U17 World Championships offers glimpse of future stars

Wednesday, July 26, 2023 - 18:03 By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL, Turkiye (July 26) -- Beginning next week, future wrestling stars will be on show at the U17 World Championships in Istanbul, with the US, Iran, and Japan hoping to defend their team titles in Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women’s wrestling, respectively.

The US has been a top nation at the age-group tournament in recent years, finishing second in 2021 and clinching the title in 2022 in Rome. Iran, traditionally a wrestling hotbed, may have slipped in Freestyle but has dominated Greco-Roman. Once again, it will be the favorite for the team title. Japan, undoubtedly the best in women’s wrestling, will be the country to beat in Istanbul.

But as trends show in recent years, these formidable nations will face stiff challenges from India, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, and the AIN team, which comprises neutral wrestlers. India has been on the heels of the top nations in Freestyle and women’s wrestling, winning the title in 2021 and finishing second last year. In women’s wrestling, it has finished second in the last two editions. Georgia has won the Greco team title in 2021 while Azerbaijan has finished second in 2019 and 2022.

Here’s a detailed per-style breakdown of the U17 World Championships, which will be live from July 31 on uww.org and the UWW App, which will have all the news, results, and interviews. All photos can be accessed at photo.uww.org.

Greco-Roman

Iran may be the defending team champions, but the home country, Turkiye, will be cheering for Cemal Bakir (TUR), the defending gold medalist at 110kg.

Bakir was dominant in Rome, winning the gold by outscoring his opponents 28-2 in four bouts, three of which ended after Bakir's technical superiority. He will also get a chance to avenge his 2023 U17 European Championships 5-3 loss to Saba Chilashvili (GEO).

Besides the two, the 110kg weight class will see all four of the U17 Asian medalists, including gold medalist Amirhossein ABDEVALI (IRI), silver medalist Bekzhan ISMAGULOV (KAZ), and the two bronze medalists Talasbek BOOBEKOV (KGZ) and RONAK (IND).

Nicholas SAHAKIAN (USA), who won the U17 Pan-Am title in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman, will look to make a mark at the world level as well.

The host nation will also have big hopes, especially from U17 European bronze medalist Mehmet SARP (TUR) at 45kg and 55kg U17 European silver medalist Halil CINAR (TUR), who finished fifth at the 2022 U17 World Championships.

Defending team champion Iran is bringing four continental champions, including Abdevali. The others are Mohammad MOHMADI (IRI) at 51kg, Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI) at 55kg, and Aliakbar ASGHARI (IRI) at 92kg. Iran also has Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI), who was a bronze medalist in the 45kg category last year but is moving up to 48kg.

Gholami will be the favorite to win the gold in Istanbul, but he will be challenged by Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB), the gold medalist at 51kg in 2022. Khalmakhanov finished with bronze at the U17 Asian Championships after suffering a semifinal loss to SURAJ (IND), the U17 world champion from Rome. Suraj lost to Gholami in the final but will be in Istanbul seeking revenge. Add to the list Maxim Sarmanov (MDA), who finished second at the U17 Euros.

Apart from Khalmakhanov, Uzbekistan will also have U17 Asian champion Shakhzod RUZIOKHUNOV (UZB) competing at 48kg, a year after winning the silver medal at 45kg. Three other wrestlers from 2022 are also jumping from 45kg to 48kg, including Balootaki and two fifth placers — Ionut Mereuta (ROU) and Beknur Mukan (KAZ).

Murat KHATIT (AIN) could well be the runaway star at 48kg after he won the U17 Euros with two falls and two technical superiority wins. Iuri CHAPIDZE (GEO) and Petro ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), the only two wrestlers who scored points on Khatit before getting pinned, are entered as well.

Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN) will be the favorite to win the 60kg weight class as he won the U17 European Championships in dominating fashion. But Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO) will be hoping to get his hands on Valeuski and avenge his U17 European final loss.

All four 51kg European medalists -- Ilia KANDALIN (AIN), Peter TOTOK (HUN), Ali SEYIDALILI (AZE) and Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO) -- are entered. Similarly, all four European medalists at 65kg -- Petros ASHKARYAN (ARM), Giorgi TCHIKAIDZE (GEO), Constantin LUNGU (ROU) and Zaur BESLEKOEV (AIN) -- are also registered.

Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (AIN) and Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ) at 71kg, Stanislaw FUSSY (POL), Szabolcs SZINAY (HUN) and Adam WATERS (USA) at 80kg, Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO), Asghari, Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) and Sardorbek RUSTAMOV (UZB) at 92kg will be a few other stars to keep an eye on.

Women's Wrestling

Four gold medallists are returning in a bid to add a second U17 world title to their resume and will be the favorites as well.

India, which finished second in the team race, has two returning champions — MUSKAN (IND) and SAVITA (IND).

Muskan won the world title at 40kg but she will be at 46kg in Istanbul. It will be interesting to see how she fares in the new weight class given the challenges that come with new weight. Savita will be defending her gold medal at 61kg, a weight class she won in dominating fashion in Rome.

Savita won U17 continental title in June and will spearhead an Indian team that also includes U17 Asian champions RACHNA (IND), PARVEEN (IND), NEHA (IND), SHIKSHA (IND), SRISHTI (IND) and KAJAL (IND). Muskan won silver at 46kg in Asia.

But can this team, which won the title in Asia, beat Japan for the title at the world level will be the biggest question.

Japan, considered the best nation in women’s wrestling, sent its second string to Asia but a top squad will be in Istanbul. It will be led by returning champion at 57kg Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN). If Uchida’s 2022 run is anything to go by, she will be the favorite to win the gold again.

2022 U17 world silver medalist Mona EZAKA (JPN) at 43kg, 2022 U20 Asia silver Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) will be at 46kg and trailblazer Rinka OGAWA (JPN) at 49kg will help Japan towards defending the title.

The 53kg weight class will be a real test for all the wrestlers at that weight as 49kg U17 world champ Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) is jumping up. So is bronze medalist Fabiana RINELLA (ITA). But the favorite will be returning silver medalist Sakura ONISHI (JPN) who was seconds away from winning the gold in 2022. She suffered a heartbreaking 3-1 loss to Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) in the final as she tried a desperate move and got whizzed while trailing 1-1 on criteria.

Japan will also bank on Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) as she is making a remarkable drop from 69kg to 65kg. She lost to Harshita MOR (IND) in the final at 69kg last year. Though Mor is not there, Yoshida still needs to through Shiksha and U17 European champion Duygu GEN (TUR) and silver Margarita SALNAZARIAN (AIN).

Konami ONO (JPN) will take the spot at 61kg and look to challenge Savita along with Ekaterina RADYSHEVA (AIN) who won the U17 European gold.

At 69kg, returning bronze Veronika VILK (CRO) will be looking for gold as she won the U17 Euros as well, winning her four bouts in Tirana via fall. She will be the favorite to win the title but can have a tough time against Srishti, Japan champion Ai SAKAI (JPN), U17 Euro silver Elif KURT (TUR) and Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) who lost to Vilk in the quarterfinal last year after leading.

Other U17 European champions in action will be Klara WINKLER (GER) at 40kg, Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN) at 43kg, Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) at 49kg, Fabiana RINELLA (ITA) at 53kg, and Ekaterina RADYSHEVA (AIN) at 61kg.

At 73kg, Kajal will be the favorite along with U17 Euro silver Aliaksandra KAZLOVA (AIN) and Lotta ENGLICH (GER), a bronze medalist from 2022. Piper FOWLER (USA) and Asaloy AMANGELDIEVA (UZB) will be the dark horses in the race.

Freestyle

For the last two editions of the U17 World Championships, India and the US have been involved in a tight race for the title with both nations exchanging titles in 2021 and 2022.

The US is bringing two of its medalist, Christian CASTILLO (USA) and Zackary RYDER (USA), from 2022 while India has one returning bronze medalist in Jaspooran SINGH (IND).

Both the US and India dominated their respective continental championships with the former winning six gold medals and four silvers while India won one gold and four silver.

Azerbaijan, which was a close third in 2022, also has a solid squad led by U17 European champion Jafar JAFAROV (AZE). Haji KARIMOV (AZE), Jamal ABBASOV (AZE) and Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) also won gold at the U17 European Championships and will be in Istanbul. It also boasts of Bashir VERDIYEV (AZE) who was a silver medalist in Rome at 45kg but is jumping to 48kg in a bid to win a gold at the U17 world level.

Armenia won the team title in Tirana and has medalists in Sasha PETROSYAN (ARM), Samvel GEVORGYAN (ARM), Vladimir AZARYAN (ARM), Narek NIKOGHOSYAN (ARM), Razmik YEPREMYAN (ARM) and Henrik HAYKYAN (ARM).

Iran will hope to rebound from a disastrous 2022 tournament in which it won only one gold medal. At the U17 Asian Championships, Iran won six gold medals and a similar run will be expected from it at the U17 World Championships.

Castillo will look to upgrade his silver from 2022 to gold but for that, he will need to wrestle a bunch of top wrestlers including U17 European champion Giorgi MAISURADZE (GEO) and Petrosyan who was silver to Maisuradze. ROHIT (IND), the silver medalist at U17 Asia, is also entered.

For Ryder to win gold at 80kg, he will have fellow 2022 bronze medalist and now U17 European champion Alexandru BORS (MDA) and 71kg bronze medalist Yepremyan who was second to Bors in Europe. Abolfazl RAHMANI FIROUZJAEI (IRI) and Saurabh YADAV (IND) can also cause a few roadblocks.

While the two will be critical in helping the US defend the team title, it will also bank on Marcus BLAZE (USA) at 55kg, Benjamin DAVINO (USA) at 60kg who beat last year's silver Jax FORREST (USA) to make the US team, and Aoeden SINCLAIR (USA) at 92kg. Sinclair, who is coached by Ben ASKREN (USA), who will be in Istanbul, lost to Ryder in national selection trials last year.

Davino will look to contribute to the race and for that, he will have to beat a solid field. He will be joined by European champion Abassov and Asian champion Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ) and silver medalist Sajad PIRDAYEH (IRI) and Japan's national champion Akito MAEHARA (JPN).

India's only U17 Asian champion ANKUSH (IND) will try to keep the trend of India winning at least one Freestyle gold at the U17 Worlds since 2021 going. He will face Akhmad MUSAKHADZHIEV (AIN) who was fifth at the 2021 U17 Worlds, European finalists Karimov and Gevorgyan, Amirreza TEYMORIZAD (IRI) who he defeated in the Asian final and Blaze.

Azerbaijan looks good to dethrone others and win the team title, banking on Verdiyev, Jafarov, Karimov, Abassov and Dursunov.

Verdiyev's path to 48kg gold will go through Gegi ONIANI (GEO) who defeated Verdiyev at U17 Euros 3-3. He will also face U17 Asian finalists RUPESH (IND) and Sam Reza SAYAR (IRI).

Jafarov needs to find his form again as he, at 45kg, faces Asian finalists Ahora KHATERI (IRI) and Dhanraj SHIRKE (IND), Ebubekir GUR (TUR) who scored six points on him in U17 Europeans and 2021 U17 Pan-Am champ Ignacio VILLASENOR (USA).

At 110kg, Dursunov has to negotiate Henrik HAYKYAN (ARM) who he beat in the Euro final and two bronze medalists Aleksandre ABRAMISHVILI (GEO) and Rusen GULER (TUR). U17 Asian champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) will be his biggest threat along with returning bronze Singh. Sampson STILLWELL (USA) and U17 Asia silver Abolfazl NEZHAD (IRI) will fancy their chances to beat Dursunov.

#WrestleBelgrade

World Championships GR 63kg, 67kg, 87kg semis set

Friday, September 22, 2023 - 22:23 By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 23) -- The final full day of the World Championships, which has been unimaginable, is here. Two more Olympic weight classes in Greco-Roman and one non-Olympic weight class will be in action. The Olympic weight classes are 67kg and 87kg while 63kg is the non-Olympic weight class.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 7 RESULTS

14:28: In an entertaining match between the Olympic and world champions that caps the session, Luis ORTA (CUB) gets a stepout in the second period to clinch a 3-2 victory that ends the world reign of Mate NEMES (SRB) at 67kg. Nemes opens the match with a 2-point throw, and Orta responds with a takedown. Noticeably and unusually, there were no passivity points. Orta, the Tokyo Olympic champ at 60kg, is looking for his first world medal.

14:22: Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) comes up with a pair of big throws -- although one bordered on the dangerous -- to oust Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) 10-0 in their 67kg quarterfinal. Ismailov, a bronze medalist a year ago, gets a takedown and immediately secures a reverse body lock. He executes a lift-and-dump for 5, then repeats it. But the second doesn't go as well, and Khetsuriani hits chest-first on the mat. Ismailov still gets 2 for it, which the Georgian side challenges and loses.

15:24: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) gets it done! He gets two four-pointers in his big win over Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) for a 10-0 win in the 67kg quarterfinals. He will take on Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) who moved on with a 9-0 win over Alejandro SANCHO (USA).

15:16: Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) gets it done with a 5-3 win over Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) and he moves into the 87kg semifinals. He will take on Losonczi.

15:15: David LOSONCZI (HUN) celebrated his 9-1 win as he got a four-pointer against Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) but on a challenge, it was just two. The score was reversed to 6-1 but Losonczi still got it done to move into the semifinals at 87kg.

15:14: Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) avenges his loss in the final of the Asian Championships in April to Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), nailing a 4-point headlock throw in the second period to clinch a 9-4 win and a place in the semifinals at 87kg.

15:11: 2022 bronze medalist Ali CENGIZ (TUR) makes the most of the point-less second chance at par terre, scoring with a gut wrench to edge two-time world medalist Jalagasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) 3-3 on last-point criteria and grab a place in the 87kg semifinals.

15:00: Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) with some strong defense against Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) and wins 3-1 in the 63kg quarterfinal. On Mat D, Stefan CLEMENT (FRA) with a victory via superiority against Astemir BIZHOEV (AIN). He will take on Leri ABULADZE (GEO)

15:00: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) gets the second passivity point and that's enough to get by Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR) 1-1 on last-point criteria, putting last year's silver medalist into the 63kg semifinals.

14:58: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) gives the host country its first semifinalist of the night, hitting a 4-point throw from par terre in the second period to defeat Ivan LIZATOVIV (CRO) 5-2 at 63kg. Tibilov was a European bronze medalist at 60kg who is making his senior world debut.

We are beginning with the quarterfinals on day eight at 63kg, 67kg and 87kg

14:40: If only wrestling was easy! Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) got a 7-0 lead over Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) in the first period but Geraei began the second with a takedown, big lift for four points which Sogabe reversed and won 16-5. Iran challenged for a foul and on review, the score was reversed to 8-7 Geraei leading. Sogabe is aware of the Geraei's low gas tank. Geraei is penalized for fleeing. He holds 10-10 criteria lead. Geraei with an 11-10 win after Japan's challenge for fleeing but Japan lost the challenge

14:30: Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) makes short work of Mihai MIHUT (ROU) in the 67kg bout and he earns a shot at world champion Mate NEMES (SRB) in the quarterfinals.

14:20: Former world silver medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) with a 5-3 win over Hannes WAGNER (GER) after he hit a big four-pointer in the second period. He moves into the 87kg quarterfinals

14:06: Mate NEMES (SRB) stays on track toward a second straight title at 67kg with a 5-1 victory over Vinayak PATIL (UWW). Nemes will know in a few minutes if he will be facing Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) in the quarterfinals.

14:03: A classic 5-1 win for returning bronze medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) over Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) as he moves into the quarterfinals at 67kg

13:57: Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ), a bronze medalist a year ago, launches a 5-point throw to finish off Madamadassa SYLLA (FRA) 8-0 and book a spot in the 67kg quarterfinals.

13:50: Ali CENGIZ (TUR) ends the gold-medal aspirations of Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) with a 3-1 victory at 87kg to advance to the quarterfinals. Cengiz has the criteria after receiving the second passivity point, and he gets 2 when he stops a front-headlock roll attempt by the Olympic champion.

13:48: Lasha GOBADZE (GEO), the 2019 champion at 82kg and a three-time medalist, is out of the gold hunt at 87kg after being dealt a 3-1 loss by Semen NOVIKOV (BUL), who is into the quarterfinals.

13:45: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) tries an arm spin when leading 7-6 in the final 15 seconds but Liguo CAO (CHN) defends the moves and is awarded two points. Moldova challenges for a slip but loses the challenge and the match 9-7 in the 60kg repechage

13:26: Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), the silver medalist last year at 82kg who has moved up to the Olympic weight of 87kg, gets into the quarterfinals by the skin of his teeth. Trailing 2-0 against world U23 champion Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), he gets the passivity point. He can't fully complete his throw attempt, but upon challenge, is awarded 1 for a stepout. That gives him a 2-2 win on last-point criteria.

13:08: Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) falls at the first hurdle at 67kg to 2022 European champion Murat FIRAT (TUR). Firat scores a pair of rolls from par terre in the first period and never looks back in posting an 8-1 win.

12:57: Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) is on his way to giving up a stepout when hits a lateral drop for 4 against Asian champion Abror ATABAEV (UZB). Atabaev gets a gut wrench from par terre in the second period, but it's not enough and the Iranian star advances to the 67kg 1/8 finals with a 6-3 win. He will next face the Asian silver medalist, Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN), who annihilated Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) 9-0.

12:44: Defending champion Mate NEMES (SRB) survives a last chance for a throw by Minseong KWON (KOR) and adds a last-second takedown for a 6-2 win at 67kg and a place in the quarterfinals. Nemes got both passivity points, adding a gut wrench after the first one. Kwon scored a takedown in the first period and, trailing 4-2 in the second period, had a chance on top in par terre. He got Nemes off his feet, but could not execute a proper throw for points.

12:30: Luis ORTA (CUB), the Tokyo Olympic champion at 60kg, made quick work of Souleyman NASR (TUN) in his opening match at 67kg, scoring a takedown and reeling off four gut wrenches for an 8-0 win in 1:30. Orta comes into Belgrade coming off a pair of third-place finishes at Ranking Series events in Bishkek and Zagreb.

12:17: It was third-time lucky for three-time Asian champion Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), who twice lost points on challenges until a third one was overruled, giving him the lead with 15 seconds left in a 6-4 victory over Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE). Pagkalidis led 4-3 when Alizadeh appeared to score on two occasions, but both times the Greek side successfully challenged. But as time was running out, Pagkalidis was flagged for fleeing. This time, the Greeks lost the challenge, and Alizadeh added a stepout at the end.

12:02: Returning bronze medalist and top seed Ali CENGIZ (TUR) falls behind but hits a 4-point move at the end of the first period to go ahead 4-3 against Toni METSOMAEKI (FIN) at 87kg. He adds a takedown and ends up with a 7-3 win. But he can't relax now: next up is Olympic champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR).

11:50: Olympic champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) returns to the World Championships after four years and wins his first bout over Zachary BRAUNAGEL (USA) 5-1 at 87kg. He turned Braunagel twice from par terre to secure the win

11:47: David LOSONCZI (HUN), a bronze medalist here a year ago, reels off two gut wrenches from par terre in the first period against 2020 Asian silver medalist Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ), then ends it with a takedown at the edge for an 8-0 win at 87kg.

11:29: Enes BASAR (TUR) welcomes world U23 bronze-medalist to the big time, reeling off four rolls from par terre for a 9-0 whitewashing at 63kg. Basar will next face top seed and last year's silver medalist Leri ABULADZE (GEO).

11:19: Masato SUMI (JPN), coming off a 2nd-place finish at the Grand Prix of Germany in August, picks up his first-ever win in his fifth trip to the World Championships when he gets both passivity points in a 2-0 win over Andreas VAELIS (EST) in an 87-kg qualification match.

11:05: Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) breaks Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) and rolls to a 7-1 win at 87kg, the Olympic weight class he moved up to from 87kg.

11:04: Two-time former world U23 bronze medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE), looking to join the Azeri medal parade, gets a pair of gut wrenches in par terre and comes out a 5-1 winner in his qualification match at 87kg over Viorel BURDUJA (MDA).

10:52: Ali ARSALAN (SRB) gets the home crowd fired up with some nasty front headlock throws en route to a 12-3 victory over Jamol JUMABAEV (UZB) in the 72kg repechage to earn a place in the bronze-medal match tonight.

10:30: Welcome to yet another full day, though the last, of the World Championships. The insane talent of 67kg will be on display and wrestlers at 87kg also taking the mat. The non-Olympic weight is 63kg.

U17 World Championships offers glimpse of future stars

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World Championships GR 63kg, 67kg, 87kg semis set