#WrestleIstanbul

World Paris Olympic Qualifier 2024 Entry List

By United World Wrestling Press

ISTANBUL, Turkiye (April 29) -- After the World Championships and four continental qualifiers, it all comes down to the last chance World OG Qualifier in Istanbul for the wrestlers hoping to earn a spot for the Paris Olympics.

The qualifier in Istanbul will offer 54 Olympic quotas in each of the six weight classes of the three styles. Every weight category offers three Paris Olympic spots -- one each to the two finalists and one to the winner of the playoff between the two bronze medalists.

Greco-Roman will kick off the competition on May 9 followed by Women's Wrestling and Freestyle finishing it on May 13. All details of the schedule can be found here -- World OG Qualifier Schedule

Freestyle

57kg
Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)
Darthe CAPELLAN (CAN)
Zhipeng JIANG (CHN)
Roland TAMBI (CMR)
Peter HAMMER CUDE (CRC)
Guesseppe REA VILLARROEL (ECU)
Levan METREVELI VARTANOV (ESP)
Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)
Horst LEHR (GER)
Tsz Shing LEUNG (HKG)
AMAN (IND)
Alireza SARLAK (IRI)
Simone PIRODDU (ITA)
Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ)
Sunggwon KIM (KOR)
Ben TARIK (MAR)
Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE)
Chong HAN (PRK)
Razvan KOVACS (ROU)
Ibrahim BUNDUKA (SLE)
Thomas EPP (SUI)
Kabe MATJANOV (TKM)
Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)
Andrii YATSENKO (UKR)
Spencer LEE (USA)

65kg
Niurgun SKRIABIN (AIN)
Islam DUDAEV (ALB)
Josh FAILAUGA (ASA)
Shannon HANNA (BAH)
Ayub MUSAEV (BEL)
Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
Mikyay NAIM (BUL)
Lachlan MCNEIL (CAN)
Baowen WEI (CHN)
Anthony WESLEY (CPV)
Joshua KRAMER (ECU)
Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)
Junjun ASEBIAS (FSM)
Gibriel CHOW (GAM)
Andre CLARKE (GER)
Tsz Hei HEUNG (HKG)
Sujeet SUJEET (IND)
Joshua Stuart FINESILVER (ISR)
Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ)
Davies ORIWA (KEN)
Junsik YUN (KOR)
Maxim SACULTAN (MDA)
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
Besir ALILI (MKD)
Lowe BINGHAM (NRU)
Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK)
Abdullah ASSAF (PLE)
Cristian NICOLESCU (PLW)
Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
Kwang Jin KIM (PRK)
Stefan Ionut COMAN (ROU)
Sahid Tejan KARGBO (SLE)
Nino LEUTERT (SUI)
Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK)
Jelaletdin SEYIDOV (TKM)
Ahmet DUMAN (TUR)
Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR)
Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)
Zain RETHERFORD (USA)
Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)
Ibrahim GUZAN (YEM)

74kg
Cherman VALIEV (ALB)
Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM)
Simon MARCHL (AUT)
Ibragim VELIEV (BEL)
Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN)
Miroslav KIROV (BUL)
Stone LEWIS (CAN)
Michel DOLE BONDELE (CGO)
Yi LI (CHN)
Jacques MONTY (CMR)
Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP)
Erik REINBOK (EST)
Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA)
Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Shamil USTAEV (GER)
Luis BARRIOS (HON)
Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN)
JAIDEEP (IND)
Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR)
Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)
Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN)
Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ)
Byungmin GONG (KOR)
Egzon XHONI (KOS)
Vasile DIACON (MDA)
Raul PALACIOS (MEX)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Rasul SHAPIEV (MKD)
Kamil RYBICKI (POL)
Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR)
Krisztian BIRO (ROU)
Malik Michael AMINE (SMR)
Tobias PORTMANN (SUI)
Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
Viktor RASSADIN (TJK)
Arslan AMANMYRADOV (TKM)
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
Jamal ABDUL (UGA)
Vadym TSURKAN (UKR)
*Iman MAHDAVI (UWW)
Abdulkareem AL RABEDHI (YEM)

86kg
Arkadzi PAHASIAN (AIN)
Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM)
Ariston BARTLEY (ASA)
Benjamin GREIL (AUT)
Pedro GONCALVES (BRA)
Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN)
Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL)
Peilong LI (CHN)
Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP)
Aimar ANDRUSE (EST)
Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
Lars SCHAEFLE (GER)
Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE)
Yip Cheuk YEUNG (HKG)
Patrik PUESPOEKI (HUN)
Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR)
Aron CANEVA (ITA)
Atai IZABEKOV (KGZ)
Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT)
Saad AMANDAR (MAR)
Georgii RUBAEV (MDA)
Noel TORRES (MEX)
Ahmad MAGOMEDOV (MKD)
Pool AMBROCIO (PER)
Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL)
Stefan REICHMUTH (SUI)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM)
Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Ivan MASAKWE (UGA)
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)
Pedro CEBALLOS (VEN)

97kg
Sergey SARGSYAN (ARM)
Thomas BARNS (AUS)
Ahmed BATAEV (BUL)
Nishan Preet RANDHAWA (CAN)
Tuerxunbieke MUHEITE (CHN)
Cedric ABOSSOLO (CMR)
Maxwell LACEY (CRC)
Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)
Babacarr MBOGE (GAM)
Erik Sven THIELE (GER)
Theodoros KYRIAKIDIS (GRE)
Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN)
DEEPAK (IND)
Benjamin HONIS (ITA)
Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)
Andrei ARONOV (KGZ)
Juhwan SEO (KOR)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL)
Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD)
Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL)
Georgian TRIPON (ROU)
Samuel SCHERRER (SUI)
Adam JAKSIK (SVK)
Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM)
Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)
Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB)
Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

125kg
Paris KAREPI (ALB)
Lyova GEVORGYAN (ARM)
Johannes LUDESCHER (AUT)
Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN)
Georgi IVANOV (BUL)
BUHEEERDUN (CHN)
Jose CUBA VAZQUEZ (ESP)
Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Daniel LIGETI (HUN)
SUMIT (IND)
Abraham CONYEDO (ITA)
Aaron JOHNSON (JAM)
Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
Joel TUKAI (KEN)
Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ)
Yeihyun JUNG (KOR)
Robert BARAN (POL)
Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM)
Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR)
Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB)
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)

Selcuk CAN (TUR)Selcuk CAN (TUR) will look to win the Paris Olympic spot in Greco-Roman 67kg in front of the home crowd in Istanbul. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

60kg
Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN)
Sadyk LALAEV (AIN)
Bajram SINA (ALB)
Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM)
Josh FAILAUGA (ASA)
Murad MAMMADOV (AZE)
Nedyalko PETROV (BUL)
Nikolai MOHAMMADI (DEN)
Daniel BOBILLO VIGIL (ESP)
Leo TUDEZCA (FRA)
Pridon ABULADZE (GEO)
Christopher KRAEMER (GER)
SUMIT (IND)
Melkamu FETENE (ISR)
Dahyun KIM (KOR)
Rayan HAWSAWI (KSA)
Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT)
Justas PETRAVICIUS (LTU)
Ismail ETTALIBI (MAR)
Alexis RODRIGUEZ (MEX)
Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Romio GOLIATH (NAM)
Michal Jacek TRACZ (POL)
Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)
Ibrahim BUNDUKA (SLE)
Georgij TIBILOV (SRB)
Virgil BICA (SWE)
Umit DURDYYEV (TKM)
Viktor PETRYK (UKR)
Dalton ROBERTS (USA)
*Jamal VALIZADEH (UWW)

67kg
Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (AIN)
Aslan VISAITOV (AIN)
Gjete PRENGA (ALB)
Abu AMAEV (BUL)
Ji LENG (CHN)
Dominik ETLINGER (CRO)
Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY)
Artur JEREMEJEV (EST)
Matias LIPASTI (FIN)
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)
Etienne KINSINGER (GER)
Krisztian Istvan VANCZA (HUN)
Muhammad ALIANSYAH (INA)
Ashu ASHU (IND)
Andrea SETTI (ITA)
Din Mukhamed KOSHKAR (KAZ)
Hansu RYU (KOR)
Ahmed BARAHMAH (KSA)
Adomas GRIGALIUNAS (LTU)
Valentin PETIC (MDA)
Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR)
Nilton SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Mateusz BERNATEK (POL)
Yong Jin RO (PRK)
Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU)
Sahid Tejan KARGBO (SLE)
Andreas VETSCH (SUI)
Niklas Jan Olov Pontus OEHLEN (SWE)
Begmyrat NOBATOV (TKM)
Selcuk CAN (TUR)
Ellis COLEMAN (USA)
Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)

77kg
Adlet TIULIUBAEV (AIN)
Tsimur BERDYIEU (AIN)
Kevin KUPI (ALB)
Joilson RAMOS (BRA)
Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL)
John YEATS (CAN)
Tongyu CHEN (CHN)
Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO)
Oldrich VARGA (CZE)
Oliver KRUEGER (DEN)
Marcos SANCHEZ (ESP)
Johnny BUR (FRA)
Iuri LOMADZE (GEO)
Idris IBAEV (GER)
Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE)
Zoltan LEVAI (HUN)
Vikas VIKAS (IND)
Riccardo ABBRESCIA (ITA)
Dowon LEE (KOR)
Hassan BARNAWI (KSA)
Paulius GALKINAS (LTU)
Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)
Emmanuel BENITEZ (MEX)
Per Anders KURE (NOR)
Kamil CZARNECKI (POL)
Jonathan VIRUET (PUR)
Ilie COJOCARI (ROU)
Viktor NEMES (SRB)
Fabio DIETSCHE (SUI)
Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE)
Bazargeldi EZIMOV (TKM)
Volodymyr YAKOVLIEV (UKR)
Kamal BEY (USA)

87kg
Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN)
Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM)
Elias Lauofo VAOIFI (ASA)
Lukas STAUDACHER (AUT)
Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)
Ioannis NARLIDIS (CAN)
Ivan HUKLEK (CRO)
Daniel GREGORICH (CUB)
Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)
Raido LIITMAEE (EST)
Waltteri LATVALA (FIN)
Lasha GOBADZE (GEO)
Hannes WAGNER (GER)
Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE)
Ariel ALFONSO (HON)
Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Mirco MINGUZZI (ITA)
Soh SAKABE (JPN)
Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ)
Sanghyeok PARK (KOR)
Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU)
Mihail BRADU (MDA)
Jose VARGAS (MEX)
Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)
Exauce MUKUBU (NOR)
Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL)
Nicu OJOG (ROU)
Damian VON EUW (SUI)
Alex KESSIDIS (SWE)
Yhlas ABDURAZAKOV (TKM)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

97kg
Artur SARGSIAN (AIN)
Markus RAGGINGER (AUT)
Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE)
Kaloyan IVANOV (BUL)
Houzhi HAO (CHN)
Filip SMETKO (CRO)
Mathias BAK (DEN)
Richard KARELSON (EST)
Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER)
Michail IOSIFIDIS (GRE)
Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN)
Nitesh NITESH (IND)
Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA)
Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN)
Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ)
Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA)
Badamdorj BALTMUNKH (MGL)
Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED)
Felix BALDAUF (NOR)
Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL)
Mihail KAJAIA (SRB)
Ramon BETSCHART (SUI)
Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE)
Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM)
Metehan BASAR (TUR)
Vladlen KOZLIUK (UKR)

130kg
Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN)
David OVASAPYAN (ARM)
Daniel GASTL (AUT)
Sabah SHARIATI (AZE)
Heiki NABI (EST)
Matti KUOSMANEN (FIN)
Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO)
Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE)
Darius VITEK (HUN)
Naveen NAVEEN (IND)
Sota OKUMURA (JPN)
Roman KIM (KGZ)
Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU)
Oskar MARVIK (NOR)
Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL)
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU)
Boris PETRUSIC (SRB)
Eduard BABENOSHEV (TJK)
Aybegshazada KURRAYEV (TKM)
Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR)
Moises PEREZ (VEN)

Mariya STADNIK (AZE)Four-time Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE) will wrestle in Istanbul for a Paris spot in 50kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Viyaleta REBIKAVA (AIN)
Mariya STADNIK (AZE)
Kamila BARBOSA (BRA)
Miglena SELISHKA (BUL)
Geneviève MORRISON (CAN)
Rosine NTSA ASSOUGA (CMR)
Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU)
Aintzane GORRIA GONI (ESP)
Julie SABATIE (FRA)
Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)
Marina KARAPANAGIOTIDOU (GRE)
Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA)
Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ)
Emma WANGILA (KEN)
Miran CHEON (KOR)
Gabija DILYTE (LTU)
Mariana DIAZ MUNOZ (MEX)
Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR)
Yorlenis MORAN (PAN)
Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
Son Hyang KIM (PRK)
Beatrice FERENT (ROU)
Nipuni WASANA (SRI)
Svenja JUNGO (SUI)
Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE)
Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE)
 
53kg
Oleksandra KOGUT (AUT)
Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE)
Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA)
Irena BINKOVA (BUL)
Karla GODINEZ (CAN)
Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV)
Miriam NGOE WASE (CMR)
Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB)
Maria BAEZ DILONE (ESP)
Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA)
Annika WENDLE (GER)
Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)
Sztalvira ORSOS (HUN)
Fabiana RINELLA (ITA)
Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ)
Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ)
Seoyoung PARK (KOR)
Zineb ECH CHABKI (MAR)
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)
Zeltzin HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Veronika RJABOVOLOVA (MKD)
Yusneiry AGRAZAL WEST (PAN)
Jowita WRZESIEN (POL)
Nethmi AHINSA (SRI)
Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)
Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)
Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE)

57kg
Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN)
Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
Giullia PENALBER (BRA)
Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)
Yaynelis SANZ (CUB)
Graciela SANCHEZ (ESP)
Mathilde RIVIERE (FRA)
Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN)
Aurora RUSSO (ITA)
Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ)
Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Youngjin KWON (KOR)
Zineb HASSOUNE (MAR)
Alma VALENCIA (MEX)
Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL)
Marija CVETANOVA (MKD)
Ester ABRAHAM (NAM)
Othelie HOEIE (NOR)
In Sun JONG (PRK)
Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU)
Evelina HULTHEN (SWE)
Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)
Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR)
Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB)

62kg
Veranika IVANOVA (AIN)
Nachi MASUDA (AUS)
Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE)
Lais NUNES (BRA)
Yaru WU (CHN)
Lydia PEREZ (ESP)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Mansi MANSI (IND)
Elena ESPOSITO (ITA)
Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ)
Hanbit LEE (KOR)
Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT)
Mariana CHERDIVARA (MDA)
Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX)
Arian CARPIO (PHI)
Natalia KUBATY (POL)
Kriszta INCZE (ROU)
Annatina LIPPUNER (SUI)
Sara LINDBORG (SWE)
Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Astrid MONTERO (VEN)

68kg
Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN)
Albina DRAZHI (ALB)
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL)
Linda MORAIS (CAN)
Qian JIANG (CHN)
Blandine NGIRI (CMR)
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)
Nisha NISHA (IND)
Ilana KRATYSH (ISR)
Dalma CANEVA (ITA)
Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ)
Ohyoung HA (KOR)
Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT)
Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU)
Ambar GARNICA (MEX)
Uilau TARKONG (PLW)
Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)
Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK)
Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE)
Alina BEREZHNA (UKR)
Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB) 

76kg
Rita TALISMANOVA (AIN)
Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (AIN)
Annie ALOISIO (ASA)
Martina KUENZ (AUT)
Yuliana YANEVA (BUL)
Amy YOUIN (CIV)
Samar HAMZA (EGY)
Epp MAE (EST)
Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA)
Francy RAEDELT (GER)
Agoro PAPAVASILEIOU (GRE)
Enrica RINALDI (ITA)
Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ)
Eunju HWANG (KOR)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)
Patrycja SPERKA (POL)
Catalina AXENTE (ROU)
Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE)
Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR)
Maria ACOSTA (VEN)

Iman MAHDAVI and Jamil VALIZADEH are part of the refugee and will be eligible for qualification in Istanbul as both are already qualified as part of the IOC Refugee Team for the Paris 2024. 

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ranking Series: Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 Preview

By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (May 23) -- While most Paris Olympic medalist have returned to action in either the first two Ranking Series or the recent continental championships, there are still who will be wrestling for the first time since Games in August 2024.

The Ulaanbaatar Open, the third stop of the Ranking Series, will see two such wrestlers -- AMAN (IND) and Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ).

Aman, the bronze medalist at 57kg in Paris, will mark his return to competition after dropping out from first two Ranking Series tournaments. Dzhuzupekov, who won bronze at Greco-Roman 97kg in Paris, will also be returning for the first time.

Barring those, a few world medalists are also wrestling in Ulaanbaatar. The tournament, which will see more than 200 wrestlers, throws up some top match-ups despite a several nations preparing for their domestic trials or national championships.

The tournament will run through May 29 to June 1 and will be live on UWW+ on uww.org and UWW App.

Freestyle

In a hugely viral clip of United World Wrestling, Zagir SHAKHIEV (UWW) is getting pinned by Shamil MAMMEDOV (UWW) who has Shakhiev in a cradle. That was January 2022 at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series.

More than three years after his last international bout, Shakhiev is making a comeback. The 2021 world 65kg champion will take the mat at 70kg at the Ulaanbaatar Open as he tries to find a way back to the top in international wrestling.

However, it's won't be an easy journey. The 70kg in Ulaanbaatar will se Shakhiev clash with Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), Mohammadali AMOUZAD (IRI), Aliakbar FAZLI (IRI) and Viktor RASSADIN (TJK).

Tumur Ochir will be looking avenge his 4-4 loss to Shakhiev from that 2021 World Championships, a match which had all the drama in the final minute. How Shakhiev comes out now is yet to be seen.

Asian silver medalist Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) can trouble Shakhiev and so can Mohammadali AMOUZAD (IRI) and Aliakbar FAZLI (IRI) with their gas-tanks.

For Tumur Ochir, it will be a perfect opportunity to perform in front of his home crowd and regain some form before the World Championships in September.

Mongolia will be keen on its wrestlers finishing on podium at the home tournament. Their biggest hope, apart from Tumur Ochir, will be Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) at 125kg.

The Asian silver medalist will have DINESH (IND),Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR), Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) and Abdulla KURBANOV (UWW) as some of his opponents but is expected to finish better than them. 

At 57kg, Aman may be the only Olympic medalist entered but the field seems challenging for anyone. European U23 champion Lev PAVLOV (UWW) brings a lot of craft with him and Aman will like face him if he wants to win another Ranking Series gold medal. Then there is Pan-Am champion Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) who too is coming off a good run in Monterrey.

Kyrgyzstan is sending two wrestlers -- Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ) and Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) -- and both can trouble their opponents. The hosts Mongolia is banking on Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL).

Asian silver medalist UDIT (IND) will be another top name in Freestyle but his weight class also has quite a few challengers. Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) and Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ) will be there from Kyrgyzstan along with Artem GOBAEV (UWW), who won the European U23 Championships gold last year.

Another Asian silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) will continue to be at 92kg and not 86kg, his previous weight class. Punia made his return from surgery at the Asian Championships and won silver medal at 92kg, only dropping the final to Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI).

He will be put to further test in Ulaanbaatar and Askhab SAADULAEV (UWW) may emerge as his biggest competitor.

At 74kg, Iran is sending three wrestlers in the hope of finding the best for the World Championships. Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI), who recently moved up from 70kg and won the Takhti Cup, will be challenged by Yones EMAMI (IRI) and Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI).

To win gold, Yazdani will also face competition from JAIDEEP (IND), Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) and former world medalist Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), who Yazdani defeated in a club competition in Iran recently.

European bronze medalist Osman GOECN (TUR) will be Türkiye chance to win gold medal at the Ranking Series. Gocen will largely be unchallenged at 86kg given his experience and style.

At 65kg, Kyrgyzstan is trying to find its best bet for a medal at the World Championships as both Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) and Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ) are entered.

Greco-Roman

Kyrgyzstan and Türkiye are bringing strong teams for the Ranking Series. Kyrgyzstan will be led by Olympic bronze medalist Dzhuzupbekov while Turkiye has European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and former world champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR). Barring those, only India is sending a full team for the tournament.

Iran has two wrestlers namely Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) and Danial SOHRABI (IRI) at 63kg and 72kg respectively.

Kamal, who has found a lifeline since switching to 63kg from 60kg, won the European Championships gold medal in spectacular fashion and is now out to win his second Ranking Series gold of the year.

He has Keshtkar in his weight class along with Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ), Asian medalist Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) and Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT). However, Kamal remains the favorite. Akbudak should have an easy path to gold at 82kg.

European silver medalist Hamza BAKIR (TUR) at 130kg is also unlikely to face much challenge in the competition at the highest weight class.

The Kyrgyzstan vs Turkiye may emerge as the theme of the tournament in Greco-Roman for the rest of the weight classes.

Paris Olympian Enes BASAR (TUR) may have to navigate a stronger field at 60kg with former world U17 champion SURAJ (IND) and two of Kyrgyzstan's rising stars Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ) and Kurmanbek ZHAPAROV (KGZ).

Kyrgyzstan's Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ), who won gold at Muhamet Malo and silver at Asian Championships, will be the favorite at 67kg despite the presence of Murat FIRAT (TUR).

Same goes for Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) who won gold at 77kg in Albania and later a bronze medal at the Asian Championships. His battle with European bronze medalist Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) will be one to watch out for.

At 87kg, two former age-group world champions will be fighting it out. Former world U20 champion Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) had a rather disappointing Asian Championships as he finished seventh and will be looking to win gold in Ulaanbaatar to regain confidence.

Alperen BERBER (TUR), who has all age-group world titles, has not wrestled this year in any Ranking Series or Championships and will be test at 87kg.

Sohrabi, who won the Asian title at 72kg in Amman, will start as the favorite but has to be careful with Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ) who can upset the Iranian.

Women's Wrestling

India, Turkiye and Mongolia are in a three-way battle in Women's Wrestling. A few UWW wrestlers are also in the fray in the tournament but not in all weight classes. The Indian and Turkish teams have some of their continental medalists and will make for an exciting clash in the respective weight classes.

No weight class in Women's Wrestling is expected to have eight wrestlers and will be competed in Nelson or round-robin format.  That throws big match ups in most weight classes.

At 62kg, Asian champion MANISHA (IND) will be clashing with Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL), Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), Saruul ERDENEBILEG (MGL) and Alina KASABIEVA (UWW).

Sukhee, a former world champion, is known for her big moves and can easily reach the top of the podium in Ulaabaatar. But Purevdorj, who surprisingly missed the Asian Championships, will be keen on displaying her skills and reclaim the top spot in the weight class.

Kasabieva, world silver medalist at 65kg, has to face the Asian challenge and style and a good performance in Ulaabaatar can work wonders for her future tournaments.

Asian bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) will be the favorite at 53kg but has to step up against the likes of Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) andNatalia MALYSHEVA (UWW).

Similarly, NEELAM (IND) may find it tough against European silver medalist Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) and European U23 champion Natalia PUDOVA (UWW). A direct India-Turkiye battle is expected at 57kg as European silver medalist Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) will be tested by world U20 bronze NEHA (IND).

In most other weight classes, Mongolia is likely to have podium finishes as it has three wrestlers in each weights. 

Former world silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) is at 55kg along with Dulguun MUNKHBOLD BOLORMAA (MGL) and 2023 world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) is the favorite at 68kg despite her bronze-medal finish at the Asian Championships.

At 72kg, European U23 champion Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) will test herself against the Asian style of wrestling. Former U17 world champion HARSHITA (IND) will be her biggest test.