Who's In?

Who’s In? Freestyle Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 - 17:20 By Andrew Hipps

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 22) --  In response to the IOC’s decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympic Games until the summer of 2021, United World Wrestling has announced that all Olympic qualification spots already earned will continue to be honored.

For the nations whose wrestlers qualified at the World Championships or Pan Am Qualifiers that means they are done, but for those who haven’t qualified in each weight category there will be events in March and April of 2021 to determine the remaining eight spots in each category.

We’ve broken down “Who’s In,” and which stars still need to qualify.

Russia crowned four world champions and one bronze medalist in Olympic freestyle weight categories at the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, to qualify five weight categories for the Tokyo Olympics. The only weight category not yet qualified for Russia is 125kg.

The United States had a strong performance at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier in Ottawa, Canada, qualifying three weight categories to go along with the two qualified at the World Championships. 

Kazakhstan has four Olympic qualifiers in freestyle and will look to add to that total at the Asian Olympic Qualifier and World Olympic "Last Chance" Qualifier. 

Cuba, India, and Iran currently sit at three Olympic qualifiers. 

Let's examine where things stand in each of the six freestyle weight categories heading into the final four Olympic qualifying events.

57kg
Thomas GILMAN (USA), a 2017 world silver medalist, won gold at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier to qualify the United States at 57kg. 

Colombia grabbed the other qualification spot at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) and Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) will be among the favorites at the Asian Olympic Qualifier. Higuchi was an Olympic silver medalist in 2016. He competed at 65kg in 2018 where he won a U23 world title and has since made the move down to 57kg. 

Erdenebat is a two-time world bronze medalist. The Mongolian fell short of a world medal in Nur-Sultan, losing in repechage. 

The 57kg wrestlers to watch at the European Qualifier include Mahir AMIRASLANOV (AZE) and Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM). Amiraslanov was a European Games gold medalist in 2019 and past junior world champion while Harutyunyan was a European champion in 2019 and a European bronze medalist in 2020. 

65kg
At the Pan Am Qualifiers it was Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB) who was able to wrestle well in Ottawa and came through to win gold, and punch his ticket to the 2020 Games.

He was joined by Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) who defeated Zain RETHERFORD (USA) in the semifinals, preventing the United States from qualifying all six weight categories in freestyle. Destribats also became Argentina's first male Olympic wrestler since 1996.

Expect some fireworks at the European Olympic Qualifier as world champions Haji ALIYEV (AZE) and Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) are expected to compete. Aliyev defeated Khinchegashvili to win the European Games gold in 2019. Three years prior, it was Khinchegashvili who defeated Aliyev on his way to Olympic gold in 2016.

Another wrestler to watch at the European Olympic Qualifier is Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR). He won a bronze medal at the Matteo Pellicone and has won multiple European medals.

Amirmohammad YAZDANICHERATI (IRI) is a top contender in the Asian Olympic Qualifier. 

74kg
Jordan BURROUGHS, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion, qualified the United States for this weight category in Nur-Sultan, but he will likely have to defeat two-time 79kg world champion Kyle DAKE to earn a spot on USA's Olympic team.

There are several accomplished wrestlers in this weight category still looking to secure Olympic berths. The European Olympic Qualifier is expected to include multiple-time Olympic medalist Toghrul ASGAROV (AZE) or junior world champion Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE), Olympic and world medalist Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), world silver medalist Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO), Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) and Azamat NURYKAU (BLR).

Multiple-time world medalist Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) will look to qualify at the Asian Olympic Qualifier.
 

86kg
David TAYLOR (USA), a world champion in 2018, missed the 2019 season due to injury. He came back in March to earn a qualification spot at 86kg for the United States by winning the Pan American Olympic Qualifier.

Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER) also qualified at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier.

Past world medalists Ali SHABANAU (BLR), Fatih ERDIN (TUR) and Boris MAKOEV (SVK) headline the top contenders at the European Olympic Qualifier in this weight category. Shabanau has won four world bronze medals, with the most recent being in 2018. Erdin reached the finals of the World Championships in 2018, but failed to reach a medal match in 2019. Makoev earned a silver at the Paris World Championships in 2017.

Other notable European wrestlers looking to earn spots at the Tokyo Olympics include Aleksandr GOSTIYEV (AZE), Ahmed DUDAROV (GER) and Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL).

Top wrestlers in Asia looking to qualify include past world silver medalist Sohsuke TAKATANI (JPN) and Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ).

97kg
Three-time world medalist Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) and Jordan STEEN (CAN) earned qualification spots at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier.

Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER earned the qualification spot for the United States, but will likely have to get past two-time 92kg world champion J'den COX to make the USA team.

Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) will look to qualify at the Asian Olympic Qualifier. He dominated the field at the Matteo Pellicone, outscoring his four opponents 32-0 and scored a fall in the quarterfinals over Snyder.

Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB), an Olympic bronze medalist and multiple-time Asian champion, is also expected to be at the Asian Olympic Qualifier.

Khadshimourad GATSALOV, one of the all-time great freestyle wrestlers, is now competing for Armenia. Gatsalov won an Olympic gold medal and five world titles for Russia. He will attempt to qualify for the Olympics at the European Olympic Qualifier, along with Olympic bronze medalist Albert SARITOV (ROU).

125kg
Two-time world bronze medalist Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) won gold at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier. Amar DHESI (CAN) was the other Olympic qualifier in Ottawa.

This is the lone weight class that Russia has not yet qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. Russia will likely send European Games gold medalist Anzor KHIZRIEV or Alan KHUGAEV to the European Olympic Qualifier. Multiple-time world medalist Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) and multiple-time European bronze medalist Robert BARAN (POL) are also expected to be at the European Olympic Qualifier.

#WrestleIstanbul

U17 World Championships offers glimpse of future stars

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

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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.