Dauletbekov settles score with Karimi to win Asian 86kg gold

Friday, April 14, 2023 - 13:30 By Ken Marantz

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (April 14) -- Although he was the reigning champion, Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) could have been regarded as the challenger in the final, given how his opponent had dominated him over the years. Spurred on by a vocal home crowd, the futility came to a joyous end.

Daultetbekov defended his 86kg title with an inspired victory over powerful Alireza KARIMI (IRI), capturing one of Kazakhstan's two gold medals in the last five freestyle weight classes on the final day of the Asian Championships on Friday in Astana.

"It means a lot to win the Asian Championships on home soil," Daultetbekov said. "I'm very happy. I thank all the fans who came here to support us."

Teenager Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), whose wrestling bloodline runs deep and to a faraway land, marked his international debut with a spectacular run to the 92kg gold, while Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) brought down the curtain on the tournament by taking the 125kg title and exorcising a demon of his own.

Kazakhstan put four wrestlers into the finals at the packed Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial ArtsPalace, but only Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ) could join Dauletbekov at the top of the podium.

Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) won the other gold at stake at 61kg, adding to the Asian U23 title he won last year.

Combined with its two golds from Thursday, Kazakhstan easily secured the team title with 179 points. Japan finished second at 129, while Iran slipped to a surprising third with 124, just four points ahead of Mongolia.

Dauletbekov, a 2022 world bronze medalist, earned his second career Asian gold and fourth medal overall by finally settling a score with Karimi, who had beaten him numerous times over nearly a decade. The most recent loss was a 4-0 defeat at the World Cup in December.

But with his adrenaline in overdrive, Dauletbekov dug deep and found the will to finally come out on top, beating the two-time former Asian champion 4-1 and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

After Karimi got the lone point of the first period with an activity point, the match opened up in the second period. Dauletbekov struck by using a snapdown and spin behind to take the lead, which he padded with a similar takedown gained after blunting a Karimi tackle attempt.

"I’ve wrestled with that Iranian athlete five or six times, and lost all the matches," Dauletbekov said. "I'm very happy to win today at home. At the last match, I followed the strategy of our coaches. This victory is important for me and I am happy to win in Kazakhstan."

For the 29-year-old Dauletbekov, the next objective is clear -- making it to an elusive Olympics for the first time, which he hopes to do by qualifying at this year's World Championships.

"The goal is to get qualified for the Olympic Games at the World Championships," he said. "We will train hard to reach the goal."

At 92kg, Yoshida won a battle of 19-year-olds over Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), putting on an impressive show of speed and power for an 11-4 victory in the final.

Yoshida's victory made him, at 19 years and 3 months, Japan's youngest-ever male Asian champion. Yu Shiotani was 19 years and 5 months when he won the Greco 55kg gold at the 2021 Asian Championships.

Yoshida continually took the fight to Aitmukhan, scoring three stepouts and a single-leg takedown for a 6-0 first period lead. Aitmukhan got on the scoreboard with a single-leg takedown of his own to start the second period. But after that, Yoshida twice scored a takedown that Aitmukhan could only answer with a stepout, and Yoshida finished up the scoring with go-behind takedown.

"Honestly speaking, I never imagined it," Yoshida said of his victory, which gave Japan its lone freestyle gold of the tournament. "It was my first international tournament. The anxiety and nervousness were big."

For Yoshida, the key match came in the quarterfinals, when he trailed 6-3 against Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) before rallying to a 9-7 victory.

"That match was the toughest," Yoshida said. "The last minute, I was just going on emotions and was able to pull out the win."

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) is now the youngest male wrestler from Japan to win the Asian Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

If Yoshida's aggressive, in-your-face style seems to resemble that of the Iranians, that's no coincidence. Yoshida's father Javid ESFANJANI is Iranian, a former wrestler who settled in Japan and started a kids' wrestling school in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo. That's where Arash and his siblings got their start in the sport.

As if part of a Hollywood script, Yoshida's first international match coincidentally came against an Iranian -- which he won by a 10-0 technical fall over Arashk MOHEBI (IRI). The significance was not lost on the Nihon University student.

"I wrestled an Iranian for the first time [in my career]," Yoshida said. "Iran is strong, a wrestling powerhouse. Honestly speaking, I could not have said for sure that I was going to win. I was very anxious. But I was able to do what I do best, which was good."

Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) became the first Mongolian heavyweight to win the Asian gold in 22 years. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Like Dauletbekov, Munkhtur's path to the gold was blocked by an opponent whom he had had his trouble with in recent years and was the defending champion wrestling at home to boot.

But the Mongolian eked out a 1-1 victory over Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ), by virtue of receiving the second of the two activity points in a match in which neither could launch an effective attack.

Batirmurzaev got his activity point in the first period, and Munkhtur's came in the second. That, and the crowd urging him on, sparked Batirmurzaev, who at one point worked in for a body lock throw, but the Mongolian slipped out of the hold.

"I have wrestled him before and lost twice. I have one win against him, but I really planned this win," Munkhtur said. "Because I have wrestled him before, I know his positions and I know the good and bad ones."

The two had faced each other three times in the past three years, with Batirmurzaev winning the first two and Munkhtur winning the most recent, 2-1 in the first round at last year's Yasar Dogu tournament in Istanbul.

Munkhtur only made the final in Astana by the skin of his teeth. In the semifinals, the Mongolian pulled out an 8-7 victory over Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) by scoring a 4-point trip in the final 10 seconds left.

"I had a knee injury and I have been on a break," Munkhtur added. "It was really hard mentally. So I meditated a lot, now I am healthy and I will go to the next Ranking Series event."

Yessengali, the 2019 Asian U23 silver medalist, burst out of the blocks in the 74kg final against Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN), taking a quick six-point lead that he rode to a 7-2 victory.

Yessengali secured a front headlock, from which he scored a 4-point throw that he followed up with a 2-point roll. He added a stepout in the second period, before giving up a stepout and fleeing point to Kinoshita which had little effect on the outcome.

Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) scored a 4-2 win over Minghu LIU (CHN) in the 61kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 61kg final, Zhumashbek Uulu was able to neutralize the speed of Minghu LIU (CHN) to forge a 4-2 victory and give Kyrgyzstan its lone freestyle gold.

"It was my first senior Asian championships and the final opponent, the Chinese wrestler, was good," said Zhumashbek Uulu, the 2022 world U23 silver medalist and Asian U23 champion. "But he got tired, and our score was 4-2."

Liu had the advantage after the first period, coming back with an explosive double-leg takedown to go ahead 2-1. But Zhumashbek Uulu fended off all of Liu's attacks in the second period and went ahead to stay with a pair of stepouts before receiving an activity point.

Mongolia picks up 3 bronzes; Bahrain gets 2

In the third-place matches, Mongolia came away with three bronzes to cap a productive night, while BUHEEERDUN (CHN) gets the award for best snatching of a victory from what seemed like a sure defeat.

At 61kg, Tuvshintulga TUMENBILEG (MGL) kept the pressure on and got the takedown he needed with :04 left for a 4-4 win over Sardor RUZIMOV (UZB), giving him a second Asian bronze -- seven years after his first.

Compatriot Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) earned his first major medal on any level when he cobbled together a 6-0 victory at 74kg over Byungmin GONG (KOR), a gold medalist two years ago at 79kg.

Olonbayar led 3-0 courtesy of two activity points and a penalty point when he scored his first technical points with a driving takedown off a counter. He added a takedown for good measure.

Ganbaatar also came away with a second career bronze several years after his first one, when the Zagreb Open bronze medalist used a pair of 4-point throws to put away Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB) by 10-0 technical fall at 92kg.

Ganbaatar stuck Saparniyazov with a hip throw for 4, then after scoring a takedown, unleashed a 4-point arm throw to end the match at 1:18. For Saparniyazov, he was left with his third fifth-place finish in four years.

At 125kg, 2019 Asian junior silver medalist Buheeerdun pulled a victory out of his hat with a fall over Masoumi, adding more misery to the Iranian.

Buheeerdun had sheepishly given up three straight stepouts to the powerful Masoumi, but when the two locked up and the Iranian attempted a backdrop, the Chinese landed on top of him with a mighty thud, then clamped down for the fall in 1:05.

The Russian-born pair of Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) and Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) gave Bahrain its second and third medals of the tournament with victories in their bronze-medal matches.

Asluev scored a double-leg takedown just after receiving an activity point early in the second period and held on for a 3-2 victory over Adilet ZHAPARKULOV (KGZ) at 74kg.

A short time later Sharipov had a much easier time in dispatching Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ) by a 10-0 technical fall at 92kg. A takedown and two gut wrenches, then consecutive single-leg takedowns, and that was it for Chynybekov in 1:43.

At 61kg, Yasin REZAEIAGHOUZGOLEH (IRI) gave Iran its lone win of the medal matches when he put on a clinic of counter wrestling, scoring a pair of 2-point exposures and a stepout off counters to the single-leg attack of Kodai OGAWA (JPN) and riding that to a 7-4 victory.

Ogawa's points came after he twice got behind and in control, but he could not get the Iranian's knees to the mat and had to settle for stepouts, with a fleeing point tagged on each time. Rezeiaghouzgoleh had a takedown of his own early in the second period.

Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) won his second straight bronze medal, overwhelming Weng Gary CHOW (SGP) with a 10-0 technical fall in 1:30 at 86kg, the same result and scoreline when the two met in the first round last year in Mongolia.

Islomov got a quick takedown and, locking up an arm, added a tilt and two rolls for an 8-0 lead. The overmatched Chow showed some spirit by attempting an arm throw, but Islomov stopped it and got behind for the takedown that ended the match.

Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), coming off winning a silver medal at the Zagreb Open, picked up his first major senior medal with an 11-0 technical fall over LIN Zushen (CHN) at 86kg.

Ishiguro, who has a 2019 World U23 bronze and 2018 world junior gold to his credit, showed his dexterity with a nifty ankle pick for one of his three takedowns. He finished off the win in the second period with a takedown-gut wrench combination.

Anirudh KUMAR (IND) took home the other bronze at 125kg with a 12-2 technical fall over Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB).

Kholmatov had drawn first blood with a driving takedown over the edge, but Kumar came right back with one of his own, although his was good for four points. He repeated the move for 2, then recorded three straight go-behind takedowns to end the proceedings in 2:29.

Day 6 Results

Freestyle

61kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) df. LIU Minghu (CHN), 4-2

BRONZE: Tuvshintulga TUMENBILEG (MGL) df. Sardor RUZIMOV (UZB), 4-4
BRONZE: Yasin REZAEIAGHOUZGOLEH (IRI) df. Kodai OGAWA (JPN), 7-4

Semifinal: LIU Minghu (CHN) df. Sardor RUZIMOV (UZB), 8-2
Semifinal: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Yasin REZAEIAGHOUZGOLEH (IRI), 11-2

74kg (16 entries)
GOLD: Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ) df. Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN), 7-2

BRONZE: Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) df. Byungmin GONG (KOR), 6-0
BRONZE: Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) df. Adilet ZHAPARKULOV (KGZ), 3-2

Semifinal: Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN) df. Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) by TF, 12-2, 4:43
Semifinal: Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ) df. Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN), 2-1

86kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Alireza KARIMI (IRI), 4-1

BRONZE: Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) df. Weng Gary CHOW (SGP) by TF, 10-0, 1:29
BRONZE: Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) df. LIN Zushen (CHN) by TF, 11-0, 3:31

Semifinal: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 2:14
Semifinal: Alireza KARIMI (IRI) df. Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), 9-2

92kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), 11-4

BRONZE: Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) df. Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 1:18
BRONZE: Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ) by TF, 10-0, 1:43

Semifinal: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB) by TF, 13-2, 4:10
Semifinal: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) df. Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN), 6-1

125kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) df. Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ), 1-1

BRONZE: Buheeerdun BUHEEERDUN (CHN) df. Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) by Fall, 1:05 (4-2)
BRONZE: Anirudh KUMAR (IND) df. Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB) by TF, 12-2, 2:29

Semifinal: Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) df. Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI), 8-6
Semifinal: Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) df. Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB) by Fall, 4:46 (7-0)

#wrestlebishkek

Dauletbekov wins third straight Asian gold; Zare grabs 5th for Iran

Friday, April 12, 2024 - 17:26 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 12) -- Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) was not only aiming to complete a three-peat of Asian titles. There was a score to settle and wasn't going to let the chance to waste.

Dauletbekov willed himself to a late 4-point takedown to post a 5-2 victory over nemesis Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) in the freestyle 86kg final at the Asian Championships on Friday in Bishkek, avenging a pair of losses over the past three years including one that kept him out of the Tokyo Olympics.

"I am very happy to be a three-time Asian champion, winning the gold medal for my country," Dauletbekov said. "I’ve been working hard for that. Thanks a lot to my coaches. It’s a team effort."

World champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) handily won the gold at 125kg for his first Asian title which, combined with a victory at 92kg by Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), gave Iran exactly half of the 10 gold medals over the two days of freestyle at Bishkek Arena.

The host country got its first gold when defending champion Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) scored a late takedown for a dramatic victory at 61kg, while Japan picked up its second as Kota TAKAHASHI also left it late in winning at 74kg and denying Tajikistan just its second-ever Asian gold.

Iran captured the team title for the sixth time in seven years with 190 points. Japan finished second with 130, followed by host Kyrgyzstan with 121, three points ahead of neighbor Kazakhstan.

Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) scores a crucial takedown over Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) in the 86kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Dauletbekov, a world bronze medalist the past two years, became the second wrestler at the tournament to complete the Asian three-peat after Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) did it the day before at 65kg.

For all Dauletbekov's shining credentials, Shapiev has remained a thorn in his side. Although Dauletbekov won 4-0 in a bronze-medal match at the 2018 Asian Championships in their first meeting, the Uzbek defeated him by fall at the 2021 Asian Olympic Qualifier -- Shapiev went on to place fifth in Tokyo -- and then again at last year's Asian Games, where Dauletbekov finished out of the medals.

On Friday, Dauletbekov managed to step up when the chips were down.

"The final match was a matter of principle for me," Dauletbekov said. "I lost to him [Shapiev] at the Asian Games. I think that match was controversial. I am very happy that I could win here."

In the first period, the scoring was limited to an activity point awarded to Dauletbekov, but Shapiev was on the receiving end of the next one in the second period, which put him ahead on criteria.

Dauletbekov, however, was not to be denied. He secured a body lock and used an inside trip to send Shapiev crashing to his back for a 4-point takedown. A penalty point for fleeing on Dauletbekov in the final seconds accounted for the final score as he added the title to the ones he captured in Ulan Bataar in 2022 and last year at home in Astana.

"I won my second Asian title at home, there were many fans, I will remember that tournament," he said. "This Asian Championships was successful for me. You saw that in the final, I was losing 1-1, but I could make a 4-point move to win the match with a 5-2 score."

Dauletbekov said he is considering entering the Budapest Ranking Series tournament in June as a last tuneup for the Olympics. He said he's been keeping tabs on the competition and likes his chances in Paris.

"I followed the [European] Olympic qualifier in Baku," he said. "There are many strong opponents in my weight class. I’ll be ready for them and hope everything will work out."

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) won the 125kg with a technical superiority over Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ). (Photo: United World Wrestling)

In the final match of the night, Zare showed why he is the dominant heavyweight in the sport today. Facing Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) -- at age 38, 15 years his senior -- Zare put on a clinic in quickly transitioning from takedown to exposure points in cruising to an 11-0 technical fall.

"Due to the good training we went through at the Iran national team camp, I participated in this match with less than 100% preparation and thanks to God I could get the gold," Zare said.

Lazarev was on the activity clock when Zare scored a takedown with a slick ankle pick. Before the 30 seconds had finished, the Iraninan had ripped off a pair of gut wrenches, giving him a 7-0 lead going into the second period. A takedown right to a roll for 4 ended the match with 32 seconds left.

Zare, a Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist and world champion in 2021, will be heading into the Paris Olympics on quite a roll. Since winning the world title last year in Belgrade -- which included victories over superstars Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Taha AKGUL (TUR) -- he won golds at the Asian Games and this year's Zagreb Open.

"This is my last competition before the Olympics," Zare said. "I needed both the ranking points and the fact that the Asian medal is valuable for our country, and thank God I didn’t return empty-handed."

Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) defended his 61kg title at the Asian Championships in Bishkek, thanks to a last ditch takedown in the final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 61kg final, Zhumashbek Uulu didn't cut it as close as he did in his semifinal match earlier in the day, but he still took it to the wire to defeat Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) 3-1 and complete a successful defense of his title.

Both wrestlers received an activity point, but Aitakyn got his midway through the second period to lead on criteria. With 20 seconds left, Zhumashbek Uulu scored a snap-down, spin-behind takedown to clinch the win to the delight of the partisan crowd.

In the semifinals, Zhumashbek Uulu was trailing on criteria when he hit a 4-point back trip in the last second for a stunning 11-7 victory over Reza ATRI (IRI).

Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) scores a takedown to take a decisive lead in the 74kg final against Victor RASSADIN (TJK). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Takahashi's 6-3 victory in the 74kg final against Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) followed a similar pattern. Takahashi got the first activity point, but was trailing on criteria when Rassadin got the second in the second period.

Takahashi, a 2022 world U23 bronze medalist who was making his international senior debut, then put the pressure on. That left an opening that Rassadin used to get in on a low single, but Takahashi nimble-footed out of it, then turned and charged Rassadin for a takedown.

"The opponent went into a firm defensive stance," Takahashi said. "I wanted to attack, but I couldn't get through where I wanted to. I couldn't score any takedowns and I was starting to get impatient."

The 20-year-old Takahashi said he was inspired by the victory at 57kg the previous night by Kento YUMIYA (JPN), his teammate at Nippon Sport Science University, often referred to as Nittaidai.

"Kento Yumiya won the title, and that made me a little anxious," Takahashi said. "I wanted to show that Nittaidai wrestling is strong. And I couldn't do less than a classmate the same age."

Rassadin was penalized a point for fleeing on the takedown, and Takahashi took advantage of the par terre position to score an exposure for a 6-1 lead. Rassadin scored a stepout, with a fleeing point tacked on, but it was not enough to deny Takahashi.

Rassadin was aiming to join Yusup ABDULSALAMOV (TJK), who triumphed in the same weight class in 2003 in New Dehli, as Tajikistan's lone Asian gold medalists.

Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) celebrates after winning the 92kg gold medal in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 92kg, Firouzpour regained the title he won in 2022 when he relied on his solid base and raw power to chalk up six stepouts in an 8-3 victory over teenager Sherzod POYONOV (UZB).

Firouzpour, the world U20 and U23 champion in 2022 and winner at this year's Yasar Dogu tournament in Turkey, scored three stepouts in the first period, while giving up one himself. He added three more in the second before finally scoring a takedown off an underhook. Poyonov scored a consolation takedown in the final seconds.

Kum Chol RI (PRK) blanked Reza ATRI (IRI) 11-0 in the 61kg bronze medal bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

DPR Korea picks up 2nd bronze in return

In the bronze-medal matches, Kum Chol RI (PRK) gave the DPK Korea its second bronze in its return to the Asian Championships after a five-year absence by putting together a masterful 11-0 victory over 2022 world silver medalist Reza ATRI (IRI) at 61kg.

After scoring a nifty low-single takedown, Ri showed incredible dexterity and balance when he twice cartwheeled out of front-headlock counter lifts, both of which he turned into stepouts. The Iranians challenged the second, but it was denied to give Ri a 5-0 lead.

In the second period, Ri, making his first international appearance since winning an Asian cadet title in 2014, spun behind for a takedown, then went back and forth with an arm bar roll to finish off the match in 4:16.

The other 61kg bronze went to Enkhbold ENKHBAT (MGL), who put together a somewhat unusual winning pattern in a wild 18-7 victory over Akash DAHIYA (IND).

Enkhbat twice used a takedown and lace lock combination to chalk up big points -- eight in the first period and 10 in the second to end the match. But in between, he allowed Dahiya to come back and score seven points to cut the gap to one.

Sangho HAN (KOR) gave Korea its first medal of the competition with an amazing comeback at 74kg, overcoming a seven-point deficit to defeat teenager Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) 17-7 and deny Turkmenistan its first-ever senior Asian medal in freestyle.

The 17-year-old Begenjov came out on fire, kicking out the leg for a 4-point takedown before adding a stepout and a takedown for a 7-0 lead. But then he ran out of gas, and Han took full advantage, scoring two takedowns, a stepout and two exposures to go ahead 9-7 at the break.

It was more of the same in the second, as he used a lace lock for four points, then a takedown to a roll for four more to end the match at 3:34.

Iran added two bronze medals to its final tally with victories by Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI) at 74kg and Hadi VAFAEIPOUR (IRI) at 86kg.

Abouzari, making his senior Asian debut, scored all of his points in the second period of a 5-2 victory over 2021 champion Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ). Vafaeipour had an easier time with Peilong LI (CHN), scoring two takedown-exposure combinations in a 10-0 technical fall in 2:31.

Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN), a 2022 world U23 champion appearing in just his second international tournament on the senior level, came away with the other 86kg bronze with a 3-0 victory over Atai IZABEKOV (KGZ). Shirai was the aggressor throughout and was rewarded with two activity points, then added a stepout at the buzzer.

Bahrain had two wrestlers named SHARIPOV in action, and both came away with bronze medals with one-sided victories.

Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) picked up his second straight Asian bronze at 92kg after scoring four takedowns, including a 4-pointer, in a 10-0 technical fall over Suhe GANG (CHN), and Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) scored a second-period fall over Anirudh KUMAR (IND) after building an 8-2 lead at 125kg.

Batzul DAMJIN (MGL) won the other 92kg bronze and broke some host country hearts, scoring a duck-under takedown with 40 seconds left for a 2-2 victory on criteria over Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ). Both of Karypbaev's points came on the activity clock.

BUHEEERDUN (CHN) needed just 44 seconds to secure his second straight bronze at 125kg, scoring a takedown and executing four gut wrenches for a 10-0 victory over Odgerel BATKHISHIG (MGL).

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

61kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ), 3-1

BRONZE: Kum Chol RI (PRK) df. Reza ATRI (IRI) by TF, 11-0, 4:16
BRONZE: Enkhbold ENKHBAT (MGL) df. Akash DAHIYA (IND) by TF, 18-7, 5:29

74kg (16 entries)
GOLD: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Viktor RASSADIN (TJK), 6-3

BRONZE: Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI) df. Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ), 5-2
BRONZE: Sangho HAN (KOR) df. Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) by TF, 17-7, 3:34

86kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB), 5-2

BRONZE: Hadi VAFAEIPOUR (IRI) df. Peilong LI (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 2:31
BRONZE: Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) df. Atai IZABEKOV (KGZ), 3-0

92kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) df. Sherzod POYONOV (UZB), 8-3

BRONZE: Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Suhe GANG (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 3:34
BRONZE: Batzul DAMJIN (MGL) df. Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ), 2-2

125kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Amir ZARE (IRI) df. Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) by TF, 11-0, 5:27

BRONZE: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Anirudh KUMAR (IND) by Fall, 4:15 (8-2)
BRONZE: BUHEEERDUN (CHN) df. Odgerel BATKHISHIG (MGL) by TF, 10-0, :44

Dauletbekov settles score with Karimi to win Asian 86kg gold

Comments

Dauletbekov wins third straight Asian gold; Zare grabs 5th for Iran