Asian Championships day five freestyle finals set

Thursday, April 13, 2023 - 04:35 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (April 13) -- The Asian Championships has entered its business end with freestyle beginning Thursday. Five weight classes will be in action led by world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) at 65kg. The other weight classes in action are 57kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg.

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The finals for the evening session

57kg - AMAN (IND) vs. Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)

65kg - Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) vs. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)

70kg - Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ) vs. Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB)

79kg - Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) vs. Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ)

97kg - Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) vs. Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)

14:30: Top-seed Awusayim HABILA (CHN) gets off to a flying start against Makhsud VEYUSALOV (UZ) at 97kg, scoring a takedown and a pair of lace-lock rolls. He adds a high-crotch takedown to lead 8-0 after the first period. In the second, he gets in deep on a single, then gets behind. Veyusalov holds out for a bit, but Habila finally forces him to the mat to end the match at 3:53.

14:30: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) gave up a stepout but he scores one for himself before a takedown to lead 3-1 against Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN). A stepout in the second period makes it 4-1. But Tazhudinov with a body lock and four! He also gets two laces to lead 9-4. Just under two minutes left. Tazhudinov gets two more takedowns to lead 13-4 but Goleij comes with two of his own against a tiring Tazhudinov. However, that is all the time we have and the Bahrain wrestler will go to the 97kg final.

14:23: Can Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) follow up compatriot Doszhanov's thrilling win with a victory of his own over an Iranian opponent at 79kg? It doesn't start too well, as Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) opens with a takedown and an activity point. But Sakayev scores with a double-leg takedown and, keeping a firm grip on the legs, lifts up and gets a 2-point exposure to go ahead. Kavousi goes ahead with a pair of stepouts, but in the final 30 seconds, Sakayev gets in deep on a single, lifts up and dumps Kavousi to the mat. A fall! And he's into the final.

14:18: Walking into the 79kg finals, Bekzod ABDURAKHMANOV (UZB). He beats DEEPAK (IND) 10-0 in the 79kg semifinal using five different takedowns and transitions.

14:10: In perhaps the bout of the day, Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ) overcomes Morteza GHIASI (IRI) with some help from the crowd. A lot of scrambles in the bout but Doszhanov got the cradle for exposure to lead 4-1 with under a minute remaining. Ghiasi on his part tried to get an opening but failed to get one.

14:02: Zafarbek OTAKHANOV (UZB) makes short work of Orts ISAKOV (JOR) in their 70kg semifinal, scoring a quick takedown and locking up an arm, then flip-flopping his opponent back and forth for four quick exposures and a 10-0 technical fall in 54 seconds.

13:59: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) scores a takedown with :30 left to clinch a 5-2 victory over world U20 champion Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) to make the 65kg final. Jalolov uses a slick duck under for a takedown in the first period, but hurts himself in the second period, when he backs out for a stepout and a fleeing point, then gives up another point with a lost challenge that puts him behind 3-2.

13:55: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) gets the job done against Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN). A stepout and passivity point for Amouzad against Anraku's passivity point in the 2-1 win.

13:43: Almaz SMANBEKOV (KAZ), a bronze medalist a year ago, will be fighting for the 57kg gold after putting away Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) 8-6. Smanbekov scores a takedown in the first period, then opens the second with an arm throw for a 4-1 lead. He then stops a throw attempt and puts the Mongolian directly to his back for 4. With the big lead, he concedes three stepouts in the waning moments, two of which have a penalty point tagged on for lack of effort.

13:30: U23 world champion AMAN (IND) is up against Wanhao LUO (CHN) and he has been called passive and Luo is up 1-0. He scores stepout to start the second period. A nice ankle pick for Aman to lead 2-2 on criteria. Luo is tiring and Aman is up 7-2. Luo gets a single leg for a takedown to cut the lead to 7-4. No more action in that semifinal and Aman is into the final.

Welcome to the finals. We start with 57kg.

13:05: In a cracker of a match, Orts ISAKOV (JOR) completes a wild 20-7 victory over AGUDAMU (CHN) in the 70kg quarterfinals with a spectacular 5-point back suplex that draws cheers from the crowd. Jordan has never had a freestyle medalist at an Asian Championships.

12:57: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) joins the Iranian parade into the semifinals, overpowering Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) with an 11-0 technical fall at 97kg. A takedown to a pair of gut wrenches gave Goleij a 9-0 lead in the first period, and he finished the match with a takedown in the second.

12:52: Zagreb Open bronze medalist Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) jumps out to a five-point lead, then holds on for a 5-2 victory over Asian U23 champion Deepak NEHRA (IND) to advance to the 97kg semifinals.

12:38: Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ) pulls off a thrilling victory over Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) for a place in the 70kg semifinals. Doszhanov was trailing 4-0 when he hits a back-roll counter that barely exposes Toktomambetov's back. The referees give him 2, but when Kyrgyzstan challenges, the move it upgraded to 4, giving Doszhanov a 4-4 win on criteria.

12:35: World U23 champion AMAN (IND), looking to keep the 57kg title that Ravir KUMAR (IND) won last year in Indian hands, fends off Rikuto ARAI (JPN) 7-1 to advance to the semifinals. Aman showed his flexibility when Arai had put in a grapevine during a takedown attempt but the Indian squirmed out of it. The Japanese side thought Arai should have been awarded the 2, but the challenge was lost.

12:14: Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ), a bronze medalist a year ago, scores two first-period takedowns and holds on to defeat last year's silver medalist Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ) 4-2 and book his place in the 65kg semifinals.

12:00: Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB) with a takedown and then goes for the gut wrench to lead 6-0 against U20 world bronze Mulaym YADAV (IND). A takedown on the edge before finishing the bout 10-0.

11:56: 2021 world bronze medalist Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) cruises into the 97kg quarterfinals with a 12-0 technical fall over Ulziisaikhan BAASANTSOGT (MGL). Goleij, the Asian champ in 2020, gets a takedown and two gut wrenches to finish the first period up 8-0. He ends the proceedings with a 4-point back trip.

11:54: Former Asian champion Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) gets a rude welcome to the 65kg class, as the four-time medalist at 61kg falls is dealt a 4-0 defeat by Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) in the quarterfinal round. Tumur Ochir scores an activity point and a stepout in each period for the win.

11:46: World champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) begins defense of his Asian title with a solid 6-0 win over Sanzhar MUKHTAR (KAZ) in the 65kg quarterfinals. Amouzad gets three stepout points off his attack which, added to an activity point and a late spin-behind takedown, is enough to defeat Mukhtar, who never comes close to a successful attack of his own.

11:35: Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN) was a little surprised by the defense of Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) in his 65kg bout. Kudiev led 2-0 before Anraku got one point for Kudiev's passivity and then the Tajik blocked Anraku's attack with a hand on the neck, resulting in the caution and win. That gave the win to Anraku. Kudiev challenged it but lost.

11:28: In one of those matches between gold-medal candidates that the draw sometimes produces in the qualification round, 2022 bronze medalist Rikuto ARAI (JPN) knocks off 2021 world silver medalist Alireza SARLAK (IRI), finishing up a 12-1 technical fall with a tilt at the buzzer. Arai led 2-0 going into the second period when he upped the lead with two takedowns. Sarlak takes an injury timeout. With a minute remaining, Arai stays aggressive and gains a double-leg takedown. Sarlak loses interest and easily gives up a pair of exposures.

11:15: World U20 champion Umidjon JALOLOV (UZ) crunches Divoshan CHARLES FERNANDO (SRI) for a fall in less than a minute to advance to the quarterfinals at 65kg.

11:10: Local favorite Sanzhar MUKHTAR (KAZ) opens the action on Mat B with a 5-0 win over Mohammed KAREEM (IRQ) at 65kg, earning him a quarterfinal clash with reigning Asian and world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI).

11:00: Hello again from Astana as we get ready for Day 5 and the start of the freestyle competition, with action at 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg. Back to defend his title is world champion Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) at 65kg.

#JapanWrestling

Ozaki denies Onishi in 62kg semis, sets up clash with Motoki

Saturday, December 20, 2025 - 08:01 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (December 20) -- Nonoka OZAKI gave Sakura ONISHI a less-than-cordial welcome to the women’s 62kg weight class.

Ozaki, a two-time former world champion who has hit a wall of late amid Japan’s incredible depth in women’s wrestling, defeated world 59kg champion Onishi 4-1 in the semifinals at 62kg at the Emperor’s Cup All-Japan Championships on Saturday.

That earned Ozaki yet another shot at reigning world and Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI, who advanced with an 8-2 victory over Yuzuka INAGAKI.

The Olympic weight classes are being contested over two days, and organizers saved a bevy of world and Olympic champions and medalists for the third day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo’s Komazawa Gym.

In other semifinals, a clash of champions from this year’s World Championships in Zagreb was set up at freestyle 74kg, in which reigning champion Kota TAKAHASHI will square off with Yoshinosuke AOYAGI, the victor at 70kg who has moved up to the Olympic division.

Takahashi easily disposed of Toki OGAWA by 11-0 technical fall, while Aoyagi posted a 7-1 victory over Hikaru TAKATA.

Meanwhile, Paris Olympic champions Akari FUJINAMI, Kotaro KIYOOKA and Nao KUSAKA all advanced to their respective finals with varying degrees of ease or difficulty, along with Paris bronze medalist Yui SUSAKI.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) Nonoka OZAKI will wrestle Sakura MOTOKI in the 62kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Ozaki had been forced to watch the World Championships from the sidelines after losing out Motoki at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships, which, along with Emperor’s Cup, serves as a domestic qualifier for major international competitions.

The last thing Ozaki needed was another interloper in the weight class, and she determinedly fended off the challenge from the 19-year-old Onishi.

“It was my first time facing her,” Ozaki said. “She’s a young, upcoming wrestler who hasn’t yet experienced the Olympics, just like I had been. But this is not a weight class that can be taken lightly.”

After giving up an activity point, Ozaki scored a late takedown in the first period, then added another in the second to earn a spot in Sunday’s final.

“There are many videos of her out there that I have watched, so I had an image of how she wrestles in mind,” Ozaki said. “I had to think of what form my wrestling should take.”

Asked if she has come up with a strategy to handle Motoki, Ozaki said, “I’ve faced her twice now, and I watched her at the World Championships. There is a ‘Motoki way’ of wrestling, and that’s implanted in my mind.”

Takara SUDA (JPN) Takara SUDA, left, works for a takedown in the first period against Kaisei TANABE during their 65kg semifinal. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Suda spoils Tanabe’s bid for two-style double

The stacked freestyle 65kg division saw the match of the day, in which Takara SUDA spoiled Kaisei TANABE’s bid for a historic Greco-freestyle title double with dramatic last-second takedown in their semifinal.

Suda had taken the lead with a takedown with 1:10 left, only to see Tanabe come back with a takedown of his own with five seconds left. But Suda shot for all he’s
worth and managed to score in time for a 5-4 victory.

“There was still five seconds left and I just kept calm,” Suda said. “I thought if I kept cool, I could score.”

Tanabe had won the Greco 63kg gold on Thursday, and was aiming to become the first to double in two styles at the same tournament since 1973.

“I had lost to him twice before, both by technical fall,” Suda said. “This time I just wanted to avoid losing by technical fall. But those matches were two years ago, and I think I’ve gotten better over these two years.”

Suda’s victory earns him a shot at Paris gold medalist Kiyooka, who managed to hold on for a 3-2 victory over Kaiji OGINO that ended with a wild scramble in
the final 15 seconds.

“He’s an opponent on another level,” Suda said of Kiyooka. “I’ll have to keep moving and give everything I got."

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) Yui SUSAKI throws Mako ONO en route to a technical fall in their 50kg semifinal. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Susaki stormed into the women’s 50kg final with three straight technical falls without surrendering a point, the last one a 10-0 rout of Mako ONO. In the final, she will face world U23 53kg champion Haruna MORIKAWA.

Susaki’s path to a fourth national title and first since 2022 was made slightly easier by the absence of rival Remina YOSHIMOTO and the late withdrawal of
Umi ITO.

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) Akari FUJINAMI, left, squares off with Sara NATAMI in the 57kg semifinals. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Fujinami, the Paris champion at 53kg, continued her transition to 57kg with solid victories, although with all of her points being scored from her feet, save
for an activity point.

In the semifinal, she built up a 7-0 lead over defending champion Sara NATAMI before her opponent twice countered single-leg attempts to score exposures, leaving Fujinami with a 7-4 victory. She will face Himeka TOKUHARA in the final.

Kusaka was clearly the most dominant of the Olympians on the day, winning his two matches by 11-0 scores -- both topped off with 4-point throws. He will face
Isami HORIKITA in the final.

Asian Championships day five freestyle finals set

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Ozaki denies Onishi in 62kg semis, sets up clash with Motoki