Rio Hopefuls Seek Olympic Credibility at Junior World Championships
By William May

ZAGREB (August 1) – Junior wrestlers from six continents have travelled to the Croatian capital of Zagreb for the 2014 Junior Wrestling World Championships looking to energize Olympic careers they plan to launch at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Leading the hopefuls are returning champions Karen ASLANYAN (ARM), Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO). The trifecta of title holders will lead the charge in the men’s events at Dom Sportova arena while three Japanese – Yu MIYAHARA (JPN), Risako KAWAI (JPN and Rino ABE (JPN) -- look to repeat in the women’s events.

While Olympic qualifying begins with the 2015 Senior World Championships held nest September in Las Vegas, wrestlers in Zagreb will be seeking to establish their bona fides as competitors on the international stage.

The most recent example of junior success replicated on the senior stage Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) who climbed from junior world champion in 2011 to Olympic gold medalist in London in 2012. Henry CEJUDO (USA) made a similar leap from junior runner-up to Beijing 2008 gold medalist. 

More than 550 wrestlers, aged 18-20, from an anticipated 50 countries or more will contend for the medals in 24 weight categories in three disciplines – Greco-Roman, Female Wrestling and Freestyle.

Along with the returning champions, weight categories in each discipline will include a number of champions and medalists from last year’s junior and cadet world meets as well as from the continental championships. 

Greco-Roman

Defending champion at 60kg Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) kicks off the Greco-Roman events on Tuesday leading a slew of returning world medalists including 2013 silver medalists Andrey ANTONYUK (UKR) at 74kg and Abas ABDULLAEV (AZE) at 120kg into action.

Aslanyan most recently won a bronze medal winner at the German Grand Prix with a 4-3 triumph over Stockholm Open winner Stig Ander BERGE (NOR) at 59kg and should be eager to test his skills against an under-21 field again.

One of his challengers might be 2013 bronze medalist Elman MUKHTAROV (AZE) who finished third at the prestigious Yadegar Imam Cup in January but then slipped to eighth place overall in the European junior meet in June.

Alexandru BOTEZ (ROU) won a bronze medal at 50kg last year in Sofia, upgraded to a silver at the European championships in Katowice and will be among the favorites at the men’s lightest weight category along with European champion Ibrahim NURULLAEV (AZE).

The most challenging weight category could be 96kg where world bronze medalists Orkhan NURIYEV (AZE) and Romas FRIDRIKAS (LTU) will battle with European champion Felix BALDAUF (NOR) for championship hardware.

Female Wrestling

Japan arrives in Zagreb with three champions from 2013, including senior Asia champion Risako KAWAI (JPN), as well as a newcomer, three-time cadet wrestling world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN).

Kawai, who rolled to the title in Sofia on four falls and a technical fall at 55kg last year, is entered at 59kg and will likely have to face 2013 bronze medal winner and four-time junior European champion Petra OLLI (FIN). Defending champion SUKHEE Tserenchimed (MGL) could also be a late entrant at 59kg.

Yu MIYAHARA (JPN) won a year ago at 51kg but is entered at 48kg, setting up a possible showdown with 2013 champion Elitsa YANKOVA (BUL), who finished with a bronze medal in Katowice behind Violeta CHYRYK (BLR) and Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR).

Rino ABE (JPN), who stormed from behind in last year’s final to win the 72kg crown, is back for a second, while Furuichi makes her junior debut at 67kg. In her first junior-senior level competition in February, Furuichi defeated two-time junior world champ Dorothy YEATS (CAN), 10-8, for a bronze at the Klippan Ladies Open.

Lilya HORISHNA (UKR), a bronze medal winner in 2013, returns at 51kg along with Paris Grand Prix champion Tatyana OMELCHENKO (UKR) at 59kg and World University Championships bronze medalist at 55kg Tatyana KIT (UKR).

Russia, meanwhile, comes in with junior European champions Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) at 55kg and Anzhela KATAEVA (RUS) at 72kg. Natalya MALYSHEVA (RUS) at 51kg was a bronze medal winner at the Yarygin Grand Prix in January.

Freestyle

The Junior championships will close with men’s freestyle and feature several compelling storylines. Among the potential clashes is a showdown between last year’s gold and silver medalists at 96kg, and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) seeking to defend his junior world title at 120kg – a win that would give the Georgina his third medal at the under-21 world meet. 

To repeat Petriashvili may have to get by American Adam COON (USA).  Coon and Petriashvili last met in the freestyle final of the 2011 cadet wrestling world championships, which Coon won by fall.

On the first day of freestyle, Kyle SNYDER (USA) is back to defend the title he won at 96kg with lanky silver medalist Viktor KAZISHVILI (ARM) lining up as one of the top challengers.  European champion Murazi MCHELIDZE (UKR) and Asia winner Pedram JAMSHIDI (IRI) will also seek places on the medals podium.

Jamshidi, who is one of six Asia champions entered by Iran in freestyle, finished seventh in Sofia one year ago, while Mchelidze had to settle for ninth place overall.

At the lighter weights, Abdulgav SHAKHBANOV (RUS) won the cadet world title last year at 50kg, grabbed the European junior crown in June and will try to keep his international record unblemished.

Meanwhile, 2013 cadet world champion Aaron PICO (USA) is entered at 66kg along with Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) whose five wins at the World Cup in March included a triumph over 2013 junior world champ Selehattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR).

Schedule

Monday, August 4
17:00-17:30  Weigh-in Greco-Roman 50, 60, 74, 96kg

Tuesday, August 5
10:00-14:00  Qualification & Repechage Rounds Greco-Roman 50, 60, 74, 96kg
18:00-18:30  Weigh-in Greco-Roman 55, 66, 84, 120kg
18:30-19:00  Opening Ceremony
19:00-21:00  Finals & Award Ceremonies Greco-Roman 50, 60, 74, 96kg

Wednesday, August 6
10:00-14:00  Qualification & Repechage Rounds Greco-Roman 55, 66, 84, 120kg
17:15-17:45  Weigh-in Female Wrestling 44, 51, 59, 67kg
18:00-20:00  Finals & Award Ceremonies Greco-Roman 55, 66, 84, 120kg

Thursday, August 7
10:00-14:00  Qualification & Repechage Rounds Female Wrestling 44, 51, 59, 67kg
17:15-17:45  Weigh-in Female Wrestling 48, 55, 63, 72kg
18:00-20:00  Finals & Award Ceremonies Female Wrestling 44, 51, 59, 67kg

Friday, August 8
10:00-14:00  Qualification & Repechage Rounds Female Wrestling 48, 55, 63, 72kg
17:15-17:45  Weigh-in Freestyle 50, 60, 74, 96kg
18:00-20:00  Finals & Award Ceremonies Female Wrestling 48, 55, 63, 72kg

Saturday, August 9
10:00-14:00  Qualification & Repechage Rounds Freestyle 50, 60, 74, 96kg
17:15-17:45  Weigh-in Freestyle 55, 66, 84, 120kg
18:00-20:00  Finals & Award Ceremonies Freestyle 50, 60, 74, 96kg

Sunday, August 10
10:00-14:00  Qualification & Repechage Rounds Freestyle 55, 66, 84, 120kg
18:00-20:00  Finals & Award Ceremonies Freestyle 55, 66, 84, 120kg