2009 World Championships preview at 60 kg/132 lbs. in Greco-Roman wrestling
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by Gary Abbott
Winning the 2008 Olympic gold medal was young Russian star Islam-beka Albiev, who shocked many by winning the title at the tender age of 19. He became one of the youngest Olympic champions ever, and an example of how Russian athletes often develop internationally at an early age. Albiev followed this up with gold medals at the 2009 European Championships and 2009 World Cup, and enters the World meet as a favorite. Russia listed three possible entries at this weight, but it would be a surprise if they don't bring Albiev to compete.
2008 Olympic silver medalist Vitaly Rahimov of Azerbaijan also returns. He won a silver medal at the Golden Grand Prix finals held in his native Azerbaijan. Olympic bronze medalist Nurbakyt Tengizbayev of Kazakhstan won a bronze medal at the World Cup this year. The other Olympic bronze medalist, Ruslan Tiumenbaev of Krygyzstan, has not been at any major events this season, but is listed on the preliminary entry list for the Worlds.
Most of the top 10 wrestlers from the Olympics at this division were not active during the 2009 season. Among the placewinners who appear on the preliminary entry list is Eusebiu Diaconu of Romania, who was eighth in Beijing. Diaconu won World bronze medals in 2005 and 2007. This year, Dianconu won a bronze medal at the European Championships.
Among those missing from the entry list for Herning is Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria, who has won two Olympic gold medals and three World titles. Bulgaria has listed 2009 European bronze medalist Ivo Angelov on the roster, who would be competing in his first World Championships. Angelov was third at the Pytlasinski Tournament in Poland, a key pre-World tuneup event.
Capturing a European silver medal in 2009 was Edward Barsegjan of Poland, who was also fifth at the Pytlasinski Tournament. Davor Stefanek of Serbia, who was fifth at the European Championships this year, also won a gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in 2009.
The 2009 Asian champion was Felhu Wan of China, but he may not compete, as Zhen Zhou is listed on the preliminary roster. Korea will be represented by 2009 Asian bronze medalist Kyung-ho Jung, who is wrestling in the World Championships for the second time.
The 2009 Pan American champion is Hanzel Meoque Lugonez of Cuba, who will be competing in Herning. Meoque is replacing longtime star Roberto Monzon at this division for Cuba.
Jarkko Ala-Huikku of Finland, a 2008 European champion will compete. He was also fifth at the 2007 World Championships. Host Denmark will be represented by Hakan Nyblom, a European bronze medalist in 2008.
The United States entry is Jeremiah Davis, who is wrestling at his first World Championships. Davis has been competitive nationally for a few years, and picked up important international experience all season long. He has talent, and could be a dark horse in a field that features many other newcomers.
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2008 Olympic Games
60 kg/132 lbs. - Gold - Islam-beka Albiev (Russia); Silver - Vitaly Rahimov (Azerbaijan); Bronze - Ruslan Tiumenbaev (Krygyzstan); Bronze - Nurbakyt Tengizbayev (Kazakhstan); 5th - Roberto Monzon (Cuba); 5th - Jiang Shen (China); 7th - Armen Nazarian (Bulgaria); 8th - Eusebiu Diaconu (Romania); 9th - Ji-Hyun Jung (Korea); 10th - Makoto Sasamoto (Japan)
2007 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. - Gold - David Bedinadze (Georgia); Silver - Makoto Sasamoto (Japan); Bronze - Ji-Hyun Jung (Korea); Bronze - Eusebiu Diaconu (Romania); 5th - Yury Dubinin (Belarus); 5th - Jarkko Ala-Huikku (Finland); 7th - Nurbakyt Tengysbayev (Kazakhstan); 8th - Davor Stefanek (Serbia); 9th - Islam-Beka Albiev (Russia); 10th - Song Il Ho (People's Republic of Korea)
2006 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. - Gold - Joe Warren (USA); Silver - David Bedinadze (Georgia); Bronze - Emin Bunyamin (Turkey); Bronze - Vyacheslav Djaste (Russia); 5th - Oleksiy Vakulenko (Ukraine); 5th - Eusebiu Diaconu (Romania); 7th - Ali Ashkani (Iran); 8th - Nurhakhyt Tengizbaev (Kazakhstan); 9th - Heinz Mamette (Germany); 10th - Roberto Monzon (Cuba)
2005 World Championships
60 kg/ 132 lbs. - Gold - Armen Nazarian (Bulgaria); Silver - Ali Askhani (Iran); Bronze - Eusebiu Diaconu (Romania); Bronze - Peter Svehla (Czech Republic); 5th - Vahan Juharyan (Armenia); 5th - Laszlo Kliment (Hungary); 7th - Oleksei Vakulenko (Ukraine); 8th - Dilshod Aripov (Uzbekistan); 9th - Joe Warren (USA); 10th - Makoto Sasamoto (Japan)
2008 Olympic silver medalist Vitaly Rahimov of Azerbaijan also returns. He won a silver medal at the Golden Grand Prix finals held in his native Azerbaijan. Olympic bronze medalist Nurbakyt Tengizbayev of Kazakhstan won a bronze medal at the World Cup this year. The other Olympic bronze medalist, Ruslan Tiumenbaev of Krygyzstan, has not been at any major events this season, but is listed on the preliminary entry list for the Worlds.
Most of the top 10 wrestlers from the Olympics at this division were not active during the 2009 season. Among the placewinners who appear on the preliminary entry list is Eusebiu Diaconu of Romania, who was eighth in Beijing. Diaconu won World bronze medals in 2005 and 2007. This year, Dianconu won a bronze medal at the European Championships.
Among those missing from the entry list for Herning is Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria, who has won two Olympic gold medals and three World titles. Bulgaria has listed 2009 European bronze medalist Ivo Angelov on the roster, who would be competing in his first World Championships. Angelov was third at the Pytlasinski Tournament in Poland, a key pre-World tuneup event.
Capturing a European silver medal in 2009 was Edward Barsegjan of Poland, who was also fifth at the Pytlasinski Tournament. Davor Stefanek of Serbia, who was fifth at the European Championships this year, also won a gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in 2009.
The 2009 Asian champion was Felhu Wan of China, but he may not compete, as Zhen Zhou is listed on the preliminary roster. Korea will be represented by 2009 Asian bronze medalist Kyung-ho Jung, who is wrestling in the World Championships for the second time.
The 2009 Pan American champion is Hanzel Meoque Lugonez of Cuba, who will be competing in Herning. Meoque is replacing longtime star Roberto Monzon at this division for Cuba.
Jarkko Ala-Huikku of Finland, a 2008 European champion will compete. He was also fifth at the 2007 World Championships. Host Denmark will be represented by Hakan Nyblom, a European bronze medalist in 2008.
The United States entry is Jeremiah Davis, who is wrestling at his first World Championships. Davis has been competitive nationally for a few years, and picked up important international experience all season long. He has talent, and could be a dark horse in a field that features many other newcomers.
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2008 Olympic Games
60 kg/132 lbs. - Gold - Islam-beka Albiev (Russia); Silver - Vitaly Rahimov (Azerbaijan); Bronze - Ruslan Tiumenbaev (Krygyzstan); Bronze - Nurbakyt Tengizbayev (Kazakhstan); 5th - Roberto Monzon (Cuba); 5th - Jiang Shen (China); 7th - Armen Nazarian (Bulgaria); 8th - Eusebiu Diaconu (Romania); 9th - Ji-Hyun Jung (Korea); 10th - Makoto Sasamoto (Japan)
2007 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. - Gold - David Bedinadze (Georgia); Silver - Makoto Sasamoto (Japan); Bronze - Ji-Hyun Jung (Korea); Bronze - Eusebiu Diaconu (Romania); 5th - Yury Dubinin (Belarus); 5th - Jarkko Ala-Huikku (Finland); 7th - Nurbakyt Tengysbayev (Kazakhstan); 8th - Davor Stefanek (Serbia); 9th - Islam-Beka Albiev (Russia); 10th - Song Il Ho (People's Republic of Korea)
2006 World Championships
60 kg/132 lbs. - Gold - Joe Warren (USA); Silver - David Bedinadze (Georgia); Bronze - Emin Bunyamin (Turkey); Bronze - Vyacheslav Djaste (Russia); 5th - Oleksiy Vakulenko (Ukraine); 5th - Eusebiu Diaconu (Romania); 7th - Ali Ashkani (Iran); 8th - Nurhakhyt Tengizbaev (Kazakhstan); 9th - Heinz Mamette (Germany); 10th - Roberto Monzon (Cuba)
2005 World Championships
60 kg/ 132 lbs. - Gold - Armen Nazarian (Bulgaria); Silver - Ali Askhani (Iran); Bronze - Eusebiu Diaconu (Romania); Bronze - Peter Svehla (Czech Republic); 5th - Vahan Juharyan (Armenia); 5th - Laszlo Kliment (Hungary); 7th - Oleksei Vakulenko (Ukraine); 8th - Dilshod Aripov (Uzbekistan); 9th - Joe Warren (USA); 10th - Makoto Sasamoto (Japan)
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