freestyle_fan

I agree. I think I did talk about few factors in one of the thread earlier on the reasons for India’s improvement in wrestling lately. key factors - Increased funding from Govt and Private partners with an aim to improve medal count in Olympics, adoption of mat wrestling (freestyle) into local clubs at early age (apart from traditional mud wrestling), foreign coaches and training programs with Russia (few selected players like Bajrang and Sushil Kumar), Japan (women’s team spent some trading in Japan). Both men’s and women’s FS is improving very well, but Greco has long way to go The original post where I explained these in detail - http://board.themat.com/index.php?/topic/20997-india-wrestling/

@Shiraz123 - Deepak Punia made it to Finals in 86kg ;-)

I agree..too bad for Bajrang, ridiculous call!

Overall, from top bracket: Semis - Chamizo vs Kentchadze. Chamizo's draw is relatively easy until Semis. One tough match prior to Semis could be with Kaisanov. bottom bracket - Semis- JB vs Sidakov. JB has a tough matches even prior ( as mentioned by other posters) to Semis. I think Finals will be Chamizo vs Sidakov. Few interesting matches to watch Kentchadze)GEO) vs Khadjiev (FR) Garzon (CUB)vs Afzali (IRI). I am picking Garzon Garzon(CUB) vs ABDURAKHMANOV(UZB) JB vs Sidakov

fingers crossed..but I think he is going to prove you wrong!

From top bracket - Semis: Sanayev vs Atli or Micic, Sanayev to Finals From bottom bracket - Semis: Fix/Ravi vs Erdenbat/Uguev, Uguev to Finals few interesting matches to expect 1. Erdenbat (MGL) vs Uguev (RUS) - Erdenbat is capable of pulling off this upset 2. Fix vs Takahasi ( I think Fix will win this)

From the top bracket - its guaranteed Bajrang into Finals, relatively easy draw for Bajrang Bottom bracket is one hell of a bracket - all studs, I think Kinche will go to Semis and on the otherside one of Rashidov or Otoguro will go to Semis. In my opinion - its Bajrang vs Rashidov in finals

It's not that one match with Sad, but look into Hushtyn matches in Ivan Yarygin 2019 (he won silver) and European games and championships this year. In my opinion he is the guy to watch out (to create an upset) in 97kg FS this year.

Add in Aliaksandar Hushtyn (BLR)

looks like Gatsalov did not make it into Armenia world team for Nur-Sultan, no further details, but just read on twitter tweet by

Nice...I agree with most of it except 65kg and 74kg. I am picking Bajrang for 65kg and Sidakov for 74kg (JB Bronze). I also think Fix medals!

I agree with @Antitroll2828. Flo can do a better job by bringing someone with more knowledge on freestyle rules or may be someone like Stieber. I also think there is lot of scope for improvement on the live commentary for freestyle matches. Sometimes i feel i can do a good job ;-)

wow, great work Ed! Very impressive.

my thoughts on this - I posted this few weeks ago on another thread 57: Daton Fix - Best Case: Gold, Worst Case: Bronze I think Fix will start his Sr. level Worlds with a medal. I am hoping he would atleast get a bronze. With the help of draw and good day, he could win Gold. 61: Tyler Graff - Best Case: Bronze, Worst Case: DNP Mostly he may not medal. But if lucky, he will get a Bronze. 65: Zain - Best Case: DNP, Worst Case: DNP, 65: Yianni - Best Case: Silver Worst Case: Bronze. I think Yianni will be the rep. He will medal. After that match - where he almost on the verge of getting tech-falled by Musukaev - Yianni must have realized how vulnerable he is and I am hoping he would do required corrections. 70: James Green - Best Case: Bronze, Worst Case: DNP I agree Green is not in good shape, but except few (Baev, Baitrov, Iakobashvili) competition is not that great. I think he will get a bronze 74: Jordan Burroughs - Best Case: Bronze, Worst Case: DNP I agree with @AZ_wrestling age is the key factor. Although JB had great run so far (compared to his form prior to last year worlds) in 2019, Sidakov going to be the key factor and they are going to meet in Semis, if he loses (which i think imo), he will settle for a Bronze. But, he might be out before reaching Semis, remember his first match in Paris Worlds 2017, he almost lost to Ali Shabanau (BLR) and last year close match with IRI as well. 79: Kyle Dake - Best Case: Gold, Worst Case: Silver Dake will win GOLD. Gadzi is not RUS team and I doubt how much Nabiev can stop Dake from GOLD. 86: Pat Downey - Best Case: DNP, Worst Case: DNP No Comment (understood) 92: J'den Cox - Best Case: Gold, Worst Case: Silver Cox will win GOLD. I like his attitude a lot. If anyone missed watching recent Flo (Bader) interview with Cox, he talks more philosophical like, being on world team is more than just representing US, but representing humanity and what not, like, its not just about winning GOLD, but its about reaching/achieving his best. 97: Kyle Snyder- Best Case: Silver, Worst Case: Bronze Everyone knows Sadulaev is the biggest hurdle in between Snyder and GOLD. Watch out for Aliaksandr Hushtyn (BLR) 125: Nick Gwiazdowski - . Best Case: Bronze, Worst Case: DNP Last year was the best chance for Gwiz to be finals, still scratching my head how he lost to CHN. He will get a Bronze again this year.

Thanks, updated my original post, removed Reza Yazdani from 97kg and Hadi from 125kg. With Reza Yazdani withdrawing, I have suspicion whether he is going to come back to international stage ever again, just my opinion. All along, i was thinking it was a good opportunity for Reza considering he was away for a long time due injuries etc, but he himself withdrawing makes me think he probably may not be back for international stage again.