First champions crowned at 2026 U20 Greco-Roman Wrestling World Championships
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
On August 17 in Bratislava, during the second competition day of the 2026 U20 Greco-Roman Wrestling World Championships, the finals were held in four weight categories — 63, 77, 87 and 130 kg.
Armenia won one gold and one silver medal and, after the first finals, shares the lead in the team standings with Russia, with both teams on 51 points. Russia also claimed one gold and one silver medal.
Armenia’s Samvel Terteryan became the U20 world champion at 77 kg after defeating Javidan Nakhmatov of Azerbaijan in the final. Yurik Petrosyan won the silver medal at 87 kg, losing the decisive bout to Japan’s Taizo Yoshida, who had previously won a medal at the senior World Championships and captured the senior Asian title.
Alex Margaryan added more points for Armenia by finishing seventh in the 63 kg weight category.
Representing Russia, Ali Ilyasov became a two-time U20 world champion after winning the 130 kg competition.
In addition to Armenia and Russia, Japan and Uzbekistan also won one gold medal each on August 17.
2026 U20 Greco-Roman Wrestling World Championships final results — August 17
63 kg
Bronze medal bouts
Tural Ahmadov (Azerbaijan) — Klisman Carracedo Veliz (Ecuador) — 2:1
Giorgi Chikaidze (Georgia) — Ali Gharibi (Iran) — 1:1, -/+
Final
Kuvonchbek Ismoilov (Uzbekistan) — Salim Kazmakhov (Russia) — 9:7
Final standings:
- Kuvonchbek Ismoilov (Uzbekistan)
- Salim Kazmakhov (Russia)
- Tural Ahmadov (Azerbaijan) and Ali Gharibi (Iran)
Alex Margaryan (Armenia) finished seventh.
77 kg
Bronze medal bouts
Erkebulan Anapiya (Kazakhstan) — Amir Saeidi Nava (Iran) — 3:5
Zalan Toplak (Hungary) — Giorgi Gogelashvili (Georgia) — 10:2
Final
Javidan Nakhmatov (Azerbaijan) — Samvel Terteryan (Armenia) — 1:1, -/+
Final standings:
- Samvel Terteryan (Armenia)
- Javidan Nakhmatov (Azerbaijan)
- Amir Saeidi Nava (Iran) and Zalan Toplak (Hungary)
87 kg
Bronze medal bouts
Amirhossein Nematzadeh (Iran) — Poul Mayer (Austria) — Nematzadeh won due to his opponent’s injury, +/-
Aidan Squier (USA) — Gabriel Stan (Romania) — 6:6, +/-
Final
Yurik Petrosyan (Armenia) — Taizo Yoshida (Japan) — 0:8
Final standings:
- Taizo Yoshida (Japan)
- Yurik Petrosyan (Armenia)
- Amirhossein Nematzadeh (Iran) and Aidan Squier (USA)
130 kg
Bronze medal bouts
Cemal Bakir (Turkey) — Ivan Yankovskyi (Ukraine) — 1:4
Saba Purtseladze (Georgia) — Essam Hussein (Egypt) — 9:0
Final
Ali Ilyasov (Russia) — Koppany Laszlo (Hungary) — 8:0
Final standings:
- Ali Ilyasov (Russia)
- Koppany Laszlo (Hungary)
- Saba Purtseladze (Georgia) and Ivan Yankovskyi (Ukraine)
Seyran Kirakosyan (Armenia) finished 12th.
U20 World Championships: who reached the August 18 finals
Preliminary and semifinal bouts in four more weight categories were also held on August 17. The finals will take place on August 18 at 19:00 Moscow time.
Three Armenian wrestlers remain in contention for bronze medals.
55 kg
Semifinals
Koba Karumidze (Georgia) — Emin Javadli (Azerbaijan) — 11:4
Khojiakbar Kuchkarov (Uzbekistan) — Armin Shamsupurnaji (Iran) — 1:3
Final: Koba Karumidze (Georgia) — Armin Shamsupurnaji (Iran)
Edgar Petrosyan (Armenia) is out of medal contention.
67 kg
Semifinals
Petro Zhitovoz (Hungary) — Kazybek Kalmagambetov (Kazakhstan) — 5:7
Mikhail Markovsky (Belarus) — Yurik Mkhitaryan (Armenia) — 8:0
Final: Kazybek Kalmagambetov (Kazakhstan) — Mikhail Markovsky (Belarus)
Yurik Mkhitaryan (Armenia) will compete for a bronze medal.
72 kg
Semifinals
Mingiyan Goryaev (Russia) — Behruzbek Valiyev (Uzbekistan) — 4:3
Jorge Gomez Garcia (Mexico) — Salih Yacici (Turkey) — 2:7
Final: Mingiyan Goryaev (Russia) — Salih Yacici (Turkey)
Gor Khachatryan (Armenia) remains in contention for a bronze medal and will continue through the repechage.
97 kg
Semifinals
Ilya Komarov (Russia) — Pauli Perkioe (Finland) — 8:0
Yehor Yakushenko (Ukraine) — Erik Ter Matevosyan (Armenia) — 8:0
Final: Ilya Komarov (Russia) — Yehor Yakushenko (Ukraine)
Erik Ter Matevosyan (Armenia) will compete for a bronze medal.
Who will represent Armenia on August 18
Competition in two more weight categories — 60 and 82 kg — will begin at the U20 Greco-Roman Wrestling World Championships on August 18.
Armenia will be represented by:
- 60 kg — Marat Atchemyan;
- 82 kg — Vahe Hovhannisyan.
Thus, after the first four sets of medals were awarded at the U20 World Championships, Armenia has Samvel Terteryan’s gold medal and Yurik Petrosyan’s silver and shares first place in the team standings with Russia, with both teams on 51 points.
