Georgia’s Zviadi Pataridze will seek a sixth age group world title ©UWW

Georgia’s Zviadi Pataridze will headline Greco-Roman competition when the inaugural Under-23 World Wrestling Championships begins tomorrow at Bydgoszcz in Poland.

The event has been launched following the success of the European version in 2016, where over 400 wrestlers from 34 nations participated.

Greco-Roman competition will take place on the opening two days, with women’s freestyle then following from November 23 to 24.

Action will conclude with the men’s freestyle event, which will take place from November 25 to 26.

Pataridze will go in search of a sixth Greco-Roman world title, with the 20-year-old having already earned three at junior level, having already triumphed twice in cadet competition.

The Georgian will compete in the men’s 130 kilogram field, which will take place on Wednesday (November 22).

The inaugural World Championships follows a successful European event in 2016 ©UWW
The inaugural World Championships follows a successful European event in 2016 ©UWW

Four divisions will be the focus on the opening day, with the 71kg, 75kg, 85kg and 98kg events set to take place.

Georgia’s Ramaz Zoidze will be among the favourites in the 71kg competition, as he seeks to secure his third world title.

He will head into the competition boosted by a victory at the European Under-23 Championships, but will face the challenge of cadet world champion Matias Lipasti of Finland.

Azerbaijan’s Islam Abbasov and Ali Cengiz of Turkey, who both boast world junior titles, will be among the favourites in the 85kg division.