#WrestleAstana

Asian Championships Greco-Roman Preview

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 - 12:34 By Jimmy Pawelski

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan (March 29) -- The 2023 Asian Championships kick off April 9 in Astana, Kazakhstan, with Greco-Roman wrestlers being the first to take the mat following the opening whistle. On Sunday, April 9, 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg participants will compete, while 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg participants compete on Monday, April 10.

The competition schedule for both days is as follows:
11:30 local time: Qualification rounds
13:30 local time: Semifinals
14:15 local time: Repechage
18:00 local time: Finals

This year’s Greco-Roman entries are highlighted by five reigning Asian Championship gold medalists and 17 total returning medalists from 2022. Last year’s world champions Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) and Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) will look to defend their Asian first-place finishes at 60kg and 77kg, respectively.

World silver medalist at 130kg, Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) will be competing in the tournament for the first time since his first-place finish in 2020.

Tournament-host Kazakhstan will attempt to earn back-to-back first-place team finishes with four returning 2022 Asian Championships medalists.

Meanwhile, 2022 third-place team finisher Kyrgyzstan has the most returning medalists registered to compete with five and 2022 second-place team finisher Iran returns four medalists. Despite not having any 2022 Asian Championships medalists registered this year, Japan is sending a talented young team and was the sixth highest-placing Asian country at the 2022 World Championships. Just ahead of them was China, who did not compete in last year’s Asian Championships but will be this year, and Uzbekistan, who were late entries into Astana.

Poya DAD MARZ (IRI)Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), red, will be the favorite to win the 55kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Weight-by-Weight Preview

55kg
Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) is the only wrestler registered at the non-Olympic weight class of 55kg who is a returning 2022 Asian medalist. Bekbolatov is riding an undefeated 2023 streak, winning the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series in February.

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist at 60kg, Sailike WALIHAN (CHN), will drop to 55kg in hopes of his first Asian Championships podium finish.

Meanwhile, Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), a 2022 U23 world champ and No. 7 in the world at 55kg, will try to win his first Asian Championships gold medal after finishing third in his only appearance in 2021. He began the year with a gold medal finish at the Zagreb Open.

60kg
Reigning world champion and No. 1 ranked Sharshenbekov is a three-time Asian Championships finalist and will look to repeat as champion this year. Two additional returning 2022 Asian medalists are also registered to compete at the lightest Olympic weight, Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) and Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ), who earned silver and bronze medals, respectively, in 2022.

Fourth-ranked Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) is not registered to compete for Japan. Instead, Maito KAWANA (JPN), who is coming off a third-place finish at the 2023 Zagreb Open Ranking Series event, will be representing the country.

63kg
Though the weight class has just nine wrestlers competing, two returning medalists are returning -- Iran’s Iman Hossein MOHAMMADI and NEERAJ (IND) -- both bronze medalists from 2022. The next highest ranked participant is representing tournament host country Kazakhstan No. 21 Mukhamedali MAMURBEK (KAZ).

Mohammadi won the U20 world and Asian titles after the bronze at Asians before ending the year with a U23 World Championships gold. He began this year with a bronze medal finish at the Zagreb Open.

Neeraj, the U23 Asian champion, returns to competition since the World Championships and after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Chiezo MARUYAMA (JPN), a 2022 U20 bronze medalist, will look to make waves on the senior level as another young and rising star for Japan’s Greco-Roman team.

U23 Asian champion at 63kg Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB) will wrestle at 63kg, a weight class he finished fifth in Zagreb.

67kg
Hometown hero Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ), a 2018 Asian gold medal winner and three senior world medals [2015, 2019, 2021], is the star to watch in this year’s 67kg bracket.

He will be challenged by 2022 Asian silver medalist Hansu RYU (KOR), the sole returning Asian Championships medalist set to compete at 67kg. Also, watch for Reza ABBASI (IRI), who will replace No. 2 Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) in Iran’s lineup at 67kg.

Another wrestler to keep an eye on is HUSIYUETU (CHN) who defeated Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) in Zagreb, where he won gold. He added a bronze in Alexandria and is ranked number three in the world. In Asia, he will be the top seed for the competition.

Abror ATABAEV (UZB) will have fond memories of Kazakhstan as he defeated world champion Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup last year. But he is yet to replicate that success further. The Asian Championships could well be that platform.

72kg
Though not highly ranked globally, Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) is the lone returning 2022 Asian medalist registered for this year’s tournament. His competition will be fierce as the bracket also features Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), who’s coming off a fifth-place finish at the 2022 World Championships.

Magomadov, a 2020 Asian finalist, is the highest-ranked wrestler at this weight, coming in at No. 7. He’s followed by No. 11 Jian TAN (CHN) and No. 13 Sajjad IMENTALABFOUMANI (IRI).

77kg
In the weight class with the most registrations, Greco superstar, Tokyo Olympic finalist and reigning world champion Makhmudov will attempt to make it two straight Asian championship victories after winning the tournament a season ago.

Meanwhile, Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) will seek to avenge two previous 4-1 losses to Makhmudov in tournaments where he fell just one match short of the podium, the 2022 Asian Championships and 2022 World Championships.

Since Makhmudov will be seeded first and Kim will be fourth, the two are most likely to meet in the semifinal.

Also in the mix at 77kg will be fifth-ranked Rui LIU (CHN) and former 72kg Asian champion Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI), trying to make space on the national team at 77kg. World number 20 SAJAN (IND) is also registered along with returning bronze medalist Kodai SAKURABA (JPN).

82kg
In the heaviest non-Olympic weight class of 82kg, Dias KALEN (KAZ) will look to update his 2022 Asian Championships second-place finish in this year’s tournament. 

As the only top-10 ranked Greco-Roman wrestler registered for the 2023 Asian Championships at 82kg, Kalen will be up against two top-20 ranked wrestlers in No. 13 rank Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) and No. 17 Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ).

87kg
A whopping one-third of registrants at 87kg are returning Asian Championships medalists despite being only one of two weight classes with less than 10 registrants.

Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) will try to repeat his 2022 Asian gold-medal finish, carrying some extra motivation after being just a win short of a podium finish at the 2022 World Championships.

But second to him last year, Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) will be returning seeking his second Asian title. Berdimuratov was second at the World Championships at 82kg but has jumped a weight class in pursuit of Olympic dreams.

Both returning bronze medalists Sunil KUMAR (IND) and Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) will attempt to repeat as 2023 podium finishers.

97kg
Returning Asian gold medalist Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) went undefeated at the Greco-Roman World Cup in November 2022 and would be keen to take that form into the Asian Championships. 

One of those World Cup victories, a 3-3 criteria win, was over Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ). The two are familiar foes having faced off in last year’s Asian Championships semifinal match at 97kg, where Balihamzehdeh etched out a 4-1 victory.

Dzhuzubekov will look to earn his fifth Asian Championships podium finish. He’s already earned gold in 2019 and bronze medals in ‘16, ‘18 and '22.

130kg
In a stacked 130kg bracket, Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is returning to the Asian Championships for the first time since winning the tournament in 2020. Since then, he’s amassed a fifth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, a U23 World Championships gold (‘21) and a senior World Championships silver (‘22).

Other Greco-Roman superstars to watch at heavyweight will be Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ), Minseok KIM (KOR), and Roman KIM (KGZ), who are the returning 2022 Asian Championships top three finishers.

How to Follow Along
Fans can track the action on United World Wrestling's mobile app or uww.org. Download #TheHomeOfWrestling, United World Wrestling's mobile app today to access real-time match center data, get regular updates on tournaments and receive all the latest wrestling news in a flash.

#WrestleAstana

Asian Championships women's wrestling finals set

Wednesday, April 12, 2023 - 05:26 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan (April 12) -- Japan expectedly dominated day three of the Asian Championships with three gold medals out of five and it will be a similar story on Wednesday. Watch out for Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) and Akari FUJINAMI (JPN).

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The finals for the evening session are set

53kg
ANTIM (IND) vs. Akari FUJINAMI JPN)

57kg
Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) vs. Sae NANJO (JPN)

62kg
Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) vs. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)

65kg
Jia LONG (CHN) vs. Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN)

72kg
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) Sumire NIIKURA (JPN)

14:25: Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) made it 3 for 3 for Japan in the semifinals against India with a nerve-wracking 5-4 win over Reetika HOODA (IND) at 72kg. Hooda gets an activity point in the first period, and Niikura is on the clock when she attempts a fireman's carry that Hooda stuffs for 2 points and a 4-0 lead. With :41 left, Niikura spins behind for a takedown, then gets a lace lock and muscles Hooda over to go ahead 4-4 on criteria. At the end, Hooda very nearly gets a reversal, but Niikura, with her bottom on the mat, clamps down and manages to run out the clock. An Indian challenge is unsuccessful and Niikura is back in the final for a second straight year.

14:21: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) thought she can better of Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ). Not today. Bakbergenova races to an 11-1 win after a combination of leg and gut laces.  

14:14: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) finally got inside the defenses of MANISHA (IND), and it paid off big time with a spot in the 65kg final. Having given up an activity point in the first period and on the clock again in the second, Yoshitake got in deep with a single, then locked up Manisha's elbow and rolled her onto her back for a fall at 4:08.

14:10: An absolute top ankle pick from Jia LONG (CHN) and she rolls Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ) using a gut wrench. Long will wrestle for the gold, her first final at the Asian Championships.

14:05: In the featured match of the session, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) avenges losses in her last two meetings with defending champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), making a 2-point counter lift in the first period hold up for a 2-2 victory in the 62kg semifinals. Ozaki gained an activity point, then Tynybekova fended off everything the Japanese threw at her. Ozaki gets in deep on a single, but Tynybekova holds out to limit it to a stepout. The match ends with Ozaki in on a single, but unable to finish it off as Tynybekova applies a tight whizzer.

14:00: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) still has the ability to win from anywhere. Down 3-0 at the break, she returns to score seven points in the second period and races to a 7-3 win over Xiaojuan LUO (CHN). Purevdorj will wrestle Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), haven't we seen that before?

13:55: Sae NANJO (JPN) is into the final at 57kg with a hard-fought 5-1 victory over Anshu MALIK (IND). Nanjo gets an activity point for the lone score of the first period. Malik gets one herself in the second to go ahead on the criteria. But Nanjo steps up the attack and scores with a sweeping single-leg takedown. Malik's knee was twisted outward as Nanjo goes for back points, and the action stopped with an injury break. Resuming the match in par terre, Nanjo scores an exposure. It was the second meeting between the two -- Nanjo won 10-0 in the semifinals at the 2018 World Junior Championships.

13:45: Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) is moving into the final at 57kg after beating Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ) via technical superiority. She gets two big throws and exposure to race to 10-0 in just over a minute

13:36: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) looks as unstoppable as ever, putting on a takedown clinic in a 10-0 technical fall in 2:33 over Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) to advance to the 53kg final and get a shot at a second straight gold. Fujinami uses her shrug-and-go to a low single so effectively that Bat Ochir can do little in defense. The win extends the 19-year-old Fujinami's current streak of combined domestic and international wins to 118 dating back to junior high school.

13:30: Semifinals time! ANTIM (IND) gets a quick 4-0 lead against Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB). An excellent counter from Antim when Keunimjaeva was trying to get on her legs. Antim is cautioned for locking fingers and Keunimjaeva is on the board. She tries a headlock but Antim firmly keeps her to the back and secures the fall. Antim gets a shot at gold albeit with Fujinami standing in the way

13:00: World silver medalist Jia LONG (CHN) gets her third takedown, then scores with two exposures for an 11-0 technical fall over MANISHA (IND) in the match to determine the top spot in Group A at 65kg. Long wins the group with three wins, while Manisha finishes second and will face Group B winner Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) in the semifinals.

12:45: Returning silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND) gets the first point for Qi ZHANG (CHN) passivity and just before the break, she manages a takedown to lead 3-0. A real scare in the second period as Zhang manages a takedown and gut to make it 5-4. But she had only 20 seconds to score more but failed. Malik into the semis with a 5-4 win

12:34: World bronze medalist Sae NANJO (JPN), making her first appearance at the Asian Championships since winning the gold in 2017, cruised into the 57kg semifinals with a 10-0 technical fall in 1:47 over Erdenesuvd BAT ERDENE (MGL).

12:33: Olympic bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) was tested by Hyunyoung OH (KOR) but not enough. She beats the Korean 6-0 at 53kg to advance to the semifinal.

12:32: Defending champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) set up a fourth career showdown with Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) -- shall we call it Tynozaki IV? -- in the 62kg semifinals with a quick 10-0 technical fall in the quarterfinals over Hsin PAI (TPE). Ozaki scored a takedown and four lace-lock rolls for a victory in 32 seconds -- 18 more than Tynybekova took in her quarterfinal win.

12:28: Defending champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), who has brought a 116-match winning streak to Astana, added another by putting on a takedown clinic in an 11-0 technical fall over Meng HSIEH (TPE) to secure a place in the 53kg semifinals.

12:23: Wow, blink and you missed it. Superstar Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), prepping for a possible showdown with rival Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), needed just 14 seconds to wrap up Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) and record a fall to advance to the semifinals at 62kg.

12:18: In a nail-biter on Mat B, world U20 bronze medalist Reetika HOODA (IND) barely pulls out a 6-3 win over Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) in the 72kg quarterfinals. Hooda led 3-1 when Nurtaeva used a counter-lift to turn her over, but the Indian scrambled to get Nurtaeva onto her back --- all in the final seconds. Kyrgyzstan challenged, and the original call of 2 points for each stood, giving Hooda the win.

12:05: Asian U23 champion Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) brings the home crowd to their feet by snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat over Subeen JO (KOR) to advance to the 62kg quarterfinals with a 5-4 win. Trailing 4-1 with 30 seconds left, Kuznetsova hit a picture-perfect lateral drop that sent Jo to her back.

12:01: Sumire NIIKURA (JPN), the runner-up last year to Bakbergenova at 72kg, spins behind for a takedown, then applies the lace lock for three rolls and an 11-1 technical fall in 4:06 over Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB). Niikura and Bakbergenova are in opposite brackets, so a rematch in the final remains a possibility.

11:53: Defending 72kg champion Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) is into the semifinals after slamming Ping HUNG (TPE) onto her back, then twisting her over like a pretzel to complete a 10-0 technical fall in the first period.

11:51: Anshu MALIK (IND), the losing finalist at 57kg last year, started her bid to regain the Asian title she won in 2021 with an 11-0 technical fall over Danielle LIM (SGP). 

11:46: Meng HSIEH (TPE) gives up a late stepout to Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), but survives a near takedown in the final seconds and a challenge to the call for a 4-3 win in their qualification round bout at 53kg. Her reward? A quarterfinal clash with teen superstar Akari FUJINAMI (JPN).

11:40: In a clash of medalists in different weight classes from 2022, MANISHA (IND) edges Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) 2-1 in their Group A match at 65kg. Baatarjav was the silver medalist at 59kg last year, while Manisha took home a bronze at 62kg.

11:38: Jia LONG (CHN), a world silver medalist at 65kg, begins her quest for the first Asian title with a 10-0 superiority over Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB). 65kg is a Nelson bracket so we will have three rounds before the semifinals

11:37: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), the champion at the Ranking Series Zagreb Open and world U20 champion, begins her senior Asian debut in style, rolling to a quick 10-0 technical fall over Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ) at 65kg. The weight class has seven entries and is being competed in the Nordic round-robin group system.

11:30: We're ready to go with the fourth day of the Asian Championships, with the women's competition finishing up with action in five weight classes: 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg and 72kg. Three champions from 2022 -- Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) at 53kg, Nonoka OZAKI at 62kg and Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) at 72kg -- are aiming to defend their titles.