Masoumi repeats to lead Iran to U20 Worlds team title

Wednesday, August 16, 2023 - 22:47 By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 16) -- At the Asian Championships in Astana, Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) had two stunning losses. He lost his semifinal against eventual champion Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL), his first-ever loss internationally, and later the bronze-medal bout to BUHEEERDUN (CHN) via fall. The two losses cast doubts over Masoumi's claims of being the closest to replacing Amirhossein ZARE (IRI) in the senior team at 125kg.

But Masoumi is once again back in the talks of being the next big thing at 125kg after he won his second U20 world title in Amman, Jordan on Wednesday.

The defending champion looked in no trouble whatsoever over the two days he wrestled, outscoring his opponents 51-1 in the five bouts. Apart from the two U20 world titles, Masoumi also has gold medals at the U17 and U23 World Championships.

His win capped off the Freestyle competition in Amman with Iran winning the team title with 165 points, 13 more than the United States which finished second. India was third with 102 points.

Along with Masoumi, Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI) also won the gold medal as Iran won four gold, two silver and one bronze medal in the tournament.

Masoumi wrestled Said AKHMATOV (AIN) in the final and launched him for a four-point throw nine seconds into the bout. He added a stepout to make it 5-0 soon. He added another stepout to lead 6-0 and showed his frustration towards Akhmatov's unprovoked aggression during the bout.

Returning to the center, Masoumi took his time before getting a single-leg attack and converting it into two points. His solid underhooks kept Akhmatov out of action and Masoumi added another stepout to lead 9-0.

Both wrestlers were warned for aggressive snapping and the referee eventually cautioned Akhmatov and awarded a point to Masoumi thus ending the bout. AIN challenged the call but the original decision was upheld, giving Masoumi an 11-0 win.

Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI) scores a takedown in the 92kg final against Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ). (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

While Masoumi's was a very one-sided win, Azimi had to work a lot harder for the gold medal at 92kg.

Azimi was up against senior Asian Championships silver medalist Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) who made a late comeback in the final but fell 5-4.

After a little scramble to begin the final, Azimi scored a takedown and led 2-0 after Aitmukhan was called for inactivity. Azimi scored a takedown in the second period as he got hold of Aitmukhan's single leg. Aitmukhan tried to hit a whizzer but failed to complete it and Azimi ended up being on the top.

Aitmukhan gave up another stepout as he was trying to circle back in when Azimi was trying to push him. With just 1:18 left on the clock and Azimi leading 5-0, Aitmukhan had a mountain to climb.

But he began with an ankle pick for two, added a stepout to cut the lead to 5-3 and almost got a takedown using head-inside but Azimi pulled his singlet. Azimi was penalized a point for the foul but Aitmukhan still needed another point with 17 seconds on the clock. Azimi managed to hold off Aitmukhan for that time and won the gold, two months after he won the U20 Asian Championships in the same city.

Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) won the 74kg gold medal after beating Hossein AGHAEI (IRI). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran could have had three gold medals on Wednesday but Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) derailed those plans by winning the 74kg final against Hossein AGHAEI (IRI) 16-5, his fifth technical superiority win of the tournament.

The silver medalist at 70kg from last year, Mesenbrink went all out from the first whistle and scored a stepout nine seconds after the start. In the second scoring action, he trapped Aghaei's arm and scored a takedown before getting two turns. Aghaei got a reversal and went straight for the leg lace for a turn.

Mesenbrink, leading 7-3, added a takedown and stepout to lead 10-3 before Aghaei scored a takedown. But with Aghaei struggling with his conditioning, it was a matter of time before Mesenbrink finished the bout 16-5 to win the gold he missed last year.

Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) won the 86kg final against Fumiya IGARASHI (JPN) 6-4. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Magamadov repeats

Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) defended his 86kg title after beating Fumiya IGARASHI (JPN) 6-4 in the gold medal match. Magamadov has become the first Freestyle wrestler from France to win two world titles across age groups.

Unlike his final in Sofia last year, Magamadov did not have a come-from-behind victory in Amman. However, he had to work hard to defend his lead against Igarashi who threatened to upset the champion in the second period.

Magamadov scored two takedowns in the first period to lead 4-0 and added another in the second period to extend it to 6-0. Igarashi kept coming back and even pushed Magamadov out-of-bounds twice but was called grounded.

Igarashi finally opened his score with a stepout with only 35 seconds left on the clock. Mamagadov was cautioned for fleeing and put in par terre which perhaps played negatively for Igarashi as he wanted the bout to restart in standing. With just 11 seconds remaining on the clock, Igarashi scored a takedown in the final second, not enough to stop Magamadov from winning his second straight gold medal at the U20 World Championships.

Mohit KUMAR (IND) won the 61kg gold to become India's fourth U20 world champion in Freestyle. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Mohit KUMAR (IND) became only the fourth Indian wrestler to win a Freestyle gold medal at the U20 World Championships when he defeated Eldar AKHMADUDINOV (AIN) 9-8 in the 61kg final.

India won it's first Freestyle U20 world title in 2001 when two wrestlers, Palwinder CHEEMA (IND) and Ramesh KUMAR (IND), won gold at 130kg and 69kg respectively. The nation had to wait 18 years for the third title as Deepak PUNIA (IND) won the gold at 86kg in 2019. Kumar made sure India did not have to wait that long for its fourth as he won the final in Amman.

But Kumar's path to the gold had been nothing short of edge-of-the-seat stuff. After winning his first two bouts via technical superiority, Kumar faced Nicholas BOUZAKIS (USA) in the quarterfinals. Both wrestlers exchanged the lead numerous times before Kumar managed to win 12-11. In the semifinals, Kumar pinned Besir ALILI (MKD) but not before himself surviving a pin call.

The final against Akhmadudinov, who scored a stunning takedown using a fake attack to win his semifinal 10-9 against Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI), was equally dramatic as at one point Kumar trailed 6-0. Just before the break, Kumar scored a takedown to make it 6-2.

Kumar scored a stepout and then got a point as Akhmadudinov pulled Kumar's singlet during an attack. As Akhmadudinov struggled with his conditioning, Kumar scored an easy takedown and exposure in the same sequence to get an 8-6 lead. A stepout made it 9-6 with 46 seconds remaining in the final.

Akhmadudinov's late burst of energy helped him score a takedown, awarded to him only after a challenge. With his 9-8 lead and 14 seconds left on the clock, Kumar managed to keep Akhmadudinov at bay and win India's first gold of the tournament.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Mohit KUMAR (IND) df. Eldar AKHMADUDINOV (AIN), 9-8

BRONZE: Nicholas BOUZAKIS (USA) df. Besir ALILI (MKD), 11-1
BRONZE: Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI) df. Tamazi SULAMANIDZE (GEO), 10-0

74kg
GOLD: Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) df. Hossein AGHAEI (IRI), 16-5

BRONZE: JAIDEEP (IND) df. Zhakshylyk BAITASHOV (KGZ), via fall (4-2)
BRONZE: Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO) df. Anton SUCHKOV (AIN), 3-2

86kg
GOLD: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) df. Fumiya IGARASHI (JPN), 6-4

BRONZE: Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA) df. Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM), 3-0
BRONZE: Bennett BERGE (USA) df. Shakjir BISLIMI (MKD), 11-0

92kg
GOLD: Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI) df. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), 5-4

BRONZE: Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN) df. Knyaz IBOYAN (ARM), 10-0
BRONZE: Giorgi ROMELASHVILI (GEO) df. Nurbolot ADYL UULU (KGZ), 8-1

125kg
GOLD: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) df. Said AKHMATOV (AIN), 11-0

BRONZE: Rajat RUHAL (IND) vs. Karanveer MAHIL (CAN), 9-8
BRONZE: Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR) vs. Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR), 11-1

Podium Iran won the Freestyle team title with the United States finishing second and India third. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Yanrong LI (CHN) df. Audrey JIMENEZ (USA)

SF 1: Yanrong LI (CHN) df. Viktoriia SLOBODENIUK (UKR), via fall (2-2)
SF 2: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) df. Reka HEGEDUS (SVK), 12-2

55kg
GOLD: Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) vs. Georgiana LIRCA (ROU)

SF 1: Georgiana LIRCA (ROU) df. Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), via fall (4-2)
SF 2: Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) df. Albina RILLIA (UKR), 11-0

59kg
GOLD: Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) vs. Aurora RUSSO (ITA)

SF 1: Aurora RUSSO (ITA) df. Alexis JANIAK (USA), 9-8
SF 2: Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) df. Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ), 6-4

68kg
GOLD: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) vs. Ray HOSHINO (JPN)

SF 1: Ray HOSHINO (JPN) df. Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN), 9-4
SF 2: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) df. ARJU (IND), 6-3

76kg
GOLD: PRIYA (IND) vs. Laura KUEHN (GER)

SF 1: Laura KUEHN (GER) df. Veronika NYIKOS (HUN), 9-4
SF 2: PRIYA (IND) df. Kennedy BLADES (USA), 10-0

#WrestleTirana

European Championships 2026 Freestyle Preview

Friday, April 17, 2026 - 11:36 By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (April 17) -- After six years away from the continental stage, Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) is set to walk back into the European Championships in Tirana, Albania. Barring an upset of the highest order, he’s likely to reclaim the title he won for the fourth time in Rome back in 2020.

Sadulaev’s absence from the continental championships for the better part of a decade wasn’t a typical one – due to injury or lack of form. As a two-time Olympic champion and a six-time world champion, Sadulaev had built up a resume that made European gold almost routine.

WATCH SADULAEV LIVE | Download European Championships 2026 Preview

His was a schedule built on world conquest and he simply didn’t need the European Championships. He skipped the tournament year after year even as he dominated globally.

Sadulaev’s return to the European Championships doesn’t seem to be linked to any sentimentality, legacy or any need to prove himself. In an interview he had given to UWW at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series 2026, where he beat Takhir KHANIEV (UWW) to secure his spot for the European Championships, Sadulaev’s explanation was very practical. “For me, this gold means qualifying for the European Championships… It was very important for me to qualify there,” he said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Olympic Wrestling (@unitedworldwrestling)

The 29-year-old hasn’t treated the European Championships as essential for years. At the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series, Sadulaev gave further insights into where his focus lies by saying he was already looking ahead to a stacked World Championships field later in the year and mentioned the possibility of multiple Olympic champions in one bracket.

Sadulaev is unlikely to face anything close to that challenge in Tirana. If anyone expected rust -- the 2026 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series was his first international competition since he won gold at the 2024 World Championships at this same venue -- he ended that idea comprehensively. He beat a strong field at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series, including Khaniev, who beat Kyle SNYDER (USA) earlier in the competition.

A fully fit and focused Sadulaev should find the field in Tirana -- where, incidentally, he will be competing for the third straight international tournament -- a straightforward one despite the presence of defending champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) and world medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), who is moving up from 92kg to 97kg.

However what Sadulaev does though, his return changes the nature of the tournament. If he wins, it sets him up for a crack at a remarkable seventh world title later this year. If the unthinkable should occur in Tirana though, anyone who does get the better of Sadulaev in Europe will immediately become relevant worldwide.

While Sadulaev headlines the event, two other four-time European champions will be wrestling in Tirana. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) are also lining up for their fifth European title in Tirana.

Uguev vs Harutyunyan
In contrast to an open 57kg division, the 61kg category has a strong favorite in defending champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW) who is in excellent form having won the Muhamat Malo Ranking series earlier this year. Expect last year’s silver medalist Harutyunyan and bronze medalist Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) to also contend for the podium at this edition.

Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) will make his European Championships debut in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

New king at 65kg
A new champion will be crowned in the 65kg category, always one of the most competitive weight categories, since last year's victor Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) isn’t returning.

Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL), who is competing in his first international competition since he won bronze at the 2023 World Championships, has to be the favorite as he dawns into a new era in his career.

Former champions Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) and Islam DUDAEV (ALB) will be key contenders but both haven’t been in the best of form last year. Two-time U23 world champion Bashir MAGOMEDOV (UWW) will likely be another main threat.

Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) is a four-time European champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Salkazanav Eyes Fifth Title
Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) saw his bid to win a fifth straight European title end following an early loss to Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) last time around. But with neither Sidakov, who won silver, nor defending European champion Chermen VALIEV (ALB) competing in Tirana, Salkazanov is well placed to return to the top of the podium.

Also looking to add to his European gold medal tally is Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW). The 33-year-old has been bouncing across weight categories over the past couple of years. He wrestled at 74kg at the Paris Olympics, then won silver at last year's European Championships in the 86kg category but is now cutting down to 79kg, the category in which he won his first continental title back in 2020.

Standing between him and a second European title are Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) who is trying to improve on the silver he won last time and Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) who himself briefly wrestled in the 86kg class without much success at this year's edition of the Muhamet Malo Ranking series.

Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB), returning silver medalist, will look to change his medal color to gold this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Shootout at 57kg
Unlike the 97kg category, the 57kg weight class is wide open with no Sadulaev-like figure to shut the door on everyone else. Defending champion Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) isn’t returning this year. In his absence, the closest thing to a favorite might be Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB), but, he too, also hasn’t had the best run since taking silver last year, placing 21st at last year's World Championships and failing to medal at the Zagreb Open earlier this year.

Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (UWW), who will be competing in his first continental championships, doesn’t have any real hardware from international competition but is more than capable of being a contender having picked up a win against last year’s European bronze medalist Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) at the 2025 World Championships.

Arsenii DZHOIEV (AZE) and Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) are two favorites at 86kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Shake Up at 86kg and 92kg
The 86kg category is also looking at a shake up. Osman GOCEN (TUR) is the only returning medal winner in this year’s bracket. Expected to lead the charge for the podium this time around is Ibragim KADIEV(UWW), who had a strong outing at the Muhamet Malo Ranking series where he won gold beating world champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) in the final.

However, Kadiev was pushed hard by world bronze medalist Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) who would be itching to repay the favor once again in Tirana.

The 92kg division will also see just one medal winner from 2025 -- Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) returning to Tirana. That leaves the field open for 2025 world silver medalist Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW), reigning U23 European champion Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) and Ahmed BATAEV (BUL) for a chance to win their first European title.

Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) is the defending European champion at 125kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Meshvildishvili Firm
Although he hasn’t been in the best of form recently, failing to medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking series, last year's champion and 2025 worlds silver medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) is still the man to beat at the 125kg category especially since last year’s runner up Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) has had an up an down season.

While Meshvildishvili is the favorite, former U23 world silver medalists Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) and Shamil MUSAEV (UWW) may yet spring a surprise.

David BAEV (UWW) dropped just one point en route to the European title last year including a 10-0 blowout against former world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), and is the favorite in the 70kg category this year as well.

Masoumi repeats to lead Iran to U20 Worlds team title

Comments

European Championships 2026 Freestyle Preview