U17 World Championships 2026 Day 6 Freestyle Highlights

Saturday, August 1, 2026 - 06:38 By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (August 1) -- The day six of the U17 World Championships will be all Freestyle with action in 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 81kg and 92kg weight classes. The matches will go on till semifinals before the medal bouts of Friday's weight classes.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 5 RESULTS

15:15: Rylen WAX (USA) takes another step towards winning gold after he beats Aryn ZHANAT (KAZ), 8-6, 45kg. Zhanat hit a four-pointer to lead 5-4 at the start of the second period but Wax with a takedown to make it 6-5. Zhanat threatened to score the match winning takedown but Wax whizzed him for a two before a reversal but was safe to win the bout and reach the semifinal.

15:08: Ibrahim HASANOV (AZE) gets one back for Azerbaijan as he beats GOVIND (IND), 10-3 at 51kg. He scored an early takedown and turned Govind twice to lead 6-1. Govind played catch up for the remaining time as Hasanov would sit after grabbing the leg and defend his lead.

15:05: Mahdi DAMERCHELI (IRI) scored two takedowns to Marko KVASNIUK (UKR) one and wins the battle 5-2 and enters the semifinals at 45kg.

15:00: Marshall EVERETT (GBR) is into the 92kg semifinals after an 11-0 blanking of Amirbek FAZLITDINOV (UZB). Everett with a strong performance and he will now wrestle for a medal for Great Britian

14:55: Salah TSARNI (USA) puts on a masterclass to beat Shu YOSHIDA (JPN) at 92kg. Tsarni scores easy takedowns before hitting a big four-pointer. He then trips Yoshida for another four for a 12-0 win.

14:51: SITENDER (IND) returns to the semifinals at the World Championships after he beats Shai SABAG (ISR) at 60kg. He uses the trap arm gut to finish a 10-0 win.

14:50: Aryn ZHANAT (KAZ) rolls to a 10-0 win over Siarhei LAUZHEL (BLR) in a minute and 15 seconds to enter the quarterfinals at 45kg.

14:40: A challenge saves Reza SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) at 71kg! After leading 5-0, Shamsipour gave up four points in the last 30 seconds and then Adilet RYSBAY (KAZ) scored the match winning points to claim 6-5 victory. But Iran challenges and wins it as Rysbay had committed a foul. An ecstatic Shamsipour could not controlled his happiness

14:20: Bonkers match on Mat A between Davit MDZEVASHVILI (GEO) and Taha GANJEH (IRI). Mdzeashvili took a 6-0 lead which Ganjeh erased and scored 10 points. However Mdzevashvili scored a four-pointer and took a 10-10 criteria lead with 30 seconds left. Ganjeh did not give up and used a lift to get two points and Mdzeashvili scored a reversal. Ganjeh led 12-11 when time expired but Georgia challenged. On review, it was clear that Mdzeashvili got a two-point exposure and not a reversal for one point, making him a 12-12 winner at 60kg

14:03: SITENDER (IND), the defending champion at 60kg, beats Mardan ORYNBASSAR (KAZ), 13-3 and advances to the quarterfinals. Sitender with two four point throws in the match

13:55: Rylen WAX (USA), who won the gold medal at 45kg in Greco-Roman, begins his Freestyle campaign with a 14-3 win over Hanumant JADHAV (USA). Wax with some big throws using the headpinch as Jadhav struggled to even stand his ground

13:50: Mahdi DAMERCHELI (IRI) has no trouble seeing off Aldar BADMAEV (RUS) at 45kg. The U17 Asian champion had Badmaev in all sorts of trouble, majorly circling around and scoring takedowns. A 9-2 win for the Iranian.

13:30: Marshall EVERETT (GBR) with some solid counters against Yasin ERTURK (TUR) as he moves on at 92kg after a 6-2 win

13:20: Reza SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) on a roll here! Typical Iranian wrestling of pressuring his opponent and Camryn HOWARD (USA) has no answers. Shamsipour wins 8-1 and advances at 71kg

12:56: Abdurazak SHABANOV (RUS) stops after his third turn against Anatoli TAMAROVICH (BLR) thinking he has done enough to beat the Belarus wrestler at 92kg. But he was only up 8-0 so he scores one more takedown soon after to complete a 10-0 victory

12:52: U17 European silver medalist Ali DADAEV (FRA) takes his time but beats Johnson TSAKIRAKIS (AUS) at 92kg, 12-2.

12:50: Shota FUJIWARA (JPN) and Joseph BURKE (USA) with some great wrestling at 60kg. Fujiwara was up 3-2 at the break but Burke with a Burroughs-like double-leg attack and turn to lead 6-3. However, Fujiwara counters and lifts Burke and dumps him for four points to lead 7-6. He scores a takedown and a stepout to win the bout 10-6

12:30: SAKSHAM (IND) continues the winning run of India wrestlers over Azerbaijan wrestler as he beats Elgun KARIMLI (AZE) at 92kg, 5-5 on criteria. Karimli led 4-4 on criteria before scoring a stepout in the second period to make it 5-4. Saksham found no way to score but got a stepout with 3 seconds left to win the bout.

12:15: Exceptional wrestling from U17 Asian silver medalist Masamune USHIMADO (JPN) who completes a 10-0 win over Yigit EGEMEN (TUR) at 51kg. A series of sweep singles are unanswered by Egemen and Ushimado manages to complete all five takedowns.

11:55: Said NABIEV (TJK) with a stunning 12-1 win over Evan RESTIVO (USA) at 51kg. Difficult result for the U.S. after none of its wrestlers made the finals on Friday

11:40: Defending champion at 60kg SITENDER (IND) begins with an 11-0 blanking of Sufjan SINANI (MKD). Sitender led 1-0 after Sinani was called passive and then he scored a takedown and four turns in the second period to complete the victory.

11:25: Tunar GULIYEV (AZE) is not happy after a challenge decision is given against him. The Azerbaijan wrestler led 2-0 against Adilet RYSBAY (KAZ) but the Kazakhstan wrestler scored a takedown to lead 2-2 on criteria. Guliyev challenged asking for two points for himself but on review, there were no points and a cautioned point was docked from Guliyev for biting Rysbay. Dramatic emotions from Guliyev as he is unable to process the result

11:20: Koichiro NAGAI (JPN) with a smile on his face after he scores a late takedown to beat Joab CARRILLO (PUR), 6-4, and win his 71kg bout

11:10: Reza SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) begins with an 8-4 win over Jaloliddin DJALALOV (UZB) in the wide-open 71kg weight class. Down 2-0, Shamsipour switches with a head-outside single and scores a takedown and turn to lead 4-2. He begins the second period with a takedown as well before fumbling one attack and Djalalov makes it count. But Shamsipour, leading 6-4, is happy to defend. He got one more takedown at the end to finish the bout.

11:00: Orel BENOGUEV (ISR) had no business winning the 71kg bout against Mohamed HAFEZ (EGY) who dominant it throughout. But Benoguev used a headlock for throw and then pinned Hafez when trailing 11-5.

10:30: As usual, the repechage rounds will begin the day before moving to the qualification rounds of the five weight classes.

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships: Iran Puts Four into Greco-Roman Finals

Monday, April 6, 2026 - 16:52 By Ken Marantz

Erfan JARKANI (IRI) celebrates after reaching the 63kg final at the Asian Championships in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 6) – On an opening day bereft of big surprises, the Iranians were their usual dominant selves, while local hero Azkhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) sent the partisan crowd into a frenzy by doing what he does best.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) and fellow reigning world champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) were among four Iranians who qualified for the finals in the five Greco-Roman weight classes in action on the first day of the Asian Championships on Monday in Bishkek.

For the first time, the two-day format for all weight classes is being used at the Asian Championships, so that the five divisions on the first day were competed only through the semifinals.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) turns Minseok KIM (KOR) during the 130kg semifinal at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Mirzazadeh’s march toward a fourth Asian gold at 130kg over a seven-year span could not be regarded as unscathed – he was on the receiving end of a painful head butt in his 8-0 semifinal victory over Minseok KIM (KOR).

Other than that, it was smooth sailing as the Paris Olympic bronze medalist and two-time world champion advanced with a pair of wins by technical superiority.

Mirzazadeh and Farokhi were joined in the finals by Erfan JARKANI (IRI) and Ali OSKOU (IRI) as Iran looks on track to surpass its 2025 gold medal tally of five in Amman, Jordan.

“We were expecting Farokhi and Mirzazadeh to reach the final, but over the last two years, both Jarkani and Oksou have improved a lot and good results were expected from them and they showed that,” Iran head coach Hassan RANGRAZ said. “Hopefully, tomorrow also our wrestlers will achieve good results.”

Against Kim, Mirzazadeh jumped out to a 5-0 lead with a pair of gut wrenches in par terre. In the second period, Kim rose his head as Mirzazadeh approached, causing a collision that left both rubbing their wounds.

Kim was assessed a 2-point penalty, and when a Korean challenge of the call was denied, that gave the Iranian his eighth and decisive point.

In the final, Mirzazadeh will face a newcomer to the Asian scene, former Russian national champion Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB), who advanced with a 7-2 victory over two-time bronze medalist Yuta NARA (JPN).

Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), the world champion at 82kg, defeated Sunil KUMAR (IND) in 87kg semifinals at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In one of those blink-and-you-missed-it dominant victories, Farokhi swiftly powered to an 8-0 victory over three-time Asian medalist Sunil KUMAR (IND) to advance to the 87kg final.

Farokhi, last year’s world champion at 82kg who has not lost an international match since 2022, shrugged Kumar by to get behind, then used an arm lock for four quicksilver back-and-forth exposures to end the match in 37 seconds.

In the final, Farokhi will take on world bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), who put together a slightly less dominant 8-0 victory over Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) to become one of three wrestlers from the host country to make the finals.

Zhanyshov, a two-time Asian U23 champion, finished up the win with a go-behind takedown to top Tursynov, who has three Asian medals over a 10-year span – from a gold in 2014 to silvers in 2015 and 2023.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) launches Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) for four points during the 77kg semifinals in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The biggest cheers of the night at the new Zhastyk Arena came in response to the exploits at 77kg of Makhmudov, who first stole the spotlight when he won the first of his three Asian golds in 2018 across the street at the Soviet-era Kojomkul Sports Palace.

Facing 2024 Asian bronze medalist Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), Makhmudov got the first shot at par terre and took full advantage, thrilling the crowd with not one but two powerful reverse body lifts in which he flipped his opponent over like a pancake on the griddle.

Makhmudov, a two-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist, began the year on a sluggish note, falling in the 82kg quarterfinals of the Tirana Ranking Series tournament in February to Tunjay VAZIRZADE (AZE).

But back at his usual weight, Makhmudov is looking more like his old self – and he’ll need to be in that form in a challenging final against Iran’s Oskou, this year’s Zagreb Ranking Series champion and a 2024 world U23 bronze medalist.

Oskou had a pair of four-point throws and, while having to fight off his back when one roll attempt was stopped, still managed to forge a solid 13-3 victory over AMAN (IND) in the other semifinal.

Erfan JARKANI (IRI) battles it out with Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) in the 63kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 63kg, Zagreb Open champion and 2024 world U23 and U20 bronze medalist Jarkani held off former Asian champion Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) in a 5-3 win to advance to the final in his senior Asian debut.

Jarkani opened with a takedown, then quickly went up 5-0 when he received single points for passivity, fleeing and an unsuccessful challenge.

In the second period, Bakhramov showed the fight that led him to the 60kg gold in 2019, but could only manage a single gut wrench from par terre to fall short of victory.

Bakhramov, a world bronze medalist in 2023, still has a chance for his fourth career Asian medal and third bronze.

Jarkani will battle for the gold against Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ), who become the first wrestler from the home team to make the finals when he bulldozed his way to a 10-0 victory over Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM) in the other semifinal.

Taalaibek Uulu started the rout with a four-point arm throw onto which a challenge point was added. A passivity call put Taalaibek Uulu on top in par terre, and he hit his second four-pointer of the match to end it at 2:05.

Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) raises the hand of Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ) after beating the home wrestler in the 55kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 55kg, two-time bronze medalist Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) shrugged off the vocal partisan crowd and a potentially costly penalty against 2024 bronze medalist Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ), riding a five-point first period to a 5-3 victory and a place in tomorrow’s final.

Botirov, the silver medalist in Zagreb, reeled off a pair of gut wrenches from par terre for a 5-0 lead. In the second period, Muratbek Uulu was put on top and before the action even started, Botirov was assessed a two-point penalty for moving too soon.

Despite the crowd’s efforts to spur their wrestler on, Botirov withstood Muratbek Uulu’s late attacks and assured he will improve on the bronze medals he won last year and in 2023 by making the final, where he will face LALIT (IND).

Botirov earlier defeated the only Iranian to not make the final on the day, Hajiali HOSSEINVAND (IRI), in the quarterfinals.

“Hosseinvand, too, should have been in the final given his recent performances, but it was unfortunate that he lost 8-0 [officially 10-0] against the Uzbekistan wrestler,” Rangraz added. “He beat him in February and he deserved to reach the final.”

LALIT (IND) reached the 55kg final after beating Houying SHI (CHN), 11-3. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Lalit put himself in position to become just the fourth Asian champion from India in Greco and first since 2020 when he battled back after losing the lead to defeat world bronze medalist Huoying SHI (CHN) 11-3.

Lalit, who likes to use a standing roll through from par terre, hit the move to take a 3-1 lead in the second period, but got stuck when he tried it again and Shi got around front, clamped on a front headlock and bulled Lalit over to go ahead 3-3 on criteria.

But Lalit struck back right away with a slick duck under for a takedown, then went to the roll through for two more, with an unsuccessful challenge point tacked on. A stepout and a defensive takedown gave Lalit the win by technical superiority as time ran out.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: LALIT (IND) vs. Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB)

SF 1: Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) df. Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ), 5-3
SF 2: LALIT (IND) df. Huoying SHI (CHN), 11-3

63kg
GOLD: Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) vs. Erfan Behnam JARKANI (IRI)

SF 1: Erfan JARKANI (IRI) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 5-3
SF 2: Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM), 10-0

77kg
GOLD: Ali OSKOU (IRI) vs. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)

SF 1: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), 9-0
SF 2: Ali OSKOU (IRI) df. AMAN (IND), 13-3

87kg
GOLD: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) vs. Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)

SF 1: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) df. Suni KUMAR (IND), 8-0
SF 2: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ), 8-0

130kg
GOLD: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) vs. Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB)

SF 1: Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB) df. Yuta NARA (JPN), 7-2
SF 2: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Minseok KIM (KOR), 8-0

U17 World Championships 2026 Day 6 Freestyle Highlights

Comments

Asian Championships: Iran Puts Four into Greco-Roman Finals