#WrestleBelgrade WW Preview: U23 Stars Ready to Shine at World Championships

Tuesday, October 26, 2021 - 07:00 By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (October 25) -- As the current 76kg senior-level landscape sits, it's tough to hand one wrestler supremacy in that weight. A similar situation is arising in the 76kg bracket at the upcoming U23 World Championships. As many as 10 extraordinarily talented and proven wrestlers head into Belgrade eyeing 76kg gold.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) stands out with her Tokyo Olympics experience and the bronze medal at the Senior World Championships earlier this month. The former junior world champion is a part of Kyrgyzstan's women's wrestling trio, which is quickly becoming a force to reckon with.

Medet Kyzy lost a close semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics and later at the World Championships in Oslo. But that experience will help her when she takes the mat at the U23 event as one of the top contenders of her weight class, looking for her first world title since 2017.

Kylie WELKER is a 2021 junior world champion. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Challenging her will be the most recent junior world champion Kylie WELKER (USA). The 18-year-old Welker, who also competed at the Senior Worlds, would like to put her Oslo disappointment behind her and capture her second world title of the year.

Ufa silver medalist BIPASHA (IND) and bronze medalists Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR) and Dilnaz MULKINOVA (KAZ) are also making the trip to Belgrade with the ambition to change the color of their medals.

Another quartet of medalists will be from the U23 European Championships as gold medalist Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RWF), silver medalist Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR), and two bronze medalists Enrica RINALDI (ITA) and Diana VLASCEANU (ROU) try to add a world medal to their continental one.

Zakharchenko, a returning bronze medalist, defeated Ozbege 10-0 in the final of the U23 Euros in Skopje after blanking Rindali 8-0 in the semifinal. From the other side, Ozbege and Blasceanu battled it out in the semifinal with the Turkish wrestler coming out on top 6-5.

Given her exploits from the U23 Euros, Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) can cause a few upsets and reach the podium, which she missed in Skopje.

Emily SHILSON (USA) is eyeing her third age-group world title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Another weight class that promises to be highly competitive is the 50kg with a Russian Wrestling Federation-USA rivalry on the cards. Junior world champion Emily SHILSON (USA) and U23 European champion Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RWF) are two of the hottest prospects in the field.

Shilson, a former cadet world champion, showed what she is capable of in Ufa, gut-wrenching her opponents on way to the junior title. She has been to a U23 Worlds before but failed to medal. Tiumerekova too has won a medal at most of the competitions she has entered and can challenge Shilson in Serbia.

Other big names in the weight class are Anastasiya YANOTAVA (BLR) who was second to Tiumerekova in the Skopje tournament, Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) who wrestled at the Tokyo Olympics and junior world bronze medalist Munkhgerel MUNKHBAT (MGL).

But as a team, Ukraine will be a severe threat to the team title, with most of the medal-winning members from U23 Euros being part of the squad. The list includes 55kg champion Khrystyna DEMKO (UKR), Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) at 62kg and gold medalist at 68kg Oksana CHUDYK (UKR).

Alina AKOBIYA U23 European Championships Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) is a returning silver medalist in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 57kg, the ever-improving Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) is gunning for the gold medal which she missed in 2019 after losing the final to Sae NANJO (JPN). Hrushyna Akobiia, who has a U23 bronze as well from 2017, will be the favorite to win the title in the absence of women's wrestling powerhouses like Japan and China as she has already won the continental tour without giving up a point in the process. The Ukraine wrestler has not competed since May but it's unlikely that anyone will challenge her to the final.

Silver medalist to her in Skopje, Patrycja GIL (POL), and the two bronze medalists from the same event Othelie HOEIE (NOR) and Viktoriia VAULINA (RWF) are also part of the field looking for a U23 medal. Junior world silver medalist Aurora RUSSO (ITA) can surprise the field, similar to how she did in Ufa.

Individual World Cup winner Rizhko will be trying to win her first world title in her long career, which began with a cadet European title back in 2013 when she was 15. In Skopje, she manhandled everyone, winning her four bouts via fall or technical superiority, including the final against Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR). The Belarusian will try to avenge that loss if the two meet in Belgrade.

At 55kg, Demko will be making her third trip to the U23 Worlds but is yet to win a medal. In 2019, she lost the bronze medal bout while finishing eighth in 2018. This year, Tokyo Olympian Andreea ANA (ROU) will be her toughest challenge, along with Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RWF), who finished second to Demko at the U23 Euros. Both were dominant at the Skopje event, but the final was one-sided, with Demko winning 12-1.

With two European titles under her belt this year at 68kg, Chudyk is in red-hot form and is expected to continue that when she wrestles at her first U23 Worlds. But it won't be a cakewalk for her, especially with Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RWF) and Nesrin BAS (TUR) waiting to avenge their losses from Skopje. This will be the second U23 Worlds for Parfianovich, but she can bank on her silver medal-winning run at the U23 Euros to turn around her performance.

Another team looking for a place on the podium is the Russian Wrestling Federation. They'll bring a few future stars, too. Ekaterina VERBINA (RWF), the U23 European gold, will try to make this opportunity count after losing in the bronze medal bout at the 2019 U23 Worlds. No one was able to score a point on her during the Skopje tournament. In the final, Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) conceded an injury default.

If Yetgil, a returning bronze medalist, can repeat her performance from Euros, a thrilling bout is expected against Verbina. The Turkey wrestler placed seventh at the Senior World Championships in Oslo but not before shocking Tokyo bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL).

Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) is also in contention, given that she only lost to Yetgil 3-3 in Skopje.

At 72kg, Marina SUROVTSEVA (RUS) will use her Oslo experience to win a medal in Belgrade. The silver medalist from U23 Euros juggled 76kg and 72kg, but after a ninth-place finish in Oslo, she moved back to the lower division.

But two-time Asian champion Divya KAKRAN (IND) and junior Worlds silver Lilly SCHNEIDER (GER) will be her biggest threats, along with Anastasiya ZIMIANKOV (BLR), the bronze medalist from U23 Euros.

Anastasia NICHITA Anastasia NCHITA (MDA) is looking to her first U23 World title. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Though there is no doubt that Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) will be the clear favorite to win the 59kg weight class, junior world champion Anastasia SIDELNIKOVA (RWF), returning bronze medalist Anhelina LYSAK (POL) and Krystsina SAZYKINA (BLR) can stop the Moldovan.

Nichita has European titles at all levels, including the senior one, which she won in 2020 after beating 2021 world champion Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL). Her performance at the gold-winning Individual World Cup and later at the U23 Euros confirm the fact that it will be near impossible to get past her in Belgrade.

Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), blue, is a U23 world champion from 2017. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

A similar story can run in the 65kg weight class in which two-time senior World medalist Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) begins her quest to capture the second U23 World title. The 2017 champion has been struggling with a knee injury which makes it even more difficult to make a comeback since that silver medal at the 2018 senior Worlds.

She did win the senior European title this year, but the chink in her armor -- to give up points late in the bouts -- could be a cause of concern for her. At the Individual World Cup, Olympics Games and even the Oslo World Championships, Larroque suffered heartbreaking losses.

One wrestler who can cause an upset is Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR), a silver medalist from U23 Euros. Zlenykh was unstoppable at that tournament and it was only in the final that she met Irina RIGACI (MDA) and lost 5-9. But her ability to chalk out a big throw from nowhere did catch a lot of her opponents and she used it well to claim falls.

Women's wrestling begins Wednesday, November 3, with five weight classes followed by the qualification rounds of the remaining five weights on Thursday at the Belexpocentar arena.

2026 Muhamet Malo

Muhamet Malo 2026 Day 2 Results: Sadulaev Beats Khaniev; Iran Wins 2 Golds

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 - 23:08 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 26) -- The Feti Borova Arena has now witness two of the most epic comeback from Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW).

In 2024, he marked his return from injury with his sixth world title, one which he won by going down to 92kg and shocking the world with a buzzer-beating win over Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI).

The second was on Thursday. In his first international tournament since the world title, Sadulaev returned to 97kg and won the gold medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series.

Sadualev's return to competition was much talked about as he entered the tournament which had the likes of his long-time rival and world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA), up-and-coming star Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW), Olympic bronze medalist Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE), former world champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) and other world medalists.

While his fifth match against Snyder was denied after the American lost to Khaniev in the quarterfinals, Sadulaev was met with a stiffer challenger in Khaniev.

Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) defeated Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the 97kg quarterfinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The U23 world silver medalist defeated Snyder 10-4 and then took out Magomedov in the semifinal to set up a clash against Sadulaev. The winner would also book his spot for the European Championships, to be held at the same arena in April.

Sadulaev was checked by Khaniev in the first period but a double-leg blast helped the former take a 4-0 lead. Khaniev cut it to 4-2 but a watchful Sadulaev never allowed him to dictate the pace of the bout.

Keeping Khaniev at an arm's length, Sadulaev scored three counter takedowns while giving up two stepouts to win final, 10-4, and lock his spot for the European Championships.

Abdulla KURBANOV (UWW) works on Mason PARRIS (USA) during the 125kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In other Freestyler results, Abdulla KURBANOV (UWW) clinched the 125kg gold medal after an impressive 8-5 victory over world bronze medalist Mason PARRIS (USA) in the final.

While the score makes the final look close, Kurbanov was the better of the two wrestlers in the final, managing to tire Parris out in the final. He scored a four-pointer in his eight points and did not let Parris threaten his lead even one.

When the score was 7-3, Parris tried to score a takedown but Kurbanov scored a stepout on counter to make 8-3. He did give up a takedown in the final 10 seconds to avoid further risks in the final.

Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) defeated Dean HAMITI (USA) in the 79kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran Wins 2 Golds

After Yones EMAMI (IRI) won Iran's first gold medal on Wednesday, Iran added two more through Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) and Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) at 79kg and 92kg, respectively.

Nokhodi, who had struggled with a knee injury last season, seemed to have gained full fitness. He had no trouble in seeing off Dean HAMITI (USA), 10-0, in the final at 79kg.

The two-time world silver medalist scored three different takedowns and managed to turn Hamiti twice to accumulate his points in the gold medal bout.

Firouzpour, world bronze medalist in Zagreb, was in similar form as he defeated former world silver medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 11-1, in the 92kg final.

RESULTS

Freestyle

79kg
GOLD: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) df. Dean HAMITI (USA) , 10-0

BRONZE: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Sagar JAGLAN (IND), 10-4
BRONZE: Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO) df. Cameron AMINE (USA), 3-3

92kg
GOLD: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 11-1

BRONZE: Ahmed BATAEV (BUL) df. Jacob CARDENAS (USA), 11-0
BRONZE: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ), 4-0

97kg
GOLD: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) df. Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW), 10-4

BRONZE: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) df. Jointy KUMAR (IND), 10-0

125kg
GOLD: Abdulla KURBANOV (UWW) df. Mason PARRIS (USA), 8-5

BRONZE: Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) df. Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR), via fall
BRONZE: Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) df. Nursultan AZOV (KAZ), 4-2

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) df. Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND), 13-2

BRONZE: MUSKAN (IND) df. Kendra RYAN (USA), 10-0
BRONZE: Erin GOLSTON (USA) df. Valeriia TIUKPIEKOVA (UWW), 4-2

55kg
GOLD: Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ) df. Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR), 3-2

BRONZE: Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) df. PUSHPA (IND), 3-2
BRONZE: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) df. Beatrice FERENT (ROU), 10-0

Morning Session Highlights

Women's Wrestling

14:50: 55kg semifinals - Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) with a takedown with four seconds left to beat European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) at 55kg. Trailing 3-1, she got Verbina down on the edge to take a 3-3 criteria lead. Verbina challenged only to lose it and drop the semifinal 4-3.

Malanchuk will face Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ) in the final after the Kazakhstan wrestler pinned Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER).

14:40: 50kg semifinals - Asian bronze medalist Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) with an excellent win over MUSKAN (IND) at 50kg. She uses the snap to score three different takedowns to lead 8-1 at the break. She shoots an early takedown and then a turn to finish the bout 12-1.

She will another Indian, Priyanshi PARAJAPAT (IND), in the final after the Indian pinned Valeriia TIUKPIEKOVA (UWW)

Freestyle

14:35: 125kg semifinals - Mason PARRIS (USA) dumps Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) for four points to complete a stunning 14-3 win at 125kg. He will face a stiff challenge in the final against Abdulla KURBANOV (UWW), who defeated Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 9-1.

14:25: 97kg semifinals - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) is so quick! He opens with a fireman's carry to throw Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) and then turns two times to lead 8-0. A reversal gives Aitmukhan a point before he adds a stepout to make it 8-2. Sadulaev scores a takedown and then manages only a point when Aitmukhan defends a takedown but goes out of bounds. Sadulaev leads 11-2 at the break. Aitmukhan manages a stepout but Sadulaev hits a front headlock turn for two points to complete a 13-3 victory. Aitmukhan asks for a stepout with a challenges but loses it, making Sadulaev's score 14-3

Sadulaev will have Mukhammed KHANIEV (UWW) in the final with spot in the European Championships spot on the line. Khaniev, who defeated Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the quarters, gets a 10-0 victory over Magomedkhan MOGAMEDOV (AZE) in the semifinals.

14:15: 92kg semifinals - Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) works on several different takedowns and shuts down Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ), 10-0, in the semifinal. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) will challenge Firouzpour in the final after he beats Ahmed BATAEV (BUL), 4-0. Two points for two passivity calls against Bataev and a takedown from Maisuradze to complete the victory.

14:00: 79kg semifinals - Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) takes 35 seconds to beat Sagar JAGLAN (IND), 10-0, using a gut-wrench. Nokhodi will face Dean HAMITI (USA) for the gold medal. Cameron AMINE (USA) and Dean HAMITI (USA) opened the semis with fireworks with the latter taking a 4-2 lead. However, they both wore down. Hamiti hangs on for a 5-3 win.

Semifinals will begin with 79kg. Followed by 92kg, 97kg and 125kg. Women's Wrestling will follow with 50kg and 55kg

13:45: In the last quarterfinal, Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) beats Benjamin HONIS (ITA), 13-0 and sets up a semifinal against Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) at 97kg

So far, Mukhammed KHANIEV (UWW) stunned world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the quarterfinals at 97kg with a 10-4 victory, denying a final between Snyder and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW).

Sadulaev on the other hand has made it to the semifinals with in what has looked like a rather easy outing. If he faces Khaniev in the final, the winner will go the the European Championships.

13:20: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (USA) had worked up an 8-0 lead inside the first minute but Nurdaulet BEKENOV (KAZ) injured his elbow in that exchange with Sadulaev. Initially looked a serious injury but Bekenov manages to stand up, holding his elbow. Sadulaev into the semifinals at 97kg

13:10: Kyle SNYDER (USA) facing Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) in the quarterfinals at 97kg. Khaniev is called passive and he gives up a point but manages to score exposure point in on exchange. Snyder with a stepout but Khaniev holds 2-2 criteria. Snyder open second period with two stepouts to take a 4-2 lead. Khaniev fires a leg-attack and converts it into a takedown to make it 4-4 and lead on criteria. He shoots another similar attack and scores another takedown before countering a fake shot from Snyder to make it 8-4 with less than a minute left. One way traffic as Khaniev manages to hold his ground against Snyder and complete a 10-4 victory to advance to the semifinals.

13:00: Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) got thrown for a four by Giorgi MESHDESHVILI (AZE) but he comes back with a takedown and powerful gut wrench to take an 11-4 lead. He then scores another takedown and turn to win 15-4. All in the first period at 125kg

12:50: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) hands Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) a 7-2 loss at 79kg. Nokhodi led 4-0 at the break before working a takedown and another point. Gadzhiev managed to score a takedown at the buzzer but Nokhodi in total control of that match.

12:30: European champion and world silver medalist Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) keeps Aleksandra SKIRENKO (UWW) at a distance and wins 6-2 at 55kg. Slow start to the match before Verbina manages to open up and score takedowns.

12:22: World champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) returns to the same venue he won his sixth world title. He is facing Jointy KUMAR (IND) in his first bout. Sadulaev with patiently waits and doesn't get involved much. Kumar gets called passive in the first period and gives up a point. Sadulaev is quick and scores a takedown soon after and turns Kumar to lead 5-0. A fireman's takedown from Sadulaev and he secures the fall over Kumar to win his first bout at 97kg.

12:15: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) with a quick victory over VICKY (IND) at 97kg. Four takedowns and two stepouts for a 10-0 blanking of the Indian wrestlers. Aitmukhan will face Benjamin HONIS (ITA) in the quarterfinals

12:10: Kyle SNYDER (USA) lost his balance and Radu LEFTER (MDA) used that moment to trip him for four which made the score line 5-4, though in favor of Snyder, in their 97kg bout. But Snyder worked on two more takedowns to beat Lefter 9-4 to reach the quarterfinals.

11:50: Former U23 European champion Giorgi IVANOV (BUL) dumps Trent HIGLER (USA) for a four-pointer in the first period and then control the bout thoroughly to win 7-2 at 125kg.

11:40: Mason PARRIS (USA) overcomes a 4-2 deficit in a very draining 125kg bout to beat Omar SAREM (ROU) and advances with a 15-5 victory. Parris was made to work hard for that win.

11:35: World silver medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) uses the gut-wrench and chalks up a 12-2 technical superiority win over Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM) at 125kg

11:25: SWEETY (IND) with a dominant 13-1 victory over Natalia WALCZAK (POL) at 50kg. Sweety in total control of that bout and she moves into the quarterfinals

11:15: Svenja JUNGO (SUI) with a late takedown to get a tough 3-1 victory over Agata GOLUCHOWSKA WALERZAK (POL) at 50kg. The Poland wrestler had a 1-1 criteria lead but Jungo with a match-winning takedown

11:00: At 92kg, Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) starts with a 9-2 win over Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ). Firouzpour hit a four-pointer when Dauletbekov was trying to scamper out of a tie. He then added a stepout to lead 5-0 at the break. No more points in the bout.

10:45: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), a world champion at 92kg in 2023, had built an 8-0 lead against Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) in their 97kg bout but seemed to struggle in the second period. However, he manages to defend that lead and win 8-5

10:40: Kyle SNYDER (USA) was first up on Mat and he warms up with a 3-0 win over Ertugrul AGCA (GER). Takedown in the first period and a stepout in the second as Snyder moves into the second round at 97kg. He can face Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW), only if both make the final

10:35: Richard VEGH (HUN) scored nine stepouts against AKASH (IND) and got one point for caution against the Indian as he wins the opening bout at 97kg 10-0. Victory via stepouts if we may

10:20: Welcome to the second day of the Muhamet Malo in Tirana. The Snyder vs Sadulaev chapter five is expected today. Both wrestlers will face each other only if they reach the final.

#WrestleBelgrade WW Preview: U23 Stars Ready to Shine at World Championships

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Muhamet Malo 2026 Day 2 Results: Sadulaev Beats Khaniev; Iran Wins 2 Golds