#wrestlebishkek

Asian Olympic 2024 Greco-Roman Qualification Bouts set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 21) -- The final day of the Asian Olympic qualifier with six Greco-Roman Olympic weight classes. 12 Olympic quotas will be on offer in 60kg, 67kg, 77kg, 87kg, 97kg and 130kg.

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The Paris Qualification Bouts are set

60kg
Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) vs. Jui Chi HUANG (TPE)
Se ung RI (PRK) vs. Dahyun KIM (KOR)

67kg
Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) vs. HUSIYUETU (CHN)
Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) vs. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)

77kg
Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) vs. Dowon LEE (KOR)
Rui LIU (CHN) vs. Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI)

87kg
Haitao QIAN (CHN) vs. Sultan EID (JOR)
Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) vs. Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

97kg
Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) vs. U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA) vs. Seungjun KIM (KOR)

130kg
Seungchan LEE (KOR) vs. Sota OKUMURA (JPN)
Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) Roman KIM (KGZ)

12:25: Asian Games silver medalist Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) keeps Iran's hopes of filling all six Greco weights in Paris alive with a 7-1 win over Ali ALABODA (IRQ) at 77kg to end the morning session. Kaviyaninejad is put on the bottom of par terre first, but escapes, scores a takedown and adds a gut wrench for a 4-1 lead. He scores a gut wrench from par terre in the second period, clinching the win and setting up a clash with Rui LIU (CHN) for the ticket to Paris.

12:16: Saudi Arabia, like Jordan looking for a first-time Olympian, will get a chance tonight from Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA), who defeated  Mirzoamin SAFAROV (TJK) 3-1 at 97kg. After gaining a passivity point, Fallatah scores a takedown when he fights off a whizzer for a 3-0 lead in the first period. In the second, he keeps from getting turned while on the bottom of par terre.

12:11: Dowon LEE (KOR) makes short work of Gadiel MISSO (SGP) at 77kg, chalking up an 8-0 win in 33 seconds. He will face Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) for the Olympic spot.

12:09: Seungjun KIM (KOR) scores all of his points in the first period, then hangs on for a 5-4 win over Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM) at 97kg.

12:06: Haitao QIAN (CHN), a world bronze medalist back in 2019 at 82kg, rallies with a takedown and two rolls in the second period to defeat Sanghyeok PARK (KOR) 8-3 at 87kg and gain a place in tonight's qualifying match.

12:00: Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) with his trademark handlock throw over Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) before finishing the bout 10-0 at 97kg. He moves into the semifinals.

11:56: Tokyo Olympian Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) survives a scare, scoring a takedown with 1:08 left to defeat Sunil KUMAR (IND) 4-2 at 87kg. Kumar earlier had a stepout wiped out on the challenge, then a takedown with 11 seconds left.

11:55: Big win for Jordan as Sultan EID (JOR) gains a 4-point takedown and converts it into a fall in the second period over Sukhrob ABDULKHAEV (TJK) at 87kg. A win tonight against the winner of Sanghyeok PARK (KOR)-Haitao QIAN (CHN) will give him Jordan's first-ever berth in wrestling at an Olympics.

11:45: Dahyun KIM (KOR) sticks Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL) with a 4-point arm throw, then comes back with a takedown and gut wrench to end their match at 60kg. An unsuccessful challenge makes it officially 9-0.

11:43: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) gave some hope to the local crowd but Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) proved too good for him. Mohmadipiani gets par terre in the second period to make the score 3-2 with Zhanyshov leading. Mohamadipiani lifts and pushes Zhanyshov to the mat to score two points. A takedown later to win 8-3 at 87kg.

11:42: Rising star Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) proves too much for Muhammad ALIANSYAH (INA), as the 2022 world U23 bronze medalist gets a takedown and a gut wrench, then unleashes a 4-point throw to win 8-0 in 1:20 and move one win away from an Olympic place at 67kg.

11:38: Sota OKUMURA (JPN), looking to become the first Japanese to make it to the Olympics in an upper Greco weight class since 2012 and the first heavyweight since 1996, rallies from a 6-1 deficit to defeat a fatigued Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB) 12-6 at 130kg. Okumura ties the match at 6-6 with a 4-point throw off a whizzer, then adds a pair of stepouts that met little resistance.

11:37: HUSIYUETU (CHN) looks like a merry-go-round rolling Faisal ALDOSSARY (KSA) four straight times from par terre in the second period for a 9-0 win to make tonight's qualifying match at 67kg.

11:28: Abror ATABAEV (UZB) and Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) on Mat B. Shermakhanbet gets the par terre position first and he exposes Atabaev twice for a 5-0 lead. Atabaev challenges for a leg foul but loses it to hand one more point to Shermakhanbet. Atabaev gets one turn in par terre in the second period but Shermakhanbet wiggles out of the hold. A 6-3 win for Shermakhanbet and Atabaev leaves disappointed

11:19: Two-time Asian silver medalist Seungjun KIM (KOR)squanders a seven-point lead, but still hangs on to beat Asian Games silver medalist Yiming LI (CHN) 7-7 on criteria at 97kg. Kim gets three gut wrenches from par terre to lead 7-0, before Li comes back with a takedown and stepout. In the second period, Li adds a takedown and a stepout with a fleeing point tacked on to tie it at 7-all, but his late efforts to force Kim out once more fall short and both wrestlers drop to the mat in exhaustion.

11:19: Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) with a reverse lift and destroys Yong Jin RO (PRK) with two slams. Incredible show of strength from Ismailov.

11:17: Roman KIM (KGZ), the host country's three-time Asian medalist, fights off a gutsy Ali AL SHARUEE (IRQ) in a 4-1 win at 130kg.

11:13: Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) scored a takedown to start the 130kg bout against Aybegshazada KURRAYEV (TKM). He got a par terre point and then rolled Kurrayev for a 9-0 win.

11:10: Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) led 2-0 against Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ) at the break and then defended from par terre in the second period to pull off a 2-1 victory at 97kg.

11:08: Sunil KUMAR (IND), the 2019 Asian silver medalist, gets a pair of gut wrenches in his turn in par terre in the second period and defeats Soh SAKABE (JPN) 5-1 at 87kg. He will next face two-time world medalist and Asian Games champion Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB).

11:00: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) gets four gut wrenches from par terre to win 9-0 Yhlas ABDURAZAKOV (TKM). Turkmenistan challenged but lost to give another point to Zhanyshov

10:58: Asian Games bronze medalist Se Ung RI (PRK), leading  4-0 lead in the second period at 60kg against  SUMIT (IND), has a takedown and gut wrench nullified on challenge due to a leg violation. Sumit gets a takedown to pull within two, but Ri stuffs his roll attempt for a 2-point exposure and a 6-2 win.

10:43: Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) with a dreamy suplex to beat 10-1 over Rovshen ATDAYEV (TKM) as he moves on at 67kg. Beautiful move!

10:42: In a sign of a generational change, up-and-coming Japanese Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) gets four rolls from par terre and ousts 36-year-old two-time Olympian and three-time world medalist Hansu RYU (KOR) 9-0 in just under two minutes at 67kg. The 22-year-old Sogabe, the 2023 Asian silver medalist, made a name for himself by nearly knocking off Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) at last year's World Championships, losing 11-10 in a memorable match that had the crowd on his side.

10:38: Yong Jin RO (PRK), a 2015 Asian junior bronze medalist who returned to the international stage to finish 10th at last October's Asian Games, defeats Karrar ALBIDHAN (IRQ) 12-4 at 67kg to start the action on Mat C. Ro falls behind 2-2 after an early scramble, but reverses and adds a 2-point throw at the edge. A 2-point penalty is tacked on for fleeing, and another point for an unsuccessful challenge. And 2-and-2 makes the score 10-4 before Ro finishes it with a gut wrench.

10:33: 2023 Asian champion Abror ATABAEV (UZB) with a quick 8-0 win over ASHU (IND) at 67kg to advance. The former U17 world champion is looking to win the Paris quota at 67kg.

10:30: Greco-Roman powerhouses out to earn their Paris Olympic quotas. On the final day of the Asian Olympic qualifiers with 12 quotas

#WrestleTirana

Kayaalp Nears Record-Breaking 13th European Gold

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (April 20) -- Riza KAYAALP (TUR) is now one win away from becoming the most successful Greco-Roman wrestler in Europe.

At the European Championships in Tirana, Kayaalp reached the 130kg final on Monday to take a step closer to breaking Aleksandr KARELIN's long-time record of 12 European gold medals.

UWW Plus

Kayaalp was returning to the European Championships after two years and showed now signs of as he began with a fall over Albert VARDANYAN (ARM) using an arm throw before winning a 1-1 battle against Marat KAMPAROV (UWW).

In a dramatic semifinal which resulted in the disqualification of Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), Kayaalp kept his composure despite the aggression of Hlinchuk, a former U23 world champion.

Kayaalp got the par terre advantage in the first period but Hlinchuk escaped. However, he tried to throw Kayaalp who blocked the throw and landed on top for two points, making his lead 3-0. Hlinchuk challenged the decision but lost it and Kayaalp led 4-0.

Riza KAYAALP (TUR)Riza KAYAALP (TUR) wrestles Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) in the quarterfinal of 130kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Perhaps it was coming as the referee had warned the two wrestlers time and again to wrestle without aggression. But 30 seconds before the end of the first period, Kayaalp used a strong hand on Hlinchuk's neck. Hlinchuk first responded with shoulder to Kayaalp and then proceed to slap the Turkish wrestler who fell on the mat.

The judges decided to disqualify Hlinchuk from the competition for his act and Kayaalp, supported by a very vocal Turkish team, entered his 15th European Championships final.

He will now face Darius VITEK (HUN) who held on to his 1-1 criteria win over Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) and who now stands between Kayaalp and history.

Semen NOVIKOV (BUL)Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) tries to throw Islam ABBASOV (AZE) during the 87kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Novikov faces Bisultanov

After a season off, Olympic champion and returning silver medalist Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) will be in the 87kg final to change the color of his medal when he takes on Olympic bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN).

Bisultanov and Novikov faced each other in Paris and the Bulgarian defeated Bisultanov 5-1 in the opening round.

But Bisultanov looked in control in Tirana as he pinned Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) in the semifinals while Novikov managed to beat returning bronze medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 4-0.

Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) defeated Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) in the 77kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Four-time and defending champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) returned to the final with an easy 3-1 victory in the semifinal over Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) to set up a rematch of 2025 European final against Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO).

The Georgian will be keen on avenging that loss against Amoyan after he reach the final, beating Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 8-0, using two big throws for four points each.

In a shock at 63kg, U23 world champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) stunned defending champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 6-5, in the semifinals.

Kamal was leading 5-0 but Eriomenco managed to score from par terre. His two-point takedown was challenged by Turkiye but he lost the challenge, giving Eriomenco the clear lead.

For the gold medal, Eriomenco will face veteran and former world champion Sergey EMELIN (UWW) who scored an easy 9-0 technical superiority win over Mairbek SALIMOV (POL).

At 55kg, world champion and returning bronze medalist Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) moved into his first European final after beating Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1.

He will face defending champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) who defeated Omer RECEP (TUR), 11-0.

Photo

RESULTS

55kg
SF 1: Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) df. Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1
SF 2: Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) df. Omer RECEP (TUR), 11-0

63kg
SF 1: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 6-5
SF 2: Sergey EMELIN (UWW) df. Mairbek SALIMOV (POL), 9-0

77kg
SF 1: Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) df. Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 8-0
SF 2: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), 3-1

87kg
SF 1: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) df. Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR), via fall
SF 2: Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) df. Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 4-0

130kg
SF 1: Darius VITEK (HUN) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 1-1
SF 2: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), via disqualification (4-0)