#WrestleNoviSad

Farokhi, Hedayati lead Iran's golden charge at U23 Worlds

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - 15:58 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 21) -- Iran’s Greco-Roman dominance shows no signs of slowing down. After winning team titles at the U17 World Championships in Athens, the U20 Worlds in Samokov, and the senior event in Zagreb, Iran looks poised to complete a clean sweep in Novi Sad as Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) and Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) claimed gold medals at the U23 World Wrestling Championships 2025 on Tuesday.

World champion Farokhi and defending champion Hedayati, who celebrated his birthday as well on Tuesday, won gold medals in dominant fashion at 87kg and 130kg respectively.

"I was able to win two back-to-back tough matches at the World Championships and bring home two gold medals," Farokhi said. "These were high-level competitions."

Farokhi, a gold medalist at 82kg in Zagreb, moved up to 87kg for Novi Sad but had no troubles in switching weights. As he did in Zagreb, Farokhi brought his best game in par terre and rolled to his second gold in one month after a 9-0 victory in the final against Ivan CHMYR (UKR), his fifth technical superiority victory.

After being put on top in par terre, Farokhi launched a trap-arm gut and turned Chmyr four times for the win. Ukraine threw one of those ever increasing challenges for no reason but lost it to add one more point to Farokhi's score.

"When you move up a weight class, the opponents are definitely stronger and tougher," Farokhi said. "It was a good experience, and it gave me a better sense of how I can perform at 87 kg -- an Olympic weight class"

Hedayati, who has not lost an international bout since his 2022 U20 World Championships finals loss, showed why he will dominate the 130kg weight class for years to come.

Up against Razmik KURDYAN (ARM) in the final, Hedayati began with takedown on the edge for two points. Kurdyan was put in par terre and from there Hedayati turned him twice to extend his lead to 7-0. With just 23 seconds left before the break, Hedayati scored a stepout to finish the final 8-0 and claim his second straight U23 world title.

At 63kg, Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) upended returning 63kg U23 world champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), 6-3, in the final using a four-point suplex from par terre to score his points.

Eriomenco, who had defeated Babashov in the U23 European finals, looked very dominant in run up to the final while Babashov had some tough bouts on Monday. But the Azerbaijan wrestler began aggressively and managed to earn first par terre advantage.

He performed a suplex for four points to make his lead 5-0 and take huge step towards winning his first ever world title. He further consolidated his position when he defended from par terre in the second period and gave up only stepout to Eriomenco as the score changed to 5-2.

Babashov then countered an attack from the Moldova wrestler and forced him to stepout outside to extend his lead to 6-2. He gave up one more stepout but held on to the 6-3 lead to win the gold medal.

With the win, he now leads the head-to-head against Eriomenco 2-1 as both have traded victories at 2024 U23 European Championships and its 2025 edition with the Moldovan one being the more recent winner.

Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR)Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR) holds off Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO) in the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

A silver medalist from 2023 at the U23 Worlds, Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR) managed to win gold at 77kg as he defeated Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO), 4-1, in the final.

Orjonikidze was himself to blame for the loss as he committed a defensive leg foul in the first period when Mirzoiev got the par terre position and as he was trying to lift, Orjonikidze blocked him with his leg, giving a 3-0 lead to the Ukrainian.

Georgia challenged the decision but on review, it was confirmed that a leg foul was indeed committed. The lost challenge gave one more point to Mirzoiev.

Orjonikidze got the par terre position in the second period but he failed to score any points and Mirzoiev easily defended his 4-1 lead to eventually claimed the gold medal.

Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR)Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) defeated Richard KARELSON (EST) in the 97kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Yakushenko closer to U23 title

U20 world champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) is a win away from winning his second world tittle three months after he reached the 97kg final at U23 World Championships. He defeated European Championships silver medalist Richard KARELSON (EST) 6-3 in the semifinals.

Karelson tried to make a match of it but Yakushenko scored a four-pointer from par terre to lead 5-0 before Karelson scored a takedown. But Yakushenko got a stepout to lead 6-2. He defended his lead despite Karelson getting par terre in the second period.

He will face Asian U23 champion Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) who rolled to a 9-1 win over Maksim AVERIN (UWW), scoring four turns from par terre in the second period.

At 55kg, U23 European champion Alibek AMIROV (UWW) will face Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) in the final after he defeated Yerassyl MAMYRBEKOV (KAZ) in the semifinal. Amirov was down 2-1 when he got the 

Aliyev hit a beautiful headlock for four against 2024 U17 world champion Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) before securing the fall in the semifinal.

Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) will take on Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY) for the gold medal at 67kg after he defeated Hleb MAKARANKA (UWW), 1-1, having the criteria from the first point score in a 1-1 finish.

Andelrehim led 4-1 when his opponent in the semifinal, Attila JOZSA (HUN), injury default for a leg injury.

Seven years after winning the U17 World Championships gold medal, Abror ATABAEV (UZB) will have a chance to win a second world title after he reached the 72kg final. After getting the first par terre and 1-1 lead against Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ), Atabaev defended his par terre position and kept the 1-1 criteria lead.

Maulitkanov threw everything at Atabaev in the final two minutes but the Uzbekistan defended all the attacks. Atabaev was close to giving up a takedown in the final 15 seconds but he managed to keep himself up and then score a pushout to lead 2-1. Kazakhstan challenged the call but it was a clear stepout and the lost challenge made it 3-1 for Atabaev.

He will face former Asian champion Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) for gold after the Iranian defended his 1-1 criteria lead against Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM). The final will be battle of two Asian champion as Atabaev won that title in 2023.

RESULTS

63kg
GOLD: Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) df. Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), 6-3

BRONZE: Dordzhi SHUNGURTSIKOV (UWW) df. Servet ANGI (TUR), 6-1
BRONZE: Adham ELSAYED (EGY) df. Kuttubek ABDURAZAKOV (KGZ), 3-2

77kg
GOLD: Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR) df. Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO), 4-1

BRONZE: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) df. Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), 3-3
BRONZE: Levente LEVAI (HUN) df. Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN), 4-2

87kg
GOLD: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) df. Ivan CHMYR (UKR), 10-0

BRONZE: Payton JACOBSON (USA) df. Lachin VALIYEV (AZE), 5-3
BRONZE: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Yassine BEN LABED (POL), 5-1

130kg
GOLD: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Razmik KURDYAN (ARM), 8-0

BRONZE: Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) df. Saba CHILASHVILI (GEO), via fall (4-0)
BRONZE: Aleksandr MELEKHOV (UWW) df. Artur SARKISJAN (CZE), 9-1

Semifinals

55kg
GOLD: Elmir ALIYEV (AZE)  vs. Alibek AMIROV (UWW)

SF 1: Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) df. Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI), via fall (5-1)
SF 2: Alibek AMIROV (UWW) df. Yerassyl MAMYRBEKOV (KAZ), via fall (7-2)

67kg
GOLD: Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) vs. Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY)

SF 1: Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) df. Hleb MAKARANKA (UWW), 1-1
SF 2: Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY) df. Attila JOZSA (HUN), via inj. def. (4-1)

72kg
GOLD: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) vs. Abror ATABAEV (UZB)

SF 1: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM), 1-1
SF 2: Abror ATABAEV (UZB) df. Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ), 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) vs. Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ)

SF 1: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Richard KARELSON (EST), 6-3 
SF 2: Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) df. Maksim AVERIN (UWW), 9-1

2026 U17 World Championships

Uzbekistan's Bunyod Lays Foundation with Second U17 World Title

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 - 18:46 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 29) -- The name Bunyod means “foundation” in Persian and is given to boys across Uzbekistan and parts of Central and South Asia.

It’s a name that suits 16-year-old Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) perfectly. Unlike other U17 wrestlers, Bunyod Hasanov has his wrestling foundation firmly in place.

On Tuesday, Hasanov won his second U17 world title, first wrestler from Uzbekistan to do so, as Greco-Roman came to a close at the U17 World Championships in Baku.

Read More: Hasanov Wins 48kg Gold in Athens

Most U17 world titles are won based on physical superiority, last-second heroics or narrow moments that can swing either way. That is not to diminish past world champions, but only a handful of wrestlers possess the tactical maturity and wrestling intelligence to execute complete game plans at such a young age.

Hasanov has separated himself even from that elite group.

WATCH: Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) Wins Second U17 World Gold

Over the two World Championships, Hasanov demonstrated a brand of Greco-Roman rarely seen at the U17 level. He has a powerful gut-wrench, one of Greco-Roman's oldest and most effective turns.

He also has the pace to dictate the match and not fall into the passivity trap. He has the strength to throw as well, as he did Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) during the 51kg final on Tuesday.

In his four bouts in Baku, Hasanov won three via technical superiority -- a difference of at least eight points. The only bout that did not end by technical superiority was still under his complete control as he won 6-2, outscoring his opponents 25-4 in the tournament. Last year, Hasanov outscored his opponents 32-7 in four bouts, with two technical superiority wins.

Wrestling Bunyod HASANOV (UZB)Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) celebrates after winning the 51kg world title, his second at U17 level. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The 48kg world champion in Athens moved up to 51kg this year and made a stunning run to his second gold medal. His campaign in Baku differed from the one in Athens in many ways, but one thing that remained constant was Hasanov's control of the final.

Against returning bronze medalist Huseynli, he set the tone right from the start by going for the snaps and two-on-one. Huseynli was eventually called passive and Hasanov got the par terre from which he hit a remarkable suplex for four points.

He then lifted Huseynli again and threw him out of bounds for one point to lead 6-0. He then used his two-on-one to push the Azerbaijan wrestler towards the zone and score a stepout, swelling his lead to 7-0.

Wrestling Bunyod HASANOV (UZB)Bunyod HASANOV (UZB), below, throws Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) during the 51kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Facing a decisive stepout, Huseynli attempted a throw of his own but landed on his own back instead, surrendering two points. Those points made Hasanov a 9-0 winner, who managed a more animated celebration than last year.

With the strong foundations that led him to his second world gold, Bunyod Hasanov will hope to build on it in the future.

Thanks to Hasanov's gold, Uzbekistan finished fourth in the team standings with 85 points, 11 behind third-placed Iran, which topped the standings last year. Russia won the team title with 127 points, while host Azerbaijan placed second despite failing to win a gold medal.

Wax Melts Javadli

Apart from Huseynli, Azerbaijan had another finalist in U17 European champion Ali JAVADLI (AZE) at 51kg, but he too suffered a one-sided defeat to Rylex WAX (USA).

Javadli gave the packed arena, waiting for the Azerbaijan national anthem to be played on Wednesday, hope when he piled up four points from par terre in the first period with a strong gut wrench.

Wax, however, silenced the arena in the second period when he got the par terre. He used a trap-arm-gut to roll him six times and reducing Javadli to tears after the final whistle. Wax secured the United States' first U17 Greco-Roman world title since 2024 after the team went without one last year.

Wrestling Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI)Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) scores a takedown against Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) during the 60kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Tahmasbpour Denies Barotov

Iran's disappointing tournament still had a bright spot in Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI), who upgraded his bronze from last year to gold at 60kg after an electric final. The Iranian's win also denied Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) from becoming Tajikistan's first-ever Greco-Roman world champion at any level.

At one point in the 60kg final, Barotov must have thought he had ended the drought for his country. Tahmasbpour scored a takedown and two turns using trap-arm to build a 6-0 lead in the first minute. And it seemed that he would run away with the final.

The match turned on its head before the break. Barotov countered an attempted duck under, forcing Tahmasbpour backward for two points. Moments later, Barotov switched to double underhooks and launched the Iranian for a throw. Initially, the officials awarded four points to Tahmasbpour, but a successful challenge reversed the call and gave Barotov four points instead, putting him ahead 6-6 on criteria.

Tahmasbpour, however, knew that Barotov was struggling with conditioning and he began snapping the Tajikistan wrestler. After one of the snaps, he jumped over Barotov and secured the takedown that eventually gave him an 8-6 victory.

Wrestling Janes NAZARYAN (ARM)Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) celebrates after winning the 71kg gold medal in Baku. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Nazaryan Repeats

Another returning champion Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), who won at 65kg last year in Athens, doubled up by winning the gold medal at 71kg in Baku. He made a comeback after falling behind against 65kg U17 European champion Aslan DZUEV (RUS) in the final.

Dzuev scored a headlock throw which the referees scored as two points as Nazaryan never seemed to have landed in danger. Russia challenged asking for four points but lost it, adding one point to Nazaryan's score. Dzuev then failed to score from par terre but led 3-1 at the break.

When Nazaryan got the par terre in the second period, he turned Dzuev with a strong gut-wrench and took a 4-3 lead that he defended to win his second U17 world title.

Wrestling Tomasz MITAL (POL)Tomasz MITAL (POL) became the first Poland wrestler in 10 years to win the Greco-Roman gold at U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Mital Breakthrough

At 92kg, U17 European champion Tomasz MITAL (POL) added a world title to his name and gave Poland its first U17 Greco-Roman gold medal in 10 years. Mital was up against Hlib YEVSIEIEV (UKR) in the gold medal bout and was in some trouble when Yevsieiev scored the first takedown to lead 2-0.

Mital pushed the pace in the second period and scored a running takedown around the zone and then lifted Yevsieiev, threw him outside the zone for a point and led 3-2. He defended his lead to win the gold medal and become only the fifth Poland wrestler to win a Greco-Roman gold at the U17 World Championships.

Click here for Women's Wrestling semifinal results

Wrestling Photos

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Rylen WAX (USA) df. Ali JAVADLI (AZE), 13-5

BRONZE: Ognyan BURGAZOV (BUL) df. Armin ESMAEILI (IRI), via forfeit
BRONZE: Arsan ALIEV (RUS) df. Afruzbek IBRAGIMOV (UZB), 10-0

51kg
GOLD: Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) df. Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE), 9-0

BRONZE: Gevorg HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Saba ABASHIDZE (GEO), 5-0
BRONZE: Artem TKACHENKO (RUS) df. Vadim TARELUNGA (MDA), 7-5

60kg
GOLD: Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) df. Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK), 8-6

BRONZE: Sadriddin TULKINBOEV (UZB) df. Alexandru LUNGU (ROU), 10-2
BRONZE: Elmir CHARKAZOV (AZE) df. Hinata HANAMORI (JPN), 9-0

71kg
GOLD: Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) df. Aslan DZUEV (RUS), 4-3

BRONZE: Alinur TOLEUGALI (KAZ) df. Esmaeil ZAHERDOUST (IRI), 11-3
BRONZE: Ervin CZUCZOR (HUN) df. Kristiyan KRASTEV (BUL), 5-1

92kg
GOLD: Tomasz MITAL (POL) df. Hlib YEVSIEIEV (UKR), 3-2

BRONZE: Yusuf AKSU (TUR) df. Sandor ANTALY (HUN), 5-1
BRONZE: Amirreza MEHRITALAR (IRI) df. Mirjalol SHOVKATOV (UZB), 4-3