BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (August 10) -- The Greco-Roman competition at the 2026 U20 World Championships will see four returning champions. Of the four, two-time champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) will try to become the ninth wrestler to win a third gold.
Despite the strong record Yakushenko has built, his bouts are becoming closer as he progresses in his career. At the U23 European Championships in March, where he won gold, Yakushenko said that it was "not as easy as he expected."
As his opponents learn and study more about Yakushenko and his style, the Ukrainian star can expect more challenges as he prepares to win gold at 97kg in Bratislava, where the tournament will run from August 16 to 23.
Just like last year, when Yakushenko defeated Hadi SYEDI AVENDI (IRI) in the final, he can expect tough competition from Iran's Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI), a 2025 U17 world champion and U20 Asian champion this year.
A wrestler waiting for a rematch with Yakushenko will be Arman MKRTCHYAN (GEO), who lost 5-1 in the final of the 2026 U20 European Championships. Bronze medalist Yassine BEN LABED (POL) can also upset the big names with his big throws. He lost 7-5 to Mkrtchyan in the opening bout but rallied to win the bronze medal through repechage.
Bronze medalist from 2025 Ilia KOMAROV (RUS), the brother of world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB), who wrestles at 87kg, may also challenge Yakushenko in the field.
The three other returning champions are Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) at 60kg, Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO) at 87kg and Ali ILIASOV (RUS) at 130kg.
Javadov has not had a great start to the year, finishing fifth at the U23 Europeans and with a bronze at the U20 Euros. He went on a rampage to win the gold last year, outscoring his opponents 45-9 in five bouts, including a fall over Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO), who later won the 55kg senior world gold.
In his title defense, Javadov will have tough wrestlers to contend with, including U20 Euro champion Ilia PANIUTIN (RUS), who looked unbeatable in Skopje. Another threat is Rasim IBRAHIMAU (BLR), who defeated the Azerbaijan wrestler in the semifinals in Skopje.
Dostonbek ORIPOV (UZB), Amirali HEYDARI (IRI) and Alpamys BOLATULY (KAZ), fresh off their medal-winning runs at the U20 Asian Championships, will try their luck to bring the title home. Kakhaber GOGINASHVILI (GEO), a bronze medalist in Skopje, is also in the mix with Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), a two-time U17 world medalist.
Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO) does not have any medals in international wrestling apart from the double golds he managed to win at the U20 European and World Championships last year. The 87kg defending champion suffered a surprise loss at the U20 Euros and may find it tougher at the Worlds.
Among the favorites is senior world bronze medalist Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), who won bronze at 82kg last year. The former U17 world champion moved to 87kg earlier this year and won a spot on Japan's team for the senior World Championships, with a stop in Bratislava.
Orkhan HAJIYEV (AZE), a U20 European silver medalist, will also look to win a medal after finishing fifth last year. Amirhossein NEMATZADEH (IRI) will represent Iran after winning bronze at the U20 Asians, where Alikhan TAGAYEV (KAZ) was a silver medalist and will be in Bratislava. Russia has gone with Manvel ARUTIUNIAN (RUS), the national U20 champion, who will make his international debut.
At 130kg, Iliasov will have his task cut out as he looks to defend his world title. Cemal BAKIR (TUR) is among the returnees with the aim of avenging last year's 9-0 loss to Iliasov.
The field behind them is led by U20 Asian champion Amirhossein ABDEVALI (IRI), U20 African champion Essam HUSSEIN (GEO), former U17 world champion Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO) and returning Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR).
Iran, the defending team champions, will need to step up if it wants to repeat. This year, Russia will be awarded team points, which makes it the favorite to win the team title.
At 55kg, Iran won gold last year with Payam AHMADI (IRI). This year, former U17 world champion and U20 Asian champion Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) is trusted with defending the title. Russia is also betting on former U17 world champion Ilia KANDALIN (RUS), and a bout between the two will be a treat.
The challenges will also come from U20 European champion Emin JAVADLI (AZE), silver medalist Edgar PETROSYAN (ARM), and U23 world bronze medalist Khojiakbar KUCHKAROV (UZB).
All four U20 European medalists are entered at 77kg, with gold medalist Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM) leading the field. Terteryan finished seventh last year but is among the favorites to win this year. Amir SAEIDI NAVA (IRI) will be Iran's representative as he looks to add a second world title to his name after winning the 2024 U17 world gold.
European silver medalist Javidan NAHMATOV (AZE) and bronze medalists Nazar BERKOVSKII (RUS) and Ruben STRAAKEVED (SWE) are all among the challengers, along with U20 Asian champion Ogabek ASKARALIEV (UZB).
In the 67kg final at the U20 Euros, Petro ZHYTOVOZ (HUN) and Ilias LAAOUINA (NED) clashed, with Laaouina becoming the first wrestler from the Netherlands to reach the final at that level. He will now try to win a medal on the world stage. He finished seventh last year at 63kg, but a change in weight class may well change his fortunes.
Zhytovoz will aim to do the double for Hungary, but he will face the likes of U23 world champion Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY), one of the favorites who also won the senior African gold this year.
U20 Asian champion Ogabek MUKIMOV (UZB) and Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM), who won silver at 60kg last year and finished fifth at 67kg in Skopje, are title threats as well. Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) and Amir SOVMIZ (RUS) make the weight even deeper despite Iran going with debutant Iliya ALIKHANI (IRI).
At 82kg, U17 world champion and returning bronze medalist Kiryl VALEUSKI (BLR) will be hoping to capture the gold medal. He finished with a silver medal at the U20 Euros after losing in the final.
U23 European champion and U20 bronze medalist Elmin ALIYEV (AZE) and U20 Asian champion Alireza MOHAMMAD HOSSEINI (IRI) will be among the biggest hurdles standing in Valeuski's way.
U20 Asian champion Ali GHARIBI (IRI) will lead Iran's charge at 63kg, a weight class that will also see returning silver medalist Aleks MARGARYAN (ARM). But an up-and-coming wrestler is Maksut SULTANOV (UKR), who won gold at the U20 Euros, finishing all five of his bouts via technical superiority.
Turkiye may fancy its chances of winning a U20 world gold at 72kg as U20 European champion Salih YAZICI (TUR) starts in Bratislava. He won four bouts in Skopje, but all by one point. That leaves silver medalist Dmytro DEMIANOVSKYI (UKR) hoping to change the result if the two meet on the mat in Bratislava.
U20 Asian champion Yrysbek KHAMDAMOV (KGZ) will also hope to win the gold medal and continue the golden streak for Kyrgyzstan, which has won golds in 2024 and 2025. Iran has Ahmadreza MOHAMADIAN (IRI) leading the charge, while Russia has gone with 2025 U20 European champion Mingiian GORIAEV (RUS).
U20 African champion Mohamed IBRAHIM (EGY) and 2025 U17 world champion Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) are also in the mix.
