Zagreb, Croatia, 2025-09-20
Armenian wrestler Malkhas Amoyan has won his second world title at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships, defeating Olympic champion Nao Kusaka of Japan in a dominant performance. The victory in the men’s 77kg Greco-Roman final brings an emphatic end to Amoyan’s three-year wait for a world gold medal since moving up a weight class. He previously won the world title in the 72kg division in 2021. The win is particularly sweet as it avenges a frustrating loss to Kusaka in the semifinals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
A Masterclass in the Final Match
In the much-anticipated final, Amoyan demonstrated both his technical superiority and physical strength, controlling the match from the outset. The Armenian champion earned a commanding 10-1 victory over his Japanese rival, securing the win by technical superiority. After defending from the “par terre” position in the first period, Amoyan broke the match open in the second, executing a powerful reverse throw that earned him four points and a 7-1 lead. He sealed the victory with a second lift and throw, putting him at a 10-1 lead and ending the match early.
“Thankfully, at this World Championships I was prepared — mentally, physically, and functionally — and by God’s grace I managed to triumph and become a two-time world champion,” Amoyan stated after the win.
Amoyan’s Journey to Redemption
The 26-year-old had a challenging path to the gold medal match, facing tough opponents including American Kamal Bey in the first round and Turkish wrestler Ahmet Yilmaz in the quarterfinals. His victory over Japan’s Kusaka is especially significant, as he had lost to the same opponent in the Paris Olympics, where he went on to win a bronze medal. The World Championship gold is a major achievement for Amoyan, who has also won four European titles. His consistent performance at the highest levels of the sport has now resulted in a well-deserved second world title. The win brings Armenia to 25 team points at the championships, placing them in ninth position overall.
