2009 World Championships preview at 74 kg/163 lbs. in Greco-Roman wrestling
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by Gary Abbott
Three of the four Olympic medalists from the 2008 Beijing Games are listed on preliminary rosters for this year's World Championships. Manuchar Kvirkelia of Georgia, the reigning Olympic champion, is set to defend his turf. Krirkvelia was a World champion in 2003 and World bronze medalist in 2006, and brings a wealth of experience to this division. In his only major event this year, Kvirkelia was fifth at the Golden Grand Prix finals.
Both Olympic bronze medalists Yavor Yankiev of Bulgaria and Christophe Guenot of France also return. Yankiev was the 2007 World champion. Guenot also boasts a 2007 World bronze medal.
The overwhelming hometown favorite will be Mark Madsen of Denmark, who won World silver medals in 2005 and 2007 and a World bronze medal in 2006. He had a disappointing Olympic Games in Beijing, placing out of the top 10. Madsen won the Pytlasinski Tournament in Poland, a key pre-World tune-up event. This weight class is contested on the last day of the entire World Championships, and should have a sizable crowd supporting Madsen.
The United States will bring two-time World bronze medalist Harry Lester, who has moved up in weight from 66 kg, where he made his international reputation. Lester decided to return from retirement this winter, and has been very successful at his new division.
Peter Basci of Hungary, who was fifth at the Olympics, will compete. He was a 2008 European champion, but has not won a medal at a major event yet this year. The other fifth-place finisher at the Beijing Games, Aleh Mikhalovich of Belarus, is not listed on preliminary rosters. Belarus is expected to send Aliaksander Kikinov, who won a bronze at the 2009 European Championships.
The 2009 European champion was Arsen Jufalakyan of Armenia, who was 10th at the Olympic Games. He is a former Junior World champion. Winning the European silver medal was Vladimir Shatskykh of Ukraine, the 2006 World champion. Ukraine has another possibility on the preliminary rosters, Armen Vardanyan, who was a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist at 66 kg.
The 2009 Asian champion was Iran's Farshad Alizadeh, who is listed as an entry in Herning. The 2009 Pan American champion was Jorgisbel Alvarez Hernandez of Cuba, but he is not listed as the Cuban entry. Mailin Consuegra, who won Pan Am titles in 2006 and 2007 at 66 kg is listed as Cuba's competitor.
Azerbaijan's Rafiq Huseynov won the Golden Grand Prix finals held in his home nation. A two-time Junior World medalist, Huseynov also was second at the 2009 World Cup.
Konstantin Schneider of Germany, who was a 2003 World silver medal and 2005 World bronze medalist, is a veteran who is capable of winning another medal. Valdemaras Venckaitis of Lithuania, a 2007 World bronze medalist, is also among the contenders here.
Russia has listed two entries at this weight class, none who have won a World-level medal: Alexander Chkhirkin and Evgeny Popov. Based upon past history, the Russian entry will be a tough draw for any opponent.
Others to watch include Julian Kwit of Poland, Seref Tuefenk of Turkey, Ilya Shafran of Israel and Tsukasa Tsurumaki of Japan.
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2008 Olympics results
74 kg/163 lbs. - Gold - Manuchar Kvirkelia (Georgia); Silver - Yongxiang Chang (China); Bronze - Yavor Yanakiev (Bulgaria); Bronze - Christophe Guenot (France); 5th - Aleh Mikhalovich (Belarus); 5th - Peter Basci (Hungary); 7th - Varteres Samourgashev (Russia); 8th - Roman Melyoshin (Kazakhstan); 9th - Konstantin Schneider (Germany); 10th - Arsen Jufalakyan (Armenia)
2007 World Championships results
74 kg/163 lbs. - Gold - Yavor Yanakiev (Bulgaria); Silver - Mark Madsen (Denmark); Bronze - Christophe Guenot (France); Bronze - Valdemaras Venckaitis (Lithuania); 5th - Roman Melyoshin (Kazakhstan); 5th - Julian Kwit (Poland); 7th - Peter Bacsi (Hungary); 8th - Konstantin Schneider (Germany); 9th - Odelis Herrero (Cuba); 10th - Tae-Kyun Jung (Korea)
2006 World Championships results
74 kg/163 lbs. - Gold - Volodym Shatskym (Ukraine); Silver - Marko Yli-Hannuksela (Finland); Bronze - Manuchar Krirkvelia (Georgia); Bronze - Mark Madsen (Denmark); 5th - T.C. Dantzler (United States); 5th - Konstantin Schneider (Germany); 7th - Ilya Shafran (Israel); 8th - Neven Zugaj (Croatia); 9th - Daniar Kobonov (Krygyzstan); 10th - Davod Abedinzadeh (Iran)
2005 World Championships results
74 kg/163 lbs. - Gold - Varteres Samurgachev (Russia); Silver - Mark Madsen (Denmark); Bronze - Marko Yli-Hannuksela (Finland); Bronze - Konstantin Schneider (Germany); 5th - Reto Bucher (Switzerland); 5th - Mohammad Babulfath (Sweden); 7th - Aleksandr Dokturishvili (Uzbekistan); 8th - Ilgar Abdulov (Azerbaijan); 9th - Mahmut Altaly (Turkey); 10th - Manuchar Kvirkvelia (Georgia)
Both Olympic bronze medalists Yavor Yankiev of Bulgaria and Christophe Guenot of France also return. Yankiev was the 2007 World champion. Guenot also boasts a 2007 World bronze medal.
The overwhelming hometown favorite will be Mark Madsen of Denmark, who won World silver medals in 2005 and 2007 and a World bronze medal in 2006. He had a disappointing Olympic Games in Beijing, placing out of the top 10. Madsen won the Pytlasinski Tournament in Poland, a key pre-World tune-up event. This weight class is contested on the last day of the entire World Championships, and should have a sizable crowd supporting Madsen.
The United States will bring two-time World bronze medalist Harry Lester, who has moved up in weight from 66 kg, where he made his international reputation. Lester decided to return from retirement this winter, and has been very successful at his new division.
Peter Basci of Hungary, who was fifth at the Olympics, will compete. He was a 2008 European champion, but has not won a medal at a major event yet this year. The other fifth-place finisher at the Beijing Games, Aleh Mikhalovich of Belarus, is not listed on preliminary rosters. Belarus is expected to send Aliaksander Kikinov, who won a bronze at the 2009 European Championships.
The 2009 European champion was Arsen Jufalakyan of Armenia, who was 10th at the Olympic Games. He is a former Junior World champion. Winning the European silver medal was Vladimir Shatskykh of Ukraine, the 2006 World champion. Ukraine has another possibility on the preliminary rosters, Armen Vardanyan, who was a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist at 66 kg.
The 2009 Asian champion was Iran's Farshad Alizadeh, who is listed as an entry in Herning. The 2009 Pan American champion was Jorgisbel Alvarez Hernandez of Cuba, but he is not listed as the Cuban entry. Mailin Consuegra, who won Pan Am titles in 2006 and 2007 at 66 kg is listed as Cuba's competitor.
Azerbaijan's Rafiq Huseynov won the Golden Grand Prix finals held in his home nation. A two-time Junior World medalist, Huseynov also was second at the 2009 World Cup.
Konstantin Schneider of Germany, who was a 2003 World silver medal and 2005 World bronze medalist, is a veteran who is capable of winning another medal. Valdemaras Venckaitis of Lithuania, a 2007 World bronze medalist, is also among the contenders here.
Russia has listed two entries at this weight class, none who have won a World-level medal: Alexander Chkhirkin and Evgeny Popov. Based upon past history, the Russian entry will be a tough draw for any opponent.
Others to watch include Julian Kwit of Poland, Seref Tuefenk of Turkey, Ilya Shafran of Israel and Tsukasa Tsurumaki of Japan.
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2008 Olympics results
74 kg/163 lbs. - Gold - Manuchar Kvirkelia (Georgia); Silver - Yongxiang Chang (China); Bronze - Yavor Yanakiev (Bulgaria); Bronze - Christophe Guenot (France); 5th - Aleh Mikhalovich (Belarus); 5th - Peter Basci (Hungary); 7th - Varteres Samourgashev (Russia); 8th - Roman Melyoshin (Kazakhstan); 9th - Konstantin Schneider (Germany); 10th - Arsen Jufalakyan (Armenia)
2007 World Championships results
74 kg/163 lbs. - Gold - Yavor Yanakiev (Bulgaria); Silver - Mark Madsen (Denmark); Bronze - Christophe Guenot (France); Bronze - Valdemaras Venckaitis (Lithuania); 5th - Roman Melyoshin (Kazakhstan); 5th - Julian Kwit (Poland); 7th - Peter Bacsi (Hungary); 8th - Konstantin Schneider (Germany); 9th - Odelis Herrero (Cuba); 10th - Tae-Kyun Jung (Korea)
2006 World Championships results
74 kg/163 lbs. - Gold - Volodym Shatskym (Ukraine); Silver - Marko Yli-Hannuksela (Finland); Bronze - Manuchar Krirkvelia (Georgia); Bronze - Mark Madsen (Denmark); 5th - T.C. Dantzler (United States); 5th - Konstantin Schneider (Germany); 7th - Ilya Shafran (Israel); 8th - Neven Zugaj (Croatia); 9th - Daniar Kobonov (Krygyzstan); 10th - Davod Abedinzadeh (Iran)
2005 World Championships results
74 kg/163 lbs. - Gold - Varteres Samurgachev (Russia); Silver - Mark Madsen (Denmark); Bronze - Marko Yli-Hannuksela (Finland); Bronze - Konstantin Schneider (Germany); 5th - Reto Bucher (Switzerland); 5th - Mohammad Babulfath (Sweden); 7th - Aleksandr Dokturishvili (Uzbekistan); 8th - Ilgar Abdulov (Azerbaijan); 9th - Mahmut Altaly (Turkey); 10th - Manuchar Kvirkvelia (Georgia)
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