The reigning Olympic champion is Russia's Mourad Oumachanov, who had his best performance ever when it counted in Sydney. He is from a strong wrestling family, which featured three brothers who competed internationally for Russia. His brother Shamil was tragically killed when the arena collapsed during the Russian national championships a few years ago.    Oumachanov defeated 1998 World Champion Serafim Barzakov of Bulgaria in the Olympic gold-medal match. Both are listed on their team's rosters for the World Championships, although Oumachanov is one of at least four possible entries for Russia. A Sydney finals rematch is a possibility at this weight. Barzakov was the 2001 European champion, a strong sign that he is still at the top of his game.    Jang Jae-Sung of Korea was a 1996 Olympic silver medalist and a 2000 Olympic bronze medalist.  However, he is not listed as the entry from Korea, as Baek Jin-Kuk is the team's entry.    Iran's Ali Reza Dabier, the 2000 Olympic champion at 58 kg, has moved up to this weight class. He was also a World Champion in 1998 and a World silver medalist in 1999 at the lower weight class. He showed his ability to compete well at this weight with a victory at the 2001 World Cup. The other possible Iranian entry at this weight is also a former World Champion, Mohammed Talaiee, who placed fourth in the Sydney Olympics at this weight class.    Talented Elbrus Tedeev of Ukraine won World titles in 1995 and 1999. He fell short of his goals at the 2000 Olympics, placing 11th, but has the experience and skill to challenge for medals in New York.    Other top athletes from the Sydney Olympics who will be competing in New York are Arshak Hayrapetyan of Armenia, Carlos Ortiz of Cuba and Stefan Fernyak of Slovakia. Ortiz is a cagy veteran, with a gold medal at the 2001 Pan American Championships to his credit. Hayrapetyan placed in the top six at this year's European Championships, always a good indicator of potential World medalists.    If Oumachanov is not the Russian entry, the competitor should be strong in any case. Also listed on the Russian roster is Ramil Islamov, who claimed a 1997 World silver medal at 58 kg and a 1999 World bronze medal at 63 kg for Uzbekistan. Also on the Russian roster is Soslan Tomaev, who won a silver medal at the 2001 European Championships. Any of these Russians could make a run at the medals.    The U.S. entry is Bill Zadick, who is competing at his first World Championships. Zadick was second to international star Cary Kolat during recent years, but captured the top spot this time around. He has shown steady improvement in international competition, and looks to make the most of his first chance to prove himself on the World stage.    Otar Tushishvili of Georgia won a bronze medal at the 2001 European Championships, and is an up and coming challenger. Ruslan Bodisteanu of Moldova placed in the top six at the European Championships this year, and is also looking to make a name for himself.    The 2001 Asian champion was Norsin Bayarmagnai of Mongolia, who is included in the Mongolian roster, which was submitted today. Mongolia has a strong wrestling tradition, and winning an Asian title makes Bayarmagnai a serious medal contender.    Competing for Turkey will be either Mehmet Yozgut or Omer Cubukcu, both with the potential to challenge. Nikola Savin of Belarus, Iossif Momtselidze of Kazakhstan  and D. Abdurakhmanov of Uzbekistan are tough challengers from former Soviet Republics.    U.S. fans will also be rooting for Florin Ghinea of Romania, who captured an NCAA Div. III national title for nearby Montclair State in New Jersey, and has shown outstanding freestyle skills in open competitions.  It would not be surprising to see a few new stars developed at this weight class this year, especially if some of the veterans run into tough draws or have moved past their prime.    63 kg/138.75 lbs. (34)  Aremnia- Arshak Hayrapetyan  Azerbaijan -Elman Asgarov  Bangladesh - Kamal Hossain  Belarus - Nikola Savin  Bulgaria - Serafim Bazakov  Canada - Nasir Lal  China - Zhang Fan  Colombia - Edison Hurtado Lerma  Cuba - Carlos Ortiz  Egypt - Hassan Ibrahim Medany  Georgia- Otar Tushishvili or Vladimir Mindorashvili  Germany - Thomas Kaczanowicz, Vahaj Hanli or Roury Sauter  Greece - Christos Alexandridis  Guinea-Bissau  - Amadu Camara  Hungary - Istvan Dencsik  India - Shokender Tomar  Iran - Ali Reza Dabir or Mohammed Talaiee  Japan - Kazuhiko Ikematsu  Kazakhstan - Iossif Momtselidze  Korea - Baek Jin-Kuk  Madagascar -Aime Michel Rakotoarinala  Moldova - Ruslan Bodisteanu  Mongolia - Norsin Bayarmagnai  Netherlands- Yousef Nasiri  New Zealand - Ricardo Aryan  Nigeria - Tawari Prebakare or Cletus Anthony  Peru - Jose Paico Morales  Romania - Florin Ghinea  Russia - Mourad Oumakhanov, Soslan Tomaev, Ramil Islamov, Leonid Spiridonov  Spain - Ruben Diaz  Switzerland - Gregory Sarrasin  Turkey- Mehmet Yozgut or Omer Cubukcu  Ukraine - Elbrus Tedeev  United States - Bill Zadick  Uzbekistan - D. Abdurakhmanov    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!!!