#WrestleIstanbul

#WrestleIstanbul Yasar Dogu Entry List

By United World Wrestling Press

ISTANBUL, Turkey (February 8) -- An insane list of world and Olympic champions have entered their names into the prestigious Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event in Istanbul, Turkey (February 24-27).

The Yasar Dogu will be the first of four Ranking Series events of the year where wrestlers will look to accumulate seeding points for September's World Championships.

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), Victor CIOBANU (MDA), Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and Turkey wrestling's pillars Riza KAYAALP (TUR) and Taha AKGUL (TUR) are some of the biggest names that will be on the mat from February 24 to 27.

Turkey will have the biggest contingent of all as they entered the maximum of three wrestlers in each of the 30 weight classes. Kayaalp will be in action for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics while Akgul has been on a break since winning the bronze at the Oslo Worlds. Tokyo Olympian Suleyman ATLI (TUR) will be at 61kg in freestyle. Veteran Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) will try his luck in 74kg.

Iran is bringing a young squad with Amirmohammad Babak YAZDANICHERATI (IRI) leading the charge of the team which also features rising stars Alireza SARLAK (IRI) and Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI). 

Kazakhstan is also flying with a big squad with at least two entries in each of the 30 weight classes. All eyes will be on former U23 world silver medalist and Asian champion Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) who finally makes a move to Olympic weight class 65kg from his preferred 61kg.

The Russian Wrestling Federation will treat the Yasar Dogu as a trial for the senior European Championships. They've entered 65kg Ivan Yarguin champion Shamil MAMEDOV (RWF) and world champion Zagir SHAKHIEV (RWF) for the event.

Russia is also expected to use the Dan Kolov, which takes place a week before the Yasar Dogu, as a European Championships selection competition. Depending on how things play out in Bulgaria, there's a chance we don't see Sidakov, Valiev, Mamedov and Shakhiev in Istanbul.

Olympic champ Burroughs will return to wrestling for the first time since his record sixth world title win. He is expected to take home ranking points at 79kg. Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) and David MC FADDEN (USA) are also entered at 79kg for the United States.

Joseph MCKENNA (USA) and Evan HENDERSON (USA) make up the Stars and Stripes lineup at 65kg while Jordan OLIVER (USA), James GREEN (USA) and Anthony ASHNAULT (USA) will be at 70kg. Mark HALL (USA) will also be wrestling at 86kg.

In women's wrestling, Tokyo Olympian Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) is at 55kg while Ivan Yarguin champion Emma BRUNTIL (USA) and silver medalist Forrest MOLINARI (USA) will be wrestling at 65kg.

Ukraine has entered most of their U23 European and World team title-winning squads with Alina AKOBIYA (UKR) leading the charge as women's wrestling promises to be an amazing show in Istanbul.

A strong Greco-Roman performance is expected from Azerbaijan as U23 world champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) at 67kg, '21 world silver Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) at 77kg and world champion Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) will be the biggest hopes of the nation.

India's two Olympic medalists from Tokyo Bajrang PUNIA (IND) and Ravi KUMAR (IND) will be making a return to the competition since August as they will wrestle in 65kg and 61kg respectively. Four-time Ranking Series gold-medalist Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) and '19 World silver Deepak PUNIA (IND) are also performing.

Kyrgyzstan's superstar trio of women's wrestling Tynybekova, world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) are back after all three won a medal at the Oslo World Championships. Current U23 world champion at 70kg Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) will also be wrestling alongside former U23 world champion Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) who is entered at 61kg.

Bulgaria's world champion Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) is making the move up to the Olympic weight class of 62kg as she prepares for Paris 2024. But it will be a clash with former world champion and Tokyo Olympian Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) who also wrestles in the same weight class. Tokyo bronze medalist at 57kg Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) is also entered.

Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) is returning after winning the Tokyo Olympic silver as she begins another Olympic cycle with the aim to upgrade her Tokyo medal in Paris.

Moldova is bringing Greco-Roman world champion Ciobanu, along with women's wrestling pioneer Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) who suffered a heartbreaking fall at the Tokyo Olympics to return empty-handed. Oslo world silver medalist at 53kg Iulia LEORDA (MDA) will be looking to add more ranking points to her name.

Tokyo Olympians Epp MAEE (EST) and Arvi SAVOLAINEN (EST) will be leading their country's challenge in Turkey.

For United World Wrestling's latest world championship, continental championship and Ranking Series updates, please subscribe to our newsletter here.

*The entries were updated on February 15.

Jordan BURROUGHSJordan BURROUGHS (USA) is entered at 79kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Freestyle

57kg
Guesseppe REA VILLARROEL (ECU)
Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO)
Horst LEHR (GER)
Aman AMAN (IND)
Seyed AZIMISIYACHEGHAEI (IRI)
Daulet TEMIRZHANOV (KAZ)
Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ)
Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ)
Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)
Munkh BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Darian CRUZ (PUR)
Martin ZIDZIK (SVK)
Hikmatullo VOHIDOV (TJK)
Mehmet Mevlut YUCE (TUR)
Ahmet KARAVUS (TUR)
Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)
Roman HUTSULIAK (UKR)

61kg
Georgii OKOROKOV (AUS)
Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
Adam BIBOULATOV (FRA)
Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO)
Mangal KADYAN (IND)
Ravi KUMAR (IND)
Saeid ANVARIZIJOUD (IRI) 
Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI)
Shamil OMAROV (ITA)
Zhassulan TASKUL (KAZ)
Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ)
Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ)
Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
Ramiz GAMZATOV (RWF)
Recep TOPAL (TUR)
Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
Ahmet TAS (TUR)
Andrii YATSENKO (UKR)
Taras MARKOVYCH (UKR)
Nicholas MEGALUDIS (USA)
Daniel DESHAZER (USA)
Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

65kg
Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE)
Akhmednabi GVARZATILOV (AZE)
Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA)
Quentin STICKER (FRA)
Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)
Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
ROHIT (IND)
Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
Rahman Daryoosh RAHIMPOOR (IRI)
Morteza Hassanali GHIASI CHEKA (IRI)
Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ)
Adil OSPANOV (KAZ)
Bekzat YERMEKBAY (KAZ)
Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ)
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL)
Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU)
Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS)
Zagir SHAKHIEV (RUS)
Ertugrul KAHVECI (TUR)
Mensur BAYOGLU (TUR)
Munir AKTAS (TUR)
Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)
Joseph MC KENNA (USA)
Evan HENDERSON (USA)
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)
Nodir RAKHIMOV (UZB)
Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)

70kg
Gitinomagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE)
Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)
Levan KELEKHSASHVILI (GEO)
Vishal KALIRAMANA (IND)
Aliakbar FAZLIKHALILI (IRI)
Amirmohammad YAZDANICHERATI (IRI)
Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ)
Amandyk BAKEYEV (KAZ)
Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
Khanburged GANKHUYAG (MGL)
Mohammed J M Th A ABDULKAREEM (KUW)
Viktor RASSADIN (RWF)
Daniel CHOMANIC (SVK)
Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK)
Cuneyt BUDAK (TUR)
Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)
Servet COSKUN (TUR)
Ivan KUSYAK (UKR)
Jordan OLIVER (USA)
James GREEN (USA)
Anthony ASHNAULT (USA)

74kg
Soslan TIGIYEV (AZE)
Pritam PRITAM (IND)
Mohmmadsadegh FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI)
Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR)
Nurlan BEKZHANOV (KAZ)
Shynggys MUKHAMETKALIYEV (KAZ)
Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
Abdullah J M Th A ABDALKAREEM (KUW)
Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Sumiyabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Zurab KAPRAEV BELBEROVA (ROU)
Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU)
Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU)
Samet AK (TUR)
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
Tarik GUR (TUR)
Zielimkhan TOHUZOV (UKR)
Semen RADULOV (UKR)
Zielimkhan TOHUZOV (UKR)
Joey LAVALLEE (USA)
Asomiddin HASANOV (UZB)

79kg
Francisco de Deus KADIMA (ANG)
Gadzhimurad OMAROV (AZE)
Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
Giorgi SULAVA (GEO)
Gourav BALIYAN (IND)
Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI)
Meiir KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ)
Daulet YERGESH (KAZ)
Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ)
Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ)
Alans AMIROVS (LAT)
Gadzhimurad ALIKHMAEV (RWF)
Hetik CABOLOV (SRB)
Jakub SYKORA (SVK)
Nuri TEMUR (TUR)
Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR)
Abdullah ARSLAN (TUR)
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)
Kasum KASUMOV (UKR)
Dmytrii TKACHENKO (UKR)
Chandler MARSTELLER (USA)
Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)
David MC FADDEN (USA)

86kg
Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE)
Akhmed AIBUEV (FRA)
Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO)
Tarzan MAISURADZE (GEO)
Lars SCHAEFLE (GER)
Sandeep Singh MANN (IND)
Mojtaba ASGHARI OSMAVANDANI (IRI)
Ali MANSOURI (IRI)
Abylaikhan NURSULTANOV (KAZ)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Maksat SATYBALDY (KAZ)
Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ)
Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ)
Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT)
Temuujin MENDBILEG (MGL)
Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Ahmet KIS (TUR)
Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Fatih ERDIN (TUR)
Khasan ZAKARIIEV (UKR)
Mark HALL (USA)
Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB)

92kg
Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE)
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)
Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Viky VIKY (IND)
Ahmad BAZRIGHALEH (IRI)
Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)
Elkhan ASSADOV (KAZ)
Omar ZHUMASH (KAZ)
Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ)
Guram CHERTKOEV (RWF)
Samed OZASLAN (TUR)
Erhan YAYLACI (TUR)
Ahmet BILICI (TUR)
Andrii VLASOV (UKR)
Denys PAVLOV (UKR)

97kg
Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO)
Satywart KADIAN (IND)
Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
Bakdaulet ALMENTAY (KAZ)
Akezhan AITBEKOV (KAZ)
Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ)
Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Nicolaas DE LANGE (RSA)
Alievitch MUSAEV (RWF)
Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RWF)
Oktay CIFTCI (TUR)
Mustafa SESSIZ (TUR)
Bilal SAHIN (TUR)
Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR)
Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)
Kollin MOORE (USA)
Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB)

125kg
Johannes LUDESCHER (AUT)
Jere Tapani HEINO (FIN)
Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
Daniel LIGETI (HUN)
Shivraj RAKSHE (IND)
Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ)
Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)
Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ)
Muzafar ZHAPPUEV (KGZ)
Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
Vitalii GOLOEV (RWF)
Atsamaz TEBLOEV (RWF)
Magomedgadzhi NURASULOV (SRB)
Gabriel TYSZ (SVK)
Salim ERCAN (TUR)
Muhammed BANDIRMA (TUR)
Taha AKGUL (TUR)
Volodymyr BURUKOV (UKR)
Oleksandr KOLDOVSKYI (UKR)
Hayden ZILLMER (USA)
Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)
Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)
Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB)

Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) headlines the Yasar Dogu Greco-Roman entries. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Ibrahim NURULLAYEV (AZE)
Sandeep SANDEEP (IND)
Nurzat KABDYRAKHIMOV (KAZ)
Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)
Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ)
Dogus AYAZCI (TUR)
Ahmet TASKINOGLU (TUR)

Himmet SANDIKLILI (TUR)

60kg
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)
Marat GARIPOV (BRA)
Gyanender GYANENDER (IND)
Dastan ZARLYKHANOV (KAZ)
Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ)
Mert ILBARS (TUR)
Ekrem OZTURK (TUR)
Ayhan KARAKUS (TUR)
Firuz TUKHTAEV (UZB)

63kg
Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE)
Sagar SAGAR (IND)
Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ)
Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ)
Bagylan ZHAKANSHA (KAZ)
Dastan KADYROV (KGZ)
Justas PETRAVICIUS (LTU)
Victor CIOBANU (MDA)
Rahman BILICI (TUR)
Ahmet UYAR (TUR)
Abdurrahman ALTAN (TUR)
Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

67kg
Namaz RUSTAMOV (AZE)
Ashu ASHU (IND)
Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ)
Daniyar KALENOV (KAZ)
Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)
Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ)
Donior ISLAMOV (MDA)
Morten THORESEN (NOR)
Volkan CAKIL (TUR)
Furkan YILDIZ (TUR)
Murat FIRAT (TUR)
Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)

72kg
Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE)
Mikko PELTOKANGAS (FIN)
Vikas VIKAS (IND)
Alikhan KOKENOV (KAZ)
Azat SADYKOV (KAZ)
Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ)
Suimon IKRAMOV (KGZ)
Bek KONURBAEV (KGZ)
Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU)
Mateusz BERNATEK (POL)
Murat DAG (TUR)
Selcuk CAN (TUR)
Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR)
Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB)

77kg
Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)
Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)
Matias LIPASTI (FIN)
Sajan SAJAN (IND)
Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ)
Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV (KAZ)
Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ)
Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL)
Viktor NEMES (SRB)
Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR)
Yunus BASAR (TUR)
Furkan BAYRAK (TUR)
Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)

82kg
Tunjay VAZIRZADE (AZE)
Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)
Harpeet SINGH (IND)
Ilimdor SATAYEV (KAZ)
Rakhmet SAPIYEV (KAZ)
Dias KALEN (KAZ)
Mihail BRADU (MDA)
Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)
Emrah KUS (TUR)
Hasan KILINC (TUR)

87kg
Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Umalt DAUDOV (KAZ)
Zhantas NURGALI (KAZ)
Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL)
Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB)
Mehmetali KUCUKOSMAN (TUR)
Ali CENGIZ (TUR)
Metehan BASAR (TUR)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)
Nurbek KHASHIMBEKOV (UZB)

97kg
Daniel GASTL (AUT)
Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE)
Murat LOKIAYEV (AZE)
Igor ALVES DE QUEIROZ (BRA)
Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
Hardeep HARDEEP (IND)
Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA)
Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ)
Islam UMAYEV (KAZ)
Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU)
Vilius LAURINAITIS (LTU)
Felix BALDAUF (NOR)
Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL)
Mihail KAJAIA (SRB)
Abdul CEBI (TUR)
Ibrahim TIGCI (TUR)
Beytullah KAYISDAG (TUR)
Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)
Abrorbek NURMUKHAMMEDOV (UZB)

130kg
Beka KANDELAKI (AZE)
Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN)
Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE)
Naveen NAVEEN (IND)
Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA)
Anton SAVENKO (KAZ)
Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
Romas FRIDRIKAS (LTU)
Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU)
Oskar MARVIK (NOR)
Rafal KRAJEWSKI (POL)
Atalay AYDEMIR (TUR)
Osman YILDIRIM (TUR)
Riza KAYAALP (TUR)
Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

World champion and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) will compete at 68kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Turkan NASIROVA (AZE)
Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR)
Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA)
Miglena SELISHKA (BUL)
Shivani PAWAR (IND)
Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ)
Aigul NURALIM (KAZ)
Gabija DILYTE (LTU)
Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL)
Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL)
Agata Marta WALERZAK (POL)
Weronika SIKORA (POL)
Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
Alina VUC (ROU)
Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS)
Polina LUKINA (RUS)
Anzhelika FEDOROVA (RUS)
Sarra HAMDI (TUN)
Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR)
Emine CATALOGLU (TUR)
Aynur ERGE (TUR)
Tetiana PROFATILOVA (UKR)
Erin GOLSTON (USA)
Amy FEARNSIDE (USA)
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)

53kg
Tatyana VARANSOVA (AZE)
Katsiaryna PICHKOUSKAYA (BLR)
Annika WENDLE (GER)
Pooja GEHLOT (IND)
Assylzat SAGYMBAY (KAZ)
Ellada MAKHYADDINOVA (KAZ)
Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ)
Iulia LEORDA (MDA)
Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL)
Milana MAKHACHEVA DADASHEVA (RWF)
Anzhelika VETOSHKINA (RWF)
Leila KARYMOVA (RWF)
Emma MALMGREN (SWE)
Sila AYKUL (TUR)
Semanur KANLI (TUR)
Esra PUL (TUR)
Liliya HORISHNA (UKR)
Dominique PARRISH (USA)
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

55kg
Anju ANJU (IND)
Vinesh VINESH (IND)
Aisha KAPPAR (KAZ)
Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ)
Ainur ASHIMOVA (KAZ)
Laura STANELYTE (LTU)
Roksana ZASINA (POL)
Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)
Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RWF)
Ekaterina ISAKOVA (RWF)
Tatiana NOVIK (RWF)
Eda TEKIN (TUR)
Mehlika OZTURK (TUR)
Sinem KOROGLU (TUR)
Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR)
Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)

57kg
Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR)
Hanna VAHER (BLR)
Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)
Jenna HEMIAE (FIN)
Elena BRUGGER (GER)
Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
Mansi MANSI (IND)
Emma TISSINA (KAZ)
Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
Aisha UALISHAN (KAZ)
Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
Omolayo KOLAWOLE (NGR)
Alicja CZYZOWICZ (POL)
Anhelina LYSAK (POL)
Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RWF)
Irina OLOGONOVA (RWF)
Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RWF)
Bediha GUN (TUR)
Derya BAYHAN (TUR)
Ozge FINDIKCI (TUR)
Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)

59kg59kg
Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
Sarita SARITA (IND)
Madina AMAN (KAZ)
Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)
Aizhan ISMAGULOVA (KAZ)
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)
Grace BULLEN (NOR)
Jowita WRZESIEN (POL)
Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU)
Zhargalma TSYREMPILOVA TCYRENOVA (RWF)
Zelfira SADRADDINOVA (RWF)
Anastasiia IAKOVLEVA (RWF)
Elmas CELIK (TUR)
Elif YANIK (TUR)
Nurife DUMAN (TUR)
Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)
Yuliia LISOVSKA (UKR)
Michaela BECK (USA)
Sophia MIRABELLA (USA)

62kg
Veranika IVANOVA (BLR)
Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL)
Taybe YUSEIN (BUL)
Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)
Sangeeta SANGEETA (IND)
Sakshi MALIK (IND)
Tynys DUBEK (KAZ)
Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ)
Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ)
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL)
Natalia KUBATY (POL)
Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL)
Svetlana LIPATOVA (RWF)
Anastasiia PAROKHINA (RWF)
Khadizhat MURTUZALIEVA (RWF)
Marwa AMRI (TUN)
Gamze ADAKAN (TUR)
Hatice TEKIN (TUR)
Ebru YILMAZ (TUR)
Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR)
Macey KILTY (USA)
Rushana ABDIRASULOVA (UZB)
Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB)

65kg
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
Sofiya GEORGIEVA (BUL)
Nisha NISHA (IND)
Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Dariga ABEN (KAZ)
Kriszta INCZE (ROU) 
Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RWF)
Uliana TUKURENOVA (RWF)
Dinara KUDAEVA SALIKHOVA (RWF)
Khadija JLASSI (TUN)
Asli TUGCU (TUR)
Gulsum BINGOL (TUR)
Derya KARADUMAN (TUR)
Antonyna KULAHINA (UKR)
Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)
Forrest MOLINARI (USA)
Mallory VELTE (USA)
Emma BRUNTIL (USA)
Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB)

68kg
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Ritu RITU (IND)
Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
Natalia STRZALKA (POL)
Zuzanna WOLCZYNSKA (POL)
Khanum VELIEVA (RWF)
Marina SUROVTSEVA (RWF)
Tatiana SMOLIAK (RWF)
Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Havva DURAN (TUR)
Alla BELINSKA (UKR)
Nicole PIEARCY (USA)
Azoda ESBERGENOVA (UZB)

72kg
Anna SCHELL (GER)
Pinki PINKI (IND)
Alexandra ZAITSEVA (KAZ)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU)
Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)
Kseniia BURAKOVA (RUS)
Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR)
Nazar BATIR (TUR)
Vahide GOK (TUR)

76kg
Martina KUENZ (AUT)
Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR)
Mariya ORYASHKOVA (BUL)
Samar HAMZA (EGY)
Francy RAEDELT (GER)
Gursharanpreet KAUR(IND)
Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Patrycja SPERKA (POL)
Catalina AXENTE (ROU)
Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS)
Kristina SHUMOVA (RUS)
Rita TALISMANOVA (RUS)
Beste CIVELEK ALTUG (TUR)
Melisa SARITAC (TUR)
Melike KOZGUN (TUR)
Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTOVA (UKR)
Precious BELL (USA)
Victoria FRANCIS (USA)
Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB)

#WrestleZagreb

Uguev ends six-year world title drought with 61kg gold

By Ken Marantz

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 13) -- With a spectacular display of his old form over two days, Zavur UGUEV (UWW) went from an afterthought back to one of the sport's most dominant wrestlers.

Uguev finessed his way to a third world title and first in six years when he captured the freestyle 61kg gold at the World Championships in Zagreb on Sunday, on the first night of finals in four Freestyle weight classes.

Uguev, the Tokyo Olympic champion at 57kg, rolled to the gold with a comprehensive 11-2 victory in the final over Asian bronze medalist Ahmad JAVAN (IRI), adding to the world titles he won in 2018 and 2019, also at 57kg.

"This is a very joyful event in my life -- I am once again on the top of the podium," Uguev said. "I am very happy and grateful to my team, my coach, my sparring partners, our national team -- thanks to everyone who played a part in my victory."

In other finals, Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) also became a three-time world champion with his third victory in five years at 125kg, while the two other golds at stake went to first-time winners who had previously made the podium, Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) at 70kg and Zahid VALENCIA (USA) at 86kg.

Uguev had been the dominant lightweight for the span from his first world title in 2018 to his Olympic triumph in 2021. But then he hit a slump with a fifth-place finish in 2023, a result he repeated in 2024, even after moving up to the non-Olympic weight class of 61kg.

This year, he gave an indication of what might lie ahead when he won his first-ever European title, having previously won a bronze in 2017 and a silver in 2018.

"I didn’t change much," Uguev said. "I just worked on our mistakes, that’s all. We didn’t invent anything new. There were mistakes, we thought them through, corrected them, and this time made only minimal ones."

Zavur UGUEV (UWW)Zavur UGUEV (UWW) tries to score against Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) in the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Uguev said he welcomes new challengers coming along to try to knock him off the throne again.

"The more new names that appear, the better," he said. "They don’t let us relax. The young wrestlers are improving a lot, and it also makes me want to work harder — to compete with the younger generation."

Regarding a possible return to 57kg, Uguev replied, "I think it’s already clear that I’ve settled into this weight and built up my physique well. I feel comfortable here now, in this weight.

"There’s still time before the [2028] Olympic Games -- we’re not thinking about that yet. For now, there’s a goal for next year. I will work, move only forward. And later we’ll see how things go."

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) wrestles Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) in the 125kg final at the World Championships. (Photo: United World Championships / Kostadin Andonov)

At 125kg, Zare reconfirmed himself as the preeminent heavyweight with a 5-0 victory in the final over European champion and Olympic bronze medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), with all of the points coming in the first period.

"I’m thankful that this [winning the title] has happened for the third time now," Zare said. "My hope is that as long as I wrestle, I can keep winning gold medals. This third one feels just as good as the others, and I dedicate it to the people of Iran."

The victory helps alleviate some of the sting of a defeat in the final at the Paris Olympics, where he was dealt a heartbreaking 10-9 loss by Geno PETRASHVILI (GEO).

"That tough experience at the Olympics was really painful, and I’ll never forget it," said Zare, who previously won world titles in 2021 and 2023. "I made mistakes myself. For the last 13 months, I’ve only been focused on training -- so that my next medal would be gold and to make up for those mistakes. I’ll keep grinding, keep pushing, until I get better and finally win that Olympic gold."

Zare also has bronze medals from the 2021 Olympics and 2022 World Championships, as well as a gold from his debut at the Asian Championships last year.

At 70kg, Aoyagi wasn't as dominating as he had been in storming into the final, but he took advantage of the opportunities presented and forged a 5-1 victory over Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL).

"The opponent completely had a strategy to counter my movement, so it made it tough," Aoyagi said. "But I also had a plan for the opponent, so I never thought I would lose."

Aoyagi's victory made up for losing in last year's final, a defeat that caused him to make changes in his approach to training and competition.

"After I lost, I dedicated myself to practice and to expanding my horizons in terms of going different places to train, and going overseas," Aoyagi said.

His overseas ventures resulted in victories at the Ranking Series events in Tirana and Budapest, along with a bronze medal at the Asian Championships, where he lost a close semifinal match to Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) -- a loss he avenged in spades in his opening match in Zagreb en route to outscoring four opponents 34-1.

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN)Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) celebrates after winning the 70kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Aoyagi also suffered a setback domestically in June, when he was beaten in the semifinals of the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships, the second of two qualifiers for the World Championships. But he came back to earn his ticket to Zagreb by winning a playoff with the eventual champion.

"A little while ago, I lost at a Japan tournament, so right now I'm No. 3 in Japan," he said. "But I never give up in trying to win. I always fight only believing that I can win."

In Sunday's final, Aoyagi gave up an activity point -- the first and only point he surrendered all tournament -- but stuffed a half-hearted arm throw attempt by Tumur Ochir for a 2-point exposure.

In the second period, he was on the verge of giving up a stepout when he suddenly rose up, reversed their positions and gained the stepout himself, which was upheld on challenge to increase his lead to 4-1.

"I knew I had my knee down and it would be no point," said Aoyagi, who would add another stepout in the final seconds. "I was aware of going out, and the opponent pushed me up a bit.

"I didn't want to let the chance get away and I reversed our positions and scored a point. Even if it had been no points, it wouldn't have changed the flow of the match."

Zahid VALENCIA (USA)Zahid VALENCIA (USA) scores a takedown against Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) in the 86kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 86kg, Valencia denied Japan a second gold on the night when he overwhelmed 2023 Asian bronze medalist Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) 12-0 to cap a successful drop from 92kg.

"I felt like I was always the best in the world," Valencia said. "I was confident in myself."

The 28-year-old Valencia, a 2023 world bronze medalist at 92kg, changed his own fortunes when, about a year ago, he decided to train with the Oklahoma State University group under the leadership of former star David TAYLOR (USA) -- a one-time nemesis of his.

"Being able to learn from someone like him, it's been amazing," Valencia said. "That's ultimately why I made the move. He's beat me so many times. I wanted to learn from him and get into his mindset of what it takes to become a world champion. I was able to do it and replicate it and bring home another one for our Team USA."

Zahid VALENCIA (USA)Zahid VALENCIA (USA), right, with coach David TAYLOR, after winning the 86kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Just to make Team USA was a challenge in itself. Valencia had to beat four-time world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) twice at the U.S. trials to earn his ticket to Zagreb. That in itself can be quite a confidence booster.

"If you make the team in the U.S., you're prepared to go be a world champ," he said. "So just go out there and let go of your fears and be courageous and let fly, go up there and score points and enjoy every moment and have fun with it."

Robert BARAN (POL)Robert BARAN (POL) celebrates after winning his bronze-medal bout at 125kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Poland's Baran earns elusive world medal

Making his seventh trip to the World Championships, Robert BARAN (POL) finally made it onto the medal podium at age 34. And he says he wants to get come back for more.

Baran won a bronze at 125kg with a solid 5-0 victory over Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN), ending a run of futility that started in 2017.

"I feel very good, it is my long-awaited first [world] medal," Baran said. "I'm very happy, very pleased, and I hope that it is not the last medal."

Baran's previous best finish was a seventh place in Belgrade in 2023. He came close at last year's Paris Olympics, but lost in the bronze-medal match to Meshvildishvili.

On Sunday, he received an activity point in each period before scoring a stepout in the second to go ahead 3-0. He capped his win with a last-second 2-point exposure.

"During the match, I was feeling great," Baran said. "We worked on a plan with the coaches and I made it work 100 percent."

The other bronze at 125kg went to Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), who caught Jonovan SMITH (PUR) with a 4-point counter that sent him to his back, then secured a fall in 4:08.

Meanwhile, Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ), a world medalist on the U23 and U20 levels, picked up his first one as a senior, but it didn't come easy nor without a bit of drama.

Yessengeldi emerged from a wild encounter with high school phenom Jax FORREST (USA) with a 10-8 victory in a bronze-medal match at 61kg that, for an agonizing moment, he had thought he had lost.

Yessengeli came back from a 8-3 deficit to go ahead 9-8 following a scramble that earned him four points. But with the seconds ticking away, he was suddenly flagged for grabbing the singlet, giving Forrest a point -- and the lead on criteria -- with :03 left. But on challenge, his despondence turned to joy when the penalty was overturned.

The other 61kg bronze went to Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE), who put on a master class of counter wrestling to defeat Kum Hyok KIM (PRK) by fall with the last of three scoring moves.

After chalking up a pair of 2-point exposures off Kim's attacks, Novruzov countered him right to his back to secure the fall in 2:19 and gain the bronze medal that evaded him last year.

Akmataliev and Nurkosha KAIPANOV (KAZ) both added to burgeoning world medal collections by taking home the 70kg bronze medals.

Akmataliev went on a six-point run in the second period to finish up an 8-2 victory over Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) and add to his world silver from 2021 and bronze from 2022.

Kaipanov, who came into Zagreb as the defending champion, also went on a second-period blitz, with his culminating in a 13-2 victory over Vasile DIACON (MDA) in 4:48. Kaipanov also has a silver from 2019.

At 86kg, Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), a two-time world champion at 92kg, bounced back from a disappointing loss to Valencia in the semifinals by manhandling Mukul DAHIYA (IND) with a 10-0 technical fall in 3:33.

Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) gave Azerbaijan its second bronze of the night by handily defeating Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) 7-0 in the other 86kg match.

READ THE DAY 2 SEMIFINALS REPORT HERE

RESULTS

Freestyle

57kg (31 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Chongsong HAN (PRK) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) by Fall, 3:47 (4-1)
SEMIFINAL: Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) df. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 8-0

61kg (26 entries)
GOLD: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Ahmad JAVAN (IRI), 11-2

BRONZE: Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ) df. Jax FORREST (USA), 10-8
BRONZE: Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Kum Hyok KIM (PRK) by Fall, 2:18 (6-0)

70kg (29 entries)
GOLD: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) df. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), 5-1

BRONZE: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), 8-2
BRONZE: Nurkosha KAIPANOV (KAZ) df. Vasile DIACON (MDA) by TF, 13-2, 4:47

74kg (35 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW), 6-4
SEMIFINAL: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 6-4

79kg (27 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), 8-3
SEMIFINAL: Levi HAINES (USA) df. Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL), 4-1

86kg (29 entries)
GOLD: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) by TF, 12-0, 4:22

BRONZE: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Mukul DAHIYA (IND) by TF, 10-0, 3:32
BRONZE: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) df. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), 7-0

92kg (26 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Trent HIDLAY (USA) df. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) by TF, 15-4, 6:00
SEMIFINAL: Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), 11-6

125kg (27 entries)
GOLD: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), 5-0

BRONZE: Robert BARAN (POL) df. Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN), 5-0
BRONZE: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Jonovan SMITH (PUR) by Fall, 4:07 (5-0)