U23 World Wrestling Championships Kick Off: Results of the First Day
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
On October 24, the 2025 U23 World Freestyle Wrestling Championships began in Novi Sad, Serbia. The first day featured qualification bouts in the 74 kg and 92 kg weight categories.
Armenia was represented by two wrestlers — Garnik Cholakyan (74 kg) and Knyaz Iboyan (92 kg).
Cholakyan started strong with a confident 12:2 victory over his Mexican opponent, but in the Round of 16 he lost 5:14 to the reigning U23 world champion Magomed Khaniev (Azerbaijan). Knyaz Iboyan lost his opening match 1:4 to Kyrgyz wrestler Ulukbek Soorombekov.
Semifinal Results and Final Pairings of the First Day
Reigning senior world champion Yoshinosuke Aoyagi lost in the semifinals to Mitchell Mesenbrink.
74 kg Category
Magomed Bashir Khaniev (Azerbaijan) — Muhammed Ozmus (Turkey) 3:7
Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (Japan) — Mitchell Mesenbrink (USA) 4:7
Final: Muhammed Ozmus (Turkey) — Mitchell Mesenbrink (USA)
92 kg Category
Muhamed-Tagir Khaniev (Russia) — Ion Demian (Moldova) 12:1
Ivan Chernouz (Ukraine) — Mohammadmobin Azimi (Iran) 1:12
Final: Muhamed-Tagir Khaniev (Russia) — Mohammadmobin Azimi (Iran)
Tomorrow, October 25, the finals in the 74 kg and 92 kg categories will take place, along with the start of competition in the 57, 70, 79, and 125 kg divisions.