Tehran, defended the selection process and the fans who have a say on everything in Iran wrestling.

Hassan RANGRAZ (IRI)Iran's national Greco-Roman coach Hassan RANGRAZ during the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Excerpts:

- How do you see the success of Iran Greco-Roman team at the Paris Olympics?

Rangraz: In my opinion, the result of the Paris Olympics, with four medals, two of them gold, was a remarkable achievement in the history of Greco-Roman wrestling for Iran. This success was primarily due to the six years of planning by the federation, the efforts of former head coaches and previous coaches. I played a very small part in this journey.

- What is it like in the national camp for Iran?

Rangraz: Right after the Olympics, with a very short break, we began our planning. From the Olympics to the 2025 World Championships, we will have 22 training camps, totaling 220 days. We will also be competing for nearly 80 days. Out of the 365 days in a year, our wrestlers will be under direct supervision of the coaching staff for about 300 days. They will follow intense training programs and preparation matches. Even during the remaining 60 days, they will still be monitored indirectly through technical and strength training programs provided by the coaching staff.

- Iran's selection process often comes under scrutiny. Despite that, it keeps producing results. What are you thoughts on the current selection process in Iran?

Rangraz: We have a process and young wrestlers can enter this cycle to compete and prove their worth. The prime examples of this process are Esmaeili and Mohammadi. They shone in domestic and international tournaments, competed with top wrestlers in their weight classes. They performed and won Olympic medals. We are committed to implementing the national team’s selection process and giving talented young wrestlers the opportunity to prove themselves. This way, we can execute the talent identification process in the best possible way.

- What are the responsibilities and challenges as the national coach?

Rangraz: Wrestling is the number one sport in Iran and our national, patriotic, and traditional sport. Wrestling is part of Iran’s culture. Therefore, taking on the technical responsibility as the head coach primarily brings stress, anxiety, and immense pressure. On top of that, you have to be accountable for the results and take responsibility for the team’s performance. In terms of difficulty, I can confidently say that considering the intense scrutiny, being the head coach of the national team is so challenging it’s like working in a mine.

- The fans of Iranian wrestling are always involved. How do you see this and does it affect you in any way?

Rangraz: As I mentioned earlier, 80 million Iranians have a deep love for wrestling. Perhaps that’s why a tournament that may not hold much significance for people from other countries is so important to our people. They follow it closely, they care about it, they rejoice in victories and worry about defeats. This immense passion and support from fans is the greatest strength and asset for wrestling in our country.

- What is the roadmap for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?

Rangraz: We believe that the Olympic Games are just around the corner. Four years go by very quickly. To succeed in the Olympics, you need to work hard, but also work smart. You can’t afford to miss a single training session or day. With this mindset and determination and knowing how high and legitimate the expectations are, we continue on our path with great strength, despite all the pressures we feel in every competition.

I believe the future of Iranian wrestling is very bright. Iran is passionate about wrestling. One of my dreams is that, just like in 1998 and 2002, we can once again host the World Wrestling Championships in Iran. The main reason for this is that nowhere else in the world will you find such passionate and numerous fans. These fans are the greatest asset of world wrestling, not just Iranian wrestling, and their expectation is to host a World Championship event.