U17 World Championships draw in Baku: Armenian wrestlers’ first opponents

The draw for the 2026 U17 World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships has taken place in Baku. The first opponents of the Armenian national team’s representatives in all ten weight categories are now known.

The World Championships for athletes under the age of 17 will be held in the capital of Azerbaijan from July 27 to August 2. The Greco-Roman wrestling competition will begin on July 27.

The Armenian national team has arrived in Baku with its strongest lineup. The squad includes the reigning U17 world and European champions. Earlier, the Armenian wrestlers finished second in the team standings at the European Championships for this age group.

Armenia’s first opponents at the U17 World Championships

In the 45 kg weight category, Vazgen Vardanyan will begin his campaign in the round of 16. His first opponent will be Raylen Wax of the United States.

In the 48 kg category, Ararat Avetisyan will face Hector Aguilar of Mexico in the round of 16.

Gevorg Harutyunyan, who competes in the 51 kg category, will face Hungary’s Sandor Kurdi in his opening round-of-16 bout.

In the 55 kg category, Gegham Yeghiazaryan will begin the tournament in the round of 32, where he will face Ukrainian representative Ilia Vanzhul.

Artush Petrosyan will face American wrestler Cooper Matthews in the round of 32 of the 60 kg category.

In the 65 kg category, Vazgen Mnatsakanyan will contest his first bout against Iranian wrestler Armin Goli Galeh.

Reigning U17 world and European champion Janes Nazaryan will begin his title defense in the 71 kg category with a bout against Martin Letvik of Norway.

U17 European champion Vahe Hoveyan, who competes in the 80 kg category, will face Georgia’s Luka Buiglishvili.

In the 92 kg category, Aleksan Shaljyan will begin the competition in the round of 16. His opponent will be the winner of the bout between Bulgaria’s Fili Durev and Yusuf Aksu of Türkiye.

Khachik Khachatryan will also begin in the round of 16 of the 110 kg category. The Armenian heavyweight will face the winner of the pairing between Eugen Popa of Romania and Viesturs Kilkens of Latvia.

Draw for the Armenian wrestlers

45 kg, round of 16: Vazgen Vardanyan — Raylen Wax (United States)

48 kg, round of 16: Ararat Avetisyan — Hector Aguilar (Mexico)

51 kg, round of 16: Gevorg Harutyunyan — Sandor Kurdi (Hungary)

55 kg, round of 32: Gegham Yeghiazaryan — Ilia Vanzhul (Ukraine)

60 kg, round of 32: Artush Petrosyan — Cooper Matthews (United States)

65 kg, round of 32: Vazgen Mnatsakanyan — Armin Goli Galeh (Iran)

71 kg, round of 32: Janes Nazaryan — Martin Letvik (Norway)

80 kg, round of 32: Vahe Hoveyan — Luka Buiglishvili (Georgia)

92 kg, round of 16: Aleksan Shaljyan — Fili Durev (Bulgaria) / Yusuf Aksu (Türkiye)

110 kg, round of 16: Khachik Khachatryan — Eugen Popa (Romania) / Viesturs Kilkens (Latvia)

All U17 World Championships Greco-Roman wrestling brackets

Possible matchups between Armenian and Azerbaijani wrestlers

Following the draw, the representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan were placed in opposite sections of the tournament bracket in many weight categories. This means that head-to-head encounters between them can only take place in the final.

However, Armenian-Azerbaijani bouts are possible at earlier stages of the competition in five weight categories:

51 kg — quarterfinals;

55 kg — quarterfinals;

60 kg — semifinals;

80 kg — semifinals;

110 kg — semifinals.

U17 World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships schedule

Monday, July 27

09:30 — qualification bouts in the 48, 55, 65, 80 and 110 kg weight categories.

16:15 — opening ceremony of the World Championships.

17:00 — semifinals in the 48, 55, 65, 80 and 110 kg weight categories.

Tuesday, July 28

09:30 — qualification bouts in the 45, 51, 60, 71 and 92 kg weight categories, as well as repechage bouts in the 48, 55, 65, 80 and 110 kg categories.

16:00 — semifinals in the 45, 51, 60, 71 and 92 kg weight categories.

17:00 — finals in the 48, 55, 65, 80 and 110 kg weight categories.

Wednesday, July 29

09:30 — repechage bouts in the 45, 51, 60, 71 and 92 kg weight categories.

17:00 — decisive bouts in the 45, 51, 60, 71 and 92 kg weight categories.

The freestyle wrestling competition at the U17 World Championships will begin on July 31. The draw for the freestyle wrestlers will take place on July 30.

On the first day of competition, wrestlers in the 48, 55, 65, 80 and 110 kg weight categories will take to the mat.

Therefore, the following Armenian wrestlers will begin their World Championships campaigns on July 27:

Ararat Avetisyan;

Gegham Yeghiazaryan;

Vazgen Mnatsakanyan;

Vahe Hoveyan;

Khachik Khachatryan.

The qualification bouts will begin at 09:30 Moscow time. The semifinal bouts in these weight categories are scheduled for 17:00.

Armenia arrives in Baku with its strongest lineup

The Wrestling Federation of Armenia has announced that the national Greco-Roman wrestling team has arrived in Baku to participate in the U17 World Championships.

The squad includes the strongest Armenian athletes in this age group. Among the leading medal contenders are reigning U17 world and European champion Janes Nazaryan and U17 European champion Vahe Hoveyan.

The Armenian team’s participation in the tournament remained uncertain until the last moment. It had previously been reported that Armenia might miss the World Championships because of security concerns. The team’s entry was also absent from the competition’s official website for a long time.

Despite the uncertainty, the Armenian wrestlers have arrived in Baku and are ready to begin their fight for medals at the World Championships.