U20 Worlds: Stage set for Greco-Roman stars to step up

Thursday, August 10, 2023 - 15:18 By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 11) -- Iran ran away with the U20 World Championships Greco-Roman team title last year but the story can be different this year in Amman. It won four golds, two silvers and two bronzes to top the table with Azerbaijan second and Ukraine finishing third.

However, with the inclusion of Individual Neutral Athletes and Georgia bringing a star-studded team, Iran may find it difficult to finish as it did in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Besides Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia seem to be the best in business with top age-group wrestlers coming to Amman. Armenia and Turkiye, along with Asian powerhouse Kazakhstan will hope to improve their rankings.

Greco-Roman action at the U20 World Championships begins August 18 and will be live on uww.org and the UWW App.

Denis MIHAI (ROU) will look to upgrade his silver to gold in Amman (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

55kg
Returning silver medalist Denis MIHAI (ROU) hopes to upgrade his medal. He has the experience of winning the U23 European Championships and a bronze medal at the senior European Championships since that silver. He will face challenges from Tamazi GLONTI (GEO) who lost to Mihai in the quarterfinals before dropping the bronze-medal bout against Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) who also returns hoping for another medal.

2021 U20 world bronze medalist Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) will also be a big contender for gold. Aliyev won the U23 Euros at 60kg but dropped down to 55kg for the U20 competition. The change in the weight class did not change the result as he won gold again.

Iran is sending 2022 U17 world champ Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) who finished with a bronze medal at the U20 Asian Championships after losing to Alisher GANIEV (UZB) who will return to Amman for the world gold now.

2022 senior European bronze medalist Emre MUTLU (TUR) missed out on a medal last year but he will give it another try this year. U20 European silver medalist Marko VOLOSHYN (UKR) will also try to win a world medal.

2021 U20 world champ Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) is returning to the tournament. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

60kg
After an absence of two years 2021 U20 world champion Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) will return to defend his title. The 2019 U17 world champ did not compete internationally in 2022 but did return to wrestle at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series at the start of the year but finished without a medal.

But he will find things a lot different than 2021 as he faces U20 European champion Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 2022 European champion Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM, returning bronze medalist Sumit DALAL (IND) and Koto GOMI (JPN) who finished fifth last year.

Senior and U20 Pan-Am silver medalist Jeremy PERALTA (ECU), U23 World Championships bronze medalist Melkamu FETENE (ISR) and U20 European bronze medalist Kemal SEVGILI (TUR) are also entered.

U20 Asian champion Khusniddin OLIMBOEV (UZB) will look to add a world medal to his resume. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

63kg
Three continental champions will try to win a world medal at 63kg. U20 European champion Yurik HOVEYAN (ARM) will have a lot on his shoulders with respect to the team race as well. Joining him are U20 Asian champ Khusniddin OLIMBOEV (UZB) and U20 European champ Adham ELSAYED (EGY).

Former U20 Asian champ Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) will return to competition as well. Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), who won a bronze medal at the U20 European Championships and is a 2022 U17 world silver medalist, will be key in Azerbaijan's bid to finish on the podium.

Iran is sending Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) as he tries to keep the 63kg gold, won by Imam MOHAMADI (IRI), at home.

The U20 European silver medalist Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) will count himself as someone to finish on the podium in Amman.

67kg
For Georgia to be close to winning the team title, Nika BROLADZE (GEO) will have to step up again. The returning silver medalist will back himself to repeat the run to the final, a bout he lost last year to Kanan ABDULLAZADE (AZE).

Brokadze has already avenged that loss and in style, as he pinned Abdullazade in the semifinals of the U20 European Championships. He later lost the final to Azat SARIYAR (TUR) and will be waiting to get his hands on the Turkish wrestler in Amman. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM), the U20 European bronze medalist and 2022 U17 world champ, will also look to avenge his U20 Euro semifinal loss to Sariyar.

Add to the mix another U17 world champ Joel ADAMS (USA) who won the gold last year at 65kg without giving up a single point. He had defeated Ahoura BOUVEIRI PIANI (IRI) to win the gold last year and may face the Iranian again. Bouveriri Piani is the current U20 Asia champion, a title he won in Amman last month.

U20 African champion Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY), returning fifth-placer Nestori MANNILA (FIN), U20 Asian bronze medalist Aziz GASSYMOV (KAZ) and U20 Asian silver medalist Ilyosjon ABDINAZAROV (UZB) will also look to finish on the podium.

72kg
One wrestler who would be itching to return to competition is Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO). The 2022 U17 world champ was stunned 9-0 by Rokas CEPAUSKAS (LTU) in the U20 European Championships this year. Cepauskas will be in Amman hoping to repeat the feat and win a world medal after the continental bronze.

The three other U20 European medalists will also be in Amman. A rematch between gold medalist Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) and silver medalist Levente LEVAI (HUN) is on the cards while Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR) will look to avenge his loss to Nurullayev. Mirzoiev won the bronze medal at last year's U20 World Championships but won the silver at the U23 Europeans this year.

Other medal threats include U23 Asian champion Yeldos KAMELOV (KAZ), U20 Asia gold medalist Abdullo ALIEV (UZB), U20 Asia silver medalist Seyedmohammadmahdi MIRI (IRI) and Yehia ABDELKADER (EGY), the U20 African champion.

U20 European champion Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA), blue, is aiming to becoming Moldova's first Greco-Roman U20 world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

77kg
All eyes will be on Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) as the U20 European champion looks to win a U20 world gold medal after finishing with a silver medal last year at 72kg. The 2022 U17 world champion will become the first U20 world champion if he manages a gold medal in Amman.

Trying to stop him from achieving the historic feat will be Davud MAMMADOV (AZE) who lost to Solovei in the U20 European final and is also a silver medalist from the 2022 U17 Worlds. Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) will be keen on wrestling Solovei as he lost to the Moldovian in the world final in 2021. Abdevali won a bronze medal at the U20 Asian Championships this year.

U20 Asian champion Azimjon SOATULLAEV (UZB) and U20 African champion Mahmoud AHMED (EGY) are the other continental champions entered at 77kg along with U20 Asian bronze medalist Maihaimu MIREADILI (CHN) and two U20 European bronze medalists -- Michal ZELENKA (CZE) and Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR).

Alperen BERBER (TUR) is going for his second age-group world title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

82kg
The 82kg weight class will see two returning bronze medalists in Rohit DAHIYA (IND) and Alperen BERBER (TUR).

Berber, the 2022 U17 world champ, will look to continue his winning streak over Ismayil RZAYEV (AZE) who lost to him in the U17 world final and in the semifinals of the U20 European Championships. Berber finished with a silver medal at the continental event. Two bronze medalists from the same event -- Ilia CERNOVOL (MDA) and Ivan CHMYR (UKR) -- are also booked for Amman.

U20 Asian champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), who also has a silver medal at the U23 Asians, will also put forward his challenge in Amman along with Mahmoud IBRAHIM (EGY), the U20 African champion and U20 Asian bronze medalist Yasin YAZDI (IRI).

87kg
A rematch of last year's U20 World Championships final is on the cards as defending champion Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) and silver medalist Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI) are both entered at 87kg. While Choubani has won the U20 continental gold since, Nazaryan has managed to win a silver medal at the U20 Europeans.

Nazaryan and Choubani's final was among the most controversial bouts of that tournament as the Iranian scored a stepout with one second left of the clock to take a 2-1 lead only to see it reversed on an Armenian challenge. The judges ruled that Choubani committed a foul -- hand below Nazaryan's waist -- while scoring.

Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO), returning silver medalist from 82kg, is making the jump to 87kg and will hope to win a medal in the new weight class. He can be counted among the favorites as he defeated Nazaryan 5-4 in the U20 European final.

Nurassyl AMANALY (KAZ) was second best to Choubani at the U20 Asians and will be back in Amman along with U23 Asian champ at 82kg Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) and U20 African gold medalist Kareem ELDESOUKY (EGY).

97kg
Georgia will count heavily on U20 European champion Gor AYVAZYAN (GEO) to add 25 points to the team race. The 2022 U17 world champ at 92kg will have the other three medalists from the U20 Europeans including silver medalist Rostislav COVALI (MDA) and two bronze medalists -- Darius KIEFER (GER) and Vladyslav LUB (UKR).

Kiefer will be an interesting match-up for Ayvazyan. Though the Georgian has beaten Kiefer in their last two meetings, Kiefer has closed the gap significantly. In the 2022 U17 world final, he suffered a 9-0 loss but in the U20 European semifinals, Kiefer lost 3-2.

Returning silver medalist Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) will look to upgrade his medal this year but faces a tough challenge from his opponents including U20 Asian champion Amirreza AKBARI (IRI), silver medalist Damirkhon RAKHMATOV (UZB) and bronze medalist Tao WEI (CHN).

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI), blue, is a returning silver medalist at 130kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

130kg
Two-time U20 Asian champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) was absolutely furious after losing the final last year but will have a chance to win the gold as he returns to the U20 World Championships. He will face strong opposition from U20 European champion Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) who is also a silver medalist from the 2022 U17 World Championships.

U20 European silver medalist Mazaim MARDANOV (AZE) is also entered along with U23 Asian champion Wenhao JIANG (CHN) who also won the silver at the U20 continental event.

Aden ATTAO (USA) is the returning bronze medalist and will fancy his chances of making it to the final this year. He is joined by U20 African champion Fekry EISSA (EGY), a wrestler Attao defeated to win the bronze last year, U23 Asia silver medalist Jokhar UZAROV (KAZ) and U20 European bronze medalist Talip CIFTCI (TUR).

2026 U17 World Championships

Labazanov Leads Russia to Two Golds at U17 World Championships

Tuesday, July 28, 2026 - 19:40 By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 28) -- Shamil LABAZANOV (RUS) shocked Ibrahim NASIBOV (UKR) and the Ukrainian could never recover from that.

The two clashed in the 65kg final of the U17 World Championships final in Baku on Tuesday. Nasibov had looked in top form coming into the final and Labazanov had scored a 29-seocnd win in the semifinal using a deadly front headlock.

Nasibov must have watched Labazanov's semifinal and thought that the front headlock will come. Yet, he was not able to stop it.

When Labazanov was awarded the par terre in the first period, he did not go for the traditional gut-wrench as Nasibov was prepared to defend it. But he went for the front headlock which Nasibov failed to defend.

Labazanov scored the first turn as Nasibov was still trying to stable himself to defend. But then he did it again with brute force and then again to lead 7-0. Nasibov was left playing catch from there on.

Nasibov managed to cut the lead to 7-2 before the break and despite the par terre in the second period, it was never enough as Labazanov won 7-5 to capture the 65kg title.

Wrestling Soltan IUSUPOV (RUS) Soltan IUSUPOV (RUS) with the world champion belt at the podium. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

This was the second gold medal for Russia on Tuesday, coming after Soltan IUSUPOV's (RUS) dominant win at 48kg. In the first final of the night, Iusupov and Ali ALMAS (KAZ) clashed and when the Kazakhstan wrestler got the par terre in the first period, it seemed that it will an even contest.

However, Iusupov did not think so. He first defended that position and then scored a takedown and turn in the first period to lead 4-1 at the break. He was not done yet as he began the second period also with a takedown, and then used a slideby to make it 8-1. He turned Almas in the same sequence to earn a 10-1 win. Kazakhstan challenged the last call and it was changed to one takedown and scored returned to 8-1.

Almas managed to bring him down in the final 20 seconds to cut the lead to 8-3 but that was all he managed despite getting the only par terer of the final.

Kazakhstan's moment of glory came at 55kg when Diyar AMANALI (KAZ) won the gold medal at 55kg after beating Keve KOVACS (HUN), 1-1 in the final. The two traded passivity but it was the Kazakhstan wrestler who kept the criteria as he got the par terre first.

Wrestling Alireza REZAEI (IRI) Alireza REZAEI (IRI) loads to launch Isfahan HASANOV (AZE) for a throw during the 80kg final in Baku. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Rezaei Gives Iran Gold

Iran's campaign got a breather after Alireza REZAEI (IRI) grabbed the 80kg gold medal by upsetting Isfahan HASANOV (AZE), 2-1, in the final and the home crowd. In the low scoring final, Rezaei was put in par terre first but he defended the position to keep Hasanov's lead to 1-0.

In the second period, Rezaei got his chance from par terre and while he could not perform a big move, he lifted and threw Hasanov out of bounds for a step out point to lead 2-1. This left Hasanov needing at least one point to win but the Iranian evaded any such situation to claim gold, the first medal for Iran in Baku.

Wrestling Tymofii Prykhodko (UKR) Tymofii PRYKHODKO (UKR) tries to pin Bruno PALLONE (USA) during the 110kg final at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Prykhodko's Golden Throws

Ukraine also went home with a gold medal as Tymofii PRYKHODKO (UKR) clinched the 110kg title after a big-throwing show in the final against Bruno PALLONE (USA). Both wrestler went all out and complete four-point throws with ease. However, Prykhodko never gave up the lead and eventually won 14-5.

Prykhodko began with an arm-spin which resulted in a takedown for two points. He then completed his first big throw for four points and had Pallone in danger for fall but the U.S. wrestler managed to escape the position. A stepout before the break gave Pallone a point which cut the lead to 6-1.

Instead of playing the waiting game, Pallone hit a four-pointer at the start of the second period and came within one point distance, 6-5, of Prykhodko. At one point, both wrestlers bear-hugged each other but it was the Ukrainian who risked a headlock and once again threw Pallone for four points.

Pallone had no choice but go for the big throw himself as Prykhodko kept the pressure. But when he did, it was in a bad position and he tamely fell on his own back, giving Prykhodko four points, the win and the gold medal.

Wrestling Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) dominated his way to the 51kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Hasanov, Nazaryan Aim Repeat; Barotov Chases History

Two returning world champions, Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) and Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), will look to repeat as gold medalists after reach the 51kg and 71kg finals respectively on Tuesday.

Hasanov will aim to become the first wrestler from Uzbekistan two win the U17 world gold twice when he takes on returning bronze medalist from 45kg, Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE), in the 51kg gold-medal bout.

In the semifinal, Hasanov wrestled Vadim TARELUNGA (MDA) and completed a 10-0 victory inside the first period. He unleashed a strong gut-wrench from par terre for two turns and a 5-0 lead.

Tarelunga tried a headlock throw but Hasanov blocked him to get two points and then turned the Moldova wrestler just in time to win but Moldova challenged the call as it may have been risk from Tarelunga but it was confirmed as takedown. The lost challenged added one more point to Hasanov's score.

Huseynli also went into a commanding 7-2 lead from par terre against Saba ABASHIDZE (GEO) but he had to defended as well when the Georgian got the par terre in the second. From 7-3, Huseynli got two stepouts for a 9-3 win.

Wrestling Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), red, reached the 71kg final and will aim for his second world gold. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Nazaryan, who won gold last year at 65kg, will face U17 European champion at 65kg Aslan DZUEV (RUS) in the 71kg final after both posted commanding wins in the semifinals.

The Armenian blanked Kristiyan KRASTEV (BUL), 8-0, while Dzuev defeated Esmaeil ZAHERDOUST (IRI), 10-1, to reach the gold medal bouts.

At 45kg, U17 European champion Ali JAVADLI (AZE) will look to give the home country its first gold of the tournament when he takes on Rylen WAX (USA) for the gold medal.

In a bizarre turn of events, Javadli's opponent in the semifinals, Armin ESMAEILI (IRI) did not show up for the mat and gave a forfeit.

Wax controlled his semifinal against Afruzbek IBRAGIMOV (UZB) and completed a 2-1, win. When Ibragimov got the par terre, he lifted Wax but ended up giving up a reversal which gave Wax a 1-1 criteria lead. Wax got the par terre in second period for the 2-1 lead and the win.

Wrestling Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) has the chance to become Tajikistan's first-ever world champion in Greco-Roman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

More history in on the line on Tuesday as Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) will try to become Tajikistan's first-ever Greco-Roman world champion at any level after he reached the 60kg final. He defeated Alexandru LUNGU (ROU), 2-1 in the semfinals.

But the task will not be easy as he faces U17 Asian champion Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) who staged a stunning comeback for a close 5-4 victory over Elmir CHARKAZOV (AZE).

Charkazov got the first par terre of the match but did not score any points but he managed a pushout point before the break to lead 2-0. Tahmasbpour tried a duckunder in the second period which Charkazov countered with a takedown to double his lead to 4-0.

Tahmasbpour up the pace of the bout and Charkazov tried a blank throw, only to land on his own back and give up two. He tried another desperate throw but the Iranian did not land in danger, countering with a takedown to take a 4-4 criteria lead.

Azerbaijan challenged the decision, asking for two points for the throw but lost it which added one more point to Tahmasbpour's score.

At 92kg, U17 European champion Tomasz MITAL (POL) is one step away from adding the world gold medal. He pinned Yusuf AKSU (TUR) in the semifinal to reach the final where he will take on Hlib YEVSIEIEV (UKR) who had no trouble beating Mirjalol SHOVKATOV (UZB), 8-0.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Soltan IUSUPOV (RUS) df. Ali ALMAS (KAZ), 8-3

BRONZE: Ararat AVETISYAN (ARM) df. Benedek TOMBOR (HUN), 8-0
BRONZE: Omar SALMANOV (AZE) df. Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 7-1

55kg
GOLD: Diyar AMANALI (KAZ) df. Keve KOVACS (HUN), 1-1

BRONZE: Edem PAIZIEV (RUS) df. Danimir YORDANOV (BUL), 8-0
BRONZE: Vlad TRIP (ROU) df. Tsimafei SEMIANENKA (BLR), 6-2

65kg
GOLD: Shamil LABAZANOV (RUS) df. Ibrahim NASIBOV (UKR), 7-5

BRONZE: Imre JUHASZ (HUN) df. Vazgen MNATSAKANYAN (ARM), 3-2
BRONZE: Orkhan HABIBLI (AZE) df. Kunal DAGAR (IND), 7-5

80kg
GOLD: Alireza REZAEI (IRI) df. Isfahan HASANOV (AZE), 2-1

BRONZE: Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB) df. Ivan IVANOV (USA), 12-4
BRONZE: Benediktas BUBELEVICIUS (LTU) df. Abdulhalik BAL (TUR), 5-2

110kg
GOLD: Tymofii PRYKHODKO (UKR) df. Bruno PALLONE (USA), 14-5

BRONZE: Andrej SIMIC (SRB) df. Yahor SAVICH (BLR), 5-1
BRONZE: Aliakbar AKOO (IRI) df. Fedor SUKHAREV (RUS), 1-1

Semifinals

45kg
SF 1: Rylen WAX (USA) df. Afruzbek IBRAGIMOV (UZB), 2-1
SF 2: Ali JAVADLI (AZE) df. Armin ESMAEILI (IRI), via forfeit

51kg
SF 1: Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) df. Vadim TARELUNGA (MDA), 10-0
SF 2: Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) df. Saba ABASHIDZE (GEO), 9-3

60kg
SF 1: Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) df. Alexandru LUNGU (ROU), 2-1
SF 2: Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) df. Elmir CHARKAZOV (AZE), 5-4

71kg
SF 1: Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) df. Kristiyan KRASTEV (BUL), 8-0
SF 2: Aslan DZUEV (RUS) df. Esmaeil ZAHERDOUST (IRI), 10-1

92kg
SF 1: Tomasz MITAL (POL) df. Yusuf AKSU (TUR), via fall (7-3)
SF 2: Hlib YEVSIEIEV (UKR) df. Mirjalol SHOVKATOV (UZB), 8-0

U20 Worlds: Stage set for Greco-Roman stars to step up

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Labazanov Leads Russia to Two Golds at U17 World Championships