This weight class is expected to be highly competitive. There has been a different champion in each of the last four years, which shows that there is tremendous talent and depth, and no dominant star.    Namik Abdullayev of Azerbaijan, the 2000 Olympic champion, is the top athlete at 54 kg who appears on the nominative rosters for the 2001 World Championships. He was also second at the 1996 Olympic Games, losing a controversial match to superstar Valentin Jordanov of Bulgaria in the finals. Azerbaijan also lists another wrestler, so it is possible that Abdullayev may not compete.    Abdullayev defeated American Sammie Henson in the Sydney finals, a heated match that included some questionable "non-calls" concerning the grabbing of the singlet. The U.S. entry this time will be Stephen Abas, a past Junior World champion competing in his first Senior World meet. Henson chose not to try out for the 2001 World Team, but could return in future years. Abas is expected to be immediately competitive.    Olympic bronze medalist Amiran Kartanov  of Greece and fourth-place finisher German Kontoev of Belarus are both entered, seeking a shot at the finals. Other top placewinners from Sydney who are also in the field in New York include Oleksandr Zakharuk of Ukraine, Maulen Mamyrov of Kazakhstan and Adkhamjon Achilov of Uzbekistan.     1997 World Champion Wilfredo Garcia of Cuba is entered in the tournament, and is fresh off another gold medal at the 2001 Pan American Championships. 1999 World Champion Kim Woo-Young of Korea is not on this year's Korean team, replaced by Kim Hyo-Sub.    2001 European champion Ghenadie Tulbea of Moldova is a rising star, beating Olympic medalist Kartanov of Greece in the European finals. The reigning Asian champion is T. Zuunbayan of Mongolia, who is on Mongolia's roster. Mongolian freestyle wrestlers are always very competitive.    Iran has two stars here, four-time World medalist Gholam Reza Mohammadi or young star Babak Nourzad. Mohammadi won the individual gold medal at the 2001 World Cup.    Russia is always competitive at this weight, with veterans Maxim Molonov and Alexandre Kontoev among those on the preliminary roster. Kontoev was the Russian entry at the 2001 World Cup. Turkey is also usually very tough in the light weights, with Melvana Kulac or Muhyettin Uzun listed as their possible entries. Kulac was fourth in the 2001 European Championships.     Veteran Armen Mkrtchyan of Armenia, who was third in the 2001 European Championships, is always a serious contender. Georgia's Gocha Kirkitadze won his pool at the European Championships and placed in the top five in the tournament.     Among the other entries with considerable experience are Vasili Zeiher of Germany, David LeGrand of France, Martin Liddle of New Zealand, Mikhail Japaridze of Canada and Shawn Williams of South Africa. India, which is showing a revival in its wrestling program, will be represented by Kripa Shankar Patel, who placed fourth at this year's Asian tournament. The only major country that is missing from this field is North Korea, which has not indicated that it will attend in New York and traditionally develops very strong lightweight athletes.    With over 30 athletes expected in this weight class, the pool competitions will provide 10 or more athletes who have a chance for the medals. With the random draw, a few of the favorites could be knocked off early. Expect some very competitive matches in the round of 16 and the quarterfinals, where the athletes have no room for error.     FREESTYLE 54 kg/119 lbs. (32 athletes as of 9/6)  Armenia -Armen Mkrtchyan  Azerbaijan- Arif Farminov or Namig Abduallayev  Bangladesh - Abdur Rahim  Belarus - Herman Kontoyev  Brazil - Jeferson Cadoso  Bulgaria - Ivan Djorev  Canada - Mikhail Japaridze  China - Meng Haibo  Cuba - Wilfredo Garcia  France - David LeGrand  Georgia -Gocha Kirkitadze  Germany - Vasili Zeiher, Kai Wadekind or Jurgen Schlegel  Greece - Amiran Kartanov  Guinea-Bissau - Fimban Tchuda  India - Kripa Shankar Patel  Iran- Gholam Reza Mohammadi or Babak Nourzad  Japan - Yuki Nagao  Kazakhstan - Maulen Mamyrov  Korea - Kim Hyo-Sub  Madagascar - Bernard Andraianirinadalala  Moldova - Ghenadie Tulbea  Mongolia - T. Zuunbayan  New Zealand - Martin Liddle  Nigeria - Jacob Isaac or Tiebiri Godswill  Romania - Ion Blidari  Russia  - Maxim Molonov, Alexandre Kontoev  South Africa - Shaun Williams  Turkey - Melvana Kulac or Muhyettin Uzun  Ukraine - Alexander Zakharuk  United States - Stephen Abas  Uzbekistan - Adkhamjon Achilov or Dilshod Mansurov  Yemen - Abdullah Hussain Al-Azzani    Starting on September 4th, TheMat.com will publish a preview each day for an individual weight class that will be contested at the 2001 World Championships of Wrestling. All 22 weight classes that will be contested in New York City will be featured, concluding on Tuesday, September 25, the day of weigh-ins for the tournament. Visit TheMat.com daily for detailed coverage leading up to wrestling's most important event this year!!!