Without Four National Champions: Armenia's Freestyle Wrestling Squad for the 2026 World Championships
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
Armenia has announced its freestyle wrestling squad for the 2026 World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. The national team will compete in just six of the ten weight categories, as four reigning Armenian champions have opted to focus on the U23 World Championships instead.
Armenia's Freestyle Wrestling Squad for the 2026 World Championships
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57 kg — Manvel Khndzrtsyan
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61 kg — Arsen Harutyunyan
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65 kg — Vazgen Tevanyan
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70 kg — Arman Andreasyan
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74 kg — Narek Harutyunyan
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79 kg — Hrayr Alikhanyan
Among Armenia's leading medal contenders are four-time European champion Arsen Harutyunyan, World Championships medalist and European champion Vazgen Tevanyan, and European champion Arman Andreasyan.
However, Armenia will have no representatives in the four heaviest weight categories: 86 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg and 125 kg.
Why Won't Armenia Compete in All Ten Weight Categories?
The situation stems from the decision of four Armenian national champions to compete at the U23 World Championships, which will take place shortly before the senior tournament.
Razmik Yepremyan (86 kg), Mushegh Mkrtchyan (92 kg), Gurgen Simonyan (97 kg), and Khachatur Khachatryan (125 kg) have chosen to participate in the U23 competition instead.
As a result, Armenia's senior freestyle wrestling team will compete exclusively in weight categories ranging from 57 kg to 79 kg.
The freestyle wrestling competition at the senior World Championships is scheduled for October 28 to November 1.
Armenia's Full Squad for the U23 World Championships
The U23 World Championships will take place in Las Vegas, USA, from October 12 to 18. Unlike the senior team, Armenia's U23 squad will be represented in all ten weight categories.
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57 kg — Armen Harutyunyan
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61 kg — Sargis Begoyan
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65 kg — Hayk Abrahamyan
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70 kg — Davit Margaryan
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74 kg — Grigor Cholakyan
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79 kg — Hayk Papikyan
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86 kg — Razmik Yepremyan
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92 kg — Mushegh Mkrtchyan
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97 kg — Gurgen Simonyan
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125 kg — Khachatur Khachatryan
Armenian wrestlers will therefore compete at two consecutive World Championships in October. However, the distribution of athletes between the senior and U23 teams means that Armenia's senior freestyle squad will contest medals in only six weight categories for the first time at this event.