2026 Wrestling World Championships Day 2 Recap: First World Champions Crowned as Artur Sargsyan Defeats Olympic Champion

The second day of the 2026 World Wrestling Championships concluded on October 25 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The first four sets of medals were awarded in the Greco-Roman wrestling competitions at 55, 60, 77, and 82 kg, while the finalists were determined in three more weight categories — 72, 97, and 130 kg.

The first world champions of 2026 were Eldaniz Azizli (Azerbaijan), Koto Gomi (Japan), Sanan Suleymanov (Azerbaijan), and Gholamreza Farokhisenjani (Iran). Azerbaijan claimed two gold medals, while Japan and Iran each secured one.

One of the day's biggest highlights was the victory of Artur Sargsyan (97 kg), representing Russia, over Iranian Olympic champion Mohammadhadi Saravi. Sargsyan defeated the decorated wrestler for the first time in his career and advanced to the World Championships final.

After two days of competition, Armenia remains without a medal.

First Greco-Roman Wrestling World Champions of 2026

55 kg: Eldaniz Azizli Claims His Fifth World Championship Gold

Azerbaijan's Eldaniz Azizli defeated Iran's Payam Ahmadi Balootaki 3–1 in the final to become a five-time world champion.

The bronze medals went to Georgia's Vakhtang Lolua, who dominated Mongolia's Davaabandi Munkh Erdene 10–0, and Kazakhstan's Iskhar Kurbayev, who defeated India's Lalit 9–0.

Medalists (55 kg):

1. Eldaniz Azizli (Azerbaijan)

2. Payam Ahmadi Balootaki (Iran)

3. Vakhtang Lolua (Georgia) and Iskhar Kurbayev (Kazakhstan)

60 kg: Koto Gomi Pins Iranian Opponent to Win Gold

Japan's Koto Gomi became the world champion in the 60 kg category after an impressive victory over Iran's Ali Ahmadi Vafa.

The Iranian wrestler was leading 7–5 during the final, but Gomi managed to pin his opponent and secure victory by fall.

In the bronze medal matches, Uzbekistan's Alisher Ganiev dominated Abdolmohammad Papi of Germany 10–0, while Kazakhstan's Aidos Sultangali defeated China's Cao Ligo 5–1.

Medalists (60 kg):

1. Koto Gomi (Japan)

2. Ali Ahmadi Vafa (Iran)

3. Alisher Ganiev (Uzbekistan) and Aidos Sultangali (Kazakhstan)

77 kg: Sanan Suleymanov Wins World Championship Gold

Azerbaijani wrestler Sanan Suleymanov became the world champion in the 77 kg category after a convincing 8–3 victory over Moldova's Alexandrin Gutu in the final.

The bronze medals went to Iran's Ali Oskou, who defeated Uzbekistan's Donyorkhon Nakibov 4–3, and Belarusian wrestler Shuay Mamedov, who pinned Bulgaria's Stoyan Kubatov.

Medalists (77 kg):

1. Sanan Suleymanov (Azerbaijan)

2. Alexandrin Gutu (Moldova)

3. Ali Oskou (Iran) and Shuay Mamedov (Belarus)

82 kg: Gholamreza Farokhisenjani Defends His World Title

Iranian wrestler Gholamreza Farokhisenjani became a two-time world champion after defeating Turkey's Yüksel Sarıçiçek 7–1 in the final.

In the bronze medal matches, Moldova's Mihail Bradu defeated Russia's Gamzat Gadzhiev on criteria after a 3–3 tie, while Kyrgyzstan's Akzhol Makhmudov edged China's Khalishan Bahejiang 6–5.

Medalists (82 kg):

1. Gholamreza Farokhisenjani (Iran)

2. Yüksel Sarıçiçek (Turkey)

3. Mihail Bradu (Moldova) and Akzhol Makhmudov (Kyrgyzstan)

Artur Sargsyan Defeats Olympic Champion and Reaches 2026 World Championships Final

One of the biggest surprises of the second competition day was Artur Sargsyan's victory over Mohammadhadi Saravi, the Paris 2024 Olympic champion and reigning world champion.

In the 97 kg semifinal, Sargsyan defeated the Iranian wrestler 5–1, avenging his previous losses at the 2021 and 2025 World Championships.

For the 28-year-old athlete representing Russia, this guarantees a third World Championships podium finish. He won bronze in Oslo in 2021 and claimed silver at the 2025 World Championships in Zagreb.

Sargsyan now has the opportunity to win his first world title. In the final on October 26, he will face Belarusian wrestler Kirill Maskevich, who defeated Bulgaria's Kiril Milov 7–5 in the semifinals.

Interestingly, Maskevich also has a silver medal from the 2021 World Championships and a bronze from the 2025 edition. In Oslo, he reached the final in the 87 kg category, while in Zagreb he won bronze at 97 kg.

Sargsyan and Maskevich previously met in the bronze medal match at the 2026 European Championships, where the Russian representative emerged victorious.

All World Championship Finals Scheduled for October 26

Following the semifinals on the second competition day, the finalists were confirmed in three additional weight categories.

72 kg

Semifinal results:

• Krisztian Vancza (Hungary) vs. Yuri Lomadze (Georgia) — 3–3 (Vancza won on criteria).

• Seyed Sohrabi (Iran) vs. Mingiyan Goryaev (Russia) — 9–0.

Final: Krisztian Vancza (Hungary) vs. Seyed Sohrabi (Iran).

97 kg

Semifinal results:

• Kiril Milov (Bulgaria) vs. Kirill Maskevich (Belarus) — 5–7.

• Mohammadhadi Saravi (Iran) vs. Artur Sargsyan (Russia) — 1–5.

Final: Kirill Maskevich (Belarus) vs. Artur Sargsyan (Russia).

130 kg

Semifinal results:

• Darius Vitek (Hungary) vs. Pavel Glinchuk (Belarus) — 5–0.

• Fardin Hedayati (Iran) vs. Elias Kuosmanen (Finland) — 9–0.

Final: Darius Vitek (Hungary) vs. Fardin Hedayati (Iran).

All three finals will take place on October 26.

Armenia Still Without Medals: Who Will Compete on October 26?

After the second day of competition, Armenia's Greco-Roman wrestling team remains without a medal at the World Championships.

Three Armenian wrestlers competed on October 25: Ashot Khachatryan (72 kg), Hayk Khloyan (97 kg), and Razmik Kurdyan (130 kg). None managed to reach the medal matches.

Meanwhile, Suren Aghajanyan (60 kg) suffered a defeat in the repechage round and was eliminated from the tournament.

Three more Armenian wrestlers will begin their campaigns on October 26:

• 63 kg: Karen Aslanyan

• 67 kg: Slavik Galstyan

• 87 kg: Gevorg Tadevosyan

The World Wrestling Championships in Astana will continue until November 1. The Greco-Roman wrestling competition will conclude on October 27, after which medals will be contested in women's wrestling and men's freestyle wrestling.