#WrestleAstana

Asian Championships day six finals set

Friday, April 14, 2023 - 04:23 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

Share this article

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (April 14) -- The final day of the Asian Championships is here. Kazakhstan leads the team title race after two gold medals on Thursday. But others are not out of the race. Five weight classes -- 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg -- will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The finals for the evening sessions are set

61kg - Minghu LIU (CHN) vs. Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ)

74kg - Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN) vs. Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ)

86kg - Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) vs Alireza KARIMI (IRI)

92kg - Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ)

125kg - Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) vs. Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ)

14:30: No better way to end the session! Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) was trailing Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) 6-3 with 10 seconds remaining and he comes out with a trip and gets the four. He does fall off the platform but is safe. Masoumi challenges but the action began inside the zone and it is confirmed on review. Munkhtur into the final 8-7

14:28: A big back trip to a fall and Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) is the host country's fourth finalist. The 2020 Asian champion is down 1-0 in the second period of a 125kg semifinal when he uses an inner leg trip to slam down Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB) and end the match at 4:47.

14:17: Kazakhstan puts a third wrestler into the finals, and again at the expense of Bahrain. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) scores all of his points in the second period for a 6-1 win at 92kg over Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN). Down by a point in the second frame, Aitmukhan scores a takedown off a scramble, adds an activity point and stepout, then finishes up the win by countering a single and going behind for 2. The crowd loved it.

14:15: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) breaks Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB) with a technical masterclass. Yoshida adds takedowns at consistent intervals and moves into the 92kg final with a 13-2 win.

14:08: Alireza KARIMI (IRI) proves a bridge too far for a determined Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), advancing to the 86kg final and showdown with Dauletbekov with a 9-2 victory. Karimi gets all the points he will need in the first period, scoring a takedown and a stepout. In the second period, he gets in on a single, where he fights off a counter-lift attempt for 2. Ishiguro is not done yet, and gets behind and takes Karimi down for 2. In the final seconds, Karimi fends off a throw attempt with a 4-point tackle.

14:05: Defending champion Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) is a crowd favorite and they can't stop cheering as he moves into the 86kg final with a 10-0 technical superiority over Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB). A strong gut wrench there from Dauletbekov.  

13:57: Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ) sends the home crowd wild by advancing to the 74kg final with a nail-biting 2-1 win over Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) -- the same result and scoreline from their meeting two months ago in the repechage round at the Zagreb Open. Yessengali gets an activity point and stepout in the first period. Asluev pulls to within one with an activity point, but Yessengali fends off all of his attacks to seal the victory. 

13:52: Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN) dominates Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) 12-2 to reach the final at 74kg. He got to those single-leg attacks and made a figure 4 in the second period to get the technical superiority win.

13:46: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) is into the 61kg final with an entertaining 11-2 victory over Yasin REZAEIAGHOUZGOLEH (IRI). Each gets a stepout, then Zhumashbek Uulu gets Rezaeiaghouzgoleh's leg in the air, but the Iranian escapes with a backward counter roll, and gets a stepout to boot. But Zhumashbek Uulu comes right back with a 4-point backlift to go ahead 5-2. The second period is all Zhumashbek Uulu, as he adds a pair of takedowns and stepout. It was a similar result to their semifinal clash at the Zagreb Open, in which Zhumashbek Uulu won 18-6.  

13:40: Minghu LIU (CHN) is into the 61kg final. He led 2-1 at the break against Sardor RUZIMOV (UZB) but worked a takedown to extend the lead. A lost challenge made it 5-1. Ruzimov tried a few attacks however Liu was confidently tackled them and won 8-2

The semifinals are underway.

13:02: Home favorite Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ) fills the final semifinal spot up for grabs in the session with a 4-0 victory over Adilet ZHAPARKULOV (KGZ) at 74kg.

12:58: In a stunner on Mat B, Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) snatches a last-second 5-3 victory over Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI) in their 74kg quarterfinal. Abouzari had dominated and was leading 3-0 midway through the second period when Asluev cut the gap with a takedown. With the final seconds ticking down, Asluev put everything into turning the Iranian with a front body lock, and on the second try, got him over enough for a 2-point exposure. Iran challenged the call but it was upheld.

12:52: With the score tied 1-1 in the second period of their 74kg semifinal, Byungmin GONG (KOR) scores a 2-point exposure in a scramble, but Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN) works around for a reversal, then applies a lace lock to go ahead 4-3. The Japanese adds a takedown, and he's into the semifinals with a 6-3 win.

12:47: The host country puts another wrestler into the semifinals when Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) scores a takedown and a pair of 2-point exposures in the second period to finish up a 14-3 technical fall over Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ) at 92kg.

12:40: 2020 Asian champion Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) fires up the home crowd when he uses a front lock body roll seconds into the match to turn Anirudh KUMAR (IND) over, then locks up his arms for a quick fall and a place in the 125kg semifinals.

12:35: What a match on Mat B! Young Arashi YOSHIDA (JPN) goes into the second period trailing 6-3 against Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) in their 92kg quarterfinal. The Japanese uses a beautiful switch for a takedown, but then loses a challenge to fall behind 7-5. Yoshida puts the pressure on and scores a takedown to tie the score, but still trails on criteria. With the Mongolian visibly tiring, Yoshida fights off a headlock throw attempt for the go-ahead takedown with 1:15 left and goes on to win 9-7.

12:34: Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN), looking to give Bahrain its second gold in two days, scores a takedown in each period and defeats Deepak PUNIA (IND) 5-0 to advance to the 92kg semifinals.

12:22: Alireza KARIMI (IRI) remains on a collision course for a gold-medal showdown with Azamat DAULTETBEKOV (KAZ), scoring two takedowns in the second period to complete a 10-0 technical fall in the 86kg quarterfinals over Zushen LIN (CHN).

12:25: World silver medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) works up a 6-0 lead over BUHEEERDUN (CHN) at the break in the 125kg quarterfinal. Another takedown for the Mongolian to begin the second period before he adds a stepout. Another one to finish the bout 10-0

12:16: Reigning champion Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) begins defense of his 86kg title by taking just 39 seconds to chalk up a 10-0 technical fall over Weng CHOW (SGP). A takedown and four gut wrenches going back and forth, and Dauletbekov is into the semifinals.

12:13: Amirreza MASOUMI VALADI (IRI), who picked the world U20 and U23 titles last year, meets little resistance in cruising to a 10-0 technical fall in just under two minutes over Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM) to stake his place in the 125kg semifinals.

12:13: U23 world champion Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) gets a tough one against Kodai OGAWA (JPN) at 61kg. However, he gives up only a passivity point in the 4-1 win. 

12:10: Minghu LIU (CHN), the 2019 Asian silver medalist, breaks open a close match with Tuvshintulga TUMENBILEG (MGL) with a takedown and roll to open the second period, then adds a takedown for good measure for an 8-1 win that puts him into the 61kg semifinals.

12:04: Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN), an Asian junior silver medalist in 2014 looking for his first major senior medal, gets off to a good start with an 8-2 win over YASH (IND) to advance to the quarterfinals at 74kg. Kinoshita puts the match away with a pair of second-period takedowns.

11:47: Anirudh KUMAR (IND) gives up a late first-period takedown to fall behind on criteria against 2017 bronze medalist Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN) in their qualification match at 125kg. No matter, as he scores three takedowns in the second period to take the match 8-2.

11:35: Doveltetmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM) leaves it just a little too late in his qualification match at 86kg with 2022 bronze medalist Bobur ISLOMOV (UZ). Trailing 10-4 with a minute left, Orazgylyjov scores a pair of takedowns, but ends up on the short end of a 10-8 decision.

11:32: What a moment for Arashi YOSHIDA (JPN)! The Japanese collegian, whose father is Iranian and runs the wrestling school where he got his start in the sport, is drawn against an Iranian in his international debut, and comes away with a 10-0 technical fall over Arashk MOHEBI (IRI). Yoshida scores all of his points on takedowns. 

11:23: Three-time former Asian champion Alireza KARIMI (IRI), participating in his first major tournament since taking the world silver at 92kg in 2019, opens his campaign at 86kg with a 5-2 win over Gwanuk KIM (KOR). Karimi gets all of his points in the first period with an activity point, takedown and gut wrench. Kim gets in on a single in the second period, but the Iranian slips out to make it a stepout, plus one for fleeing.

11:15: Tuvshintulga TUMENBILEG (MGL), a world bronze medalist five years ago, makes the quarterfinals at 61kg with a close 3-1 win over Nurbolat ABDUALIYEV (KAZ). 

11:11: Deepak PUNIA (IND), the silver medalist a year ago at 86kg, starts off with a nifty 4-point arm throw against Xiao SUN (CHN) in their qualification match at 92kg. He adds a pair of double-leg takedowns and he's into the quarterfinals with an 8-1 victory.

11:00: Welcome to Astana as we wrap up the Asian Championships with the final day of action-packed competition. The tournament concludes with the final five weight classes in freestyle, 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg. Local star Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) at 86kg is the lone reigning champion back to defend his title. 

#WrestleZagreb

Reasco becomes Ecuador's first world champ as Maroulis adds to gold tally

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 - 22:22 By Ken Marantz

Share this article

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 16) -- While Helen MAROULIS (USA) was adding to her mountainous pile of world medals with a fourth career gold, Genesis REASCO (ECU) made history by becoming Ecuador's first-ever world champion.

Reasco reached the pinnacle of the sport with a 4-2 victory in the 76kg final over Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), denying the two-time world medalist her first gold in the last of four women's finals on Wednesday at the World Championships in Zagreb.

"I went in, gave my all, and it worked," Reasco said. "That’s how the gold medal was achieved, because honestly, I have a lot of respect for all my opponents. They gave everything out there on the mat, and they were really good matches -- both yesterday’s and today’s. Everything was very tough, very close."

Maroulis, who will turn 34 on Friday, showed why she has accumulated eight medals overall in 12 trips to the World Championships when she scored a dramatic takedown with :05 left to edge Il Sim SON (PRK) 3-2 in the 57kg final.

In other finals, Myonggyong WON (PRK) gave the DPR Korea its second women's title in two nights -- and just the third in its history -- with an emotional victory at 50kg , while Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) earned her second world gold and fifth medal overall with a dominant run to the 65kg title.

Reasco's historic victory came two years after Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) became the South American country's first-ever world medalist, and a day before Yepez gets a chance to join her as a gold medalist after making the 53kg final earlier in the day.

Reasco had long been seen as having the potential for a breakthrough, but never seemed to be able to make that final step up to the big time. She finished fifth at the 2022 World Championships and 2024 Paris Olympics, and was third at this year's Pan American Championships.

But after knocking off Paris bronze medalist Milaimy MARIN (CUB) in Tuesday's semifinals, the impossible suddenly became possible.

"At the Olympics, I was close to winning bronze, but it didn’t happen," she said. "But now the world medal came, and I’m very happy after all the sacrifices."

In the final, Reasco scored with a double-leg takedown in the first period, then scored another at the edge in the second. Medet Kyzy, a three-time Asian champion, tried desperately to launch a comeback, but she had to settle for 2 with a late throw attempt and came up short.

The 27-year-old Reasco got a relatively late start to the sport, saying she was not even aware of wrestling's existence until she was introduced to it at age 15.

"At that time, I practically didn’t know what wrestling was," she said. "I was going for another sport, but the coach of that sport took me to wrestling -- it was thanks to his influence. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have even known what wrestling was.

"The first day I saw it, I was shocked. Since I was little, I always liked sports -- I liked basketball, football. So I always had that love for sports. Any sport, any other sport, I liked."

But her dedication to training eventually led to the greatest of achievements, which she surmises will be widely celebrated back in her hometown of Esmeraldas and the province of Manabi where she trains.

"When I focus on competition, I even put my phone aside," she said.

In the 57kg final, Maroulis had her work cut out for her with the quick and powerful Son, this year's Asian silver medalist.

"She's an amazing opponent," Maroulis said. "I knew she was going to be tough. I watched all of her film. I'm like, my gosh, she's so good."

Maroulis had to fight out of a double-leg attempt in the first period, in which she received an activity point for the only score. In the second, Son received an activity point, then went ahead 2-1 by scoring a stepout at 1:32.

It looked like it might end that way until Maroulis, using a trip to great effect as she had done all tournament, sent Son reeling backward, then spun behind as Son tried to whip her over with :05 on the clock.

"I had to really, really dig deep for that and, I don't know, before the last exchange started, I just had to dig deep and find it," Maroulis said. "It was just some scramble flurry and just that it came out my way. I'm grateful."

The U.S. wrestler added the title to the ones she won in 2015, 2017 and 2021. She also has an Olympic gold from 2016, when she dealt the legendary Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) her lone international loss, and three Olympic medals overall.

Maroulis said that she had to deal with a blood vessel problem that curtailed her training starting in the spring, and did not return to full-fledged practice until about two weeks ago.

With her conditioning limited, she said she aimed to end her matches early, which resulted in her ending all three of her matches leading up to the final by fall.

"I was like, I'm just going to start working on training because I'm not conditioned enough to go six minutes," Maroulis said. "I'm literally not conditioned enough. But if I pin, no one has to know that."

Maroulis said she is currently undecided about continuing her career. But should she go on, it could put her on a collision course with one of the sport's rising stars, Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), the Paris Olympic champion at 53kg who announced that she was moving up to 57kg in the runup to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"I would love to wrestle her," she said. "I've been wrestling for so many years, I want to wrestle the best of the best, and she's phenomenal. I've heard and seen great things about her.

Maroulis said the two have never had a chance to work out together. "We message back and forth, actually we were trying to go to a camp together, it just didn't work out in time for the Olympics. I found she was going to 57[kg], I said, 'Oh my gosh.' It's a great opportunity for both of us."

At 50kg, Won dominated her gold-medal showdown with Asian silver medalist Yu ZHANG (CHN) from the start, storming to an eight-point lead in the first period and holding on for an 8-2 victory.

"This medal and the championship belt I’ve won are just the first step in repaying my parents for all their sacrifices," Won said. "From now on, I’ll work even harder to become an Olympic champion."

Her victory came a day after Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) won the 55kg gold to become the second women's world champion in their country's history. They joined Yong-Mi PAK (PRK), who won the 53kg gold in Nur-Sultan in 2019.

Won became so overcome with emotion, she tearfully hugged the referee after the match, then went over and did the same with the side judges. Then she hugged her coaches, and during the medal ceremony, shed tears as the national anthem was played.

"The moment I took first place, all the tough days of training flashed before my eyes and I couldn’t hold back my tears," she said. "And when I thought about sharing the news with my mom and dad, the tears came again."

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) celebrates after winning the 65kg final at the World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 65kg, Morikawa cruised to an 8-0 victory over Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) to regain the title she won in 2022, capping a year in which she also won the Ranking Series Tirana event and a second career gold at the Asian Championships.

Morikawa scored all of her points by shooting for a single, then fighting off a whizzer by Kasabieva to gain control for a pair of takedowns in each period.

"It's my first time to face her, but comparatively she was easier to wrestle than my semifinal opponent," Morikawa said, referring to her semifinal victory over former world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA), albeit a 10-0 decision.

"I couldn't get in on my tackles, and that part is something that I have to change. I'll be going to a heavier weight class and I want to be able to knock off the top wrestlers."

For Morikawa, competing at 65kg now is part of a process aimed at being competitive in the race to make the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, almost surely at 68kg, after missing out on Paris.

"It was great that I won the championship, but the next step will be starting soon. I can be happy today, but from tomorrow I'll have to start working hard in practice."

In between her two world titles, Morikawa took a world bronze at 72kg in 2023, then returned to 65kg in 2024, only to have to settle for a bronze again.

"It was a long time [between titles], and there was the time that I missed out on the Olympics, but I will use this victory as inspiration for what is coming next. It will be the start of a much more difficult fight than up to now, so I have to renew my determination."

While two world golds is no small accomplishment, Morikawa joked that it still leaves her well behind her coach, who was in her corner on Wednesday and accompanied her on the victory lap on the mat.

"I still only have two titles, so I'm about 10 behind the coach who was in my corner," Morikawa said of Kaori ICHO (JPN), the four-time Olympic and 10-time world champion.

Smirnova stuns Yoshimoto for 50kg bronze

Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) pulled off the surprise of the bronze-medal matches, stunning former world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) at 50kg with a stepout in the final seconds for a 3-3 win on criteria.

Yoshimoto, a two-time Asian champion, received an activity point, then gave up a takedown when Smirnova countered and got behind to a 2-1 lead. In the second period, Yoshimoto finally got through, scoring a takedown with :54 left. But she failed to hold off Smirnova's final push, leaving her devastated and in tears.

Prior to coming to Zagreb, Yoshimoto's only losses in any competition since 2019 were to compatriot and Tokyo Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN), whom she lost to four times. That limited her to a single previous appearance at the World Championships in 2021, when she won the gold.

The other 50kg bronze went to Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), who also needed a late score in posting a 3-2 victory over Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) and adding to the world bronze she won back in 2017.

Byambasuren scored a takedown while on the activity clock to take a 2-0 lead into the second period, and it looked like that might hold up when Demirhan gained a 2-point exposure off an inner thigh block with :15 left. Byambasuren came close to getting behind in the final seconds, but fell short and an unsuccessful challenge handed Demirhan her final point.

The victory took some of the sting out a serious knee injury that Demirhan suffered in the final exchange. She limped off the mat and was taken from the main floor in a wheelchair, then was carried by two fellow medalists to the podium during the medal ceremony wearing a walking cast.

Japan was dealt another set back a short time later in the 57kg bronze-medal bouts, when three-time European champion Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) scored a takedown and exposure in the second period to upend Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) 4-1.

As with Demirhan, Khoroshavtseva's victory ended a long medal drought -- her previous bronze had come in 2019.

Paris Olympic bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) picked up her first world medal, surging to a 10-0 victory over Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) in the other 57kg match.

Moldova's national hero Ringaci earned a fourth career world medal by beating Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) 6-3 for a 65kg bronze, scoring a takedown in the first period and two in the second.

Two-time Asian silver medalist Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) had the lead on criteria when she scored an exposure at the edge while holding off an attack by Macey KILTY (USA) to clinch a 4-2 win for the other 65kg bronze.

At 76kg, another Olympic bronze medalist added a world bronze when Marin stormed to a 10-0 victory over PRIYA (IND), setting the mood when she scored the first of her five takedowns by lifting the Indian in the air and dumping her to the mat.

Kylie WELKER (USA) added to the bronze she won last year at 72kg by holding on for a 6-2 victory over Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) for the other 76kg bronze. Welker scored a takedown and gut wrench in the first period, then after Alpyeyeva came back with two stepouts,

clinched the win with a takedown with :14 left. 

Day 5 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg (21 entries)
GOLD: Myonggyong WON (PRK) df. Yu ZHANG (CHN), 8-2

BRONZE: Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) df. Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN), 3-3
BRONZE: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 3-2

53kg (23 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) df. ANTIM (IND), 5-3
SEMIFINAL: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) df. Hyongyong CHOE (PRK), 2-1

57kg (22 entries)
GOLD: Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Il Sim SON (PRK), 3-2

BRONZE: Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) df. Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN), 4-1
BRONZE: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) by TF, 10-0, 2:22

62kg (22 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) df. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) by TF, 14-1, 4:15
SEMIFINAL: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) df. Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) by TF, 14-3, 6:00

65kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), 8-0

BRONZE: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), 6-3
BRONZE: Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) df. Macey KILTY (USA), 4-2

68kg (24 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Buse TOSUN (TUR) by TF, 11-0, 2:34
SEMIFINAL: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) df. Jia LONG (CHN), 6-1

72kg (17 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) by Fall, 5:00 (11-6)
SEMIFINAL: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Zelu LI (CHN), 9-6

76kg (19 entries)
GOLD: Genesis REASCO (ECU) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), 4-2

BRONZE: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR), 6-2
BRONZE: Milaimy MARIN (CUB) df. PRIYA (IND) by TF, 10-0, 4:07