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Asian Championships Day 5 Greco-Roman Finals Set

Monday, April 15, 2024 - 05:34 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 15) -- The Asian Championships moves on to Greco-Roman with five weight classes in action. All eyes will be on world champion and birthday boy Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) who won his first Asian title in 2018 at the same arena.

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The finals for the five Greco-Roman weight class

55kg: Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) vs. Yu Chol RO (PRK)

63kg: Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) vs. Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ)

77kg: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) vs. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)

87kg: Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) vs. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)

130kg: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) vs. Lingzhe MENG (CHN) 

14:30: Minseok KIM (KOR) denies Lingzhe MENG (CHN) a shot against Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) as he wins the 130kg semifinals 1-1. Kim got the par terre advantage in the second period to lead 1-1 on criteria. Kim was warned for passivity but Meng asked to resume in standing. Meng failed to score despite Kim's extreme passive wrestling.

14:24: Once again, Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) showed the perils of allowing him the first shot at par terre. Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ) seemed helpless as the defending champion reeled off four rolls in succession to win their 130kg semifinal 9-0 in 1:44.

14:20: Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) sets up last year's final rematch with Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) after beating Masato SUMI (JPN) 1-1 in the 87kg semifinals. Alizadeh got the par terre advantage in the second period to take the criteria win.

14:13: Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ), still going strong at 33, will get a chance to win an Asian gold at 87kg a decade after his last after executing two big throws from par terre for a 9-0 victory over Rahimjon UZOKOV (UZB). He will see in a few minutes if he will get a rematch with Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), who beat him in last year's final.

14:05: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) was surprised by Yeonghun NOH (KOR) with a headlock throw for four but he kept his calm and scored nine points via stepouts and fleeing and two takedowns to win 13-4 and set up a final against Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ).

14:04: Reigning champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) gave the packed crowd what they came to see, spectacularly tossing Amir Ali ABDI (IRI) twice for 5 points in a 12-2 victory to make the 77kg final. Makhmudov was trailing 2-0 and in the bottom of par terre when he turned it all around, stepping over on a reverse body lift attempt by Abdi. From there he gained a reverse lock himself, and tossed the Iranian like a rag doll not once, but twice.

13:59: After taking home two bronze medals in 2021 and 2022, Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) will get a chance to fight for a gold after knocking off defending champion Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) with a come-from-behind 11-4 victory in the 63kg semifinals. With Mohammadi leading 2-0, Suzuki attempts a front headlock throw, but Mohammadi isn't fooled and lands on top for 2 to take a 4-0 lead into the second period. Suzuki gets his chance at par terre and takes advantage, scoring three rolls. He later adds a takedown and a stepout, with a fleeing point tacked onto the latter.

13:50: A big arm throw from Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ) to take a 4-0 lead against Chan KIM (PRK) and he adds a stepout in the second period to make it 5-0. Kim with a par terre and roll to cut it to 5-3 but fails to stop Zharlykassyn from winning.

13:42: Defending champion Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) with a gut wrench late in the second period to claim a 3-2 win over Taemin KIM (KOR). The first two par terre were awarded to Kim but Dad Marz got the third which has no points but an advantage on top.

13:39: Yu Chol RO (PRK) manhandles two-time world bronze medalist Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) 10-1 to earn a place in the 55kg final.

The semifinals for the session begin at 13:30

13:17: Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ), the losing finalist at 87kg last year to Alizadeh, makes short work of Seunghwan LEE (KOR), storming into the semifinals with a 9-0 win in 1:31.

13:16: Two reigning champions from Iran post wins on adjacent mats to advance to the semifinals. World champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) scored three quick rolls from par terre to finish off an 8-0 victory Islomjon RAKHMATOV (UZB) in just under two minutes at 130kg, and a few minutes later, Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) topped Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) 8-1 at 87kg.

13:08: Chan KIM (PRK) knocks off world 60kg bronze medalist Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) 3-1 to advance to the 63kg semifinals. Kim gets the gut wrench from par terre, then doesn't budge when he is put on the bottom.

12:58: World bronze medalist Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) moves a step closer to a second straight gold at 55kg, scoring three rolls with a front headlock from par terre in the first period, then hanging on for a 7-2 win when Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ) tries the same technique in the second.

12:52: Lingzhe MENG (CHN), the losing finalist at 130kg last year, begins his campaign with a 6-0 victory over Ali AL SHARUEE (IRQ).

12:52: Minseok KIM (KOR) with a 5-1 victory over Ganzolboo BUYANTOGTOKH (MGL) to advance to the 130kg semifinals. He will face second seed Lingzhe MENG (CHN) for a spot in the final.

12:47: World 77kg bronze medalist Nao KUSAKA (JPN), aiming to eventually avenge a close semifinal loss to Makhmudov at the World Championships, finishes off a 10-0 victory over Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) with a 4-point front body lock throw.

12:42: World champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) dodges a bullet and Kyrgyzstan breathes a sigh of relief! In a battle of Asian champions from 2023, Makhmudov scores 2 with a lift in his second time in par terre to pull off a 3-3 victory over Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) in the 77kg quarterfinals. Makhmudov couldn't budge Magomadov, the 72kg champion last year, in par terre in the first period, while Magamadov got a gut wrench when it was his turn.

12:40: Yu Chol RO (PRK) got a huge throw over Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ) for a 10-2 win at 55kg but Kyrgyzstan challenged for a leg four. A review confirms it but Ro ultimately gets a takedown and gut to win 10-2.

12:36: Asian Games silver medalist Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) powers to a 9-0 victory over Asian U23 champion Haodong TAN (CHN) to advance to the 63kg semifinals. Suzuki gets four points from par terre to take a 5-0 lead into the second period, where he scores a takedown and gut wrench to end it.

12:30: World bronze medalist Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) starts his 55kg campaign with a 10-1 against Nurzat KABDYRAKHIMOV (KAZ). A solid show of gut wrenches from par terre in the second period.

12:29: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) gets the defense of his 63kg title off to a good start,  defeating Karrar ALBIDHAN (IRQ) 9-0 to advance to the semifinals. Mohammadi scores a takedown and gut wrench, a stepout and another takedown to lead 7-0 in the first period. He finishes it off with a takedown in the second.

12:23: Amir Ali ABDI (IRI) with six stepouts in his 8-0 win over SAJAN (IND) at 77kg. Relentless from Abdi!

12:23: Mansur SHADUKAYEV (KAZ) hits a nice lateral drop for such a big man, and comes out a 5-2 winner over Aybegshazada KURRAYEV (TKM) to advance at 130kg.

12:12: 40-year-old Eduard BABENOSHEV (TJK) managed to be on the mat and even lead 9-8 against Ganzolboo BUYANTOGTOKH (MGL) but he injured his foot and was ruled ineligible to continue at 130kg.

12:11: Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), looking to repeat a golden sibling double with brother Ilkhom that they accomplished in 2019, gives up the lead, but comes back with a takedown and stepout in the final minute to beat Dastan KADYROV (KGZ) 8-5 at 63kg. Bakhramov was leading 5-0 when Kadyrov scored a pair of gut wrenches to go ahead 5-5 on criteria.

12:09: Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ), a three-time medalist aiming for his first gold, rolls to a 9-0 victory over Turbold GANBOLD (MGL) at 87kg.  

12:07: Dokyung JUNG (KOR) got two points from par terre in the first period and Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ) managed to throw Jung from par terre in the second for which he got four points. However, Jung challenged the call but lost as the judges confirmed the four-point move. Zharlykassyn led 6-4 with under two minutes left and he held on to that lead till time expired.

11:57: Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ) storms to a quick 8-0 victory over two-time bronze medalist Arjun HALAKURKI (IND) at 55kg. He will next face defending champion Poya DAD MARZ (IRI).

11:55: Nurzat KABDYRAKHIMOV (KAZ) scores all of his points countering throws in a 8-7 victory over  Kagetora OKAMOTO (JPN) at 55kg. That included a 4-pointer that played a role as it was the key criteria when the Japanese came back from an 8-2 deficit but needed more than a stepout to win.

11:43: Yu Chol RO (PRK) comes out all guns blazing in his 55kg qualification bout against Baosheng HUANG (CHN) and gets a 10-2 win. He uses front headlock exposure to score his points

11:41: Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), the 2023 champion at 72kg, has the opening match on Mat B at 77kg. He fights off a headlock throw by Temuulen ENKHTUYA (MGL) for a takedown, then rolls twice for a 6-0 lead. The Mongolian challenges for a missed throw, but it is denied. There is no score in the second period, and Magamodov wins 7-0 to earn a place in the quarterfinals against defending champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ). 

11:30: After a memorable day with Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) winning the gold medal, the Kyrgyzstan fans will be cheering for Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) as Greco-Roman kicks off at the Asian Championships.

Obituary

Remembering Saitiev: Master on mat who inspired many

Monday, April 7, 2025 - 12:53 By Vinay Siwach

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 7) -- Buvaisar SAITIEV was an unknown before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. And after that he became the legend. 

At 21, Saitiev thrilled the crowd and displayed techniques that the world thought were impossible to execute at 74kg. Saitiev would go on to win two more Olympic golds -- 2004 and 2008 -- as he became the best 74kg wrestler out there. A three-time Olympic champion, six-time world champion, and an inspiration to the wrestling world, Saitiev passed away earlier this month at the age of 49.

"Biggest and greatest wrestler" - Nenad LALOVIC, UWW President

Brandon SLAY (USA) was in that crowd at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The 21-year-old was amazed what he saw. He watched another 21-year-old win the gold medal.

"It was an honor to watch him in Atlanta," Slay said. "Then study him and compete against him four years later."

Believe it or not, that was the first time Russia won Olympic gold medal at 74kg, a weight class now synonymous with their domination, both at senior and youth level.

Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS)Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

At the time, the U.S. was focused on defending its dominance at 74kg, with Iran also challenging for supremacy, while Saitiev had yet to make his mark internationally. The Olympic history saw wrestlers from Turkiye, Japan, the United States and Korea win gold medal in this weight class. So when Saitiev arrived, he was the underdog. In the 1996 Atlanta final, he defeated the defending Olympic champion Park JANG SOON and ushered an era of Russian dominance at this weight class.

It took a once-in-a-lifetime talents like Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) to deny the gold medals to Russia in 2012 and 2016 respectively. However, Russia is now at top. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (ROC) won gold medals at the 2018 and 2019 World Championships, 2020 Tokyo Olympics [held in 2021] before winning it again in 2023 and Russian transfer to Uzbekistan and Saitiev's student Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) won in 2024.

A little insight on how the U.S. discovered Saitiev is provided in the the documentary 'Slaying Saitiev". Pat SMITH (USA), who was wrestling at the 1995 Ivan Yarygin Memorial, recalls when he first saw Saitiev, his opponent in the final.

Saitiev had not wrestled senior-level yet internationally and was till three months away from winning his first World Championships gold. So Smith and his team thought they are favorites to win the gold medal at the Yarygin.

"I go out on the mat, I see Saitiev, the fight starts," Smith recalls in the documentary. "And right away, right away I thought: “This is the best they have.” Because the way he was punching, his movement, the way he was flowing from one position to another... he was simply unstoppable. I did some takedowns, but in the end he gave me a pretty good beating. I come off the mat, Bruce is standing there, I say: “You were wrong. That guy from the semi-finals wasn’t the best. This is the best . ” – “I didn’t even know who it was!” – “Now you know. Buvaisar Saitiev.” And two months later he won the world championship. The best wrestler I’ve ever wrestled. There’s no question about that. The best.

"He looked like a librarian, skinny, gangly. But the positions he scores from, the way he moves you around the mat... I've never wrestled anyone like that again."

Smith’s observation wasn’t just a fleeting comment. It captured the essence of what made Saitiev so formidable on the mat. Saitiev, standing at 6 feet, defied convention of a tall wrestler standing upright. He would engage in ties which forced his opponents to shoot while he was in control. Saitiev would counter rather easily and score.

Saitiev used to engage with his opponents and yet they found it extremely difficult to score a takedown on him.

Brandon SLAY (USA)Brandon SLAY (USA) over Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS) at the 2000 Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

Slay, who defeated Saitiev at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, had to study Saitiev for years before breaking through in their Olympic meeting.

"The greatness of Saitiev came from how extremely hard it was to finish takedowns on him," Slay says. "Most of the time when people attacked Saitiev, either he scored or no one scored. And, most of the time when he attacked, he scored. That makes for a very challenging opponent to beat, which is why he rarely lost. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to wrestle the greatest wrestler of all time."

Saitiev had it all. Snapdowns, feints, two-on-one, underhooks, overhooks, defense, attack, chain wrestling, innovations, and techniques that made him score points from any positions. So many options to immobilize his opponents who would eventually break down.

On March 3, the day he passed away, the internet saw outpouring tributes to his legacy. But some of the most shared posts were his clips from various bouts on his career. A few wrote how they began wrestling because of him, others explained why he inspired them to adapt and study wrestling.

Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS)Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS). (Photo: United World Wrestling)

2008 Olympic champion Henry CEJUDO (USA) called him the "greatest" and he was a 'fanboy.'

"A man that was poetry in motion at its finest, and in my opinion, the greatest athlete who has ever ever lived or walked on planet Earth," Cejudo wrote on his Instagram. "I would never fanboy over anybody but Buvaisar. I was so honored of the times that I did get a chance to hang out as I had a permanent smile the whole day. Thank you for all the great years that you gave the wrestling community and inspiring millions of people across the world. I can honestly say without Saitiev I wouldn’t be the wrestler that I am today."

John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA), a wrestler known for his crafty moves and detailing of wrestling, tributed his passion to Saitiev, who himself was known as a wizard on the mat for his moves.

"Buvaisar Saitiev was how I fell in love with the art of wrestling, I wanted to be like him," Diakomihalis wrote on X. "His innovation and passion for improvement were some of the staples of how I approached learning the sport or learning anything in my life."

Saitiev had that impact on people. Jamalov, who won the 2024 Paris Olympic gold medal, was Saitiev's student. Jamalov said that Saitiev was family.

"His approach was very subtle and deep, he always knew how to choose the right and necessary words for support," Jamalov said. "Every meeting with him was unforgettable and every word of his was unforgettable. Outside of wrestling, he was very caring and compassionate towards me, he was always worried about my injuries and operations."

While Jamalov was his student, Saitiev never backed from helping any wrestler. He 'couldn't stop himself from talk to even strangers if he had a broken ear.'

 

After Tokyo Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) lost her first-ever international bout to VINESH (IND) in Paris, she talked to Saitiev who had lost in Sydney after winning Atlanta but still won two more Olympic golds.

"I had a video call with him right after the Paris Olympics," Susaki said. "Like me, he didn't do well in his second Olympics. But he won gold medals in two more Olympics. I vowed to him that I would win gold medals in two more Olympics like him to become a legend.

"He also taught me that to become a legend, I should never lose again. I owe it all to him that I was able to stand up strong after losing. Thanks to him, I decided to keep fighting to win two more Olympic gold medals. And I vowed to become a legendary wrestler like him. I won't lose anymore. I will keep winning. Your message is a treasure for my life. He is a legend and his wrestling has always fascinated me. His matches are always amazing to watch and I think he is the most talented wrestler in history."

This off the mat personality of Saitiev resonated with many, even with people outside of wrestling. He was humble, witty and respectful.

Sports Express journalist Yuri GOLYSHAK recalled his moments with Saitiev who was part of many reception after his 2008 Beijing gold medal. 

"I was sure that we would meet again. Saitiev had enough stories for ten interviews," Golyshak wrote in his tribute. "I even imagined how it would be - not in a hurry, like after Beijing. Not in a car, no. Everything will be different. I will come to his home in Khasavyurt. It will be a fairy tale. We will go to the mountains. I will understand something that I did not understand before, in this amazing, invincible man. And in life in general."

Saitiev's influence transcends mere records and titles. His tactics on the mat just when the internet era arrived gave insights into a wrestler may only be imagined. He passed on that mastery to a special few who remember him as a mentor, inspiration and the greatest ever.