#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Asian Championships women's wrestling brackets

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.

#WrestleAthens

U17 Worlds: Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan put two each in Greco finals

By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (July 28) -- Athens and Olympics are incomplete without each other. The Olympic flame is lit in Athens, as a mark of ancient Olympics and modern Olympic restarting in Athens in 1896.

So as the World U17 Championships kicked off in Athens on Monday, the opening ceremony had to be about the fire of the flame. The wrestlers too were fired up in action on the mat.

Wrestlers from seven different countries made it to the Greco-Roman finals on day one of the tournament which began with 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg and 110kg. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Georgia entered two wrestlers each in Tuesday's finals.

Kazakhstan's run began with 48kg as Asian U17 champion Nurdaulet KUMARULY (KAZ) earned himself a chance to win a world title after he defeated Kaisei YAMAMOTO (JPN), who was 12th last year at the World U17 Championships, in a back-and-forth semifinal at 48kg.

Yamamoto led 2-0 but Kumaruly hit a headlock throw for four points on the edge and got a 4-2 lead. But the Japanese was not one to give up. He scored a takedown and turn to reclaim the lead, 6-4. Kazakhstan challenged the scoring and won it as the first throw from Yamamoto was not considered as control.

Kumaruly led 4-4 on criteria and then executed a similar throw for four points and won the semifinal 8-4. He will face Asian U17 bronze medalist Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) in the final after the Uzbekistan wrestler defeated Baris SOYLU (TUR) in the semifinal.

Soylu began with a two-pointer counter to get on the scoreboard but failed to turn Hasanov from par terre. He led 3-0 going into the break and then defended his par terre position in the second period to give himself a good chance to reach the final.

However, Hasanov mounted a comeback with a front headlock throw four points to lead 5-3, and later added a takedown and a turn to win 11-3.

Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ)Asian U17 champion Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ) reached the World U17 Championships final at 55kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Another Asian U17 champion reached the final in Athens as Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ) defended a pushing Aditya GUPTA (IND) in the 55kg semifinals. He booked a place in the final against Nurali ASKAR (KAZ), who finished fifth at the Asian U17 Championships, in what will be a rematch of the semifinal from Vietnam.

Abdirasulov had a big four-point throw and raced to a 6-0 lead in the semifinal against Gupta who managed to get one on board with a stepout. Gupta then got lucky as Abdirasulov tried an arm-spin but landed on his back and Gupta completed the control for four points. However, Abdirasulov kept his 6-5 lead for the remaining 90 seconds to win the semifinal.

Aksar turned Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK) from par terre to lead 3-0 in the other semifinal and gave up just a stepout when he was put in par terre to win 3-2. Barotov was hoping to becoming just the second wrestler from Tajikistan to reach a World Championships final in Greco-Roman.

Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO)Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO), European U17 champion, reached the 65kg final in Athens and will taken on Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), an opponent he defeated in Euro final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

A rematch of the European U17 Championships will be played at 65kg after Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) and Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) made it to Tuesday's gold-medal bout. Tavberidze had humbled Nazaryan 9-0 in the final in Skopje in June.

Tavberidze outperformed ANUJ (IND) in the semifinal, scoring eight points from gut-wrench in the semifinal period to win 9-1 while Nazaryan had to work a little harder against Yehor TARASENKO (UKR) in the other semifinal.

He got the first par terre position and scored a drop on Tarasenko for four but Ukraine challenged and the call was overturned. With a 1-0 lead, Nazaryan defended the position from par terre in the second period. As Tarasenko let off of the hold, Nazaryan scored a takedown and won 3-1.

Tavberidze took out Dosbol SHAMIL (KAZ) in his opening bout 5-3 before beating Maxim DAMASCHIN (MDA) in the 1/8 final. He blanked Shohijahon BOBOEV (TJK) in the quarterfinals.

Nazaryan had an equally good run to the final as he defeated Pan-American U17 champion Arseni KIKINOU (USA), Huseyn ISGANDAROV (AZE) and Kyliane EDDOUH (FRA).

Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB)Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB) pinned Nurislam OSKONBAEV (KGZ) in the 80kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB) showed why he is one of the top upcoming wrestlers as he slammed Nurislam OSKONBAEV (KGZ) with a bodylock four and then secured the fall in the 80kg semifinal. He is now one win away from winning the world title.

But standing between him and gold medal is Luka MARTIASHVILI (GEO) who needed a late stepout to beat Ismail BEREKET (TUR), 2-1 in the other semifinal. The Georgian finished fifth at the European U17 Championships but in 92kg.

In what turned out be a poor day for Iran, the defending team champions, Yazdan DELROUZ (IRI) gave it something to cheer about after making the 110kg final. That was the finalist for Iran on Monday.

Taking on Temuri SIMSIVE (GEO) in the semifinals, Delrouz had a takedown sandwiched between his two par terre points to win 4-0.

HARDEEP (IND)Asian U17 champion HARDEEP (IND) defeated Emrullah CAPKAN (TUR) in the 110kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

He will take on Asian U17 champion HARDEEP (IND) who denied Emrullah CAPKAN (TUR) another chance to be in the final. The Turkiye wrestler had finished fifth last year.

Capkan got the 1-0 lead in the semifinal but Hardeep bounced back with a stepout. Capkan managed to get one back and take a 2-1 lead but that was the last point he scored.

Hardeep came back with a takedown and then got the par terre point in the second period and won the semifinal 4-2.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Nurdaulet KUMARULY (KAZ) vs. Bunyod HASANOV (UZB)

SF 1: Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) df. Baris SOYLU (TUR), 12-3
SF 2: Nurdaulet KUMARULY (KAZ) df. Kaisei YAMAMOTO (JPN), 8-4

55kg
GOLD: Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ) vs. Nurali ASKAR (KAZ)

SF 1: Nurali ASKAR (KAZ) df. Makhdi BAROTOV (TJK), 4-2
SF 2: Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ) df. Aditya GUPTA (IND), 6-5

65kg
GOLD: Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) vs. Janes NAZARYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) df. Yehor TARASENKO (UKR), 3-1
SF 2: Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) df. ANUJ (IND), 9-1

80kg
GOLD: Luka MARTIASHVILI (GEO) vs. Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB)

SF 1: Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB) df. Nurislam OSKONBAEV (KGZ), via fall (4-2)
SF 2: Luka MARTIASHVILI (GEO) df. Ismail BEREKET (TUR), 2-1

110kg
GOLD: Yazdan DELROUZ (IRI) vs. HARDEEP (IND)

SF 1: HARDEEP (IND) df. Emrullah CAPKAN (TUR), 4-2
SF 2: Yazdan DELROUZ (IRI) df. Temuri SIMSIVE (GEO), 4-0