2026 U17 World Championships

Uzbekistan's Bunyod Lays Foundation with Second U17 World Title

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 - 18:46 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 29) -- The name Bunyod means “foundation” in Persian and is given to boys across Uzbekistan and parts of Central and South Asia.

It’s a name that suits 16-year-old Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) perfectly. Unlike other U17 wrestlers, Bunyod Hasanov has his wrestling foundation firmly in place.

On Tuesday, Hasanov won his second U17 world title, first wrestler from Uzbekistan to do so, as Greco-Roman came to a close at the U17 World Championships in Baku.

Read More: Hasanov Wins 48kg Gold in Athens

Most U17 world titles are won based on physical superiority, last-second heroics or narrow moments that can swing either way. That is not to diminish past world champions, but only a handful of wrestlers possess the tactical maturity and wrestling intelligence to execute complete game plans at such a young age.

Hasanov has separated himself even from that elite group.

WATCH: Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) Wins Second U17 World Gold

Over the two World Championships, Hasanov demonstrated a brand of Greco-Roman rarely seen at the U17 level. He has a powerful gut-wrench, one of Greco-Roman's oldest and most effective turns.

He also has the pace to dictate the match and not fall into the passivity trap. He has the strength to throw as well, as he did Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) during the 51kg final on Tuesday.

In his four bouts in Baku, Hasanov won three via technical superiority -- a difference of at least eight points. The only bout that did not end by technical superiority was still under his complete control as he won 6-2, outscoring his opponents 25-4 in the tournament. Last year, Hasanov outscored his opponents 32-7 in four bouts, with two technical superiority wins.

Wrestling Bunyod HASANOV (UZB)Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) celebrates after winning the 51kg world title, his second at U17 level. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The 48kg world champion in Athens moved up to 51kg this year and made a stunning run to his second gold medal. His campaign in Baku differed from the one in Athens in many ways, but one thing that remained constant was Hasanov's control of the final.

Against returning bronze medalist Huseynli, he set the tone right from the start by going for the snaps and two-on-one. Huseynli was eventually called passive and Hasanov got the par terre from which he hit a remarkable suplex for four points.

He then lifted Huseynli again and threw him out of bounds for one point to lead 6-0. He then used his two-on-one to push the Azerbaijan wrestler towards the zone and score a stepout, swelling his lead to 7-0.

Wrestling Bunyod HASANOV (UZB)Bunyod HASANOV (UZB), below, throws Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) during the 51kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Facing a decisive stepout, Huseynli attempted a throw of his own but landed on his own back instead, surrendering two points. Those points made Hasanov a 9-0 winner, who managed a more animated celebration than last year.

With the strong foundations that led him to his second world gold, Bunyod Hasanov will hope to build on it in the future.

Thanks to Hasanov's gold, Uzbekistan finished fourth in the team standings with 85 points, 11 behind third-placed Iran, which topped the standings last year. Russia won the team title with 127 points, while host Azerbaijan placed second despite failing to win a gold medal.

Wax Melts Javadli

Apart from Huseynli, Azerbaijan had another finalist in U17 European champion Ali JAVADLI (AZE) at 51kg, but he too suffered a one-sided defeat to Rylex WAX (USA).

Javadli gave the packed arena, waiting for the Azerbaijan national anthem to be played on Wednesday, hope when he piled up four points from par terre in the first period with a strong gut wrench.

Wax, however, silenced the arena in the second period when he got the par terre. He used a trap-arm-gut to roll him six times and reducing Javadli to tears after the final whistle. Wax secured the United States' first U17 Greco-Roman world title since 2024 after the team went without one last year.

Wrestling Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI)Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) scores a takedown against Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) during the 60kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Tahmasbpour Denies Barotov

Iran's disappointing tournament still had a bright spot in Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI), who upgraded his bronze from last year to gold at 60kg after an electric final. The Iranian's win also denied Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) from becoming Tajikistan's first-ever Greco-Roman world champion at any level.

At one point in the 60kg final, Barotov must have thought he had ended the drought for his country. Tahmasbpour scored a takedown and two turns using trap-arm to build a 6-0 lead in the first minute. And it seemed that he would run away with the final.

The match turned on its head before the break. Barotov countered an attempted duck under, forcing Tahmasbpour backward for two points. Moments later, Barotov switched to double underhooks and launched the Iranian for a throw. Initially, the officials awarded four points to Tahmasbpour, but a successful challenge reversed the call and gave Barotov four points instead, putting him ahead 6-6 on criteria.

Tahmasbpour, however, knew that Barotov was struggling with conditioning and he began snapping the Tajikistan wrestler. After one of the snaps, he jumped over Barotov and secured the takedown that eventually gave him an 8-6 victory.

Wrestling Janes NAZARYAN (ARM)Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) celebrates after winning the 71kg gold medal in Baku. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Nazaryan Repeats

Another returning champion Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), who won at 65kg last year in Athens, doubled up by winning the gold medal at 71kg in Baku. He made a comeback after falling behind against 65kg U17 European champion Aslan DZUEV (RUS) in the final.

Dzuev scored a headlock throw which the referees scored as two points as Nazaryan never seemed to have landed in danger. Russia challenged asking for four points but lost it, adding one point to Nazaryan's score. Dzuev then failed to score from par terre but led 3-1 at the break.

When Nazaryan got the par terre in the second period, he turned Dzuev with a strong gut-wrench and took a 4-3 lead that he defended to win his second U17 world title.

Wrestling Tomasz MITAL (POL)Tomasz MITAL (POL) became the first Poland wrestler in 10 years to win the Greco-Roman gold at U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Mital Breakthrough

At 92kg, U17 European champion Tomasz MITAL (POL) added a world title to his name and gave Poland its first U17 Greco-Roman gold medal in 10 years. Mital was up against Hlib YEVSIEIEV (UKR) in the gold medal bout and was in some trouble when Yevsieiev scored the first takedown to lead 2-0.

Mital pushed the pace in the second period and scored a running takedown around the zone and then lifted Yevsieiev, threw him outside the zone for a point and led 3-2. He defended his lead to win the gold medal and become only the fifth Poland wrestler to win a Greco-Roman gold at the U17 World Championships.

Click here for Women's Wrestling semifinal results

Wrestling Photos

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Rylen WAX (USA) df. Ali JAVADLI (AZE), 13-5

BRONZE: Ognyan BURGAZOV (BUL) df. Armin ESMAEILI (IRI), via forfeit
BRONZE: Arsan ALIEV (RUS) df. Afruzbek IBRAGIMOV (UZB), 10-0

51kg
GOLD: Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) df. Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE), 9-0

BRONZE: Gevorg HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Saba ABASHIDZE (GEO), 5-0
BRONZE: Artem TKACHENKO (RUS) df. Vadim TARELUNGA (MDA), 7-5

60kg
GOLD: Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) df. Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK), 8-6

BRONZE: Sadriddin TULKINBOEV (UZB) df. Alexandru LUNGU (ROU), 10-2
BRONZE: Elmir CHARKAZOV (AZE) df. Hinata HANAMORI (JPN), 9-0

71kg
GOLD: Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) df. Aslan DZUEV (RUS), 4-3

BRONZE: Alinur TOLEUGALI (KAZ) df. Esmaeil ZAHERDOUST (IRI), 11-3
BRONZE: Ervin CZUCZOR (HUN) df. Kristiyan KRASTEV (BUL), 5-1

92kg
GOLD: Tomasz MITAL (POL) df. Hlib YEVSIEIEV (UKR), 3-2

BRONZE: Yusuf AKSU (TUR) df. Sandor ANTALY (HUN), 5-1
BRONZE: Amirreza MEHRITALAR (IRI) df. Mirjalol SHOVKATOV (UZB), 4-3

Obituary

Abdullah Movahed: Iranian Legend Who Elevated Wrestling to Art Form

Friday, May 1, 2026 - 10:44 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland, (May 1) -- Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI), one of the all-time greats of world wrestling and a dominant force in Freestyle during the 1960s, passed away in the United States on Thursday, April 30, after suffering a heart stroke. The Iranian legend was 86.

A member of the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame, Movahed’s name became synonymous with technical brilliance and relentless discipline. A five-time world champion, an Olympic gold medalist and twice Asian Games winner, Movahed was at the forefront of an era of Iranian excellence on the global stage. Competing in the 68kg and 70kg Freestyle weight classes, Movahed achieved a level of sustained dominance rarely seen in the sport.

Born in March 1940 in Babolsar, in Iran’s Mazandaran province, Movahed was introduced to volleyball as a young boy and was known locally for his exploits as a spiker. However, he quit the sport as he felt he wasn’t tall enough and didn’t believe he was suited for it. Ultimately, it was on the wrestling mat that he would carve out his legacy. 

He went on to join the Tehran Javan Sports Club, and as a youngster, Movahed didn’t have it easy. He frequently lost to established wrestlers like Mohammad SANATGARAN (IRI). However, he persevered, and coaches recognized his rare blend of agility, intelligence, and composure under pressure. These traits would define his career.

Movahed emerged during a time when Iranian wrestling was rich in talent. He shared the stage with wrestling legends such as Gholamreza TAKHTI (IRI), Mansour MEHDIZADEH (IRI), Ebrahim SEYFPOUR (IRI), and Emamali HABIBI (IRI). In such a company, greatness was neither guaranteed nor easily attained, but Movahed’s rise was swift.

His breakthrough came in 1962, when the erstwhile Soviet Union’s Freestyle champions travelled to Iran for a series of friendly bouts. His win over Zarbag BERYASHVILI made him an overnight sensation in Iran, and the following year, Movahed made his debut for the Iranian national team at the World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

As a 23-year-old rookie, Movahed didn’t make much of an impact -- he shared sixth place with well-known Bulgarian wrestler Enyu VALCHEV (BUL). At the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, he showed signs of improvement and finished fourth. A year later, at the World Championships in Manchester, he claimed his first world title, beginning an extraordinary run.

Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI)

From 1965 to 1970, Movahed was virtually untouchable. He won six consecutive major global titles at 68kg and 70kg, including World Championships in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1970, along with Olympic gold at the 1968 Summer Olympics. That 1968 triumph, often cited as the pinnacle of his career, showcased his tactical mastery and unyielding determination. He also won the gold medal at the 1966 and 1970 Asian Games.

He returned for the 1972 Summer Olympics, but an unfortunate shoulder injury cut his campaign short, preventing a final chapter that might have further illuminated his already illustrious record. After the Games, Movahed, who had a master’s degree, moved to the USA, where he pursued a PhD at George Washington University. He continued to live there after earning his doctorate and worked as a mechanic.

Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI)

Beyond his medals, Movahed’s legacy lies in the standard he set. He helped define a golden generation of Iranian wrestling and inspired countless athletes who followed in his footsteps. His induction into the United World Wrestling's Hall of Fame secured his place among the all-time greats.

In mourning his passing, the wrestling world remembers not just a champion, but a craftsman whose sustained excellence elevated freestyle wrestling to an art form.