61 kg Preview & Predictions - 2023 Senior World Championships
61 kg Preview & Predictions - 2023 Senior World Championships
A full preview with predictions for the 61 kg weight class at the 2023 Senior World Wrestling Championships.
The 2023 Senior World Championships are set to go down in Belgrade, Serbia, September 16-23. The men’s freestyle portion of the tournament will take place from September 16-19. Check out the below article for a complete breakdown with predictions for the 61 kg weight class at the 2023 World Championships.
Other World Championship Content
Full Schedule | 57 kg Prevew | 65kg Preview | 70 kg Preview | 74 kg Preview | 79 kg Preview | 86 kg Preview | | 92 kg Preview | 97 kg Preview | 125 kg Preview | Men's Freestyle Entry List
61kg World Championship Ranking
Check out the top 10 wrestlers ranked at 61 kg who will compete at the 2023 World Championships. These rankings are based on head-to-head results between these competitors.
View all of our 2023 World Championship Rankings here.
The Favorite
2021 World Champion Abasgadzhi Magomedov has established himself as the best 61 kg wrestler in the world. Magomedov won 2021 worlds by defeating Daton Fix in the finals, 4-1. Other than that decision win, Magomedov dominated his way to a world title with two pins and a tech fall. Magomedov is known for his ability to put up points from any position and end matches early with pins.
While he has been the top 61 kg wrestler in the world since 2021, Magomedov flirted with wrestling 65kg and also took two losses over the past two years. Magomedov dropped a match in August 2022 to Akhmed Idrisov and then lost again to Muslim Mekhtikhanov this past January. Magomedov has since avenged both of those losses and made the 2023 world team by winning Russian Nationals this past June by defeating Muslim Mekhtikhanov, 9-4.
Abasgadzhi Magomedov's win in the 2021 World Finals over Daton Fix:
The Contenders
After world champion Magomedov, there are three wrestlers at 61kg who have shown they’re capable of challenging for a world title in Belgrade - Tairybek Zhumashbek Uulu (KGZ), Reza Atri (IRI), and Vito Arujau (USA).
Zhumashbek Uulu established himself as a contender at 61kg by winning three straight tournaments to start 2023 while recording wins over Arsen Harutyunyan (2-time world medalist), Taras Markovych (UKR), Jahongirmirza Turobov (UZB), Minghu Liu (CHN), and Kodai Ogawa (JPN). Beyond those wins in 2023, Zhumashbek Uulu competed at 65kg at the end of 2022 where he won the Bill Farrell by tech falling Nick Lee in the finals and competed at the World Cup recording a win over 2019 world champion Beka Lomtadze.
Zhumashbek Uulu’s win over Nick Lee:
Zhumashbek Uulu’s only loss in 2023 came against the aforementioned Abasgadzhi Magomedov at Russia’s PWL-4 event in April. In that match, Magomedov was up 6-3 when he was able to secure a pin in the midst of a scramble. Despite that loss, Zhumashbek Uulu proved he’s capable of competing with the world champion Magomedov and that he’ll be a dangerous competitor in Belgrade.
Zhumashbek Uulu’s loss to Abasgadzhi Magomedov:
Vito Arujau has had incredible success over the past 5 months and looks to be one of the best wrestlers in the world at 61 kg. Arujau had one of the most impressive performances of the NCAA tournament when he defeated Daton Fix and Roman Bravo-Young in successive matches to win his first NCAA title. Then, Arujau went on to make his first senior world team by dominating a deep 61kg field with wins over Austin DeSanto, Nathan Tomasello, and Nahshon Garrett. On top of his wins over domestic competition, Arujau teched his way to a Pan-Am gold and defeated 2022 world bronze medalist Narankhuu Narmandakh by fall (while leading 10-0) at the Budapest Ranking Series tournament in July. Arujau’s only loss during this time period was a close, 3-0 decision loss to 57 kg world champion Zelimkhan Abakarov (ALB). Even with that match, Arujau is clearly on the same level as the best guys in the world.
Arujau’s win over 2022 world bronze medalist Narankhuu Narmandakh:
Iran’s Reza Atri is the final wrestler in this field who should be considered a world title contender. Atri won a silver medal last year at the World Championships with notable wins over Islam Bazarganov (AZE), Georgi Vangelov (BUL), and Narankhuu Narmandakh (MGL) while only losing to Japan’s Rei Higuchi in the finals. On top of his performance last year at the world championships, Atri is a past Asian gold medalist, placed 5th at the Tokyo Olympics, and most recently won the Zagreb Ranking Series tournament this past February. Atri wrestles a classic Iranian style and will be a challenging matchup for anyone in the field.
Reza Atri's win over Narankhuu Narmandakh:
Sleepers and Darkhorses
There is a solid group of wrestlers in the 61 kg field who could make some noise in Serbia. Some wrestlers to watch out for are Narankhuu Narmandakh (2022 world bronze medalist), Emrah Ormanoglu (U23 world bronze medalist), Jahogirmirza Turobov (2021 Asian Champ), Shota Phartenadze (2023 European bronze medalist), Kodai Ogawa, and Ossimzhan Dastanbek.
Ogawa and Dastanbek are two wrestlers who don’t have the same credentials as the rest of the field but recent results that prove they could make a run in the 61kg bracket at worlds. Dastanbek took second at the ranking series tournament in Budapest this past July where he defeated Shota Phartenadze while only losing to Zelimkhan Abakarov 4-1. Ogawa won a tough bracket in Japan to make the world team and lost a competitive 4-1 bout to Tairybek Zhumashbek Uulu at the Asian Championships in April. There certainly not favorites but we shouldn't be surprised if these wrestlers are able to pull off an "upset" over some of the more credentialed 61 kg wrestlers.
61 kg 2023 Worlds Predictions
Abasgadzhi Magomedov has consistently proven to be the best 61 kg wrestler in the world and I believe he'll prove that once again in Belgrade. Magomedov's dynamic offense, ability to score in all positions, and propensity for ending matches early make him one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the world regardless of weight class. Arujau has the dynamic offense to threaten Arujau but his defense has been a liability in some matches. For that reason, I lean in favor of Magomedov should they meet in Serbia.
61 kg Medal Predictions:
Gold - Abasgadzhi Magomedov, AIN (RUS)
Silver - Tairybek Zhumashbek Uulu, KGZ
Bronze - Vito Arujau, USA
Bronze - Arsen Harutyunyan, ARM