Asian Games Wrestling GR 60kg, 67kg, 77kg, 87kg Finals Set

Wednesday, October 4, 2023 - 01:47 By Vinay Siwach

LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 4) -- The 19th Asian Games are being held in Hangzhou, China with wrestling taking place at the Lin'an Sports and Culture Exhibition Center. Greco-Roman will kick off proceedings with 60kg, 67kg, 77kg and 87kg wrestlers taking the mat.

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Here are the finals for the evening session

60kg
Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) vs Ayata SUZUKI (JPN)

67kg
Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) vs Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)

77kg
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) vs Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI)

87kg
Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) vs Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

12:29: World champion Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) and Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) confirm their 60kg final spots! Sharshenbekov with a fall over Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) while Suzuki beats Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) 9-0 in the other semifinals

12:25: Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) will wrestle for the 87kg gold medal as he beats Masato SUMI (JPN) 3-1 after a turn for par terre. Alizadeh had beaten Berdimuratov in the Asian Championships in 2022.

12:23: Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) will face Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) in the 77kg. He dashes the hopes of the hosts by beating Rui LIU (CHN) 1-1 as he got the second par terre advantage. Liu was given a third advantage but he failed to score. The Iranian had forfeited his 77kg Asian Championships final against Makhamudov in April

12:20: World and Asian champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) returns to the Asian Games final. He beats Azat SADYKOV (KAZ) 9-0 using a takedown, exposure and two turns. Makhmudov lost the 2018 Asian Games final to Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI).

12:17: Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) into the final at 87kg at the expense of Sunil KUMAR! Alizadeh had two turns from par terre while Kumar failed to score any to go down 5-1.

12:15: Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) books his spot in the 67kg against Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ). He defended his par terre against Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) before scoring a takedown in the second period. Bakhshilloev challenged the call but lost it. Endo with a par terre point and a throw on the edge to make it 6-1 and won with the same score.

12:10: What a start to the semifinals as Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) pins Danial SOHRABI (IRI) in 67kg. Sohrabi got the par terre advantage and scored three turns but he trapped Shermakhanbet's head when defending a reversal. Shermakhanbet challenged the call as it was not initially awarded. Sohrabi was put in par terre for that foul but he was quick to get a reversal to lead 9-2. When he was trying to finish the bout with a headlock, Shermakhanbet grabbed his arm. Sohrabi tried to hit a whizzer but that arm lock from Shermakhanbet was too tight as he put Sohrabi on his back and held him till the referee called it a pin. Top energy from Shermakhanbet who is coming back from an injury

12:00: Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) falls! Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) led 3-1 before a stepout from Dalkhani. But a late flurry of action saw Dalkhani score which was seen as a foul on challenge from Kazakhstan. A 4-2 win for Sultangali.

11:55: Masato SUMI (JPN) has no troubles in his quarterfinal at 87kg against Veasna CHHOEUNG (CAM). An 8-0 technical superiority win over the Cambodian. On Mat B, another win for Japan! Former Asian Championships bronze medalist Ayata SUZUKI (JPN), with the help of two challenges, survives Seung RI (PRK). Suzuki led 3-1 but Ri launched a headlock throw in the final 5 seconds. Referees called it a dangerous throw as Ri had locked Suzuki's head with both hands. Suzuki won 4-1.

11:50: In a battle of the two World Championships bronze medalists at 60kg, Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) gets the better of birthday boy Liguo CAO (CHN) 3-1. A turn the difference between the two wrestlers.

11:45: Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) with a winning takedown in the second period at 77kg. He beats Dilshod OMONGELDIYEV (UZB) 5-3 and advances to the semifinal against Rui LIU (CHN)

11:40: Azat SADYKOV (KAZ) with an 8-0 win over Wisit THAMWIRAT (THA) in the 77kg quarterfinals. On Mat B, Rui LIU (CHN) with two suplexes to beat VIKAS 9-1 and advance to the 77kg semifinals

11:30: Sunil KUMAR into the semifinals with a 9-1 technical superiority over Sukhrob ABDULKHAEV (TJK) at 87kg. He will take on three-time Asian champion Naser ALIZADEH (IRI)

11:25: Mansur NURBERDIYEV (TKM) got a takedown but that was not enough as Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) won 8-3 at 67kg. On Mat A, Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) is made to work hard by Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) but the Japanese won 3-1.

11:15: Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) takes his time but beats Azym ANNAMAMMEDOV (TKM) 7-1 in the 87kg quarterfinals. Then comes Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) with an 11-0 quick win over Maksat SAILAU (KAZ). And in no time world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) with a fall over SOPHAK KEO (CAM).

11:05: A thriller on Mat A! Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) took a 10-7 lead with two four-point throws against Lei LI (CHN) who also had a big move. Li made it 10-8 with a stepout. He scored a takedown to lead 10-10 on criteria but Kazakhstan challenged the call and it was a slip from Shermakhanbet who won 10-8

11:01: Daniel SOHRABI (IRI) ends the reign of two-time defending champion Hansu RYU (KOR) in the Asian Games! Sohrabi with two body throws to win 9-0 in the first period and move to the quarterfinals at 67kg

10:55: Meysam DALKHANI (IRI), who is wrestling at 60kg for the first time in his career, with a body lift and throw from par terre to beat GYANENDER 7-1 at 60kg. On Mat C, world champion Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) was down 5-0 against Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK) but has three turns from par terre plus a caution warning against Azizov to win 8-5.

10:50: Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) wins 11-1 against Chi Jui HUANG (TPE) and 2014 Youth Olympic champion Seung RI (PRK) gets his gut wrench going against Arslanbek ZAKIRBAYEV (TKM) to win 8-0. Both at 60kg.

10:45: Another world bronze medalist and birthday boy Liguo CAO (CHN) with a takedown and three turns to finish his pre-quarterfinal bout against Pros CHRAY (CAM) 8-0 in just 34 seconds. The crowd appreciates it.

10:40: World bronze medalist at 60kg Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) with a takedown and three turns to finish the bout 8-0 technical superiority over Tien Hai BUI (VIE). Asian silver medalist Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) survived a close call to beat Suparmanto SUPARMANTO (INA) with an 11-3 win

10:30: London Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) got a solid headlock over Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) but failed to get the pin. Kaviyaninejad answered with a four-point throw and Kim failed to find an opening to comeback. Kaviyaninejad wins 8-3.

10:25: Three-time 87kg Asian champion Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) gets three turns from par terre to beat A. AZISBEKOV (KGZ) 7-1 at 87kg. A battle on Mat B between former Asian champion Sunil KUMAR and Fei PENG (CHN). Peng with a turn from par terre and leads 3-0. But Kumar stops Peng in the middle during the second turn and gets close to a fall but Peng survives to lead 3-2. Kumar gets the passivity advantage in the second period to make it 3-3 and lead on criteria. A stepout to make it 4-3 and Kumar wins at 87kg

10:22: Back-to-back victories for Japan! Former U23 world champion Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) with two four-point moves over Firuz MIRZORADZHABOV (TJK) in a 10-0 rout at 67kg. Masato SUMI (JPN) with a match-winning stepout over Byeongcheol SHIN (KOR) to advance at 87kg.

10:18: Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) gets to turns from par terre while defending his own to down NEERAJ 5-3 in the 67kg opening encounter. Neeraj scored a takedown in the first period but failed to get any points in the second.

10:15: Two-time defending champion Hansu RYU (KOR) with a big four-pointer from par terre and then defends that lead to win 5-1. He defends in the second period before a big upcoming bout against the U23 world champion Daniel SHORABI (IRI). Shorabi with a beautiful suplex over Yong RO (PRK) to win 5-2. Ryu vs Sohrabi confirmed

10:05: Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) with a quick 10-0 superiority over Nuttapong HINMEE (THA) to kick off proceedings at 67kg. He moves into the quarterfinals.

10:00: Welcome to the Asian Games! The Greco-Roman in four weight classes will kick off the action. World champions Azkhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will be in action at 60kg and 77kg.

#WrestleTirana

World Championships: Five years after third, Kinjo earns shot at fourth gold

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 - 17:12 By Ken Marantz

TIRANA, Albania (October 29) -- Two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN) earned a shot at a fourth world title and first in five years, but Jia LONG (CHN) denied the powerful Japanese team a potential sweep of the women's golds.

Kinjo broke open a tight semifinal at 59kg against Svetlana LIPATOVA (AIN), scoring eight points in the second period for a 9-0 victory at the Non-Olympic Weight Categories World Championships on Tuesday in Tirana.

Japanese hopes of winning all four of the women's titles on Wednesday ended when Asian champion Long rode a second-period surge to an 11-1 victory over Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) at 65kg, avenging a loss to the Japanese in the final at the 2022 World Championships.

The two other Japanese in action, Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) at 55kg and Ami ISHII (JPN) at 72kg, had little trouble advancing to the finals of their respective weight classes.

At 59kg, Kinjo earned just an activity point in the first period against Lipatova, but came out firing in the second, scoring a takedown off a low-ankle shot that she topped off with an exposure and gut wrench for a 7-0 lead. Kinjo then added a double-leg takedown.

Kinjo, who needed a dramatic last-second victory in a domestic playoff with 18-year-old Sakura ONISHI (JPN) to earn her ticket to Tirana, will be aiming to add to her consecutive world titles from 2017 to 2019 in Wednesday's final against veteran Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL).

Sukhee, a world champion in 2014 and silver medalist in 2015, scored a late takedown to clinch a 4-1 victory over MANSI (IND) in the other semifinal. Both Kinjo and Sukhee were bronze medalists this year at the Asian Championships, with the Mongolian's coming at 62kg.

Kinjo could have been expected to retire after failing to make Japan's team to Paris 2024 in a bid for an Olympic three-peat, but she has often said that she wants her daughter, now 2 1/2, to see
how good her mother was, not just hear about it.

The 30-somethings Kinjo and Lipatova's careers had crossed paths before, meeting in the semifinals at the 2018 World Championships. Kinjo won that one 10-0 en route to the second of her three consecutive gold medals.

Kiyooka, winner of both the world U23 and U20 golds in 2022, will be aiming to capture her first senior global title, after seeing her brother Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) and Ikuei University teammates Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) and Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) all strike gold at the Paris Olympics.

She got the parade into the final started by scoring a takedown in each period for a 4-0 victory over reigning European champion Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN), who was the losing finalist to Kinjo in the 57kg final at the Tokyo Olympics.

In the final, Kiyooka will face world U20 champion Jin ZHANG (CHN), who advanced with a victory by fall over Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA). Zhang got in on a deep single for a takedown that led to two quick exposures, then levered the American over before securing the fall.

At 65kg, Morikawa was ahead 1-1 on criteria in the second period when Long used a counter lift for 2 points (originally ruled 4, but later changed on the challenge). She had Morikawa's arm locked and used that for three rolls. After the match was resumed following the challenge, Long ended it with 43 seconds left with another counter lift.

In the final, Long will face European silver medalist Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), who scored a second-period fall over Valeriia DONDUPOVA (AIN) after building up an 11-6 lead.

Morikawa and Long were meeting for the second time, but one round earlier than before. Morikawa edged the Chinese 2-0 in the final at the 2022 World Championships.

The two finalists at 62kg at the World U23 Championships held last week at the same venue, champion Iryna BONDAR (UKR) and runnerup Macey KILTY (USA), lost to Morikawa and Zelenykh, respectively.

Ishii, the 2022 world 68kg silver medalist, won a battle of newly crowned world U23 champions by overwhelming Kylie WELKER (USA) with a 12-1 technical fall that she concluded in the final seconds. Ishii had won the U23 68kg title, while Welker had triumphed at 72kg.

In the final, Ishii will face three-time former Asian champion Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), who will be looking to take home a first world gold after winning two silvers and a bronze over the past three years.

Bakbergenova prevailed in an entertaining 8-6 victory over Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL), scoring 4 points in a first-period scramble and clinching the win with a late takedown in the second.

Both Morikawa and Ishii lost out on the place at the Paris Olympics at 68kg to Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), who ended up with a bronze medal.

For Ishii, the pain of missing out on Paris was particularly sharp, as she had earned the quota for Japan by placing fifth at the 2023 World Championships, only to lose in the last second of a playoff against Ozaki.

Morikawa rebounded from her disappointment by making the team at 72kg to the 2023 worlds, from which she took home a bronze. Now she is back at her normal weight class, in which she won the world gold in 2022 and finished second in 2021.

Women's Wrestling Results

55kg (18 entries)
SF: Jin ZHANG (CHN) df. Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA) by Fall, 1:28 (8-0)
SF: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN), 4-0

59kg (22 entries)
SF: Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) df. MANSI (IND), 4-1
SF: Risako KINJO (JPN) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (AIN), 9-0

65kg (19 entries)
SF: Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) df. Valeriia DONDUPOVA (AIN) by Fall, 1:59 (11-6)
SF: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) by TF, 11-1, 5:17

72kg (18 entries)
SF: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL), 8-6
SF: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Kylie WELKER (USA) by TF, 12-1, 5:58

Asian Games Wrestling GR 60kg, 67kg, 77kg, 87kg Finals Set

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World Championships: Five years after third, Kinjo earns shot at fourth gold