#RussianNationals

Seven Storylines to Follow at Russia's Greco-Roman National C'ships

Friday, January 11, 2019 - 15:35 By Tigran Avanian

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KALININGRAD, Russia (January 11) - Sergey EMELIN, Stepan MARYANIAN, Artem SURKOV, Alexander CHEKHIRKIN, Musa EVLOEV,  and Sergey SEMENOV, the six current Greco-Roman world champions, are exempted from the Russian Greco-Roman National Championships, which will be held in Kaliningrad, Russia, from January 17-21. But this does not make the upcoming competition less interesting, largely due to the fact that Olympic champions, Roman VLASOV and Davit CHAKVETADZE, will strive to regain their former positions. 

Roman VLASOV, Russia's two-time Olympic champion returns to the mat after suffering a knee injury before the 2018 World Championships. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne) 

1. Roman Vlasov, Old and New Rivals 
At 77kg, the current world champion Alexander Chekhirkin was freed from the Russian National Championships, and the two-time Olympic champion Roman Vlasov, who missed the end of last season due to injury, is in line and intends to regain the title of the best wrestler in the country. 

He will be confronted by an old rival, 2014 world champion Chingiz LABAZANOV, and two new rivals, Islam OPIEV and Egor KADIROV, who are winners of the junior world and European championships, respectively. 

2. Possible Revenge For Davit Chakvetadze 
At last year's Russian National Championships, Olympic champion Davit Chakvetadze, who just returned from injury, suffered a crushing defeat to Bekkhan OZDOEV. Ozdoev, the silver medalist of the 2018 European Championships went to the 2018 World Championships but failed to medal.

EuIn Kaliningrad, Chakvetadze will strive for revenge, while there are a number of other ambitious wrestlers, including Alan OSTAEV, who has already defeated world and European champion Maxim MANUKYAN (ARM).

Alexander GOLOVIN celebrates after winning his second U22 World title. Golovin is one of the 97kg favorites. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

3. Nikita Melnikov - Alexander Golovin 
The reigning world champion Musa EVLOEV will not wrestle at the Russian National Championships, however, there's high competition in his weight, and the match between 2013 world and 2016 European champion, Nikita MELNIKOV, and two-time U23 world champion Alexander GOLOVIN is expected to happen. 

We also single out junior world bronze medalists, Ruslan BEKUZAROV and Arthur SARGSYAN. 

4. Trio of Flyers 
There's interesting competition looming at 55kg. This category is only a year old - and the leaders here are Vasily TOPOEV and U23 world runner-up Vitaly KABALOEV.  But now, Emin SEVERSHAEV, who has been a leader on the junior team for a long time, is ready to join the fight. 

5. Adam Kurak - Abuazid Manzigov 
This confrontation is already becoming a landmark. Abuyazid MANTSIGOV, the 2017 European bronze medalist missed out on a medal at the 2018 World Championships, while Adam KURAK has taken bronze at the World Championships and won the European Championships twice. In their extreme match before the World Championships, Manzigov was stronger. 

How will it be this time? 

Aleksander KOMAROV has won four age-level world titles and would be among the favorites at 82kg - if he decides to compete on the senior level. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne) 

6. Chance of Alekander Komarov 
Aleksander KOMAROV still remains on the junior team, where he can wrestle for one more year. But while there's time before the junior qualifiers, the time has come for the four-time age-level world champion to declare himself for the Senior Russian National Championships - especially with the country going through hard times at 82kg. 

After the injury to 2016 world champion Ramazan ABACHARAEV, and Imil SHARAFETDINOV not successfully performing at the 2018 World Championships, isn't it time for Alexander Komarov to take his shot at a non-Olympic weight spot?

7. Favorites in the absence of world champions 
In each weight, without mentioning above, there are favorites in the absence of world champions. 

At 60kg, without Sergey Emelin, the highest chance of winning goes to the 2012 London Olympic bronze medalist Mingiyan SEMENOV. 

In the weight up to 63kg, without Stepan MARYANIAN, the favorite is Ibragim LABAZANOV. 

For the third time in a row, in the absence of Artem Surkov at 67kg, Zaur KABALOYEV can win the Russian National Championships. 

At heavyweight, without Sergey Semenov, Vitaly SCHUR, the 2018 European runner-up, has the highest chance of success. 

This story was translated from wrestrus.ru. 

SCHEDULE

January 17 (Thursday) 
10:00 - Mandate Commission 
16:00 - Meeting of the panel of judges, representatives of the teams 
17: 30 - Draw and medical control of weight categories up to 55kg, 60kg, 63kg, and 67kg 

January 18 (Friday) 
7:00 - Opening of the entrance for athletes 
8:00 - Weighing, weight categories up to 55kg ,60kg ,63kg, and 67kg 
10:00 - Start of competition 
15:00 - Break 
16:00 - Draw and medical control of weight categories up to 72kg, 77kg, and 97kg 
17:00-  Semifinals in weight categories up to 55kg ,60kg, 63kg, and 67 kg 

January 19 (Saturday) 
7:00 - Opening of the entrance for athletes 
8: 00 - The second weighing for weight categories up to 55kg, 60kg, 63kg, and 67 kg 
8:15 - Weighing, weight categories up to 72kg, 77kg, and 97kg 
10:00 - Start of competition 
15: 00 - Break 
16: 00 - Draw and medical control for weight categories up to 82kg, 87kg, and 130 kg 
17:00 - Opening Ceremony
17:00 - Semifinals in weight categories up to 72kg, 77kg, and 97kg 
18:00 - Finals in weight categories up to 55kg ,60kg, 63kg, and 67 kg 

January 20 (Sunday) 
7:00 - Opening of the entrance for athletes 
8:00 - Second weighing for weight categories up to 60kg, 77kg, and 97kg 
8:15 - Weighing, weight categories up to 82kg, 87kg, and 130kg 
10:00 Start of competition 
15: 00 - Break 
17:00 - Semifinals in weight categories up to 82kg, 87, and 130 kg 
18:00 - Finals in weight categories up to 72kg, 77kg, and 97kg. 

January 21 (Monday) 
7:00 - Opening of the entrance for athletes 
8: 00 -The second weighing for weight categories up to 82kg, 87kg, and 130kg 
10:00 - Start of competition 
12:00 - Finals in weight categories up to 82kg 87kg, 130kg. 

Attention! The program is subject to change.

2026 World Championships

Yazdani Interview: 'Changing Weight Classes Difficult, But Ready for 97kg Challenge'

Saturday, June 20, 2026 - 06:27 By

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- By Amirreza ALIASGARI

KEMRAN, Iran (July 19) -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) made his eighth World Championships for Iran on Friday after beating Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), 4-2 and 5-3, in two straight matches at 97kg.

In 2015, Yazdani was at 70kg and won a silver medal at his debut World Championships. For a decade, he spent his wrestling career at 86kg, winning two Olympic silver medals, three world titles, two world silver and one bronze medal.

Now at 97kg after two shoulder surgeries, a 31-year-old Yazdani is adjusting to the new weight class. As he returns to the World Championships after three years, Yazdani will be chasing his eighth medal and fourth title.

After making the Iran team for the World Championships, to be held in Astana from October 24 to November 1, Yazdani spoke to United World Wrestling about the challenges of 97kg, returning to the World Championships and how his body is holding up.

Excerpts:

- How are you feeling physically after the two tough matches?

Yazdani: I’ve improved in some areas, especially when it comes to my breathing and conditioning. But we didn’t really have enough time to focus on strength training, so we worked on that a bit less than we wanted to. With the time that’s left until the World Championships, I’m going to do everything I can to get myself in the best shape possible and be even better prepared.

- How prepared were you for the wrestle-off against Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)?

Yazdani: For these competitions, I’d say I was about 70 percent ready. It’s hard to be 100 precent prepared for a tournament like this, but by the time the World Championships come around, I’ll definitely be in better shape and more prepared.

- What are your thoughts on competing at 97kg, a weight class that may have four Olympic champions in Astana?

Yazdani: The 97kg weight class is new for me, and of course I have new opponents now. It’s quite different from 86kg. I hope I can put on a good performance in this weight class as well. There are a lot of great champions here, and I hope I get the chance to wrestle against them, challenge myself, and show my best wrestling at the World Championships.

- But will it be challenging for your to be at the top at this weight class?

Yazdani: I already knew how many top wrestlers compete in this weight class. Considering my physical condition, I decided last year to move up to 97kg. Since it’s also an Olympic weight class, I wanted to make the move early so I’d have enough time to fix any weaknesses and adapt before the Olympics. My goal is to be at my very best for both the Olympics and the World Championships, which are just as important.

I wanted to move up sooner so I could get comfortable in this weight class as quickly as possible. Once you get to around 30 years old, things naturally become a little more difficult, and changing weight classes isn’t as easy as it used to be. There are definitely challenges at 97kg, and I’ve thought about all of them. Hopefully, I’ll be able to put on my best performance and come away with a great result.