PARIS, August 15 – Two-time world champions Roman VLASOV (RUS) and Riza KAYAALP (TUR) are the leading favorites seeking their third titles as Greco-Roman kicks off the Wrestling World Championships on Monday at AccorHotels Arena.
Vlasov is coming off a gold medal performance at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games while Kayaalp, who bagged silver in Rio de Janeiro, is looking to get back on track at 130kg in the first world championships of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic cycle.
Vlasov and Kayaalp will be in action on Tuesday, the second day of competition, at 80kg and 130kg. Vlasov is wrestling at 80kg for the first time in international competition after winning two Olympic Games gold medals and a pair of world titles at 75kg.
Meanwhile, Rio 2016 bronze medalists Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) and KIM Hyeon-Woo (KOR) will seek second world championship titles at 71kg and 75kg, respectively, on the first day of wrestling.
Chunayev, whose wide-open style has made him a fan favorite, could face the challenge of world champions Frank STAEBLER (GER) and Balint KORPASI (HUN), while Kim could meet any or all of three former world champions – Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARM), Hasan ALIYEV (AZE), and Saeid Mourad ABDVALI (IRI) – on his trip through the bracket.
Julfalakyan and compatriot Artur ALEKSANYAN (98kg) are on the entry list for Armenia, but wrestling fans and potential opponents will have to wait until noon Sunday to know if either of these world champions or their alternates will be stepping on the scale in the evening.
Two-time world champion and Rio gold medalist Aleksanyan has been troubled with knee problems and slumped to a bronze medal at the European championships in May after a quarterfinal loss to eventual champion Felix BALDAUF (NOR).
Baldauf will be one of four “favorites” in the classic style seeking a first world championship title in Paris. Baldauf, whose four tourney triumphs in 2017 include the Paris Grand Prix in January, would become the first world champion for Norway since Jon RONNINGEN (52kg) in 1985.
The other favorites seeking first world titles are former world bronze medalists Artem SURKOV (RUS) at 66kg and Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) at 85kg along with Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), making his debut in the world championships at 59kg.
Cuba’s three wrestlers top-ranked in the most recent United World Wrestling rankings – Rio 2016 gold medal finalists Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (59kg), Yasmany LUGO CABRERA (98kg) and Mijain LOPEZ NUNEZ (130kg) – have not been named in the preliminary entries.
The number of entries for each category is based on the number of national governing bodies that have submitted preliminary entry forms for the championships.
59kg (34 entries)
Favorite – Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN). Fumita and Rio 2016 silver medalist Shinobu OTA (JPN) have been dueling back-and-forth all year. Over the last 15 months, Fumita won five international events, including the Asian championship in May, as well as his first All-Japan title in December.
Challengers – 2013 world champions Ivo ANGELOV (BUL) and YUN Won-Chol (PRK)
Dark Horse(s) – 2015 European Games gold medalist Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS), Rio 2016 bronze medalist Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR)
66kg (37 entries)
Favorite – Artem SURKOV (RUS). Qualified Russia for Rio 2016 but was replaced by Islambek ALBIEV. Defeated Rio gold medalist Davor STEFANEK (SRB) for European title in May. Took Pytlasinski Cup with win over European bronze medal medal winner Soslan DAUROV (BLR).
Challengers – 2015 European Games silver medalist at 59kg Soslan DAUROV (BLR) and 2015 world silver medalist RYU Han-Soo (KOR)
Dark Horses – 2016 European U23 champion Mateusz BERNATEK (POL), 2015 world bronze medalist at 59kg Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ)
71kg (38 entries)
Favorite – Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE). Rio 2016 bronze medal winner at 66kg, Chunayev won world title and European Games gold medal in 2015 at 71kg where he appears more comfortable. Slick, sudden headlock, aggressive, dynamic on the feet. Defense in par terre has been a question mark.
Challengers – 2016 world champion Balint KORPASI (HUN) and 2015 world champion at 66kg Frank STAEBLER (GER).
Dark Horses – Rio bronze medalist Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO), 2015 world bronze medalist Adam KURAK (RUS)
75kg (39 entries)
Favorite – KIM Hyeon-Woo (KOR). London 2012 gold (66kg), Rio 2016 bronze (75kg) medalist. 2013 world champion, 2014 Asian Games gold medalist. Kim won the showdown of London gold medalists, 2-1, over Vlasov for 74kg world title in 2013. No frills wrestling, but can launch from the feet or par terre.
Challengers: 2017 European champion Tarek ABDELSLAM (BUL), 2017 Pytlasinski Cup winner Aleksander CHEKHIRKIN (RUS).
Dark Horses: London 2012 silver medalist Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), Rio 2016 bronze medalist Saeid Mourad ABDVALI (IRI)
80kg (29 entries)
Favorite – Roman VLASOV (RUS). London 2012, Rio 2016 gold medalist. World champion 2011, 2015. European champion 2012, 2013. Posted a pair of wins to lead Russia to its seventh World Cup triumph, and won the 80kg crown at the Russian nationals in his only mat appearances this year.
Challengers – 2017 European champion Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (GEO), 2017 Pytlasinski Cup winner Alex KESSIDIS (SWE)
Dark Horse – 2016 world silver medalist Aslan ATEM (TUR), Rio 2016 silver medalist Mark MADSEN (DEN)
85kg (35 entries)
Favorite – Viktor LORINCZ (HUN). Fifth at Rio 2016, two-time world bronze medalist Lorincz has sought a more aggressive style and has been rewarded with four tournament titles in 2017 – including the European crown as well as triumphs at grand prix events in Hungary and Poland.
Challengers – Rio 2016 gold medalist Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS), 2017 European bronze medalist Nikolay BAYRAKOV (BUL)
Dark Horses – Rio 2016 bronze medalist Denis KUDLA (GER), European U23 champion Zakarias BERG (SWE)
98kg (34 entries)
Favorite – Felix BALDAUF (NOR). Enjoying a banner year, which includes his first European championship crown and a victory at the Paris Grand Prix in January. He returns to Paris after his fourth triumph of the year at the prestigious Pytlasinski Cup in July.
Challengers – Rio 2016 gold medalist, 2014-2015 world champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM); 2016 Golden Grand Prix Final winner Musa EVLOEV (RUS).
Dark Horses – 2017 European bronze medalist Balasz KISS (HUN), 2017 European silver medalist Aleksander HRABOVIK (BLR)
120kg (28 entries)
Favorite – Riza KAYAALP (TUR). Seeking his third world title after winning in 2011 and 2015. Has dominated in Europe with seven titles over the last eight years, but has been thwarted at the world and Olympic Games mainly by Mijain LOPEZ NUNEZ (CUB).
Challengers – Rio 2016 bronze medalist Sergey SEMENOV (RUS), Pytlasinski Cup winner Levan ARABULI (GEO)
Dark Horses – Rio 2016 bronze medalist Sabah SHARIATI (AZE), Pan American champion Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB)
Schedule
Greco-Roman
Sunday, August 20
16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: 71, 75, 85 & 98kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: 71, 75, 85 & 98kg
Monday, August 21
10:00-17:00 – Elimination rounds & Repechage: 71, 75, 85 & 98kg
16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: 59, 66, 80, 130kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: 59, 66, 80, 130kg
18:15-18:45 – Opening Ceremony
19:00-21:30 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: 71, 75, 85 & 98kg
Tuesday, August 22
10:00-17:00 – Elimination rounds & Repechage: 59, 66, 80, 130kg
16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: WW 55, 58, 63 & 75kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: WW 55, 58, 63 & 75kg
19:00-21:30 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: 59, 66, 80, 130kg
