2009 World Championships preview at 55 kg/121 lbs. in Greco-Roman wrestling

The 2008 Olympic champion was Nazyr Mankiev of Russia, one of three athletes Russia placed on its preliminary roster. Mankiev has not competed at a major event since the Beijing Games. Another name listed is his younger brother Bekhan Mankiev, who was third at the 2009 European Championship. Whether Russia enters one of the Mankievs, or goes with Valeri Borgoiakov, they should have a competitive entry.

A top star who is expected to compete is Hamid Sorian Reinhanpour of Iran, who, won three World titles from 2005-07, and a Junior World gold in 2005. Sorian placed a disappointing fifth at the Beijing Olympics, and will be returning to attempt to get back on the top of the podium.

2008 Olympic silver medalist Rovshan Bayramov of Azerbaijan returns. He did not medal at the European Championships this year, and was third at the Golden Grand Prix finals. Olympic bronze medalist Armen Amoyan of Armenia is still competing, placing seventh at the 2009 European Championships. The other Olympic bronze medalist, Eun-Chol Park of Korea, is not listed on the preliminary roster. His replacement is Choi Gyu-Jin, a 2008 World Military silver medalist.

Most of the top 10 wrestlers from the Beijing Games at this weight continue to compete and are on the preliminary entry list. Included is Kristijan Fris of Serbia, who placed seventh at the Olympic Games. Fris did not place at the European Championships this year, but did win the Mediterranean Games title.

The U.S. entry is Spenser Mango, who was eighth at the Beijing Olympics. Mango continues to show progress internationally. He was a University World champion and Junior World medalist prior to taking the top spot on Team USA on the Senior level.

Bulgaria lists two possible entries, both who are considered world class competitiors. Velenin Venkov, who was fifth in the 2006 World Championships, is one possibility, while Alexander Kostadinov, a two-time Junior World champion, is the other option. Venkov won the 2009 Pytlasinski Tournament in Poland, an important pre-World tune-up event. Kostadinov was third at the 2009 European Championships.

Lasha Gogitadze of Georgia, who placed in the Beijing Games, was fifth at the 2009 European Championships. Marius Los of Poland was second at the 2009 European Championships, his first medal at a major international event.

A true medal hopeful, based upon performance this year, is Kohei Hasegawa of Japan, the 2009 Asian champion. Hasegawa won the Hungarian Grand Prix this winter, which is always very competititive, then claimed the gold medal at the Golden Grand Prix finals in Azerbaijan.

Cuba brings a new lightweight, 2009 Pan American champion Gustavo Balart Marin. Others to watch with medal hopes include Ildar Hafizov of Uzbekistan, Virgil Munteanu of Romania, Peter Modos of Hungary and Anders Ronningen of Norway.

RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS

2008 Olympic Games
55 kg/121 lbs. - Gold - Nazyr Mankiev (Russia); Silver - Rovshan Bayramov (Azerbaijain); Bronze - Armen Amoyan (Armenia); Bronze - Eun-Chol Park (Korea); 5th - Yagnier Hernandez (Cuba); 5th - Hamid Soryan Reihanpour (Iran); 7th - Kristijan Fris (Serbia); 8th - Spenser Mango (USA); 9th - Lasha Goctadze (Georgia); 10th - Ildar Hafizov (Uzbekistan)
2007 World Championships
55 kg/121 lbs - Gold - Hamid Sorian Reihanpour (Iran); Silver - Eun-Chol Park (Korea); Bronze - Nazyr Mankiev (Russia); Bronze - Kristijan Fris (Serbia); 5th - Ildar Hafizov (Uzbekistan); 5th - Lindsey Durlacher (United States); 7th - Virgil Munteanu (Romania); 8th - Anders Nyblom (Denmark); 9th - Yerbol Konyratov (Kazakhstan); 10th - Rovshan Bayramov (Azerbaijan)

2006 World Championships
55 kg/121 lbs. - Gold - Hamid Sorian Reihanpour (Iran); Silver - Roushan Bayramov (Azerbaijan); Bronze - Lindsey Durlacher (USA); Bronze - Eun-Chol Park (Korea); 5th - Velenin Venkov (Bulgaria); 5th - Tibor Olah (Hungary); 7th - Vyugar Ragymov (Ukraine); 8th - Yerbel Konyratov (Kazakhstan); 9th - Anders Nyblom (Denmark); 10th - Aliaksandr Shalesny (Belarus)

2005 World Championships
55 kg/121 lbs. - Gold - Hamid Sourian Reinhanpour (Iran); Silver - Eun-Chol Park (Korea); Bronze - Istvan Majoros (Hungary); Bronze - Yermek Kuketov (Kazakhstan); 5th - Anders Nyblom (Denmark); 5th - Lazaro Rivas (Cuba); 7th - Rovshan Bayramov (Azerbaijan); 8th - Irakli Chochua (Georgia); 9th - Roman Amoyan (Armenia); 10th - Kwang Su Cha (People's Republic of Korea)