The new weight class is 55 kg, just one kilogram higher than the lightest 2001 weight class. This change should not change the individuals expected to challenge for top honors. The reigning World Champion is Herman Kontoev of Belarus, a veteran who paid his dues, including a fourth-place finish at the 2002 Olympics. Kontoev came on a tour to the USA this winter, and had a few very close matches, giving U.S. athletes and others great hope that he can be defeated this year.    Placing second in the 2001 World meet was young Iranian star Babak Nourzad, who is expected to be a threat for many years. Nourzad follows an Iranian legend at this weight, Gholam Reza Mohammadi, a multiple World medalist who never took the gold. With the support of the home crowd in Tehran, Nourzad could be very hard to beat.    The 2002 bronze medal went to Russia's Alexander Kontoev, who had the best performance of his career. If the name sounds familiar, he is related to Herman from Belarus, one of the many examples how Russian athletes tend to move from nation to nation.    The United States has much talent in this division, and looks to challenge in 2002. For the second straight year, it will be Stephen Abas wrestling at the World Championships. He emerged from a very talented division in the USA this year, including national champion Teague Moore, past World champion Sammie Henson and emerging talent Jody Strittmatter. Abas won the 2001 World Cup title, and lost a very close match to Herman Kontoev in last year's World Championships.    A veteran coming off a disappointing 2001 season is Amiran Kartanov of Greece. Kartanov was third in the 2000 Olympics and second in the 2001 European Championships, but slipped to 10th at the 2001 Worlds. With Greece hosting the Olympics in 2004, special attention will be given to all its sports teams.     Among the other wrestlers who have challenged in recent seasons are Maulen Mamyrov of Kazakhstan, Tumendemberel Zuunbayan of Mongolia and Ghenadie Tulbea of Moldova.  The Olympic champion in 2000, Namik Abduallayev of Azerbaijan, has reportedly retired and new Azerbaijan star Nazim Alidyanov was the 2002 European Champion.     Others with potential to fight for medals are Gocha Kirkitadze of Georgia, Dilshod Mansurov of Uzbekistan, Melvana Kulac and Ersin Cetin of Turkey, 1997 World Champion Wilfredo Garcia of Cuba and 1999 World Champion Kim Woo-Young of Korea. Garcia may be past his prime, but he is always dangerous. Kim may or may not be Korea's entry, but whoever competes for Korea will be expected to be talented and quick, a medal contender.    Oleksandr Zakharuk of Ukraine was fifth in the 2000 Olympics and has won gold medals at the European Championships.  Other former Soviets who have been placewinners in recent seasons are Vitalie Railean of Moldova and Adkhamjon Achilov of Uzbekistan. Among the Top 10 finishers at the 2000 Olympics were Jin Ju Dong of North Korea and Chikara Tanabe of Japan.    2001 World Championships results   54 kg/119 lbs. - Gold - Herman Kantoyev (Belarus) dec. Babak Nourzad (Iran), 5-1; Bronze - Alexander Kantoyev (Russia) dec. Maulen Mamyrov (Kazakhstan), 4-1; 5th - Tumendemberel Zuunbayan (Mongolia); 6th -  Goha Kirkitadze (Georgia); 7th - Dilshod Mansurov (Uzbekistan); 8th - Arif Farmanov (Azerbaidjan); 9th -  Mevlana Kulac (Turkey); 10th - Amiran Kardanov (Greece)    2000 Olympic Games results   54 kg/119 lbs. - Gold - Namik Abdullayev (Azerbaijan) dec. Sammie Henson (United States), 4-3; Bronze - Amiran Kartntanov (Greece) dec. German Kontoev (Belarus), 5-4; 5th - Oleksandr Zakharuk (Ukraine); 6th - Maulen Mamyrov (Kazakhstan); 7th - Vitalie Railean (Moldova); 8th - Adkhamjon Achilov (Uzbekistan); 9th - Jin Ju Dong (People's Republic of Korea); 10th - Chikara Tanabe (Japan); 11th - Nurdin Donbaev (Kyrgyzstan); 12th - Leonid Tchouchounov (Russia); 13th - Behnam Tayebi (Iran); 14th - Wilfredo Garcia (Cuba); 15th - Vasilij Zeiher (Germany); 16th - Tumendemberel Zuunbayan (Mongolia); 17th - Moon Myung-Seok (Korea); 18th - Martin Liddle (New Zealand); 19th - Ivan Conov (Bulgaria)