#WrestleBelgrade

Susaki defends 50kg title, leads Japan sweep of WW golds

By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 20) -- A day after showing a few chinks in her armor, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) completed her crusade to a fourth world title and a shot at a second straight Olympic gold with a display of her old dominance.

Susaki blasted away Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) with a 10-0 technical fall to retain the women's 50kg title at the World Championships, leading a Japanese sweep of the four gold medals at stake in women's wrestling on Wednesday at Belgrade's Stark Arena.

"As a Tokyo Olympic champion, I want to be one who pulls the Japanese team up and can be relied on," said Susaki, whose preparations for Belgrade were severely curtailed by a torn ligament of her right knee.

In the other Olympic weights, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) successfully defended her title at 57kg for her third straight world gold, and Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) won at 76kg, making her the first Japanese woman to win a world title at the heaviest weight in two decades. 

Meanwhile, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) captured a second straight world title with a bittersweet victory in the non-Olympic weight of 65kg.

Susaki's match against Dolgorjav was a rematch of the final a year ago in the same arena, and it went better than expected, given the problems Susaki had in her preparations for Belgrade and the vulnerability she showed in her matches on Tuesday.

It was vintage Susaki, who came out firing on all cylinders, scoring a single-leg takedown and immediately going into her devastating lace lock. She could only manage three spins, but that only delayed the inevitable as she quickly scored another single-leg takedown to finish off the match in 1:29.

The 24-year-old Susaki, who won her previous world titles in 2017, 2018 and 2022, had been unable to properly train in the run-up to Belgrade and even skipped a national team training camp, which is otherwise unheard of.

But she said that with a strong support team, she managed to be ready enough for the mission at hand. "If I had to do it on my own, I would not have made it here," Susaki said.

Susaki turned heads during the preliminary rounds on Tuesday when she gave up rare points in two matches, a far cry from her winning run at the Tokyo Olympics and last year's worlds, where she struck gold without conceding a point.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN)Yui SUSAKI (JPN) is now a four-time senior world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki said she gained inspiration from the Japan men's basketball team, which earlier this month put on amazing rallies at the World Cup to clinch a place at the Paris Olympics.

"At that time, coach [Tom] HOVASSE used the word 'Believe,'" Susaki said. "My sister sent me a video of the clinching game and said, 'Yui, we believe in you. If you are hurt or things are going tough, we believe you will become a world champion and get to the Paris Olympics.'

"That really gave me strength and by believing, I won the world title."

The Belgrade worlds also serves as the first qualifier for spots at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with five quotas available in each weight class. For the Japanese wrestlers, their federation has decreed that winning a medal means that they fill the spot without having to go through a playoff process.

"There is going to be pressure and other circumstances in the year heading to the Paris Olympics, but I'm really looking forward to all of it," Susaki said. "I definitely want to win a second straight title in Paris.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) defeated Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) to become a three-time world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Sakurai captured her third world title overall and the ticket to Paris with a 3-2 victory over Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) in a battle of 2022 world champions.

Sakurai gained an activity point in the first period but had trouble finishing off her takedown attempts against Nichita, the gold medalist last year at 59kg who dropped down to the Olympic weight. But Sakurai finally broke through off a 2-on-1 for a 3-0 lead.

Nichita gained a takedown with 25 seconds left to make it interesting, but Sakurai staved off her late attempts to secure the win.

Like the other Japanese, Sakurai had to go through a grueling process just to make the team to Belgrade. In her case, it meant beating Tokyo Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) (now KINJO) among others.

"I trained for the purpose of winning this gold medal," said the 22-year-old Sakurai, who also won the world title at 55kg in 2021. "There were tough times, but I'm glad I practiced hard."

Sakurai said she received many messages of congratulations after winning her semifinal on Tuesday, which clinched the Olympic spot. But for her, the job was not finished.

"To me, I had one more match to win, so I went into today with a different mind," she said. "I practiced to win the title, not get to the Olympics.

"It's interesting to think about what the Olympics is like. I think I will be studied more [by my opponents], so I want to train hard to become a strong wrestler who can beat any opponent."

Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) won the 76kg gold medal for her first world title. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

At 76kg, Kagami added her first senior title to her collection of age-group golds when Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) sadly had to default after suffering a knee injury.

Kagami scored a takedown on a low single early in the second period but wrenched Medet Kyzy's right knee in the process. Medet Kyzy would continue, but Kagami increased the lead to 8-0 and eventually, the tournament doctor decided Medet Kyzy was unable to go on.

While it was not the optimal way to win, it did not take away from the joy felt by Kagami, who had to overcome a shoulder injury herself that required surgery early in the year.

"This is the best and happiest day of my life," said Kagami, who won a bronze medal last year. "In December I was injured, and it was a hard recovery for six months. Every day I was out of breath and crying as I practiced.

"The competition in Japan is hard and it's even harder in the world, but I didn't set limits for myself and I set a goal. My objective was to win a gold medal."

Kagami, who turned 22 last week, is a product of the JOC Elite Academy which also produced Susaki and Ozaki. Her victory makes her the first Japanese champion at the heaviest women's weight since Kyoko HAMAGUCHI (JPN) won at 72kg in 2003.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) used the lace to beat Macey KILTY (USA) 10-0 in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Ozaki won the world gold last year at 62kg but lost out to Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) for a place on the Japan team at that weight. When Motoki advanced to the 62kg final earlier in the day, it all but closed off Ozaki's path to Paris, barring injury or other unforeseen circumstances.

That realization came to the fore after she defeated Macey KILTY (USA) in the 65kg final. She managed a smile, but would soon be reduced to tears about taking home what for her is a consolation prize.

"When I won the title, it hit me that it wasn't in an Olympic weight class," Ozaki said of breaking down in tears after taking a victory lap with the Japanese flag.

Ozaki rolled to her third 10-0 technical fall in four matches -- the other was a 9-0 victory -- overwhelming Kilty in the final for her second world gold and third medal overall.

Ozaki gained a single-leg takedown, then reeled off a pair of lace-lock rolls. When Kilty managed to squirm out of the hold, Ozaki bulled her over for another 2, then applied the coup to grace by turning her over a final time with a cross-face and leg lift at 1:01.

"It was tough to see someone else clinch the team spot in my weight class," said Ozaki, who broke down while speaking to the media in the mixed zone. "It was my own fault. Sports is like that. I have to accept it."

Ozaki will now look to bounce back at the Asian Games early next month.

"I have the option of going to the Asian Games," Ozaki said. "The 62kg division has Aisuluu [TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)] and the strong Mongolian [Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)]. We will be leaving one week after I get home. I have no choice but to put this behind me."

Helen MAROULIS (USA)Helen MAROULIS (USA) won a bronze medal at 57kg after victory over Anhelina LYSAK (POL). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Maroulis, Gray grab bronzes, Paris places

American 30-something stars Helen MAROULIS (USA) and Adeline GRAY (USA) both added to their extensive world medal collections and claimed an Olympic berth in their weight class with 10-6 victories in the bronze-medal matches.

Maroulis gave up a 4-point throw during her clash with Anhelina LYSAK (POL), but stuffed her twice for points en route to win 10-6 at 57kg.

Gray, whose loss in the quarterfinals to Kagami ended her bid for a seventh world gold, punctuated her takedowns with points from par terre, and that made the difference in her 10-6 decision over Milaimys MARIN (CUB) at 76kg.

It was still a triumph of sorts for Gray, who returned to the mat this year for the first time since her gold-medal run in 2021 after getting married and giving birth to twins.

Earlier, compatriot and Olympic bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) earned her second straight bronze medal and fourth world medal overall, scoring a takedown in each period to defeat 2022 European champion Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) 5-0 at 50kg.

Tatiana RENTERIA (COL)Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) won the bronze medal, only the second for Colombia at the World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Colombia had two chances to get just the second world medal in its history, and after Alisson CARDOZO (COL) came up short at 50kg, Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) pulled it off at 76kg.

Renteria, the 2022 world U23 champion, had a 6-1 lead when she stopped a desperation throw attempt by Catalina AXENTE (ROU), fell on top of her and secured a fall with one second left on the clock.

With the victory, Renteria joins namesake Jackeline RENTERIA (COL), a bronze medalist at 63kg in 2017, as Colombia's world medalist.

Asian bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) gave China its first Olympic berth with a Japanese-like, lace-locked-filled technical fall over Cardozo at 50kg. Feng gained a single-leg takedown, then immediately locked up the ankles and ripped off four rolls for a 10-0 victory in 2:19.

Odunayo ADEKUOROYE )COLOdunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) won the 57kg bronze and qualified Nigeria for the Paris Olympics. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

In the other third-place match at 57kg, Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) picked up her fourth world medal by putting on a late rush and then holding on to defeat Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) 9-5.

Akekuoroye was trailing 1-1 on criteria when she scored a takedown with a minute to go, then seemed to put the match away with three lace-lock rolls. But Kamalaglu put the pressure on and got two stepouts, each with a fleeing point tacked on, but it was not enough to deny the Nigerian.

At 65kg, European champion Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) picked up her first world medal, muscling Tatsiana PAULAVA (AIN) into a cradle and securing a fall at 1:51 of their bronze-medal match.

LILI (CHN) also got her opponent into a cradle, but although she was at the edge and didn't have the room to turn Kadriye AKSOY (TUR) over, the takedown was enough to give her a 3-2 victory and the other 65kg bronze.

Turkiye, Poland, Cuba win 5th-place playoffs

Turkiye, Poland and Cuba each picked up a Paris quota when their wrestler won the fifth-place playoff in their respective weight class.

Turkiye's Demirhan scored a first-period takedown and defeated Cardozo 4-1 at 50kg, but her country was prevented from a second one when Poland's Lysak pinned Kamaloglu at 57kg.

Lysak twice gave up exposure points after scoring with a throw, but on the third attempt, managed to hold down Kamaloglu for the fall.

At 76kg, Cuba's Marin made short work of Axente, using a blast double to send her to her back and scoring a fall in 49 seconds.

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Day 4 Results

Women

50kg (28 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) by TF, 10-0, 1:29

BRONZE: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Alisson CARDOZO (COL) by TF, 10-0, 2:18
BRONZE: Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) by 5-0

5th-Place Playoff: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Alisson CARDOZO (COL), 4-1

53kg (31 entries)
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN)

Semifinal: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) by TF, 10-0, 00:42
Semifinal: Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) df. ANTIM (UWW), 5-4

57kg (36 entries)
GOLD:  Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), 3-2

BRONZE: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), 9-5
BRONZE: Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Anhelina LYSAK (POL), 10-6

5th-Place Playoff: Anhelina LYSAK (POL) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) by Fall, 1:56 (8-4)

62kg (34 entries)
GOLD: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) vs. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)

Semifinal: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) df. Grace BULLEN (NOR), 2-1
Semifinal: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), 4-2

65kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Macey KILTY (USA) by TF, 10-0, 1:00

BRONZE: Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) df. Tatsiana PAULAVA (AIN) by Fall, 1:51 (4-2)
BRONZE: Lili LILI (CHN) df. Kadriye AKSOY (TUR), 3-2

68kg (33 entries)
GOLD: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) vs. Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR)

Semifinal: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Emma BRUNTIL (USA) by Fall, 2:44 (6-0)
Semifinal: Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) df. Ami ISHII (JPN) by TF, 11-1, 2:40

72kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) vs. Amit ELOR (USA)

Semifinal: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 6-2
Semifinal: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Kendra DACHER (FRA) by TF, 12-2, 5:24

76kg (29 entries)
GOLD: Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) by Inj. Def., 5:06 (8-0)

BRONZE: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) df. Catalina AXENTE (ROU) by Fall, 5:58 (8-1)
BRONZE: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Milaimys MARIN (CUB), 10-6

5th-Place Playoff: Milaimys MARIN (CUB) df. Catalina AXENTE (ROU) by Fall, :49 (8-0)

#WrestleBelgrade

Greco-Roman Preview: Young blood out to challenge old guard

By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 12) -- Out of the six Greco-Roman champions from the Tokyo Olympics, three have since returned to the mat while others have chosen different paths.

Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) retired after winning the gold medal at 77kg, 97kg champion Musa EVLOEV (ROC) is yet to be seen in competition while Mijain LOPEZ (CUB), who won his fourth gold at 130kg, is expected to compete at the Paris Olympics next year.

The three who have returned are Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI), who won gold and silver in the World Championships following the Olympics, 60kg champion Luis ORTA (CUB) who moved up to 63kg last year and is now to 67kg in a bid to win his second Olympic title. The third, Zhan BELENIUK (UKR), is returning to the World Championships, only his second competition since winning the 87kg gold medal in Tokyo.

A few new wrestlers have emerged since the Tokyo Games and Beleniuk, for the meticulous person he is, will be aware of the same. The Olympic champion returned to the mat at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix in February this year and won gold. And now the two-time world champion will be in action on September 23 as he enters the race for his third Olympic medal next year in Paris.

Close to 1000 wrestlers across three styles will try to win the 90 Olympic spots that are on offer at the World Championships in Belgrade. An Olympic weight class offers five Paris Olympic quotas and a wrestler can earn it for the respective National Olympic Committee by winning a medal. The fifth will be decided via a playoff between the losers of the bronze-medal bouts.

If history is anything to go by, Beleniuk can be sure of winning a medal in Belgrade. In the previous two Olympic qualifying World Championships (2015 and 2019), Beleniuk emerged as the gold medalist. Things can well be in his favor once again if we see the Beleniuk of old.

During his time off the mat, Olympic bronze medalist Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) won the World Championships in 2021 and 2022 but he won't defend his title while silver medalist from 2022, Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), will skip the tournament owing to an injury.

However, the 87kg field still poses a threat to Beleniuk and the biggest of them is, incidentally, a former Ukranian, Semen NOVIKOV (BUL), who has now transferred to Bulgaria.

Novikov is a two-time U23 world champion and was long considered as the successor to Beleniuk. The two have wrestled twice to make the Ukrainian national team with Beleniuk winning on both occasions.

"Beleniuk is not the reason I left; I'm not afraid of a rivalry," Novikov told UWW. "I believed in myself, and I felt that I had chances, but he was going to be Ukraine's representative either way. I hope we will meet in the finals. I'll be happy when I win this rematch. It means that I became a little better."

Novikov is seeded sixth at the World Championships while Beleniuk will be unseeded which means the two can meet at any stage of the bracket.

The two will also be wary of other stars in the bracket especially the top two seeds -- Ali CENGIZ (TUR) and David LOSONCZI (HUN). The two are returning bronze medalists with the hope of improving on their results.

Like Novikov, Cengiz was the second to Metehan BASAR (TUR) at 87kg in Turkiye but he has taken off since that bronze last year. He won silver medals at the Ranking Series in Alexandria and the European Championships and bronze in Bishkek.

Losonczi had to fight for his place in the Hungarian team as European champion Istvan TAKACS (HUN) was the preferred choice. Takacs beat Losonczi in the Zagreb Open but the latter won the U23 European Championships and the gold in Budapest Ranking Series which confirmed his spot.

Three-time European medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE) will be hoping to win his first world medal and earn a Paris quota for this country. He lost to Cengiz at the European Championships before losing to Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) in the bronze-medal bout.

Tokyo Olympian Gobadze is a 2019 world champion at 82kg and is going for his second, this time in an Olympic weight class. He won bronze at the 2021 World Championships but skipped the last edition. Like Gobadze, both Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) and Alan OSTAEV (AIN) are making a return to competition since 2021 and will be medal threats in Belgrade.

Veteran Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) is in search of his first world medal since 2019 as he lost to Losonciz in the bronze-medal bout last year. The 2019 silver medalist at 77kg moved to 82kg in 2021 and to 87kg last year. Iran is sending Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) who will have to punch above his weight if Iran wants to qualify for the Paris Games from the World Championships. The former Asian champion finished fifth last year after a loss to Cengiz.

A lot of eyes will be on Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), who won a silver medal at 82kg last year, as he has moved up to 87kg this year. The start wasn't ideal as he finished fifth at the Zagreb Open but won bronze at the Asian Championships and gold in Budapest.

Others who can spring a surprise are Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB), Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and Exauce MUKUBU (NOR).

130kg
Like Beleniuk, Riza KAYAALP (TUR) has a habit of winning gold at the Olympic qualifying World Championships. He achieved the feat in 2011, 2015 and 2019. And the three-time Olympic medalist looks destined to win again.

Since his bronze-medal finish at the Tokyo Olympics, Kayaalp has only lost to Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) when he got pinned at the Istanbul Ranking Series. Kayaalp has avenged that loss since but the Azerbaijan wrestler remains a big threat at the heaviest weight.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) will be in Belgrade with an aim to upset the five-time world champion Kayaalp who defeated the Iranian 1-1 last year in a tense final. Kayaalp had also defeated Mirzazadeh in the Olympic bronze-medal bout. Mirzazadeh can draw confidence from the fact that he has a win over Oscar PINO (CUB) this year. The Cuban will try to qualify his country for the Paris Games and in all likelihood give up his spot for Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) who is chasing a fifth Olympic gold medal.

Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) has failed to reach any finals since then but the World Championships will be ideal to find his lost form. Two other Tokyo Olympians, Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI) and Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) will look to wrestle for a medal in Belgrade.

Apart from all the familiar faces, Kayaalp, the most successful Turkish wrestler ever, may see an old foe. Heiki NABI (EST), 38, is preparing to qualify for the Paris Games in a bid to win a second Olympic medal, 12 years after winning silver at the London Games.

Nabi won bronze in 2019 to qualify for the Tokyo Games but in June 2021, he was banned for two years by Estonian Anti-Doping and Sports Ethics Foundation for using performance-enhancing substances. He missed the Tokyo Games which had been pushed to 2021 due to the pandemic. Nabi appealed EADSE's decision in the International Court of Arbitration for Sport which ruled, that while Nabi could not be considered to have willingly used the substances, his ban would not be overturned.

97kg
In another Olympic weight class which has been dominated by a wrestler for more than a decade, Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) has no intentions of letting take away that domination. The Armenian legend will work towards his fifth world title when he takes the mat at 97kg, hoping to defend the gold medal he won in 2022.

That was Aleksanyan's first gold in five years as the rise of Musa EVLOEV combined with injuries had hampered Aleksanyan's run at the top. While Evloev is not there, Aleksanyan will have to once again go through Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) who has lost to Aleksanyan in their three previous meetings -- 2019 and 2022 World Championships and the Tokyo Olympics.

But Saravi seems to push Aleksanyan to the limits and a trick here and there can change the results of the bout. Both wrestlers are evenly matched in par terre defense but Saravi's failure to score from standing has been a big issue for the Iranian.

Add to the mix Kiril MILOV (BUL) who won the European Championships last year and has been in the world top three for the last two years. Youngsters and former U23 world champions Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) and Artur SARGSIAN (AIN) will be returning to the World Championships after two years and will be big medal threats. 2022 world bronze medalist Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) is also returning in a bid to improve on his result after losing to Milov in the semifinal last year.

Hungary is banking on Tamas LEVAI (HUN) who used to be at 77kg two years ago. He finished seventh at the European Championships this year. Felix BALDAUF (NOR), Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) and recently crowned U20 world champion Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) are no pushovers while it won't be wise to count out the old wily fox Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) and former two-time world champion Metehan BASAR (TUR).

77kg
The weight class with the most entries, 45, can throw some surprising results. Defending champion and history maker Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) will lead the field as he tries to win another world title and ultimately achieve the goal of becoming Kyrgyzstan's first Olympic champion in Paris.

Barring one bout, the semifinal against Yunus BASAR (TUR), Makhmudov looked in no trouble last year. He is since unbeaten in three tournaments, winning the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament, the Asian Championships and the Ljubomir Ivanovic Gedza International in August.

Returning silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) lost to Viktor NEMES (SRB) at the European Championships semifinals and finished with a bronze medal, an improvement after finishing 12th and 13th in Zagreb and Alexandria at the start of the year, respectively. He finished fifth in Budapest before earning bronze in Serbia in August.

Levai's struggles this year make a few others favorites to reach the final, especially European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM). The returning bronze medalist has had a great run as he won the U23 World Championships in October and wrestled Makhmudov in the final in Bulgaria in February. He defended his European title in April, including a win over Basar in the semifinals, and will be a front-runner for gold in Belgrade.

Basar will be hoping to reverse the result over Makhmudov from last year and improve on his bronze-medal finish. He won bronze at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series and the European Championships this year but finished ninth in Bishkek and a lowly 19th at the Grand Prix of Germany.

He did not have a great showing last year but Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) is back with some gold medals to back himself this year. He began the year with a gold at the Zagreb Open and added another in Bishkek. It is yet to be seen if he can continue this form in Belgrade where he was beaten in the 1/8 finals last year.

Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), a silver medalist from 2021, along with young stars Deni NAKAEV (GER) and Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) and high-flying Kamal BEY (USA) will be the ones to keep an eye on. And he may have been away for more than two years but Gurpreet SINGH (UWW) still possesses the ability to shock with his big throws.

60kg
Kyrgyzstan's other history maker Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will also have to bring his 'A' game in Belgrade as he goes for his second straight title.

Like Makhmudov, Sharshenbekov has also won three tournaments since winning the World Championships. He has gold at Dan Kolov, the Asian Championships and the Ljubomir Ivanovic Gedza International.

Among the wrestlers hoping to stop him from repeating, a few formidable names are Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL), Victor CIOBANU (MDA), Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI), Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), Kerem KAMAL (TUR), Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) and Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN).

Nazaryan met Sharshenbekov in the final last year but suffered an 11-2 defeat in an anti-climatic final. The 21-year-old, who became a European champion at 18, has put that loss behind and won the European Championships in April by defeating Ciobanu in the final and reached the semifinal in Budapest before injury defaulting against Kamal.

Ciobanu has returned to 60kg after spending most of his time at 63kg since he became Moldova's first-ever world champion in 2021. Sharshenbekov would remember Ciobanu as the Moldovan defeated him in the final of the Oslo World Championships. Ciobanu and Kamal had a slugfest in Zagreb which the former won.

Returning bronze medalist and Olympic silver medalist Fumita would be keen on facing Nazaryan as he lost to the Bulgarian 5-5 in the semifinals. Since Fumita is not seeded, he can land anywhere in the bracket. After that bronze, Fumita has wrestled only at the German Grand Prix this year, finishing second at 63kg.

Fumita had defeated Kamal last year which ended the World Championships for Mohsen Nejad who will be eager to get his hands on Kamal. The Iranian got pinned by the Turkish wrestler after leading 9-4.

Mohsen Nejad began this year with gold at the Zagreb Open but slumped to eighth at the Asian Championships after losing to Yernur FIDAKHAMETOV (KAZ). He did win a bronze medal in Bishkek after losing to Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), the gold medalist in Biskhek and who will be in Belgrade.

Mammadli has been a beast at the age-group level and could not find a better place to showcase his talent while Allakhiarov will return to Belgrade, a city in which he became a U23 world champion in 2021, to resume his international career.

67kg
Two Olympic champions, Olympic silver and bronze medalists, a young sensation, a home world champion, the Asian champion and a dark horse.

The 67kg weight class is the drama that the World Championships needed. Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) is hoping to return to the top of the world after being stunned by Mate NEMES (SRB) in the final last year in front of a packed Stark Arena. But if Geraei had hoped for an easier path, he is in for bad news.

60kg Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) has moved up 67kg this year with three gold medals -- Henri Delgane Grand Prix, Pan-Am Championships and the Central American and Caribean Games -- already in his pocket. He has suffered two losses, both to HUSIYUETU (CHN), in 2023 to finish with bronze medals in Zagreb and Biskek. Orta was at 63kg last year and finished seventh but will be going for gold in Belgrade in the new weight class.

Nemes, after his extraordinary run in 2022, has only competed twice, finishing ninth at the Thor Masters and second at the Wladyslaw Pytlasinski Cup in July. It will be interesting to see if he can repeat the heroics of last year.

European champion and Azerbaijan's best talent Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) is keen on improving his bronze-medal finish from last year. He lost to Nemes in the semifinal but has already avenged that loss by winning the European Championships over the Serbian. He would now hope to go all the way in Belgrade and win the senior world title, adding to his U20 and U23 ones.

Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) finished 10th last year but will look to bounce back and earn a spot for the Paris Games. The same will be on the mind of bronze medalist from Tokyo Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) who finished 22nd after losing the first round to Abror ATABAEV (UZB) who returns to the World Championships as the Asian champion.

Returning bronze medalist Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) defeated Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) last year but has to be wary of the Georgian who has won silver medals at four tournaments this year.

55kg
In the non-Olympic weight classes, the wrestlers will still be vying for the world title. At 55kg, Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) will be hoping to become only the second Azerbaijan wrestler to hold three world titles if he defends his gold.

His long-time rival and 2019 world champion Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) will try to find a way to beat the Azerbaijan wrestler. Apart from Tsurtsumia, Azizli will have to watch for Adem UZUN (TUR) who defeated him to win the European Championships.

U23 world and Asian champion Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), who had finished eighth last year, reserves a big nudge for Azizli as the Azerbaijan wrestler defeated the Iranian at the World Cup in Baku.

Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) won silver medals at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series and German Grand Prix and gold in Bishkek and can upset any of the big names in Belgrade. Denis MIHAI (ROU) and returning bronze medalist Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) will be tricky for some of the wrestlers.

63kg
Leri ABULADZE (GEO) has been denied the gold medal at two consecutive World Championships, by Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) in 2021 and Sebastian NAD (SRB) in 2022. Both Dalkhani and Nad are not entered at 63kg so will the third time be lucky for Abuladze?

The European champion started the year with silver in Alexandria where Dalkhani handed him another heartbreaking loss in the final. But he won the European Championships followed by a gold medal in Bishkek. But he recently lost to Ismail CULFA (TUR) in the final of Ion Corneanu & Ladislau Simon Memorial in Bucharest.

Despite the absence of Dalkhani and Nad, Abuladze will still face a lot of challenges in Belgrade. U23 world champion Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) will be the biggest of them all as the Iranian seeks to avenge his semifinal loss from Bishkek. Mohammadi had a stunning 2022 as he won bronze at the Asian Championships, and gold at the U20 Asian and World Championships. He also won the U23 World Championships before finishing the year with gold with Iran at the World Cup in which he won all his bouts.

Since Abuladze and Mohammadi are seeded first and third respectively, the two can only meet in the final. But Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) and Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) look to spoil that plan.

72kg
Ali ARSALAN (SRB) and Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) had a dream tournament last year as both reached the final before the former won the gold medal over Ganizade with a 7-4 victory. The two can meet only in the semifinals this year as Ganizade is seeded second and Arsalan third. But the Azerbaijan wrestler will be hoping to get his hands on the Serbian again.

Since last year's final, the two have entered the same tournament only once, the European Championships in April. Ganizade, who became the European champion, would have hoped to face the Serbian in the final but Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) defeated the world champ 6-3 in the semifinals. Arsalan had pinned Ghanem at the last World Championships.

So can Ghanem deny Arsalan another final appearance? He won't be alone with that hope. Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) will look to avenge his European loss as well while Robert FRITSCH (HUN) has unfinished business from 2022.

Returning bronze medalist and top seed Selcuk CAN (TUR) had lost 4-3 to Ganizade in the semifinals and then at the European Championships. Belgrade will provide another opportunity for him to get past Ganizade.

Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) will draw confidence from the fact that he defeated Geraei at 72kg in Bishkek. The only thing is, Geraei has moved back to 67kg and Danial SOHRABI (IRI) is coming to Belgrade.

Sohrabi is clearly a favorite to win the gold but with little experience at the senior level, it is yet to be seen how he reacts at the big stage. Sohrabi won the U23 World Championships last year and has lost only two bouts since then. The first of those came against Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) in the World Cup while the second came against Luis ORTA (CUB) at the Zagreb Open. But he bounced back and won gold in Bishkek and Budapest. Since he is unseeded, a few seeded wrestlers may suffer an early loss.

82kg
2021 world champion Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) and 2022 world champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) will resume their rivalry after a small halt due to the former changing weight classes. Huseynov is back at 82kg, hoping to win his second world title while Akbudak is also looking for his second gold.

Akbudak lost to Huseynov in the Oslo final before beating him at the Istanbul Ranking Series five months later. The third meeting between the two was at the 2023 European Championships in which Akbudak pinned Huseynov. If the seeds hold, Akbudak and Huseynov can square off in the semifinals.

A surprise returnee to the mat is 36-year-old Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM). The Rio Olympian and 2017 world champion last wrestled at the 2020 European Championships but will put his shoes on again in Belgrade.

Returning bronze medalist and third seed Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) will be keen on getting one past Akbudak as he has lost to him in their last two meetings. Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO), youngsters Idris IBAEV (GER) and Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist at 77kg Shohei YABIKU (JPN) will be the others to keep an eye on.