#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships Day 6 Greco-Roman Finals Set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 16) -- The final day of the Asian Championships here in Bishkek with the last five Greco-Roman weight classes. World champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will hope to defend his Asian title at 60kg.

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The finals for the five Greco-Roman weight classes are set

60kg - Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) vs Kaito INABA (JPN)

67kg - Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) vs. Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI)

72kg - Shingo HARADA (JPN) vs. Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI)

82kg - Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) 

97kg - Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs. Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ)

14:40: Two-time world bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) simply overpowered Jeongyul KWON (KOR) at 97kg to make his first final since winning the gold in 2020. Saravi chalked up four stepouts to go with an arm drag takedown in cruising to an 8-0 victory that ended with a point for an unsuccessful challenge by the Koreans of the final stepout.

14:36: Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) will wrestle for the 97kg gold medal as he beats Houzhi HAO (CHN) 8-0 in the semifinals. Matsiyev gets a stepout and then finishes the bout with three turns from par terre.

14:29: Was that the match of the day? Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI hangs on for 7-7 criteria win over Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ) in the 82kg semifinals. Orunkul Uulu hits a four-pointer in the first period to lead 5-0 but Garmsiri begins the second period with a front headlock four which Kyrgyzstan challenge. The four points are upheld and Kyrgyzstan loses the challenge, giving Garmsiri a 5-5 criteria lead. Orunkul Uulu scores a takedown to regain the lead 7-5. But Garmsiri doesn't give up and uses another headlock for two throws but the referees offer no points. Iran challenges and after review, Garmsiri gets two points for the first throw but the second throw is clean. A 7-7 criteria lead for Garmsiri is enough as he sees off the final 24 seconds without any trouble.

14:23: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), the first high schooler to represent Japan at the Asian Championships since 1989, will be wrestling for gold in his international senior debut after ousting 2022 bronze medalist Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) 9-2 at 82kg. In the first period, Yoshida slips behind and throws Rasulov for 4 at the edge. Put on top in par terre, Yoshida is unable to turn and takes a 5-0 lead into the second period. With 30 seconds left, Rasulov launches a 'flying squirrel' over-the-top attempt, but Yoshida lands on top for another 4, while Rasulov is awarded 2.

14:10: Kaito INABA (JPN) has been throwing around his opponents the whole day and Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ) is his latest victim. Inaba stops Kabdunassarov in the middle of a second turn from par terre, lifts him for a beautiful four-pointer and leads 5-3 at the break. He gets a par terre on top in the second period, to go up 6-3 when Kubadunassarov is called for a leg foul and Inaba goes up 8-3. A late stepout from Kabdunassarov but Inaba wins 8-4 to set up a 60kg final against Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)

14:07: Double world champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will get a shot at third straight Asian gold at 60kg after knocking off Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) 9-0. Sharshenbekov showed why he is at the top of the sport when, in par terre, he was unable to toss Dehbozorgi while in a standing bear hug, but went back to the mat and scored with a gut wrench. Dehbozorgi was assessed a 2-point penalty for an illegal move that gave Sharshenbekova a 5-0 lead but also caused some discomfort in his shoulder. It hardly slowed him down in the second period as he scored a takedown and finished off the match with a 2-point throw at the edge.

13:56: Shingo HARADA (JPN) learned his lesson from a failed throw in the first period, coming back with a 4-pointer in the second en route to a 9-2 victory over Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) to make the 72kg final at his first Asian Championships. Aliev, on the bottom of par terre in the first period, disrupted a throw by Harada to score a 2-point exposure. In the second period, Harada jumped behind for a takedown, then followed with a textbook-perfect reverse lift for 4, before adding another takedown.

13:50: A 10-0 rout from Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) of Adilkhan SATAYEV (LAZ) in the 72kg semifinals. Rostami with two rolls from par terre and Satayev gets hit for two-point caution. The bout resumes in par terre and Rostami gets the roll to win 9-0. A lost challenge from Kazakhstan gives Rostami the final point.

13:44: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) thrills the crowd by hanging on for a 2-1 victory over Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) in their 67kg semifinal. With Beishekeev in par terre first, Chung reverses a roll attempt, but instead, Beishekeev gets a fortunate stepout from the scramble for a 2-0 lead. Chung can't get a turn from par terre in the second period, so the 63kg silver medalist from last year will be fighting for a bronze at best.

13:35: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) needs only 58 seconds to finish the 67kg semifinal against Rovshen ATDAYEV (TKM). Esmaeili Leivesi with a takedown and roll, then adds another takedown to make it 6-0. A lift and full throw to win 10-0.

13:15: World U20 bronze medalist Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) makes it 5 out of 5 for Iranians in the semifinals when he outlasts Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK) 8-5 to make the final four at 60kg.

13:07: It would be hard to get a more impressive win than the one that Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) just posted against Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB) in the 60kg quarterfinals. After powering to a 4-point takedown, Sharshenbekov comes back by flipping Bakhromov for another 4-pointer to end the match in 27 seconds.

13:05: High schooler Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) gets his senior debut off to a good start with a 7-2 win over Rohit DAHIYA (IND) to make the 82kg semifinals.

13:00: Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) ends Sultan EID's (JOR) inspired campaign with a 9-0 technical superiority. Rasulov with four turns from par terre to win.

12:56: Not to be for Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)! He tries a big throw to get a four but falls on his back and Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) sticks him to get the fall at 97kg. Matsiyev led 7-4 when Makhmudov tried the arm throw.

12:52: World and Olympic bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), one of the bigger names in action on the final day,  reels off four rolls from par terre for a quickfire 9-0 victory over Badamdorj BALTMUNKH (MGL). Saravi has an Asian gold from 2020.

12:45: Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) with two rolls from par terre to take a 5-0 lead against Ji LENG (CHN) who did get a turn from par terre in the second period but failed to stop Rostami from winning 5-3 and advanced to the 72kg semifinals.

12:44: Returning bronze medalist Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) has a roll from par terre eliminated on challenge, but comes back in the second period with a 4-point throw in his second chance to defeat Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ) 7-1 in the 67kg quarterfinals.

12:39: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) books his place in the 67kg semifinals with an 8-0 win over Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK). Esmaeili Leivesi hits a 4-point throw in the first period and ends the match with a takedown 34 seconds into the second.

12:35: A last-ditch headlock throw from Rovshen ATDAYEV (TKM) gets him a 9-6 win over Man Gwang SON (PRK) at 67kg. Atdayev led 5-0 when Son scored a four-pointer and then got the par terre position to take a 5-5 criteria lead. Son scored a stepout to be 6-5 clear but Atdayev hit a solid throw for the win.

12:33: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) is through to the 67kg semifinals with a 7-1 win over Vinayak PATIL (IND).

12:28: Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB), the 2019 champion and 2021 silver medalist, trails 3-2 in the second period against Hyok SONG (PRK) at 60kg when bulls his way to a takedown, gets 2 points for a penalty, then adds a takedown for an 8-3 win. Bakhromov's brother Islomjon failed to medal at 63kg on Monday.

12:23: World bronze medalist Liguo CAO (CHN) finishes off a 9-1 victory over Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL) with a stepout to advance to the 60kg quarterfinals, where he will face Kaito INABE (JPN).

12:20: Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ) with two front headlock throws to beat PRAVESH (IND) 9-0 at 60kg. He will face Seunghak KIM (KOR) in the quarterfinals as Kim defeated Umit DURDYYEV (TKM) 8-0 in an earlier bout.

12:18: With the arena still buzzing over the loss by local hero Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) the previous night, the host country's other Greco world and Asian champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) powers into the 60kg quarterfinals. Needing just one point to finish off SUPARMANTO (INA), Sharshenbekov hits a 4-pointer to win 11-0 in 1:20.

12:14: Former U20 world champion Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) wins his opening bout at 60kg 9-0 against Jui Chi HUANG (TPE). No slip up from the Iranian wrestler in that bout

12:13: Sultan EID (JOR) still has a long way to go to become Jordan's first Asian medalist since 2013, but he's off to a good start with a 5-1 victory over 82kg over 2019 world U23 bronze medalist Yevgeniy POLIVADOV (KAZ). Eid is not a totally unknown entity, having won a bronze at 87kg at the Kolov-Petrov tournament in Bulgaria in March.

12:03: Two-time bronze medalist Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) gets a 2-point throw in his second chance at par terre to take a 4-0 lead over Jiyeon LEE (KOR) in their 72kg match. Lee gets a takedown with 20 seconds to go, but it's not enough and Nurlanbekov walks off a 4-2 winner.

11:58: Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB), the silver medalist last year at 63kg, falls at the first stage at 67kg to Man Gwang SON (PRK), who scores from par terre in the first period and overcomes a leg cramp in the second to win 4-1.

11:53: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI), the 2022 world U20 champion and this year's Yasar Dogu winner at 67kg, gets off to a roaring start with a 4-point reverse throw in his opener against Lei LI (CHN). Esmaeili Leivesi adds a throw from par terre for a 7-0 lead after one period, then ends the match with a 4-point throw midway through the second period.

11:41: Hyok SONG (PRK) is in a tight match with Ali ALBIDHAN (IRQ)at 60kg when the Iraqi seems to run out of gas late in the third period. Song slams him to his back and Albidhan meekly concedes a fall.

11:41: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR), the silver medalist last year at 63kg and Asian Games bronze medalist at 60kg, takes the mat at 67kg against world U23 bronze medalist Haruto YABE (JPN). Chung scores a first-period takedown, then survives unscathed in a stint on the bottom of par terre in the second for a 3-1 win.

11:35: What a start to the day! Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) with two huge reverse lifts to beat Ganbayar NAMSRAI (MGL) 14-0 at 67kg.

11:30: Can Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) do what Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) failed to do? Can he give the Bishkek crowd something to cheer about on the final day of the Asian Championships?

#WrestleZagreb

Valencia stuns Ghasempour in semis; Uguev returns to final

By Ken Marantz

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 13) -- It was supposed to be the anointing of Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) as the successor to legendary compatriot Hassan YAZDANI at freestyle 86kg. Instead it turned out to be the introduction of Zahid VALENCIA (USA) as a new force on the scene.

In a battle between wrestlers who moved down this year from 92kg, Valencia put on a stunning display of disciplined wrestling to knock off Ghasempour 7-0 in the semifinals on Saturday, the opening day of the World Championships in Zagreb.

"I was prepared," Valencia said. "I felt comfortable knowing I did everything I could to prepare for this World Championships.

"If I wrestle like that, I'm the best in the world. No one can score like me. No one could shut out defense like me. I could score from anywhere. So I'm very confident in myself."

Iran, along with Japan, still put two wrestlers into Sunday's finals of the four weight classes in action, while it took a former Olympic champion to finally end the amazing run of an American high schooler who stole the show during the morning session.

Zahid VALENCIA (USA)Zahid VALENCIA (USA) defeated Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) 7-0 in the 86kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Ghasempour had long been biding his time at 92kg, winning back-to-back world titles at that weight in 2021 and 2022 while Yazdani dominated 86kg in a fierce rivalry with David TAYLOR (USA). With Yazdani sidelined following his injury-hit loss in the Paris Olympic final, Ghasempour was ready to seize the chance to shine at the Olympic weight.

Not so fast, said Valencia, who had a world bronze at 92kg from 2023 to his credit. Both wrestlers prepped for Zagreb with victories at 86kg at the Ranking Series events this year, Khasempour in Tirana and Valencia in Zagreb.

Back in the same Arena Zagreb on Saturday, Valencia earned an activity point before chalking up two takedowns to take a 5-0 lead into the break. He added two stepouts in the second period while twice wiggling out of low singles by the Iranian to clinch the victory.

"I'm out there moving fake and snap, and there's just no time for my opponents to grab a hold of me taken in a shot," Valencia said. "And even when they do, it's one thing getting in, it's another thing finishing. I don't do anything fancy, just stop the shot and move on to the next thing."

Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN)Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) reached the 86kg final after beating Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the final, Valencia will face Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), who rallied to a 17-7 victory over Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) in the other semifinal.

Ishiguro, an 2023 Asian bronze medalist, fell behind 7-1 early on when he got caught in a lace lock. After chipping away at the lead with a pair of takedowns, he wrapped up the ankles and, with Magamadov apparently injuring a knee as he tried to resist, reeled off six rolls to end the  match and make his first global final since winning the world U20 title in 2018.

Valencia and Ishiguro have met before, with the Japanese scoring an 11-0 victory in the semifinals of the 2023 Zagreb Open. But, Valencia said, that was then and this is now.

"I'm like, I don't even remember wrestling him," he said. "I know probably I've heard it from you guys that I lost, so I'm just going out there and wrestle how I've been wrestling. I just, I don't think anyone could stop me."

Zavur UGUEV (UWW)Zavur UGUEV (UWW) scores two points against Jaxen FORREST (USA) in the 61kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 61kg, it was experience over a very determined youth when Tokyo Olympic 57kg champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW) forged a 10-3 victory over teen phenom Jax FORREST (USA) to earn a shot at a third career world title.

The 30-year-old Uguev used his wits to defend against everything the long-limbed high schooler threw at him, particularly when he pulled away with an eight-point second period.

Uguev gained the kind of 2-point exposures that come with international experience, once putting Forrest onto his back when the American got too high as he tried to go up and over on a counter. Another time, he masterfully caught the 18-year-old in a cradle.

"Many people were betting on the American -- he’s young, promising," Uguev said. "As they say, we’re already battle-tested wolves, we can feel the mat, we wrestle with experience. But I wish him good luck, he’s just at the beginning of his journey."

Uguev, who won back-to-back world golds at 57kg in 2018 and 2019 but finished fifth at the last two World Championships, was relieved to be back in a world final.

"I’m very happy, I’ve been working toward this medal, toward this World Championships, for a long time," Uguev said. "Tomorrow I’ll do everything possible to take the gold medal at this championships."

In Sunday's final, Uguev will face Asian bronze medalist Ahmad JAVAN (IRI), who pulled a rabbit out of the hat by scoring a takedown with :03 left to stun Kum Hyok KIM (PRK) 3-2 in the second semifinal.

After giving up a stepout in the first period, Kim came back with a double-leg takedown to head into the break up 2-1. In the second period, Javan got Kim's leg up in the air, but was unable to finish the move and Kim continually fended off any further attempts.

But with the time ticking down, Javan snapped Kim down and spun behind for the winning takedown, setting off a roar of delight from the raucous Iranian supporters.

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) reached the final at 125kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran earned a second spot in the finals when two-time Olympic medalist Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) outclassed Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) 7-3 at 125kg in the final bout of the evening, giving him a chance to add to his world titles from 2021 and 2023.

It was the third time Zare has beaten Sharipov in two years, most recently a 3-0 triumph in the quarterfinals at the Tirana Ranking Series tourney in February.

In the final, Zare will take on European champion Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), who scored an activity point in the first period and a stepout in the second to defeat Robert BARAN (POL) 2-0.

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN)Returning silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), red, reached the 70kg final for a second year in a row. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 70kg, a rematch of the final at last year's Non-Olympic World Championships was spoiled when Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) knocked off defending champion Nurkosha KAIPANOV (KAZ) 5-2, setting up an all-Asian final with silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN).

Tumur Ochir, a 2021 world bronze medalist at 65kg, took a 2-0 lead in the first period with an activity point and a stepout, only to fall behind on criteria when Kaipanov opened the second period with a takedown. But the Mongolian went on the attack and came away with a stepout and takedown to complete a well-earned victory.

Earlier, Aoyagi repeated his victory in the final of the Budapest Ranking Series tournament over Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), right down to the final score of 8-0 thanks to a superfluous challenge at the end.

Aoyagi was leading 3-0 and well on the way to victory when Andreasyan tried to get behind and the Japanese locked his arms and dropped backwards for a 4-point throw. The Armenian side challenged, but to no avail.

Day 1 Results

Freestyle

61kg (26 entries)
SEMIFINAL - Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Jax FORREST (USA), 10-3
SEMIFINAL - Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) df. Kum Hyok KIM (PRK), 3-2

70kg (29 entries)
SEMIFINAL - Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) df. Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), 8-0
SEMIFINAL - Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) df. Nurkosha KAIPANOV (KAZ), 5-2

86kg (29 entries)
SEMIFINAL - Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), 7-0
SEMIFINAL - Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) df. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) by TF, 17-7, 3:50

125kg (27 entries)
SEMIFINAL - Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df Robert BARAN (POL), 2-0
SEMIFINAL - Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), 7-3