Asian Championships women's wrestling brackets

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 - 15:25 By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 20) -- The Asian Championships will move to women's wrestling beginning Thursday. The draws for all 10 weight classes were held Wednesday.

Japan is once again the favorite to win the team title, especially with China unable to compete in the Asian Championships for the third straight year.

Kyrgyzstan and India will also be hoping to crown a couple of champions as they have in the past tournaments.

50kg

The six-wrestler bracket is headlined by world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN). Tokyo Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) opted to sit out the tournament.

Seeded number one, Yoshimoto has been clubbed with fourth seed Miran CHEON (KOR) and MANISHA (IND) in Group A. Two wrestlers from this group will qualify for the semifinal.

Group B will have second seed Namuuntsetseg TSOGTOCHIR (MGL) and third seed Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB). The two will have to wrestle with Aigul NURALIM (KAZ) as well as she takes the third spot in the group.

53kg

World champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) will be wrestling at her first Asian Championships and nothing less than a gold is expected from her. She is the top seed and has Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) and Swati SHINDE (IND) in Group A. In most likelihood, Batkhuyag and Shinde will battle for the second semifinal spot from this group.

The other group has second seed Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) and third seed Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) wrestling it out for the two semifinal spots with HyunyoungOH (KOR).

55kg

The 55kg has only five wrestlers and each one has to wrestle against the other. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) is the top seed but former junior world champion Umi IMAI (JPN) is the favorite to win the gold here.

Sushma SHOKEEN (IND) will represent India while the host nation Mongolia will be represented by the 2017 U23 World bronze Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL). Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB) completes the bracket.

With no semifinals in the bracket, the winner of the most matches will be the gold winner.

57kg

One of the toughest weight classes, the 57kg can see the clash of world silver medalist and defending champion Anshu MALIK (IND) and Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) who won the world title at 55kg in Oslo. The two are in opposite groups and can clash in the final if they both top their groups and win the semifinal.

Malik has fourth seed Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) and Danielle LIM (SGP) in her group while Sakurai is with former Asian silver Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), junior world champion Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) and Hyungjoo KIM (KOR).

59kg

In another five-wrestler bracket, two-time defending champion Sarita MOR (IND) will be tested once as she has three-time World medalist Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) and 2018 Asian silver Sara NATAMI (JPN). Mor and Baatarjav wrestled in the final last year in Almaty and the Indian came out on top.

The other two wrestlers in the draw are Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) and Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB).

62kg

Two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is going for yet another Asian title and she is the favorite to win it.

Seeded number one, Tynybekova will wrestle Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL) in the quarterfinal. Boldsaikhan had finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics.

In the other quarterfinal, Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB) and Sachini WERADUWAGE (SRI) will wrestle and the winner will reach the semifinal against Tynybekova or Boldsaikhan.

The lower side of the bracket has world silver medalist and second seed Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) who will wrestle Hanbit LEE (KOR) in the quarterfinal. She is the favorite to reach the final against Tynybekova.

But for that, she would have to beat Lee and one of MANISHA (IND) or Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ) who was second to Yukako KAWAI (JPN) at the 2020 Asian Championships.

Tynybekova and Ozaki met in the opening round of the Oslo World Championships and the Kyrgyzstan wrestler won 6-4 against the former junior world champion.

65kg

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) will make her debut at the Asian Championships and like any other Japanese wrestler, is the favorite to win the weight class. After winning the silver at the World Championships, she has proved herself to be a force to reckon with.

Trying to stop her from winning gold in the five-wrestler bracket will be two U23 World silver medalists RADHIKA (IND) and Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL). The Indian a silver in 2021 while the Mongolian is a medalist in 2019.

Incidentally, Morikawa is a U23 world bronze medalist from 2018 at 68kg. The world junior champion also came agonizingly close to knocking off Sara DOSHO (JPN) to make the Japan team for the Tokyo Olympics.

Second seed Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB) and third Dariga ABEN (KAZ) will complete the bracket.

68kg

World champion and Olympic bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) will look to defend her title at 68kg in a seven-wrestler bracket. She is part of Group A which has Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) and Sujin PARK (KOR).

Group B will have a even more competitive as number two seed Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) who was second to Zhumanazarova in the '21 Asia final and won the U23 world bronze later that year.

Third seed Azoda ESBERGENOVA (UZB) and Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) will be looking to upset the Mongolian. Matsuyuki was silver at the 2020 Asian Championships and is a former junior world champion.

Sonika HOODA (IND) is the fourth wrestler in the group and can surprise others to make the semifinal.

72kg

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) is chasing a gold medal after finishing with a silver at home in '21. For that, she will have to win the most bout in the five-wrestler group at 72kg.

The silver medalist at the World Championships is the top seed and will be challenged by 2022 Ivan Yarguin silver medalist and second seed Davaansasan ENKH AMAR (MGL).

NIKKI (IND), Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) and Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) close out the bracket.

76kg

She was close to winning the medal at the Olympics and won a bronze at the World Championships but Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be looking to pocket her first Asian title after finishing second last year.

The top-seeded wrestler is in Group A of the six-wrestler bracket with Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) and Sudesh KUMARI (IND). Kagami was a junior world champion and U23 world silver medalist in 2019. Medet Kyzy was bronze at the same event.

The lower group has second seed Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ), Ariunnjargal GANBAT (MGL) and Valentina TORENIYAZOVA (UZB).

The Kazakhstan wrestler would like to reach her first Asian Championships final after missing out on all of her previous attempts. She finished seventh in the 2019 edition. A 2018 U23 world bronze medalist Yerkebayeva is likely to reach the semifinal from this group.

A winner between Ganbat and Toreniyazova will be the other semifinalist from the group if Yerkebayeva wins all her bouts.

#WrestleZagreb

Buchanan spoils Yazdani’s return at Zagreb Open

Friday, February 6, 2026 - 00:58 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 5) -- For the modestly attended Zagreb Open 2026, Thursday brought a noticeable lift in attendance as Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) returned to competition.

Yazdani, who injured his shoulder in the Paris Olympics final, was returning 18 months and another surgery later. The Olympic champion at 74kg in 2016 and silver medalist at 86kg in 2020 and 2024, is now up at 97kg.

Over the past decade, Yazdani has enjoyed stardom with fans not just in Iran but across the globe.

So when a bulkier Yazdani walked out to the mat in Zagreb, his silhouette under the spotlights looked different. The 13 kilogram jump was clearly visible. There was no traditional jump from him before coming to the center of the mat.

Stephen BUCHANAN (USA) launches Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) for a four-point throw. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Yazdani’s decision to switch Olympic weight classes was a move born out of necessity, especially after two shoulder surgeries.

In the early rounds of the Zagreb Open, the experiment seemed to be working. The signature underhooks were there, the gas tank seemed fine and his movement, despite the bulk, did not seem unnatural.

Before reaching the final, Yazdani had seen off his opponents with rather ease. He scored points via stepouts, takedowns and go-behind in typical Yazdani fashion. He gave up only four points in his three bouts and reached the final without much trouble.

But then he hit a wall.

In the second period of the final, Yazdani's underhooks stopped working and his gas tank showed a leak. His movement became slower although his mind wanted him to be quick against Stephen BUCHANAN (USA).

Buchanan matched Yazdani for position and let Yazdani take only a 2-1 lead at the break. But he caught Yazdani in the second period and launched the Iranian for a suplex for four. It's rare for Yazdani to be thrown around like that.

And with him falling behind 5-2, Yazdani tried to attack more and that's when opportunities for Buchanan opened up as he scored three takedowns and two steps, beating Yazdani 13-3 and capturing the gold medal in Zagreb.

This was Yazdani's only tenth loss at the senior level and first to a U.S. wrestler other than David TAYLOR (USA). It was also the first a wrestler defeated Yazdani via technical superiority.

With Buchanan's gold, the United States finished the tournament with five gold medals in Freestyle.

Trent HIDLAY (USA) scores a takedown against Mobin AZIMI (IRI). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

World champion at 92kg Trent HIDLAY (USA) forfeited his final against Mobin AZIMI (IRI). But Hidlay had defeated the Iranian 5-5 in their round robin bout.

Hidlay, known for his insane comeback in bouts, was down 5-0 against Azimi when he mounted a comeback. He scored a takedown and then a point to make it 5-3. He then scored a step out on Azimi which cut the lead to 5-4. Iran challenged the stepout call but lost it to tie the score 5-5 with Hidlay holding criteria. Hidlay then defended his criteria for the rest of the bout.

In another bout against an Iranian, Hidlay came back from 8-0 down to beat Abofazl RAHAMANI (IRI) 11-9 as he took the top spot in his group.

Rahamani and Azimi clashed as well in the round robin and it was Azimi who scored a takedown in the final seconds to beat his compatriot 4-3 and finish second in the group.

Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) pins Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) in the 125kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 125kg, Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) is quickly emerging as the biggest challenger to world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) at the weight class.

Sharipov captured the gold medal at 125kg with a incredible cradle and turk position against Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA). Shapirov locked Hendrickson in a leg-turn and then turned him on his back, keeping him down and securing the fall.

With a dominant performance in Zagreb, the Bahrain wrestler has put his name as a serious medal threat at the 2026 World Championships that will be held in Bahrain in October.

European silver medalist Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) defended his gold medal from 2025, winning a close 4-4 final against Dean HAMITI (USA) at 79kg.

Khadjiev was leading 4-1 when he was put on the activity clock. As the clock expired and he failed to score, Khadjiev also gave up a takedown which tied the score 4-4. But the French wrestler get the criteria due to his two two-point scoring moves.

RESULTS

Freestyle

79kg
GOLD: Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) df. Dean HAMITI (USA), 4-4

BRONZE: Evan WICK (USA) df. Daniel BRAUNAGEL (USA), 8-6
BRONZE: Adel PANAEIAN (IRI) df. Otari ADEISHVILI (GEO), via fall

92kg
GOLD: Mobin AZIMI (IRI) df. Trent HIDLAY (USA), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Dustin PLOTT (USA) df. Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA), 6-1

97kg
GOLD: Stephen BUCHANAN (USA) df. Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), 13-3

BRONZE: Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) df. Richard VEGH (HUN), 12-2
BRONZE: VICKY (IND) df. Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA), 8-2

125kg
GOLD: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA), via fall

BRONZE: Mortaza JANMOHAMMADZADEH (IRI) df. Robert BARAN (POL), 8-4
BRONZE: DINESH (IND) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), via fall

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN) df. NEELAM (IND), 5-2

BRONZE: MUSKAN (IND) df. Agata GOLUCHOWSKA (POL), 11-0
BRONZE: Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) df. Natalia WALCZAK (POL), 9-6

55kg
GOLD: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) df. Karla GODINEZ (CAN), 6-0

BRONZE: Nagisa HARADA (JPN) df. Beatrice FERENT (ROU), 2-1
BRONZE: Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA) df. Amani JONES (USA), 4-0

Asian Championships women's wrestling brackets

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Buchanan spoils Yazdani’s return at Zagreb Open