2026 World Wrestling Championships Day 3 results: Iran wins two golds, Harutyunyan keeps bronze hopes alive
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
The 2026 World Freestyle Wrestling Championships continued in Astana on October 31. On the third day of competition, champions were crowned in four more weight classes — 61 kg, 70 kg, 86 kg and 125 kg — while the finalists in the remaining four divisions were also determined.
Iranian wrestlers claimed two gold medals during the day, while Russia and the United States won one title each.
For Team Armenia, the main development was that Narek Harutyunyan kept his hopes of winning a bronze medal alive in the 74 kg division. Manvel Khndzrtsyan and Hrayr Alikhanyan, meanwhile, ended their campaigns at the tournament.
Ahmad Mohammadnezhad Javan beats Uguev in 61 kg final
In the 61 kg final, Iran’s Ahmad Mohammadnezhad Javan produced a convincing 9-2 victory over Russia’s Zaur Uguev.
The bronze medals went to Kwang Kim of North Korea and American Marcus Blaze.
61 kg
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Ahmad Mohammadnezhad Javan (Iran)
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Zaur Uguev (Russia)
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Kwang Kim (North Korea) and Marcus Blaze (USA)
Ibrahim Ibragimov becomes 70 kg world champion
Russian wrestler Ibrahim Ibragimov defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Ernazar Akmataliev 5-2 in the 70 kg final to claim the world title.
In the bronze-medal bouts, Mongolia’s Tulga Tumur-Ochir defeated Moldova’s Vasili Diacon, while American Zain Retherford got the better of Canada’s Lachlan McNeil.
70 kg
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Ibrahim Ibragimov (Russia)
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Ernazar Akmataliev (Kyrgyzstan)
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Tulga Tumur-Ochir (Mongolia) and Zain Retherford (USA)
Kyle Dake wins gold at 86 kg
One of the most decorated American wrestlers, Kyle Dake, became world champion in the 86 kg division, a new weight class for him.
In a tense final, the American defeated Azerbaijan’s Arsenii Dzhioev 3-2.
Bronze medals were won by Georgia’s Vladimir Gamkrelidze and Kyrgyzstan’s Malik Shavaev.
86 kg
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Kyle Dake (USA)
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Arsenii Dzhioev (Azerbaijan)
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Vladimir Gamkrelidze (Georgia) and Malik Shavaev (Kyrgyzstan)
Amir Zare dominates Kurbanov in 125 kg final
Iran’s Amir Zare claimed the world title in the heavyweight 125 kg division.
In the final, Zare gave Russian Abdulla Kurbanov no chance, securing an early 11-0 victory.
The bronze medals went to Azerbaijan’s Giorgi Meshvildishvili and American Wyatt Hendrickson.
125 kg
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Amir Zare (Iran)
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Abdulla Kurbanov (Russia)
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Giorgi Meshvildishvili (Azerbaijan) and Wyatt Hendrickson (USA)
Narek Harutyunyan remains in contention for bronze
Armenia’s Narek Harutyunyan still has a chance to win a medal at the World Championships in the 74 kg division.
The Armenian wrestler lost his opening bout to Russia’s Inalbek Sheriev. Sheriev later advanced to the final, giving Harutyunyan the right to compete in the repechage.
Narek’s first opponent will be Poland’s Kamil Rybicki. A victory would keep the Armenian wrestler in contention for the bronze medal.
The repechage and medal bouts will take place on November 1.
Khndzrtsyan and Alikhanyan eliminated
Manvel Khndzrtsyan (57 kg) and Hrayr Alikhanyan (79 kg) have officially lost their chances of continuing at the World Championships.
Khndzrtsyan lost to Abubakar Mutaliev, who was later defeated by American Spencer Lee in the quarterfinals.
Alikhanyan suffered a defeat to Ismail Khaniev, but Khaniev was also eliminated in the quarterfinals after losing to American Levi Haines.
As only wrestlers who lose to eventual finalists qualify for the repechage, both Armenian representatives have now ended their campaigns.
Finals set for November 1
The champions in four more weight divisions will be determined on the final day of the World Championships.
57 kg:
Roman Bravo-Young (Mexico) — Spencer Lee (USA)
74 kg:
Inalbek Sheriev (Russia) — Nurkozha Kaipanov (Kazakhstan)
79 kg:
Mohammad Nokhodi Larimi (Iran) — Levi Haines (USA)
92 kg:
Trent Hidlay (USA) — Amanula Gadzhimagomedov (Russia)
The finals will take place on November 1. For Team Armenia, the main intrigue of the final day will be Narek Harutyunyan’s appearance in the 74 kg repechage.