#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Asian Championships 10 freestyle brackets

Friday, April 22, 2022 - 12:47 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 22) -- The final two days of the Asian Championships will see freestyle wrestlers take the mats. The draw for all 10 freestyle weight classes was held in Ulaanbaatar on Friday.

Olympic medalist Ravi KUMAR (IND) and Bajrang PUNIA (IND) will be in action alongside a strong Iran team as well. Japan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are also bringing some known names to the competition.

57kg

Ravi KUMAR (IND) and Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) will clash for a second time in two months if both can hold true to their number one and two seedings respectively.  

Kumar is sitting in the quarterfinal on the top side and will face Rikuto ARAI (JPN) in that bout. The semifinal will see Kumar or Arai facing the winner of Reza MOMENIJOUJADEH (IRI) and Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) who is seeded third.

The lower side has Abdullaev in the quarterfinal and is likely to face Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ) in that bout. Third seed Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) has to wait for the winner of Sunggwon KIM (KOR) and Muhammad BILAL (PAK).

61kg

The 61kg can see the clash of top seed Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) and Rio silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) in the semifinal on the upper side. The Kyrgyzstan wrestler is in the quarterfinal and will likely face defending champion Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) in that bout.

For Higuchi, he needs to beat Ali ALMOHAINI (KUW) to reach the quarterfinals where he can face one of Mekan MUHAMMEDOV (TKM) or Mangal KADIYAN (IND) who is seeded fourth.

The lower side of the bracket has the second seed Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) in the quarterfinals. He will have to wait to find out his opponent as Darioush HAZRATGHOLIZADEH (IRI) and Insang CHOI (KOR) wrestle it out in the 1/8 finals.

Third seed Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ) will get one of the U23 world bronze Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL) or Muhamad IKROMOV (TJK) in the quarterfinals before a potential semifinal against Alibegov.

65kg

If Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB) can beat Seonho YOO (KOR) in his opening bout, he will face top seed Bajrang PUNIA (IND) in the quarterfinal. The winner is likely to face fourth seed Haji ALI (BRN) in the semifinal.

Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL) and Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ) are meeting in the first round on the lower side and the winner will get to face Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) in the quarterfinal.

The lower side, however, has junior world champion Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) as well. He makes his debut in the Olympic weight class of 65kg and will face Inayat ULLAH (PAK) in his first bout before a quarterfinal against third seed Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN). That bout could be a clash of the styles as both like to take their time to attack.

70kg

The favorite to win the gold and world silver medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) and defending champion Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) are seeded number one and two respectively and can only meet in the final.

For that, Akmataliev will have to first beat one of Perman HOMMADOV (TKM) or NAVEEN (IND) in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he is likely to face the U23 Asian champion from 2019 Temuulen ENKHTUYA (MGL)

Talgat will get either Yongseok JEONG (KOR) or Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB) in the quarterfinals but the semifinals can be a bigger test as he will have to beat one of Mohammademehdi YEGANEHJAFARI (IRI) or Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN).

74kg

Defending champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) is seeded third at 74kg which means he will have Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ) in the semifinals if they hold true to their seeding. Orozbekov was bronze when Kaipanov won gold in 2021.

But Kaipanov will have to go past either the '21 Asian bronze Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) or the upcoming Yash TUSHIR (IND). The Navruzov-Tushir bout will be a display of some willy wrestling and Tushir's stamina.

Orozbekov has to beat one of CHARLYYEV (TKM) or Hong LOU (SGP).

Top seed and former world bronze medalist Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) will be leading the charge for Iran and a quarterfinal against Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) who won a bronze in 2020.

Fourth seed Byambadorj BAT-ERDENE (MGL) will have to wrestle against Seungbong LEE (KOR) or Lakmal Wijesooriya (SRI) for a spot in the semifinals.

79kg

Number one seed and '20 Asian champion Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) can set up a rematch of that final from New Delhi against Gourav BALIYAN (IND) in the semifinal in Ulaanbaatar. That can only happen if they both win their first bout.

Budazhapov will wrestle one of Jasurbek USMONOXUNOV (UZB) or Bumgue SEO (KOR) in the quarterfinal to reach the semifinal while Baliyan has to beat Gurbanmyrat OVEZBERDIYEV (TKM).

Number two seed Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) will likely wrestle Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL) in the quarterfinal. A win will take him to the semifinal.

That bout can be against third seed Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ) but first, he will have to go past the winner of Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN) and Shuhrat BOZOROV (TJK).

86kg

Since world champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) is not entered, Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) takes the top seed and can face Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) in the quarterfinal. A semifinal against either Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ) or Muhammad INAM (PAK) awaits.

Second seed and former world silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) will begin his campaign against Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM) or Mohsen MOSTAFAVI (IRI). If he manages to reach the semifinal he can face third seed Gwanuk KIM (KOR). Kim will have to beat one of Shota SHIRAI (JPN) and Temuujin MENDBILEG (MGL).

92kg

Junior world champion Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) did not get a seed but will be primed to win the gold at 92kg. He wrestles Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ) in the quarterfinal and can face the top seed and '20 Asian silver Takuma OTSU (JPN).

The Japanese wrestler has Jinmyeong KIM (KOR) first up in the quarterfinal.

The lower side has Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL) as the second seed and two-time age-group world medalist Viky CHAHAR (IND) as the third seed. Stopping them from facing other in the semifinal will be Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB) and Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ).

Chahar has Chynybekov in the quarters while Dagvadorj will wrestle Saparniyazov.

97kg

Second seed Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) is the favorite to win the gold at 97kg and for that, he has to beat Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM) in the quarterfinal and one of third seed Satywart KADIAN (IND) or Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) in the semifinal.

His finalist will come from the top side which has top seed Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) who was second at the 2019 Asian Championships. He wrestles Yasar Dogu 2022 bronze medalist Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ) in the quarterfinal.

The other quarterfinal will see Minwon SEO (KOR) against Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB).

125kg

Top seed and junior World bronze Anirudh KUMAR (IND) will have to battle it out against Rustam ISKANDARI (TJK) in the quarterfinal. Iskandari is a three-time Asian medalist and is the favorite to reach the final from the top side.

But he has Tokyo Olympian at 97kg Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) waiting in the semifinals. The fourth seed Yergali still has to beat Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM) in the quarterfinal.

The lower side quarterfinals have second seed Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN) wrestling Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL) while Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) is wrestling Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB).

The winner of these quarterfinals will clash in the semifinal before the final.

#JapanWrestling

Another Ono rises: Konami follows brother's footsteps

Friday, August 29, 2025 - 02:52 By Ikuo Higuchi

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TOKYO (August 27) -- When you think of the name Ono from Shimane Prefecture, many will recall Masanosuke ONO (JPN), a world champion who is quickly becoming a global star, who now primarily competes in the United States.

Ono's younger sister Konami, who was undefeated in the national tournament during her elementary school years, is just like her brother. She went on to attend Nippon Sport Science University Ohka High School in Tokyo, where she grew up steadily, winning the Inter-High School Championships in 2023 and also winning silver at the U17 World Championships the same year.

A shoulder injury caused her to slow down, but through repeated practice at Nippon Sport Science University she regained her former strength and won the East Japan Student Championships and the All Japan Amateur Championships [women's competition is open to university students as well] last week.

Konami ONO (JPN)Konami ONO (JPN), left, won a silver medal at the 2023 U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Being coached by 2004 Athens Olympic bronze medalist Chikara TANABE and Kaori ICHO, she described herself as being in "the best environment."

Ono had been suffering from pain in the right shoulder and had to undergo a surgery in June last year. She had initially aimed for a comeback last year at the All Japan Championships [Emperor's Cup] in December, but was forced to withdraw. She returned to competition in April of this year at the Junior Queen's Cup U20, where she won one match, but lost the next match to a junior from high school by technical superiority.

"There were times when my shoulder would dislocate just by walking. It was a frustrating year," said Ono with her voice becoming teary, as if the pain had returned. "I'm happy because I was injured and couldn't wrestle for a while," she said but added, "I realized I need to practice more and get stronger."

Inspiration from brother Ono

While she was off the mat, Konami watched her brother Masanosuke win the gold medal at the U20 World Championships in 2024 and later become the world champion at 61kg at the Non-Olympic World Championships.

"It's not something I could ever imitate," she says, and although he is someone she should "admire" rather than "target," he is also someone close to her, having competed alongside since childhood. "I want to study hard and catch up," she says.

Konami ONO (JPN)Konami ONO (JPN) with world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA). (Photo courtesy: Masaharu Ono) 

Earlier in spring, Konami accompanied her older brother to the United States, where he trains at Pennsylvania State University. She was still recovering and was unable to train, but she watched her brother's win against 2024 Paris Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA).

"I thought American wrestling was really amazing. It was inspiring," she said.

What made the biggest impression on Konami was how much fun her brother seemed to be having wrestling, even though he was in a foreign country.

"He really enjoys wrestling," she said. "I was amazed that there are people who love wrestling that much [laughs].

"My brother is my role model," she said. "I often watch his techniques and aspire to be like him."

What she finds particularly impressive is his speed, and the way he unconsciously develops his techniques. She herself sometimes has trouble deciding what to do next during a match, but her brother's body moves without a second thought. "I need to be able to come out with techniques one after the other," she said.

Training with Fujinami, Onishi

While Ono found his path in the United States, Konami is thinking of firmly establishing herself in Japan.

"I think that if I stay at Nippon Sport Science University, I will become really strong," she says, believing that his current environment is the place where she can develop the skills to compete on the world stage.

Not only is there an impressive coaching staff, but there are also world-class athletes such as 2024 Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) and Asian champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) in the 57kg and 59kg weight class, respectively. Fujinami won gold at the Olympics in 53kg.

"I practice with Akari every day. She's really strong..." she said, admiringly, and when she's not sparring, she's always following Fujinami's movements to study them.

Since they are both in the 57kg weight class, could she challenge Fujinami as early as the All Japan Championships in December? To that question, she gave no clear answer, saying, "I'm not at the level where I can fight yet..." and said that she might move up a weight class as her body grows, so it's still up in the air, but perhaps the day is approaching when the middleweight trio, including Onishi, will take to the world stage.

Rather than setting big goals, her current goal is to "compete in many matches and enjoy wrestling." She says that she is actually enjoying it, so perhaps she is getting closer to her brother's level. Her next concrete goal is the All Japan Women's Open Championships in October.

She vowed to make a leap forward, saying, "I want to train both my body and mind and become even stronger. I want to become a star from Shimane Prefecture!"