#WrestleAstana

Asian Championships, Greco-Roman Day 2 finals set

Monday, April 10, 2023 - 04:58 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan (April 10) -- Iran annihilated the field on day one of the Asian Championships, winning four out of the five gold medals. The only one it failed, went to world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) after Amin KAVININEJAD (IRI) forfeited due to injury. Can they add more gold medals today, day two of the continental championships?

MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE

The finals for the second day are set.

60kg - Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) vs. Hanjae CHUNG (KOR)
67kg - Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) vs. Abror ATABAEV (UZB)
72kg - Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) Sajjad IMENTALABFOUMANI (IRI)
82kg - Dias KALEN (KAZ) vs. Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ)
97kg - U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) vs. Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI

14:33:  Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) will get a shot at defending his 97kg title and add to the Iranian gold haul after posting a 7-1 semifinal victory over Yiming LI (CHN). Balihamzehdeh jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first period with a pair of gut wrenches from par terre.

14:31: U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) is into the final at 97kg! He gets a big win over Narinder CHEEMA (IND). A par terre position and then a takedown outside the zone. A second passivity against Cheema and Dzhuzupbekov throw Cheema for four! He wins 9-0

14:20: Dias KALEN (KAZ) puts another home wrestler in the final. He never looked in any trouble to see off Yuya MAETA (JPN) 7-1 in the 82kg semifinal.

14:18: And another Iranian bites the dust. Asian U23 champion Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) jumps out to a 6-0 lead with a takedown and big throw against Alireza MOHMADIPIANI in their 82kg semifinal. Talantbekov then gets a takedown that Iran challenges for a head outside the ring, but it is turned down for a 9-0 win. Taletbekov celebrates the triumph with a victory backflip. 

14:05: How do you finish a semifinal? Sajjad IMENTALABFOUMANI (IRI) just reversed threw Jian TAN (CHN) for a five to win 9-0 at 72kg. Monster throw that.

14:01: Asian U23 champion Abror ATABAEV (UZ) booked his place in the 67kg final with a 10-2 technical fall over veteran Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ). Trailing 5-2, Kebispayev attempted a front headlock from standing, but Atabaev stopped it with a bear hug that put Kebispayev straight onto his back for 4. Kazakhstan challenged the call, but lost, giving Atabaev his 10th point and ending the match. 

13:53: Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) with two rolls from par terre against Reza ABBASI (IRI) in the second period. He led 5-1 and though Abbasi tried coming back, there was no way as Sogabe makes it to the final at 67kg.

13:45: World champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will get a shot at a second straight Asian title after defeating Zagreb Open bronze medalist Maito KAWANA (JPN) 4-0 in the semifinals at 60kg. Sharshenbekov got a passivity point in each period and also scored with a stepout and a penalty point for fleeing. 

13:45: Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) gets a big throw from par terre and leads Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) 5-2 at the break. But Chung goes big in the second period and scores a four! He leads 6-5 with Fidakhmetov trying hard to get to Chung. Nothing works for him and Chung is into the final at 60kg. This also means that Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) will be returning without a medal.

13:10: The semifinals for the day are set. A short break before we head straight into semis

60kg
Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) vs Hanjae CHUNG (KOR)
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) vs. Maito KAWANA (JPN)

67kg
Abror ATABAEV (UZB) vs. Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ)
Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) vs. Reza Mahdi ABBASI (IRI)

72kg
Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) vs. Ali AL ABBOODAH (IRQ)
Sajjad IMENTALABFOUMANI (IRI) vs. Jian TAN (CHN)

82kg
Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) vs. Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI)
Dias KALEN (KAZ) vs. Yuya MAETA (JPN)

97kg
Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) vs. Yiming LI (CHN)
U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) vs. Narinder CHEEMA (IND)

13:10: After winning a third Asian bronze last year, Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) kept up his bid for a higher place on the podium when he scraped out a 3-1 victory over Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ) to advance to the 97kg semifinals.

13:01: Defending champion Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) fell behind against unheralded Yuta NARA (JPN), but a takedown and gut wrench put him on the path to a 7-5 victory and into the semifinals at 97kg. Nara got a gut wrench from par terre in the first period and nearly put the Iranian onto his back. It was a gutsy performance from Nara, who had never finished higher than seventh in three previous trips to the Asian Championships.

12:40: The Iranian juggernaut finally hits a bump, as Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) rallies for a 4-3 victory over Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) in the quarterfinals at 60kg. Mohsen Nejad appeared to go ahead late in the match, but a challenge for using his leg wiped out his points. Fidakhmetov was a bronze medalist a year ago in Mongolia, while Mohsen Nejad won the silver. 

12:31: Sajjad IMENTALABFOUMANI (IRI) begins his bid to join the Iranian gold rush, getting the big throw in a 6-1 win over VIKAS (IND) in the quarterfinals at 72kg. 

12:25: Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) gets a 4-point throw in the first period and advances to the 67kg semifinals with a 5-0 victory over HUSIYEUETU (CHN), the winner of the Zagreb Open Ranking Series in February.

12:16: Top-seed Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), the silver medalist in 2020, is into the semifinals at 72kg with a 5-1 win over 2022 bronze medalist Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ).

12:05: Abror ABTAEV (UZB) unleashes his powers. He sends Firuz MIRZORADZHABOV (TJK) twice and wins 10-1 at 67kg. Top-class throws from the former U17 world champion

12:04: Veteran Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ), a two-time former champion and six-time medalist dating back to 2009, survives a qualification round scare from Hong Yu CHEN (TPE), holding on for a 7-5 victory.

12:00: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) gets to a beautiful throw twice against Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK) but both times Azizov placed one of his legs on the mat before the throw. The throws were scored two points once and four points the second time. A gut wrench gives Chung a 9-0 win but Azizov challenges. No change in the decision and Chung wins 10-0.

11:52: World U23 bronze medalist Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) starts his campaign at 67kg with a victory by fall over Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ). Kogabe got a takedown and gut wrench for a four-point, then took Beishekeev down directly to his back.

11:32: Welcome again from Astana and the second day of the Asian Championships. Today, we will finish up the competition in Greco-Roman with the remaining five weight classes, 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg. Among those taking the mat are defending champions Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) at 60kg and Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) at 97kg.

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series Live: Day 2 Results and Live Blog

Friday, July 18, 2025 - 08:40 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 18) -- The second day of the Budapest Ranking Series will see action in Freestyle 74kg, 86kg and 92kg and Women's Wrestling 50kg, 53kg, 57kg, 59kg and 72kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

14:35: Elena BRUGGER (GER) pins Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) after an 11-0 to enter the 59kg final. Erika BOGNAR (HUN) gives the hosts a finalists as well after beating Nadzeya BULANAYA (UWW), 5-1.

14:25: A pin from Helen MAROULIS (USA) and she marches into the 57kg final in her first competition since the Olympics. Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) had no answers to Maroulis' class. Maroulis will now face another youngster, NEHA (IND), who defeated Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN) 8-4 in the other semifinal.

14:15: Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) survives a huge head-throw from Seoyoung PARK (KOR) in the final 30 seconds to beat her 5-4 and enter the 53kg final in which she will take on ANTIM (IND) after the Indian defeated Felicity TAYLOR (USA) 10-0. A series of five different takedowns there. Antim had beaten Malysheva 10-0 at the Mongolian Open in June.

14:05: Two pins in the 50kg semifinals! Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) pins Kseniya STANKEVICH (UWW) while Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) pins Natalia PODUVOA (UWW).

Women's Wrestling semifinals

14:00: Trent HIDLAY (USA) reaches the final at 92kg after Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) pulls out injured seconds into the bout. Kurugliev seems to have fallen on his knee as Hidlay scored a takedown. Hidlay will take on world silver medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) in the final after the Georgian wins via technical superiority against Musza ARSUNKAEV (HUN)

13:55: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) pins Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) in the 86kg semifinal after building up a lead. Savadkouhi had one exposure turn but that was all as Kadzimahamedau defended another attack and then scored a takedown. He finally pins Savadkouhi to enter the final in which he will face Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) who rolled to a 10-0 win over Osman GOCEN (TUR).

13:40: World U23 champion Magomed KHANIEV (AZE) has had an excellent morning session which he caps off with a semifinal victory over (BRN) Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN). He gets Takahashi for the gold medal bout.

13:35: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) and David CARR (USA) locked in a battle. Both are the representatives at the World Championships for their respective countries. Takahashi with the first opening but Carr runs out of zone. He is docked a point for fleeing. Takahashi up 2-0. Double-leg from Takahashi but Carr has the chest-wrap. Exposure from Carr but Takahashi keeps control. It's awarded only two points for the Japan wrestlers and nothing for Carr. Takahashi leads 4-0 at the break. Takahashi doesn't slow down in the second period and scores two stepouts to make it 6-2. Carr fires back with a takedown to cut the lead to 6-2. He scores another takedown and now Takahashi is feeling the pace of the bout. Carr tries to turn but is blocked in the process, as Takahashi earns two points. A reversal makes it 8-5. Carr with a takedown with 10 seconds left to make it 8-7. Takahashi defends the final 10 seconds to win 8-7 but we have United States challenge. Nothing on review and Takahashi wins the semifinal

Semifinals begin at 13:30 local time

13:00: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) with a top 9-1 win at 86kg against Nurzhan ISSAGALIYEV (KAZ) and he secures his place in the semifinals in which he will face Savadkouhi of Iran.

12:50: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) shuts out Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) in the 86kg quarterfinal and wins 5-0. He reaches the semifinal.

12:40: David CARR (USA) comes out aggressively with the whistle against Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) and scores a stepout. A takedown to take a 3-0 lead. He adds another stepout and leads 4-0. He adds four more points and doesn't let Toktomambetov any chance to scoring to win 8-0 and advance.

12:37: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) is slowed down by Murad KURMAGOMEDOV (HUN) but the Hungarian can't stop him from winning the 74kg bout 3-0. Two stepouts in that win.

12:20: Excellent positioning and defense from Helen MAROULIS (USA) as she beats Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) 7-0 in their 57kg quarterfinal. Maroulis looks in top form in the two bouts so far.

12:10: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) has no trouble in seeing off Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 5-1, in the 92kg quarterfinal. This is better score line than the European final in which Kurugliev won by two points.

12:00: ANTIM (IND) has just beaten Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) 10-0 in the opening round at 53kg. Yetgil had handed Antim a 10-0 thrashing in the first bout at Paris Olympics and this match was a completely different between the two.

11:45: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) and Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) are in battle at 74kg. But it Takahashi who comes out the winner 6-6 on criteria. He will face Murad KURMAGOMEDOV (HUN) next

11:35: David CARR (USA) has a back-and-forth bout with Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) but he hands the Azerbaijani a 5-3 loss at 74kg. Carr is the United States representative for the World Championships.

11:20: Two Indians entered at 50kg and both start off with wins. NEELAM (IND) has a close 10-8 match with Madison PARKS (CAN) while Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND) beats Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), 3-0.

11:15: First sight of Helen MAROULIS (USA) internationally since the 2024 Paris Olympics. There is absolutely no sign of any rust as she uses the arm-bar to pin compatriot Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) inside the first period at 57kg. Paris Olympic champ Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) is in the coaches' corner here.

11:00: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW), winner of Mongolia Open Ranking Series, starts with a 12-4 victory over Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) at 50kg. One of the most attacking wrestlers at 50kg is definitely a medal threat in Zagreb.

10:45: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) has no trouble in keeping Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) off himself and he wins his first bout at 92kg, 6-1, to move one. On the other mat, Trent HIDLAY (USA) beats Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) 7-2. This means that Nurmagomedov may be the first choice for Azerbaijan now for the World Championships.

10:30: The day two of the Ranking Series event in Budapest will see three Freestyle weight classes and four Women's Wrestling. Big names will be on the mats in the Hungarian capital.