Wrestling World Championships:
Qassempour faces grueling path to 86kg glory
Iranian wrestler Kamran Qassempour faces a challenging path to gold when the freestyle 86kg competition gets underway at the World Championships on Friday in Astana, Kazakhstan, where a strong field includes four-time world champion Kyle Dake, Olympic champion Magomed Ramazanov and rising Russian star Ibragim Kadiev.
Qassempour will be one of Iran’s leading contenders. He won back-to-back world titles at 92kg in 2021 and 2022 before claiming bronze at 86kg at last year’s edition in Zagreb.
His return to the 86kg category presents a different challenge, particularly against opponents with extensive experience at the weight. However, his technical ability and record at the highest level make him a serious contender for the title.
The Iranian will have to negotiate a demanding field featuring wrestlers with different strengths and ambitions, from established champions seeking further international success to younger competitors eager to translate their achievements at age-group level into senior medals.
American veteran Dake is among the biggest names in the division. He has won four senior world titles across the 74kg and 79kg categories and is now targeting a world championship crown at 86kg.
Success in Astana would see Dake become a world champion in a third weight class, adding another significant achievement to an already decorated career. Moving up to a division featuring physically different opponents, however, presents a fresh challenge even for a wrestler with his experience.
His ability to manage high-pressure bouts and his extensive experience in major international competitions nevertheless place him among the leading contenders.
Arsenii Dzhioev of Azerbaijan is another major threat to Qassempour’s ambitions. Dzhioev won bronze at the 2025 senior World Championships and silver at the 2024 U23 World Championships, both at 86kg.
He also has a recent victory over the Iranian to his name. Dzhioev defeated Qassempour at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games after the Iranian initially took the lead, turning the bout around to secure the win.
That result adds another layer of intrigue to a potential rematch. Dzhioev has demonstrated both his ability to compete for international medals and his capacity to prevail in closely contested bouts.
Bulgaria’s Ramazanov, meanwhile, arrives with the distinction of being the reigning Olympic champion at 86kg. He won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, establishing himself among the leading names in world freestyle wrestling.
Despite that achievement, Ramazanov has yet to win a medal at the senior or age-group World Championships. Astana therefore offers him an opportunity to add a world championship accolade to his Olympic title.
His Olympic experience alone makes him a formidable opponent, and a meeting with Qassempour would be one of the most anticipated potential matchups in the division.
Kadiev is another wrestler to watch. The Russian won consecutive world junior titles in 2023 and 2024, at 79kg and 86kg, respectively. Although he has yet to win a senior world medal, his junior success underlines his technical potential.
The championships will provide a significant test of his ability to carry that form into the senior ranks against established competitors such as Qassempour, Dake and Ramazanov.
The 86kg competition promises to be compelling not only because of the quality of its contenders but also because of their differing ambitions. Qassempour is seeking another world title after returning to 86kg, Dake is pursuing a championship in a third weight class, Dzhioev will look to build on his recent international success, Ramazanov aims to add a world crown to his Olympic gold, and Kadiev hopes to make his mark among the senior elite.
For Qassempour, the challenge will be to adapt to the demands of the weight class and overcome a formidable group of rivals in his bid to return to the top of the world podium.