The Freestyle World Cup starts in Albania.
In Tirana, Albania, the World Freestyle competitions will start on Monday.
During the week, hundreds of amateur fighters are seen in the cages. The best in their weight classes are included.
Finland will send a team of six competitors to the Games. Only 18 years old Sani Brannfors is participating in the adult series at the World Championships for the first time.
The Finnish team at the World Championships
Adults: Miro Honkanen 70.3 kg (MMA Imatra), Omar Tugarev 77.1 kg (Sisu Gym) and Sani Brännfors 61.2 (Oulu Kamppailuklubi)
U21: Rasmus Vauhkonen 65.8 kg (GB Gym), Timi Leskinen 77.1 kg (GB Gym) and Juho Suvanto 83.9 kg (MMA Imatra)
Coaches: Sami Mehamedi, Janika Antinmaa and Mikko Suvanto
Last winter, Finland’s catch was two World Championship gold medals. Brännfors won the under-21 world championship and Iris Nihti on the adult side.
Will Finland repeat the trick of a whopping two golds again? Or should we wait for more medals? Expert Jaakko Dahlbacka tells his view on Finland’s World Cup chances in the Kulmamieste episode above.
Sani Brännfors is aiming for his first adult competition medal. PDO