U20 World Championships 2026 Freestyle Preview

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (August 14) -- Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) won the 74kg gold at the U20 World Championships last year with a few close matches. But since then, Khaniev has won three golds -- at the U23 and U20 European Championships and the Ulaanbaatar Open.

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He wrestled 12 bouts at these tournaments and won all via technical superiority. Now, Khaniev will enter the 2026 U20 World Championships in Bratislava next week, aiming to extend that record and claim his second U20 world title.

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Fresh from his gold-winning run at the Russian national championships, Khaniev is entered at 79kg, and a battle against Asian champion Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN) will be a prelude to the Senior World Championships, where both will also compete in Astana.

A meeting between Khaniev and Gharehdaghi would be a clash of opposite wrestling styles. While Khaniev tries to accumulate points, Gharehdaghi sits on his lead and tries to hold his opponent down. Khaniev is unlikely to allow that.

Other competitors at the weight include U20 Asian champion Sobhan ESMI (IRI), U20 European silver medalist Bohdan OLEKSIIENKO (UKR) and U20 Pan-American champion Ryan BURTON (USA).

U20 European champion Manuel WAGIN (GER) will look to add a world title to his name. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The Khaniev-Gharehdaghi battle is not the only highlight of the Freestyle competition in Bratislava. U20 European champion at 74kg Manuel WAGIN (GER) starts as a big favorite, hoping to become Germany's first Freestyle world champion in 32 years and its first U20 world champion in 42 years.

Wagin finished 11th in 2025 but has since won bronze at the U23 World, silver at the U23 European and gold at the U20 European Championships.

Former U17 world champion Jayden JAMES (USA) will be his biggest challenge. James is coming to Bratislava after beating Ladrion LOCKETT (USA), who defeated Wagin last year, with two comeback wins. James possesses counter-offense skills and stamina to upset his opponents.

U20 and U23 Asian champion Nurdaulet SEILBEKOV (KAZ) is another tough opponent in the mix, along with Islam KAZHAROV (RUS), who finished without a medal at the 2025 U20 Worlds at 70kg.

Bowen BASSETT (USA) won the 65kg gold at the U20 Pan-American Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Agiular)

Defending team champions United States will be challenged by Russia and Iran as it looks to complete a hat-trick of team titles. Kazakhstan, which finished second last year, has the potential to be in the top five again but unlikely to finish in the top three.

One of the potential gold medalists for the U.S. is Bowen BASSETT (USA) at 65kg, a 2024 bronze medalist. Bassett won the U20 Pan-Ams with utter dominance this year, and his non-stop attacking style have troubled opponents in the past. However, he will have to be wary of the same at the world level.

Both U20 European and Asian champions, Maxim DIMOV (MDA) and Isa ISAKOV (KGZ), are entered, making the race to gold challenging. Others include U20 European silver medalist Aren HAYRAPETYAN (ARM) and Zalimkhan UMAROV (RUS), who will be making his international debut in Bratislava.

Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI), blue, defeated Alp Arsalan BEGENJOV (TKM) in the 86kg final at the U20 Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 86kg, Aeoden JAMES (USA) will put forward the U.S. challenge in a packed weight class. The 2024 U20 Pan-American champion has the skills to go all the way. However, the weight class offers challenges.

Among the favorites are former U20 world champion Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM), U20 Asian gold medalist Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI), Russian champion Akmad MUKUTOV (RUS), U20 European silver medalist Razmik YEPREMYAN (ARM), and former U20 European champion Dachi PAPINASHVILI (GEO).

Shamsipour made headlines when he defeated world champion Georgis KOUGIOUMSTIDIS (GRE) at the Zagreb Open but finished fifth after two losses. Begenjov, who won the gold medal at 79kg in 2024, doesn't look the same at 86kg and lost the U20 Asian Championships final to Shamsipour. However, if Begenjov's best form returns, he will be a force.

Mukutov may be making his international debut, but don't count out the Russian as he dominated his way to gold at the national championships. Yepremyan, who finished fifth last year, can upset the leaders with his wealth of experience, and so can Papinashvili, the 2025 U20 European champion, who finished seventh last year.

Ahora KHATERI (IRI) is the returning silver medalist at 61kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Returning silver medalist Ahora KHATERI (IRI) will look to make amends and win gold this year at 61kg. The former U17 world champion has been inconsistent ever since jumping weights and lost the final 10-0 to Marcus BLAZE (USA) last time. Aaron SEIDEL (USA) will take Blaze's place this year and will look to repeat the title-winning run.

For both Khateri and Seidel, rising star Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ) can cause problems. His golden run at the U20 Asian Championships included three technical superiority wins, and he has won medals at all but one competition in his career.

U20 European silver medalist Jamal ABBASOV (AZE) and Russian champion Zelimkhan CHANIEV (RUS) will also try to make their marks, while Itsuki YONASHIRO (JPN) can be the dark horse of the weight category.

At the lowest weight class, 57kg, former U17 world champion Yamato OGAWA (JPN) will look to bring Japan back on top of the podium after the country did not have a champion in 2025, the first instance in eight years.

Trying to stop him will be former U17 world and U20 Asian champion Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB), who is in his first U20 year. Former U17 European champion Magomed MAGOMEDOV (RUS) will be another favorite in the weight class, especially after his win over 2025 champion Magomed OZDAMIROV (RUS).

Ebubekir GUR (TUR), Isaiah CORTEZ (USA), and Muhammad ISMAYILOV (AZE), all continental medalists, will provide further depth to the field. And perhaps Dunia SIBOMANA (COD) and his incredible story can win a medal as well.

Sina KHALILI (IRI) is among the favorites at 70kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran's hopes of a gold medal at the tournament rest firmly on Sina KHALILI (IRI) at 70kg, Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) at 92kg, and Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI) at 125kg.

Khalili, the U23 world silver medalist and Asian bronze medalist, has senior experience and looks slightly above the 70kg field. U20 European champion Haji KARIMOV (AZE) will be challenging Khalili, along with U20 Asian champion Sumit BHARASKAR (IND).

The former U17 world champion could also face resistance from Landon ROBIDEAU (USA), who will be making his international debut after winning the domestic NCAA Championships. Robideau is coached by former Olympic and world champion David TAYLOR (USA).

Add Zalkarbek TABALDIEV (KGZ) and Mairbek MEROV (RUS) to the list of wrestlers who may cause a few upsets.

Artur TOGOEV (RUS) is the U20 European champion at 92kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

At 92kg, Rahmani will look to win gold after two successive U20 world bronze medals. The former Asian champion has a habit of faltering late in bouts, but a few adjustments could help him turn those matches into wins.

His biggest challenge will be two-time U20 European champion Artur TOGOEV (RUS), who won all his bouts via technical superiority in Skopje. Togoev will be making his World Championships debut.

Former U17 world champion Sandro KURASHVILI (GEO) and U20 European silver medalist Eyyup CETIN (TUR) are wrestlers who can put the brakes on anyone's campaign.

Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI) defeated RONAK (IND) to win the 125kg gold medal at the U20 Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Mohammad Nezhad finished with a silver medal after losing the 125kg final to his rival Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) but dominated his way to gold at the U23 Worlds. The U20 Asian champion will be the favorite to win gold unless U20 European champion Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) can avenge his 1-1 criteria loss to the Iranian from last year.

RONAK (IND) and Soslan GABUEV (RUS), silver medalists at the U20 Asian and European Championships, respectively, can make a run to the finals as well, while Dreshaun ROSS (USA) will carry the U.S. hopes of winning a medal at 125kg.

At 97kg, former U17 world champion and returning bronze medalist Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) starts as the favorite. At the U20 European Championships, where he won gold, Petriashvili looked much improved, particularly with his conditioning.

Among the wrestlers trying to stop him are Rodion SANAKOEV (RUS), who lost to Petriashvili in the 2024 U17 Worlds final. Joining him in seeking revenge for that loss will be U20 European silver medalist Ashab DADAEV (FRA).

U20 Pan-Am champion Michael BOYLE (USA) and Toohid NOORY (IRI), who finished seventh last year, would also like to finish with medals.