#WrestleHangzhou

Asian Games Wrestling: Japan puts 3 in WW finals; Iran vs China in GR

Thursday, October 5, 2023 - 01:54 By Vinay Siwach

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LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 5) -- The Asian Games will see the second day of wrestling and it will be a mix of Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling. World champions Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) and Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) will be in action among others as Greco-Roman 97kg and 130kg and Women's Wrestling 50kg, 53kg and 57kg wrestlers take the mat.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | BRACKETS | DAY 1 RESULTS

The five finals for the evening session at the Asian Games

GR 97kg
Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs. Yiming LI (CHN()

GR 130kg
Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) vs. Lingzhe MENG (CHN)

WW 50kg
Son Hyang KIM (PRK) vs. Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)

WW 53kg
Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. Qianyu PANG (CHN)

WW 57kg
In Sun JONG (PRK) vs. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)

12:32: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) defends from par terre to beat Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) 3-1 in the 130kg semifinal. He will wrestle for gold against Lingzhe MENG (CHN) who completed a 1-1 criteria win over Minseok KIM (KOR).

12:25: Yiming LI (CHN) is the second finalist in Greco-Roman for China! He pins Seyeol LEE (KOR) in the 97kg semifinal to move on. He will take on Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) in for the gold medal.

12:15: Qianyu PANG (CHN) with a final second headpinch for four to beat Hyogyong CHOE (PRK). Absolute scenes here in Lin'an. Choe was in complete control of the bout leading 5-2 but then got locked by Pang who tried the first throw with 20 seconds left on the clock but was given clean. She keeps holding Choe in the headlock and completes the throw this time to get four! A challenge from Choe but that was lost. Pang into the final 7-5. She will face Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) who scored a 10-0 win over Bortulaya BAT-OCHIR (MGL)

12:05: Kexin HONG (CHN) is just not able to break In Sun JONG (PRK) defense. Hong on a big attack but Jong splits to defend. She then shrugs Hong using her leg to get 2 for exposure. Hong was unable to score from that split. Just before the break, Hong manages to score a takedown. Jong with a clutch takedown to win 4-2 and enter the 57kg final.

11:50: Seyeol LEE (KOR) with a turn in par terre to beat Narinder CHEEMA 3-1 at 97kg and he moves into the semifinals. Local favorite Yiming LI (CHN) with a takedown and three turns to complete an 8-0 win over Atthaphol SIRITHAHAN (THA).

11:46: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) goes into the 97kg semifinals with a controlled win over U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) while Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) pins Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB) at 130kg

11:40: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) into the semifinal after yet another 9-0 win in a minute and 50 seconds over Aybegshazada KURRAYEV (TKM). On Mat C, Lingzhe MENG (CHN) gets a 3-0 win over NAVEEN.

11:30: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) got a scare from MANSI but she sees her off 3-2 in the 57kg quarterfinal. After all the Women's Wrestling quarterfinals, only Japan and DPR Korea wrestlers are unbeaten.

11:25: Kexin HONG (CHN) with a quick fall over Emma TISSINA (KAZ) at 57kg. The semifinal will be a fiery affair as she gets In Sun JONG (PRK). The 57kg wrestler gave no chance to Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) and won 10-0

11:15: At 50kg, Sonhyang KIM (PRK) with a controlled 8-0 win over Jiang ZHU (CHN). Top-class single leg takedowns from Kim to move into the finals. Can she challenge Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)? The Japanese star beat Aktenge KEUNIMKAEVA (UZB) in the quarterfinals via fall.

11:05: Qianyu PANG (CHN) and Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) let it fly in the 53kg quarterfinals. Pang built a 6-0 lead but Sedneva scored a four and takedown to make it 6-6. Pang with a clutch four-pointer to secure a 10-6 win

Here's how the other three 53kg quarterfinals went about

Akari FUNINAMI (JPN) with a 1:55 fall over ANTIM.

Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) wins 10-0 over Meng HSIEH (TPE) in 2:12.

Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) gut wrenches Vannak SAMBAT (CAM) for a 10-0 win.

10:50: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) gets the first par terre advantage and scores a turn. As he was going for the second, Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) blocks him and almost got the pin. A 3-2 lead for Saravi. A stepout makes it 4-2 before he scores a takedown and goes into the break leading 6-2. Assakalov gets a passivity point in the second period but Saravi will move on with a 6-3 win.

10:45: Lingzhe MENG (CHN) with four turns to beat Timothy LOH (SGP) 9-0 at 130kg in Greco-Roman. He is followed by world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) who also scores four turns from par terre to beat Nanthawat PANPHUEK (THA) 9-0.

10:40: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) was troubled by Jeongae BARK (KOR) but the Japanese world champion with a top 10-0 win at 57kg. On Mat A, it's time for Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) in 97kg Greco-Roman.

10:30: Asian champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) launches a deadly leg lace against SAMNANG DIT (CAM) to finish the 50kg bout in 30 seconds. On Mat B, In Sun JONG (PRK) with a fall over Thi Anh TRAN (VIE) at 57kg.

10:25: Contrasting results for Kazakhstan. Emma TISSINA (KAZ) works a 8-0 lead before pinning Danielle LIM (SGP) at 57kg. But Miran CHEON (KOR) beats Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ) 2-1 at 50kg.

10:22: Pooja GEHLOT finishes her 50kg bout against Manlika ESATI (THA) in the first period. A takedown and roll to make it 4-0 before earning a 10-0 technical superiority win.

10:20: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist has all the cheers from the crowd as she beats Thi NGUYEN (VIE) 8-0, a win which included three takedowns and two technical points.

10:15: Super fast action on Mat B and Mat C. Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) got tossed for a four but she pins Ahinsa PORUTHOTAGE (SRI) at 53kg. On Mat C, Hyogyong CHOE with a fall over Hyunyoung OH (KOR) at 53kg. She is followed by Son hyang KIM (PRK) who uses an arm-trap to roll to a 10-0 win over Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE).

10:05: World bronze medalist ANTIM scores two takedowns to lead 5-0 at the break against Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB). Antim is the Asian Championships silver medalist and a win will give her a chance to wrestle world and Asian champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) in a rematch of the Asian final. Antim works that outside single for two more takedowns before finishing the bout with a similar takedown. She wins 11-0.

10:00: Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT-OCHIR (MGL) comes out with double-leg for four. A turn to make it 6-0 but give up a reversal to Marimar CANDRA (INA). Two more takedowns for Bat-Ochir and she leads 10-1 at the the break. Four to begin the second period and Bat Ochir moves into the quarterfinals at 53kg.

#WrestleTirana

Mohmadi shuts Novikov down to avenge Paris Olympic loss

Friday, February 28, 2025 - 19:23 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 28) -- Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) and Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) flexed their achievements in their own ways. Both acknowledged each other but a sense of supremacy also followed.

In a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympic Greco-Roman 87kg final, Novikov and Mohmadi met in the quarterfinal of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series to add another chapter to the exciting rivalry. While the stage wasn't as grand as Paris, Mohmadi avenged his loss from the final, blanking Olympic champion Novikov 5-0 and dominating the proceedings in the match.

Mohmadi went on to win the gold medal at 87kg after David LOSONCZI (HUN) pulled out of the final injured but the purpose of getting a match against Novikov and winning was served.

"This match was very important to me," Mohmadi said. "Wrestling against Novikov, who I wrestled in the Olympics, I expected myself to wrestle better than I did in the Olympics. I was able to win and wrestle without mistakes. I hope I can maintain this winning streak against Novikov in the World Championships as well."

Novikov won 7-0 in Paris in a very one-sided final and Mohmadi, perhaps learning from that experience from Paris where he wasn't awarded the forced par terre, began on an aggressive note. He got the par terre but failed to score and led only 1-0 at the break. However, the second period was also saw Mohmadi dominate proceedings as he scored a stepout and takedown to make it 4-0.

The world silver medalist was awarded the par terre in the second period as well which extended his lead to 5-0 but he once again failed to score. He shut Novikov down for the remaining time to win the bout.

He blew a kiss like an archer release the arrow whereas Novikov flexed his biceps, perhaps reminding Mohmadi that he is still the Olympic champion.

"I expected this match to be intense because the wrestler is both an Olympic champion and a world medalist, and a very good wrestler," he said. "But fortunately, I was able to use my opportunities well and get my points in this match."

Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) defeated Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) 5-0 at 87kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Mohmadi seems to have became the mainstay for Iran at 87kg for the foreseeable future but given the international depth at the weight class, Mohmadi knows he cannot let his guard down. 

"The 87 kg weight class has many contenders, even in these competitions," he said. "With the help coaches, I work on each of them individually and plan for each of them. They will do the same because this weight class has many contenders and has always been a busy weight class."

Novikov wasn't the only big win for Mohmadi on Friday. He began with a 8-0 sweep of Tamas LEVAI (HUN) and defeated European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) 5-1 in the semifinal.

A mouthwatering final against Losonczi was set but the Hungarian injured his elbow in the semifinal against Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and decided to skip the gold medal match.

"I hurt my right shoulder in the semifinals," Losonczi said. "It is a little swollen. I don’t think it’s too serious and I will be fine for the Europeans, but this is why I made this decision to sit out of the finals, just to make sure it does not get worse."

In the other Greco-Roman weight class that was in action on Friday, Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) defeated Idris IBAEV (GER), 3-2, to win the gold medal at 77kg.

Ibaev raced to a 5-0 lead after getting the first par terre position but Kyrgyzstan challenged the call for a leg-foul that was confirmed on review and Ibaev's lead was cut to 1-0. Maksatbek Uulu scored a takedown just before the break to claim a 2-1 lead.

Maksatbek Uulu got the par terre in second period but did not score any point. He, however, led 3-1 before Ibaev managed to get a stepout to make it 3-2.  However, that was not enough as Maksetbek Uulu defended his one point lead till the end of time to win the gold medal.

RESULTS

77kg
GOLD: Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Idris IBAEV (GER), 3-2

BRONZE: Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE) df. Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO), 3-3
BRONZE: Kodai SAKURABA (JPN) df. Aleksa ILIC (SRB), 7-4

87kg
GOLD: Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) df. David LOSONCZI (HUN), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) df. Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB), 3-1
BRONZE: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) df. Nursultan TURSYNOV (TUR), 3-1