Non-Olympic Weight Class World Championships, men’s freestyle 61 kg and 70 kg preview
Share:
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
2015 World bronze medalist James Green of the USA is one of the world-class stars battling for World medals in Budapest this weekend. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.
United World Wrestling, for the first time ever, has created a Non-Olympic Weight Class World Championships for the three Olympic disciplines, scheduled for Budapest, Hungary this week. There will be two weight classes in each style, with the crowning of six World champions in the divisions not featured at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Anybody who competed in Rio is ineligible for this World Championships event.
In 2008 and 2012, UWW had a separate Women’s World Championships during the Olympic year, which included all of the weight classes including the Olympic weights. At those events, the USA won three World titles, with Clarissa Chun in 2008 and Elena Pirozhkova and Adeline Gray in 2012.
This event provides a great opportunity for some talented wrestlers to get a World title, with a strong mix of successful veterans and emerging young athletes who have bright futures. Although many of the “big” names in wrestling won’t be there, the field will be very strong with some athletes you may know, and some you need to know. We will preview a different style for three straight days, starting with men’s freestyle.
Please note that these previews are based upon preliminary entry lists, and additional athletes could be included, as well as different athletes who don’t appear on the rosters. UWW is expected to have live video and results from Budapest for fans to enjoy.
Men’s Freestyle 61 kg/134 lbs. Preview
Of the two men’s weight classes in Budapest, this one may be a bit more loaded with young talent with big futures, rather than veteran stars who have been getting big wins on the Senior level. Yet, there is enough experienced stars in the field that it will be difficult for the young guns to break through here.
Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan, a 2011 World bronze medalist, is among the most accomplished. He was fifth in the 2012 Olympic Games but did not compete in Rio, and boasts two Asian Championships gold medals. The other past Senior World medalist in the preliminary entries is Ukraine’s Vasyl Shuptar, who was third in the 2015 Worlds in Las Vegas. Shuptar was a 2012 World University champion and third in the 2013 World University Games.
The top wrestling nations will bring top medal hopefuls, even if they have not yet won a World medal. Russia has listed a pair of veterans capable of winning a medal. Two-time World team member and 2015 European Games champion Aleksandr Bogomoev is one option for Russia, as is Akhmed Chakaev, a 2009 Yarygin Grand Prix silver medalist and a 2016 Yarygin bronze medalist.
Iran has 2012 Junior World champion and 2013 World University Games silver medalist Behnam Ehsanpoor on the roster. The United States brings 2011 Junior World silver medalist Logan Stieber, who won four NCAA titles for Ohio State. Stieber dropped in weight for this opportunity and is competing very well, and has extensive international experience in recent years.
Turkey lists three options, including 2015 European U23 bronze medalist Recep Topal, 2012 World University bronze medalist Munir Recep Aktas and young Mehmet Soyler.
Just missing a World medal was Bajrang of India, who was fifth in the 2015 Worlds. Top talents from Europe include 2016 European silver medalist Heorhi Kaliyeu of Belarus, 2015 European Games silver medalist Beka Lomtadze of Georgia and 2012 European bronze medalist Andrei Perpelita of Moldova. Perpelita added a University World silver medal back in 2010.
This field is loaded with other past Junior World and University World champions and medalists, some from recent years. Bulgaria boasts 2015 Junior World champion Dimitar Ivanov. Mongolia will enter 2014 University World champion Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg, who was third in the 2016 Asian Championships.
One of Azerbaijan’s options is 2013 Junior World champion Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov, who won a gold medal at the 2016 UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals in Azerbaijan, a top tuneup event prior to this World Championships.
Others with age-group World medals include 2012 Junior World bronze medalist Valodya Frangulyan of Armenia and 2012 Junior World bronze medalist Manuel Wolfer of Germany. Temurjon Usmonohunov of Uzbekistan was fifth at the 2015 Junior Worlds.
With no clear favorites in this mix, this weight class should have some fantastic competition in the early rounds as this group sorts out who is best prepared for this opportunity.
61 kg/134 lbs. Preliminary entries
Armenia - Valodya FRANGULYAN
Azerbaijan - Zalimkhan VALIYEV or Akhmednabi GVARZATILOV
Belarus - Heorhi KALIYEU
Bulgaria - Dimitar Lyubomirov IVANOV
China - Minghu LIU
France - Iurii SIEMAKIN
Georgia - Beka LOMTADZE
Germany Manuel WOLFER
Hungary - Jozsef MOLNAR
India - BAJRANG
Iran - Behnam Eshagh EHSANPOOR
Japan - Shingo ARIMOTO
Kazakhstan - Daulet NIYAZBEKOV
Kyrgyzstan - Adilet MAMATAEV
Moldova - Andrei PERPELITA
Mongolia. - Tuvshintulga TUMENBILEG
Poland - Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI
Romania - Andrei DUKOV
Russia - Aleksandr BOGOMOEV or Akhmed CHAKAEC
Tajikistan - Abdulqosim FAYZIEV
Turkey - Recep TOPAL, Munir Recep AKTAS or Mehmet SOYLER
Ukraine - Vasyl SHUPTAR
United States - Logan STIEBER
Uzbekistan - Temurjon USMONOHUNOV
Men’s Freestyle 70 kg/154 lbs. Preview
This weight class features a number of past World medalists who will be expected to challenge once again. The last time this weight class was contested at the World Championships was in 2015 in Las Vegas, when James Green of the United States claimed a bronze medal in his first Senior World event. It was a great day for Team USA, as his training partner Jordan Burroughs won a gold medal at 74 kg on the same day. Green was second in the 2014 University World Championships. He has focused on a return trip to the Worlds ever since UWW announced this event would be held.
Russia should have a gold-medal hopeful. Among their two possible entries is 2013 World bronze medalist Magomed Kurbanaliev, who has won many gold medals including the 2012 Junior World Championships, the 2014 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix, the 2015 World Military Games and the 2016 World Military Championships. Another option is Zaurbek Sidakov, who was third in the 2015 Junior World Championships and won a gold at the 2016 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix.
Turkey lists three wrestlers, including 2014 World silver medalist and 2015 World bronze medalist Yakup Gor, who also won a 2013 European silver medal. This could be Gor’s best weight class. Other Turkish options are equally competitive. Selahattin Kilicsallayan was a 2013 Junior World champion and 2014 University World champion. Muhammed Ilkhan was fifth in the 2009 World Championships.
Two other past Senior World medalists should be in the mix, 2013 World bronze medalist Rashid Kurbanov of Uzbekistan and 2014 World bronze medalist Mihail Sava of Moldova. Kurbanaliev won the the 2013 Asian Games and has been competitive at the highest levels for many years.
Azerbaijan options include 2013 Junior World champion Gadzhimurad Omarov, or 2016 UWW Golden Grand Prix runner-up Gitinomagomed Gadzhiyev, who won a silver at the UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals a few weeks ago. Another tough entry is 2014 European runner-up Grigor Grigoryan of Armenia. Azamat Nurykau of Belarus, who was fifth in the 2014 and 2015 World Championships and a 2015 European bronze medalist, is another person capable of a medal run.
Davit Tlashadze of Georgia, who was second at the 2016 European Championships, would also be a difficult draw. Also throw in Semen Radulov of Ukraine, who brings these achievements: second in the 2012 University Worlds, third in the 2013 World University Games and third in the 2016 European Championships.
There are some other very tough athletes coming out of Asia. Mostafa Hosseinkhani won Asian Championships titles in 2014 and 2016. Amit Dhankar of India won the 2013 Asian Championships and was a 2013 Commonwealth champion . Mongolia’s Batzorig Buyanjav was fifth in the 2010 World Championships and was a 2006 University World champion. Kazakhstan brings Nurlan Bekzhanov, who was second in the 2016 Asian Championships.
The depth here is considerable. Elaman Dogdurbek Uulu of Kyrgyzstan was third in the 2016 University Worlds. Japan’s Nobuyoshi Takojima was fifth in the 2013 Junior Worlds. Host Hungary will give strong support to Zsombor Gulyas, who was third in the 2014 University Worlds.
U.S. fans will be able to follow Cornell star Dylan Palacio of Uruguay, a New York native who was seventh in the 2016 University Worlds. A few others to watch include Johnny Bur of France, fifth in the 2016 European U23 Championships, Osman Cakici of Germany, who was fifth in the 2015 European U23 Championships, and China’s Menghejigan, fifth in the 2016 Asian Championships.
With the talent of the experienced stars here, and the potential of the young challengers, this weight class will be very competitive. The five past Senior World medalists are expected to make strong runs, but there will be a lot of other contenders very capable of knocking them off and battling for a World medal of their own.
70 kg/154 lbs. Preliminary entries
Armenia - Grigor GRIGORYAN
Austria - Maximilian AUSSERLEITNER
Azerbaijan - Gitinomagomed GADZHIYEV or Gadzhimurad OMAROV
Belarus - Azamat NURYKAU
Bulgaria - Miroslav Stefanov KIROV
Canad - Kyle HORVATH
China - Menghejigan MENGHEJIGAN
Estonia - Aimar ANDRUSE
France - Johnny Just BUR
Georgia - Davit TLASHADZE
Germany - Osman Kubilay CAKICI
Hungary - Zsombor Istvan GULYAS
India - Amit Kumar DHANKHAR
Iran - Mostafa Mohabbali HOSSEINKHANI
Japan - Nobuyoshi TAKOJIMA
Kazakhstan - Nurlan BEKZHANOV
Kyrgyzstan - Elaman DOGDURBEK UULU
Moldova - Mihail SAVA
Mongolia - Batzorig BUYANJAV
Palau - Jarvis-Sadam Blesam TARKONG
Poland - Mateusz PISARSKI
Romania - Nicolae COJOCARU
Russia - Zaurbek SIDAKOV or Magomed KURBANALIEV
Slovakia - Michal RADNOTI
Tajikistan - Gamid DZHALILOV
Turkey - Yakup GOR, Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN or Muhammed ILKHAN
Ukraine - Semen RADULOV
Uruguay - Dylan PALACIO PINTADO
United States - James Malcolm GREEN
Uzbekistan - Rashid KURBANOV
United World Wrestling, for the first time ever, has created a Non-Olympic Weight Class World Championships for the three Olympic disciplines, scheduled for Budapest, Hungary this week. There will be two weight classes in each style, with the crowning of six World champions in the divisions not featured at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Anybody who competed in Rio is ineligible for this World Championships event.
In 2008 and 2012, UWW had a separate Women’s World Championships during the Olympic year, which included all of the weight classes including the Olympic weights. At those events, the USA won three World titles, with Clarissa Chun in 2008 and Elena Pirozhkova and Adeline Gray in 2012.
This event provides a great opportunity for some talented wrestlers to get a World title, with a strong mix of successful veterans and emerging young athletes who have bright futures. Although many of the “big” names in wrestling won’t be there, the field will be very strong with some athletes you may know, and some you need to know. We will preview a different style for three straight days, starting with men’s freestyle.
Please note that these previews are based upon preliminary entry lists, and additional athletes could be included, as well as different athletes who don’t appear on the rosters. UWW is expected to have live video and results from Budapest for fans to enjoy.
Men’s Freestyle 61 kg/134 lbs. Preview
Of the two men’s weight classes in Budapest, this one may be a bit more loaded with young talent with big futures, rather than veteran stars who have been getting big wins on the Senior level. Yet, there is enough experienced stars in the field that it will be difficult for the young guns to break through here.
Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan, a 2011 World bronze medalist, is among the most accomplished. He was fifth in the 2012 Olympic Games but did not compete in Rio, and boasts two Asian Championships gold medals. The other past Senior World medalist in the preliminary entries is Ukraine’s Vasyl Shuptar, who was third in the 2015 Worlds in Las Vegas. Shuptar was a 2012 World University champion and third in the 2013 World University Games.
The top wrestling nations will bring top medal hopefuls, even if they have not yet won a World medal. Russia has listed a pair of veterans capable of winning a medal. Two-time World team member and 2015 European Games champion Aleksandr Bogomoev is one option for Russia, as is Akhmed Chakaev, a 2009 Yarygin Grand Prix silver medalist and a 2016 Yarygin bronze medalist.
Iran has 2012 Junior World champion and 2013 World University Games silver medalist Behnam Ehsanpoor on the roster. The United States brings 2011 Junior World silver medalist Logan Stieber, who won four NCAA titles for Ohio State. Stieber dropped in weight for this opportunity and is competing very well, and has extensive international experience in recent years.
Turkey lists three options, including 2015 European U23 bronze medalist Recep Topal, 2012 World University bronze medalist Munir Recep Aktas and young Mehmet Soyler.
Just missing a World medal was Bajrang of India, who was fifth in the 2015 Worlds. Top talents from Europe include 2016 European silver medalist Heorhi Kaliyeu of Belarus, 2015 European Games silver medalist Beka Lomtadze of Georgia and 2012 European bronze medalist Andrei Perpelita of Moldova. Perpelita added a University World silver medal back in 2010.
This field is loaded with other past Junior World and University World champions and medalists, some from recent years. Bulgaria boasts 2015 Junior World champion Dimitar Ivanov. Mongolia will enter 2014 University World champion Tuvshintulga Tumenbileg, who was third in the 2016 Asian Championships.
One of Azerbaijan’s options is 2013 Junior World champion Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov, who won a gold medal at the 2016 UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals in Azerbaijan, a top tuneup event prior to this World Championships.
Others with age-group World medals include 2012 Junior World bronze medalist Valodya Frangulyan of Armenia and 2012 Junior World bronze medalist Manuel Wolfer of Germany. Temurjon Usmonohunov of Uzbekistan was fifth at the 2015 Junior Worlds.
With no clear favorites in this mix, this weight class should have some fantastic competition in the early rounds as this group sorts out who is best prepared for this opportunity.
61 kg/134 lbs. Preliminary entries
Armenia - Valodya FRANGULYAN
Azerbaijan - Zalimkhan VALIYEV or Akhmednabi GVARZATILOV
Belarus - Heorhi KALIYEU
Bulgaria - Dimitar Lyubomirov IVANOV
China - Minghu LIU
France - Iurii SIEMAKIN
Georgia - Beka LOMTADZE
Germany Manuel WOLFER
Hungary - Jozsef MOLNAR
India - BAJRANG
Iran - Behnam Eshagh EHSANPOOR
Japan - Shingo ARIMOTO
Kazakhstan - Daulet NIYAZBEKOV
Kyrgyzstan - Adilet MAMATAEV
Moldova - Andrei PERPELITA
Mongolia. - Tuvshintulga TUMENBILEG
Poland - Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI
Romania - Andrei DUKOV
Russia - Aleksandr BOGOMOEV or Akhmed CHAKAEC
Tajikistan - Abdulqosim FAYZIEV
Turkey - Recep TOPAL, Munir Recep AKTAS or Mehmet SOYLER
Ukraine - Vasyl SHUPTAR
United States - Logan STIEBER
Uzbekistan - Temurjon USMONOHUNOV
Men’s Freestyle 70 kg/154 lbs. Preview
This weight class features a number of past World medalists who will be expected to challenge once again. The last time this weight class was contested at the World Championships was in 2015 in Las Vegas, when James Green of the United States claimed a bronze medal in his first Senior World event. It was a great day for Team USA, as his training partner Jordan Burroughs won a gold medal at 74 kg on the same day. Green was second in the 2014 University World Championships. He has focused on a return trip to the Worlds ever since UWW announced this event would be held.
Russia should have a gold-medal hopeful. Among their two possible entries is 2013 World bronze medalist Magomed Kurbanaliev, who has won many gold medals including the 2012 Junior World Championships, the 2014 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix, the 2015 World Military Games and the 2016 World Military Championships. Another option is Zaurbek Sidakov, who was third in the 2015 Junior World Championships and won a gold at the 2016 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix.
Turkey lists three wrestlers, including 2014 World silver medalist and 2015 World bronze medalist Yakup Gor, who also won a 2013 European silver medal. This could be Gor’s best weight class. Other Turkish options are equally competitive. Selahattin Kilicsallayan was a 2013 Junior World champion and 2014 University World champion. Muhammed Ilkhan was fifth in the 2009 World Championships.
Two other past Senior World medalists should be in the mix, 2013 World bronze medalist Rashid Kurbanov of Uzbekistan and 2014 World bronze medalist Mihail Sava of Moldova. Kurbanaliev won the the 2013 Asian Games and has been competitive at the highest levels for many years.
Azerbaijan options include 2013 Junior World champion Gadzhimurad Omarov, or 2016 UWW Golden Grand Prix runner-up Gitinomagomed Gadzhiyev, who won a silver at the UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals a few weeks ago. Another tough entry is 2014 European runner-up Grigor Grigoryan of Armenia. Azamat Nurykau of Belarus, who was fifth in the 2014 and 2015 World Championships and a 2015 European bronze medalist, is another person capable of a medal run.
Davit Tlashadze of Georgia, who was second at the 2016 European Championships, would also be a difficult draw. Also throw in Semen Radulov of Ukraine, who brings these achievements: second in the 2012 University Worlds, third in the 2013 World University Games and third in the 2016 European Championships.
There are some other very tough athletes coming out of Asia. Mostafa Hosseinkhani won Asian Championships titles in 2014 and 2016. Amit Dhankar of India won the 2013 Asian Championships and was a 2013 Commonwealth champion . Mongolia’s Batzorig Buyanjav was fifth in the 2010 World Championships and was a 2006 University World champion. Kazakhstan brings Nurlan Bekzhanov, who was second in the 2016 Asian Championships.
The depth here is considerable. Elaman Dogdurbek Uulu of Kyrgyzstan was third in the 2016 University Worlds. Japan’s Nobuyoshi Takojima was fifth in the 2013 Junior Worlds. Host Hungary will give strong support to Zsombor Gulyas, who was third in the 2014 University Worlds.
U.S. fans will be able to follow Cornell star Dylan Palacio of Uruguay, a New York native who was seventh in the 2016 University Worlds. A few others to watch include Johnny Bur of France, fifth in the 2016 European U23 Championships, Osman Cakici of Germany, who was fifth in the 2015 European U23 Championships, and China’s Menghejigan, fifth in the 2016 Asian Championships.
With the talent of the experienced stars here, and the potential of the young challengers, this weight class will be very competitive. The five past Senior World medalists are expected to make strong runs, but there will be a lot of other contenders very capable of knocking them off and battling for a World medal of their own.
70 kg/154 lbs. Preliminary entries
Armenia - Grigor GRIGORYAN
Austria - Maximilian AUSSERLEITNER
Azerbaijan - Gitinomagomed GADZHIYEV or Gadzhimurad OMAROV
Belarus - Azamat NURYKAU
Bulgaria - Miroslav Stefanov KIROV
Canad - Kyle HORVATH
China - Menghejigan MENGHEJIGAN
Estonia - Aimar ANDRUSE
France - Johnny Just BUR
Georgia - Davit TLASHADZE
Germany - Osman Kubilay CAKICI
Hungary - Zsombor Istvan GULYAS
India - Amit Kumar DHANKHAR
Iran - Mostafa Mohabbali HOSSEINKHANI
Japan - Nobuyoshi TAKOJIMA
Kazakhstan - Nurlan BEKZHANOV
Kyrgyzstan - Elaman DOGDURBEK UULU
Moldova - Mihail SAVA
Mongolia - Batzorig BUYANJAV
Palau - Jarvis-Sadam Blesam TARKONG
Poland - Mateusz PISARSKI
Romania - Nicolae COJOCARU
Russia - Zaurbek SIDAKOV or Magomed KURBANALIEV
Slovakia - Michal RADNOTI
Tajikistan - Gamid DZHALILOV
Turkey - Yakup GOR, Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN or Muhammed ILKHAN
Ukraine - Semen RADULOV
Uruguay - Dylan PALACIO PINTADO
United States - James Malcolm GREEN
Uzbekistan - Rashid KURBANOV
Read More#
Olympian Hafizov headlines U.S. Greco-Roman roster at German Grand Prix, August 12-13
2023 U20 U.S. Greco-Roman World Team Biographies
Lockett wins gold, Villasenor gets bronze, USA places second at U17 World Championships in men’s freestyle
U.S. women place second in U17 World Championships; Bouzakis, Jaffe and Robinson add bronzes on last day
