#DanKolov2019

Dan Kolov Freestyle Preview

By Eric Olanowski

RUSE, Bulgaria (February 26) – Four Olympic gold medalists and reigning world champion Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) will take the mat at the Monbat Sports Park Arena in Ruse, Bulgaria, to compete in the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament, United World Wrestling’s second freestyle and women's wrestling Ranking Series event of the 2019 season.

The four Olympic champions entered into this week’s four-day tournament are Taha AKGUL (TUR), Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), Kyle SNYDER (USA), and Hassan YAZDANI (IRI).

Two-time world champion Geno Petriashivili, along with fellow returning Dan Kolov champions Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and Vladimir DUBOV (BUL) will try to defend their titles from a year ago. 

For Petriashvili and Chamizo to repeat as Dan Kolov gold medalists, they’ll each have to go through an Olympic champion and multiple world medalists.


Chamizo vs. Burroughs Round 4?
The road for Italy's two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Frank Chamizo to defend his 74kg Dan Kolov title could head through his biggest rival, Jordan Burroughs. 

The pair of worldwide superstars are no strangers to each other and have sparked one of the most intriguing rivalries in recent memory since Chamizo bumped up to 74kg last year.

If they were to meet this weekend, it would be their fourth meeting in the last twelve months.

Burroughs, the four-time world and Olympic champion, scored the come-from-behind win in their first meeting at last May's Beat the Streets in New York City. Then, Chamizo returned the favor, knotting up the rivalry at one match a piece when he grabbed the 10-10 victory over Burroughs at the Yasar Dogu. Most recently, Burroughs gained the 2-1 match advantage when he came out on top in the Budapest World Championships bronze-medal bout, 4-4.

Ranked Wrestlers
No. 2 Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
No. 3 Jordan Ernest BURROUGHS (USA)
No. 4 Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB)
No. 5 Azamat NURYKAU (BLR)
No. 6 Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
No. 7 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ  (ITA)
No. 11 Yakup GOR (TUR)


Can Petriashvili Navigate 125kg Gauntlet?  
Two-time world champion Geno Petriashvili will be looking to defend his 125kg Dan Kolov title from a season ago, too. For the Georgian big-man to repeat as a Dan Kolov champion, he’ll have to potentially defeat his biggest rival, Olympic champion Taha Akgul, and each of the three other 125kg Budapest world medalists.

China’s DENG Zhiwei (CHN) was last year’s runner-up, while Parviz HADI (IRI) and Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) finished with the pair of bronze medals.

Ranked Wrestlers
No. 1 Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
No. 2 DENG Zhiwei (CHN)
No. 4 Taha AKGUL (TUR)
No. 5 Parviz HADI (IRI)
No. 6 Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)
No. 11 Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (RUS)
No. 12 Said GAMIDOV (RUS)


Yazdani to Make Ranking Series Debut  
Hassan Yazdani, Iran's world and Olympic champion, will make his Ranking Series debut this weekend at the Dan Kolov, where he’ll wrestle at 86kg.

The Iranian superstar is coming off winning his fourth straight medal at the world championships or Olympic games.

Yazdani fell short in the 2015 world finals but rebounded to reach the top of the podium at the Rio Olympics and Paris World Championships. He dropped his opening-round bout of the 2018 world championships to eventual champion David TAYLOR (USA) (Taylor will not be wrestling this weekend) but bounced back to win a Budapest bronze.

To win his first Ranking Series event, Yazdani “The Greatest” will have to upend Rio runner-up Selim YASAR (TUR) and 2017 world finalist Boris MAKOEV (SVK).

Yazdani has already defeated both guys at least once. The Iranian beat Yasar in the finals of the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games and pummelled Makeov 10-0 in the gold-medal of the 2017 world championships to win his first world title.

Ranked Wrestlers
No. 5 Hassan Aliazam YAZDANI (IRI) 
No. 6 KIM Gwanuk (KOR)
No. 7 Ville HEINO (FIN) 
No. 8 Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
No. 12 ORGODOL Uitumen (MGL) 


Can Snyder Rebound After Back-to-Back Losses? 
Two-time world and Rio Olympic champion Kyle Snyder returns to action after suffering back-to-back losses in the world finals and the opening round of the Ivan Yariguin, United World Wrestling’s first Ranking Series event.  

Snyder, who’s the second-ranked wrestler at 97kg, went to Krasnoyarsk’s Ivan Yariguin with hopes of erasing the memory of the 2018 world finals where he was stuck by Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) in the opening period but instead lost his second straight match when he was stunned in the first round by Russia's Rasul MAGOMEDOV.

Ranked Wrestlers
No. 2 Kyle SNYDER (USA)
No. 3 ULZIISAIKHAN Batzul (MGL)
No. 4 Abraham CONYEDO RUANO (ITA)
No. 5 Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO)
No. 14 Baki SAHIN (TUR)


Atli’s Comeback After World Bronze
Suleyman ATLI (TUR) will take the mat for the first time since October’s Budapest World Championships where he defeated Thomas GILMAN (USA), 5-4, in the bronze-medal bout.

The 24-year-old brings 25 Ranking Series points into the Dan Kolov and is ranked fourth in the world at 57kg. He’s the lone returning world medalist but isn’t the highest ranked wrestler competing at 57kg. The above mentioned Gilman finished with a bronze medal at the Ivan Yariguin and jumped Atli in the world rankings, where he currently sits in the third spot with 32 Ranking Series points.

Ranked Wrestlers
No. 3 Thomas GILMAN (USA)
No. 4 Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
No. 12 Sandeep TOMAR (IND)
No. 14 ERDENEBAT Bekhbayar (MGL)
No. 15 Wanhao ZOU (CHN)


Rahimi Returns, Will Wrestle Up At 61kg
Hassan RAHIMI (IRI) will wrestle outside of Iran for the first time since winning the 57kg bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.   

Rahimi underwent knee surgery and took nearly two years off before wrestling at 61kg for Team Bimeh Razi Babol at the 2018 World Clubs Cup. “I had knee surgery after the Rio Olympic Games, and I missed out on wrestling for about two years. I am very happy to be competing again. I love wrestling, and it is like blood in my vessel,” Rahimi said after one of his two World Clubs Cup wins.

Rahimi usually competes at 57kg but plans on staying up to 61kg, at least until the 2019 World Championships. “It was my first appearance at 61kg, and I am satisfied with my performance. I have aimed to compete at 61kg in the next World Championships, but I should think forward to the Olympic Games. I should choose between 57kg and 65kg, but it depends on the future situation.”

Ranked Wrestlers
No. 3 Joe COLON (USA) 
No. 11 Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU)


Punia Looking to Keep Hot Streak Alive
Bajrang PUNIA (IND) is looking to keep his 2018 hot streak rolling and comes into the Dan Kolov as the 65kg front runner. He’s currently ranked third in the world at 65kg and holds 40 Ranking Series points (40rsp).

Punia, one of the sport’s biggest rising stars, is hoping to continue the success he achieved last year where he captured a medal in all six competitions he entered – including capping off the year with a runner-up finish at the 2019 world championships.

Last season, the Indian wrestler won the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games, the Yasar Dogu, and G. Kartozia & V. Balavadze Price, and also finished in third place at the Asian Championships.

To win his first Dan Kolov title, he’ll have to stop Bulgaria's two-time world medalist Vladimir DUBOV from defending his title from a year ago.

(SIDE NOTE: Punia is coming off a win over Azerbaijan's three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV at the 2019 Indian Pro League.)

Ranked Wrestlers
No. 3 Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
No. 4 TUMUR OCHIR Tulga (MGL)
No. 7 George BUCUR (ROU)
No. 9 Niurhun SKRABIN (BLR)
No. 11 Dimitar Lyubomirov IVANOV (BUL)


Four Deep at 70kg
World champion from 2017 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) leads a pack of four top-ten wrestlers into Ruse.

The fourth through seventh-ranked wrestlers at 70kg competing this weekend are Iakobishvili, BAT ERDENE Byambadorj (MGL), Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR), and Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB).

Outside of world title holder Iakobishvili, the only other ranked wrestler at this weight who has claimed a world or Olympic medal is seventh-ranked Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB). Navruzov won the 65kg bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

James GREEN, the United States' two-time world medalist will also wrestle at 70kg. Green won a bronze medal in 2015 and a silver medal in 2017, but only won one match at the 2018 world champion before falling to Bat Erdene in the second round, 4-2. 

Ranked Wrestlers
No. 4 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)
No. 5 BAT ERDENE Byambadorj (MGL)
No. 6 Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR)
No. 7 Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) 


Two Ranked Wrestlers Entered at 79kg and 92kg
PUREVJAV Unurbat (MGL) and Alexander DIERINGER (USA) are the two wrestlers who reside in the top-15 of the 79kg world rankings. Purevjav is ranked fourth in the world, and Dieringer, who collected 10 Ranking Series point after a third-place finish at the Ivan Yariguin, sits in the No. 12 spot. 

At 92kg, LUVSANDORJ Turtogtokh (MGL) and Magomed KURBANOV (RUS) are ranked top-10 in the world entering the Dan Kolov.

Luvsandorj lost in the 2018 world bronze-medal bout and left Budapest with a fifth-place finish. The Mongolian wrestler owns 20 Ranking Series points and is ranked sixth in the world at 92kg. 

Magomed Kurbanov holds 14 Ranking Series point and is the tenth-ranked wrestler in the world at 92kg. Kurbanov won the prestigious Ivan Yariguin after he swept the competition, going 4-0 in the round-robin tournament. 


Ranking Series Point Structure (Placement Points + Entry Points = Total Points) 

Placement Points
GOLD - 8 points 
SILVER - 6 points 
BRONZE - 4 points 
BRONZE - 4 points 
Fifth - 2 points 
Fifth - 2 points 

Entry Points 
10 or less entries - 6 points 
11-20 entries  - 8 points 
20 or more entries - 10 points 

SCHEDULE

February 27 (Wednesday) 
16:30 - Draw - FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg

February 28 (Thursday) 
8:00 - Medical examination and weigh-in 1 - FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR (+2 kg) - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg
10:00 - Elimination rounds - FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg
16:00 - Draw - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR-87 ,97, 130; WW - 62 ,68 ,76kg
16:30 - Opening ceremony
17:00 - Semifinals FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg

March 1 (Friday) 
8:00 - Medical examination and weigh-in 1 - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR (+ 2 kg) - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg
8: 30 - Weigh-in 2 FS - 61,70,79, 92 kg; GR (+ 2 kg) - 55,63,72,82 kg; WW - 55,59,65, 72 kg Referee meeting
10: 00 - Elimination rounds FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76 kg
10: 00 - Repechages FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg
16: 30 - Draw - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR - 60, 67, 77kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
17: 00 - Semi-finals FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg
18:00 - Final matches and awarding ceremony - FS - 61,70,79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg

March 2 (Satuday) 
8:00 - Medical examination and weigh-in 1 - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR (+ 2 kg) - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg 
8:30: - Weigh-in 2 - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR (+ 2 kg) - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg 
10: 00 - Elimination rounds - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
10:00 - Repechages - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg
17:00 - Semifinals - FS 86, 97, 125kg;GR - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
18: 00 - Final matches and awarding ceremony - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg

March 3 (Sunday) 
8:00 - Weigh-in 2 - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR (+ 2 kg) - 60, 67, 77kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
Repechages - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR (+ 2 kg) - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
Final matches and awarding ceremony - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships Day 6 Greco-Roman Finals Set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 16) -- The final day of the Asian Championships here in Bishkek with the last five Greco-Roman weight classes. World champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will hope to defend his Asian title at 60kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 5 REPORT

The finals for the five Greco-Roman weight classes are set

60kg - Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) vs Kaito INABA (JPN)

67kg - Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) vs. Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI)

72kg - Shingo HARADA (JPN) vs. Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI)

82kg - Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) 

97kg - Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs. Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ)

14:40: Two-time world bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) simply overpowered Jeongyul KWON (KOR) at 97kg to make his first final since winning the gold in 2020. Saravi chalked up four stepouts to go with an arm drag takedown in cruising to an 8-0 victory that ended with a point for an unsuccessful challenge by the Koreans of the final stepout.

14:36: Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) will wrestle for the 97kg gold medal as he beats Houzhi HAO (CHN) 8-0 in the semifinals. Matsiyev gets a stepout and then finishes the bout with three turns from par terre.

14:29: Was that the match of the day? Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI hangs on for 7-7 criteria win over Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ) in the 82kg semifinals. Orunkul Uulu hits a four-pointer in the first period to lead 5-0 but Garmsiri begins the second period with a front headlock four which Kyrgyzstan challenge. The four points are upheld and Kyrgyzstan loses the challenge, giving Garmsiri a 5-5 criteria lead. Orunkul Uulu scores a takedown to regain the lead 7-5. But Garmsiri doesn't give up and uses another headlock for two throws but the referees offer no points. Iran challenges and after review, Garmsiri gets two points for the first throw but the second throw is clean. A 7-7 criteria lead for Garmsiri is enough as he sees off the final 24 seconds without any trouble.

14:23: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), the first high schooler to represent Japan at the Asian Championships since 1989, will be wrestling for gold in his international senior debut after ousting 2022 bronze medalist Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) 9-2 at 82kg. In the first period, Yoshida slips behind and throws Rasulov for 4 at the edge. Put on top in par terre, Yoshida is unable to turn and takes a 5-0 lead into the second period. With 30 seconds left, Rasulov launches a 'flying squirrel' over-the-top attempt, but Yoshida lands on top for another 4, while Rasulov is awarded 2.

14:10: Kaito INABA (JPN) has been throwing around his opponents the whole day and Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ) is his latest victim. Inaba stops Kabdunassarov in the middle of a second turn from par terre, lifts him for a beautiful four-pointer and leads 5-3 at the break. He gets a par terre on top in the second period, to go up 6-3 when Kubadunassarov is called for a leg foul and Inaba goes up 8-3. A late stepout from Kabdunassarov but Inaba wins 8-4 to set up a 60kg final against Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)

14:07: Double world champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will get a shot at third straight Asian gold at 60kg after knocking off Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) 9-0. Sharshenbekov showed why he is at the top of the sport when, in par terre, he was unable to toss Dehbozorgi while in a standing bear hug, but went back to the mat and scored with a gut wrench. Dehbozorgi was assessed a 2-point penalty for an illegal move that gave Sharshenbekova a 5-0 lead but also caused some discomfort in his shoulder. It hardly slowed him down in the second period as he scored a takedown and finished off the match with a 2-point throw at the edge.

13:56: Shingo HARADA (JPN) learned his lesson from a failed throw in the first period, coming back with a 4-pointer in the second en route to a 9-2 victory over Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) to make the 72kg final at his first Asian Championships. Aliev, on the bottom of par terre in the first period, disrupted a throw by Harada to score a 2-point exposure. In the second period, Harada jumped behind for a takedown, then followed with a textbook-perfect reverse lift for 4, before adding another takedown.

13:50: A 10-0 rout from Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) of Adilkhan SATAYEV (LAZ) in the 72kg semifinals. Rostami with two rolls from par terre and Satayev gets hit for two-point caution. The bout resumes in par terre and Rostami gets the roll to win 9-0. A lost challenge from Kazakhstan gives Rostami the final point.

13:44: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) thrills the crowd by hanging on for a 2-1 victory over Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) in their 67kg semifinal. With Beishekeev in par terre first, Chung reverses a roll attempt, but instead, Beishekeev gets a fortunate stepout from the scramble for a 2-0 lead. Chung can't get a turn from par terre in the second period, so the 63kg silver medalist from last year will be fighting for a bronze at best.

13:35: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) needs only 58 seconds to finish the 67kg semifinal against Rovshen ATDAYEV (TKM). Esmaeili Leivesi with a takedown and roll, then adds another takedown to make it 6-0. A lift and full throw to win 10-0.

13:15: World U20 bronze medalist Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) makes it 5 out of 5 for Iranians in the semifinals when he outlasts Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK) 8-5 to make the final four at 60kg.

13:07: It would be hard to get a more impressive win than the one that Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) just posted against Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB) in the 60kg quarterfinals. After powering to a 4-point takedown, Sharshenbekov comes back by flipping Bakhromov for another 4-pointer to end the match in 27 seconds.

13:05: High schooler Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) gets his senior debut off to a good start with a 7-2 win over Rohit DAHIYA (IND) to make the 82kg semifinals.

13:00: Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) ends Sultan EID's (JOR) inspired campaign with a 9-0 technical superiority. Rasulov with four turns from par terre to win.

12:56: Not to be for Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)! He tries a big throw to get a four but falls on his back and Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) sticks him to get the fall at 97kg. Matsiyev led 7-4 when Makhmudov tried the arm throw.

12:52: World and Olympic bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), one of the bigger names in action on the final day,  reels off four rolls from par terre for a quickfire 9-0 victory over Badamdorj BALTMUNKH (MGL). Saravi has an Asian gold from 2020.

12:45: Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) with two rolls from par terre to take a 5-0 lead against Ji LENG (CHN) who did get a turn from par terre in the second period but failed to stop Rostami from winning 5-3 and advanced to the 72kg semifinals.

12:44: Returning bronze medalist Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) has a roll from par terre eliminated on challenge, but comes back in the second period with a 4-point throw in his second chance to defeat Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ) 7-1 in the 67kg quarterfinals.

12:39: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) books his place in the 67kg semifinals with an 8-0 win over Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK). Esmaeili Leivesi hits a 4-point throw in the first period and ends the match with a takedown 34 seconds into the second.

12:35: A last-ditch headlock throw from Rovshen ATDAYEV (TKM) gets him a 9-6 win over Man Gwang SON (PRK) at 67kg. Atdayev led 5-0 when Son scored a four-pointer and then got the par terre position to take a 5-5 criteria lead. Son scored a stepout to be 6-5 clear but Atdayev hit a solid throw for the win.

12:33: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) is through to the 67kg semifinals with a 7-1 win over Vinayak PATIL (IND).

12:28: Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB), the 2019 champion and 2021 silver medalist, trails 3-2 in the second period against Hyok SONG (PRK) at 60kg when bulls his way to a takedown, gets 2 points for a penalty, then adds a takedown for an 8-3 win. Bakhromov's brother Islomjon failed to medal at 63kg on Monday.

12:23: World bronze medalist Liguo CAO (CHN) finishes off a 9-1 victory over Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL) with a stepout to advance to the 60kg quarterfinals, where he will face Kaito INABE (JPN).

12:20: Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ) with two front headlock throws to beat PRAVESH (IND) 9-0 at 60kg. He will face Seunghak KIM (KOR) in the quarterfinals as Kim defeated Umit DURDYYEV (TKM) 8-0 in an earlier bout.

12:18: With the arena still buzzing over the loss by local hero Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) the previous night, the host country's other Greco world and Asian champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) powers into the 60kg quarterfinals. Needing just one point to finish off SUPARMANTO (INA), Sharshenbekov hits a 4-pointer to win 11-0 in 1:20.

12:14: Former U20 world champion Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) wins his opening bout at 60kg 9-0 against Jui Chi HUANG (TPE). No slip up from the Iranian wrestler in that bout

12:13: Sultan EID (JOR) still has a long way to go to become Jordan's first Asian medalist since 2013, but he's off to a good start with a 5-1 victory over 82kg over 2019 world U23 bronze medalist Yevgeniy POLIVADOV (KAZ). Eid is not a totally unknown entity, having won a bronze at 87kg at the Kolov-Petrov tournament in Bulgaria in March.

12:03: Two-time bronze medalist Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) gets a 2-point throw in his second chance at par terre to take a 4-0 lead over Jiyeon LEE (KOR) in their 72kg match. Lee gets a takedown with 20 seconds to go, but it's not enough and Nurlanbekov walks off a 4-2 winner.

11:58: Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB), the silver medalist last year at 63kg, falls at the first stage at 67kg to Man Gwang SON (PRK), who scores from par terre in the first period and overcomes a leg cramp in the second to win 4-1.

11:53: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI), the 2022 world U20 champion and this year's Yasar Dogu winner at 67kg, gets off to a roaring start with a 4-point reverse throw in his opener against Lei LI (CHN). Esmaeili Leivesi adds a throw from par terre for a 7-0 lead after one period, then ends the match with a 4-point throw midway through the second period.

11:41: Hyok SONG (PRK) is in a tight match with Ali ALBIDHAN (IRQ)at 60kg when the Iraqi seems to run out of gas late in the third period. Song slams him to his back and Albidhan meekly concedes a fall.

11:41: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR), the silver medalist last year at 63kg and Asian Games bronze medalist at 60kg, takes the mat at 67kg against world U23 bronze medalist Haruto YABE (JPN). Chung scores a first-period takedown, then survives unscathed in a stint on the bottom of par terre in the second for a 3-1 win.

11:35: What a start to the day! Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) with two huge reverse lifts to beat Ganbayar NAMSRAI (MGL) 14-0 at 67kg.

11:30: Can Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) do what Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) failed to do? Can he give the Bishkek crowd something to cheer about on the final day of the Asian Championships?