MACON, France (27 August) – The Rio 2016 Olympic Games are in the books. And, among the names of wrestlers that captured the imagination of fans at Carioca Arena were Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI), Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Risako KAWAI (JPN).

All three wrestlers won junior world titles during the previous Olympiad (2012-2015) before snaring gold medals at Rio 2016. Moreover, 2014 junior world champs Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) and Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) won bronze medals in Greco-Roman at Rio 2016.

But, it is not unusual for junior world medalists to make their mark at the Olympic Games.

At London 2012, gold medalists Togrul ASGAROV (AZE), Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) and Roman VLASOV (RUS) were all junior world champs during the previous Olympiad (2008-2011).

And, at Beijing 2008, junior world champs Islambek ALBIEV (RUS), WANG Jiao (CHN) and junior world silver medalist Henry CEJUDO (USA) were among the gold medalists.

Of course, not every junior world champion is going to be an Olympic Games gold medalist, nor is every Olympic medalist required to have junior world credentials. But, any speculation about wrestling hopefuls at Tokyo 2020 begins naturally with this week’s championships in Macon.

Greco-Roman

Wrestling gets under way Tuesday with 2015 junior world silver medalist Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) and 2015 cadet world champ Giovanni FRENI (ITA) stepping onto the mats at 50kg.

Another junior world silver medalist, Amirhossein HOSSEINI (IRI) is junior champ in Asia and looks at a possible showdown with European winner Ruslan BEKUZAROV (RUS) at 96kg.

On the second day of competition, three-time European champ Islam ABBASOV (AZE) looks for his second junior world title after being toppled in the 2015 finals.  He will be challenged by rival Ali CENGIZ (TUR), the 2015 world champ and 2016 European silver medalist.

Defending world champions Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) and Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) also look to add another world title to their credentials at 66kg and 120kg, respectively. Cadet world bronze medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) and cadet world champ Amin MIRZADEH (IRI) will challenge.

Women’s Wrestling

Oksana LIVACH (UKR) has reached the medal podiums in each of her seven visits to age-group competition, including the 44kg title at the European junior meet in June. Teammate and cadet world champion Anzhelina LYSAK (UKR) joins at 59kg after finishing runner-up at the European under-23 meet in March.

Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) appears at 67kg after winning the cadet world crown in 2015, the European junior title in June, and finishing third at the Rio 2016 qualifiers in April and May – narrowly missing in her bid to wrestle at Rio 2016.

On the second day of women’s events, two-time junior world champ at 67kg Masako FURUICHI (JPN) moves up to 72kg and leads a charge of Japan’s future Olympic hopefuls, including defending world champ Miho IGARASHI (48kg) and Klippan Open runner-up Mayu MUKAIDA (55kg).

At 63kg, three-time Asia junior champion Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) looks at potential showdown with European champion Kriszta INCZE (ROU).

Freestyle

Spencer LEE (USA) comes in as defending champion at 50kg along with 2015 finals opponent Alireza GODARZI (IRI) on the opening day while returning champion Mahir AMIRASLANOV (AZE) moves up to 60kg after winning the world title at 55kg.

Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) has bagged four senior titles in his brief international career thus far, including the Yarygin Grand Prix crown in January, but has yet to win a junior event. Asia champion Ahmad BAZRIGHALEH (IRI) and 2014 cadet world champ Mark HALL (USA) will try to thwart Sidakov again.

On the final day of wrestling in Macon, 2014 world champion at 50kg Khasankhusein BADRUDINOV (RUS) tries to win at 55kg after slipping to third place last year, while Yuhi FUJINAMI (JPN) tries to improve on the silver medal he won at 66kg in Brazil last year.

Dzianis KHRAMIANKOV (BLR) also tries to upgrade from last year’s silver medal at 84kg, but must get by Yarygin Grand Prix silver medalist Arsenali MUSALALIEV (RUS) and European champion Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE).

Schedule

Monday, August 29

16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: GR 50, 60, 74 & 96kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: GR 50, 60, 74 & 96kg

Tuesday, August 30

10:00-15:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: GR 50, 60, 74 & 96kg
16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: GR 55, 66, 84 & 120kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: GR 55, 66, 84 & 120kg
19:00-19:30 – Opening Ceremony
19:30-21:30 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: GR 50, 60, 74 & 96kg

Wednesday, August 31

10:00-15:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: GR 55, 66, 84 & 120kg
16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: FW 44, 51, 59, 67kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: FW 44, 51, 59, 67kg
18:00-20:00 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: GR 55, 66, 84 & 120kg

Thursday, September 1

10:00-15:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FW 44, 51, 59, 67kg
16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: FW 48, 55, 63, 72kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: FW 48, 55, 63, 72kg
18:00-20:00 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: FW 44, 51, 59, 67kg

Friday, September 2

10:00-15:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FW 48, 55, 63, 72kg
16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: FS 50, 60, 74 & 96kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: FS 50, 60, 74 & 96kg
18:00-20:00 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: FW 48, 55, 63, 72kg

Saturday, September 3

10:00-15:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FS 50, 60, 74 & 96kg
16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: FS 55, 66, 84, 120kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: FS 55, 66, 84, 120kg
18:00-20:00 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: FS 50, 60, 74 & 96kg

Sunday, September 4

10:00-15:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FS 55, 66, 84, 120kg
18:00-20:00 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: FS 55, 66, 84, 120kg