Journalist champion predictions for 2002 World Freestyle Championships

<< Back to Articles
Various journalists ()
09/04/2002


TheMat.com has requested the champion predictions for the World Championships from a number of U.S. and international journalists. Some of the choices were received prior to the U.S. decision not to attend the championships. Others were received in the past week.    Fans are encouraged to post their choices in the International message board on TheMat.com. Can anybody go seven for seven?    FRANK SHANLY, New Zealand, Mat Chat  FREESTYLE CHAMPIONS  55 kg/121 lbs. - Babak Nourzad (Iran)  60 kg/132 lbs. - Oyunbileg Purevbaatar (Mongolia)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabir (Iran)  74 kg/163 lbs. - Daniel Igali (Canada)  84 kg/185 lbs. - Khadjimuard Magomedov (Russia)  96 kg/211.75 lbs. -  Georgi Gogchelidze (Russia)  120 kg/264.5 lbs. -  David Moussoulbes (Russia)      EDDIE GOLDMAN, U.S. , Grappling Magazine  FREESTYLE CHAMPIONS  55 kg/121 lbs. - Babak Nourzad (Iran)  60 kg/132 lbs. - Oyunbileg Purevbaatar (Mongolia)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabir (Iran)  74 kg/163 lbs. - Bouvaisa Saitiev (Russia)  84 kg/185 lbs. - Adam Saitiev (Russia)  96 kg/211.75 lbs. -  Georgi Gogchelidze (Russia)  120 kg/264.5 lbs. -  David Moussoulbes (Russia)      GARY ABBOTT, U.S., TheMat.com  FREESTYLE CHAMPIONS  55 kg/121 lbs. - Nazim Alidyanov (Azerbaijan)  60 kg/132 lbs. - Oyunbileg Purevbaatar (Mongolia)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabir (Iran)  74 kg/163 lbs. - Bouvaisa Saitiev (Russia)  84 kg/185 lbs. - Yoel Romero (Cuba)  96 kg/211.75 lbs. -  Ali Reza Heidari (Iran)  120 kg/264.5 lbs. -  Artur Taymazov (Uzbekistan)    SINA ETEMADI, U.S., fan  55kg/121 lbs. -    Babak Nourzad, Iran  60kg/132 lbs. -   Mohammad Talaei, Iran  66kg/145.5 lbs.    Ali Reza Dabir, Iran  74kg/163 lbs. -    Bouvaisa Saitiev, Russia  84kg /185 lbs.  - Adam Saitiev, Russia  96kg/211.5 lbs.  -Georgi Gogchiledze, Russia  120kg/264.5 lbs. - David Musulbes, Russia      Behrang Sohrabi, Iran, IranSportsPress.com  FREESTYLE CHAMPIONS  55 kg/121 lbs. - Babak Nourzad (Iran)  60 kg/132 lbs. - Oyunbileg Purevbaatar (Mongolia)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabir (Iran)  74 kg/163 lbs. - Bouvaisa Saitiev (Russia)  84 kg/185 lbs. - Khadjimuard Magomedov (Russia)  96 kg/211.75 lbs. - Ali Reza Heidari (Iran)  120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Artur Taymazov (Uzbekistan)      RECEIVED PRIOR TO U.S. DECISION NOT TO COMPETE    ALI GUMAS, Turkey, AIPS Wrestling Commission  FREESTYLE MEDALISTS  55 kg/121 lbs. - 1. Azerbaijan; 2. Cuba; 3. Russia  60 kg/132 lbs. - 1. Turkey; 2. Iran; 3. Uzbekistan  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - 1. Russia; 2. Bulgaria; 3. Turkey  74 kg/163 lbs. - 1. USA; 2. Russia; 3. Hungary  84 kg/185 lbs. - 1. Russia; 2. Cuba; 3. USA  96 kg/211.75 lbs. -  1. Russia; 2. Iran; 3. Turkey  120 kg/264.5 lbs. -  1. Russia; 2. USA; 3. Cuba      IKUO HIGUCHI, Japan  FREESTYLE CHAMPIONS  55 kg/121 lbs. - Nourzad Babak (Iran)  60 kg/132 lbs. - Guivi Sissaouri (Canada)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Dabir Alireza (Iran)  74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Williams (USA)  84 kg/185 lbs. - Adam Saitiev (Russia)  96 kg/211.75 lbs. -  George Gogechelidze (Russia)  120 kg/264.5 lbs. -  Artur Taymazov (Uzbekistan)      HEIDI PETERSON, U.S., Fort Worth Star Telegram  FREESTYLE CHAMPIONS  55 kg/121 lbs. - Babak Nourzad (Iran)  60 kg/132 lbs. - Giya Sissaouri (Canada)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Ali Reza Dabir (Iran)  74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Williams (USA)  84 kg/185 lbs. - Adam Saitiev (Russia)  96 kg/211.75 lbs. - Kouramagomed Kouramagomedov (Russia)  120 kg/264.5 lbs. - David Moussoulbes (Russia)      TheMat.com will again seek predictions prior to the Greco-Roman and Women's World Championships. With U.S. teams participating, we anticipate more selections from U.S. journalists for these events.