Greco-Roman World Cup: Azerbaijan vs Iran for title

Saturday, November 5, 2022 - 05:48 By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (November 5) -- The Greco-Roman World Cup in Baku kicked off with Turkiye and Iran. A close battle ended with Iran winning and it followed that up with a win over Kyrgyzstan to book a place in the final. From Group A, Azerbaijan and All-World team clashed and ended with 5 wins each. It came down to the classification points in which Azerbaijan outplaced the All-World team 22 to 20. Turkiye and Kyrgyzstan wrestled for a spot in the 3/4th place match against the All-World team. Turkiye defeated Kyrgyzstan 7-3.

Azerbaijan will take on Iran for the World Cup title while Turkiye and All-World team will clash for third place. The action begins at 1700 hours local time in Baku.

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22:25: The final bout of the day and the U23 world champion Fatih BOZKURT (TUR) pins Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ) at 130kg to give Turkiye a 7-3 win in the dual.

22:20: Metehan BASAR (TUR) does it for Turkiye. His win over U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) is the sixth of the dual for Turkiye and it will wrestle the All-World team for the bronze.

22:05: Late drama in the 87kg bout between A. AZISBEKOV (KGZ) and Ali CENGIZ (TUR). Azisbekov was leading 1-1 on criteria when he tried to throw Cengiz. When the scramble ends, Azisbekov is leading 3-3. Turkiye challenge the call and it seems Cengiz committed a leg foul. The score is 4-1 and Azisbekov will win the bout with that score. Kyrgyzstan make it 5-3 with two more bouts left.

21:52: World champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) with two big throws to claim a technical superiority 9-0 win over Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ). Now Turkiye needs just one win to reach the bronze medal match against the All-World team.

21:45: Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) mounted a comeback against Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR) in the second period but he will go down 5-5 on criteria and Turkiye now leads 4-2. Two more wins for them to confirm the spot in the bronze medal bout.

21:35: Kyrgyzstan needed this win but Selcuk CAN (TUR) denies (KGZ) Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) at 72kg with a 5-3 win and Turkiye now leads the battle 3-2.

21:22: Murat FIRAT (TUR) delivers for Turkiye. He beats IBRAGIMOV Khalmurat (KGZ) 6-1 at 67kg and Turkiye has tied the dual 2-2 against Kyrgyzstan.

21:10: Ahmet UYAR (TUR) pulls one back as he beats Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) 5-1 at 63kg. Turkiye now has a win against two for Kyrgyzstan.

21:00: A 2-0 lead for Kyrgyzstan now. Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ) beats Mukremin AKTAS (TUR) 6-1 and continues the good start for Kyrgyzstan. The two nations are fighting for a place in the bronze medal bout against the All-World team.

20:50: What a show by Taalaibek BEISHENBEK UULU (KGZ) as he rolls Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) for a four before getting a gut to make it 6-0. A takedown gives him the 8-0 win.

20:40: Now for the final match of the session. Turkiye takes on Kyrgyzstan for a place in the bronze medal match against the All-World team. We start with 55kg with Taalaibek BEISHENBEK UULU (KGZ) taking on Ekrem OZTURK (TUR).

It could have gone in the favor of the All-World team had Joni KHETSURIANI (UWW) scored a point against Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). A case of ifs and buts but ultimately it is Azerbaijan that qualifies for the final.

20:30: Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (UWW) gets the win 5-1 over Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) but he fails to pin him. This means Azerbaijan will qualify for the final based on classification points. Both teams had five wins but Azerbaijan has 22 classification points to 20 for the All-World team.

20:15: Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (UWW) adds more drama to the dual. He beats Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) 5-2 and now the All-World team has a chance to win this. At 130kg, Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (UWW) needs to pin Sabah SHARIATI (AZE).

20:07: Can the All-World team make a comeback? Alex KESSIDIS (UWW) beats Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) 3-2 to make it 5-3. The All-World team needs to win the remaining two bouts by technical superiorities or via fall.

20:00: In a rematch of the World Championships, Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UWW) wrestles Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) at 82kg. Berdimuratov gives up the first par terre but gets out of it quickly. Berdimuratov gets the criteria lead in the second period. Huseynov manages to get a lift and throw but it is not scored. Azerbaijan challenges and the review confirms a three-point contact and two points for Huseynov. Berdimuratov gets a takedown but Huseynov challenges again a leg four by Berdimuratov. Huseynov wins 3-1. Azerbaijan now lead 5-2.

19:42: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) with an all-important win at 77kg over Zoltan LEVAI (HUN). Both traded passivities but Suleymanov got the turn. Levai tried a desperate throw at the end but Suleymanov turned that into his own attacks and scored five via suplex.

19:30: World Championships bronze medalist Andrii KULYK (UWW) and silver medalist Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) at 72kg now. Ganizade gets the first advantage but as he tries to lift and throw Kulyk, he is pinned to the mat by Kulyk who leads 2-1. In the second period, Kulyk gets the advantage but fails to turn. But a tiring Ganizade makes a dash for a takedown but fails to control and gives up a takedown and turn. Kulyk wins 7-1 to pull one back for the All-World team.

19:23: Azerbaijan has taken a big stride toward the final with Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) beating Joni KHETSURIANI (UWW) 5-0 at 67kg. The win makes it 3-1 for Azerbaijan. Khetsuriani not scoring a point also hurts the All-World team's chances.

19:10: Leri ABULADZE (UWW) and Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) now wrestling at 63kg. Abuladze gets the first point for Mammadov's passivity. But he fails to get any turn. Mammadov gets the point in the second period. He leads 1-1 on criteria. A third passivity of the bout and goes against Mammadov. Abuladze still can't take advantage. He has just over a minute to break the criteria of 1-1. Mammadov holds on for a 1-1 win.

19:00: A fall for Aidos SULTANGALI (UWW) over Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) at 60kg! A crucial win for the All-World team as the fall gives them five classification points. In case the match-up neds 5-5, it can prove to be the decider.

18:50: Just not happening for Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (UWW). He once again goes down against Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE). A passivity for Azizli and he then gets a two-point turn before a throw for four points. A gut wrench to finish the bout 9-0.

18:45: Time for Azerbaijan vs All-World. First up at 55kg is Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) against Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (UWW).

18:42: A huge win for Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI). He pins Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ) at 130kg to complete an 8-2 rout of Kyrgyzstan.

18:35: That was a thriller. Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) trailed Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) 3-1 up until the final minute but Balihamzehdeh manages to score a takedown for a 3-3 win.

18:22: At 87kg, Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI) and A. AZISBEKOV (KGZ) are involved in a battle. Azisbekov gets the 1-0 lead for par terre and then exposure to make it 3-0. Kyrgyzstan challenged for a leg foul but it's clean. Choubani scores a point for passivity but Azisbekov gets a four and then a takedown to win 9-2.

18:10: The first loss for Iran in this match-up. Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ) gets a reverse lift for two from par terre against Mohammadhossein MAHMOODI (IRI) at 82kg. Iran challenges the decision but the referral shows it is actually four points. Asykeev wins 6-1.

18:00: Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) with a 7-1 win over Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) at 77kg. A four-pointer in that win as Mokhtari produced a complete rotation in that throw.

17:50: Amir ABDI (IRI) confirms the spot in the final for Iran. He beats Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) at 72kg and with that, Iran will try to win the title Sunday.

1737: Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) is unstoppable here in Baku. He forces the first passivity of the bout against Khalmurat IBRAGIMOV (KGZ) and then gets three turns to lead 7-0. Ibragimov caught him in the turn during the fourth turn to get two on the board and was looking for a pin but Sohrabi's head was outside the zone. Kyrgyzstan challenged that call but lose. A lock for a takedown confirms a 10-2 win for Sohrabi.

1730: Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) and Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) wrestle at 63kg. Khoon Mohamadi uses the arm drag to perfection. He scores a four-point move before adding numerous stepouts. Sulaimanov tries a desperate four but fails. Khoon Mohammadi wins 12-1

1722: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) with a clean 5-0 win over Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ) and Iran lead 2-0. The win eases the pressure on the upcoming wrestlers as Iran needs one more win to rule out all possibilities of Turkiye or Kyrgyzstan taking its spot.

1710: Iran is not entering its reserve team. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) will be coming out for the 55kg bout against Taalaibek BEISHENBEK UULU (KGZ). Dad Marz is called for passivity in the first period but he defends well from par terre. Dad Marz scores a stepout to make it 1-1 at the break. Beishenbek Uulu cannot defend the gut-wrench attempts from Dad Marz in the second period and gives up four points. A caution and two points against Beishenbek Uulu before a stepout confirm a 9-1 win for the Iran wrestler.

1700: Welcome back to the evening session of the Greco-Roman World Cup. Iran and Kyrgyzstan are wrestling with the latter hoping to surprise Iran and hope to make the final.

End of an entertaining first session in which Iran managed to get the better of Turkiye. A 6-4 win has given Iran a huge advantage and has virtually put the team in the final. The second session begins at 1700 local time.

Iran faces Kyrgyzstan before Azerbaijan hosts the All-World team. The final match of the evening session will be Turkey vs Kyrgyzstan.

11:50: Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) and Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) are now on the mat for their 130kg bout. Yildirim is up 1-0 for passivity and a turn makes it 3-0. But Yousofi scores three stepouts and a point against Yildirim gives the lead 4-3 to Yousofi. Yildirim, as calm as he is, scores a takedwon on the edge and reclaims the lead. A point for Yousofi for Yildirim's passivity but the Turkiye wrestler leads 5-5 on criteria and that will remain the score as Yousofi suffers a close loss.

11:40: It's simple for Turkiye -- Metehan BASAR (TUR) can't afford to lose. Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) has built a 4-0 lead but Basar gets two points for caution. Basar has a minute to score two points and win this. But Balihamzehdeh keeps him at bay and wins it 4-2 and that wins confirms Iran's win in this match-up.

11:32: A couple of challenges made that 87kg bout between Ali CENGIZ (TUR) and Hamidreza BADKAN (IRI) seem like never-ending. But for what it's worth, Cengiz wins the bout 11-2 and keeps Turkiye in the race. Cengiz reverses the par terre position and gets three exposure along with a foul from Badkan to lead 8-2 at the end of the sequence. He wins 11-2 in the second period.

11:10: World champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) wins the second for Turkiye. He was trailing 3-0 at the break as Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) got the first point and the turn. But Akbudak scores a takedown to start the second period before Mohmadipiani is called for passivity. Akbudak gets two turns from there to lead 7-3. A late takedown from Mohmadipiani but Akbudak wins 7-5 at 82kg.

10:55: World Championships bronze medalist Yunus BASAR (TUR) gets one back for Turkiye. He was trailing Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) 2-0 at the break but Basar gets the passivity point in the second period. Mokhtari flees the hold. The referee does not call it but Turkiye challenges and it is awarded to Basar. The bout restarts in par terre from which Basar scores a stepout. A challenge from Iran which it loses. Basar wins 6-2 to get Turkiye on board.

10:45: Seluk CAN (TUR) has a huge responsibility on his shoulders. He is wrestling Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) at 72kg with the hope of turning it around for his team. But Rostami leads 2-0 at the break. Can gets on the board for Rostam's passivity in the second period. But he can't get the turn. Rostami hangs on for a 2-1 lead and the win. Iran has won 5 bouts now. One more win will seal it.

10:35: Now wrestling at 67kg, U20 and U23 world champion for Iran Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) against Murat FIRAT (TUR). Sohrabi is one of the most exciting talents out there. He begins with a spin for two. Sohrabi then hits a four to lead 6-0. Turkiye challenges the call but the points stand. Sohrabi leads 7-0 before a stepout point gives him the 8-0 win. Another bout in which Turkiye does not score a point. This may hurt them later.

10:30: With a 2-0 lead, Iran will look to close this. Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) and Ahmet UYAR (TUR) wrestling at 63kg and it's Khoon Mohammadi who scores four stepouts inside the first two minutes. He gets a takedown to lead 6-0 before finishing the bout before the break with a gut wrench. Iran leads 3-0

10:15: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) at 60kg in a revenge bout. Mohsen Nejad was leading his bout against Kamal at the World Championships in Belgrade before Kamal pinned him. Here in Baku, Mohsen Nejad comes out attacking from par terre and gets the gut wrench before exposure got him two more. Kamal challenges the second call. Challenge lost. In the second period, Kamal manages to get a reverse lift for two to make it 6-3. But he also gives up two points and it's 8-3. Three stepout points for Kamal but he fails to cover the lead and goes down 8-6.

10:10: Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) and Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) is the first bout of the World Cup at 55kg. Ozturk gets the advantage with a passivity point. He fails to get a turn in the par terre. In the second period, Dad Marz gets the 1-1 criteria lead for the passivity point. He also fails to get any turn from par terre. Dad Marz will win 1-1 despite the third passivity against him. A huge win for Iran.

1000: Welcome to the first session of the Greco-Roman World Cup here at the Baku Sports Hall. We have a one-mat setup for the World Cup. Iran and Turkiye go head-to-head now.

#WrestleHangzhou

Japan seeks Asian Games dominance after 2018 debacle

Monday, October 2, 2023 - 08:06 By Vinay Siwach

HANGZHOU, China (October 2) — For the few unfamiliar ones, Japan’s dominance in women’s wrestling is unparalleled. The country has won the most world and Olympic medals in women’s wrestling. Out of the 24 gold medals in women’s wrestling ever awarded at the Olympics, Japan has won 15. No other country has more than two golds.

But here’s a mind-blowing fact for the sports nerds: Japan did not win a single gold medal in women’s wrestling at the 2018 Asian Games. World and Olympic champions faltered at different stages of the competition, and Japan had to return from Jakarta without gold.

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At the 19th edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Japan will hope to bounce back from that disaster. Women’s wrestling at the Asian Games will be held on October 5 and 6 at the Lin’an Sports Culture and Exhibition Center.

Apart from Japan, hosts China will hope to leave its mark at the continental level as it continues to rebuild its team after the Tokyo Olympics. The Asian Games will also mark the return of DPR Korea to wrestling for the first time since the 2019 World Military Games in Wuhan, China. The nation is known to produce some of the strongest wrestlers, especially in the lower-weight classes.

Japan can certainly think that the 2018 performance will not be repeated, as it is sending four world champions, including Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) who recently won her second world title in Belgrade. Fujinami is on a 127-match winning streak dating back to her junior high school days.

Joining her on the team are three-time world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), two-time world champ Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), 2021 world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN), former U20 world champion and U23 world silver medalist Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) and former U20 Asian champion Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN).

Fujinami will be the clear favorite at 53kg as the 19-year-old looks to add more and more senior medals to her cabinet. Already a phenom in Japan, Fujinami appeared on the international stage in 2021 and won the gold medal at the World Championships in Oslo. She was expected to participate in 2022 but withdrew due to an injury that kept her out for second half of last year. But she returned to win the Asian Championships this year and also the World Championships just 10 days ago.

The NSSU wrestler outscored her opponents 56-7 in Belgrade with only Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) scoring points on her. Yepez certainly gave the Japanese a scare as she raced to a 5-0 lead but Fujinami gathered her composure and made it 16-7 before securing the fall.

The lean-looking 53kg wrestler boasts immense strength, and her ability to reach for the far ankle during low-single attacks has troubled her opponents, including those in Japan. In June, after her loss to Fujinami in the Meiji Cup, Tokyo Olympic champion Mayu MUKAIDA (now SHIDOCHI) said that Fujinami’s long limbs are difficult to counter once she reaches for the leg attacks.

While winning the gold medal will be her top priority, Fujinami may finally have her longtime wish of wrestling a Chinese opponent completed. Tokyo silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN) will look to put behind the disappointment of the World Championships as she failed to win a medal after suffering a last-second loss to Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE).

Pang, who has been lacking her ‘A’ game since her return after Tokyo, is the Asian champion at 55kg and will look to repeat that performance, especially with the home crowd backing her. Her defense will also be put to the test if she manages to get a bout against Fujinami.

World Championships bronze medalist and two-time U20 world champion ANTIM (IND) will face another big test against both Fujinami and Pang. The Indian wrestled Fujinami in the Asian Championships final but lost 10-0. But her run in Belgrade, including a win over world champion Dominique PARRISH (USA), makes her favorite to reach the final at 53kg.

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) will lead the Mongolian challenge after moving up to 57kg for the World Championships as she failed to make the team at 53kg.

20-year-old Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) will be the surprise element for everyone, as she has not wrestled internationally before. Former U20 world silver medalist Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) will look to earn a medal as well.

At 62kg, a fifth battle between Ozaki and Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is likely to take place in Hangzhou, with the head-to-head record tied at 2-2.

Three-time world champion and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Tynybekova has recovered from the injury that kept her out of form for the entire 2022 season, as she reclaimed her world title in Belgrade last week. Earlier in April, she beat Ozaki at the Asian Championships.

The first face-to-face between the two was in 2021 when Tynybekova eked out a 6-4 win in the first round of the World Championships. But Ozaki avenged that loss in the final of the 2022 Asian Championships as Tynybekova pulled out injured during a deadly leg-lace from Ozaki.

At the 2022 World Championships, Ozaki would once again get the better of Tynybekova and win the gold medal at 65kg. Tynybekova tied the head-to-head score at 2-2 as she defeated Ozaki 2-2 at the Asian Championships in Astana.

While the first three bouts saw a few scoring actions, Tynybekova shut down Ozaki completely in Astana and then used her experience to win on technical points.

Both won world titles in Belgrade as Ozaki was wrestling at 65kg after failing to make the Japan team at 62kg. With Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) winning the 62kg silver medal in Belgrade, Ozaki’s hopes of going to the Paris Olympics are all but over. Tynybekova, on the other hand, won't mind adding an Asian Games gold medal to her name before the Paris Games.

However, both Ozaki and Tynybekova won't take their meeting on the mat for granted as Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) is waiting in the ranks. Sukhee is a 2014 world champion and added a silver medal at the 2015 edition. She will look to make a statement win in Hangzhou.

Another strong medal contender is world silver medalist Jia LONG (CHN), a Tokyo Olympian and Asian champion at 65kg. Long finished a lowly 19th at the World Championships after losing to Purvedorj 8-5 but with a strong home crowd backing her, Long will be keen on avenging that loss.

Former U20 world silver medalist and Tokyo Olympian Sonam MALIK (IND) will be a medal contender as well given she is fully fit and brings her top game. Since Tokyo, Malik has a bronze medal at the Asian Championships but failed to medal at the 2022 World Championships and the Bishkek Ranking Series in which she lost 5-3 to Long.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) won her third world title in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Newly crowned world champion Sakurai has the chance to add an Asian Games gold medal that will add to her dominance at 57kg in the world. After winning two world titles at this weight class, Sakurai is the favorite going into the Paris Olympics next year. Sakurai's single-leg attacks are a menace for her opponents and then she blocks out counterattacks, frustrating her opponents and forcing them to commit mistakes. At the Asian Games, she will be tested by Kexin HONG (CHN) who won the U23 Asian Championships and has two silver medals from the Ranking Series in 2023.

Insun JONG (PRK), who finished fifth at the 2014 Asian Games, will look to cause some trouble as she returns to the mat after four years. It will be interesting to see the changes, if any, in Jong’s style.

Three youngsters — Mansi AHLAWAT (IND), Emma TISSINA (KAZ) and Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) — can leave Hangzhou with a medal at 57kg. 

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) was the 50kg gold medalist at the 2023 Asian Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

If there was no Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Yoshimoto would have ruled the 50kg weight class. However, Yoshimoto remains the second-best behind Susaki in Japan for now but will be the front-runner for the gold in Hangzhou. Yoshimoto, who lost a thriller to Susaki at the Meiji Cup in June, had won the Emperor’s Cup in 2021 (Susaki skipped the tournament) to confirm her ticket to the Asian Games. Pushing the internationally unbeaten Susaki has made Yoshimoto a feared opponent for others.

The two-time Asian champion should move into the final with ease despite former Asian Championships silver medalist Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) entering. Yoshimoto defeated Tsogt Ochir via fall in the 2022 finals.

China is banking on Jiang ZHU (CHN) as she looks to win a medal at 50kg. Ziqi FENG (CHN) won a bronze medal at the World Championships but is not participating in the Asian Games which gives Zhu a chance to put her name among the medalists.

Zhu won a silver medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series, scoring a point on Susaki, the first in four years by an international opponent. Zhu won a bronze medal in Alexandria but finished fifth in Budapest.

Pooja GEHLOT (IND), Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ), Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) possess the ability to win a medal but it will take some doing to stand on the podium.  Sonhyang KIM (PRK) is also a new face for international wrestling and it’s a wait-and-watch for what she has in her arsenal. 

Feng ZHOU (CHN) is the defending 68kg champion at the Asian Games. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

If there is one weight class in which China has the best chance to win a gold medal, it has to be 68kg. The defending champion Feng ZHOU (CHN) will be looking to add more silverware as she moves towards the descent of her long career. Zhou has been a permanent feature in the Chinese team and that experience will be handy as she tries to navigate the 68kg field. Among her strongest moves is the gut wrench as Zhou churns the turns with a strong grip.

But world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL), who had a dream run to the final in Belgrade before suffering a counter fall to lose in the gold medal bout, will keep a check on Zhou.

The two met in the final of the Bishkek Ranking Series and Zhou won 16-5. That gives Enkhsaikhan additional reason to punch above her weight. The Mongolian will carry the momentum from Belgrade where she won two bouts via fall, one via technical superiority and one via decision.

A storyline that continues to awe wrestling fans is the return of Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ). The 35-year-old will be at her third Asian Games, the first two being 2006 and 2010. She won the gold medal in 2010 but took a break from wrestling after finishing fifth at the 2012 World Championships. But she returned a decade later at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup in 2022 and also won a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Championships. She was eighth at the World Championships in Belgrade.

Former U20 world champion  Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) will look to make a mark at the senior level with a medal at the Asian Games. RADHIKA can prove to be the dark horse of the weight class as he looks to build on her silver medal finish at the 2022 Asian Championships at 65kg.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will look to improve her bronze from the 2018 Asian Games to gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Like at the world level, the 76kg weight class will be a highly contested weight class at the continental level. At the Asian Games, world silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be the favorite for the gold medal. But it is yet to be seen if she recovered from the knee injury suffered during the final of the World Championships.

The returning bronze medalist lost in 2018 but has improved significantly over the years. She won the Asian Championships in 2022 and has three silver medals in 2020, 2021 and 2023. The former U20 world champion also has wins over her opponents at the Asian Games including Juan WANG (CHN) and KIRAN.

But one of the biggest challenges for Medet Kyzy will be Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), the two-time Asian champion at 72kg making her debut at 76kg. She has two world medals at 72kg and won bronze this year. Bakbergenova’s ability to use big throws at crucial junctures in a match makes her extremely dangerous. However, adapting to the new weight class could be a challenge for her.

Juan WANG (CHN)  will have the pressure of keeping the gold with China as Qian ZHOU (CHN) won it in Jakarta. Wang has been competing at the international level for more than a decade with multiple medals at the Asian level. At the World Cup, she defeated the then world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) with ease.

Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) too had a successful World Cup and can challenge the senior stars. The 2022 U20 Asian champion Yamamoto won the 2021 Emperor’s Cup in December 2021 to book her spot on the Japanese team for the Asian Games.

Greco-Roman World Cup: Azerbaijan vs Iran for title

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Japan seeks Asian Games dominance after 2018 debacle