86kg
US rep-Aeoden Sinclair
Redshirt sophomore at Mizzou
2026 NCAA AA-3rd
#4 on FLO’s 2024 big board
3X Wisconsin state champion
Super 32 champ
Fargo champ
WNO winner
2023-U17 worlds-8th
Contenders-
Abolfazl Shamsipour-IRI
2024-U17 Asians-1st, U17 worlds-1st
2025-U20 Asians-2nd
2026-Zagreb open-5th ( beat defending senior 79kg world champion Kougioumtsidis, lost to Zahid), U20 Asians-1st (beat Begenjov 9-2)
Alp Arslan Begenjov-TKM
2024-U23 Asians-3rd, U20 asians-1st, U20 worlds-1st (beat Ryder)
2025-U23 Asians-1st, U20 asians-3rd, U20 worlds-26th
2026-Muhamet Malo-5th, senior Asians-3rd, U23 asians-1st, U20 Asians-2nd
Artur Kostiuk-UKR
2024-U20 euros-15th, U17 worlds-3rd
2025-U17 euros-1st, U17 worlds-1st
2026-U23 euros-3rd, U20 euros-3rd (lost to Khaniev)
Darkhorse-
Razmik Yepremyan-ARM
2022-U17 euros-5th, U17 worlds-3rd
2023-U17 euros-2nd, U17 worlds-10th
2024-U20 euros-10th, U23 worlds-22nd
2025-U23 euros-19th, U20 euros-3rd, U20 worlds-5th
2026-U23 euros-8th, U20 euros-2nd
Mahammad Abaszada-AZE
2024-U17 euros-5th, U17 worlds-5th
2025-U20 euros-5th
2026-U20 euros-3rd
Ashkab Khajiyev-KAZ
2022-U17 worlds-7th
2023-U17 worlds-18th
2025-U23 Asians-3rd, U20 asians-5th
2026-U20 Asians-3rd
Depth-
Tejvir Dhinsa-CAN
2024-U20 pan-ams-2nd, U20 worlds-12th
2025-U20 pan-ams-2nd, U20 worlds-14th
2026-U20 pan-ams-2nd
Dachi Papinashvili-GEO
2025-U20 euros-1st, U20 worlds-7th
2026-Muhamet Malo-11th, U20 euros-11th
Natsura Okazawa-JPN
2023-U17 worlds-16th
2024-U20 Asians-5th
2025-U20 asians-3rd
Magor Lorincz-ROM
2025-U17 euros-3rd, U17 worlds-8th
2026-U20 euros-5th
Akhmad Mukutov-RUS
86kg is a really good weight with talent everywhere. There are 3 age level world champions competing. I have Shamsipour as the favorite with Sinclair, Begenjov, and Kostiuk close behind. Shamsipour is a past world champion and has been competing and competing well at seniors recently. He had a good showing at Zagreb where he beat last years 79kg world champion Kougioumtsidis while losing to Zahid and 2-2 to Gamkredlidze. He has shown he can compete with the best in the world at 86kg. Begenjov hasn’t been able to reach the top like he did in 2024 where he beat Ryder in the finals but he is always right there and is wrestling well right now. He just won U23 Asians, was 3rd at senior Asians, and 2nd at U20 Asians with his only loss coming to Shamsipour. He has the talent to put it together and turn that result around. Kostiuk doesn’t have the name recognition as the 2 guys above him but last year he won both U17 euros and worlds. This year he moved up to U20 and has had continued success. He was 3rd at U20 euros but his only loss was to Khaniev and he has moved down to 79kg for this tournament
Yepremyan is probably next in line. He has competed a ton with mixed results but has a ton of good wins and has been competing well this year. Abazada, Okazawa, Khajiyev, Lorincz, and Mukutov all have the talent to upset someone above them and fight for a medal
I really love Sinclair and think he can win this thing. The kid is fearless and loves to compete anywhere and against anyone. His matches in RAF drive this point home as he has faced Zahid, Olympic champion Ramazanov, and world bronze medalist Saipudinov who he beat. The only thing that gives me a little pause is his performance at U17 worlds. I really expected him to bring home a medal but he ended up going 1-1 and placing 8th. I expect him to have a great tournament and a potential match between him and Shamsipour would be one of my most anticipated.
Predictions-
Gold-Abolfazl Shamsipour-IRI
Silver-Aeoden Sinclair-US
Bronze-Alp Arslan Begenjov-TKM
Bronze-Artur Kostiuk-UKR
edit- Kostiuk has been replaced in the entries by Ibishov. With that change I have Yepremyan taking bronze
