By Gary Anderson

January 8 - Kim Hyeon-woo of South Korea finished the year as world number one in the FILA 74kg Greco-Roman world rankings ©Getty Images South Korean's Ryu Han-su and Kim Hyeon-woo, along with Yun Won-choi of neighbours North Korea, occupy three of the seven top-ranked Greco-Roman wrestling positions on the end-of-year world rankings list released by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA).

Yun created history at the World Championships in Budapest last September by becoming the first wrestler from North Korea to win a global title after he defeated Asian champion Choi Gyu-jin of South Korea, which helped him top the 2013 rankings in the 55 kilogramme category.

Another first-time world champion Ryu heads the 66kg class rankings after causing a big shock in Budapest by overcoming Beijing 2008 gold medallist Islambek Albiev of Russia while compatriot Kim, who won 66kg gold at London 2012, also bested a Russian Olympic champion in the 74kg category by defeating London 2012 gold medallist and 2011 world champion Roman Vlasov.

In the 60kg class, European champion Ivo Angelov of Bulgaria and Kazan 2013 World Universiade champion Ivan Kuylakov of Russia battled it out at the top of the rankings all year and the world number one position was decided after both men met in the World Championship final.

The world title and rankings top spot went to Angelov as he defeated Kuylakov 3-2 in the final.

It was a similar story in the 96kg category only this time it was the Universiade champion who finished the year on a high.

Nikita Melnikov of Russia (blue) had an impressive 2013 winning both world and Universiade titles ©AFP/Getty ImagesNikita Melnikov of Russia (blue) had an impressive 2013 winning both world and Universiade titles ©AFP/Getty Images


























Kazan 2013 champion Nikita Melnikov of Russia repeated his win over Armenia's Artur Aleksanyan in Kazan by overcoming the European champion in the Budapest world final.

Good friends Taleb Nariman Nematpour of Iran and Saman Ahman Tahmasebi – originally from Iran but now representing Azerbaijan – were fighting it out for top ranking in the 84kg class and again it came down to a result in the World Championship final to determine who finished top.

In the end a 5-3 win for Nematpour saw him finish the year as world champion and world number one.

The 120kg final in Budapest was marred by the fact that winner Amir Aliakbari of Iran subsequently failed a drugs test which saw beaten finalist Heiki Nabi of Estonia crowned world champion and claim the world number one spot ahead of defending champion Riza Kayaalp of Turkey.

Nabi, who won the world title in 2006 at 96kg, became the only winner in Budapest to win a second world crown in Greco-Roman.

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