#25Under25

UWW 25-Under-25: No. 11-No. 15

Wednesday, February 16, 2022 - 12:44 By Vinay Siwach

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 9) -- The mental and physical strain wrestling puts on the body once led Olympic champion Dan GABLE (USA) to say: “Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.”

Over the last few months, some of the biggest fixtures in wrestling from the last decade – Aline FOCKEN (GER), Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), Cenk ILDEM (TUR) and Frank STAEBLER (GER), among many others – hung up their shoes and decided to head into that “easy” phase of life.

As we continue to pay homage to those trailblazers heading into their post-wrestling chapters of life, it’s time to whisk in the next generation of talent that’ll shoulder the weight of the sport into the Paris Olympic Games and beyond.

With three short years left until the Paris Games, we’re redirecting our attention to the sport's brightest young stars who are entering the prime of their careers. United World Wrestling looked at 25 wrestlers who will undoubtedly keep wrestling fans at the edge of their seats throughout '22 and beyond.

The question you asked and we answered: “Who are the Top 25 Under 25?”

UWW 25-Under-25: No. 21-No. 25
No. 25 - Alina AKOBIYA (UKR), 23-years-old
No. 24 - Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 24-years-old
No. 23 - Artur SARGSYAN (RWF), 24-years-old
No. 22 - TUMUR OCHIR Tulga (MGL), 24-year-old
No. 21 - Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 22-years-old

UWW 25-Under-25: No. 20-No. 16
No. 20 - Anshu MALIK (IND), 20-years-old
No. 19 - Irinia RINGACI (MDA), 21-years-old
No. 18 - Zagir SHAKHIEV (RUS), 23-years-old
No. 17 - Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), 23-years-old
No. 16 - Leri ABULADZE (GEO), 23-years-old

Here's UWW's third segment -- No. 11 through No. 15 -- of the Top 25 Under 25 to keep an eye on.

No. 15 - Ernazar AKMATLIEV (KGZ), 23-years-old, (July 2, 1998)

Instagram - akmataliev_ernazar

No freestyle wrestler has made a more rapid rise in the ranks than Ernazar AKMATLIEV (KGZ). The 24-year-old shocked the world when he pinned Ilyas BEKBULATOV (UZB) at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers to book his ticket to Tokyo at 65kg. He later defeated eventual world runner-up Amirmohammed YAZADANI (IRI) in an action-packed final.

While he could not win a medal at the Tokyo Games, Akmatliev made a name for himself. He followed that performance with a silver-medal winning run at the Oslo World Championships at 70kg. In the process, he registered wins over junior world champion Erfan ELAHI (IRI) and Evgenii ZHERBAEV (RWF). A month later, he became the U23 world champion by beating Individual World Cup winner Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) in a one-sided final in Belgrade, Serbia.

Akmatliev's counterattacks have become a problem for his opponents as he continues to accumulate points despite being in danger positions. He uses the underhook to a great effect to not allow others to hold their preferred positions as well.

As he continues his journey towards Paris Games 2024, Akmatliev has a big year in front of him with Asian Championships, World Championships and the Asian Games scheduled this year.

No. 14 - Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), 24-years-old (January 8, 1998)

Instagram - amin_mirzazadeh_

The super heavyweight category in Greco-Roman has been dominated by two legends -- Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) and Riza KAYAALP (TUR). But as a young generation tries to uproot them, Amin Mirzazadeh is the strongest of them.

The Iran wrestler was at the Tokyo Olympics and won the U23 Worlds last year. Mirzazadeh suffered the burnt of a tough draw as he faced Lopez in the semifinal and later Kayaalp in the bronze medal and finished fifth. But he returned to win the gold in Belgrade. He missed the Oslo World Championships after contracting COVID.

In his five-year career, Mirzazadeh has won the junior and U23 worlds, junior and senior Asian Championships and is yet to make his senior World debut. Incidentally, he was selected on Iran's Tokyo Olympics team after he defeated Aliakbar YOUSOFIA (IRI) in the Poland Open Ranking Series event. Yousofia went on to win the Oslo Worlds in Mirzazadeh's absence.

Like Lopez and Kiyaalp, Mirzazadeh boasts of a strong groud-defense along with some of the best cardio in the weight class. While he still has to gain the power to finish bouts early, Mirzazadeh can be the biggest breakout of the year.

No. 13 - Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), 18-years-old (November 11, 2003)

Instagram - 11.akrstagram.11

Japan's stronghold in women's wrestling might have found a new leader. The Kawai sisters, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and now Akari Fujiname. Still in high school, Fujinami has been the latest phenom from the Land of Rising Sun, winning the Senior World Championships in Oslo without surrendering a point in four bouts.

Fujinami, who has participated in four international competitions in her three-year career, is yet to lose a bout. Even in Japan, she is unbeaten at the two senior-level competitions she participated in, with wins over Nanami IRIE (JPN) and Haruna OKUNO (JPN).

Domestically, she will have to get past Tokyo Olympic champion Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) to make the senior team in the near future but if her performance in Oslo was any indication, Fujinami looks set to pull off an upset.

A mix of quick attacks and agile defense, the former cadet world champion's wrestling style was a treat to watch in Oslo. Japan Wrestling experts had long waited for her senior debut and she did not disappoint on her first outing.

The Paris Olympic cycle will be a big test for Fujinami as tries to make 53kg her own, both domestically and internationally.

No. 12 - Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RWF), 23-years-old (March 15, 1998)

Instagram - abas_60._

Who can challenge Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV at 61kg? As the wrestling season for 2022 begins, Magomedov is still waiting for an opponent who can defeat him at the weight class which he has dominated since 2019. The world champion has won the European Championships in 2021 and will be looking to defend the title in Budapest, Hungary next month.

Once he won the Individual World Cup in 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia, the fans asked if Magomedov would jump to 65kg for the Tokyo Olympics. But he remained at 61kg to win the Russian, European and World Championships. The former junior world champion looked unfazed in Oslo as he defeated Daton FIX (USA) in the final and also overcame U23 world champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) in the semifinal via fall.

Hailing from the mountains of Dagestan, the Russian Wrestling Federation star was UWW's top-ranked wrestler of the year in 2021. A big decision is awaited if he will decide to move to the Olympic weight class of 65kg to challenge the strong field at Paris Olympics.

No. 11 - Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), 23-years-old (August 22, 1998)

Instagram - koumba_larroque

Back in 2015, Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) won the cadet world title. The following year, she won gold at Junior World Championships. The trend continued in 2017 when she was crowned U23 world champion and senior-level world bronze medalist at the age of 19 years. In 2018, she almost continued the streak by reaching the senior World Championships final in Budapest but an injury on the mat in the final stopped her.

Four years since that horrific knee injury, Larroque is back as one of the top wrestlers at 68kg. The Paris native qualified for the Tokyo Olympics by winning the European Qualifiers but she suffered a shock fall in the early rounds. But still on the road to recovery from that injury, Larroque is looking forward to Paris.

A two-time world medalist, in 2017 and 2018, France's big hope for a wrestling medal at home Olympics in Paris, Larroque won the U23 Worlds in Belgrade in 2021 to further confirm her return to the top level. She began her year with the Olympic qualification and followed that with the European Championships gold.

The new year will present Larroque with an opportunity to establish herself as the top wrestler at 68kg as Paris fast approaches.

#WrestleParis

Paris 2024: Lopez closer to historic Olympic gold; Fumita, Elor enter finals

Monday, August 5, 2024 - 22:01 By Ken Marantz

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PARIS (August 5) -- Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) continued his quest for an unprecedented place in Olympic history, swatting aside all in his path on Monday. The last man standing in his way is a former compatriot who has already made history of his own.

Lopez earned a chance to become the first-ever athlete in any sport to win five gold medals in the same event at the Summer Olympics when he advanced to the Greco 130kg final on the opening day of the wrestling competition at the Paris Olympics.

"Very happy, very proud," Lopez said. "It's been a sacrifice for a career lasting so many years, and it's beautiful for the next generations so that they have something to aspire to."

Meanwhile, Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) earned a chance to make up for his disappointing silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics at Greco 60kg -- and gained revenge in the process -- while young Amit ELOR (USA) looks poised to complete the "Golden Grand Slam" of titles by making the women's 68kg final.

Lopez, competing for the first time since winning his fourth gold at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, set up his date with destiny in Tuesday's final by defeating 2016 Rio Olympic bronze medalist Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) 4-1 in the semifinals at the Champs de Mars Arena.

The 41-year-old Lopez got the first chance in par terre and made the most of it with a well-executed gut wrench to go up 3-0 in the first period.

Put on the bottom in the second period, Lopez went beyond just putting up stiff resistance. The Iranian-born Shariati, a veteran himself at 35, managed to lift the Cuban off the mat, but when he tried to force a roll, Lopez nimbly stepped over and gained control for a 1-point reversal.

Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI)Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) confirmed Chile's first-ever Olympic medal in wrestling by reaching the 130kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Lopez, who has not lost a match since falling to long-time rival Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the final at the 2015 World Championships, will face Cuban-born Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) for the gold medal.

"It will be beautiful, special, not only for me but for the whole world," Lopez said of facing Acosta. "It's going to be a final between two Cubans, it's going to be spectacular. A result that the world will enjoy but particularly my brothers in Cuba."

Acosta assured Chile of its first-ever Olympic medal in wrestling when he outlasted Lingzhe MENG (CHN) 1-1 on last-point criteria in the other semifinal.

Acosta got the second of the two passivity points awarded, after which neither was able to turn the other. Meng was given a second chance in par terre with a minute to go but was unable to get any points off a front headlock.

Lopez expressed his joy that Acosta has clinched a medal after coming up just short in Tokyo by placing fifth.

"We've always been brothers, we've always been friends in wrestling, it's going to be beautiful for him, to win an Olympic medal and for me," Lopez said. "He deserves a medal. Chile has asked him to win that medal, and they have given him the support and the chance to compete."

Kenichiro FUMITA(JPN)Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) returned to the final after beating Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At Greco 60kg, Fumita advanced to the final by defeating nemesis Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), using a masterful 4-point throw to score a 4-3 victory over the two-time reigning world champion.

The victory avenged a loss to Sharshenbekov in the final at last year's World Championships in Belgrade, when the Kyrgyz star prevailed 11-6 in a thoroughly entertaining throwfest that uniquely featured no passivity points.

On Monday, Fumita, a two-time former world champion himself, held tough on the bottom of par terre to go into the second period trailing 1-0. Early in the second period, he locked onto Sharshenbekov's right arm and hit an elegant back suplex for 4.

Sharshenbekov, who had not lost since June 2022 and had put together a streak of 10 consecutive tournament titles, went on the offensive and used a nice duck under for a takedown to cut the gap to 4-3.

But Fumita stood his ground and conceded nothing to clinch the win and earn a chance to make up for his devastating loss in the Tokyo Olympic final to Luis ORTA (CUB) and become Japan's first Greco gold medalist since Atsuji MIYAHARA (JPN) in 1984.

For Fumita, winning an elusive gold in Paris would be particularly special. "Paris is a special place because I won my first world title here in 2017," he told the Japanese media.

"I think that the wrestling gods are telling me that by making the final, I have to win the gold. I have one more match and I will give everything so that it will be said that Fumita is indeed strong."

Facing him in the final will be world bronze medalist Liguo CAO (CHN), who scored an exposure at the buzzer for a stunning 3-3 win on last-point criteria over Asian Games bronze medalist Se Ung RI (PRK).

Ri appeared headed to a 3-1 victory after getting a gut wrench from par terre in the first period and holding out on the bottom in the second. But Cao managed to get behind from standing in the waning seconds and, with Ri keeping a solid base and his knees off the mat, Cao pulled him back and over for a 2-point exposure just as time expired. In the final, Cao will look to avenge a 3-1 loss to Fumita in the quarterfinals in Belgrade.

Elor stormed into the women's 68kg final with a 10-0 victory over teenager Sol Gum PAK (PRK) as she looks to join Yui SUSAKI (JPN) as the only wrestlers to add an Olympic gold to titles on all four age-group levels at the World Championships.

Elor, a two-time world champion at 72kg who moved down to the Olympic weight, used a snapdown to get behind Pak for a takedown, then applied a lace lock and reeled off four rolls to end the match at 1:44.

"I've been training a lot with my coach to make sure that after I get a takedown, I don't overlook the thought of getting a turn," the 20-year-old Elor said. "Turns make a huge difference, and I think a lot of times, I'll get a takedown and I'll think, 'Oh, no no, let's just go back to our feet.'

"But it makes a huge difference, and you saw that in a match like that. One takedown, four turns, and the match is over. My immediate thought was, bring her legs together, you have to get at least one lace. And it worked for me."

Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), blue, defeated Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) to enter the semifinal at 62kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Looking to stop Elor will be Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), who won a clash of Tokyo Olympic medalists in the other semifinal to move one win away from becoming Krygyzstan's first-ever Olympic gold medalist in any sport.

Zhumanazarova scored a second-period takedown, then fended off a late attempt by veteran Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) to score a 3-1 victory. That avenged a 3-2 loss to Oborududu in the quarterfinals in Tokyo, where the Nigerian went on to take the silver medal and Zhumanazarova came home with a bronze.

Earlier, Zhumanazarova pulled off a major coup by defeating two-time world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), building up a 6-0 lead before holding on for an 8-6 win.

Elor said she had prepared to face any opponent. "I like to focus on one opponent at a time, but before this competition, I thoroughly watched and analyzed all of my opponents," she said. "I honestly think that each and every opponent has their own challenges, and so however the bracket came out, I knew that I was ready for anybody."

Day 1 Results

Greco-Roman

60kg
SF 1: Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) df. Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), 4-3
SF 2: Liguo CAO (CHN) df. Se Ung RI (PRK), 3-3

130kg
SF 1: Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) df. Sabah SHARIATI (AZE), 4-1
SF 2: Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) df. Lingzhe MENG (CHN), 1-1

Women's Wrestling

68kg
SF 1: Amit ELOR (USA) df Sol Gum PAK (PRK) by TF, 10-0, 1:44
SF 2: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) 3-1