Yasar Dogu to Determine Overwhelming Number of World Championship Top-Four Seeds

Tuesday, June 18, 2019 - 14:38 By Eric Olanowski

VEVEY, Switzerland (July 16) -- After several months of jockeying for individual Ranking Series points, the final freestyle Ranking Series event of the year, and the pre-seeds for the World Championships in Nur-Sultan, are only a month away. The Yasar Dogu will take place from July 11 to 14 in Istanbul with more than 370 wrestlers expected in freestyle and women’s wrestling.

With many top-four seeds up for grabs, there is still a lot at stake -- 18 Ranking Series points to be exact. Of the current 40 top-four seeds, five wrestlers have seized the No. 1 seed, 17 wrestlers have cemented at least a top-four seed, leaving 23 seeds open for the taking. Wildly enough, there are still 150 non-seeded wrestlers that can steal a seed for September's World Championships.

How Many Non-Seeded Wrestlers Can Still Earn A Seed?
57kg - 7
61kg - 7
65kg - 36
70kg - 41
74kg - 1
79kg - 36
85kg - 7
92kg - 5
97kg - 6
125kg - 4

Atli and Uguev Locked up Top-Two Seeds at 57kg
Suleyman ATLI (TUR) and Zavur UGUEV (RUS) will be the top two seeds at 57kg, but seven wrestlers can still steal the third or fourth seed from current holders Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) and Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ).

Defending European champion Suleyman Atli and Budapest world champion Zavur Uguev have 61 and 60 points respectively and have built at least a 19-point lead over their closest competition. Although Atli and Uguev can flip flop each other for the first and second spots, it's numerically impossible for anyone to pass them.

Last year’s world bronze medalist Yuki Takahashi and Budapest silver medalist Nurislam Sanayev are ranked third and fourth respectively. Seven wrestlers can steal a third or fourth seed from Takahashi and Sanayev. Of those seven wrestlers within striking distance, Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) and Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA) are the only two entered into the Yasar Dogu. Vangelov is ranked eighth with 28 points and needs at least 13 points to jump into a top-four seed; and Davidovi, who is ranked ninth with 26 points, requires at least 15 points to earn a seed.

Top 10 at 57kg
61 Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
60 Zavur UGUEV(RUS)
41 Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN)
40 Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ)
36 Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB)
34 Muslim SADULAEV (RUS)
32 Thomas Patrick GILMAN (USA)
28 Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL)
26 Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA)
26 Darthe CAPELLAN (CAN)

“Big Move Bonne” Nabs First Seed at 61kg
The only wrestler that's locked up their seed at 61kg is defending world champion Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB). "Big Move Bonne" has 76 points, which is 23 points ahead of Joseph COLON (USA), who has 53 points.

Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) and Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) are the third and fourth-ranked wrestlers respectively, but the Russian departed 61kg and moved up to the Olympic weight category of 65kg. Rashidov’s bump in weight slides Lomtadze into the third position and inserts Romania's Nikolai OKHLOPKOV into the mix. He'll move into the fourth seed at 61kg.

There are now six wrestlers who are within eight points of fourth-seeded Okhlopkov, but only two of those wrestlers have entered their names into the Yasar Dogu. They're No. 5 Rahul AWARE (IND) and No. 10 Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI). Aware is only two points away from earning a seed at 61kg, while Ehsanpoor sits eight points out from jumping into the No. 4 slot.

Top 10 at 61kg
76 Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
53 Joseph Daniel COLON (USA) *Not expected to compete for USA*
40 Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS)
38 Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)
28 Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU)
26 Rahul Balasaheb AWARE (IND)
25 Tuvshintulga TUMENBILEG (MGL)
21 Mohamed Al Amine LAKEL (ALG)\
20 Mohammadbagher Esmaeil YAKHKESHI (IRI)
20 Behnam Eshagh EHSANPOOR (IRI)

Bajrang and Otoguro Will Be Top-Two Seeds at 65kg
Perhaps the most wide-open weight heading into the final Ranking Series event is at 65kg. Outside of India's top-ranked Bajrang BAJRANG and Japan's Takuto OTOGURO locking up their top-two seeds, there are still 36 wrestlers who could sneak into at least a fourth seed.

As the rankings sit right now, Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) and Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR) are ranked third and fourth respectively. There are six wrestlers within a distance of third-ranked Chakaev, but 36 wrestlers can still steal the fourth-spot from European silver medalist Kilicsallayan. Of those 36 wrestlers who can take the four-spot from the Turkish wrestler, only No. 21 Kaireddine BEN TELILI (TUN), No. 28 Peiman Bioukagha BIABANI (IRI), and No. 40 Haji ALI (BRN) will make the trip to Istanbul in July.

Top 10 at 65kg
78 Bajrang BAJRANG (IND)
60 Takuto OTOGURO (JPN)
41 Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS)
32 Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)
32 Nachyn KUULAR (RUS)
30 Sayatbek OKASSOV (KAZ)
28 Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
28 Niurhun SKRABIN (BLR)
25 Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB)
22 Haji ALIYEV (AZE)

Gazimagomedov Leads By 52 Points, Seals up No. 1 Seed at 70kg
Russia's defending world champion Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV has amassed 92 points and has cemented his spot as the weights No. 1 seed. Bahrain's second-ranked Adam BATIROV jumped up to the Olympic weight of 74kg for the Asian Championships but is moving back down to 70kg for the Yasar Dogu. It's not yet clear what weight Batirov will go for the World Championships.

After Gazimagomedov and Batirov, the other top-four ranked wrestlers are Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) and Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR). Kaipanov, the Asian and Sassari champion, is ranked third with 36 points, and Kvyatkovskyy is ranked fourth with 30 points.

Gazimagomedov is the only wrestler who has locked up his seed for the World Championships. There are still eight wrestlers who can catch Batirov, but only No. 8 Fares LAKEL (ALG) (26 points) will compete at the Yasar Dogu.

Kaipanov has 15 wrestlers chasing him, while 41 wrestlers are within striking distance of Kvyatkovskyy. The wrestlers who can overtake either the third or fourth spot that are entered into the Yasar Dogu are Lakel, Kaya, Mustafayev, and No. 44 Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL).

Top 10 at 70kg
92 Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS)
40 Adam BATIROV (BRN)
36 Nurkozha KAIPANOV(KAZ)
30 Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR)
28 Yones Aliakbar EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
26 Devid SAFARYAN (ARM)
26 Batyr BORJAKOV (TKM)
26 Fares LAKEL (ALG)
25 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI(GEO)
25 Franklin MAREN CASTILLO (CUB)

Sidakov, Chamizo, and Burroughs Cement Seeds at 74kg
Arguably the most straightforward weight class in the world is 74kg. Although there's only one wrestler who could sneak into a top-four seed, only 18 points separate first-seeded Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) from fourth-seeded Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO).

Italy's Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ won the Sassari in his home country and jumped from fourth to second, and finds himself four points behind the Russian defending world champion. Chamizo has already entered his name into the Yasar Dogu. If he at least places, he'll take over the top spot at the 2019 World Championships, pitting him against world runner-up Kentchadze in the semifinals.

America's Budapest world bronze medalist Jordan BURROUGHS sits in the third spot, 13 points behind top-ranked Sidakov.

Unlike many of the other weight classes, there's only one wrestler who could sneak into the top four of the world rankings, and that's Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB). Abdurkhmonov would have to win the Yasar Dogu to jump into the top four. If he won the final Ranking Series event, he'd have one more point than Georgia's fourth-ranked Avtandil Kentchadze.

Top 10 at 74kg
76 Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS)
72 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ(ITA)
63 Jordan Ernest BURROUGHS(USA)
58 Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
41 Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV(UZB)
38 Azamat NURYKAU (BLR)
34 Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ)
28 Yakup GOR (TUR)
28 Amit Kumar DHANKHAR (IND)
28 Timur BIZHOEV (RUS)

Dake and Hasanov Tied For First at 79kg Heading into Yasar Dogu
The top-three finishers respectively at the World Championships: Kyle DAKE (USA), Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE), and Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) have locked up the top three seeds at the World Championships. Dake and Hasanov both have 60 points, but the American holds criteria because of his Budapest World Championship placement. Gadzhimagmedov sits three points behind the pair of world finalists with 57 points. The trio of top-three guys have built at least a 27-point lead over fourth-ranked Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ) who heads into the Yasari Dogu with 30 points.

Though Usserbayev's fourth seed is in jeopardy because he's not entered into the Yasar Dogu, and four wrestlers who can steal the spot are entered. The four wrestlers who are within 10 points of overthrowing Usserbayev are No.5 Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG), No. 6 Parveen RANA (IND), No. 11 Muhammet KOTANOGLU (TUR), and No. 17 Bahman TEYMOURI (IRI).

Top 10 at 79kg
60 Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA)
60 Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE)
57 Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS)
30 Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ)
28 Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG)
28 Parveen RANA (IND)
28 Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO)
26 Unurbat PUREVJAV (MGL)
26 Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU)
26 Alexander David DIERINGER (USA)

Erdin Locks up Top-Seed at 86kg After Taylor Undergoes Knee Surgery
Reigning 86kg world champion David TAYLOR (USA) recently had surgery on his knee and was forced to sit out of America's World Team selection tournament, Final X -- meaning he'll miss the 2019 World Championships. Taylor's absence means two things. First, Turkey's world runner-up Fatih ERDIN has locked up the 86kg top seed. Second, Taylor will forfeit his No. 2 seed, which will move up the third through fifth-ranked wrestlers.

Four points separates Iran's soon-to-be second-ranked Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (43 points) and Spain's eventual fourth-ranked Taimuraz FRIEV (39 points). But, Slovakia's third-ranked Boris MAKOEV (39 points) and Spain's Taimuraz Friev won't wrestle at the Yasar Dogu. Makoev and Friev's absence leaves the door open for the six wrestlers that are looking to steal a seed. Currently, India's ninth-ranked Deepak PUNIA (28 points), who finds himself 11 points away from a world seed, is the only wrestler that could overthrow Friev that'll compete at the Yasar Dogu.

*Top-ranked Erdin and second-ranked Yazdanicharati will both wrestle at the Yasar Dogu.

Top 10 at 86kg
84 Fatih ERDIN (TUR)
80 David TAYLOR III (USA)
43 Hassan Aliazam YAZDANICHARATI(IRI)
40 Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
39 Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP)
36 Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS)
34 Vladislav VALIEV (RUS)
34 Ali SHABANAU (BLR)
28 Deepak PUNIA (IND)
26 Akhmed AIBUEV (FRA)

Cox Without of Reach, Will Be Top Seed at 92kg
Defending world champion J'Den COX (USA) has a commanding 19-point lead over second-ranked Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) and has locked up the No. 1 seed at 92kg at the World Championships.

There can only be one wrestler per nation per weight at the World Championships so Russia will be forced to forfeit one of their two top-four seeds. Right now, Magomed KURBANOV holds the third seed and a two-point advantage over fellow Russian and fourth-seeded Batyrbek TCAKULOV. Kurbanov has 44 points, and Tcakulov has 42 points.

After Russia drops one of their two top-four seeds, the fourth seed will likely go to Georgia's seventh-ranked Irakli MTSITURI, who has 30 points. The reason being, fifth-ranked Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN) and sixth Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) have transitioned to the Olympic weight of 97kg.

Mtsituri taking over the No. 4 spot means that if Turkey's eighth-ranked Ibrahim BOLUKBASI and India's ninth-ranked Viky VIKY score more than five points at the Yasar Dogu, they will gain the No. 4 seed at the World Championships.

Top 10 at 92kg
78 J'Den Michael Tbory COX (USA)
59 Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI)
44 Magomed KURBANOV (RUS)
42 Batyrbek TCAKULOV(RUS)
41 Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN)
40 Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR)
30 Irakli MTSITURI (GEO)
26 Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR)
25 Viky VIKY (IND)
22 Ulziisaikhan BAASANTSOGT (MGL)

Sadulaev and Snyder Will Be Top Two Seeds At 97kg
The two pound-for-pound kings Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) have locked up the top two seeds at 97kg and are only separated by two points heading into the final Ranking Series event. "The Russian Tank" has 80 points, which is good enough for the No. 1 ranking. "Captain America" has 78 points and is ranked No. 2 at 97kg.

The third and fourth seeds are still open for the takers. Right now, Mongolia's Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN and Georgia's Elizbar ODIKADZE are the third and fourth-ranked wrestlers respectively. Italy's Abraham CONYEDO RUANO still has a chance to take over the third spot with a win in Istanbul, while five others can potentially steal the fourth spot from Odikadze.

Of those who can sneak into a top-four seed, No. 5 Conyedo Ruano, Iran's seventh-ranked Reza YAZDANI and Turkey's tenth-ranked Baki SAHIN are entered into the Yasar Dogu.

Top 10 at 97kg
80 Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS)
78 Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA)
54 Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
41 Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO)
37 Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA)
36 Igor OVSIANNIKOV (RUS)
34 Reza Mohammad Ali YAZDANI (IRI)
32 Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR)
26 Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)
24 Baki SAHIN (TUR)

Akgul Needs One Point to Ensure He’s on Opposite Side as Petriashvili
As it sits right now, Georgia's top-ranked Geno PETRIASHVILI (88 points) has apprehended the No. 1 seed at the World Championships and would meet Turkey's Olympic champion and fourth-ranked Taha AKGUL in the semifinals. But, that has the potential to change over the next month because Taha will wrestle at the Yasar Dogu in his home country.

Taha and Russia's third-ranked Anzor KHIZRIEV are tied with 50 points apiece, but Khizriev holds the advantage because he placed higher at the Budapest World Championships. The Turkish big man cannot catch China's second-ranked DENG Zhiwei, so his goal at the Yasar Dogu is to pick up at least a point. That'll put him ahead of Khizriev, but more importantly, get him away from his biggest rival Petriashivili at the World Championships.

Outside of the top four, there is a quartet of wrestlers who can still find themselves sitting in the top-four with a promising performance at the Yasar Dogu. Of those four, India's Sumit SUMIT (36 points) is the only one entered that has the potential to catch Khizriev and Akgul. Sumit would have to score at least 15 points and hope that Taha does not wrestle to grab the fourth seed.

Top 10 at 125kg
88 Geno PETRIASHVILI(GEO)
77 Zhiwei DENG(CHN)
50 Anzor Ruslanovitch KHIZRIEV (RUS)
50 Taha AKGUL (TUR)
45 Nicholas Edward GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)
41 Parviz HADIBASMANJ (IRI)
38 Daniel LIGETI(HUN)
36 Sumit SUMIT (IND)
30 Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR)
22 Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ)

*The United States, who usually sends their first team to the Yasar Dogu, has not entered anyone as of Monday night.

#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).

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