Russia Wins Greco-Roman Team Title at 2026 U20 World Championships

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (August 19) -- Five years after it last won the Greco-Roman team title at the U20 World Championships, Russia claimed  the same at the U20 World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia on Wednesday.

Russia finished at the top with 142 points, 33 points ahead of Iran which finished second with 109 points. Uzbekistan ended up at third place with 95 points. Armenia was fourth with 91 points while Azerbaijan managed 90 points to finish at the fifth place.

In the two Greco-Roman weight class that were in action on Wednesday, Ramazan NEKHAI (RUS) won the 82kg gold medal over returning bronze medalist Kiryl VALEUSKI (BLR). Nekhai was the third Greco-Roman world champion for Russia in Bratislava.

Nekhai opened the final against Valeuski with a stepout that was challenged by Belarus only to lose it and give one more points to Nekhai. He was then awarded the par terre position but there was no points scored from the position.

Valeuski got his chance in the second period but he failed to any score any points as Nekhai showed exemplary defense to win the final 3-1.

Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) defended his U20 world title at 60kg and gave Azerbaijan its first gold medal of the tournament. Wrestling Dostonbek ORIPOV (UZB) in the final, Javadov made it a one-move match with a four-pointer and spent the second period defending that lead.

Javadov was put in par terre in the first period but Oripov failed to do much from the position. Soon when the bout restarted in neutral, Javadov locked Oripov and threw the Uzbekistan wrestler for a four-pointer.

In the second period, Javadov just did enough to not be called passive or be warned for fleeing. He defended the lead to repeat the U20 world champion and helped Azerbaijan finish in top-five in the team rankings.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) df. Dostonbek ORIPOV (UZB), 4-1

BRONZE: Ilia PANIUTIN (RUS) df. Marlen ABDYSAMATOV (KGZ), 8-0
BRONZE: Amirali HEYDARI (IRI) df. Pedro DE SOUZA (BRA), 9-0

82kg
GOLD: Kiryl VALEUSKI (BLR) vs. Ramazan NEKHAI (RUS)

BRONZE: Szabolcs SZINAY (HUN) df. Alireza MOHAMMAD (IRI), 9-4
BRONZE: Elmin ALIYEV (AZE) df. Ismail BEREKET (TUR), 7-1