#WrestleBelgrade

Freestyle seeds announced for '22 World Championships

Monday, August 22, 2022 - 14:05 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (August 22) --United World Wrestling has released the tentative top eight seeds for the 2022 World Championships, which take place in Belgrade, Serbia, September 10-18. 

Wrestlers earned points towards their seed through participation and placement at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, 2021 World Championships, 2022 Continental Championships, 2022 Ranking Series events, and selected Regional Games (SEA and Mediterranean Games).

Hypothetically speaking, if the seeds were to hold through the finals in the top-eight seeded system, here's how the bracket will play out leading up to the gold-medal match:

Quarterfinals:
No. 1 vs. No. 8 (top side)
No. 4 vs. No. 5 (top side)
No. 2 vs. No. 7 (bottom side)
No. 3 vs. No. 6 (bottom side)

Semifinals:
No. 1 vs. No. 4 (top side)
No. 2 vs. No. 3 (bottom side)

Finals:
No. 1 vs. No. 2 

If we know one thing, it's impossible to predict how the brackets will play out. But having the seeded systems helps come up with hypothetical matches that fans could potentially see in Belgrade.

*National Federations were required to submit their world entries by last week but can still update them until 24 hours before the draws. This means these seeds and entries are subject to change.

57kg SEEDS:
No. 1 Thomas GILMAN (USA)
No. 2 Ravi KUMAR (IND)
No. 3 Horst LEHR (GER)
No. 4 Alireza SARLAK (IRI)
No. 5 Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
No. 6 Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO)
No. 7 Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL)
No. 8 Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)

If seeds hold at 57kg:

Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Thomas GILMAN (USA) vs. No. 8 Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)
No. 4 Alireza SARLAK (IRI) vs. No. 5 Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) 
No. 2 Ravi KUMAR (IND) vs. No. 7 Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL)
No. 3 Horst LEHR (GER) vs. No. 6 Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO)

Semifinals:
No. 1 Thomas GILMAN (USA) vs. No. 4 Alireza SARLAK (IRI)
No. 2 Ravi KUMAR (IND) vs. No. 3 Horst LEHR (GER)

Finals:
No. 1 Thomas GILMAN (USA) vs. No. 2 Ravi KUMAR (IND)

Gilman holds top seed; Ravi undefeated at 57kg
On the top side of the bracket at 57kg, world champion Thomas GILMAN (USA) commands the top seed. The American earned his top seed after finishing with a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games and podium-topping finishes at the World Championships, Pan-American Championships, and the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event. 

To reach his second consecutive world finals, Gilman will have to get through No. 8 Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) in the quarters before squaring off against the winner of No. 4 Alireza SARLAK (IRI) and No. 5 Vladimir EGOROV (MKD). 

Depending on how things play out, if Gilman and Sarlak reach the semifinals, it would be their third meeting since last October's World Championships. The American was victorious in their world finals and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series semifinal meetings.

On the bottom side of the 57kg chart, Ravi KUMAR (IND) holds the second seed. The Olympic silver medalist's road to the finals will likely go through No. 7 Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL) before meeting the winner of No. 3 Horst LEHR (GER) and No. 6 Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO).

61kg Seeds: 
No. 1 Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
No. 2 Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL)
No. 3 Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
No. 4 Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
No. 5 Eduard GRIGOREV (POL)
No. 6 Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO)
No. 7 Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
No. 8 Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)

If seeds hold at 61kg:

Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. No. 8 Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)
No. No. 4 Suleyman ATLI (TUR) vs. 5 Eduard GRIGOREV (POL)
No. 2 Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) vs.No. 7 Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
No. 3 Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) vs. No. 6 Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO)

Semifinals:
No. 1 Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. No. 4 Suleyman ATLI (TUR) 
No. 2 Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) vs. No. 3 Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)  

Finals:
No. 1 Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. No. 2 Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)

Harutyunyan headlines 61kg seeds
Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) headlines the upper half of the bracket as the top guy at 61kg. However, his road will be significantly more challenging than second-seeded Georgi VANGELOV (BUL).

Harutyunyan earned his top billing after a bronze medal finish at last year's World Championships and a gold-medal winning showing at the European Championships. Although it did not count towards his Ranking Series point total, the Armenian sandwiched a U23 world title between the Senior World Championships and the European Championships. 

To improve his bronze-medal finish at the 2021 World Championships, Harutyunyan will have to beat Japan's Rio Olympic runner-up No. 8 Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) in the quarterfinals. Then, he'll share the mat with the winner of No. 4 Suleyman ATLI (TUR) and No. 5 Eduard GRIGOREV (POL).

Vangelov will wrestle No. 7 Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) in the lower-side quarterfinals. If he wins against Bazarganov, he'll go toe-to-toe with whoever is victorious between No. 3 Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) and No. 6 Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO).

65kg Seeds: 
No. 1 Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
No. 2 Bajrang BAJRANG (IND)
No. 3 Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR)
No. 4 Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
No. 5 Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
No. 6 Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
No. 7 Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)
No. 8 Munir Recep AKTAS (TUR)

If seeds hold at 65kg:

Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs. No. 8 Munir Recep AKTAS (TUR)
No. 4 Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) vs. 5 Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) 
No. 2 Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) vs. No. 7 Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)
No. 3 Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR) vs. No. 6 Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)

Semifinals:
No. 1 Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs. No. 4 Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
No. 2 Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) vs. No. 3 Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR)

Finals:
No. 1 Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs. No. 2 Bajrang BAJRANG (IND)

Aliyev ascends to top of 65kg seeds
Haji ALIYEV (AZE) headlines arguably the most fan-favorite freestyle weight of the Championships. The three-time world champion moved to the top of the seeds with his podium finishes at the Olympic Games, European Championships and Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event. He finished with silvers at the Olympics and Euros and a bronze at the Italian Ranking Series stop.

To become the first Azeri wrestler to win four world titles, Aliyev will have to take out No. 8 Munir AKTAS (TUR) before clashing with the winner of and No. 4 Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) and No. 5 Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ).

If Aliyev and Muszukajev remain on the winning track through the semifinals, it'd be a third meeting between the superstars since late 2020. The Hungarian has the two matches advantage over the Azeri coming into Belgrade, having won their meetings at the 2020 Individual World Cup and the 2022 European Championships.

On the lower side of the chart, Olympic bronze medalist No. 2 Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) will have to get through the formidable No. 7 Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) before meeting the winner of No. 3 Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR) and No. 6 Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL).

70kg Seeds: 
No. 1 Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
No. 2 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)
No. 3 Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)
No. 4 Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
No. 5 Amirmohammad Babak YAZDANICHERATI (IRI)
No. 6 Zain Allen RETHERFORD (USA)
No. 7 Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)

If seeds hold at 70kg:

Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) vs. No. 8 Bacar NDUM (GBS)
No. 4 Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) vs. No. 5 Amirmohammad YAZDANICHERATI (IRI) 
No. 2 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) vs. No. 7 Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)
No. 3 Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) vs. No. 6 Zain Allen RETHERFORD (USA)

Semifinals:
No. 1 Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) vs. No. 4 Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
No. 2 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)vs. No. 3 Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)

Finals:
No. 1 Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) vs. No. 2 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)

Akmataliev ascends to top seed at 70kg
After securing second-place finishes at the 2021 World Championships and 2022 Asian Championships, Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) locked up the No. 1 seed at 70kg.

Akmataliev is positioned on the top side of the bracket to take on No. 8 Bacar NDUM (GBS) in the quarters. Then, in the semifinals, he'll likely square off against the winner of No. 4 Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) and 2021 world runner-up No. 5 Amirmohammad YAZDANICHERATI (IRI).

On the bottom side of the chart, reigning world bronze medalist Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) holds the second seed. He'll compete against No. 7 Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR) for a shot to wrestle the winner of No. 3 Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) and No. 6 Zain Allen RETHERFORD (USA).

74kg Seeds: 
No. 1 Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA)
No. 2 Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
No. 3 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)
No. 4 Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
No. 5 Yones Aliakbar EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
No. 6 Hetik CABOLOV (SRB)
No. 7 Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
No. 8 Mitchell Louis FINESILVER (ISR)

If seeds hold at 74kg:

Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Kyle DAKE (USA) vs. No. 8 Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR)
No. No. 4 Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) vs. 5 Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
No. 2 Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) vs. No. 7 Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
No. 3 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) vs. No. 6 Hetik CABOLOV (SRB)

Semifinals:
No. 1 Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA) vs. No. 4 Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
No. 2 Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) vs No. 3 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)

Finals:
No. 1 Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA) vs. No. 2 Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)

Dake dons top seed at 74kg
Kyle DAKE (USA) dons the top seed at 74kg and heads into Belgrade ready to navigate a seemly easier road to the finals than his two biggest rivals, No. 3 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) and No. 2 Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK).

Dake earned his top seed by winning bronze at the Tokyo Olympic Games and finishing atop the podium at the World and Pan-American Championships.

The three other seeded guys who Dake will share the upper half of the bracket with are No. 8 Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR), No. 4 Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) and No. 5 Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI). He'll have Finesilver in the quarters and Bayramov or Emamichoghaei for a finals shot. 

On the bottom side, Salkazanov is the on-paper favorite to take on Dake in the world finals, which would be a rematch of last year's Oslo gold-medal bout. But to do so, he'll have to get through Rio Olympic bronze medalist No. 7 Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), then will square off against the winner of the world champion matchup between No. 3 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) and No. 6 Hetik CABOLOV (SRB).

If Salkazanov and Chamizo reach the semifinals, it'll be a rematch of the 2021 and 2022 European Championships, where the Slovakian wrestler was victorious in both matches.

79kg Seeds: 
No .1 Jordan Ernest BURROUGHS (USA)
No. 2 Mohammad Ashghar NOKHODILARIMI (IRI)
No. 3 Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
No. 4 Arman AVAGYAN (ARM)
No. 5 Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
No. 6 Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR)
No. 7 Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA)
No. 8 Baliyan GOURAV (IND)

If seeds hold at 79kg:

Quarterfinals:
No .1 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs. No. 8 Baliyan GOURAV (IND)
No. No. 4 Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) vs. 5 Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) 
No. 2 Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) vs. No. 7 Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA)
No. 3 Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) vs. No. 6 Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR)

Semifinals:
No .1 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs. No. 4 Arman AVAGYAN (ARM)
No. 2 Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) vs. No. 3 Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)

Finals:
No .1 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs. No. 2 Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI)

Burroughs bags top billing at 79kg

Last year's world finals opponents No. 1 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and No. 2 Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) are positioned on opposite sides of the 79kg chart. Therefore, they wouldn't meet again unless they remained undefeated until the gold-medal bout. 

Looking for his sixth world title, Burroughs earned the top billing after winning gold at the World Championships, Pan-American Championships, and the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event.

Burroughs will have to get through No. 8 Baliyan GOURAV (IND) in the quarterfinals, and then the winner of the fourth and five matchup between No. 4 Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) and No. 5 Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO). 

Nokholdilarimi's road to the finals will travel first through No. 7 Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA) on the lower side of the bracket. Then, if he beats the French wrestler in the quarterfinals, he'll wrestle reigning European champion No. 3 Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) or No. 6 Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR).

86kg Seeds: 
No. 1 Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI)
No. 2 David Morris TAYLOR III (USA)
No. 3 Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR)
No. 4 Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
No. 5 Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
No. 6 Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
No. 7 Deepak PUNIA (IND)
No. 8 Ethan Adrian RAMOS (PUR)

If seeds hold at 86kg:

Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) vs. No. 8 Ethan RAMOS (PUR)
No. 4 Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) vs. 5 Boris MAKOEV (SVK) 
No. 2 David Morris TAYLOR III (USA) vs. No. 7 Deepak PUNIA (IND)
No. 3 Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR) vs. No. 6 Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)

Semifinals:
No. 1 Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) vs. No. 4 Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
No. 2 David Morris TAYLOR III (USA) vs. No. 3 Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR)

Finals:
No. 1 Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) vs. No. 2 David Morris TAYLOR III (USA)

Yazdani and Taylor sit on opposite sides of 86kg bracket

Olympic champions Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) and David TAYLOR III (USA) are seeded first and second, respectively, at 86kg. This means fans must wait until the gold-medal bout to see the potential fifth meeting between the pair of massive superstars.

Yazdani, known by wrestling fans worldwide as "The Greatest," used his Bolat Turlykhanov Cup Ranking Series gold to inch his way past Taylor for the weight's top seed.

After his runner-up finish in Tokyo, Yazdani strung together gold-medal performances at the World Championships and the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup and beat the American out for the top spot by 6,400 points. 

Yazdani's first seeded opponent would come in the quarterfinals, as he'll likely see No. 8 Ethan RAMOS (PUR). Then, Yazdani would wrestle his 2017 world finals opponenet No. 5 Boris MAKOEV (SVK) or world bronze medalist No. 4 Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) for a spot in the semifinals.

Tokyo Olympic champion will have a significantly more challenging road to the finals than his Iranian rival. In the quarterfinals, he'll square off against arguably the weight's best defensive wrestler in Tokyo Olympic fifth-place finisher No. 7 Deepak PUNIA (IND). If he gets past the Indian youngster, he'll have to beat Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist No. 3 Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR) or No. 6 Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ).

92kg Seeds: 
No. 1 Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI)
No. 2 Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
No. 3 Jden COX (USA)
No. 4 Andrii VLASOV (UKR)
No. 5 Viky VIKY (IND)
No. 6 Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)
No. 7 Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)
No. 8 Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)

If seeds hold at 92kg:

Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) vs. No. 8 Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)
No. 4 Andrii VLASOV (UKR) vs. No. 5 Viky VIKY (IND)
No. 2 Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. No. 7 Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)
No. 3 Jden COX (USA) No. 6 Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)

Semifinals:
No. 1 Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) vs. No. 4 Andrii VLASOV (UKR)
No. 2 Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. No. 3 Jden COX (USA)

Finals:
No. 1 Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) vs. No. 2 Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)

Ghasempour grabs top seed at 92kg

Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) headlines the top of the chart at 92kg after winning gold at the World Championships and Bolat Turlykhanov Cup Ranking Series. Dating back to 2018, the Iranian has won 10 consecutive competitions – including a pair of U23 world titles, senior-level world gold, and two Asian championship titles.

Ghasempour sits on opposite sides of the bracket from two-time world champion and Rio Olympic bronze medalist J'den COX (USA) and wouldn't see his rival until the gold-medal match. But to get to Cox, Ghasempour will have to take out No. 8 Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL) in the quarters and either No. 4 Andrii VLASOV (UKR) or No. 5 Viky VIKY (IND) in the semifinals.

On the bottom side, No. 2 Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) will have his hands full on his way to the finals. First, he'll have to beat No. 7 Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), then the winner of third-seeded Cox and No. 6 Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ).

97kg Seeds: 
No. 1 Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA)
No. 2 Magomedgadji Omardibirovich NUROV (MKD)
No. 3 Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
No. 4 Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR)
No. 5 Mohammadhossein Askari MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
No. 6 Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK)
No. 7 Radu LEFTER (MDA)
No. 8 Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ)

If seeds hold at 97kg:

Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA) vs. No. 8 Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ)
No. 4 Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR) vs. No. 5 Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) 
No. 2 Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) vs. No. 7 Radu LEFTER (MDA)
No. 3 Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) vs. No. 6 Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK)

Semifinals:
No. 1 Kyle SNYDER (USA) vs. No. 4 Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR)
No. 2 Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) vs. No. 3 Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)

Finals:
No. 1 Kyle SNYDER (USA) vs. No. 2 Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD)

Snyder snags No. 1 seed at 97kg

In the absence of the Russian Wrestling Federations' Abdulrashid SADULAEV, Kyle SNYDER (USA) seized the top seed at 97kg. After runner-up finishes to Sadulaev at the Olympic Games and World Championships, Snyder won the Ivan Yariguin, Pan-American Championships Zouhaier Sghaier Tournament, the latter of the two being point-earning competitions, and will sit on the top side of the bracket.

Snyder shouldn't have trouble with his potential quarterfinals opponent No. 8 Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ). But "Captian America" will have his hands full if No. 5 Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) can get past No. 4 Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR) in the other top side quarterfinal.

In Snyder and Mohammadian's last meeting, the Iranian pinned the Olympic champion in the second period after commanding control of the entire first period.

On the bottom side of the chart, No. 2 Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) will see No. 7 Radu LEFTER (MDA) in the quarterfinals before tussling with either No. 3 Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) or No. 6 Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) for a spot in the finals.

125kg Seeds: 
No. 1 Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
No. 2 Taha AKGUL (TUR)
No. 3 Amir Hossein Abbas ZARE (IRI)
No. 4 Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
No. 5 Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
No. 6 Robert BARAN (POL)
No. 7 Zhiwei DENG (CHN)
No. 8 Amarveer DHESI (CAN)

If seeds hold at 125kg:

Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. No. 8 Amarveer DHESI (CAN)
No. 5 Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) vs. No. 4 Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
No. 2 Taha AKGUL (TUR) vs. No. 7 Zhiwei DENG (CHN)
No. 3 Amir Abbas ZARE (IRI) vs. No. 6 Robert BARAN (POL)

Semifinals:
No. 1 Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. No. 4 Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
No. 2 Taha AKGUL (TUR) vs. No. 3 Amir Hossein Abbas ZARE (IRI)

Finals:
No. 1 Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. No. 2 Taha AKGUL (TUR)

Petriashvilii picks up top spot at 125kg

Georgian superstar Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) heads to Belgrade as the No. 1 seeded wrestler at 125kg.

Petriashvilii picked up weight's top seed with second-place finishes at the Olympic Games World Championships and European Championships and first-place finishes at the Matteo Pellicone and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series events.

More importantly, Petriashvilii put himself on the opposite side of the bracket from the last two guys who beat him, No. 2 Taha AKGUL (TUR) and No. 3 Amir ZARE (IRI). He now sits on the same side as Commonwealth Games champ No. 8 Amarveer DHESI (CAN), who he'll have in the quarterfinals, and No. 4 Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) and No. 5 Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER). The three-time world champ will have to get through the winner of Munkhtur or Cudinovic to reach his fifth consecutive 125kg world finals.

Olympic champion Akgul earned the second seed at 125kg but will a tough road if he wants to reach the world finals for the fifth time. First, he'll have to get through world bronze-medal winner No. 7 Zhiwei DENG (CHN) before setting up a second meeting with Zare, who defeated Akgul en route to last year's world-title run. 

For the matchup between Akgul and Zare to happen, the Iranian has to remain unbeaten until the quarterfinals, where he'll have to defeat No. 6 Robert BARAN (POL).

#WrestleBelgrade

Higuchi, chasing Olympic gold, ready for Belgrade pit stop

Monday, August 28, 2023 - 21:54 By Vinay Siwach

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TOKYO, Japan (August 28) -- In two Olympic cycles, Rei HIGUCHI's (JPN) life has come full circle.

As a 20-year-old, Higuchi took the wrestling world by storm at the Rio Olympics, claiming the silver medal at 57kg. His path to victory saw him overcome formidable opponents, including fan favorites like Yowlys BONNE (CUB) and Hassan RAHIMI (IRI).

By the time the Tokyo Olympics came, half of the 57kg wrestlers from Rio moved up to 65kg including gold medalist Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) and bronze medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE). Higuchi followed suit.

While Aliyev and Khinchegashvili managed to keep their form in the new weight class, Higuchi’s form tailed away after a U23 world title. He even failed to win the domestic playoff in 2019 against the then 65kg world champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN). He realized that he didn't belong in the new Olympic weight class.

“When Otoguro won the playoff for the 2019 World Championships, then I decided to move back to 57kg,” Higuchi says. “Everyone in 65kg is taller and has more reach than me. It's difficult at 65kg. My aim is to win the Olympic gold and I thought if Otoguro is fifth in the World Championships, then it will be difficult for me to win gold in Tokyo at 65kg.”

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) wrestles Yowlys BONNE (CUB) at the Rio Olympics. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

Little did Higuchi know that he wouldn't even qualify for the Tokyo Olympics for one of the most eyebrow-raising reasons in wrestling -- missing the weight.

Higuchi moved down to 57kg and at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2021, he was 50 grams over 57kg on the day of competition. Japan sent 2017 world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) to the World Olympic Qualifiers and later he defeated Higuchi 4-2 in a playoff to win the spot on the Japan team for the Tokyo Games.

"I took care of everything, including diet, exercise, and caloric intake," Higuchi would later say about missing weight in Almaty. "I've done everything without compromise. But I didn't lose (the last 50 grams) in extreme conditions. It can't be helped. I have no choice but to accept reality. This is the result, it cannot be overturned."

More than seven years since that Rio final loss and two years since the weight debacle, Higuchi is making another bid to win the Olympic gold medal. All he has to do is win a medal in Belgrade next month.

“I was not interested in other competitions,” Higuchi says. “I only wanted to return to the Olympics and win. This year, I get to go to the Paris Olympics directly if I win the World Championships.”

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)Rei HIGUCHI clinched his spot on the Japan team for the World Championships after winning the gold medal at 57kg. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

The 2023 world champion at 61kg began his Paris Olympics journey in June by winning the 57kg weight class at the Meiji Cup, the second of Japan's two-step qualifying process for the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade. A medal at the World Championships would mean that Higuchi automatically books his spot on the Japan team for Paris.

Two days after winning the Meiji Cup, Higuchi is back at his base, the Nippon Sports Science University in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo. He isn't supposed to spar as he just finished the Meiji Cup and is recovering from a niggle in his knee. In March, Higuchi hit his knee hard on the mat and water accumulated inside it. Only in May, did it heal to a level that allowed Higuchi to wrestle.

Yet, he decides to take part in the evening practice. After the initial instructions from Shingo MATSUMOTO (JPN), the wrestlers are divided into two groups – Freestyle and Greco-Roman. Higuchi is drilling with youngsters one after another. He goes over various techniques including his trademark outside leg-attack, the brutal lace and defense from par terre. An arm-drag good enough to win in Greco-Roman.

While others rush for a sip of water or juice in the break, Higuchi is still on the mat shadow practicing his moves and talking to himself with hand movements as if reciting a script of an attack. He is back to work as soon as the whistle blows. The constant movements of legs, and those singles are a work of art that Higuchi has perfected over 23 years.

Like most Japanese wrestlers, Higuchi began wrestling when he was in elementary school. The native of Ibaraki in the Osaka Prefecture was three years old when his mother took him to practice in the school. For the next nine years, Higuchi would continue honing his skills at the same school before moving to Sakai for junior high school.

He participated in the All-Japan Junior High School and finished third. Higuchi wasn't happy.

“I won a bronze medal and I wasn't happy (with the result) so I became very serious about wrestling,” he recalls.

Soon, Higuchi would find himself at the Kasumigaura High School, regarded as one of the best, in Ibaraki Prefecture. The move meant he would shift 500 kilometers away from home to the east part of Japan but closer to Tokyo. 

Higuchi rose through the ranks, making the Japan team for the 2012 U17 Asian Championships and winning gold, and later the 2013 U17 World Championships. He would finish eighth after losing to Uruzbeg TCUMARTOV (RUS) 7-5. In 2015, Higuchi would finish 21st at the U20 World Championships, the lowest in a 21-wrestler bracket after losing to Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV 10-0 at 60kg.

Who would then bet on a 20-something Japanese wrestler who finished last at the U20 Worlds to win an Olympic medal a year later? But Higuchi won the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in 2016 at 57kg and the rest is history.

His silver was celebrated at NSSU, home to Higuchi for nine years now. NSSU has produced numerous world and Olympic champions not just in wrestling but in other sports as well including gymnastics, swimming, marathon and judo (think Abe siblings.)

Like many others, Higuchi came here after high school to study Sports Science learning nutrition and functional anatomy among other subjects.

“I actually remember most of my studies in Sports Science,” he says before correcting himself, “I don't remember functional anatomy (one of the subjects).”

One would assume a student of sports science should not have much trouble related to weight. But here is Higuchi whose bout begins long before he steps on the mat.

If you follow Higuchi on social media, it's likely you have seen him posting his weight after the weigh-ins before a competition. He puts it on record that he has passed the weigh-ins. After all, it was his undoing two years ago.

Before most tournaments, Higuchi begins the process of cutting weight two months in advance. Earlier, he would skip meat and resort to eating only vegetables. But after missing Tokyo, Higuchi went for a deep dive to understand the process.

“I watched and learned a lot about cutting weight, especially fat, from various bodybuilders on YouTube. I now focus on food, weight training and cardio,” he says.

Higuchi now cooks his own meals when he wants to maintain weight, an addition to his long list of precautions during peak season.

“It's very difficult to skip meat,” he says. “I am trying to find a way to eat everything. I eat chicken, mushroom, white rice and tea.”

But the battle is not that easy for the 1.62-meter-tall wrestler.

“Cutting fat is okay,” he says. “But the one or two days when it's about the water, that kills me. I have to prepare for the weight cut around 2 months in advance.”

After missing the cut for Tokyo, a disheartened Higuchi would say “With all of the weight loss, I've been through a dark time.”

So what does Higuchi miss eating the most during his wrestling season?

“Chocolate,” he says while taking another bite of a chocolate cake, his first sweet in over three months.

As the training session at NSSU nears its end, Higuchi has decided to train with Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), a world champion and Olympic silver medalist in Greco-Roman at 60kg. Fumita dominates the sparring, putting Higuchi down numerous times. The Freestyle wrestler tries to roll Fumita from par terre. No chance. Only if a lace was allowed in Greco-Roman. A few wrestlers stop their training to watch two of the best having a go at it.

The two Mikihouse teammates, a clothing brand based in Osaka, will be on a flight to Belgrade hoping to become world champs. A medal will see them directly qualify for the Paris Olympics where both will try to upgrade their previous silver medals.

But a lot has changed at 57kg since he last wrestled internationally at this weight class. Most of the wrestlers have changed weight classes or have retired. Zaur UGUEV is the defending Olympic champion. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) is the world champion. Two youngsters are champions in Europe and Asia. Iran has lost its stronghold on the lightest weight. But Higuchi is updated.

“I don't care about the World Championships,” Higuchi says. “I watched Final X and Zain RICHARDS (USA) winning it. AMAN (IND), Abakarov, Uguev, Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE). I watched them all.”

At 57kg, 34 wrestlers will try and stop Higuchi from winning the gold. Abakarov is the defending champion, Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) lost to Higuchi 10-0 last year but 57kg is a different ball game. There is Rzazade, Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) who has defeated Higuchi before, former world finalist Suleyman ATLI (TUR), Richards and Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) who almost beat Uguev in Tokyo.

“I watched a lot of videos to prepare about all the wrestlers for Belgrade,” he says referring to the 61kg wrestlers who entered the World Championships in 2022. “I like to watch videos of all the wrestlers."

For a wrestler who has been active internationally for close to a decade, Higuchi, admittedly, watches too much film on other wrestlers. While it gives insights into his opponents' style and he studies it to learn about them, Higuchi has another reason to do so.

“I am not very confident about myself that's why I watch so many videos,” he says.

It is a scarcely believable statement from a wrestler who outscored his opponents 46-7 in 2022. But then he did it at the Meiji Cup. On the day of his final against Yudai FUJITA (JPN), Higuchi would spend most of his day watching every possible video of Fujita, studying his defense and go-to attack. He remained untroubled in the final winning 4-0.

“I watch videos of all the wrestlers in my weight class. In the Meiji Cup, I watched all of Fujita's videos I could in the morning. His movements, how he gives the points, how he attacks,” Higuchi says. “Internationally, everyone is very tough so I need to watch more videos.”

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) on a motorbike in Tokyo. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Higuchi rides a motorbike to reach the interview spot. Taking the slower train meant arriving two minutes later than the agreed time. Higuchi, wearing a purple plain T-shirt, sat on a bench just outside the train station.

“Not in Japan,” Higuchi says when asked if anyone has recognized him or asked for a photo.

As the conversation moved towards that final against Khinchegashvili, Higuchi was quick to move on.

“I don't look back at my matches. I want to move on. Next match,” he says.

A lot of wrestling experts believe that Khinchegashvili went into a shell in the final two minutes, not allowing Higuchi to attack. No warning from the referee meant that a frustrated Higuchi would lose the final, 4-2, and the chance to become Japan's youngest male Olympic champion.

He may not agree to it but the loss lingers. Same way as the Tokyo Olympics miss. Higuchi denies both but that is what fuels his gold quest in Paris.

“No. I don't feel bad about missing the Tokyo Olympics,” Higuchi says. “The day I lost the chance to represent at the Tokyo Games, I began preparing for Paris.”

Higuchi pauses before his baby face beamed and he spoke English.

“Only Olympic gold.”