There seems to be some talented new blood in this weight division, as a few star athletes are beginning to make their mark on the sport. The reigning World Champion in Mehmet Oezal of Turkey, who was also a World bronze medalist in 2001. Oezal was just ninth at the 2003 European Championships, but he should be ready to defend his turf at the World meet in France.    One of the most exciting Greco-Roman wrestlers in the world is Karam Gaber of Egypt, who claimed the World silver medal last year, losing to Oezal in the finals by a 15-11 margin. Gaber is one of the most impressive throwing machines in the world, and is very exciting to watch. Gaber won the gold medal at the top World tune-up event, the Pytlasinksi Tournament in Poland, and many consider this talented and physical athlete to be the favorite going into the World meet this year.    Winning the World gold medal in 2001 was Russia's Alexandre Bezroutchine. He may have taken the reigns from five-time World Champion Gogi Koguachvili, who is still competing. Kogouachvili was a 2002 European champion and placed seventh at the 2003 European Championships, indications that he remains a very tough competitor. You can expect the Russian entry to be a serious medal contender once again.    This weight class has more than its share of veterans who may use their experience to beat younger stars. Alli Mollov of Bulgaria, who was third in the World Championships in 2002, and Ernesto Pena of Cuba, who was second in the World Championships in 2001, are both talented medal contenders.  Mollov placed out of the top 10 at the 2003 European Championships, but Pena is fresh off a gold medal at the 2003 Pan American Games.    Of the three medalists at the 2000 Olympic Games, only Olympic silver medalist David Saldadze of Ukraine remains on the mat. Saldadze was third in the European Championships this year, an event that is both competitive and prestigious.    2000 Olympic champion Mikhail Ljungberg of Sweden has retired. The nation is now represented by veteran Martin Lidberg, who was fifth at the European Championships this year and won the silver medal at the Pytlasinski Tournament in August.    2000 Olympic bronze medalist Garrett Lowney of the United States is also on the sidelines with a severe injury. His future in international wrestling is in serious doubt due to problems with his neck, perhaps initially caused during his Olympic semifinal loss to Ljungberg. The American entry is talented Justin Ruiz, who lost to Lowney in the World Team Trials this year but gets the spot due to the injury. Ruiz won a silver medal at the Pan American Games this year, and has shown promise on some international tours. U.S. coaches hope that Ruiz can challenge for a medal at the World Championships and keep the nation strong at this division.    Some of the top placewinners at the European Championships this year have not been top performers at the World level but will look to break through this season. Ramaz Nozadze of Georgia was the 2003 European champion, and Germany's Mirko Englich was the European runner-up. Nozadze also won the gold medal at the 2003 Junior World Championships this summer. Englich was eighth in the World Championships a year ago, and is aiming for a place in the medal rounds this year.    Among the athletes who were able to place in the top 10 at the World Championships last year were Roman Meduna of Slovakia, Aleksei Cheglakov of Uzbekistan, Marek Svec of the Czech Republic, Sasa Dukai of Serbia and Montenegro and Hao Liu of China. Of this group, Svec is the most experienced and with the best past results, including a World silver medal. Cheglakov was a 2002 Asian champion and placed sixth at the World Championships for two straight years. Meduna won the gold medal at the 2002 World University Championships.    The top three placewinners at the Asian Championships are not household names at this division: champion Han Tae-Young of Korea, silver medalist Masoud Hashemzadeh of Iran and bronze medalist Rakhimdshan Assembekov of Kazakhstan. Iran's top finish at this weight recently came in 2001, when Ehssan Karimfar placed eighth at the World Championships.    Konstantin Thanos of Greece, who was fourth at the 2000 Olympic Games, continues to compete and could be a tough challenger. Some other athletes with strong ability at this division are Andrej Batura of Belarus, Igor Grabovetski of Moldova, Mindaugas Ezerskis of Lithuania and Lajos Virag of Hungary, all who placed in the top 10 at the European Championships this year. Veteran Marek Sitnik of Poland was third at the Pytlasinski Tournament in August, a strong indication that he will be a top contender in the World meet this year.    Wrestling fans worldwide are excited to see how last year's finalists, Oezal of Turkey and Gaber of Egypt, fare at the World meet this year. Both are talented and powerful, and they can put on a great show. Whoever Russia enters this year will be a top medal hopeful. Young stars like Nozadze of Georgia are looking to break through this season. Veterans such as Mollov of Bulgaria, Pena of Cuba and Cheglakov of Uzbekistan are seeking another shot at winning the title. Exactly how Ruiz of the USA will do within this tough group is a question mark, but something that U.S. coaches believe could end up being very good news.    RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS    2002 World Championships results  96 kg/211.75 lbs. - Gold - Mekhmet Oezal (Turkey) dec. Koram Mohamed Guder Ibragim (Egypt), 15-11; Bronze - Ali Mollov (Bulgaria) dec. Ernesto Pena (Cuba), 4-0; 5th -Roman Meduna (Slovakia); 6th -Aleksei Cheglakov (Uzbekistan); 7th - Marek Svec (Czech Republic); 8th - Mirko Englich (Germany); 9th - Sasa Dukai (Yugoslavia); 10th - Hao Liu (China)    2001 World Championships results   97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Gold - Alexandre Bezroutchkine (Russia) dec. Ernesto Pena (Cuba), 7-0; Bronze - Mehmet Ozal (Turkey) dec. Petru Sudureak (Romania), 7-5; 5th - Marek Svec (Czech Republic); 6th - Aleksey Cheglakov (Uzbekistan); 7th - Marek Sitnik (Poland); 8th - Ehssan Karimfar (Iran); 9th - Roman Meduna (Slovakia); 10th - Sergey Matviyenko (Kazakhstan)    2000 Olympic Games results   97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Gold - Mikael Ljungberg (Sweden) won by ref. dec. over Davyd Saldadze (Ukraine), 2-1, ot, 9:00; Bronze - Garrett Lowney (USA) dec. Konstantinos Thanos (Greece), 3-1, ot, 6:53; 5th - Genadi Chkhaidze (Georgia); 6th -Sergey Matvienko (Kazakhstan); 7th - Urs Buergler (Switzerland); 8th - Mindaugas Ezerskis (Lithuania); 9th - Sergei Lishtvan (Belarus); 10th - Park Woo (Korea); 11th - Petru Sudureac (Romania); 12th - Gogui Koguouachvili (Russia); 13th - Andrzej Wronski (Poland); 14th - Rafael Samurgashev (Armenia); 15th - Reynaldo Pena (Cuba); 16th - Hakki Basar (Turkey); 17th - Hassane Fkiri (Tunisia); 18th - Marek Svec (Czech Republic); 19th - Alli Mollov (Bulgaria); 20th - Ben Vincent (Australia)    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.