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

#WrestleAstana

Teen Aman steps up, keeps Asian 57kg title in Indian hands

Thursday, April 13, 2023 - 14:56 By Ken Marantz

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (April 13) -- Stepping in for the injured three-time reigning champion, teenager AMAN (IND) ended up stepping right up to the top of the podium.

Aman capped an amazing run at the Asian Championships by keeping the 57kg gold in Indian hands, and Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) retained his 65kg crown as freestyle got underway with competition in five weight classes on Thursday in Astana.

Aman, who made Indian history last year by becoming the country's first-ever world U23 champion, went on a takedown spree to defeat Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) 9-4 in the final and follow in the footsteps of star Ravi KUMAR (IND), who last year won a third straight 57kg gold.

"Before coming here, I just wanted to win gold," Aman said.

Host Kazakhstan gave the packed crowd at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace plenty to cheer by capturing two of the five golds at stake, with Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) edging veteran Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) for the 79kg title and unheralded Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ) triumphing at 70kg.

Eight different countries were represented in the gold-medal matches, and the one least expected to produce a champion did just that when Russian-born Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) won the 97kg gold to become just the second Asian gold medalist in Bahrain history.

Aman, who will turn 20 in July, belied his youth with a masterful performance of confidence, power and speed that establishes him as a future force for India.

In the final, Aman received an activity point before Smanbekov went behind a counter for 2. Aman responded with a leg scoop for a takedown and a 3-2 lead going into the second period.

The two traded takedowns before Aman pulled away with two more well-executed takedowns.

"I made two mistakes in the final," Aman said. "I did watch his bouts before the final and he only has counters. But I thought that I should [be able to] score. I thought that I will not get tired, so keep trying to score. So I got countered twice. I then put my head down and focused."

Aman's route to the final was paved with tough wins over 2022 bronze medalist Rikuto ARAI (JPN) and Ranking Series Bucharest champion Wanhao ZOU (CHN). He beat Arai 7-1 and Zou 7-4.

"I thought the Chinese was a good wrestler," Aman said. "I always think that if they cannot put me in danger in par terre, I will win. They score from par terre and the lead is too much, I won't be able to cover up. I am sure to win from standing. I am a little concerned about getting caught in a lace.

"The Japanese wrestler gets tired a lot. I had watched his bouts and I told myself to not get caught in any locks or lace and for a minute or a minute and a half, I have to defend and then he will be tired."

Aman came into Astana riding a third-place finish at the Ranking Series Zagreb Open in January, where he was dealt a 15-5 loss in the semifinals by Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN). He said he learned from that experience.

"I lost in the Ranking Series to a Japanese wrestler," he said. "Here it was a different wrestler. I worked a lot on the mistakes I made in Croatia."

Aman still has a way to go to catch up to Kumar, to whom he lost 10-0 at the 2022 world trials. But as he showed in Astana, he has the drive and desire to succeed, and India is taking notice.

"If you told him to do 30 repetitions of an exercise, he would do 60," his coach Lalit KUMAR was quoted as telling the website Sportstar. "If a training session was 60 minutes, he would be training by himself for two hours."

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) defeated Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) 3-1 in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Amoudzad was surprisingly the only Iranian to make the finals, and he had his hands full in forging out a 3-1 victory at 65kg over a defiant Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL).

An activity point for Tumur Ochir was the lone score of a staid first period in which the Mongolian consistently fended off Amoudzad's attacks. In the second period, Tumur Ochir attempted an arm spin, but Amoudzad kept his feet and scrambled behind for a takedown. He then received an activity point to complete the scoring.

"I try with my heart and my soul to train hard to make the Iranian people happy," said Amoudzad, who had preceded his 2022 world title by winning the world junior gold the previous year. "I hope to repeat this medal at the next World Championships and the Olympic Games."

All three of Amoudzad's matches went the distance, which the Iranian says shows the high level of the weight class -- and makes it fun for him.

"[The] 65kg [division] is the toughest weight category in the world, and I am happy about that and I enjoy it," he said. "The Japan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia wrestlers were good and I succeeded to win gold to make my family and Iranian people happy."

At 79kg, Sakayev denied 33-year-old Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Abdurakhmonov a third career Asian gold and first since 2017 when he held on for a 7-4 victory in his first continental competition on any level.

In the first period, the 30-year-old Sakayev had just given up an activity point when he scrambled behind for a takedown, which he topped off with a lace lock for a 4-1 lead. In the second period, Abdurakhmonov had a chance to cut the gap when he got Sakayev's leg in the air, but the Kazakh managed to slip out of the hold.

As the match was winding down, Abdurakhmonov tried a desperation throw that Sakayev stopped for 2. The last seconds saw a flurry in which Sakayev scored a stepout and Abdurakhmonov got a stepout and takedown.

Doszhanov, who failed to make it out of the qualification round at 65kg last year in Mongolia, picked up his first major medal of any color with a 2-0 victory over Asian U20 bronze medalist Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB) in the 70kg final.

Doszhanov scored a stepout just moments after receiving an activity point in the first period and made that lead hold up through a scoreless second period, much to the appreciation of the partisan crowd.

In the final match of the night, the 20-year-old Tazhudinov proved too much for Awusayiman HABILA (CHN), twice executing rolls after a takedown and cruising to an 11-0 technical fall to capture the 97kg gold.

"I was very well prepared," Tashudinov said. "I had a very good training camp in the mountains back in my Motherland. It was quite a tough championship, the opponents were very good. But this time I was the strongest."

Tazhudinov had defeated Habila two months ago at the Ranking Series Ibrahim Moustafa in Egypt, where he ended up placing seventh.

"With the Chinese opponent from the final, we wrestled each other recently at the Ranking Series, that match was really tough, I won 8-5, but this time it was much easier to win," he said.

Tazhudinov's hardest test came in the semifinals when he rallied to a 13-6 victory over 2021 world bronze medalist Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI).

"The semifinal match was really hard, I did my best, it was very tough," he said. "With the Iranian wrestler by the end of the match I had no energy left, but there was a big difference on the scoreboard, so I could win."

With his victory Thursday, Tazhudinov joined fellow Russian-born Adam BATIROV (BRN) as Asian champions from Bahrain. Batirov won the 70kg gold in Bangkok in 2016.

Tazhudinov said he plans to next enter the Asian U20 Championships in June, "and after that, we will start getting ready for the Worlds." He is currently training at the sports school run by two-time Olympic champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RWF).

"He is training me, we have nice matches together. So, I think I'll get the experience from him," Tazhudinov said.

Zholdoshbekov bags bronze in move up to 65kg

Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) might not yet have fully adjusted to the extra weight from his move up to 65kg, but he did enough to come away from Astana with his fourth career Asian bronze medal and fifth medal overall.

Zholdoshbekov, the 2020 Asian champion at 61kg, scored a stepout with :35 left to edge Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) 2-2 on last-point criteria. He previously won bronzes at 61kg in 2016, 2018 and last year.

Meanwhile, Japan went 3-for-4 in bronze-medal matches, with Arai capturing his second straight bronze at 57kg and world U23 bronze medalist Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN) and world U20 bronze medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) also making the podium at 65kg and 70kg, respectively.

Anraku, making his senior national team debut, scored a 4-point driving takedown in the first period, then added three spin-behind takedowns in the second for a 10-0 technical fall over Sanzhar MUKHTAR (KAZ).

Arai cobbled together a solid 6-1 victory at 57kg over Zou. After the Chinese scored a stepout while on the activity clock, Arai quickly struck back with a low-single takedown to go up 2-1. In the second period, a speedy tackle and a grapevine roll padded the lead.

At 70kg, Aoyagi joined the Japanese bronze parade with an entertaining 12-2 technical fall over lanky teenage Orts ISAKOV (JOR), who became a crowd favorite with his unorthodox style and flashy throws.

Aoyagi had trouble getting past the long arms of Isakova and had to settle for four stepouts in building a 6-2 lead in the first period. He added a takedown early in the second, then ended the match with a 4-point counter hip throw after Isakov got in deep with a duck under.

Isakov, who was looking to become Jordan's first-ever Asian medalist in freestyle, thrilled the crowd with a 5-point back suplex in the quarterfinals that capped a wild 20-7 victory over Agudamu AGUDAMU (CHN).

Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ), the silver medalist a year ago at 57kg, assured he wouldn't leave empty-handed by posting a dramatic 6-4 victory over Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) that brought the crowd to its feet.

Trailing 4-1, Kalzhan could hardly have cut it closer when he sent Zandanbud tumbling backward with an inner leg trip with five seconds left, a decisive 4-point move that would be confirmed on the challenge. The win avenged a 4-2 loss to Zandanbud in the first round of last year's Yasar Dogu tournament.

Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), the Asian U23 champion, gave Kyrgyzstan a second bronze by winning a battle of unmovable forces at 70kg. He edged 2021 bronze medalist Morteza GHIASI CHEKA (IRI) 2-1, with all of the points scored on the activity clock. Both of Toktomambetov's points came in the second period.

Iran found success in the two remaining weight classes, as Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) outmuscled Yajuro YAMASAKI (JPN) with five stepouts in a 6-0 victory at 79kg, and Goleij rolled over Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ) for an 11-0 technical fall.

It was Kavousi's second Asian bronze, having won one at 74kg in 2019, while Goleij completed the Asian medal set by adding to the gold he captured in 2020 and silver from 2018.

DEEPAK (IND) added the senior bronze to his Asian U20 bronze from last year by storming to a 12-1 technical fall over Shuhrat BOZOROV (TJK) at 79kg.

Compatriot Deepak NEHRA (IND) did not fare as well at 97kg, losing a freewheeling 12-9 decision to Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB), who had jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first period with a takedown, two gut wrenches and a 4-point hip throw counter.

Day 5 Results

Freestyle

57kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Aman AMAN (IND) df. Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ), 9-4

BRONZE: Rikuto ARAI (JPN) df. Wanhao ZOU (CHN), 6-1
BRONZE: Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ) df. Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL), 6-4

Semifinal: AMAN (IND) df. Wanhao ZOU (CHN), 7-4
Semifinal: Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) df. Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL), 8-6

65kg (14 entries)
GOLD: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) df. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), 3-1

BRONZE: Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN) df. Sanzhar MUKHTAR (KAZ) by TF, 10-0 (5:36)
BRONZE: Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) df. Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB), 2-2

Semifinal: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) df. Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN), 2-1
Semifinal: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) df. Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB), 5-2

70kg (16 entries)
GOLD: Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ) df. Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB), 2-0

BRONZE: Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) df. Morteza GHIASI CHEKA (IRI), 2-1
BRONZE: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) df. Orts ISAKOV (JOR) by TF, 12-2, 4:04

Semifinal: Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ) df. Morteza GHIASI CHEKA (IRI), 4-1
Semifinal: Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB) df. Orts ISAKOV (JOR) by TF, 10-0, :53

79kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) df. Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB), 7-4

BRONZE: Deepak DEEPAK (IND) df. Shuhrat BOZOROV (TJK) by TF, 12-1, 5:13
BRONZE: Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) df. Yajuro YAMASAKI (JPN), 6-0

Semifinal: Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) df. Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) by Fall, 5:46 (8-5)
Semifinal: Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) df. Deepak DEEPAK (IND) by TF, 10-0, 3:31

97kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) df. Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) by TF, 11-0, 3:32

BRONZE: Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB) df. Deepak NEHRA (IND), 12-9
BRONZE: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) df. Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ) by TF, 11-0, 4:10

Semifinal: Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) df. Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 3:52
Semifinal: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) df. Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI), 13-8

Balihamzehdeh salvages tough day for Iran at Asian Championships

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Teen Aman steps up, keeps Asian 57kg title in Indian hands