#WrestleZagreb

China sweeps Zagreb Open; Abuladze, Nasibov win Greco golds

Sunday, January 14, 2024 - 01:21 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (January 13) -- Out of the six Olympic weight classes, China won medals in five including three golds.

That was the level of domination China showed as Women's Wrestling closed at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series on Saturday, the penultimate day of the competition.

After Feng ZHOU (CHN) won the gold medal in 68kg and Ziqi FENG (CHN) finished with a silver medal in 50kg on Friday, Qianyu PANG (CHN) won gold at 53kg, Kexin HONG (CHN) won gold at 57kg, and Juan WANG (CHN) won a silver medal at 76kg.

Pang was on a mission as she began with a fall and continued to dominate her next bouts. In the semifinals, Pang pinned Min ZHANG (CHN) to confirm a spot on the Chinese team for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Bishkek in April. Stalvira ORSHUSH (HUN) injury defaulted in the final to give Pang the gold.

Joining her on the team is Asian Games bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) who also had to beat compatriot Qi ZHANG (CHN) to clinch a spot and the gold medal.

World bronze medalist at 59kg Qi ZHANG (CHN) tried to challenge Hong in the final but Zhang failed break through and dropped the final 7-2. Hong had earlier beaten Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) 3-1 to reach the final and make a statement.

Juan WANG (CHN) failed to win the gold medal at 76kg after dropping the final 2-1 against world silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ). Wang was called passive twice while Medet Kyzy was wanred only once.

Medet Kyzy, who suffered a knee injury in the World Championships final, showed no signs of discomfort throughout the day. She pinned Rita TALISMANOVAAA (AIN) in the opening bout followed by another pin over Justina DI STASIO (CAN) to set up a quarterfinal against Adeline GRAY (USA).

Unfazed by the six-time world champion Medet Kyzy got to work and scored a four-pointer to open hte scoring. She then got a lace and won 10-0. A 5-0 win over Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) in the semifinals saw her reach the final.

Gray returned to win the bronze medal like Kennedy BLADES (USA) who defeated Kylie WELKER (USA) via fall to win the second gold medal.

Nasibov makes golden return

Tokyo silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) punched above his weight on Saturday to stun the wrestling world. He defeated world silver medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) via fall in the 67kg semifinal. Jafarov got the third par terre advantage with Nasibov lead 2-2 on criteria. As soon as Jafarov tried to score a gut wrench, Nasibov caught him during the turn and pinned him.

In the final, Nasibov defeated Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA) 4-3 and clinch the gold medal.

63kg world champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) is unbeaten since last year's European Championships and continued his streak in Zagreb as he won the title over Virgil BICA (SWE).

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RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Qianyu PANG (CHN) df. Stalvira ORSHUSH (HUN), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) df. Dominique PARRISH (USA), via fall
BRONZE: Annika WENDLE (GER) df. Min ZHANG (CHN), 5-3

57kg
GOLD: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Qi ZHANG (CHN), 7-2

BRONZE: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), 14-4
BRONZE: Yongxin FENG (CHN) df. Hannah TAYLOR (CAN), 10-0

72kg
GOLD: Iryna ZABLOTSKA (UKR) df. Fanni NAGY NAD (SRB), 5-0

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Juan WANG (CHN), 2-1

BRONZE: Kennedy BLADES (USA) df. Kylie WELKER (USA), via fall
BRONZE: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA), 3-0

Greco-Roman

63kg
GOLD: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df. Virgil BICA (SWE), 9-0

BRONZE: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) df. Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT), 9-1
BRONZE: Jacopo SANDRON (ITA) df. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), via inj. def.

67kg
GOLD: Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) df. Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA), 4-3 

BRONZE: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df. Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY), 5-1 
BRONZE: Aslan VISAITOV (AIN) df. Sebastian NAD (SRB), 4-3 

Wrestling 2026 Season Preview: Freestyle, Women's Wrestling, Greco-Roman

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - 11:11 By Vinay Siwach

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 2) -- The 2025 World Championships in Zagreb marked a turning point in international wrestling as 18 first-time world champions were crowned, signaling the arrival of a new generation well before the qualification cycle for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games begins.

A few scenes in Zagreb showed what the titles meant. A women’s champion hugging anyone she could find, a Freestyle winner delivering revenge, and a Greco-Roman champion lifting a nation’s pride. Now, 2026 will determine whether those champions can turn a breakthrough into sustained dominance, or if the veterans will reclaim control.

For traditional powers like the United States, Iran, and Japan, maintaining dominance will be harder than ever as more countries close the gap.

In Women’s Wrestling, Japan is being challenged by the DPR Korea, while in Freestyle the U.S. and Iran remain the central rivalry. In Greco-Roman, Iran is undoubtedly the best team in the world but Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are closing the gap as another strong season approaches.

As wrestling moves toward LA 2028, 2026 becomes the year where storylines start to stick. The UWW Pro Series is part of that shift, taking its final shape before launch. Wrestlers will be rewarded for their ranks for the year and will stand a chance to win a grand prize.

The fans can follow wrestling with United World Wrestling through UWW+ on uww.org, Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube.

Freestyle

A Sadulaev vs Yazdani final at the World Championships. A match-up like no other can happen in 2026.

The 2026 season begins with a question: when will Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) return? A dream match against Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) is now firmly on the cards. Yazdani, the 2016 Olympic champion at 74kg, is now competing at 97kg, ten years later. Sadulaev, who won Olympic gold at 86kg in Rio, moved to 97kg soon after that gold.

The Iranian may compete at the Zagreb Open or at the Tirana Ranking Series. If the return is delayed, world silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) will likely carry the weight for Iran early in the season.

At the same time, several major stars are preparing comebacks. Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) is expected to return after recovering from shoulder surgery, while Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) is also set to resume competition, most likely around May.

READ THE FULL FREESTYLE PREVIEW HERE

Women’s Wrestling

Japan captured five of the 10 medals on offer at the World Championships and nothing less is expected from its wrestlers. But out of the first four weight classes, it managed to win only one gold and missed out on medals in two of them.

Missing a medal at 50kg is rare for Japan. It happened in 2009, then in 2019 and in 2025. So what can be expected from the best country in Women's Wrestling or perhaps wrestling?

The DPR Korea, China, India, Ukraine and the United States keep challenging Japan at various competitions but it has managed to hold its own. With the gap closing, 2026 will be a similar story.

Continental Championships will be the first test for countries building towards the year-ending World Championships. But these tournaments can also witness the returns of a few wrestlers. Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), Amit ELOR (USA), Maria YEFREMOVA (UKR), and possibly VINESH (IND).

Additionally, several medal contenders are shifting weight classes in 2026, opening their paths to medals at the World Championships and later at the Olympics.

READ THE FULL WOMEN'S WRESTLING PREVIEW HERE

Greco-Roman

Iran ruled Greco-Roman in 2025 with dominant performances at all levels, and it was not even close. Barring that one battle with Uzbekistan at the U17 World Championships, Iran remained untouched. In 2022 and 2023, it showed signs of long-term dominance and in 2024, it won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Then in 2025, it won team titles at all age-group levels.

At the World Championships in Zagreb, it won four gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Out of the 10 wrestlers, eight won medals, missing only at 77kg and 60kg. Will 2026 be Iran's year again?

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) make the core team. World champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) has been the latest sensation, going unbeaten in 2025 and winning the U23 world gold at 87kg. Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI) is also a proven wrestler at 87kg having won an Olympic and world silver.

Iran has a second team which can challenge any established star in the world. U20 and U23 world champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) is a wrestler waiting for his turn at 130kg. Hedayati is getting closer to beating Mirzazadeh in selection for the Iran team.

Payam AHMADI (IRI), Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) and Ahmadi VAFA (IRI) are already part of the team while younger stars wait for their turns.

But there has been an influx of talent in Greco-Roman in the new cycle especially with Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Japan, Armenia and UWW wrestlers stepping up.

READ THE FULL GRECO-ROMAN PREVIEW HERE