#WrestleOslo Day Four Preview: WW 50kg, 53kg, 65kg and 76kg

Tuesday, September 21, 2021 - 11:35 By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 21) -- It may be missing the latest Olympic champion Aline FOCKEN (GER) but the 76kg weight class in women's wrestling at the Oslo World Championships promises to be another minefield for the competitors as four Olympic medalist including a former champion are wrestling on October 5 in Oslo, Norway. A young force of wrestlers will aim to show their dominance in Oslo as Wednesday will give them an opportunity to claim the world titles.

Tokyo Olympics silver medalist and five-time defending world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) will lead the field which will also has fellow Tokyo medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ). Rio Olympic bronze medalist Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) is also entered.

Gray become the first US wrestler in all styles to win the World Championships five times and she will be looking to defend the gold she won in Nursultan in Oslo. In Tokyo, she won the silver medal after falling to Focken in a close final. Focken announced her retirement after winning the medal.

Kyzy and Gray faced each other in the semifinal of the Tokyo Olympics and the American managed to pull off a late score to beat the Kyrgyzstan wrestler. A highly anticipated rematch between the two looks a big possibility and could well be the match of the tournament in women's wrestling.

But Wiebe, who suffered an opening round loss at the Olympics, will look to bounce back and try to win a World Championships medal. The Canadian has suffered some unexpected losses since the quarterfinal loss to Epp MAEE (EST) at the 2019 World Championships. It was again Maee who defeated her in Tokyo in the opening round ending her Olympic defence. Oslo will offer her an opportunity to make a comeback and make a run for Paris in 2024.

Even Maee will look to put the disappointment of Tokyo behind her. The senior European champion lost to Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) in the quarterfinals and failed to progress further as the Japanese lost her next bout. With a number of wrestlers missing from Oslo, Maee can lay claim to the title.

Kazakhstan veteran Syzdykova is another wrestler trying to win a World medal. Since her bronze in Rio, she has not been able to keep up the performance but a gold at the Asian Championships earlier this year in Almaty have rekindled her career.

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

On the same day, the lightest weight class in women's wrestling 50kg will also be in action and all eyes will be on Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Sarah Hilderbrandt. It's an opportunity to win a world title in the same year as the Olympic medal and with other three medalists from Tokyo missing, the USA wrestler is the biggest contender. Her exceptional run at the Olympics saw her reach the semifinal where she was leading Sun YANAN (CHN) but the latter hit a front headlock late in the bout to win. Hilderbrandt has a silver medal at the Worlds from 2018 and three years later she has a chance to get one step further.

Trying to stop her from doing that will be Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) who won the gold medal at the 2020 European Championships and faced the USA wrestler in the quarterfinal of Tokyo Olympics. Hilderbrandt notched up a stunning 12-2 win and advanced to the semifinal. Selishka will now try to reverse that result if the two face each other in Oslo.

Another of Hilderbrandt's victim in Tokyo was Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) who lost to her in the first round. The USA wrestler scored a 11-0 shut out win. The Turkey wrestler will be eyeing her first World medal.

Three of world's best 50kg wrestler have decided to skip the event. Tokyo Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and four-time Olympic medalist Maria STADNIK (AZE) will not be there is Oslo, putting an break on their fancied rivalry. Yanan, who won silver in Tokyo, will also be missing the event as the whole Chinese contingent has decided to give it a miss.

Japan will enter Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) who has won gold at cadet World and Asian Championships and will be under tremendous pressure on her international Worlds debut and keep the gold in her country in the absence of Susaki.

Another former cadet world champion and U23 world finalist Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RWF) will also be challenging her more accomplished opponents. Sokolova has been on the fringes of the national team for quite some time now but this is her first major break given that Russia in a transition phase after Tokyo Olympics. She recently won gold at the Alexander Medved tournament in Belarus.

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) will be Japan's representative at 53kg in Oslo. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The second Olympic weight class that will be in action on Wednesday will be 53kg and it awaits the senior debut of Japan's much talked about star Akari FUJINAMI (JPN).

In May, Fujinami won the All Japan Championships to qualify for Oslo. The 2017 cadet world champion earned the spot with a 10-0 technical fall win in the final over Nanami IRIE (JPN), the 2019 world silver medalist at 55kg, in a repeat of the gold-medal match at the Emperor's Cup.

"It gives me some boost of confidence, but looking at the world, I feel I need to get much stronger," Fujinami had said after her victory in May. "Many issues that need to be addressed came out, and heading to the World Championships, I will have to practice harder."

That was not the only high profile win for her as she won the semifinal 11-2 over two-time former world champion Haruna OKUNO (JPN), who has been trying to work out of a slump after losing out on the Olympic spot at 53kg to Mayu MUKAIDA.

Fujinami, who stands at 1.63 meters, has not lost since June 2017, when she was defeated in the final of the national junior high school championships to Umi ITO (JPN), who placed second on Thursday at 50kg.

But the youngster will face tough challenge from Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) and 2021 junior world champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE). Bat Ochir reached the semifinal in Tokyo but lost to eventual champion Mukaida. Then she defeated Joseph ESSOMBE (CMR) in the bronze medal match. She is now Mongolia's second ever Olympic medalist.

Malmgren will look to repeat her performance from Ufa, Russia as she won the world title in stunning fashion. The compact Malmgren has been performing at the senior level but has not registered significant results. But at the junior Worlds, she managed to overcome most opponents including a strong Moldovan in the final, winning 7-3. Malmgren, who trains at Helsingborg which has given Sweden multiple World medalists and Olympians, will now be hoping to step up at the senior level.

Irina RINGACI (MDA) and Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) are both entered at 65kg for Oslo. (Photo: UWW / Dogukan Karadag)

The final weight class on Wednesday is 65kg which will be a mix of experience and youth. Rio Olympic silver medalist Maryia MAMASHUK (BLR) will lead the field with Tokyo Olympians Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) and Kriszta INCZE (ROU).

2021 junior world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) and 2020 Individual World Cup champion Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) are also entered for the competition. Japan is sending Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), a junior world champion from 2019.

Mamashuk failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics but will be a force to reckon at the Oslo Worlds. She won the 2021 Alexander Medved tournament but before that she had struggled to pull off results at major tournaments.

Manolova and Hritsova wrestled at the 68kg weight class in Tokyo while Incze wrestled at 62kg. Manolova lost to Blessing OBRUDUDU (NGR), the silver medalist, in the opening round and later to Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) in the repechage round. Her on and off performances at the international level make her a dark horse in Oslo but a lot will depend on her draw. Hritsova is also in a similar situation and it will be a wait-and-watch as she tries to win a World medal. She lost to Zhumanazarova in the open round in Tokyo.

Incze too has failed to win a medal at the World Championships despite winning medals at the European Championships and Games. She lost to Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) in the quarterfinal and later to Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) in the repechage rounds.

Ringaci and Rizhko will be resuming their fierce rivalry in Oslo and the two has exchanged finals at the 2020 Individual World Cup and senior European Championships in 2021. Ringaci won the final in Warsaw while it was Rizhko who won in Belgrade.

Ringaci has been part of Moldova's strong female contingent for some time but did not have any world title. But in August, she had a run of her life in Ufa, Russia to win the gold and claim her first one. In Oslo, she can well be on the part to claim her second one and first senior-level World gold. Rizhko on the other hand lost the senior Euros but won the U23 European gold.

#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.

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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).

#WrestleOslo Day Four Preview: WW 50kg, 53kg, 65kg and 76kg

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U17 World Wrestling Championships 2025 Preview