It could be argued that the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler in the world is two-time Olympic champion Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria, who is also the reigning World champion at this division. If he is not the best out there, he is certainly one of the most exciting and talented. Nazarian won the 1996 Olympic title competing for Armenia at 52 kg, then moved up in weight to 58 kg and claimed the 2000 Olympics for his new nation, Bulgaria. Now, at the new 60 kg weight class, he has won his first World title. He has also captured three World bronze medals. This year, he again won the European Championships title.    Nazarian is well known for lifting and drilling his opponents into the mat, putting on a tremendous show at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. In the World finals last year, he defeated another veteran star, Poland's Wlodzimierz Zawadzki, the 1996 Olympic champion at 62 kg. Zawadzki made the move down in weight last year, and was rewarded with a trip to the World gold-medal finals. Zawadzki captured the gold medal at the respected Pytlasinski Tournament in Poland in August, a strong indication that he is ready for another run for the medals.    The 2002 World bronze medalist was another veteran star, Roberto Monzon of Cuba. He also won a World bronze medal in 2001, and actually beat Nazarian in the bronze medal match that season. Monzon won the Pan Am Games gold medal this year. He was beaten by American James Gruenwald in the pools, then wrestled back in the repechage and won the rest of his bouts to snag the Pan Am gold. Monzon did not qualify his weight for the 2000 Olympics, which means he will have extra incentive this year, as the World meet is a major qualifier for the 2004 Athens Games.    Gruenwald has been close to winning World-level medals in the past, taking sixth at the 2000 Olympics, 10th at the 2001 World Championships and eighth at the 2002 World Championships. At the Pan Am Games this year, Gruenwald's win over Maren was big, but he then lost to Luis Liendo of Venezuela and had to settle for third. Gruenwald has defeated three-time World-level medalist Dennis Hall and veteran star Glenn Nieradka to make his U.S. teams, an impressive achievement. He also won a gold medal at the 2002 World Cup. Could this be the year that Gruenwald breaks through with a World medal?    The 2001 World champion was Dilshod Aripov of Uzbekistan, who was not even the Uzbek entry at the World meet last year. Asledin Khudoyberdiev placed sixth for Uzbekistan at the 2002 World meet, and followed up with a 2003 Asian Championships title.     The 2003 Asian Championships runner-up was Ali Ashkani of Iran, another talented veteran. Ashkani was fifth in the Sydney Olympics, sixth in the 2001 World Championships and was a 2002 University World Champion. Although he placed out of the money last year, he should be a tough contender. Ashkani won the silver at the Pytlasinski Tournament in Poland in August, an important tune-up event prior to the World meet.    The 2001 World silver medalist was Karen Mnatskanyan of Armenia. Mnatskanyan was eighth in the 2003 European Championships, and did not place in the top 10 at last year's World meet. Ukraine should have a strong entry here, either Oleksander Khvosch, who was fourth in the World meet in 2002, or Suren Gevorkian, who was second in the 2003 European Championships.    Russia has many choices for its team, including Rustem Mambetov, who was third in the 2003 European Championships and second in the 2002 European Championships. Mambetov was 10th at the World meet, which means Russia might try another athlete this year.    The former Soviet republics should be well stocked again this year. Akaki Chachiya of Georgia was fifth in the World meet last year, and was a 2000 Olympic bronze medalist but Georgia might go with Lasha Lomadze, who was sixth at the 2003 European Championships. Ion Gaimer of Moldova, Alexander Slivinski of Belarus and Nureddin Radshabov of Azerbaijan are all top challengers in this division.    Eusebiu Diaconu of Romania placed ninth in the world last year. Djamel Ainaoui of France was seventh in the World in 2001. Both veterans were in the top 10 at the European Championships this year.    Japan has had a tough contender here in recent years, with Makota Sasamoto placing in both the 2000 Olympics and 2001 World Championships. Sasamoto captured the bronze at the Pytlasinski Tournament in late August against a strong international field. Korea had a strong finish in 2001, with Kang Kyung taking an eighth place in the World meet. The 2003 Asian Championships featured different athletes from these nations, with Kim Bong-Suk of Korea placing third and Hikaru Ito of Japan placing fifth.    Placing behind American Gruenwald at the 2002 World Cup were silver medalist Emik Bunyamin of Turkey and bronze medalist Ashraf El Garably of Egypt. Both are expected to represent their nations, and both are medal hopefuls . Bunyamin was fourth in the Pytlasinski Tournament wrestling up at 66 kg, so if he competes at 60 kg in France he should be a big factor.    The 2003 Junior World Champion was Nurbakyt Tengizbayev of Kazakhstan, who was also sixth at the 2003 Asian Championships. Others to watch include Luis Liendo of Venezuela, Ravinder Singh of India, Christos Gikas of Greece, Marko Isoski of Finland and Petre Svehla of the Czech Republic.    Until proven otherwise, superstar Nazarian of Bulgaria will be the pre-event favorite at this division. There are a number of athletes with the ability to reach the finals, and perhaps beat Nazarian, but they will have to be wrestling very well to even have a chance. Aripov of Uzbekistan was a recent World champion. Veterans like Zawadzki of Poland, Monzon of Cuba and Mnatskanyan of Armenia all have title hopes. Gruenwald of the USA is seeking his first medal, and another shot at Nazarian in competition.     RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS    2002 World Championships results  60 kg/132 lbs. - Gold - Armen Nazarian (Bulgaria) dec. Wlodzimierz Zawadzki (Poland), 3-0; Bronze - Roberto Monzon Gonzalez (Cuba) dec. Oleksandr Khvosch (Ukraine), 3-0; 5th - Akaki Chachiya (Georgia); 6th - Asledin Khudoyberdiev (Uzbekistan); 7th - Ion Gaimer (Moldova); 8th - James Gruenwald (United States); 9th - Eusebiu Lancu Diaconu (Romania); 10th - Rustem Mambetov (Russia)    2001 World Championships results    58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Gold  - Dilshod Aripov (Uzbekistan) dec. Karen Mnatskanyan (Armenia), 6-3; Bronze  - Roberto Monzon (Cuba) dec. Armen Nazarian (Bulgaria), 3-1, ot, 6:08; 5th - Makoto Sasamoto (Japan); 6th - Ali Ashkani (Iran); 7th - Djamel Ainaoui (France); 8th - Kang Kynug Il (Korea); 9th - Marian Sandu (Romania); 10th - Jim Gruenwald (United States)    2000 Olympic Games results   58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Gold - Armen Nazarian (Bulgaria) pin Kim In-Sub (Korea), 2:34; Bronze - Zetian Sheng (China) won by ref. dec. over Rifat Yildiz (Germany), 2-1, ot, 9:00; 5th - Ali Ashkani (Iran); 6th - Jim Gruenwald (United States); 7th - Valeri Nikonoriv (Russia); 8th - Makota Sasamoto (Japan); 9th - Constantin Borascu (Romania); 10th - Nepes Gukulov (Turkmenistan); 11th - Dilshod Aripov (Uzbekistan); 12th - Djamel Ainaoui (France); 13th - Igor Petrenko (Belarus); 14th - Koba Guliashvili (Georgia); 15th - Karen Mnatsakanyan (Armenia); 16th - Oleksan Stepanyan (Ukraine); 17th - Brett Cash (Australia); 18th - Istvan Majoros (Hungary); 19th - Yuriy Melnitchenko (Kazakhstan); 20th - Mohammed Barguaoui (Tunisia)    Starting September 22, TheMat.com will preview one weight class each day for the 2003 World Championships of Greco-Roman Wrestling, in Cretiel, France, Oct. 2-5. Please visit TheMat.com each day for a new preview of the championships. To discuss the World Championships with other fans, please visit the International Board  on TheMat.com Message Boards.