Emboldened Kawai knocks off Icho as Susaki shines again, Otoguro dealt stunning loss

Sunday, June 16, 2019 - 20:49 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 17)---For the past six months, Risako KAWAI was haunted by the memory. Not so much of her well-publicized loss to fellow Rio Olympic champion Kaori ICHO, but of how she lacked the courage to be more aggressive.

On Sunday, Kawai redeemed herself, and set up yet another showdown between the Japanese greats.

Kawai went on the attack throughout the women’s 57kg final and came away with a well-earned 6-4 victory over Icho at the All-Japan Invitational Championships, setting up a playoff between the two for a place on Japan’s team to the World Championships.

“Right after the match ended, I was really happy, but now I can look at it calmly,” Kawai said. “There’s another match I have to win, so I’ll be back at practice as soon as I get home.”

Among the other highlights in a thrilling final day of the four-day tournament known as the Meiji Cup, Yui SUSAKI kept alive her hopes of winning a third straight world gold by capturing the women’s 50kg title, while fellow world champion Takuto OTOGURO was dealt a stunning defeat in the freestyle 65kg final.

Their mixed fortunes mean that both Susaki and Otoguro will have to earn their tickets to the World Championships in Kazakhstan in September with victories in the playoffs for Olympic weight classes set for July 6.

Susaki was overjoyed to make the playoff, while Otoguro was understandably devastated that an extra hurdle was added to his path to Nur-Sultan 2019.

The Meiji Cup serves as the second of the two national tournaments for selection to the World Championships, along with the All-Japan Championships (Emperor’s Cup) in December. Winners of both tournaments automatically made the world team; different winners means a playoff to decide who gets the berth.

As the Japan federation also decreed that a medal at this year’s World Championships would earn an automatic place at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the majority of top wrestlers funneled into the 18 Olympic divisions. With medals likely in most of the women’s weight classes, the urgency to make the world team this year was palpable.

Kawai, the Rio gold medalist at 63kg and world champion at 59kg, moved down to 57kg, which put her in direct confrontation with Icho, who returned after a post-Rio hiatus in an attempt to capture an unprecedented fifth straight Olympic gold.

Icho got a leg up at the Emperor’s Cup when she scored a takedown with 10 seconds left to edge Kawai 3-2 in the final. That came a day after Kawai won 2-1 in a preliminary round-robin group match that featured little action, but handed Icho her first loss to a Japanese opponent since 2001.

Risako KAWAI went on the attack throughout the women’s 57kg final and came away with a well-earned 6-4 victory over Kaori ICHO at the All-Japan Invitational Championships. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

With so much at stake this time, an emboldened Kawai was determined to muster the fortitude to be more aggressive.

“Six months ago in December, I didn’t have the courage to go on the attack,” said Kawai, who earned the Meiji Cup as the tournament MVP. “Since that time, I anguished less over the fact that I lost and more about why I didn’t wrestle the way I wanted to. The big issue was the mental aspect. I feel I’ve grown from that standpoint.”

Before a vocal crowd at Tokyo’s Komazawa Gym and a national TV audience, Kawai gained the lone point of the first period with Icho on the activity clock.

In the second period, Kawai came out firing, and after being stopped on one single-leg attempt, connected with another, which she immediately transitioned into an ankle roll for a 5-0 lead with two minutes to go.

Icho countered another takedown attempt and slipped behind for 2, then launched a rare attack of her own, which resulted in a step-out to cut the lead to 5-3 with 27 seconds left.

Icho put the pressure on and received a fleeing point with 2.5 seconds left, meaning she could win with a step-out. And she came close, bulldozing Kawai out, but not before time expired. An unsuccessful challenge gave Kawai her final point.

“In the first period, Kawai was superior, and that was a factor in my defeat,” Icho said. “I need to set the pace so that the match can go the way I want, and not lose because she was more determined.”

Kawai’s desire is fueled by the prospect of competing at the Olympics with younger sister Yukako, the world silver medalist at 62kg who clinched her world team berth on Saturday.

“My goal has never changed,” Kawai said. “I chose this path so that my sister and I can go to the Olympics together. This time, of course I wanted to win, but even stronger was my feeling that I didn’t want to have any regrets. I was determined to be aggressive and wrestle my style.”

Icho, who was dealt an eye-opening loss at the Asian Championships in April and had to settle for the bronze, remained stoic after the defeat, already putting it behind her and looking ahead.

“Looking ahead to the playoff, I’ll reflect on what went wrong today and make the necessary changes,” Icho said. “I don’t have time to feel depressed.”

Yui SUSAKI kept alive her hopes of winning a third straight world gold by capturing the women’s 50kg title against Rio 2016 champion Eri TOSAKA. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Susaki completes changing of lightweight guard

Susaki needed a miraculous, last-second win over Emperor’s Cup champion Yuki IRIE in the quarterfinals on Saturday to stay alive in the race to Nur-Sultan. In the final, she needed no such drama in her first meeting with Rio 2016 champion Eri TOSAKA.

Susaki blitzed her predecessor as world champion with a 10-0 technical fall victory in just 1:36 to mark a symbolic changing of the guard for lightweight supremacy.

“She was an athlete that I had always looked up to,” said Susaki, who will have a rematch with Irie in the world team playoff. “After the Rio Olympics, that changed to wanting to beat her.

“I was very happy that the timing was right that I could face her here. I wanted to firmly defeat her and complete the generational change. That strong feeling led to this victory.”

Susaki, who will turn 20 later this month, scored a quick takedown, then a second that she topped off with three consecutive ankle rolls for an 8-0 lead. The coup de grace came with a slick sweeping single leg and go-behind that ended the match.

“It was a total defeat, and a show of my current ability,” said a tearful Tosaka, who had foot surgery after the Rio Olympics. “This last month I felt good and I thought I was definitely ready. To lose like this is really disappointing.”

Otoguro, who had to overcome a knee problem in preparing for the tournament, looked shell-shocked after being decisively beaten in the 65kg final by world U23 champion Rei HIGUCHI, who muscled his way to a 15-5 technical fall in 5:23.

Otoguro missed the Asian Championships and World Cup due to his knee ailment and returned to practice only about a month ago. Depleted stamina appeared to affect him as Higuchi, who trailed 3-2 going into the second period, scored big points by fighting off Otoguro’s lift attempts as he tried to counter Higuchi’s deep tackles.

A 4-point move with 25 seconds left all but settled the matter as Higuchi, the Rio 2016 silver medalist at 57kg, avenged losses to Otoguro in the semifinals at the Emperor’s Cup and last year’s Meiji Cup final.

For Otoguro, who became at 19 years 10 months the youngest male world champion in Japanese wrestling history when he won the gold at Budapest 2018, it was his first loss to a Japanese opponent since his second year of junior high school.

Kenichiro FUMITA forged a 4-1 victory against Shinobu OTA in the 60kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Fumita, Mukaida, Dosho earn world tickets

Kenichiro FUMITA, the 2017 world gold medalist, will get a chance to regain the world title after defeating long-time nemesis Shinobu OTA in the Greco-Roman 60kg final.

Fumita fought off Ota’s attempt at his patented front headlock roll while in the ground position, then was able to execute a gut wrench when it was his turn on top to forge a 4-1 victory.

That was a repeat of the Emperor’s Cup final, which Fumita won 7-2. Fumita now has a 6-4 lead in career meetings with Ota, the Rio 2016 silver medalist.

“It went as I imagined, in which neither of us were able to score on our feet,” Fumita said. “It would come down to the ground position. I didn’t know which one of us would be on bottom first, but I knew he would use the front headlock, and I knew I had to roll him at least once. For both of those points to happen made the match go as I wanted.”

Ota had a final chance to win when he forced Fumita to the edge. But Fumita walked a tightrope, then shrugged Ota past him to gain the step-out point.

Ota said that with Fumita having a good chance of medaling in Nur-Sultan, he would consider moving up to 67kg in a bid to make Tokyo 2020.

“Kenichiro will likely decide the matter, so I’ll have to regroup and go for 67kg,” Ota said. “I’m not saying the 67kg wrestler (Shogo Takahashi) won’t clinch a berth, but I think the possibility is higher for 60kg. We’ll see what happens.

“I haven’t given up on my goal of winning a gold at the Tokyo Olympics. I know that some things will have to change.”

There is still a path open for Ota to the World Championships. The Japan federation, wanting to ensure that top-level wrestlers are sent in the non-Olympic weights, announced that it will allow the runner-ups in the Olympic weights to enter the playoffs for the non-Olympic weights. Those playoffs are to be held July 21.

That means, for example, Ota could attempt to make the team at, say 63kg. And if Takahashi does not medal in Nur-Sultan, Ota could still challenge for the right to enter the Olympic qualifiers at 67kg by winning the Emperor’s Cup.

Asked if he would take such a path, Ota said he did not even know about it, but would certainly consider it. Of course, if Fumita doesn’t win a medal, then all bets are off and the competition at 60kg begins anew.

“This only earns me the right to go,” Fumita said. “This is not the final destination. There are many tough matches ahead. On the road to the Olympics, this is just a point along the way that I cleared, and that was my attitude in wanting to win the title.”

Mayu MUKAIDA defeated Haruna OKUNO, 2-1 in the 53kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In a high-profile final between reigning world champions, Mayu MUKAIDA clinched her place on the world team in the Olympic weight of 53kg with a tame 2-1 victory over that weight’s world champion, Haruna OKUNO.

Mukaida, the world gold medalist at 55kg, gave up a point on the activity clock before scoring what would prove the decisive takedown late in the first period. She then held on to defeat Shigakkan University teammate Okuno for the ninth time in nine career meetings.

In the women’s 68kg final, Masako FURUICHI learned the perils of not staying in defensive mode to protect a late lead when Rio Olympic champion Sara DOSHO stopped her late tackle attempt, then spun behind for a takedown with 11 seconds left and a nail-biting 4-3 victory.

With her sixth career title at the Meiji Cup and first since 2017, Dosho secured a ticket back to the World Championships, where she will aim to regain the throne she abdicated last year after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Meanwhile, the tournament ended on a somewhat positive note for Irie, as she bounced back from her shocking loss to Susaki by winning a bronze medal at 50kg with an 8-3 win over Miho IGARASHI.

Not only that, but simultaneously on the other mat, younger sister Nanami IRIE also secured a bronze medal with a victory by fall over Momoka KADOYA in a third-place playoff at 53kg.

“More than winning today, I wanted to work on fixing my mistakes,” Yuki said, adding that she did not sneak a peek over at Namami’s match.

The third and youngest Irie sister, Kumi, lost her bronze-medal match at 62kg on Saturday.

In the end, world team playoffs will be held in six Olympic weights barring injuries or other factors: freestyle 65kg, 74kg and 125kg; Greco-Roman 77kg; and women’s 50kg and 57kg.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

65kg (11 entries)
Final - Rei HIGUCHI df. Takuto OTOGURO by TF, 15-5, 5:47
3rd Place - Yujiro UENO df. Koki SHIMIZU, 8-1
3rd Place - Takuma TANIYAMA df. Shoya SHIMAE, 4-2

70kg (8 entries)
Final - Haruki SENO df. Kojiro SHIGA, 5-3
3rd Place - Jin HARAGUCHI df. Yuta NAKAMURA, 4-3
3rd Place – Kengo MATSUDA df. Shinnosuke SUWAMA, 3-2

Greco-Roman

60kg (12 entries)
Final - Kenichiro FUMITA df. Shinobu OTA, 4-1
3rd Place - Hayanobu SHIMIZU df. Kiyoshi KAWAGUCHI by TF, 10-0, 1:50
3rd Place - Ayata SUZUKI df. Ryotaro SUZUKI by TF, 10-2, 5:51

72kg (12 entries)
Final - Nao KUSAKA df. Tomohiro INOUE by TF, 10-1, 3:24
3rd Place - Keisei SHIMABUKURO df. Naoki KAWABE by TF, 8-0, 0:47
3rd Place - Takuya TOMIZUKA df. Ryoma HOJO by TF, 9-0, 1:40

82kg (9 entries)
Final - Yuya OKAJIMA df. Satoki MUKAI by TF, 9-0, 3:27
3rd Place - Masao TANAKA df. Yudai SASAKI by TF, 11-3, 4:04
3rd Place – Yoji KAWAMURA df. Tatsuya FUJII, 7-5

Women’s Wrestling

50kg (12 entries)
Final - Yui SUSAKI df. Eri TOSAKA by TF, 10-0, 1:36
3rd Place - Yuki IRIE df. Miho IGARASHI, 8-3
3rd Place - Kika KAGATA df. Remina YOSHIMOTO, 5-2

53kg (11 entries)
Final - Mayu MUKAIDA df. Haruna OKUNO, 2-1
3rd Place - Ibuki TAMURA df. Yu MIYAHARA, 7-4
3rd Place - Nanami IRIE df. Momoka KADOYA by Fall, 2:31 (6-0)

57kg (7 entries)
Final - Risako KAWAI df. Kaori ICHO, 6-4
3rd Place - Sae NANJO df. Akie HANAI by TF, 10-0, 1:17

68kg (6 entries)
Final - Sara DOSHO df. Masako FURUICHI, 4-3
3rd Place - Rio WATARI df. Chiaki SEKI by Def.

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships 2026 Preview

Friday, April 3, 2026 - 20:30 By Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 3) -- Soon after Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) became the Olympic champion in 2024, he went missing from the wrestling world. Past injuries and two surgeries kept him out of action for close to two years, skipping the entire 2025 and early 2026 season.

But the Paris Olympic champion at 74kg is returning to action at the Asian Championships in Bishkek, from April 6 to 12 at 79kg, leading a young Uzbekistan team.

"I missed wrestling," Jamalov said. "It was tough watching others win medals while I couldn't. It made me feel more motivated to win."

Jamalov will have a chance to win his first medal at the Asian Championships, which will be his debut continental championships in Asia. At 79kg, Jamalov should not face much trouble but will be checked as he has wrestled only five matches against Asian wrestlers in his career.

The foremost will be Iran's defending Asian champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI), who also won U20 world gold last year. Another challenge will be the weight class itself as Jamalov will be wrestling at his highest weight in his career.

"I have wrestled Asian wrestlers before and I know their style," he said. "I will try to wrestle according to my style and make it challenging for them."

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), red, and Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) during the 70kg final at the 2022 Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Bayrem Ben Mard)

Weight to Watch

The 70kg weight class will be one of the toughest in Bishkek with three world medalists entered along with two returning medalists.

Defending champion and world bronze medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) will lead the challenge against a field that also has world silver medalist Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) and former world and Asian champion Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN).

Returning to the Asian Championships for the first time in four years, Narikuni will also be wrestling 72kg Greco-Roman in a bid to win double titles. In 2022, won Freestyle 70kg gold after beating Akmataliev in a memorable final.

Akmataliev will look to avenge that loss in front of his home fans and also keep the gold medal with himself. He defeated Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) last year but the Tajikistan wrestler is returning with the hopes of upgrading his silver to gold.

U23 world silver medalist and returning bronze medalist Sina KHALILI (IRI) will also be looking for some revenge especially against Rassadin who defeated the Iranian in the opening round last year.

97kg battle

Can Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) return to golden ways or will Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) defend his title? Will Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) come back and sail through the field?

All the questions will be answered in Bishkek as the 97kg battle heats up. World silver medalist Azarpira and world bronze medalists Yoshida and Tazhudinov are among the favorites to win gold. Yoshida is the defending champion but did not wrestle Tazhudinov, who pulled out late from the tournament last year.

Tazhudinov has been off-color for a few tournaments now, losing at the World Championships and later at the Islamic Solidarity Games. Azarpira was the one who handed Tazhudinov the defeat in the semifinals of the World Championships in a very tactical bout. He will be in the race to win gold in Bishkek but a match against Yoshida will be a fan-delight.

Former U20 world champion at 92kg, Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) will also be in the mix but may find the going tough as he is still adjusting to the new weight class.

Zare Leads Iran

Iran is bringing a young team to Bishkek but has world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) lead the pack. He will be the favorite to win the 125kg gold medal despite the presence of Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), perhaps the second-best heavyweight around the world in action.

U20 world and Asian champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) will be making his senior debut at 125kg and will look to at least finish on the podium.

At 86kg, Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) will look to put a disappointing end to last year and start with a gold medal at the Asian Championships, a feat that should not be a hard one to achieve.

Mobin AZIMI (IRI) may face a tougher battle at 92kg with the likes of Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN), Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) and Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) entered in the field. However, Azimi appears to be little ahead in the race to win gold.

Aoyagi Aims 74kg Glory

In the premier weight 74kg, world champion at 70kg Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) will look to add an Asian title to his name. He finished with a bronze medal at 70kg last year. He will face the likes of Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN), Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) and Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), among others in the field.

The 57kg weight remains an open one with returning silver medalist Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) hoping to upgrade his medal. He will be the favorite to be crowned champion. The field also has Zagreb Open bronze medalist Fuga SASAKI (JPN), ANKUSH (IND) and Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ).

Returning bronze medalist Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) and former U23 world silver medalist Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ) are also in the mix to win medals.

Olympic Medalists Collide at 61kg

Paris Olympic bronze medalists Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) and AMAN (IND) are likely to clash at 61kg. Abdullaev, who also won world bronze, has struggled with conditioning in recent times and a bout against Aman will test him. Aman, who won the 61kg gold medal in Zagreb and a former Asian champion at 57kg, will also need to find a way to win a second Asian title.

World silver medalist Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) will challenge them both in the bracket along with former U23 world champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN), who last wrestled when he won gold at the 19th Asian Games in 2023.

Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ), world silver medalist at 57kg, will be at 61kg and wrestling in front of home fans which makes him one of the favorites to win gold.

SUJEET (IND) is unbeaten so far this year, winning golds in Zagreb and Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Will Sujeet Breakthrough?

India's last Asian champion, in a weight class not 57kg, was crowned in 2019 when Bajrang PUNIA (IND) won the 65kg gold in a comeback for ages in Xi'an, China. Now, SUJEET (IND) will look to end that drought and also look to give India an Asian title in three years.

The two gold medals to start the season, in Zagreb and Tirana, put Sujeet in the top position to win gold at 65kg. He will have a familiar foe in Umidjon JALALOV (UZB) in the weight class. When a match between Sujeet and Jalalov has taken place, the Indian has won all four times and the Uzbekistan wrestler will be keen on getting one back to the Indian.

Last year's 61kg Asian champion Takara SUDA (JPN) will be at 65kg in Bishkek and a challenge for Sujeet.

Kaisei TANABE (JPN), Freestyle 65kg champion last year, will try his luck in Greco 63kg this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

GRECO-ROMAN

The Greco-Roman field at the Asian Championships in Bishkek will be highlighted with Olympic and world champions. But a standout story will be that of Kaisei TANABE (JPN). The 65kg Asian champion in Freestyle, is attempting to win the Greco gold at 63kg this year.

Tanabe switching the styles of wrestling was not forced. He tried making the Japan team for both Freestyle and Greco but failed to win the qualifying tournament in the former.

A step ahead of Tanabe is his compatriot Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), a Freestyle world and Asian champion, who is entered in both styles for Bishkek. Narikuni was crowned champion in Freestyle 70kg and Greco 72kg in Japan, making him to first to complete the double in 52 years. He will try to regain his Asian 70kg title and also win gold at Greco 72kg.

A win in Japan at 63kg does make Tanabe a threat but competition in Bishkek will be tough. Erfan JARKANI (IRI), the Zagreb Open champion this year, will be the biggest test for Tanabe as Iran usually brings a style that depends both on strong par terre and conditioning.

Another potential challenger is Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), a former Asian champion in search of another Asian medal since 2021. Despite his lack of form in recent years, Bakhramov brings a tough style.

Narikuni's path at 72kg is similar with Javad REZAEI (IRI), former U23 world silver medalist and Muhamet Malo Ranking Series champion last month, being a favorite to win. Narikuni has an exceptional record in Freestyle but his Greco international debut at the Zagreb World Championships ended in a first-round loss.

Paris Olympic fifth-placer Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) can stop Narikuni in his quest as well. Ismailov will be wrestling in front of his home crowd, giving another advantage. Uzbekistan is going with newbie Shakhzod KUCHKOROV (UZB), who won the bronze medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series.

Olympic and world champion Hadi SARAVI (IRI) will aim to defend his Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran's Champions

Iran still remains the team to beat in Asia and once again the country is bringing a solid squad. Olympic champion Hadi SARAVI (IRI) leads at 97kg along with world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) at 130kg.

Saravi seems to be a notch above the field right now and should have no trouble winning gold. Mirzazadeh too has an upper hand at the highest weight class and will be a clear favorite to win.

Former U20 world champion and Zagreb Open silver medalist Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) has moved up to 97kg with his debut coming in Zagreb. Last year's silver medalist Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) and bronze medalist NITESH (IND) are expected to repeat as medalists.

The breakout star of 2025 Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) will take on the 87kg field. He became the world champion at 82kg in Zagreb, then moved up to 87kg and won the U23 world title a month later.

He starts as the favorite at 87kg but experienced wrestler Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) and world bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) can make his path trickier.

Alisher GANIEV (UZB) will carry Uzbekistan's hopes for the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Uzbekistan with Hopes

This may be the best chance for the ever-improving Uzbekistan team to clear Iran at the Asian level. Despite missing its star Aytjan KHALMANOV (UZB), Uzbekistan is still bringing a good team to Bishkek.

World silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) has a chance to win his first Asian title at 60kg. He lost four of the five finals last year but with lessons from World Championships, in which he put himself under undue pressure, Ganiev is a strong favorite.

Olympic bronze medalist and defending champion Se Ung RI (PRK) will be one of the opponents he needs to get past. Ri has proven to be an extremely strong wrestler, winning bronze at the Asian Games and Paris.

Former U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) will try to establish himself at the senior level, a feat he failed to do at the World Championships. A medal in Bishkek can boost his confidence and make him Iran's first choice at 60kg.

Japan's big-throwing Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) will also hope for a medal. He lost to Ganiev at the Ranking Series in Zagreb but will get a chance to avenge that loss.

Another hopeful for Uzbekistan will be Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), who is now jumping from 77kg to 82kg. Vardanyan won the gold medal last year with a buzzer-beating throw in the final and will hope to use it as motivation.

Former Asian champion and veteran Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) will look to challenge Vardanyan, both being perhaps the most experienced wrestlers in the field.

Then comes Amin HOSSEINI (IRI) who made his international debut in Tirana and won the 82kg gold medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series.

Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) has a good chance to improve on his bronze medal he won last year and claim another historic medal, perhaps gold, for Qatar.

Makhmudov at Home

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) returned to competition at the Islamic Solidarity Games last year and won gold at 77kg. He also wrestled at 82kg in Tirana in February but went home without a medal.

But the Paris bronze medalist returns to the Asian Championships in Bishkek as the favorite at 77kg with fans eager to watch him perform at home.

Last time Makhmudov wrestled in Bishkek, he lost to Nao KUSAKA (JPN) at 77kg but with Kusaka not in the field, Makhmudov should find it smooth sailing to gold.

Iran is betting on Zagreb Open Ranking Series winner Ali OSKOU (IRI). His run in Zagreb was impressive and he will be confident going into the Asian Championships of winning a gold medal.

Chung's Chance

After bringing a long-awaited medal at the World Championships for Korea in Zagreb, Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) can win more silverware for Korea. Chung won silver in Zagreb at 63kg but is moving up to the Olympic weight class of 67kg for the Asian Championships.

Former U20 world champion Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) will be a tough opponent along with returning silver medalist Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ). The change in weight class may hurt Chung's chances rather than improving them.

Others at this weight class include Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN), a world bronze medalist from 2022, U23 Asian champion Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ) and returning bronze medalist Man Gwang SON (PRK).

At 55kg, Zagreb Open finalists Mohammad HOSSEINVAND (IRI) and Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) are likely to reach the final in Bishkek as well. Botirov lost the final in Zagreb to Hosseinvand but will look to avenge that loss if the two meet in Bishkek.

Sara NATAMI (JPN) will look to defend her 57kg Asian title in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

WOMEN'S WRESTLING

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) pulled out of the Asian Championships after an injury. Despite her absence, the favorite at 57kg is still a Japanese, Fujinami's replacement Sara NATAMI (JPN).

The depth of the Japanese team will be on display once again at the Asian Championships as the country looks to dominate. Apart from Natami being the favorite to win as defending champion, world champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), former world and Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN), who is returning to competition for the first time since Paris Olympics, and two former world champions Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) and Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) are also in the squad.

For Natami to defend her title and win her third Asian gold she will have to go past Olympic bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) in her field. Natami had pinned Hong last year on her way to the gold.

Asian champion at 62kg MANISHA (IND) made a drastic step to drop to 57kg and she began the season with gold at the Zagreb Open. Asian Championships, however, will be a different test.

Big-throwing and Sri Lanka's history-maker Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI), former world 53kg silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) and former Asian silver medalist Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) will have a chance to put themselves on the podium.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) will return to the mat for the first since the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki 2.0

Susaki's return will be at 50kg as she prepares for another Olympic cycle after suffering a shock and first international loss at the 2024 Paris Games. The Asian Championships should be a good test for Susaki, who incidentally wrestled her last Asian Championships in Bishkek in 2024 in which she won gold. Susaki will face some familiar foes at the weight class including fellow Paris Olympic bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN).

The Chinese star almost pinned Susaki in the final of the Asian Championships in 2024 before the Japanese managed to comeback and win the gold medal. Feng would look to finally get a win over her.

Son Hyang KIM (PRK), who has wrestled Susaki three times, will look to get one back against the three-time world champion. The two first met at the 2017 Asian Championships and Susaki blanked her en route toher first Asian gold as an 18-year-old.

Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), who has four bronze medals to her name, will have her eyes on reaching the final this time. NEELAM (IND), a returning bronze medalist, can be among the medalists.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) is a two-time Asian champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Morikawa Eyes Hat-Trick

Morikawa has a perfect record at Asian Championships, winning two golds in as many attempts. But Bishkek will be different as those came at 65kg.

Now at 68kg, it presents a tougher challenge with Olympic silver medalist and home favorite Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) as the biggest one. Zhumanazarova has previously shown her mettle on quite a few occasions and with the home fans behind her, Zhumanazarova can upset Morikawa.

Defending champion Zelu LI (CHN) will be another strong contender. Li won bronze at the World Championships at 72kg but is now back to 68kg

Former world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) and young star Mansi LATHER (IND), a 72kg silver medalist at Zagreb Open, also have a chance to stand on the podium.

Ozaki Back at 62kg

After a whirlwind journey from 62kg to 65kg and then to 68kg which saw her win the world title and Olympic bronze, Ozaki is back to 62kg. She won gold at the Zagreb Open and now starts as the favorite for the Asian Championships.

She would also hope to avenge a loss. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Ozaki was leading the final against Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) when the latter used an arm-throw to clinch a 6-6 criteria win. Mun will be in Bishkek, giving an opportunity to Ozaki to avenge that loss.

Two former world champions are also in the fray -- Qi ZHANG (CHN) and Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL). Both will be in line for medals if not the gold along with world bronze medalist Nigina SABIROVA (UZB).

At 53kg, Kiyooka will hope to regain the Asian title she lost last year. In a one-sided final, Hyo Gyong CHOE (PRK) defeated her 12-1 at 53kg. With Choe not in the field, Kiyooka will be keen to win the gold medal.

She will still have to deal with former U20 world champion and senior silver medalist Jin ZHANG (CHN) and MEENAKSHI (IND) among others.

Japan will also hope that two youngsters can win gold medals in Bishkek.

Zagreb Open champion Nana IKEHATA (JPN) at 65kg and Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) have a great chance to add to Japan's gold tally. While Ikehata doesn't have a deep field at 65kg, world fifth-placer Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) will have to face returning silver medalist Yuxuan LI (CHN) at 55kg. Li remains the favorite to win the title, despite not wrestling internationally since.

U23 world champion Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) is also in the mix as she wrestles in her first senior level continental event.

Home Star Medet Kyzy

Kyrgyzstan will witness world silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) wrestling at home when she steps on the mat to defend her 76kg title. Medet Kyzy is a huge favorite to win gold, unless U20 world champion KAJAL (IND) can spring a surprise.

Another young star India can bet on is NEHA (IND) at 59kg. In an impressive performance, she managed to win silver at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in February.

But navigating a bracket with Asian Championships debutant Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), winner at the Zagreb Open, and returning bronze medalist Mengyu XIE (CHN) will be tough for Neha. Xie will also like to change the color of her medal and given the depth (or lack of it) at 59kg, she can certainly hope for gold.

Stars Merge at 72kg

A few stars have merged at 72kg. The weight class has former 65kg world champion Jia LONG (CHN), world silver medalist and Asian champion Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), world bronze medalist Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), former Asian champion Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) and former silver medalist HARSHITA (IND), who defeated Bakbergenova last year in Budapest.

Long won bronze at 68kg at the World Championships but is looking for an Asian title at 72kg. But going through Bakbergenova, a legend at 72kg, will be difficult. U23 world champion Nurtaeva is searching for her first Asian medal and wrestling at home may well be the motivation she needs.

Emboldened Kawai knocks off Icho as Susaki shines again, Otoguro dealt stunning loss

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