The 2024 Senior World Championships are set for October 28-31 at the Sports Hall “Feti Borova” in Tirana, Albania. Twelve weight classes will be contested across three styles, as these are the weights that did not compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Greco-Roman will be the first competition to be held in Tirana, and the United States will be represented by Brady Koontz (55 kg), Ildar Hafizov (63 kg), Benjamin Peak (72 kg) and Aliaksandr Kikiniou (82 kg) next week.

55 kg Preview

Among the standout competitors at 55 kg is Eldaniz Azizli of Azerbaijan, a force in the wrestling world. One of the most decorated athletes at this weight class, Azizli is a three-time Senior World Champion, which includes back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. Azizli is one of the top contenders for gold in Tirana.

Poya Dad Marz of Iran is another decorated wrestler at this weight. He claimed the Junior World Championship title in 2017, followed by the U23 World Championship title in 2022. He also earned a bronze medal at the 2023 Senior World Championships. Challenging him is Denis Mihai of Romania, who has been a consistent top talent across age-group and Senior competitions. Mihai won silver at the 2022 U20 World Championships and secured a bronze at the 2024 European Championships. In 2023, he secured a gold medal at the 2023 U23 European Championships and has competed in eight age-group World Championship tournaments.

Individual Neutral Athlete Emin Sefershaev has a history of strong performances, with a silver medal at the 2021 Senior World Championships and four medals at age-group World competitions. Giorgi Tokhadze of Georgia, the 2023 U23 World Champion, is another star to watch at 55 kg. Manvel Khachatryan of Armenia, who finished fifth at the 2023 U23 World Championships and won a bronze medal at the 2024 European Championships, is steadily on the rise.

Brady Koontz is a three-time age-group World Team member and represented the United States at the 2023 Senior World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. Other athletes with World Championships experience include Bajram Sina of Albania, who has represented his country at both the Senior and U23 age levels. Artiom Deleanu of Moldova and Stefan Grigorov of Bulgaria have both been part of their respective national teams at various age-group World Championships.

Servan Cinar of Turkey, a 2024 U20 World Team member, and Koriun Sahradian of Ukraine are also among the young athletes looking to make their mark on the Senior level. Amangali Bekbolatov of Kazakhstan, a two-time age-group World bronze medalist, and Haifeng Zhang of China, a two-time age-group World Team member, are among the top talents to watch.

55 kg Entries
Emin Sefershaev (AIN)

Bajram Sina (Albania)

Manvel Khachatryan (Armenia)
Eldaniz Azizli (Azerbaijan)
Stefan Grigorov (Bulgaria)
Haifeng Zhang (China)
Giorgi Tokhadze (Georgia)
Sanjeev (India)
Poya Dad Marz (Iran)
Kagetora Okamoto (Japan)
Amangali Bekbolatov (Kazakhstan)
Ulan Muratbek Uulu (Kyrgyzstan)
Artiom Deleanu (Moldova)
Denis Mihai (Romania)
Servan Cinar (Turkey)
Koriun Sahradian (Ukraine)
Brady Koontz (United States)

63 kg Preview

This weight will feature 2023 Senior World Champion Leri Abuladze of Georgia, who has established himself as a top competitor in recent years. In 2021 and 2022, Abuladze claimed silver at the Senior World Championships, adding to his 2021 U23 World Championship title.

Nihat Mammadli of Azerbaijan has proven his grit with five age-group World medals, demonstrating consistency at the top level. Individual Neutral Athlete Sadyk Lalaev won gold at the 2024 Zagreb Open Ranking Series, and is expected to be a strong competitor in this year’s championships.

Hrachya Poghosyan of Armenia brings valuable experience as a nine-time age-group and Senior World Team member, and owns two U23 World Bronze medals. Similarly, Iman Hossein Mohammadi of Iran, a two-time age-group World Champion, is another wrestler primed to make a significant impact in Tirana.

Several rising stars will be featured in this tournament. Abu Amaev, who won the 2019 Junior World Championship for Russia, now represents Bulgaria and is eager to prove himself on the Senior stage. Haodong Tan of China, the 2024 U23 Asian Championships gold medalist, is another young talent to watch.

The tournament will also see participation from experienced competitors like Aleksandrs Jurkjans of Latvia, a six-time Senior World Team member, and Michal Tracz of Poland, a five-time Senior World Team member.

Representing the United States, Ildar Hafizov brings vital experience, having won gold at the 2023 Pan American Games and competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He is four-time Senior World Team member for the United States at 60 kg. This will be Hafizov’s second international competition at 63 kg following the Valamar Cup in September.

Other notable competitors include Vitalie Eriomenco of Moldova, Stefan Clement of France, and Dastan Kadyrov of Kyrgyzstan, all of whom have represented their countries at World Championships. Munthir Jandu of Saudi Arabia, who won silver at both the 2024 U20 Arab and Asian Championships, is another young talent to watch at 63 kg.

63 kg Entries
Hleb Makaranka (AIN)
Sadyk Lalaev (AIN)
Jurgen Uku (Albania)
Hrachya Poghosyan (Armenia)
Nihat Mammadli (Azerbaijan)
Abu Amaev (Bulgaria)
Haodong Tan (China)
Stefan Clement (France)
Leri Abuladze (Georgia)
Chetan (India)
Iman Hossein Mohammadi (Iran)
Ayata Suzuki (Japan)
Yerzhet Zharlykassyn (Kazakhstan)
Dastan Kadyrov (Kyrgyzstan)
Munthir Jandu (Saudi Arabia)
Aleksandrs Jurkjans (Latvia)
Vitalie Eriomenco (Moldova)
Michal Tracz (Poland)
Servet Angi (Turkey)
Oleksandr Hrushyn (Ukraine)
Ildar Hafizov (United States)

72 kg Preview

Among the top contenders in this weight class is Mohammadreza Geraei of Iran, whose impressive resume includes a 2021 Senior World Championship title, silver in 2022, and bronze in 2023. Geraei also earned gold at the 2019 U23 World Championships, making him one of the most decorated wrestlers in this bracket.

Ulvu Ganizade of Azerbaijan, a 2022 Senior World Silver medalist, is another strong competitor. Mateusz Bernatek of Poland, who secured a silver medal at the 2017 Senior World Championships, brings similar experience to the tournament.

Selcuk Can of Turkey, with bronze medals in both the 2023 and 2022 Senior World Championships, is a consistent performer who will be looking to climb higher on the podium this year. 2023 Senior World bronze medalist Ali Arsalan of Serbia is also registered at 72 kg.

Other athletes with World experience include Kensuke Shimizu of Japan, a 2021 Senior World bronze medalist and 2017 U20 World Bronze medalist, and Meiirzhan Shermakhanbet of Kazakhstan, who won silver at the 2023 Asian Games and bronze at the 2018 Senior World Championships.

Ivo Iliev of Bulgaria, an eight-time age-group and Senior World Team member, and Mikko Peltokangas of Finland, a six-time age-group and Senior World Team member, bring experience to the competition. Haavard Joergensen of Norway, a seven-time age-group and Senior World Team member, and Andreas Vetsch of Switzerland, a four-time Senior World Team member, are also seasoned veterans expected to compete in Tirana.

Representing the United States is Benjamin Peak, who was a member of both the 2022 Senior and U23 World Teams and a bronze medalist at the 2019 Junior Pan American Championships. Peak earned a bronze medal in late September at the Valamar Cup in Croatia.

72 kg
Mikita Murashka (AIN)
Aslan Visaitov (AIN)
Gjete Prenga (Albania)
Hayk Melikyan (Armenia)
Ulvu Ganizade (Azerbaijan)
Ivo Iliev (Bulgaria)

Ji Leng (China)

Reangan Ndombasi Matadi (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Dominik Etlinger (Croatia)
Mikko Peltokangas (Finland)
Ibrahim Ghanem (France)
Otar Abuladze (Georgia)
Michael Widmayer (Germany)
Amadeusz Vitek (Hungary)
Ankit Gulia (India)
Mohammadreza Geraei (Iran)
Kensuke Shimizu (Japan)
Meiirzhan Shermakhanbet (Kazakhstan)
Yryskeldi Khamzaev (Kyrgyzstan)
Ahmed Barahmah (Saudi Arabia)
Mihai Petic (Moldova)
Haavard Joergensen (Norway)

Mateusz Bernatek (Poland)
Ali Arsalan (Serbia)
Andreas Vetsch (Switzerland)
Albin Olofsson (Sweden)
Selcuk Can (Turkey)

Igor Bychkov (Ukraine)
Benjamin Peak (United States)
Abdullo Aliev (Uzbekistan)

82 kg Preview

The 2024 Senior World Championships at 82 kg features a mix of seasoned champions and exciting newcomers. Mohammadali Geraei of Iran, who has consistently performed at the highest levels, boasts bronze medals from the 2021 and 2017 Senior World Championships.

Jalgasbay Berdimuratov of Uzbekistan, a 2022 Senior World Silver medalist, 2019 Senior World Bronze medalist and 2021 Tokyo Olympian is one of the most credentialed athletes competing in this weight class. Berdimuratov shifts between 77 kg, 82 kg and 87 kg, and has earned significant accolades at all three weights.

Gurban Gurbanov of Azerbaijan is another standout competitor, having claimed three age-group World Championship titles. Sosruko Kodzokov of Brazil is a 2013 Junior World Champion for Russia and 2024 Senior Pan American Championships gold medalist.

Individual Neutral Athlete Islam Aliev is another wrestler to watch, as a 2021 Junior World Champion and 2024 Senior European Championships silver medalist. Pascal Eisele of Germany, who secured a bronze medal at the 2017 Senior World Championships, also brings experience and skill to the mat.

The competition features several wrestlers with notable achievements at the age-group levels. Erik Szilvassy of Hungary is the 2017 U23 World Champion, and Karlo Kodric of Croatia is a two-time U23 World medalist with bronze in 2023 and silver in 2022.

Among the rising stars is Taizo Yoshida of Japan, who won the 2023 U17 World Championships title and bronze medal at the 2024 U20 World Championships. He has had a rapid ascent through the ranks, suggesting that he could be a strong contender at this weight. Rohit Dahiya of India, who won a bronze medal at the 2022 U20 World Championships, is also making his way up the ranks and looks to make an impact next week.

Representing the United States is Aliaksandr Kikiniou, a two-time Olympian and 2009 Senior World Bronze medalist for Belarus. He will be competing as a Senior World Team member for the first time for the U.S. He has been a Senior National Team member since his transfer in 2023. Kikiniou has competed in six Senior World Championship tournaments while competing for Belarus.

82 kg
Stanislau Shafarenka (AIN)
Islam Aliev (AIN)
Kevin Kupi (Albania)

Karen Khachatryan (Armenia)
Gurban Gurbanov (Azerbaijan)
Sosruko Kodzokov (Brazil)
Rosian Dermanski (Bulgaria)
Pengcheng Wang (China)
Karlo Kodric (Croatia)
Michal Zelenka (Czech Republic)
Artem Shapovalov (Finland)Gela Bolkvadze (Georgia)
Pascal Eisele (Germany)
Erik Szilvassy (Hungary)
Rohit Dahiya (India)
Mohammadali Geraei (Iran)
Matteo Maffezzoli (Italy)
Taizo Yoshida (Japan)
Yevgeniy Polivadov (Kazakhstan)
Azat Salidinov (Kyrgyzstan)
Hassan Barnawi (Saudi Arabia)
Mihail Bradu (Moldova)
Patryk Bednarz (Poland)
Ramon Betschart (Switzerland)
Albin Olofsson (Sweden)
Alperen Berber (Turkey)
Ruslan Abdiev (Ukraine)
Aliaksandr Kikiniou (United States)
Jalgasbay Berdimuratov (Uzbekistan)

Senior World Greco-Roman Preview: Olympians Hafizov, Kikiniou lead strong group in Albania

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