Ranking Series

European Nations Own Nine of Ten Top Spots in Greco-Roman

By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 1) – United World Wrestling has released their latest point-based Greco-Roman world rankings, and European nations own nine of the ten top spots heading into the final pair of Ranking Series events before the Nur-Sultan World Championships.

Even more impressive, the Russian Federation owns five of Europe’s nine top spots. The five No. 1-ranked Russian wrestlers are Sergey EMELIN (60kg), Stepan MARYANYAN (63kg), Artem SURKOV (67kg), Musa EVLOEV (97kg), and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg). 

In addition to the Russian-five, Azerbaijan’s Eldaniz AZIZLI (55kg), Germany’s Frank STAEBLER (72kg), Turkey’s Emrah KUS (82kg), and Ukraine’s Zhan BELENIUK (87kg) also hold the top spot int their respective weight classes.

The lone non-European top-ranked wrestler is Korea’s Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM who is ranked No. 1 at 77kg. 

Azizli Lock up Top-Two Seed at 55kg 
Azerbaijan’s reigning world champion Eldaniz Azizli (76 points) fell in the semifinals of the European Championships but held onto the No. 1 ranking after collecting 16 Ranking Series points with his 8-0 win over Turkey’s Serif KILIC in the bronze-medal bout in Bucharest. 

Azizli, who has 76 points, has locked up a top-two seed at the World Championships. 

The only wrestler that has a chance to pass Azizli for the top spot at 55kg is Uzbekistan’s Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (46 points). If the Asian champion wins the final two Ranking Series events (in brackets with 20+ entries) and Azizli sits out, Bakhromov will have a six-point advantage over the Azeri with 82 points. 

Kyrgyzstan's 2018 world runner-up Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV sits in third with 40 points. Sharshenbekov will receive 36 points if he were to win the final two Ranking Series events, tieing him with Azizli, but the Azeri would hold the first criteria - which is the highest placement at the World Championships, where Azizli defeated Sharshenbekov to win the gold medal last October.

Turkey’s Budapest bronze medalist Ekrem OZTURK is the fourth-ranked wrestler with 37 points. 

55kg Potential Semifinals 
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs. No. 4 Ekrem OZTURK (TUR)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB) vs. No. 3 Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)

Emelin Remains No. 1 at 60kg Despite Falling in European Finals 
Russia's Sergey Eemlin, the reigning 60kg world champion, holds the top-seed despite falling in the European finals. Emelin, with his 78 points, has an 18 and 36 point advantage over No. 2 Victor CIOBANU (MDA) and No. 3 Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO), respectively, and has locked up at least a top-two seed. 

The second-ranked wrestler, Ciobanu, avenged his loss from the world finals by dethroning Emelin at the European Championships and became Moldova’s first-ever European champion. The Moldovan will overthrow the Russian for the top seed if he makes it on the podium at the final two Ranking Series events.

The third-ranked wrestler at 60kg is Croatia’s Ivan Lizatovic. The Croatian currently has 42 points and will be tied with Emelin for the No. 1 seed if he wins out in brackets with 20+ wrestlers, but the Russian holds the criteria because of his world-title performance in Budapest. 

China’s WALIHAN Sailike sits in the fourth slot with 39 points after his world bronze-medal finish that was worth 25 points and a fifth-place finish at the Asian Championships that was worth 14 points. 

60kg Potential Semifinals 
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Sergey EMELIN (RUS) vs. No. 4 WALIHAN Sailike (CHN) 
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Victor CIOBANU (MDA) vs. No. 3 Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO) 

Maryanyan Follows up 63kg World Gold With European Title 
The second straight top-ranked Russian comes at 63kg where reigning world and European champion Stepan Maryanyan sits atop of the world rankings.

Maryanyan, who has 80 points, is coming off a continental title-winning performance after bulldozing the competition in Budapest to reach the top of the European Championship podium for the first time in his career. Because Maryanyan has a 52 point lead over the fourth-ranked wrestler, he could sit out of the final two Ranking Series events and still earn a top-three seed in Nur-Sultan. 

The second-ranked wrestler at 63kg is world and Asian runner-up Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB). Tasmuradov, who has 56 points after the Asian Championships, had to pull out of the Asian finals in Xi’an, China, after suffering a lower-body injury. 

TUO Erbatu (CHN) and Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) round out the top-four respectively at 63kg. 

Tuo, the Asian champion and world fifth-place finisher is ranked third with 50 points, and European fifth-place finisher Slavik Galstyan is ranked fourth with 28 points.

63kg Potential Semifinals 
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) vs. No. 4 Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) 
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) vs. No. 3 TUO Erbatu (CHN)

Surkov the Third Russian No.1-Ranked Wrestler 
Artem Surkov, the third top-ranked Russian sits atop the 67kg rankings with 78 Ranking Series points. Surkov, the reigning world champion at 67kg, fell to eventual champion Atakan YUKSEL (TUR) in the European finals and fought back to win the bronze medal - which was worth 18 Ranking Series points. This gives the Russian a 38 point lead over fourth-ranked Davor STEFANEK (SRB), meaning Surkov has locked up at least a third seed heading into Nur-Sultan. 

World bronze medalists Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) and Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) leaped over Budapest world runner-up Davor Stefanek and owns the second and third spots respectively. 

Entering the European Championships, Gevorg Sahakyan had 25 points and earned 20 points by making it to the finals. Though he fell to Turkey’s Atakan Yuksel, Sahakyan was able to leap to the second spot with his 45 points.

The third-ranked wrestler Meiirzhan Shermakhanbet also fell in the continental finals but still jumped Stefanek. Shermakhanbet dropped his Asian finals bout to Korea’s Hansu RYU and was awarded 18 points, catapulting him to the third spot with 43 points.

Davor Stefanek is ranked fourth at 67kg but hasn’t competed this season. 

67kg Potential Semifinals 
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Artem SURKOV (RUS) vs. No. 4 Davor STEFANEK (SRB) 
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) vs. No. 3 Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) 

Staebler Ranked First at 72kg But Moving Down to 67kg 
Germany’s three-time world champion Frank Staebler (60 points) holds the top-ranking at 72kg but will forfeit his top seed at the World Championships to European bronze medalist Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) (55 points) because of his decision to move down to the Olympic weight of 67kg.

With Mnatsakanian moving up to the one seed, that’ll also bump up Balint KORPASI (HUN) (40 points), Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) (40 points), and Tarek BENAISSA (ALG) (38 points) to the second through fourth spots respectively.

72kg Potential Semifinals 
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Frank STAEBLER (GER) vs. No. 4 Abuiazid MANTSIGOV
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Aik MNATSAKANIAN vs. No. 3 Balint KORPASI

Kim Wins Asian Title, Skyrockets to Top Spot at 77kg 
Korea’s Olympic champion KIM Hyeonwoo has been one of the most active and consistent wrestlers in the world since his bronze-medal finish at the World Championships. Kim has wrestled in the first two Ranking Series events and the Continental Championships. The Korean wrestler won the Asian Championships, and finished with bronze medals at the Zagreb Open and the Hungarian Grand Prix, giving him the No.1  ranking with 71 Ranking Series points. 

Serbia’s world and European bronze medalist Viktor NEMES won the first Greco-Roman Ranking Series event, the Zagreb Open and gained the one-point advantage in the latest rankings over reigning world champion Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (60 points) with his 61 points. 

Budapest world bronze medalist Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) slid down to the fourth spot with his 40 points.

77kg Potential Semifinals 
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 KIM Hyeonwoo (KOR) vs. No. 4 Tamas LORINCZ (HUN)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Viktor NEMES (SRB) vs. No. 3 Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) 

Bacsi Reties, Kus Moves into Top Spot at 82kg 
Turkey’s world runner-up Emrah KUS, with help from his bronze-medal finish at the European Championships, overthrew Hungary’s reigning world champion Peter BACSI for the No.1 ranking at 82kg. 

But, since Bacsi’s won his world title on home soil in Budapest, the Hungarian has retired. With Bacsi going out on a high note, this leaves the second spot open, moving up the third through fifth-ranked wrestlers.

Come Nur-Sultan, Kus will remain in the first spot, but Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) (38 points), Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) (37 points), and Rajbek BISULTANOV (DEN) (34 points) each receive a bump from Bacsi’s retirement and will be the second through fourth-ranked wrestlers respectively at 82kg. 

82kg Potential Semifinals 
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Emrah KUS (TUR) vs. No. 4 Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) 
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Peter BACSI (HUN) vs. No. 3 Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) 

Beleniuk Bumps out Basar for First Ranking at 87kg 
After two-time reigning world champion Metehan BASAR fell to a twelfth-place finish at the European championships and failed to collect any Ranking Series points, Ukraine’s world runner-up Zhan BELENIUK jumped over the Turkish wrestler for the No. 1 spot at 87kg with his European-title performance in Bucharest. 

Hungary’s U23 world champion Erik SZILVASSY finished in third place at the European championships and is ranked No. 3 in the world with 44 points. But, Hungary has a difficult decision to make heading into the World Championships because fifth-ranked Viktor LORINCZ has a pair of wins over Szilvassy and has won the first two Ranking Series events. 

Azerbaijan’s European runner-up Islam ABBASOV finds himself sandwiched between both of the Hungarian wrestlers in the fourth spot. Abbasov would benefit from Lorincz getting the starting spot, as he’ll move up to the third seed, with Lorincz coming into the fourth seed. 

87kg Potential Semifinals 
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Zhan BELENIUK  (UKR) vs. No. 4 Islam ABBASOV (AZE) 
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Metehan BASAR (TUR) vs. No. 3 Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) 

Evloev Remains No. 1 at 97kg After Adding European Title to Resume 
Russia’s Musa Evloev kept his top-ranking after adding a European title to his resume with a win over Kiril MILOV in the European finals. Evloev has come out on the winning end of the world and European gold-medal bouts against Milov and owns the eight-point lead over the Bulgarian wrestler. Evloev has 82 points and Milov has 74 points heading into the final pair of Ranking Series events. 

America’s Tracy HANCOCK and Iran’s Mahdi ALIYARIFEIZABADI are ranked third and fourth respectively. 

Hancock, the Pan-American runner-up, has a pair of Ranking Series medals on his resume from this year and has 48 points. The American won the Hungarian Grand Prix and finished with a bronze medal at the Zagreb Open and owns a nine-point lead over fourth-ranked Mahdi Aliyarifeizabadi. 

Aliyarifeizabadi, the world and Asian bronze medal finisher, has 39 points heading into the final pair of Ranking Series events. 

97kg Potential Semifinals 
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Musa EVLOEV (RUS) vs. No. 4 Mahdi ALIYARIFEIZABADI (IRI) 
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Kiril MILOV (BUL) vs. No. 3 Tracy HANCOCK (USA) 

Semenov Sits Atop of Rankings At 130kg 
Russia’s reigning world champion Sergey SEMENOV fell in the European semifinals to Georgia’s Iakobi KAJAIA and battled back for a bronze medal – but holds the top ranking with 76 points after the conclusion of the Continental Championships.

Semenov has a 39 point lead over Korea’s fourth-seeded KIM Minseok (37 points) and has locked up at least a top-four seed in Nur-Sultan. 

The second-ranked wrestler at 130kg is American Adam COON, who added to his 40-point world silver medal with a Pan-American gold medal. Coon sits 16 points behind Semenov with 60 points.

Estonia’ Heiki NABI and Korea’s Kim Minseok round of the top four of the 130kg ranking with 52 and 37 points respectively. 

130kg Potential Semifinals 
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) vs. No. 4 Minseok KIM (KOR)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Adam COON (USA) vs. No. 3 Heiki NABI (EST)

#WrestleAmman

Rising star Masoumi gains revenge, joins gold rush by young Iran team

By Ken Marantz

AMMAN, Jordan (March 30) -- Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) settled an old score as he continued his emergence as the new face in the heavyweight class.

Rising star Masoumi defeated Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) in the 125kg final as Iran won three of the five Freestyle titles at stake on the final day of the Asian Championships on Sunday in Amman, Jordan.

The 20-year-old Masoumi's 6-0 victory over Munkhtur avenged a loss in the quarterfinals two years ago at the Asian Championships, and gave the reigning world U23 and U20 champion the first of what could be many senior Asian titles to come.

Iran also got golds from teenager Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) at 86kg and world U23 champion Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), who successfully defended his 92kg title, while collegian Takara SUDA (JPN) gave Japan its third freestyle gold with a victory at 61kg and Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) triumphed at 74kg to become a three-time Asian champion.

The young Iran squad, which medaled in all but one weight class, compiled 190 points to run away with the team title for the second straight year and sixth time in seven years. Japan finished second with 146, while Kazakhstan edged Mongolia by two points for third place with 125.

"Iran did something really great and valuable this year by bringing young wrestlers to the Asian Championships, proving that we can win the title with them and that they deserve our trust," said Masoumi, whose father Fardin was a two-time world medalist and finished fifth at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"The championship age is getting lower in the world, and I believe the more opportunities we give these young athletes, the bigger achievements they can accomplish."

Masoumi came into Amman riding high from a victory at the Zagreb Ranking Series event in February, a year after losing in the final to compatriot, world champion and two-time Olympic medalist Amir ZARE (IRI). Lanky for a heavyweight, Masoumi combines a lethal combination of speed, agility and power.

In the final against Munkhtur, a two-time world medalist and the 2023 Asian champion, Masoumi quickly took advantage of an opening and tripped the Mongolian backward at the edge for a 4-point takedown. He then used a double underhook to muscle Munkhtur over the edge to get a stepout with a fleeing point tacked on.

Although Masoumi went scoreless in the second period, he was never put in danger and fended off all of Munkhtur's efforts.

"Munkhtur is a tough and respectable opponent," Masoumi said. "He’s a world silver medalist, a world bronze medalist, the runner-up at the Asian Games, and an Asian champion.

"Thank God, with my coaches’ analysis and my own progress over the past few years, I was able to wrestle a smart match, winning 6-0 and avenging my loss to him in the Asian Championships two years ago."

Masoumi said his next competition will be the domestic Takhti Cup, which will serve as a national team qualifer for this year's World Championships in Zagreb.

"All of the top heavyweight contenders, including the biggest names, will compete there," he said. "I’ll also participate and test my chances for the Zagreb competition."

Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI)Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) posted an 11-4 victory over Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) in the 86kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 86kg, Rahmani put on an impressive performance in roaring to an 11-4 victory over Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ), the 2023 Asian champion at 79kg who, at 32, was an opponent nearly twice his age.

Rahmani, less than one year removed from taking an Asian U20 silver, started his quest for senior gold with a single-leg takedown, then gave up one to Sakayev. Rahmani gained an activity point to lead 3-2 going into the second period.

The Iranian increased the gap by stepping over for a 2-point exposure on the edge, then really got rolling when he got behind for a takedown and hit a gut wrench. Another takedown put him up 11-2 before Sakayev capped the scoring with a late takedown.

Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) wrestles Deepak PUNIA (IND) in the 92kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Firouzpour, like Masoumi a world U23 champion and winner in Zagreb, turned in the most dominant victory of the night's finals, crushing Deepak PUNIA (IND) 10-0 for his second straight gold at 92kg and third overall.

A stepout and a snap-down takedown gave the 22-year-old Firouzpour a 3-0 lead in the first period. In the second, he added three more stepouts -- with a fleeing point added to one -- and an activity point to go up 8-0, then ended the match by countering a trip attempt and getting behind with 39 seconds left.

Firouzpour finished the tournament with two technical falls in three matches, and without conceding a point.

"My main goal was to not give up any points and wrestle my best in this tournament," Firouzpour said. "I’m happy that I achieved the result I wanted. I hope to perform well in the upcoming Takhti Cup...and to win gold at the World Championships in Croatia."

Firouzpour also praised Iran coach Pejman DOROSTKAR for taking the chance to assemble such a young team for the tournament.

"Not every head coach would take that risk, but he embraced the challenge and built a U23 team," Firouzpour said. "In fact, most of our team was under 21. Only one other wrestler and I were 22, while almost everyone else was under 20.

"Thanks to his decision, we won nine medals and dominated Asia. With a coach and federation president like we have now, I’m confident we’ll achieve the best results at the World Championships as well."

Punia, a world silver medalist at 86kg in 2019, earned his fourth Asian medal and first since 2022. He also has a silver from the 2023 Asian Games and placed fifth at the Tokyo Olympics.

Takara SUDA (JPN)Takara SUDA (JPN) defends against UDIT (IND) in the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Suda, winner at the Tirana Ranking Series event in February in his international senior debut, made it 2 for 2 on this level with a 6-4 victory in the 61kg final over UDIT (IND), last year's silver medalist at 57kg.

"I was determined to win the gold medal," Suda said. "To win my second senior tournament, following the Ranking Series, shows I can be competitive on this level."

Suda fired straight out of the blocks and scored a stepout with a charging single leg, then added a single-leg takedown to go into the break 3-0.

Udit went on the offensive in the second period, but couldn't seem to keep hold of the elusive Suda, who twice jumped free when Udit grabbed a low single. Udit kept his grip a third time, but Suda still managed to squirm free.

An activity point put Udit onto the scoreboard, but Suda quickly responded with a snap-down takedown. The two traded late stepouts before Udit scored a takedown in the final seconds that still left him short.

"In the final, I knew the Indian opponent would be strong physically," Suda said. "At the very least, I wanted to be aggressive in the first period."

Suda earned his ticket to Amman by winning his first national title last December in the absence of injured world champion Masanosuke ONO (JPN), his Yamanashi Gakuin University teammate and training partner. Ono has since announced he will compete for Penn State University in the United States next season.

Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) added a third Asian title to his name. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the 74kg final, Kaipanov put on a masterclass in defending against a dangerous opponent, with a stepout and activity point in the second period lifting him to a 2-1 victory over Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) and his first Asian title since 2021.

Toktomambetov, the 2024 world U23 silver medalist who took an Asian bronze at 70kg in 2023, gained an activity point for the lone score of the first period. But he couldn't break through Kaipanov's defenses in the second as the Kazakh veteran took the lead and held on for the win.

The victory makes Kaipanov a four-time Asian medalist, having won his first gold at 70kg in 2019 and a silver medal in 2022. He also took a world bronze at 70kg in 2019.

Dauletbekov grabs 92kg bronze for 6th career medal

Veteran Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), who moved up 92kg late last year, was unable to continue his remarkable streak of Asian titles, but assured he would not leave Amman empty-handed when he defeated Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) 2-1 for a bronze medal.

Dauletbekov scored a stepout in the first period, and that proved the difference when the two had offsetting activity points to give him a sixth career Asian medal dating back to 2017.

The world bronze medalist, who won three straight Asian golds at 86kg from 2022-2024, bumped up a weight class following the Paris Olympics, where he placed 11th.

The other 92kg bronze went to Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN), who stormed to an 11-0 victory over Bekzat RAKHIMOV (KGZ) to add to his bronze at 97kg in 2021. Ishiguro barged to a 4-point takedown right off the bat, then got behind in standing position and took Rakhimov to the mat while executing a gut wrench, then added another roll for the 10-point gap at 1:52. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

In one of the oddest matches of the tournament, DINESH (IND) scored a takedown with :40 left to cap a comeback in a wild 14-12 victory over an obviously fatigued Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM) for a 125kg bronze.

Saparov, the 2023 Asian U23 champion, looked chipper at the start, hitting Dinesh with a slick arm throw for 2, then using an arm spin for another takedown and adding a gut wrench to lead 6-0.

But from there, it became clear he was struggling for breath, and the only thing that seemed to save him were constant breaks to stop a bloody nose. Dinesh continually chipped away at the lead, although Saparov managed one spurt in the second period when he got behind for a takedown and added a gut wrench to go ahead 12-7.

Dinesh kept pressing and kept scoring, inevitably getting the winning points to clinch his first major medal. With Saparov's loss, Turkmenistan continued a medal drought at the Asian Championships dating back to 2018.

Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) claimed the other 125kg bronze and his second in a row with a victory by fall over Ahmed AL JAMIE (IRQ).

Leading 4-1 in the second period, Sharipov was sprawling when he reached under and pulled in Al Jamie's leg, forcing him to his back for a 4-point move before pressing down for the fall in 4:53.

At 61kg, Ahmad JAVAN (IRI), the winner at this year's Zagreb Ranking Series event, capped his debut at the Asian Championships with a solid 6-1 victory that relegated Kum Chol RI (PRK) to a second straight silver medal.

After thwarting a nice ankle pick by Ri and converting it into a takedown, Javan went on the offensive and got two takedowns off a high crotch, sandwiched around a stepout by Ri. Javan then defended well in a scoreless second period to add the Asian bronze to those at the world U20 in 2022 and world U23 in 2021 at 57kg.

Wanhao ZOU (CHN) won the other 61kg bronze, getting a takedown and stepout in the first period in a 4-2 victory that denied Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ) a second career bronze.

At 74kg, Tu Erxun AHEIYOU (CHN) received an activity point in each period, while putting up a Great Wall of Defense to defeat Fazliddin NASRITDINOV (UZB) 4-0. Aheiyou got his last two points when he stopped a last-ditch throw attempt by Nasritdinov.

Mohammad Reza SHAKERI (IRI) became the lone Iranian in freestyle to leave without a medal when was dealt a heartbreaking 2-2 defeat by Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN), despite being the aggressor throughout their 74kg match.

Shakeri, the 2023 world U230 champion at 65kg, gained an activity point in the first period, but Asluev went ahead in the second when he managed to gain control long enough for a takedown during a scramble that ended with Shakeri gaining a stepout.

To his credit, Asluev deftly slipped out when Shakeri got behind on the ankles, and whizzered out of another takedown attempt as he added to his bronze from 2023.

At 86kg, Asian U20 champion Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL), burned once by an arm spin by Nan CAO (CHN), was ready the second time, stopping his opponent in mid-twist and securing a second-period fall.

Cao, the Asian U23 champion at 79kg, took the lead with an acrobatic takedown in the first period. But Naadambat was ready the second time and it resulted in his first senior medal.

Stocky Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) came away with his second straight 86kg bronze, using his low center of gravity to score four stepouts and defeat Mukul DAHIYA (IND) 4-2.

Shirai, the 2022 world U23 champion, chalked up two stepouts in each period before 2023 Asian U20 champion Dahiya finally got on the scoreboard with a takedown late in the second period.

Day 6 Results

Freestyle

61kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Takara SUDA (JPN) df. UDIT (IND), 6-4

BRONZE: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) df. Kum Chol RI (PRK), 6-1
BRONZE: Wanhao ZOU (CHN) df. Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ), 4-2

74kg (16 entries)
GOLD: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) df. Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), 2-1

BRONZE: Tu Erxun AHEIYOU (CHN) df. Fazliddin NASRITDINOV (UZB), 4-0
BRONZE: Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) df. Mohammad Reza SHAKERI (IRI), 2-2

86kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) df. Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ), 11-4

BRONZE: Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL) df. Nan CAO (CHN) by Fall, 3:56 (2-2)
BRONZE: Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) df. Mukul DAHIYA (IND), 4-2

92kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) df. Deepak PUNIA (IND) by TF, 10-0, 5:21

BRONZE: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Sherzod POYONOV (UZB), 2-1
BRONZE: Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) df. Bekzat RAKHIMOV (KGZ) by TF, 11-0, 1:53

125kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) df. Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL), 6-0

BRONZE: DINESH (IND) df. Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM), 14-12
BRONZE: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Ahmed AL JAMIE (IRQ) by Fall, 4:53 (8-1)