Olympic and World champion is Artur Taimazov of Uzbekistan...
Alireza Rezaie of Iran took a long break after Athens, when he won a silver medal. Rezaie also won a bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships, but the 29 year-old came back this year to claim a silver medal at the Asian Championships, losing to Mazid Mutalimov of Kazakhstan in the gold-medal bout.
Mutalimov is only 25 years old, and is an up-and-coming star in this weight division. He placed fourth at last year’s Olympic Games losing only to Rezaie in the semifinals and eventual bronze medalist Aydin Polatci of Turkey in overtime. And like Rezaie, he was defeated by American Kerry McCoy at the 2003 World Championships, leaving him in sixth place.
Polatci is a veteran of the sport at 28 years old. He has competed in two Olympic Games and four World Championships, only placing below fifth in one of those events. He won a bronze medal at last year’s Olympic Games and at the 2002 World Championships.
Alireza Rezaie of Iran took a long break after Athens, when he won a silver medal. Rezaie also won a bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships, but the 29 year-old came back this year to claim a silver medal at the Asian Championships, losing to Mazid Mutalimov of Kazakhstan in the gold-medal bout.
Mutalimov is only 25 years old, and is an up-and-coming star in this weight division. He placed fourth at last year’s Olympic Games losing only to Rezaie in the semifinals and eventual bronze medalist Aydin Polatci of Turkey in overtime. And like Rezaie, he was defeated by American Kerry McCoy at the 2003 World Championships, leaving him in sixth place.
Polatci is a veteran of the sport at 28 years old. He has competed in two Olympic Games and four World Championships, only placing below fifth in one of those events. He won a bronze medal at last year’s Olympic Games and at the 2002 World Championships.
Masoumivaladi is through to last 8 after beating a mongolian...
He will probably fight the russian...
Russia’s Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov has been competed on the World-level for years. Last year, he took over the top spot somewhat by default as some of Russia’s other stars at this weight retired. Kuramagomedov won a World title in 1997 and followed that with a World bronze in 1998 while competing at 97 kg. Since moving up to heavyweight, he was Russia’s backup until the 2003 World Championships, when he lost to Taimazov in a pool match.
Kuramagomedov proved this year that he is ready to come back and win a medal at the World Championships after he took gold at the European Championships. He also defeated Taimazov in a tournament earlier this year.
He will probably fight the russian...
Russia’s Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov has been competed on the World-level for years. Last year, he took over the top spot somewhat by default as some of Russia’s other stars at this weight retired. Kuramagomedov won a World title in 1997 and followed that with a World bronze in 1998 while competing at 97 kg. Since moving up to heavyweight, he was Russia’s backup until the 2003 World Championships, when he lost to Taimazov in a pool match.
Kuramagomedov proved this year that he is ready to come back and win a medal at the World Championships after he took gold at the European Championships. He also defeated Taimazov in a tournament earlier this year.
