Balihamzehdeh salvages tough day for Iran at Asian Championships

Monday, April 10, 2023 - 16:58 By Ken Marantz

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (April 10) -- Compared to the previous day, things could not have gone more differently for Iran. But Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) salvaged some national pride by successfully defending his 97kg title in the final match of the Greco-Roman competition at the Asian Championships on Monday.

Balihamzehdeh forged out a dramatic 7-4 victory over Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) in the 97kg final, giving Iran its lone gold of the day after winning four on the opening day Sunday at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace in Astana.

It was Kyrgyzstan's turn to shine as all five of its wrestlers made it onto the medal podium, with world champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) repeating as 60kg champion and Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) triumphing at 82kg.

Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), a silver medalist three years ago, gave the host country its first gold medal of the tournament with a victory at 72kg, while Abror ATABAEV (UZB) assured that Uzbekistan would take home a Greco-Roman gold for the fifth straight year by storming to the 67kg title.

Iran, which also added a silver medal and a bronze medal to its tally, rode its big lead from the opening day to the team title with 196 points. Kyrgyzstan's second-day onslaught lifted it into second with 166, six points ahead of host Kazakhstan.

While the team title wasn't at stake, Balihamzehdeh's victory over Dzhuzupbekov in the 97kg final had all the drama of a crucial match.

The two had met twice last year, with Balihamzehdeh coming out on top both times in close decisions. First, the Iranian won 4-1 in the semifinals at the Asian Championships in Mongolia, then edged Dzhuzupbekov 3-3 at the World Cup in Baku seven months later.

On Monday, Balihamzehdeh struck first, gaining a passivity point, a stepout and a takedown, only to see Dzhuzupbekov score a takedown in the final seconds of the first period to cut the lead to 4-2 at the break.

In the second period, Dzhuzupbekov, who last year won his third senior Asian bronze, put himself on course for his first gold when a stepout and fleeing penalty put him ahead on criteria 4-4 with 1:30 left.

The tension was at a fever pitch as the clock wound down to :26, when both wrestlers were treated for bleeding, a sign of the intensity of the clash. Balihamzehdeh had his head taped to stop external bleeding from his ear, while Dzhuzupbekov had a bloody nose.

With :15 left, Dzhuzupbekov was flagged for a 2-point head butt, and a lost challenge put Balihamzehdeh ahead 7-4 before he ran out the clock.

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) defended his 60kg Asian title in Astana. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Sharshenbekov's gold-striking triumph over Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) in the 60kg final had more dominance than drama.

He dazzled Chung with a spinning takedown that landed the Korean on his back for 4 points. Put on top in par terre Sharshenbekov used a high gut wrench to yank Chung up and over onto his back for another 4. Korea's challenge of the call, saying it should have only been for 2, was unsuccessful, giving Sharshenbekov a 10-0 technical fall in 1:46.

"I respect all of my opponents," Sharshenbekov said. "I think all of them are strong wrestlers. Everything was on a high level, I can say that it was hard."

The 23-year-old Sharshenbekov credited the immense support system around him for his success.

"If I say that I'm champion myself only it would be wrong, because there is a huge team supporting me," he said. "They work behind the scenes: our coaches, teammates, sparring partners, doctors who were checking the state of our health all the time, masseuse. I want to thank them all. I dedicate this gold medal to my Kyrgyzstan and my family."

Sharshenbekov and Chung met previously in the first round of the 2021 Asian Olympic qualifying tournament, with Sharshenbekov winning 6-2 en route to secure a spot at the Tokyo Olympics, where the three-time world medalist finished seventh.

Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) defeated Dias KALEN (KAZ) 3-2 in the 82kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 82kg, Talantbekov added the senior crown to the Asian U23 title he won last year with a nail-biting 3-2 win over Dias KALEN (KAZ), who had to settle for the silver medal for the second straight year.

Neither wrestler could budge the other from par terre and Kalen led 1-1 on criteria as the match went into its final minute. Talantbekov was put on top in par terre and managed to lift and roll Kalen, right after which Kalen scrambled behind for a reversal.

Kalen was originally awarded 2 points for a takedown, as the referee did not feel that his shoulders broke the 90-degree plane. The Kyrgyz side challenged the ruling, which was overturned and Talantbekov awarded the decisive points.

Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) won the only Greco-Roman gold medal for Kazakhstan. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Magomadov drew the biggest cheers of the night from the partisan crowd when he notched a solid 5-2 victory over Zagreb Open silver medalist Sajjad IMENTALABFOUMANI (IRI) in the 72kg final.

Magomadov took advantage of his chance at par terre in the first period, scoring with a pair of rolls to take a 5-0 lead. In the second period, Imentalabfoumani gained a passivity point, but was unable to turn the Kazakh. He added a stepout that was too little, too late.

In the 67kg final, Atabaev, last year's Asian U23 champion, added the senior continental title by storming to a 10-0 technical fall over Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN).

"I have been training a lot for this," Atabaev said. "It’s not even possible to describe how I feel. I’ve been dreaming of showing the result at the senior level. Now I made it."

Atabaev took the early lead when he stopped an arm throw attempt by Sogabe at the edge, getting 2 points after the original call of a stepout for the Japanese was changed upon challenge.

He then scored a standing roll from par terre for 4 and a 7-0 lead at the break. In the second period, Sogabe tried a desperation back-drop but Atabaev stuffed the move, landing Sogabe on his back for 2 and ending the match at 3:23. An unsuccessful challenge made the final score 10-0.

"I can’t say the evening was perfect, but still my performance was quite good," said Atabaev, who posted three technical falls, including one over former two-time Asian champion Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) in the semifinals. "I had quite a tough match with Almat Kebispayev, the Japanese wrestler was strong as well, so it was quite competitive for me."

Japan grabs 3 bronzes; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan 2 each

In bronze-medal matches, Japan had a big day by winning three, while Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan came away with two each.

Maito KAWANA (JPN) secured the title of the tournament's Comeback Kid after rallying from a big deficit for a second time, this time overcoming a six-point gap to defeat SUMIT (IND) on cautions with the score 14-6.

Kawana, who is hoping to challenge Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) for the place on Japan's team at the World Championships, had a 4-point throw and received a number of penalty points as Sumit built up cautions, getting the third one that ended the match at 5:14. An unsuccessful challenge of the third caution made the final scoreline 14-6.

Earlier in the quarterfinals, Kawana fell behind 7-1 and 10-4 against Akmal KHAMROEV (UZB), but rallied to a wild 17-10 victory.

Perhaps noone was more pleased to make the medal podium than Yuta NARA (JPN), who hit a 4-point headlock throw in the second period to defeat Yiming LI (CHN) 5-2 at 97kg for his first medal in five trips to the Asian Championships.

Compatriot Yuya MAETA (JPN) also has not had much success abroad but secured an 82kg bronze with a 3-1 victory over Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) for his first senior Asian medal in four attempts. Maeta locked an arm and scored a gut wrench during his chance at par terre in the second period.

Krygyzstan got bronzes from Asian U20 silver medalist Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) at 67kg and Asian U23 champion Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) at 77kg.

Beishekeev opened with a 4-point hip throw en route to a 9-0 technical fall over Reza ABBASI (IRI), while Nurlanbekov held off Ali AL ABBOODAH (IRQ) for a 2-1 victory and his second straight senior Asian bronze. Nurlanbekov was able to get a 1-point stepout from his throw attempt from par terre for the decisive point.

The host country's Kebispayev will take home the fifth senior Asian medal of his career after the 35-year-old defeated Asian U20 bronze medalist Firuz MIRZORADZHABOV (TJK) 7-3 at 67kg.

Mirzoradzhabov had been aiming to earn just the eighth Asian medal in Greco-Roman in Tajikistan history.

Kebispayev compatriot Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ) assured he would not leave empty-handed from his home tournament when he defeated Narinder CHEEMA (IND) 4-1. Syrlybay trailed 0-1 in the second period when he put together a stepout, a passivity point and a gut wrench to secure the win.

Both India and China went 1-for-3 in bronze-medal matches. In the lone direct confrontation between the two, world U23 bronze medalist VIKAS (IND) overwhelmed Jian TAN (CHN) by 8-0 technical fall in 1:41.

Liguo CAO (CHN) scored a takedown and a passivity point in the first period and held on for a 4-2 victory at 60kg over Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ), a bronze medalist from last year.

Zagreb Open champion Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) added a bronze to the Iranian till with a 5-1 victory over world U20 bronze medalist Rohit DAHIYA (IND) at 82kg. Dahiya made the rare choice of opting to remain standing when awarded a passivity point in the second period but could break through the Iranian's defenses.

Day 2 Results

Greco-Roman

60kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) by TF, 10-0 (1:46)

BRONZE: Maito KAWANA (JPN) df. SUMIT (IND) by Cautions, 5:14 (14-6)
BRONZE: Liguo CAO (CHN) df. Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ), 4-2

Semifinal: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV(KGZ) df. Maito KAWANA (JPN), 4-0
Semifinal: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) df. Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ), 7-5

67kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Abror ATABAEV (UZB) df. Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) by TF, 10-0 (3:23)

BRONZE: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Reza ABBASI (IRI) by TF, 9-0 (3:39)
BRONZE: Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) df. Firuz MIRZORADZHABOV (TJK), 7-3

Semifinal: Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) df. Reza ABBASI (IRI), 5-1
Semifinal: Abror ATABAEV (UZB) df. Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) by TF, 10-2 (5:51)

72kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) df. Sajjad IMENTALABFOUMANI (IRI), 5-2

BRONZE: Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) df. Ali AL ABBOODAH (IRQ), 2-1
BRONZE: VIKAS (IND) df. Jian TAN (CHN) by TF, 8-0 (1:41)

Semifinal: Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) df. Ali AL ABBOODAH (IRQ), 6-0
Semifinal: Sajjad IMENTALABFOUMANI (IRI) df. Jian TAN (CHN) by TF, 9-0 (1:57)

82kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) df. Dias KALEN (KAZ), 3-2

BRONZE: Yuya MAETA (JPN) df. Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB), 3-1
BRONZE: Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) df. Rohit DAHIYA (IND), 5-1

Semifinal: Dias KALEN (KAZ) df. Yuya MAETA (JPN), 7-1
Semifinal: Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) df. Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) by TF, 8-0 (3:45)

97kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) df. Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ), 7-4

BRONZE: Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ) df. Narinder CHEEMA (IND), 4-1
BRONZE: Yuta NARA (JPN) df. Yiming LI (CHN), 5-2

Semifinal: Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) df. Narinder CHEEMA (IND) by TF, 9-0 (4:45)
Semifinal: Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) df. Yiming LI (CHN), 7-1

#JapanWrestling

Wrestling prodigy Ono takes big strides, with family's support

Wednesday, January 8, 2025 - 14:23 By Vinay Siwach

JAPAN (January 8) -- Ben ASKREN calls him the 'best wrestler on the planet.' Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) invited him as a special guest to his academy. Kids are lining up to take his autograph. Wrestling social media pages have numerous highlights of him.

No wrestler has been talked about as much as Masanosuke ONO (JPN) in recent times, and not because he has a soy sauce named after him.

Two months have passed since he won the World Championships on the first attempt, but Ono remains the hottest topic in wrestling. Currently in the United States for various commitments, Ono first broke out by winning the U20 World Championships in October, and two weeks later, he rocked the world with his run at the World Championships in Tirana.

The 20-year-old, using his speed and a lethal gut wrench, dominated Olympic champion Zavur UGUEV (AIN), blanked world champion Vitali ARAJAU (USA) and posted three other technical superiority wins en route to the gold medal at 61kg. All that with a broken ankle.

"One month ago, I broke my ankle, and I couldn't practice at all," Ono had said after winning the gold in Tirana. "The Uguev match was my first live wrestling match after the fracture, and I was very unsure how I would do."

"It's like a dream for us," said Noriko, Ono's mother, who watched her son in the arena in Tirana. She was joined by her husband Masaharu, who was equally elated with his son's success.

Masanosuke ONO (JPN) with his with sister Konami, left and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (center).

This was not the first time the couple had traveled with the Ono for a wrestling tournament. Well before Masanosuke became a world-known wrestler, the Ono household had been traveling for wrestling. In 2015, they traveled to Las Vegas for the World Championships. Photos of Ono with Burroughs and other wrestlers went viral on social media after he won.

Masaharu has several anecdotes of his son Ono's childhood, especially from wrestling tournaments.

"We stayed at the same hotel as the wrestlers in 2015," Masanharu recounts. "One day, he was missing. We searched for him in the hotel and later found that he was eating with Haji Aliyev and going around wrestlers' rooms to get autographs."

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) poses for a picture with Masansuke and Konami ONO in 2015.

Ono's parents were not the only ones surprised. Former world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN), who was wrestling at 57kg in the 2015 World Championships, heard a rumor that a little wrestler from Japan had come to Las Vegas to watch the World Championships.

"It's very rare in Japan, and he's the only little wrestler I've ever known who has traveled all the way overseas to watch matches like this," Takahashi says. "That was the first time I saw him, in the hotel. I was the same age at the time as he is now, a third-year university student. I don't remember talking to him directly, but I remember feeling very happy watching him running around with a big smile on his face."

Takahashi, a two-time Olympian for Japan, is now a coach at Yamanashi Gakuin University, the school that produced Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) and where Ono is a third-year student now.

Masanosuke ONO (JPN) wrestling in school.

His story, however, begins way back -- when Ono was in kindergarten. Or, more specifically when he was removed from a music class.

Unable to sit still and constantly interrupting his teacher, Ono was asked to leave the class. "The teacher was angry and told him to take up wrestling," Masaharu says.

Turns out, music's loss is wrestling's gain.

Ono's father Masaharu had no experience in wrestling, he practiced Kendo, a form of martial arts that uses sticks. Yet, he trained Ono, and himself fell in love with the sport.

"Wrestling, a sport in which you don't use any equipment, you compete using only your body," he says. "It's a fair competition. Whether you win or lose, you are solely responsible. There are no excuses. The match starts and ends with a handshake. I love that about it. I incorporated elements of Kendo into Masanosuke's wrestling. So I coached him, even though I had no experience."

The Ono siblings with Kenichiro FUMITA(JPN) in 2016.

Soon, Ono's sister Konami joined the training. Konami is two years younger than Ono but is already making a name for herself. She won the Japan Queen's Cup in 2023 and won silver at the U17 World Championships at 61kg after she won the prestigious Klippan Lady Open.

In the Ono household, wrestling became a way of life. Masaharu would take his kids to most domestic competitions in Japan. If not competing, they would travel to watch. He even made a "Save Olympic Wrestling" banner in 2013 when wrestling was dropped from the Olympic program.

At the 2012 Japan Championships, Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) made a stunning debut, winning the gold medal. Later that day, Ono recognized Fumita outside the arena and ran to get his first autograph.

Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN), center, a coach at the Yamanashi Gakuin University, pictured with Masanosuke ONO (JPN), second from right.

Ono would join Yamanashi Gakuin University, and Takahashi would see him again since the 2015 World Championships.

"He had grown bigger since I came to watch the World Championships, but he looked like he was having fun practicing, and his attitude seemed the same as it was back then," Takahashi says. "My first impression was that he was stronger in defense than in attack. I remember it was hard to score points. We had a lot of sparring, and watching him wrestling with pure joy made me feel young again."

Takahashi says that he expected Ono to be dominant once he is free of injuries and begins competing internationally.

"He had a lot of injuries and was unable to participate in many domestic tournaments for a long time, but when he is not injured and can train normally, he is really strong," he says. "He does not lose to fighters in higher weight classes. When he first entered the school, he was very weak even when sparring with me, but now he is really strong and has good natural ability, so I can feel his strength."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Olympic Wrestling (@unitedworldwrestling)

Ono made his international debut at the 2024 Asian Championships in 65kg and returned with a bronze medal from the Asian Championships after he was pinned by Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) who used a perfect arm throw. He dropped back to 61kg, a weight class more suited to him, and Ono was a menace.

"He doesn't change his wrestling style depending on his opponent but sticks to his own style. I expected him to win both the World Championships, but I didn't expect him to win so overwhelmingly."

The reason for Ono's ability to be the best on the mat comes from his speed. Takahashi explained that Ono researches a lot on his opponent and is quick to understand their gameplan.

"After he returned to Japan, I asked him about his impressions of Uguev. He said that he had done a lot of research and was able to understand what he was going to do just by moving a little," he says. "In terms of technique, it's not flexibility, but his speed that is so fast. There is always an initial movement before a technique, but he can perform the technique right there, so the opponent's reaction is delayed. Also, he predicts this and still performs the technique, so the opponent cannot even react."

Masanosuke ONO (JPN)
Soy sauce named Masanosuke, after Ono.

While Ono is away in the United States, his father Masaharu is planning for a long 2025 season. He wants to continue his travels with Masanosuke and Konami, which he has done since 2015. An owner of a soy sauce brewing factory in the Shimane Prefecture, Masaharu has even launched a soy sauce named after his son.

"I would be happy if people in the wrestling world around the world liked Masanosuke's interesting character," Masaharu says. "I am happiest when I travel the world to attend wrestling matches with Masanosuke and Konami."

Masaharu has documented his children's journey and is enjoying the love his son is getting so far in wrestling. Whether fans or his opponents, Ono is celebrated. Ono's walk after winning the gold was similar to what Connor McGregor did during his career; it went viral, adding to his celebrations like a fictional character from the manga series Attack on Titan (Shingekino Kyojin).

Masanosuke ONO (JPN) The Ono family in Budapest for the 2018 World Championships.

Masaharu also documented his family's trip to the 2018 World Championships in Budapest. Ono, then 14 years old, would run around to get pictures clicked. He got a few with Kyle SNYDER (USA), Sadulaev, Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), Taha AKGUL (TUR) and other stars.

And Masaharu has no plans to stop capturing his children on and off the wrestling mat. And then tell the stories of his travels.

"The viral photo with Burroughs was by chance," Masaharu says. "Ono had wandered off in the hotel and took his autograph. I did not believe that it was Burroughs's autograph. So he took me to his room and asked me to click a photo with Burroughs as evidence. That's how we got the photo. Later that night he won the gold medal at 74kg."

Balihamzehdeh salvages tough day for Iran at Asian Championships

Comments

Wrestling prodigy Ono takes big strides, with family's support