World Champ Sakurai Successfully Moves Up to 57kg, Upends Nanjo for 2nd National Title

Saturday, December 18, 2021 - 17:41 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO, Japan (December 18) -- While winning a world title at a non-Olympic weight is a commendable accomplishment, Tsugumi SAKURAI knows it has its drawbacks in Olympic-obsessed Japan.

So less than three months after her triumph in Oslo, the 20-year-old made the move up to an Olympic division and knocked off one of its world medalists to establish herself as a contender for a ticket to Paris in 2024.

Sakurai, the world champion at women's 55kg, captured her second straight national title with a thrilling 5-2 victory in the 57kg final over two-time defending champion Sae NANJO at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships on Saturday at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym.

"My objective is to win the title at the Paris Olympics, and as 55kg is not an Olympic weight, I moved up to 57kg so I could go to the Olympics," said the soft-spoken Sakurai, who clinched the victory over the world bronze medalist Nanjo with a 4-point takedown in the final seconds.

"This tournament for me -- of course I aimed to win the championship --but because I went up a weight, I went into it regarding myself as the challenger. The fact that I could still win the title makes me feel like I have grown."

Masako FURUICHI, the women's 72kg gold medalist from this year's World Championships in Oslo, dropped to the Olympic weight of 68kg only to suffer a stunning loss, while world bronze medalists Kensuke SHIMIZU and Nonoka OZAKI both stayed put and won second straight national titles -- Shimizu at Greco 63kg and Ozaki at women's 62kg.

In freestyle, Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI, who came up short in a bid to make the Tokyo Olympics at 57kg, made the final at 61kg but lost to a wrestler coached by the man who kept him off the team to Tokyo.

The victories by Sakurai and Ozaki come with a caveat, as they came in the absences of the Tokyo Olympic champions in their weight classes, sisters Risako and Yukako KAWAI, respectively. In fact, none of Japan's Tokyo medalists are taking part in the four-day tournament that is serving as the first of two domestic qualifiers for next year's World Championships in Belgrade.

The winners earn tickets to the Asian Games in China next September, but in the race to Belgrade, will likely encounter the Olympians at the second world qualifier, the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships in the spring.

Sakurai said that her triumph in Oslo provided validation that she could compete at the highest level, an ability of which she first provided a glimpse by winning the gold at the 2020 Klippan Lady with a victory over veteran Sofia MATTSON (SWE).

"I was able to see that my wrestling can be competitive on the world level, and that gave me a big boost in confidence," said Sakurai, who last year became the first-ever national champion at Ikuei University, a school only founded in 2018. "But even though I won a world title, I can't be satisfied just yet. I feel it gets me closer to achieving my goal of winning at the next Olympics, and if I keep working hard, I can get to the Olympics."

But somewhere along the path to Paris, she knows she has to get past Risako Kawai. At this point, Sakurai is unsure how she matches up with the double Olympic champion.

"Until I face her in a match, I won't know," Sakurai said. "But her results are amazing, winning at two straight Olympics, winning many times in Japan, and constantly battling with the world's best. In the end, I will have to beat her, but she's well above me. To be able to win at the next tournament, I have to work hard."

In the final, Sakurai and Nanjo got into a defensive struggle, with neither finding an opening to take shots. Sakurai received an activity clock point in the first period, but Nanjo got two in the second to lead 2-1 with a minute to go.

As the clock ticked down to single digits, Sakurai used a 2-on-1 to set up a sweeping single-leg tackle. She managed to lift the leg in the air, then barreled forward to send Nanjo crashing out of the ring and onto her back for 4 points with less than two seconds left.

"My wrestling doesn't produce a lot of points, which has been an issue for me," Sakurai said. "But my strong point is that I fight to the end and with the feeling that I will definitely win. So even though many of my matches have close scores, I don't get impatient."

Just like at 57kg, the women's 68kg class featured a potential match-up between a reigning world champion who changed to an Olympic weight (Furuichi) and a world medalist in that division, in this case, Rin MIYAJI. Neither, however, were around for the final.

Furuichi was dealt a stunning 4-1 loss in the semifinals by Ikuei's Ami ISHII, while world silver medalist Miyaji withdrew before taking the mat after reportedly failing to recover from an injury suffered in Oslo.

Against Furuichi, Ishii was leading 2-1, all from activity points, when she clinched the win with a last-second takedown.

"I couldn't do anything," said Furuichi, one of only two wrestlers to have completed the "grand slam" of world senior, U23, junior and cadet titles.

"It's the same thing that I always regret, not having the courage to shoot for takedowns, and I want to fix that with practice."

What made her defeat more vexing was that it came at a lower weight. While Furuichi said she ballooned "quite a bit" during the two-week quarantine upon returning from Oslo, she said getting down to 68kg did not present a problem and had no effect on the outcome.

"My condition [here] was not bad," said Furuichi, who added that she had decided that the Oslo worlds would be her last tournament at a non-Olympic weight. "From now on, I will stay at the Olympic weight [of 68kg]," she said.

Ishii suffered a shocking defeat of her own in the final against defending champion Naruha MATSUYUKI, who overcame a 0-4 deficit with two takedowns in the final 30 seconds for a 4-4 victory on criteria.

Matsuyuki, the 2019 world junior champion, salvaged some pride for her family by winning her third career national title. On Thursday, twin sister Yasuha was upset in the semifinals at 76kg, and earlier Saturday, younger brother Taisei lost in the final at freestyle 86kg.

Ozaki Nonoka OZAKI claimed the gold medal at 62kg. (Tateo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

At women's 62kg, Ozaki scored a double-leg takedown with :36 left to edge two-time former champion Naomi RUIKE 4-3 in the final, making her the first student or alumnus from academically oriented Keio University to win a national title in 62 years.

Ozaki said that her experience in Oslo, where she suffered a come-from-behind loss to eventual world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) before battling her way through the repechage to the bronze medal, prepared her to be ready for all matches regardless of the round.

Ozaki got her day started by having to face 2019 world U23 and junior champion Yuzuka INAGAKI, who she defeated 5-1 in the quarterfinals with a pair of second-period takedowns.

"In this tournament, I had tough matches from the beginning," the 18-year-old said. "But I didn't let that discourage me. At the World Championships, I also came up against a strong opponent in the first round and I lost, which made me prepared.

"I look at it as an ordeal to test me. If I can fight through it, I will be the better for it. From the first round, I looked at each match as a final and this was the result. I never lost hope in every three-minute period."

Ozaki, a product of the JOC Elite Academy, is a bit of an anomaly in Japanese wrestling. Instead of opting for a wrestling powerhouse out of high school, she took and passed the difficult entrance exams for Keio, and is now a freshman in the Faculty of Environmental Information.

Among her subjects, she is currently studying Korean, and plans to also learn French, according to Tokyo Sports. A grueling course load combined with high-level wrestling practice means "I don't have much time for the fun things in college life," the true scholar-athlete said.

Like Sakurai, Ozaki has a Kawai sister blocking her road to the Paris Olympics but remains confident of forging through. "We haven't faced each other yet, but I am very aware how strong she is," Ozaki said. "But I have won the Emperor's Cup and the Meiji Cup, and I think I can give her a fight."

Shimizu Kensuke Shimizu claimed a 6-3 victory in the 63kg final over Ryuto IKEDA. (Tateo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

In Greco-Roman, Takushoku University's Shimizu lived up to the expectations that his unique family history entails with a 6-3 victory in the 63kg final over Ryuto IKEDA.

After successfully fending off Ikeda while in the par terre position in the first period, Shimizu took full advantage of his chance on top in the second period with an explosive 5-point throw.

Ikeda scored a late takedown that was too little, too late.

"I was able to defend when he got the first point, so I felt the momentum was going my way," Shimizu said. "At the World Championships, my defense was weak and that led to my defeat. I still haven't fully fixed that yet, but I feel it's coming along."

With competition at the Asian Games limited to Olympic weights, it is likely that Shimizu and other winners in non-Olympic weights will get first priority to be dispatched to the Asian Championships, scheduled for April in a place to be determined. Shimizu would like that tournament to serve as his last hurrah at 63kg before moving up to 67kg, and perhaps as a chance for some revenge.

"The next Asian Championships could very likely be my last tournament at 63kg," Shimizu said. "I think the Iran wrestler who won the world title [Meysam DALKHANI (IRI)] might enter, so I will aim to beat him."

While Shimizu himself is not a household name in Japan, his name is well known because of the exploits of his uncle, Hiroyasu SHIMIZU, who became a national hero when he won the gold medal and set the world record at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics in the men's 500 meters in speed skating.

In other Greco action, there was a changing of the guard at 97kg, in which Takahiro TSURUDA blanked Yuri NAKAZATO 6-0 in the final for his first national title, after each knocked off one of the two wrestlers who had reigned over the weight class for the past five years.

In the semifinals, Nakazato notched a 3-1 win over Yuta NARA, who held the title from 2016 to 2019, and Tsuruda followed with a 4-0 win over defending champion Masayuki AMANO.

Sakaki Ryoto SAKAKI won the 61kg final 4-0. (Tateo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

In freestyle, Yamanashi Gakuin University's Ryoto SAKAKI withstood everything that Higuchi could throw at him in the 61kg final, winning 4-0 to add to the title he won in 2019.

"Honestly speaking, I was unsure about whether or not I could win this tournament," said Sakaki, a 2020 Asian bronze medalist and 2017 world cadet champion. "That I was able to take the title, simply put, I'm really happy."

Sakaki said he sweated a bit after hearing that Higuchi was entered at 61kg. "From a while back, I had heard from a number of people that Higuchi would be entering the Emperor's Cup at 61kg, It made my heart pound," he said.

But Sakaki more than held his own against the 2018 world U23 champion, scoring a first-period takedown, then squiggling out of danger when Higuchi got behind while on their feet in the second period. At the end, Sakaki fought off a headlock attempt to score a match-clinching takedown.

Sakaki had a not-so-secret weapon in his corner, Yamanashi Gakuin coach Yuki TAKAHASHI, the former world champion who had beaten Higuchi in a playoff for the spot at the Tokyo Olympics that Higuchi had earned for Japan.

"Higuchi is really good at grabbing an arm, and of course coach Takahashi and head coach [Kunihiko] OBATA told me to be particularly careful of that," Sakaki said. "[Takahashi also said] I have a habit of floating in my stance, and he advised me to work on that."

To get to the final, Sakaki notched a 2-2 win over defending champion Kodai OGAWA of Nippon Sports Science University, who had beaten him a month earlier in the first round at the national collegiate championships.

The other freestyle golds up for grabs went to Daichi TAKATANI at 74kg and Shota SHIRAI at 86kg.

Takatani, whose lone previous title came at 65kg in 2017, defeated defending champion Kirin KINOSHITA 7-2 in a final that ended with a wild 4-point move for Takatani.

Takatani now wears the 74kg crown that his older brother, Sohsuke, wore for six years from 2011 to 2016. On Sunday, Sohsuke will attempt to win his 11th straight national title over four weight classes with a victory at 92kg.

Shirai added to the 82kg title he won in 2017 with a 5-4 victory over Matsuyuki. Shirai scored four stepouts in building a 5-0 lead, only to see Matsuyuki close the gap with a 4-point trip at the edge late in the second period.

The tournament wraps up Sunday with competition at freestyle 57kg and 92kg, Greco 55kg ad 72kg, and women's 50kg and 53kg.

Day 3 Results

Freestyle

61kg (12 entries)
Final - Ryoto SAKAKI df. Rei HIGUCHI, 4-0
3rd Place - Kodai OGAWA df. Kotaro KIYOOKA, 4-4
Semifinal - Higuchi df. Kiyooka, 2-1
Semifinal - Sakaki df. Ogawa, 2-2

74kg (12 entries)
Final - Daichi TAKATANI df. Kirin KINOSHITA, 7-2
3rd Place - Masaki SATO df. Jintaro MOTOYAMA, 3-1
Semifinal - Takatani df. Sato, 4-1
Semifinal - Kinoshita df. Motoyama, 2-1

86kg (11 entries)
Final - Shota SHIRAI df. Taisei MATSUYUKI, 5-4
3rd Place - Yajiro YAMASAKI df. Mao OKUI by TF, 10-0, 3:34
Semifinal - Matsuyuki df. Yamasaki, 3-2
Semifinal - Shirai df. Okui, 3-1

Greco-Roman

63kg (12 entries)
Final - Kensuke SHIMIZU df. Ryuto IKEDA, 6-3
3rd Place - Kazuki YABE df. Yoshiki YAMADA, 3-2
Semifinal - Shimizu df. Yabe, 3-1
Semifinal - Ikeda df. Yamada, 3-3

97kg (11 entries)
Final - Takahiro TSURUDA df. Yuri NAKAZATO, 6-0
3rd Place - Masayuki AMANO df. Yuta NARA by TF, 10-1, 2:13
Semifinal - Nakazato df. Nara, 3-1
Semifinal - Tsuruda df. Amano, 4-0

Women's Wrestling

57kg (8 entries)
Final - Tsugumi SAKURAI df. Sae NANJO, 5-2
3rd Place - Sena NAGAMOTO df. Ichika ARAI by Fall, 2:42 (8-0)
Semifinal - Nanjo df. Arai by TF, 12-1, 4:06
Semifinal - Sakurai df. Nagamoto, 3-0

62kg (9 entries)
Final - Nonoka OZAKI df. Naomi RUIKE, 4-3
3rd Place - Yui SAKANO df. Atena KODAMA, 4-1
Semifinal - Ozaki df. Kodama, 8-0
Semifinal - Ruike df. Sakano, 8-2

68kg (4 entries)
Final - Naruha MATSUYUKI df. Ami ISHII, 4-4
3rd Place - Masako FURUICHI df. Rin TERAMOTO by Def.
Semifinal - Ishii df. Furuichi, 4-1
Semifinal - Matsuyuki df. Teramoto, 5-1

#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.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PREVIEW HERE

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).

World Champ Sakurai Successfully Moves Up to 57kg, Upends Nanjo for 2nd National Title

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