Matt Lindland (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) and Randy Couture (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) both posted 2-1 records on the first day of competition and remain in contention for bronze medals at the 1997 Greco-Roman World Championships in Wroclaw, Poland, Sept. 10-13. 
 Lindland, competing at 76 kg/167.5 lbs., lost his first match by disqualification to Marko Yli-Hannuksela of Finland. Lindland bounced back to win his next two matches on the consolation side with a 2-1 overtime referees decision over Fujiang Hu of China and a 6-1 decision over Nadyr Gadijev of Azerbaijan.  
 Lindland will now face three-time Olympic medalist Jozef Tracz of Poland. Lindland has lost his last three matches against Tracz, with his most recent being an 8-0 decision on August 7 in a dual meet in Poland. 
 Couture, competing at 97 kg/213.75 lbs., also posted a 2-1 record on the first day. In his first match Couture lost a 4-1 decision to Ali Mollov of Bulgaria. Couture won his first consolation match by forfeit over Bakur Gogitize of Georgia then scored a pin over Giuseppe Giunta of Italy in 2:00. 
 Couture will now face Petre Sudureac of Romania in the next round. Couture pinned Sudreac in the 1993 German Grand Prix then lost a 4-3 decision to Sudreac in the 1995 World Championships. 
 Both Lindland and Couture must win all their remaining matches to win the bronze medal. 
 Two U.S. wrestlers were eliminated from competition after losing two matches. Broderick Lee, Portland, Ore. at 54 kg/119 lbs. and David Zuniga, New Brighton, Minn. at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Both Lee and Zuniga finished with 1-2 records. 
 The second group of U.S. wrestlers weighed in on Wednesday led by 1995 World Champion Dennis Hall (Stevens Point, Wis./Sunkist Kids) at 58 kg/127.75 lbs. Also in second group is two-time Olympian Dan Henderson (Huntington Beach, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) at 85 kg/187.25 lbs. Making their first World Championship appearances are Chris Saba (Colorado Springs, Colo./NYAC) at 69 kg/152 lbs. and 1996 World Cup champion Rulon Gardner, (Mesa, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) at 130 kg/286 lbs. 
 Hall, the 1996 Olympic silver medalist will face Ruslan Hakimov of the Ukraine in the first round. Hall has never faced Hakimov who placed fourth in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Ga. 
 Henderson's first round opponent is Martin Lidberg of Sweden. Henderson lost his only career meeting with Lidberg, a 3-1 decision in the second round of the 1996 Olympics. Lidberg went on to place sixth. 
 Saba will face Petr Bielesz of Czech. Republic. This will be their first meeting. 
 Gardner's first opponent is David Vola of the Czech. Republic. This is their first meeting. 
  1997 Greco-Roman World Championships 
 Wroclaw, Poland, Sept. 10 
 Group One Results 
 54 kg/119 lbs. - Broderick Lee, Portland, Ore. - lost referees dec. to Joachim Soederman, Sweden, 1-0, ot, 8:00; dec. Francesco Costantino, Italy, 5-0; lost dec. to Salah Belguidoum, France, 4-1 
 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - David Zuniga, New Brighton, Minn. - won referees dec. over Matyas Megyes, Hungary, 1-1, ot, 8:00; lost dec. to Juan Maren, Cuba, 5-2; lost dec. to Mkkhitar Manujyan, Kazakhstan, 4-1 
 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Matt Lindland, Lincoln, Neb. - lost by disq. to Marko Yli-Hannuksela, Finland; won referees dec. over Fujiang Hu, China, 2-1, ot, 8:00; dec. Nadyr Gadijev, Azerbaijan, 6-1 
 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Randy Couture, Corvallis, Ore. - lost dec. to Ali Mollov, Bulgaria, 4-1; won by forfeit over Bakur Gogitize, Georgia; pin Giuseppe Giunta, Italy, 2:00 
  Group Two Pairings 
 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Dennis Hall, Stevens Point, Wis. vs. Ruslan Hakimov, Ukraine 
 69 kg/152 lbs. - Chris Saba, Colorado Springs, Colo. vs. Petr Bielesz, Czech. Republic 
 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Dan Henderson, Huntington Beach, Calif. vs. Martin Lidberg, Sweden 
 130 kg/286 lbs. - Rulon Gardner, Mesa, Ariz. vs. David Vola, Czech. Republic