#WrestleXian

Bakhramov Matches Brother as Asian Greco Champion; Geraei, Abdvali Also Strike Gold Among Siblings

Sunday, April 28, 2019 - 15:51 By Ken Marantz

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XI’AN, China (April 28)—Having seen his younger brother win a gold medal the day before, Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) did what comes naturally to a sibling. Wanting what he has.

Bakhramov made it two golds in the family when he captured the 60kg title as the Asian Championships finished up with competition in five Greco-Roman finals on the sixth and final day in Xi’an.

Bakhramov defeated RI Se Ung (PRK) by a 12-4 technical fall, avenging a loss in the semifinals at last year’s Asian Championships in Bishkek, where he had to settle for a bronze medal. 

It also gave Uzbekistan a second gold medal after younger brother Ilkhom captured the 55kg title the previous day.

“Two brothers in one sport is very excellent,” Bakhramov said. “We motivate each other. If the younger brother wins a medal, why shouldn’t the older brother also win? If he wins, I must win.”

Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) celebrates after winning the 72kg gold medal with a 5-0 win over China's ZHANG Hujun. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Meanwhile, Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) and Saeid ABDVALI (IRI)—who also had brothers competing in Xi’an, both of whom won bronze medals—cruised to the 72kg and 82kg titles, respectively, to help Iran capture the team championship by just two points ahead of Uzbekistan.

The title race came down to the final match of the tournament, and a 3-2 victory by Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) over Jahongir TURDIEV (UZB) in the 97kg final left Uzbekistan two points short of Iran, which won with 165 after securing four golds and three bronzes. 

Kazakhstan was third with 134 points, mainly on the strength of six bronze medals.

Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) tosses RI Se Ung (PRK) in the 60kg gold-medal bout. The Uzbekistan wrestler reached the top of the podium with a 12-4 victory. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In a never-a-dull moment 60kg final, Bakhramov got the advantage first in the par terre position and executed a roll for a 3-0 lead. But Ri, who knocked off 2017 world champion Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) and world bronze medalist Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) en route to the final, came back with a 2-point back drop.

Bakhramov replied with a twisting head lock for two points, but Ri struck back with a 2-point head lock throw to cut the gap to 5-4. 

In the second period, the Uzbeki padded his lead with a takedown and 1-point leg-grab penalty. With the seconds ticking down, Ri made a last-ditch leap for a score, but landed on his back, giving Bakhramov four points and the technical fall at the buzzer.

“Last time I didn’t know him, what moves he would do,” Bakhramov said. “This time I was ready absolutely. I trained very well and was completely ready for this championships.”

For Ilkhom Bakhramov, seeing his older brother’s success only doubled the pleasure of his own.

“Yesterday when I won the [gold] medal, I was really happy,” he said. “But it was like 50 percent. Today, my brother also won, so that’s why it’s 100 percent. I was shouting and jumping.”

Geraei, who was third at the Asian Games last summer in Jakarta, earned his first Asian title with a solid 5-0 victory over ZHANG Hujun (CHN) in the 72kg final. 

Geraei, whose older brother Mohammadali was third at 77kg on Saturday, scored a takedown in each period and was never really put in danger. 

Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) shutout India's Singh HARPEET, 8-0 to win the 82kg gold medal. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Abdvali, a former world champion and Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, was even more dominant in putting away Singh HARPEET (IND) by 8-0 technical fall in 3:54, scoring two takedowns and four stepouts.

“My program to prepare for this championships was five months,” said Abdvali, who won all three of his matches by technical falls without surrendering a point to add a first Asian title to two Asian Games crowns. “At the competition, I was strong and ready.”

Advali said younger brother Saman, a bronze medalist at 63kg, had his chance for gold, too. “He made a mistake and that caused him to lose,” he said.

Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) celebrates after scoring the 3-2 win over Jahongir TURDIEV (UZB) in the 97kg gold-medal match. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In the 97kg final, Dzhuzupbekov, who was third at both the Asian Championships and Asian Games last year, managed to roll Turdiev from the par terre position a minute into the second period to take a 3-1 lead, then held on for the victory.

RYU Hansu (KOR) used a four-point move to top Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), 5-1 in the final at 67kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

The other title at stake on the final night at Xidian University’s Invengo Gymnasium went to RYU Hansu (KOR), who scored with a 4-point move with :46 left in the 67kg final to top world bronze medalist Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), 5-1.

With the wrestlers tied at 1-1 from passivity points, Ryu secured a body lock from the side, then twisted Shermakhanbet backwards and down for the big-point move that secured his third Asian gold.  

“It’s something that I practice all the time,” said Ryu, a two-time Asian Games champion and 2017 world champion. “It came natural to me because I have done it so many times.”

Host China, which finished 10 points behind Kazakhstan in the team standings, ended on a positive note with three wrestlers taking bronze medals: ZHANG Gaoquan (CHN) at 67kg, QIAN Haitao (CHN) at 87 kg and XIAO Di (CHN) at 97kg. 

Japan came away with a pair of bronzes from Fumita at 60kg and Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN) at 67kg. Fumita, the 2017 world and Asian champion, won without a fight as Walihan defaulted their bronze-medal match due to a shoulder injury. 

One of the more exciting matches of the evening program was a come-from-behind victory by Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ) in an 82kg bronze-medal match.

Trailing Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) 5-0, Yerezhepov was in the process of being lifted for a roll, when he suddenly clamped down on his opponent’s arm to send him to his back and win by an unlikely fall at 2:02.

Day 6 results

Greco-Roman

60kg (12 entries)
Gold – Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) df. RI Se Ung (PRK) by TF, 12-4, 6:00
Bronze – Gyanender GYANENDER (IND) df. HUANG Jui Chi (TPE) by TF, 9-0, 2:45
Bronze – Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) df. Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) by Default

67kg (14 entries)
Gold – RYU Hansu (KOR) df. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), 5-1
Bronze – ZHANG Gaoquan (CHN) df. Abdulkarim AL HASAN (SYR), 7-0
Bronze – Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB), 5-2

72kg (9 entries)
Gold – Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) df. ZHANG Hujun (CHN), 5-0 
Bronze – Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ) df. Yogesh YOGESH (IND) by TF, 8-0, 1:12 
Bronze – Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) df. Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)  by Fall, 2:29 (3-2)

82kg (9 entries)
Gold – Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) df. Singh HARPEET (IND) by TF, 8-0, 3:54
Bronze – Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ) df. Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) by Fall, 2:02 (2-5)
Bronze – QIAN Haitao (CHN) df. Burgo BEISHALIEV (KGZ) by TF, 9-0, 3:29 

97kg (9 entries)
Gold – Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) df. Jahongir TURDIEV (UZB), 3-2
Bronze – XIAO Di (CHN) df. LEE Seyeol (KOR), 1-1 
Bronze – Mahdi ALIYARIFEIZABADI (IRI) df. Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ), 4-2

Team Standings
1. Iran 165 points (4 gold-0 silver-3 bronze)
2. Uzbekistan 163 (2-3-1)
3. Kazakhstan 134 (0-1-6) 

#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Day 3 Finals Set

Friday, February 28, 2025 - 10:08 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 28) -- Muhamet Malo Ranking Series enters day three with four Women's Wrestling and two Greco-Roman weight classes. Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) will be in action at GR 87kg alongwith silver medalist Alireza MOHAMADIPIANI (IRI) and both are on collision course as well. Other Paris Olympic medalist in action are Grace BULLEN (NOR) at WW 62kg and Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) at WW 65kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 RESULTS

16:45: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) will look to avenge her round-robin loss to Irina RINGACI (MDA) as she wins her semifinal against Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) to enter the gold medal bout. Koliadenko, a Paris silver medalist at 62kg, was 1-0 at the break after Morikawa's inactivity. But Morikawa launched a huge but sloppy double-leg to score four points at the start of the second period to lead 4-1. Koliadenko was put on activity clock but did not score which gave a point to Morikawa. Koliadenko then scored a takedown with a minute left to cut the lead to 5-3. Morikawa answered with another stepout and led 6-3, the winning score.

Irina RINGACI (MDA) won 10-0 over Aleah NICKEL (CAN). She finished the bout with an ankle pick for four. Ringaci won the round-robin bout against Morikawa 6-5. They both go against each other in about three hours time.

16:30: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) sees off Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) in the 59kg semifinal. She scored a takedown, stepout before Vynnyk was docked for cautioned for locking Onishi's neck. From forced par terre, Onishi used the head between legs to roll Vynnyk twice and make it 8-0. Vynnyk scored exposure using chestwrap but it was scored two for Onishi as she never got turned. Ukraine challenged the decision and won which made it 8-2 at the break. Vynnyk was docked a caution for blocking Onishi who finished the match with an ankle pick four-pointer on the edge. She won 13-2.

Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) survived an onslaught from Bediha GUN (TUR) in the final 30 seconds to win 4-4 in the other semifinal. Down 4-0, Gun scored a takedown and was awarded a caution point. Another takeodwn made it 4-4 but she could not get another point as Sidelnikova won 4-4 through points via bigger technique (2+2).

16:20: Idris IBAEV (GER) enters the 77kg final after beating Kodai SAKURABA (JPN) in an action-filled match. He got the par terre in first period and turned Sakuraba who also committed a foul. A stepout was awarded to Ibaev on review which made his lead 6-0. Sakuraba wasn't focused as he walked out of the zone thinking he has scored a stepout but Ibaev got the points. He then tried a headlock which Ibaev defended and scored four points. Japan challenged the call and won as it was a risk by Sakaruba who managed to get on board with a pushout. Ibaev challenged and got the pushout point as Sakuraba's hand was out before him.

Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) will face Ibaev in the final after he defeated Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE) 6-1. Maksatbek Uulu blocked Olofsson from par terre and led 2-1 at the break. In the second period, Olofsson was about to take Maksatbek Uulu but lost his balance and the Kyrgyz scored a takedown which Olofsson challenged and lost. With a 5-1 lead, Maksatbek Uulu got a passivity call to make it 6-1 and won.

16:00: We have the 87kg finalists in Greco-Roman! Paris silver medalist Alireza MOHAMMADIPIANI (IRI) and David LOSONCZI (HUN) will wrestle for gold. Mohammadipiani with an impressive win -- 6-1 over Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB). He got the par terre advantage and turned Komarov twice to lead 5-0 at break. Komarov got his par terre chance in the second period but failed to score from the position and Mohammadipiani defended for the rest of the match to win and enter the final.

Losonczi brought his motor to the semifinal against Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and led 2-1 at the break with two stepouts. Sterkenburg was cautioned for a move against bone joints and docked two points. He challenged and lost another as Losonczi led 5-1. Sterkenburg was called passive which added another point to Losonczi's score before a stepout added another for a 7-1 win for Losonczi and a place in the final. 

15:50: World champion Ami ISHII (JPN) marches on to the 68kg final. Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) scored the first takedown but Ishii with a reversal and then two turns to make it 5-2. Ishii counters an attempt to make it 7-2 at the break. Ishii continues attacking the legs of Zelenykh and finally gets a takedown with traparm and rolls Zelenykh twice to win 13-2.

Zelu LI (CHN) will be her opponent in the final after the Chinese laced her way to a 10-0 win over Noémi SZABADOS (HUN).

15:40: First semifinals of the day! Women's Wrestling 62kg has three Paris Olympians out of the four semifinalists. The only one not from Paris, LILI (CHN), takes out bronze medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) and books her spot in the final. Bullen got a takedown and turn before Lili scored reversal and lace. Bullen led 4-3 and Lili scored another takedown and turn to make 7-4. Bullen get the gap to 7-5 with a stepout but Bullen couldn't break the defense and lost 8-3. Lili will face Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) for the gold medal who defeated  Anne NUERNBERGER (GER) in the other semifinal. Dudova led 3-0 at the break and then scored a takedown and gut wrench to make it 7-0. Solid snapdowns in the match from Dudova as she added another takedown before countering an attack to win 11-0.

15:25: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) with a different approach in the match against Abigail NETTE (USA). With a more cautious approach, Onishi was shut down by Nette who led 1-0 at the break for Onishi's passivity. But Onishi comes out blazing in the second and score 10 straight points using head in the middle. A takedown makes it 12-1 as Onishi advances at 59kg.

15:20: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) books herself a semifinal with Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) at 65kg. Morikawa with a 3-0 win over Yuqi RAO (CHN).

15:05: Back to Women's Wrestling, and Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) with a 34 second technical superiority win over Aleah NICKEL (CAN) at 65kg. She top her group with that win and enters the semifinal in which she likely to face Miwa MORIKAWAN (JPN).

14:55: Paris Olympic final rematch at Greco-Roman 87kg between Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) and Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI). Novikov had blanked Mohamadipiani 7-0 in the final in Paris. An aggressive start from Mohammadi and he gets a par terre but no score. He leads 1-0 at the break. A stepout and takedown to make it 4-0 in the second period. He is awarded the par terre for his active wrestling to lead 5-0 but he can't score from there. Mohammadi shuts Novikov down completely and wins 5-0. He celebrates with an acknowledgement from the coach.

14:42: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) scored a takedown and three turns after Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR) got the par terre and he wins 9-2 at 87kg. A machine from par terre.

14:40: World champion at 72kg Ami ISHII (JPN) is back at 68kg for the Ranking Series. She begins her campaign with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Greda BARTH (GER).

14:30: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) isn't giving Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) any last-second points this time as in Zagreb. Down 4-2, Dudova scores a takedown and then an exposure when Nwachukwu tries to hold on to her 4-4 criteria lead in last 10 seconds to win 6-4. Nwachukwu scored a takedown in the final five seconds in Zagreb to beat Dudova.

14:15: Irina RINGACI (MDA) with a 10-0 technical superiority and Grace BULLEN (NOR) with a fall in their respective bouts at 65kg and 62kg.

14:10: U20 world champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Bediha GUN (TUR) in Round 2 of 59kg. She is the favorite to win the gold medal

13:35: Alireza MOHAMADIPIANI (IRI), who lost to Novikov in the Paris final, begins with a solid 8-0 win over Tamas LEVAI (HUN) at 87kg. Mohamadipiani got the part terre and turned Levai, who locked Mohamadipiani's neck which is a foul. Hungary challenged the call but lost. With a 6-0 lead, Mohamadipiani turned Levai once to win 8-0

13:30: Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) is into the quarterfinal at 87kg after beating Istvan TAKACS (HUN). He got a turn from par terre to lead 3-0 at the break. Novikov keeps the pressure in the second period and scores a stepout before getting the second par terre as well. No points but enough for Novikov to win 5-0.

13:20: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) with another 8-0 technical superiority. A stepout, first par terre and four turns to beat Artur OVSEPYAN (UKR) and advance to the 87kg quarterifinals.

13:15: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) up against Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) at 87kg 1/8 final. He scores the opening takedown to be 2-0 up. Georgia challenge but lose. Sterkenburg gets par terre advantage to make it 4-0 but no turn from par terre. Sterkenburg with a strong start in the second and scores a stepout. Bolkvadze tries a headlock but falls on his back and Sterkenburg gets the fall.

13:10: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) was woken up by Albina DRAZHI (ALB) with the first takedown of their 65kg bout but Koliadenko works her way back and scores 12-2 technical superiority win in Round 1 at 65kg. 

13:00: Irina RINGACI (MDA) and Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) faced off in the 2021 World Championships final which Ringaci won. Four years later, they meet in Round 1 of 65kg in Tirana. Ringaci on the holds straightaway and she scores a takedown and a turn to lead 4-0. Morikawa is more active in the second period but a scramble results in Ringaci landing on top to take the lead 6-0. Morikawa keeps going but Ringaci split defense keeps her at bay before Morikawa scores exposure for two. Another leg elevation from Morikawa for a takedown to make it 6-4 with 17 seconds left. A double leg from Morikawa but Ringaci decides to run out of bounds than give a losing takedown. 6-5 with 6 seconds remaining. Japan challenge the call. Morikawa has no control over Ringaci during stepout. It's only one point and Japan lose the challenge, giving Ringaci a 7-5 lead. She defends the lead for the six seconds to win 7-5. They both can still meet in the final as 65kg is in Nelson system.

12:40: World champion at 59kg in 2023, Qi ZHANG (CHN) was down 8-0 against Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) but mounts a comeback. Zhang with a stepout, a takedown and exposure to make it 8-5 at the break. A caution against Tandelova made it 8-6. A takedown for Zhang but a double leg takedown from Tandelova to make it 10-8. As Zhang tries another attack, Tandelova counters for another two points. She wins 12-8 at 62kg.

12:30: That was quick from Grace BULLEN (NOR). The Paris bronze medalist beats Sara LINDBORG (SWE) 10-0 inside two minutes at 62kg.  

12:25: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) with all those counter attacks to beat Nikolett SZABO (HUN) 9-0 at 62kg. Dudova led only 1-0 at the break but as Szabo tried to score in the second, Dudova continued to counter those attacks.

12:00: Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) gets former U23 world champion Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) in the first round. Novikoc with a stepout to open the scoring. He turns Mukubu from par terre to lead 4-0. Excellent defense from Mukubu after the first turn. Mukubu begins the second period with a takedown. Novikov was pushing Mukubu towards the zone but Mukubu sneaked and scored a go-behind takedown. Then gets the par terre to make the score 4-3. Novikov blocks the turn attempt and score a gut-wrench to lead 8-3. Novikov wins 8-3.

11:52: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) with a quick 8-0 technical superiority win over Jiaxin HUANG (CHN). A takedown and gut wrench for Komarov.

11:50: U20 world champion Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) gets a taste of senior level competition as Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR) beats him 6-2 in the opening round at 87kg. Zhanyshov gets thrown for four from bodylock and is down 5-0. Both wrestlers exchange stepouts and Saricicek leads 6-1 at the break. A stepout from Zhanyshov in the second period is all he got as Saricicek wins 6-2.

11:45: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO), one of the three Georgian wrestlers at 87kg, runs into Soh SAKABE (JPN) in the opening round. Sakabe gets the first par terre advantage but Bolkvadze blocks the turn and leads 2-1 at the break. Bolkvadze manages a throw from par terre in the second period to lead 7-1. Sakabe with a headlock throw and is awarded two and one point for reversal for Bolkvadze. Japan challenge for four. But on review, all the points are removed as no one landed in danger. A 7-1 win for Bolkvadze.

11:30: Another rainy day here in Tirana. But wrestlers are ready for day three of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series with 59kg, 62kg, 65kg and 68kg in Women's Wrestling and 77kg and 87kg in Greco-Roman.