#WrestleHangzhou

Asian Games Wrestling: Amouzad beats Bajrang, Ozaki beats Tynybekova

By Vinay Siwach

LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 5) -- The Asian Games will see Freestyle action on Friday as 57kg and 65kg wrestlers take the mat. Women's Wrestling will continue with 62kg, 68kg and 76kg weight classes.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | BRACKETS | DAY 2 RESULTS

Here are the finals for the evening session

WW 62kg
Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) vs. Nonoka OZAKI (PRK)

WW 68kg
Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) vs. Feng ZHOU (CHN)

WW 76kg
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)

FS 57kg
Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) vs. Chongsong HAN (PRK)

FS 65kg
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) vs Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)

13:20: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) uses two big four-point moves to beat BAJRANG 8-1 in the 65kg semifinal. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR with a big fall over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) to enter the final at 65kg. Rahman AMOUZAD vs Tulga TUMUR OCHIR for the gold medal.

13:00: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) with a fall over Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) to reach the 62kg final while Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) pins KIRAN to enter the 76kg final. She will wrestle returning bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)

12:50: Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) pins SONAM to reach the final at 62kg while in Freestyle 57kg, Chongsong HAN (PRK) with a final second takedown to beat Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) 3-2. He will face Hasegawa in the final.

12:45: AMAN's comeback in the semifinal falls short as Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) closes out the match 12-10. Hasegawa led 6-1 but Aman made it 8-5. But a seatbelt move gave Hasegawa four points as he won 12-10.

12:30: Defending champion BAJRANG with a controlled 4-0 victory over Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) to enter the semifinal against Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI). It will be a rematch of the 2022 Asian Championships final which Amouzad won 3-1

12:15: Defending Asian Games champion at 68kg Feng ZHOU (CHN) with a quick 10-0 win over KANHA CHEA (CAM). On Mat B, Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) pins Seoyeon JEONG (KOR) at 76kg. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR won 6-0 to advance to the 65kg semifinals. 

12:10: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) and Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) going for their fifth encounter in two years. Both wrestlers have won two bouts each. Tynybekova is put on the activity clock and Ozaki will go into the break leading 1-0. Tynybekova has a solid defense to Ozaki's double-leg shot. Ozaki put on the activity clock. She scores a takedown as soon as the activity clock expires to lead 3-1. Tynybekova tries to score a takedown for the win but Ozaki defends the 3-1 lead to win.

12:00: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) with a fall over Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) at 76kg. The two-time world silver medalist at 72kg is making her debut at 76kg at an international competition.

11:50: AMAN up on Mat B against Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) in the 57kg quarterfinals. Khari with the first takedown but Aman scores a reversal. Khari with the second takedown to make it 4-1. Solid underhook from Khari and he manages to make it 6-1 as Aman struggles with his defense. A slip from Aman and Khari goes behind to score another takedown 8-1. Aman with an outside single to close the gap 8-3 at the break. An exposure to start the second period and then a double leg counter from Aman. He comes out with a lace to lead 9-8. Another takedown for Aman 11-8. A medical break for Khari and he comes out blazing but he can't score. Aman will get the takedown to make it 13-8. Aman now making Khari pay for the high-pace of wrestling. Aman will come back from 8-1 down to win 19-8 at 57kg.

11:40: After the mini break, quarterfinal action resumes. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), world silver medalist, pins Thi Linh DANG (VIE) at 76kg while Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) with a fall over Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR) at 68kg

11:20: KIRAN holds on to a 3-0 win over former U20 Asian champion Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) to move to the 76kg semifinals.

11:10: Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL) with another 10-0 win. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) manages to see off Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN) 2-1 in an absolutely no-action bout. He will move into the quarterfinals. On Mat B, BAJRANG, wrestling in his first bout in over a year, starts with a 10-0 win over RONIL TUBOG (PHI). He will take on Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) in the 65kg quarterfinals.

10:47: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) with a fall at 76kg, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) with a 10-0 win at 62kg and U20 Asian champion Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) wins 11-0 against Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) at 65kg. Things moving so fast here.

10:45: A DPR Korea wrestler advancing at the expense of a Chinese wrestler, again! Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) led 3-1 against Jia LONG (CHN) before using an underhook throw to pin Long and advance at 62kg.

10:40: SONAM with a quick fall over Sushila CHAND (NEP) at 62kg but world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is even quicker to pin SALINEE SRISOMBAT (THA)

10:35: Asian champion AMAN takes full six minutes to go past Sunggwon KIM (KOR) at 57kg. He scored two takedowns in his 6-1 win.

10:25: Former U23 world champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) starts his 57kg campaign with a 7-0 win over Minghu LIU (CHN). A solid warm-up for the Japanese.

10:10: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) with a stepout before Abbos RAKHMANOV (UZB) scored a takedown and roll. Amouzad gets a reversal. A takedown to make it 4-4 with Rakhmonov leading on criteria. Amouzad with another takedown to take a 6-4 lead. Rakhmonov with a single leg and takedown to reclaim the criteria lead 6-6 with two minutes still on the clock. Amouzad with a cross double leg finish, 8-6 lead for Amouzad. Rakhmonov shoots but Amouzad jumps and comes behind to increase the gap to four points. Rakhmonov with some desperate attempts but Amouzad hangs on for a 12-6 win.

10:12: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) has no trouble in beating Sanzhar MUKHTAR (KAZ) 10-0 with 36 seconds left on the clock. The underhook supremacy!

10:05: The first win of the day goes to Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) as he takes three minutes and 30 seconds to beat Nattawut KAEWKHUANCHUM (THA) 10-0 at 57kg.

10:00: Welcome to day three of the Asian Games. Five weight classes, two in Freestyle and three in Women's Wrestling highlight the day. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), Bajrang PUNIA, AMAN, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), Feng ZHOU (CHN), Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) are some of the stars in action.

#WrestleNoviSad

U23 Worlds: Japan, China end gold droughts; Iran completes Greco sweep

By Vinay Siwach

NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 23) -- Japan had been searching for a Greco-Roman gold medalist at the U23 World Championships for six years. Shota OGAWA (JPN) won the country's last gold at this tournament in 2019, while Komei SAWADA (JPN) reached the final last year.

The wait ended on Thursday in Novi Sad after Koto GOMI (JPN) clinched the gold medal at 60kg with a technical superiority win over Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI) in the final.

Gomi, a product of the Ikuei University, became only the fifth Greco U23 world champion for Japan but none of the earlier four champions dominated the field as he did. He opened his tournament with a 10-2 win over former U20 world champion Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM), defeated Melkamu FETENE (ISR), 13-4, before winning his semifinals 9-0 against Maxwell BLACK (USA).

Facing Abbaspour in the final, Gomi made sure he won his fourth bout with technical superiority as well. He got the first point when Abbaspour was put in par terre. Soon after, Gomi turned Abbaspour for two more points before adding a throw which got him one point and a 4-0 lead.

When the second period began, Abbaspour tried to get Gomi in par terre with some aggressive wrestling. He managed to body lock Gomi, but as he tried to force the Japanese towards the mat, Gomi tossed him using the momentum for four points to clinch the victory. Iran challenged the call only to lose it and add one more point to Gomi's score.

Despite the loss of Abbaspour, Iran won the Greco team title, completing a sweep of all world team titles in Greco this year. It won the U17 in Athens, U20 in Samokov, senior in Zagreb and the U23 in Novi Sad.

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) won the 82kg final in Novi Sad. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 82kg, Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) won a gold medal for a third straight year. While his first two gold medals came at 77kg, he moved up to 82kg this year but still managed to win the world title.

Gutu, known for his big throws, had to be satisfied with a 1-1 victory against Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR) in the final. He got the first par terre point to lead 1-0. In the second period, Gutu was put in par terre twice but defended both times to win the gold medal.

Mixed show for U.S.

In women's wrestling, the United States had three wrestlers in the finals of three weight classes but it managed to win only one gold. China and Kyrgyzstan denied the U.S. in the other two finals.

One of the best matches of the night came at 72kg between former U20 world champion Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) and senior world bronze medalist Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ).

Robinson was off to a blazing start in the final, leading 10-3, but she tried two risky throws that cost her the match. The first was a chestwrap which was blocked by Nurtaeva who managed to bring Robinson to danger. It was initially scored four points for Robinson and two for Nurtaeva but Kyrgyzstan challenged the call and it was awarded four points to the Kyrgyzstan wrestler.

With a 10-7 lead, Robinson once again attempted a double underhook throw which was easily defended by Nurtaeva who managed to land on top of the U.S. wrestler and get another four points. She defended her 11-10 lead to become the country's second U23 world champion in Women's Wrestling and first since 2021.

Jinyue LIANG (CHN)Jinyue LIANG (CHN) tries to pin Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) in the 50kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The second loss for the U.S. came at 50kg, as Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) was once again defeated in a World Championships final, her fifth defeat.

She began her final well against Jinyue LIANG (CHN), taking a 2-0 lead. But the China wrestler bounced back and made it 2-2 when Jimenez missed a sweep single and Liang scored a go-behind to lead.

Liang then pulled off a crafty move to put Jimenez in danger. Both wrestlers were locked in double underhooks with knees on the mat. Liang then pulled one of Jimenez's arms and put her hand on the knee across to trip her and hold her on the mat, trying to get a fall.

Jimenez committed a defensive foul by putting her fingers on Liang's face which costed her two more points. She survived the pin attempt but trailed 6-2 at the break. There were no points scored in the second period as Liang went into defensive mode and did not give Jimenez any openings.

This was China's first gold medal in Women's Wrestling at U23 Worlds in six years as Liang became only the third wrestler to win gold at this level. Earlier, two wrestlers had won three golds for China with PAHILA (CHN) winning golds in 2017 and 2018.

The U.S. did crown a champion on Thursday as 72kg champion Kylie WELKER (USA) won gold at 76kg in dominant fashion. She controlled an evasive Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) and finished the final 10-0 inside the first period.

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

60kg
GOLD: Koto GOMI (JPN) df. Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI), 9-0

BRONZE: Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) df. Ilkin GURBANOV (AZE), 5-4
BRONZE: Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) df. Maxwell BLACK (USA), 8-0

82kg
GOLD: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR), 1-1

BRONZE: Abolfazl MOHMEDI (IRI) df. Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO)
BRONZE: Omar SATAYEV (KAZ) df. Ibrahim TABAEV (BEL), 8-6

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Jinyue LIANG (CHN) df. Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), 6-2

BRONZE: Munkhgerel MUNKHBAT (MGL) df. Natalia PUDOVA (UWW), 5-4
BRONZE: Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) df. Nohalis LOYO JIMENEZ (VEN), 9-7

72kg
GOLD: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) df. Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), 11-10

BRONZE: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) df. Laura KOEHLER (GER), 8-0 (via fall)
BRONZE: Veronika VILK (CRO) df. Haticenur SARI (TUR), 8-0

76kg
GOLD: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW), 10-0

BRONZE: PRIYA (IND) df. Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX), 8-1
BRONZE: Elmira YASIN (TUR) df. Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ), 6-3

Semifinals

55kg
GOLD: Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) vs. Tuba DEMIR (TUR)

SF 1: Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) df. Amory ANDRICH (GER), via fall
SF 2: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. NISHU (IND), 6-4

57kg
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (UWW)

SF 1: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 10-0
SF 2: Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (UWW) df. Emine CAKMAK (TUR), via fall

65kg
GOLD: Yuqi RAO (CHN) vs. Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (UWW)

SF 1: Yuqi RAO (CHN) df. Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR), 6-5
SF 2: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (UWW) df. PULKIT (IND), 9-6

68kg
GOLD: Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW) vs. Nesrin BAS (TUR)

SF 1: Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW) df. SRISHTI (IND), 10-6
SF 2: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ), 8-6