TBILISI (September 10) – Some 650 teenage wrestlers from all corners of the world congregate in the Georgian capital this coming week to strut their stuff at the Cadet Wrestling World Championships.
World and continental champions, medal winners and medal hopefuls, aged 15 to 17, will meet for six days of wrestling, September 13-18, at the News Sports Palace in Tblisi, hoping to be standing on the medals podium at the end of the day.
For some of the wrestlers, it will their second or third trip to the world championships while for others it will be their introduction to wrestling at the international level.
And, every coach and team leader will also be dreaming that they have brought the next Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) or Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) – both two-time cadet world champions – to Tbilisi.
Greco-Roman
Wrestling gets under way on Tuesday with 2015 bronze medal winner at 54kg Tigran MINASYAN (ARM) back at 58kg to try to try and take a step up on the podium – after slipping to seventh at the European meet in July.
Abdulsamet BASAR (TUR) won the 58kg crown in Stockholm after winning a bronze medal at 50kg last year in Sarajevo. Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) comes in as Asian champion.
Minasyan’s teammate at 54kg, Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) makes his cadet world debut after winning the European title in July.
The second day of Greco-Roman will feature one of the best young wrestlers in the classic style, Aleksander KOMAROV (RUS), who has won all three cadet majors he has entered – winning the 2015 European and world titles at 69kg and repeating at the European meet at 85kg in July.
For Tbilisi, Komarov is entered at 76kg which may be welcome news for Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) who has finished second at last year’s world meet and in Stockholm at 85kg.
A pair of world bronze medalists – European champion Malkhas AMONYAN (ARM) and Ulvi GANIZADEH (AZE) – are also scheduled to be on the mats on Wednesday at 69kg.
Women’s Wrestling
The women’s events get under way Thursday with Yui SUSAKI (JPN) at 49kg seeking a third world title in a third category after winning at 43kg in 2014 and at 46kg last year.
Meanwhile, Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) will try to improve on her 2015 silver medal at 65kg to recently crowned junior world champion Koumba LARROQUE (FRA).
On the second day of women’s events, Ronna HEATON (USA) and Denise STROEM (SWE) will shoot for their second world titles – with Heaton moving up to 52kg from 49kg in 2015 and Stroem attempting to avenge a loss to Evgenia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) in Stockholm at 70kg.
World silver medalist Alleida MARTINEZ (USA) and bronze medalist Lisa ERSEL (GER) appear headed for a showdown at 46kg.
Freestyle
The first five categories in freestyle will largely be battle royals among continental medal winners.
Aleksey KOPYLOV (RUS) has won the 2015 world title at 46kg and the European crown in July at 50kg, but the Russian name on the entry list is Petr KOPYLOV (RUS).
World bronze medal winner Nail SEYYAR (TUR) won another bronze medal in Stockholm at 85kg and is one of the favorites at 85kg along with Asia champion Seyed HASHEMI JOUBARY (IRI), who is taking his first shot at the world championships.
The final day of the championships will feature defending champions Yianni (John Michael) DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) and Gable STEVESON (USA) going for their second titles.
Diakomihalis won at 58kg in Sarajevo but is entered at 63kg for Tbilisi, while Steveson will be seeking to repeat at 100kg.
World silver medalist in 2015 at 46kg Georgis PILIDIS (GRE) won the European crown at 54kg and looks at a chance to become the first cadet world champion for Greece.
Schedule
Monday, September 12
17:30-18:15 – Medical Examination: GR 50, 54, 58, 63 & 100kg
18:30-19:00 – Weigh-in: GR 50, 54, 58, 63 & 100kg
Tuesday, September 13
10:00-14:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: GR 50, 54, 58, 63 & 100kg
17:30-18:15 – Medical Examination: GR 42, 46, 69, 76 & 85kg
18:30-19:00 – Weigh-in: GR 42, 46, 69, 76 & 85kg
19:00-19:30 – Opening Ceremony
19:30-21:30 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: GR 50, 54, 58, 63 & 100kg
Wednesday, September 14
10:00-14:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: GR 42, 46, 69, 76 & 85kg
16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: FW 38, 43, 49, 56 & 65kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: FW 38, 43, 49, 56 & 65kg
18:00-20:00 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: GR 42, 46, 69, 76 & 85kg
Thursday, September 15
10:00-14:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FW 38, 43, 49, 56 & 65kg
16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: FW 40, 46, 52, 60 & 70kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: FW 40, 46, 52, 60 & 70kg
18:00-20:00 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: FW 38, 43, 49, 56 & 65kg
Friday, September 16
10:00-14:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FW 40, 46, 52, 60 & 70kg
16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: FS 42, 50, 58, 69 & 85kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: FS 42, 50, 58, 69 & 85kg
18:00-20:00 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: FW 40, 46, 52, 60 & 70kg
Saturday, September 17
10:00-14:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FS 42, 50, 58, 69 & 85kg
16:00-17:00 – Medical Examination: FS 46, 54, 63, 76 & 100kg
17:15-17:45 – Weigh-in: FS 46, 54, 63, 76 & 100kg
18:00-20:00 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: FS 42, 50, 58, 69 & 85kg
Sunday, September 18
10:00-14:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FS 46, 54, 63, 76 & 100kg
18:00-20:00 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: FS 46, 54, 63, 76 & 100kg
