#WrestleAstana

Asian Championships, WW Day 3 finals set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (April 11) -- After Iran's domination in Greco-Roman, it's time for women's wrestling and don't be surprised if you witness Japanese wrestlers winning most of their bouts. Five weight classes in action are 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg.

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The finals for the night are set

50kg
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) vs Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)

55kg
Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) vs. Qianyu PANG (CHN)

59kg
ZHUOMALAGA (CHN) vs. Yui SAKANO (JPN)

68kg
Ami ISHII (JPN) vs. NISHA (IND)

76kg
Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) vs. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)

14:31: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) thrilled the home crowd and assured herself of a seventh career Asian medal when the 2021 champion held on for a 6-4 victory over Juan WANG (CHN) to advance to the 76kg final. After scoring an activity point and takedown in the first period, Syzdykova padded the lead to 5-0 with a spin-behind takedown. But Wang came back with a stepout and fleeing penalty with 1:29 left, then scored a takedown with :10 on the clock to make it 5-4. Her efforts to turn Syzydykova failed, as did a challenge to get points that were not there.

14:25: Defending champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) moves into the final with a controlled 3-2 win over Mizuki NAGASHIMA (JPN). She got a 3-1 lead and did give up a late stepout but was aware that she won't be affected by that.

14:19: What a win for Nisha DAHIYA (IND) over Feng ZHOU (CHN) in the 68kg semifinal. Zhou led 6-3 after a scramble and had no business losing it but Dahiya got on a low double and Zhou lay flat to defend it. Dahiya then used two exposures from a lift to win 7-6. She will wrestle for gold against Ami ISHII (JPN)

14:16: World silver medalist Ami ISHII (JPN) survives a tough clash in the 68kg semifinals with 2021 world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), scraping out a 6-2 win. With the match limited to an activity point for Ishii in the first period, it opened up with Ishii on the clock when she got in on a low single. Zhumanazarova used a counter lift to turn Ishii over, but the Japanese twisted to expose her opponent's back, giving Ishii a 3-2 lead. She added a stepout, then spun behind for a takedown in the dying seconds. 

14:01: Yui SAKANO (JPN), making her senior Asian debut at 28, will get a chance to add to the U20 Asian titles she won in 2012 and 2014 when she barged into the 59kg final with a 10-0 technical fall over Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ). Kayumova was working on a front headlock when Sakano lunged for a low ankle pick and scored a takedown. She then used an inner thigh pancake for 4, followed by a lace lock for an 8-0 lead. A low fireman's carry gave her another takedown and the victory in 3:27. 

14:00: ZHUOMALAGA (CHN) had a slow start to the semifinal against Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) but she gets a 3-0 lead at the break. A stepout in the second period makes it 4-0. Bilimbek Kyzy gets a takedown to cut the lead to 4-2. She needs a takedown for the win. However, Zhuomalaga is solid in defense and avoids any last-second mishappenings. She wins 6-2

13:52: Qianyu PANG (CHN) denies Japan. She beats Rino KATAOKA (JPN) 6-1 to reach the final at 55kg. Pang, an Olympic silver medalist from Tokyo, was called passive which gave Kataoka a 1-0 lead. Pang scored a stepout just before the break and got another point for Kataoka's passivity in the second period. The Japanese tried tripping Pang, only to fall on her own back, giving up four points.

13:45: Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) wastes little time in making the first major final of her career, storming to a quick 10-0 technical fall in the 55kg semifinals over 2019 bronze medalist Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ). Chinbold swept in for a takedown, then ripped off four consecutive rolls to end the match in 48 seconds. 

13:40: Two big four-point throws for Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) as she beats Miran CHEON (KOR) 8-1 in the semifinal. She will wrestle Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) for the gold.

13:36: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) will get a shot at a second straight title after putting away NEELAM (IND) by fall in the 50kg semifinals. Yoshimoto scored three takedowns, and after the third one, secured an arm bar and levered Neelam over for the fall with :16 to spare in the first period.

13:01: Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) scores 4 with a tackle to the back to complete an 11-0 technical fall over Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB) and clinch the top spot in round-robin Group A at 59kg. 

12:54: Six-time Asian medalist (and 2021 champion) Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) gets a pair of stepouts in the second period to finish off an 11-1 technical fall over Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZ) in the 76kg quarterfinals. Syzdykova closed the first period with a takedown and two tilts for a 9-1 lead and was close to turning her opponent again to end the match when time ran out. She will face Juan WANG (CHN) for a place in the final. 

12:45: In a thriller on Mat C, NISHA (IND) scores a takedown with :14 left to notch a 10-10 victory over Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in the 68kg quarterfinals. Nisha was leading 8-2 when Enkhsaikhan locked her up in a cradle while countering a takedown attempt for 4, then went ahead with a pair of lace-lock rolls. 

12:45: Defending champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) is up against U17 world champion PRIYA (IND) but doesn't take much time for the win. A fall using the cradle in 43 seconds.

12:40: Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) was awarded a point for Mizuki NAGASHIMA (JPN) passivity in the first period. Nagashima tried to be more attacking in the second period but never got a hold of her throws. Ganbat got a takedown to lead 3-0. However, Nagashima with an absolute arm throw for four to lead 4-3. That remains the difference as Nagashima wins 4-3

12:35: Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZ), a bronze medalist a year ago at 50kg, is into the semifinals with a 10-0 technical fall over Yi Jing CHEN (TPE).  She will next face Miran CHEON (KOR).

12:30: Feng ZHOU (CHN), a two-time former Asian champion and two-time world medalist, puts up five points in the second period to secure an 8-2 victory over Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB) and advance to the 68kg semifinals.

12:30: Ami ISHII (JPN), the world silver medalist from 2021, is returning after an injury break. She asserts her dominance with a 10-0 win over Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ). As solid as you like.

12:28: Yui SAKANO (JPN), a 2017 world U23 gold medalist who could never seem to find a place on the national senior team, scores all of her points in the first period to defeat SARITA (IND) 6-1. She uses a barrel roll for the takedown, then adds a pair of gut wrenches. That gives Sakano two wins in her four-woman round-robin group.

12:20: NEELAM (IND) will face Remia YOSHIMOTO (JPN) after she pinned Ellada MAKHYADDINOVA (KAZ) in the 50kg quarterfinal. A tough test for Neelam against the defending champion

12:18: Defending champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) is into the 50kg semifinals with a 10-2 win over 2019 world U23 silver medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN). Yoshimoto gets a pair of takedowns in the first period for a 4-0 lead. In the second, Feng uses a counter lift off a takedown attempt for 2, but when she tries another, Yoshimoto steps over for 2. The Japanese adds two late takedowns to top off the win.

12:08: Rino KATAOKA (JPN) earns a shot at Pang in the 55kg semifinals, finishing off an 11-0 technical fall of her own over Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) with a 2-on-1 to a single leg takedown. 

12:02: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN), looking to add to the Asian gold she won in 2016, begins with an 11-0 technical fall over Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) to make the semifinals at 55kg.

12:00: Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) and ZHUOMALAGA (CHN), both of whom have lost their Round 1 bouts, are on Mat A. Khurelkhuu with a two and two but a reversal from Zhuomalaga. Khurelkhuu leads 4-1. She tries a one-on-two to trip but Zhuomalaga survives and gets the takedown to make it 4-3. Zhuomalaga is definitely tiring her out. She now has built a 6-4 lead. She eventually wins with the same score.

12:00: Up-and-coming PRIYA (IND), the world U17 champion and world U20 silver medalist last year, gets a first-period takedown then holds on for a 2-1 victory over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) in the qualification round at 76kg.

11:40: Defending champion and former world gold medalist Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) begins her campaign at 50kg with a quick 10-0 technical fall over Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL). The rematch of the 2022 final in Mongolia lasted just 1:16.

11:30: The women take the mat today in 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg weight classes. Defending champions in action will be Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) at 50kg and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) at 76kg.

#Grappling

Gold rush for Individual Neutral Athletes at European Grappling

By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (May 28) -- Baku was expecting a grand show of grappling at the European Grappling Championships. But it was not ready for the Individual Neutral Athlete storm that hit.

Sweeping all 10 weight classes, Individual Neutral Athletes won 10 gold medals, making up for the previous championships they missed. Not only that, out of the 10 wins in the final, six of them were via submission.

The first day of the European Championships began with Akhmednabi MAGOMEDOV (AIN) winning the 58kg gold medal over Ilia ABRAMENKO (AIN). The gold medal rush continued with Magomed SHAKHBANOV (AIN) submitting Magomedbek TEMEEV (AIN) in the 62kg final. This was his third victory by submission in three matches.

Khabiob ATLUEV (AIN) at 66kg and Apandi AMAGAEV (AIN) at 71kg also won their gold medal via submission continuing the trend of one-sided finals in Baku.

It took Jakob NAJDEK (POL) to finally stop that trend. But that’s all he did. Ivan LISOGOROV (AIN) may not have gotten the submission but he dominated the 77kg final, beating Najdek 7-0 for the gold medal.

Pawel JAWORSKI (POL) took a step closer by scoring points on Murad ABDULATIPOV (AIN) but failed to go all the way, dropping the 84kg final 4-2. Mukhamed URUSOV (AIN) found it difficult to negate Piotr FRECHOWICZ (POL) but managed to hang on for a 2-2 win and claimed the 92kg gold medal.

100kg world champion Andrzej IWAT (POL) dropped a close semifinal against Shamil MAZHIDKHANOV (AIN) who went on to win the gold medal with a 6-3 win over Manuel PILATO (ITA) in the final.

In the 130kg weight, renamed from the 100+ kg, Daudgadzhi IBRAGIMOV (AIN) managed to hold off Eldar RAFIGAEV (MDA) 5-3 to win the gold medal.

Olesia ZHURAVLEVA (AIN)Olesia ZHURAVLEVA (AIN) won all four of her bouts via submission. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

In the women’s grappling competition, Carlota PRENEDES (ESP) recovered from an early loss to Alicja STYPULKOWSKA (POL) in a round-robin to beat the Pole via submission in the 53kg final.

At 58kg, Olesia ZHURAVLEVA (AIN) showed her class, winning four bouts via submission to win the gold with no troubles. She defeated Victoria SHERHIIENKO (UKR) twice, once in round 3 and then in the final, to finish at the top of the podium. In another AIN vs Ukraine final, Irina CHERNYSHOVA (AIN) won the 64kg gold medal over Daria CHIBISOVA (UKR) 10-2.

Alsu IANSHINA (AIN) also dominated her weight class, winning the 71kg gold medal over Alycia QUENEE (FRA) via submission, her third in four bouts.

Justyna SITKO (POL) managed to clinch the 90kg gold medal with a victory by submission over Paula MARTINEZ (ESP).

RESULTS

Men's Grappling

58kg
GOLD: Akhmednabi MAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Ilia ABRAMENKO (AIN), via submission

BRONZE: Illia SVIATUN (UKR) df. Alejandro REYES (ESP), via submission
BRONZE: Jerzy IZDEBSKI (POL) df. Bohdan CHORNEI (UKR), 5-2

62kg
GOLD: Magomed SHAKHBANOV (AIN) df. Magomedbek TEMEEV (AIN), via submission

BRONZE: Loris ZANOLINI (ITA) df. Farhad BAGIROV (AZE), 10-0
BRONZE: Andrii TSVYK (UKR) df. Guillermo GUTIERREZ (ESP), 5-2

66kg
GOLD: Khabib ATLUEV (AIN) df. Artur AGASHIRINOV (AIN), via submission

BRONZE: Giorgi RAZMADZE (GEO) df. Abdulla ABSHAROV (AZE), via submission
BRONZE: Anthony DE OLIVEIRA (FRA) df. Adam VERES KOVACS (HUN), via submission

71kg
GOLD: Apandi AMAGAEV (AIN) df. Ihor DMYTRASH (UKR), via submission

BRONZE: Dzhimsher RAZMADZE (GEO) df. Arsen IBRAGIMOV (AIN), via submission (3-3)
BRONZE: Samuel CHAGNY (FRA) df. Samik RAMAZANOV (AZE), 3-2

77kg
GOLD: Ivan LISOGOROV (AIN) df. Jakub NAJDEK (POL), 7-0

BRONZE: Nikolaos POLYDOROS (GRE) df. Arthur LEROY (FRA), 3-1
BRONZE: Iker CAMARA (ESP) df. Serhii KUZMYCHOV (UKR), via submission

84kg
GOLD: Murad ABDULATIPOV (AIN) df. Pawel JAWORSKI (POL), 4-2

BRONZE: Pierre MANZO (FRA) df. Davud MAGOMEDOV (AIN), 4-4
BRONZE: Samy MEZACHE (FRA) df. Pavlo MAKSYMCHUK (UKR), via submission

92kg
GOLD: Mukhamed URUSOV (AIN) df. Piotr FRECHOWICZ (POL), 2-2

BRONZE: Mateusz MAZUR (POL) df. Mantas DAUBLYS (LTU), 5-3
BRONZE: Levente LAKY (HUN) df. Wilfried EDMUND (FRA), 8-3

100kg
GOLD: Shamil MAZHIDKHANOV (AIN) df. Manuel PILATO (ITA), 6-3

BRONZE: Andrzej IWAT (POL) df. Gamzat GAMZATOV (AIN), via submission (4-4)
BRONZE: Danielius GREBLIUNAS (LTU) df. Tural AZAYEV (AZE), 2-2 in overtime

130kg
GOLD: Daudgadzhi IBRAGIMOV (AIN) df. Eldar RAFIGAEV (MDA), 5-3

BRONZE: Ioannis KARGIOTAKIS (GRE) df. Lukasz OLECH (POL), 8-3
BRONZE: Nizami GAFAROV (AZE) df. Mykola MATSEIKO (UKR), 5-3

Women's Grappling

53kg
GOLD: Carlota PRENDES (ESP) df. Alicja IRENA (POL), via submission

BRONZE: Zuzanna KOWALSKA (POL) df. Kristina RAU (GER), 9-7

58kg
GOLD: Olesia ZHURAVLEVA (AIN) df. Viktoriia SERHIIENKO (UKR), via submission

BRONZE: Irina KUPRINA (AIN) df. Jazmin ARJONA (ESP), 11-6

64kg
GOLD: Irina CHERNYSHOVA (AIN) df. Daria CHIBISOVA (UKR), 10-2

BRONZE: Julija STOLIARENKO (LTU) df. Veronika KARAKHONOVA (AIN), via submission
BRONZE: Giulia RODIO (ITA) df. Laila OHLHOFF (GER), 8-2

71kg
GOLD: Alsu IANSHINA (AIN) df. Alycia QUENEE (FRA), via submission

BRONZE: Emily GUENZLER (GER) df. Daniella SANTANA FABELO (ESP), via submission

90kg
GOLD: Justyna SITKO (POL) df. Paula MARTINEZ BORREGUERO (ESP), via submission

BRONZE: Alena VLASOVA (AIN) df. Janina CZYCZYN (POL), 6-2