European Championships entry list

Tuesday, March 28, 2023 - 11:06 By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (March 28) -- The 2023 European Championships will see the return of 27 defending champions as we enter the Paris Olympics cycle.

Zagreb, Croatia will play host to the tournament from April 17 to 24 with all 10 Greco-Roman returning champions, nine freestyle champions and eight women's wrestling gold medalists. The three who are not entered are Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) at 70kg, Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) at women's 62kg and Anna SCHELL (GER) at 72kg.

The number of countries participating in the tournament will be eligible to participate in the World Championships, the first event which will offer quotas for Paril Olympics.

Once again, Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Georgia will be the biggest threat to the team title in freestyle with Azerbaijan begin led by Olympic silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) at 65kg.

Turkiye has Taha AKGUL (TUR) at 125kg while Suleyman ATLI (TUR) and Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) are also part of the team.

It is expected to come down to 125kg final between Akgul and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), another chapter in their storied career. Akgul won the final over Petriashvili last year.

A similar story is expected in Greco-Roman as the three countries are bringing top squads. Last year, Azerbaijan won both the team title with Turkiye finishing second and Georgia finishing third.

Greco-Roman will see a few rivalries also be resumed as both Eldaniz AZIZLI (GEO) and Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) are entered at 55kg. So are the finalists at 60kg -- Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL). The finalists from 63kg, 77kg, 82kg, 87kg, 97kg and 130kg are also entered.

World champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) is returning to European Championships after three years. He is a six-time European champion -- five continental and one Games title.

In women's wrestling, Turkiye and Ukraine will once again be fighting for the team title like last year.

Ukraine has a stronger team than last year with the return of the Olympic bronze medalist at 62kg Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) and former world champion Yuliia TKACH (UKR) at 59kg. However, the absence of world silver medalist Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) may hurt the nation.

Turkiye will be led by the world and European champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) with Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), Nesrin BAS (TUR) and Bose TOSUN (TUR) also part of the team.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE) will be returning for yet another European Championships in her career and for the first time since 2021. She is a nine-time European champion which includes two Games titles.

Taha AKGUL (TUR) defeated Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the 125kg final last year. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

57kg
Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM)
Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE)
Ivaylo TISOV (BUL)
Levan METREVELI (ESP)
Valentin DAMOUR (FRA)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)
Horst LEHR (GER)
Simone PIRODDU (ITA)
Amir MAGOMEDSULTANOV (MDA)
Besir ALILI (MKD)
Razvan KOVACS (ROU)
Thomas EPP (SUI)
Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
Andrii YATSENKO (UKR)

61kg
Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB)
Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
Intigam VALIZADA (AZE)
Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)
Arman ELOYAN (FRA)
Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO)
Niklas STECHELE (GER)
Gamzatgadzsi HALIDOV (HUN)
Daniel POPOV (ISR)
Andrei VITAN (MDA)
Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU)
Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR)
Valentyn BLIASETSKYI (UKR)

65kg
Islam DUDAEV (ALB)
Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)
Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
Mikyay NAIM (BUL)
Carlos ALVAREZ (ESP)
Marwane YEZZA (FRA)
Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO)
Andre CLARKE (GER)
Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
Joshua FINESILVER (ISR)
Colin REALBUTO (ITA)
Maxim SACULTAN (MDA)
Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
Stefan COMAN (ROU)
Stevan MICIC (SRB)
Nino LEUTERT (SUI)
Hamza ALACA (TUR)
Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)

70kg
Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)
Magomed KHANIEV (AZE)
Muhammad ABDURACHMANOV (BEL)
Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL)
Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO)
Kevin HENKEL (GER)
Daniel ANTAL (HUN)
Gianluca TALAMO (ITA)
Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA)
Fati VEJSELI (MKD)
Patryk OLENCZYN (POL)
Marc DIETSCHE (SUI)
Daniel CHOMANIC (SVK)
Servet COSKUN (TUR)
Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR)

74kg
Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM)
Simon MARCHL (AUT)
Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)
Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL)
Erik REINBOK (EST)
Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN)
Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR)
Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)
Vasile DIACON (MDA)
Rasul SHAPIEV (MKD)
Szymon WOJTKOWSKI (POL)
Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU)
Malik AMINE (SMR)
Hetik CABOLOV (SRB)
Tobias PORTMANN (SUI)
Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
Semen RADULOV (UKR)

79kg
Arman AVAGYAN (ARM)
Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE)
Mihail GEORGIEV (BUL)
Kreso SKUGOR (CRO)
Gabriel IGLESIAS (ESP)
Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
Csaba VIDA (HUN)
Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA)
Ahmad MAGOMEDOV (MKD)
Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU)
Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR)
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)
Iman MAHDAVI (UWW)

86kg
Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM)
Benjamin GREIL (AUT)
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
Ilia HRISTOV (BUL)
Taimuraz FRIEV (ESP)
Aimar ANDRUSE (EST)
Ruslan VALIEV (FRA)
Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO)
Lars SCHAEFLE (GER)
Angelos KOUKLARIS (GRE)
Patrik PUESPOEKI (HUN)
Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR)
Akhmedkhan TEMBOTOV (ITA)
Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT)
Domantas PAULIUSCENKO (LTU)
Ivan ICHIZLI (MDA)
Uvejs FEJZULAHU (MKD)
Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL)
Andrei FRANT (ROU)
Myles AMINE (SMR)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Fatih ERDIN (TUR)
Vladyslav PRUS (UKR)

92kg
Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Ahmed BATAEV (BUL)
Akhmed AIBUEV (FRA)
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)
Joshua MORODION (GER)
Matthew FINESILVER (ISR)
Ion DEMIAN (MDA)
Redjep HAJDARI (MKD)
Radoslaw MARCINKIEWICZ (POL)
Strahinja DESPIC (SRB)
Ermak KARDANOV (SVK)
Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR)
Illia ARCHAIA (UKR)

97kg
Sergey SARGSYAN (ARM)
Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Georgi DIMITROV (BUL)
Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO)
Erik THIELE (GER)
Vladislav BAITSAEV (HUN)
Benjamin HONIS (ITA)
Egzon SHALA (KOS)
Lukas KRASAUSKAS (LTU)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD)
Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL)
Samuel SCHERRER (SUI)
Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK)
Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR)
Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)

125kg
Paris KAREPI (ALB)
Johannes LUDESCHER (AUT)
Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE)
Georgi IVANOV (BUL)
Jose CUBA VAZQUEZ (ESP)
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE)
Daniel LIGETI (HUN)
Abraham CONYEDO (ITA)
Ivan NEDEALCO (MDA)
Robert BARAN (POL)
Magomedgadzhi NURASULOV (SRB)
Taha AKGUL (TUR)
Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR)

Kiril MILOV (BUL) is the defending champion at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM)
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)
Stefan GRIGOROV (BUL)
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)
Fabian SCHMITT (GER)
Artiom DELEANU (MDA)
Denis MIHAI (ROU)
Muhammet CAKIR (TUR)
Viacheslav BAIRAKTAR (UKR)

60kg
Bajram SINA (ALB)
Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM)
Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE)
Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL)
Nikolai MOHAMMADI (DEN)
Daniel BOBILLO (ESP)
Helary MAEGISALU (EST)
Leo TUDEZCA (FRA)
Pridon ABULADZE (GEO)
Christopher KRAEMER (GER)
Erik TORBA (HUN)
Melkamu FETENE (ISR)
Justas PETRAVICIUS (LTU)
Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA)
Michal TRACZ (POL)
Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)
Georgii TIBILOV (SRB)
Ardit FAZLJIJA (SWE)
Kerem KAMAL (TUR)
Viktor PETRYK (UKR)

63kg
Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM)
Aker SCHMID AL OBAIDI (AUT)
Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE)
Abu AMAEV (BUL)
Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO)
Leri ABULADZE (GEO)
Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN)
Jacopo SANDRON (ITA)
Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT)
Victor CIOBANU (MDA)
Perica DIMITRIJEVIC (SRB)
Virgil BICA (SWE)
Ismail CULFA (TUR)
Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR)

67kg
Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM)
Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)
Ivo ILIEV (BUL)
Luka IVANCIC (CRO)
Elmer MATTILA (FIN)
Tigran GALUSTYAN (FRA)
Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO)
Witalis LAZOVSKI (GER)
Krisztian VANCZA (HUN)
Shon NADORGIN (ISR)
Zaur KABALOEV (ITA)
Alexei HAHLOVSCHI (MDA)
Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR)
Mateusz BERNATEK (POL)
Pedro DE MATOS (POR)
Mihai MIHUT (ROU)
Sebastian NAD (SRB)
Mate NEMES (SRB)
Andreas VETSCH (SUI)
Niklas OEHLEN (SWE)
Murat FIRAT (TUR)
Parviz NASIBOV (UKR)

72kg
Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM)
Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE)
Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL)
Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO)
Jakub BIELESZ (CZE)
Matias LIPASTI (FIN)
Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA)
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)
Michael WIDMAYER (GER)
Robert FRITSCH (HUN)
Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU)
Valentin PETIC (MDA)
Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL)
Ali ARSALAN (SRB)
Michael PORTMANN (SUI)
Selcuk CAN (TUR)
Andrii KULYK (UKR)

77kg
Kevin KUPI (ALB)
Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)
Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)
Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL)
Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO)
Oliver KRUEGER (DEN)
Marcos SANCHEZ (ESP)
Mikko PELTOKANGAS (FIN)
Johnny BUR (FRA)
Iuri LOMADZE (GEO)
Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER)
Christos KOUTSOURIDIS (GRE)
Zoltan LEVAI (HUN)
Luca DARIOZZI (ITA)
Paulius GALKINAS (LTU)
Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)
Juan AAK (NOR)
Patryk BEDNARZ (POL)
Aleksa ILIC (SRB)
Viktor NEMES (SRB)
Denis HORVATH (SVK)
Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE)
Yunus BASAR (TUR)
Serhii KOZUB (UKR)

82kg
Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM)
Michael WAGNER (AUT)
Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)
Rosian DERMANSKI (BUL)
Filip SACIC (CRO)
Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO)
Ranet KALJOLA (EST)
Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)
Roland SCHWARZ (GER)
Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE)
Erik SZILVASSY (HUN)
Mihail BRADU (MDA)
Exauce MUKUBU (NOR)
Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB)
Marc WEBER (SUI)
Kristoffer BERG (SWE)
Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)
Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR)

87kg
Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM)
Lukas STAUDACHER (AUT)
Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
Semen NOVIKOV (BUL)
Ivan HUKLEK (CRO)
Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)
Andreas VAELIS (EST)
Lasha GOBADZE (GEO)
Hannes WAGNER (GER)
Nikolaos VARKAS (GRE)
David LOSONCZI (HUN)
Mirco MINGUZZI (ITA)
Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU)
Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)
Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL)
Nicu OJOG (ROU)
Zarko DICKOV (SRB)
Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB)
Damian VON EUW (SUI)
Alex KESSIDIS (SWE)
Ali CENGIZ (TUR)
Artem MATIASH (UKR)

97kg
Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)
Markus RAGGINGER (AUT)
Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE)
Kiril MILOV (BUL)
Filip SMETKO (CRO)
Artur OMAROV (CZE)
Richard KARELSON (EST)
Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
Loic SAMEN (FRA)
Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO)
Peter OEHLER (GER)
Laokratis KESIDIS (GRE)
Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN)
Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA)
Vilius LAURINAITIS (LTU)
Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED)
Felix BALDAUF (NOR)
Gerard KURNICZAK (POL)
Mario VUKOVIC (SRB)
Mihail KAJAIA (SRB)
Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE)
Metehan BASAR (TUR)
Vladlen KOZLIUK (UKR)

130kg
David OVASAPYAN (ARM)
Sabah SHARIATI (AZE)
Marcel ALBINI (CZE)
Eerik PANK (EST)
Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN)
Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO)
Jello KRAHMER (GER)
Dariusz VITEK (HUN)
Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA)
Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU)
Oskar MARVIK (NOR)
Rafal KRAJEWSKI (POL)
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU)
Boris PETRUSIC (SRB)
Delian ALISHAHI (SUI)
Riza KAYAALP (TUR)
Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR)

Mariya STADNIK (AZE) is eyeing her 10th European title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Mariya STADNIK (AZE)
Miglena SELISHKA (BUL)
Aintzane GORRIA GONI (ESP)
Julie SABATIE (FRA)
Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN)
Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA)
Gabija DILYTE (LTU)
Veronika RYABOVOLOVA (MKD)
Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
Emilia VUC (ROU)
Svenja JUNGO (SUI)
Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR)
Oksana LIVACH (UKR)

53kg
Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE)
Marina RUEDA FLORES (ESP)
Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)
Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)
Stalvira ORSHUSH (HUN)
Vestina DANISEVICIUTE (LTU)
Iulia LEORDA (MDA)
Marija SPIRKOVSKA (MKD)
Roksana ZASINA (POL)
Marija IGNJATOVIC (SRB)
Jonna MALMGREN (SWE)
Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR)

55kg
Ilona DYDIAK SEMKIV (AZE)
Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA)
Annika WENDLE (GER)
Erika BOGNAR (HUN)
Laura STANELYTE (LTU)
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)
Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)
Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU)
Bediha GUN (TUR)
Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)

57kg
Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)
Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)
Lana NOGIC (CRO)
Graciela SANCHEZ (ESP)
Jenna HEMIAE (FIN)
Mathilde RIVIERE (FRA)
Elena BRUGGER (GER)
Anna SZEL (HUN)
Jowita WRZESIEN (POL)
Evelina HULTHEN (SWE)
Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)
Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR)

59kg
Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
Kelsey BARNES (GBR)
Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
Nikolett SZABO (HUN)
Morena DE VITA (ITA)
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)
Othelie HOEIE (NOR)
Anhelina LYSAK (POL)
JOVANA RADIVOJEVIC (SRB)
Eda TEKIN (TUR)
Yuliia TKACH (UKR)

62kg
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL)
Lydia PEREZ TOURINO (ESP)
Viktoria VESSO (EST)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)
Elena ESPOSITO (ITA)
Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA)
Grace BULLEN (NOR)
Magdalena GLODEK (POL)
Amina CAPEZAN (ROU)
Sara LINDBORG (SWE)
Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR)
Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR)

65kg
Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE)
Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL)
Iva GERIC (CRO)
Nerea PAMPIN BLANCO (ESP)
Kendra DACHER (FRA)
Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT)
Natalia KUBATY (POL)
Kriszta INCZE (ROU)
Masa PEROVIC (SRB)
Busra EFE (TUR)
Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)

68kg
Albina DRAZHI (ALB)
Nigar MIRZAZADA (AZE)
Yuliana YANEVA (BUL)
Gia KASTELAN (CRO)
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Koumba LARROQUE (FRA)
Eyleen SEWINA (GER)
Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)
Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU)
Irina RINGACI (MDA)
Natalia STRZALKA (POL)
Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK)
Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE)
Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Alla BELINSKA (UKR)

72kg
Sofiya GEORGIEVA (BUL)
Milla ANDELIC (CRO)
Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA)
Lilly SCHNEIDER (GER)
Ilana KRATYSH (ISR)
Dalma CANEVA (ITA)
Patrycja SPERKA (POL)
Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)
Emilija JAKOVLJEVIC (SRB)
Buse TOSUN (TUR)
Liudmyla PAVLOVETS TYCHYNA (UKR)

76kg
Martina KUENZ (AUT)
Marta BESEK (CRO)
Epp MAE (EST)
Cynthia VESCAN (FRA)
Francy RAEDELT (GER)
Christina PAPADOPOULOU (GRE)
Enrica RINALDI (ITA)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Marion BYE (NOR)
Catalina AXENTE (ROU)
Fanni NAGY NAD (SRB)
Yasemin ADAR (TUR)
Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR)

#WrestleIstanbul

Bakir defends U17 World title at home

Tuesday, August 1, 2023 - 21:09 By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL (August 1) -- Cemal BAKIR (TUR) and SURAJ (IND) won their first U17 World Championships title on the same day in Rome. Just over a year later, both had a chance to win consecutive gold medals at the U17 Worlds.

However, only one did.

In Istanbul, Bakir claimed his second straight U17 World title at 110kg while Suraj, who created history by ending India's 32-year Greco-Roman title drought, suffered a devastating loss in the final on Tuesday, the second day of the U17 World Championships.

Bakir's dominance in the 110kg weight class was evident on day one as he began with a strong 10-0 win over Bekzhan ISMAGULOV (KAZ) before beating Mohamed AHMED (EGY) 4-1 in the quarterfinals. He moved closer to the gold medal when he scored a massive 4-2 win over U17 Asian champion Amirhossein ABDEVALI (IRI) in the semifinal.

Backed by a loud home crowd, Bakir, who hails from Basaksehir where the event is held, wrestled U17 Asian silver medalist RONAK (IND) for the gold and looked in complete control of the bout for four minutes.

After both wrestlers initially hesitated to go all out, Bakir managed to pressure Ronak outside the zone and get a stepout for one point. Ronak was called for fleeing, adding another point to Bakir's score.

The Turkish wrestler held on to the 2-0 lead for the rest of the bout as in a rare occurrence in a Greco-Roman bout, the referee did not call for inactivity.

Bakir celebrated with the fans in the stands and gave Turkiye a golden start to the tournament at home.

Jordyn RANEY (USA) celebrates after winning the gold medal at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

For Suraj to achieve the same, he had to beat Jordyn RANEY (USA) in the 55kg final. Both wrestlers had been equally dominant on Monday with Raney beating U17 Asia champion Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI) in the semifinal in dramatic fashion, scoring seven points in the last 20 seconds. Suraj defeated home favorite Halil CINAR (TUR) 6-0 in the other semifinal. But nothing worked for Suraj in the final as Raney, like on Monday, scored at will and big.

To reach the final, Raney defeated Ahmed SHABAN (EGY) and Shu Wei CHUNG (TPE) via technical superiority and scored a clutch 8-6 win over returning champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) in the quarterfinals.

In the final, both wrestlers played the waiting game in the first period with Raney scoring a stepout for a 1-0 lead. As soon as the whistle blew to mark the start of the second period, Raney executed a pro-level arm-drag to which Suraj had no answer but to give up.

"My coach from Illinois RTC sent a text message to my dad saying he [Suraj] will be game in that second period," Raney said. "I knew my drag. As soon as he came in, I got the drag and he was straight to the mad and go behind."

Suraj got a takedown to cut the lead to 3-2 but Raney answered with a headlock for two and another headlock for four points to extend his lead to 9-2. He continued the action and scored a turn to finish the match 11-2. India's challenge was as clueless as Suraj in the final and a lost challenge gave one more point to Raney.

"The headlock came through. Everyone thinks it's a kid move, trash move but still works," he said. "I knew he was a very tough opponent and I knew he was great on top so I made sure my defense was on point."

With the gold medal, Raney became only the third U17 world champion from the United States since the tournament restarted in 2011. Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) won in 2017 and Joel ADAMS (USA) won the title in 2022.

"It's awesome and encouraging other kids," he said. "Next year, we'll do better."

Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) upgraded his bronze to gold at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran's returning bronze medalist Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) upgraded the bronze from Rome to gold in Istanbul as he defeated returning silver medalist and U17 Asian champion Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB) 4-0 in the 48kg final. Both wrestlers were medalists at last year's U17 World Championships at 45kg.

Almost two months back, Balootaki had suffered a shocking loss to Beknur MUKAN (KAZ) in the opening round at the U17 Asian Championships, a year after he defeated Mukan 9-0 to win the bronze in Rome.

Balootaki seemed to have recovered from that U17 Asian loss as he began his competition on Monday with back-to-back technical superiority wins over Maksim BRADZIAK (AIN) and Haruku SHIINA (JPN). He defeated Elnar ZIYADOV (AZE) 4-2 in the quarterfinals before notching up a solid 3-2 victory over U17 European champion Murat KHATIT (AIN).

Ruziokhunov too had technical superiority wins over Ionut MEREUTA (ROU) and Ivan SEIBEL (GER) before a 4-1 win over Edgar PETROSYAN (ARM) in the semifinals.

The final was all about Balootaki as he did not look in any trouble against Ruziokhunov as he blanked the Uzbekistan wrestler 4-0. He got the lead when Ruziokhunov was called passive and was penalized for fleeing the hold.

In the second period, Ruziokhunov was trying to put pressure on Balootaki and at one point committed himself too much towards a pushout. Balootaki moved away from the line of attack and scored a takedown to lead 4-0. He defended his lead to win the world title.

Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN), blue, defeated Yusif AHMADLI (AZE) to win the gold at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The Individual Neutral Athletes team also got a gold medal as Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN) defeated 15-year-old Yusif AHMADLI (AZE) 5-1 in the 65kg gold medal bout.

Beslekoev, who won a bronze medal at the U17 European Championships, was up 1-0 when Ahmadli was called passive in the first period. However, he failed to get a turn from par terre. Ahmadli got the 1-1 criteria lead in the second period when Beslekoev was called for inactivity but he too failed to score from par terre.

The two wrestlers got hold of each other in a bodylock and went for the big throw. Ahmadli managed to throw Beslekoev but fell on his own back with Beslekoev holding his grip. That resulted in Beslekoev getting two points and a turn got him two more as he stuck to the 5-1 lead.

Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) celebrates after winning the 80kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan's heavy gold

At 80kg, rarely would someone give a chance to Japan to have a wrestler in the final, less winning the gold at the World Championships. But Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) pulled off a remarkable feat by winning the gold medal at 80kg on Tuesday.

Yoshida, who finished eighth at 80kg last year, became Japan's first-ever Greco-Roman world champion for a weight class above 69kg at any level. This is Japan's first Greco-Roman gold at U17 Worlds since 2017 and fourth overall in the history of the tournament. Japan had finished without a medal at the last U17 Worlds but began this one on a golden note.

Yoshida's streak saw him win 12-2 against Emir DAYAL (TUR) in the opening round, 10-0 against Itzhak NEMSADZE (ISR) in the next round, and beat Alireza ABBASI (IRI) 11-2 in the quarterfinal. It must have come as a relief for Yoshida as he had lost to an Iran wrestler in the quarterfinals last year.

He scored another technical superiority in the semifinals as he defeated Uladzislau DUBROUSKI (AIN) 10-2 to reach the final against Mikhail SHKARIN (AIN).

The final began with Yoshida jumping to a 4-0 lead with go-behind in the zone in the first period. The second period saw Shkarin called passive which added a point to Yoshida who was able to turn Shkarin to stand a point away from gold.

But there was late drama in the bout as Shkarin scored two points and added another two when he secured the arm-drag. Yoshida held on to the 7-4 lead despite a few anxious final moments.

Yoshida's gold has set the perfect tone for Japan in women's wrestling which begins Wednesday in Istanbul.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) df. Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB), 4-0

BRONZE: Edgar PETROSYAN (ARM) df. Ivan SEIBEL (GER), via fall (8-0)
BRONZE: Elnar ZIYADOV (AZE) df. Murat KHATIT (AIN), 5-4

55kg
GOLD: Jordyn RANEY (USA) df. SURAJ (IND), 12-2

BRONZE: Kuttubek RYSMATOV (KGZ) df. Halil CINAR (TUR), 11-1
BRONZE: AYTJAN KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) df. Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI), 11-2

65kg
GOLD: Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN) df. Yusif AHMADLI (AZE), 5-1

BRONZE: Sachin KUMAR (IND) df. Giorgi TCHIKAIDZE (GEO), 6-2
BRONZE: Islombek KARIMJONOV (UZB) df. Octavian CERNETCHI (MDA), 8-0

80kg
GOLD: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Mikhail SHKARIN (AIN), 8-6

BRONZE: Uladzislau DUBROUSKI (AIN) df. Alireza ABBASI (IRI), 2-1
BRONZE: Erik TER MATEVOSYAN (ARM) df. Eleftherios PAPPAS (GRE), 8-2

110kg
GOLD: Cemal BAKIR df. RONAK (IND), 2-0

BRONZE: Amirhossein ABDEVALI (IRI) df. Mohamed AHMED (EGY), 2-0
BRONZE: Eldar EMIROV (AIN) df. Nicholas SAHAKIAN (USA), via fall (7-1)

Semifinals

45kg
GOLD: Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) vs. RUSTEM ABATSIEV (AIN)

SF 1: RUSTEM ABATSIEV (AIN) df. Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM), 10-2
SF 2: Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) df. Alireza AMIRIGHASRODDASHTI (IRI), 5-1

51kg
GOLD: Artur BROYAN (ARM) vs. Ilia KANDALIN (AIN)

SF 1: Ilia KANDALIN (AIN) df. Dostonbek ORIPOV (UZB), 11-7
SF 2: Artur BROYAN (ARM) df. Manu YADAV (IND), via fall

60kg
GOLD: Roman KARIMOV (AZE) vs. Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO)

SF 1: Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO) df. Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN), 7-5
SF 2: Roman KARIMOV (AZE) df. Mingiian GORIAEV (AIN), 9-5

71kg
GOLD: Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE) vs. Ahmadreza MOHAMADIAN (IRI)

SF 1: Ahmadreza MOHAMADIAN (IRI) df. Alkan AKAR (TUR), 4-0
SF 2: Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE) df. Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (AIN), 2-1

92kg
GOLD: Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) vs. Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO) df. Mikayil ISMAYILOV (AZE), 3-1
SF 2: Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Gabriel STAN (ROU), 9-0

European Championships entry list

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Bakir defends U17 World title at home