#WrestleKonya

Iran, Azerbaijan snap 2 golds in GR at Islamic Solidarity Games

Friday, August 12, 2022 - 22:51 By Ali Feizasa

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KONYA, Turkey (August 12) -- Wrestling at the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games entered day three with three women's and five Greco-Roman weight classes in action. A few stars performed par expectations and claimed the gold medals.

In Greco-Roman, Azerbaijan and Iran shared two golds each while Uzbekistan won one as well. In women's wrestling, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan won a gold medal each.

The first gold medal of Greco-Roman wrestling went to Azerbaijan as the 2018 world champion and two-time world bronze medalist Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) won by superiority over Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) in the final match at 55kg. Azizli got a position in par terre and finished the bout with gut wrenches to win 10-1.

Another world champion doubled the gold count for Azerbaijan. Perhaps one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the field, Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) claimed the second gold at 82kg. The 34-year-old, an Olympic bronze medalist, defeated Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ), 6-3 in the 82kg final.

Huseynov, the 2022 European champion, struggled a little in the day, especially in his semifinal against Emrah KUS (TUR), which he won narrowly, 2-1.

Iran also won two gold medals with Shirzad BEHESHTI TALA (IRI) winning the 63kg gold while Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) won the title at 72kg.

In the 63kg final, Beheshti Tala was up against 2022 Asian champion Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) and was an underdog. Just when it looked like Sharshenbekov will run away with the gold, Beheshti Tala managed to beat him 4-2 and claim the top medal.

Iranian newcomer and former junior world bronze medalist Rostami had an even closer bout against Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) in the 72kg final.

Ganizade, who has silver medals from the age-group World Championships, led 8-8 and was set to win the final on criteria but Rostami managed to score a stepout late in the final and earned a 9-8 victory.

At 97kg, the battle was between three top wrestlers of this year's Asian championships. Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) succeed to win the match against Asian champion Mehdi BALI (IRI) 7-3 in the semifinal but 38-year-old Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) ended his dreams of becoming a champion in Konya and claimed the first gold for Uzbekistan Greco-Roman team.

After exchanging passivity, Assakalov managed to get a turn from par terre and managed to hang on for a 3-1 win against Dzhuzupbekov and the gold medal.

Medet Kyzy wins

After Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) won the gold medal at 62kg, Kyrgyzstan won another gold medal in women's wrestling through Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) at 76kg.

Medet Kyzy, a 2021 World bronze medalist, outscored her opponents 40-0 in the four bouts en route to winning gold. In the final, the 23-year-old, who has won gold at U23 Worlds and Asians, earned an easy 10-0 win over Amy AYOUIN (CIV).

The host country also won its second gold medal in women's wrestling as senior European medalist Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) won the 55kg weight class with much ease.

As the wrestlers in the weight class competed in a Nordic bracket, Yetgil had to beat Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) in Round 3 to claim the gold. She ended up pinning Akhmedova and let out an animated celebration in front of the home fans after capturing the title.

On Thursday, Buse TOSUN (TUR) won the gold at 72kg, the first of the Games for Turkey in wrestling.

At 65kg, Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) controlled her final against Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) to win the gold medal 3-3 on criteria.

Wrestling at the 5th Islamic Solidarity will continue Saturday, the final day, with five Greco-Roman and two women’s weight categories.

Day 3 Results

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB), 10-1

BRONZE: Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK) df. Mohammad HOSSEINVAND (IRI), 8-0
BRONZE: Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) df. Umit DURDYYEV (TKM), 8-0

63kg
GOLD: Shirzad BEHESHTI TALA (IRI) df. Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), 4-2

BRONZE: Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK) df. Turabek TIRKASHEV (UZB), via disqualification
BRONZE: Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM) df. Djebbari ABDELDJEBAR (ALG), 6-3

72kg
GOLD: Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) df. Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE), 9-8

BRONZE: Murat DAG (TUR) df. Bek KONURBAEV (KGZ), 5-1
BRONZE: Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB) df. Sheroz OCILOV (TJK), 9-0

82kg
GOLD: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) df. Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ), 6-3

BRONZE: Emrah KUS (TUR) df. Toyly ORAZOV (TKM), via fall
BRONZE: Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) df. Damen EID SULTAN (JOR), 9-0

97kg
GOLD: Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) df. Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ), 3-1

BRONZE: Beytullah KAYISDAG (TUR) df. Mirzoamin SAFAROV (TJK), 8-0
BRONZE: Mehdi BALI (IRI) df. Boudjemline ADEM (ALG), 4-0

Women’s Wrestling

55kg
Round 3: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) df. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB), via fall
Round 3: Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Faten HAMMAMI (TUN), 11-0

GOLD: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
SILVER: Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)
BRONZE: Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE)

65kg
GOLD: Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) df. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), 3-3

BRONZE: Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ) df. Emilienne ETANE NGOLLE (CMR), 8-2

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Amy AYOUIN (CIV), 10-0

BRONZE: Mehtap GULTEKIN (TUR) df. Inkara ZHANATAYEVA (KAZ), 7-1

#WrestleAthens

Olympic legend Icho returns to Athens to lead Japan’s next generation

Sunday, August 3, 2025 - 09:59 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (August 2) -- In Athens, home of the Olympics, Kaori ICHO (JPN) is already one of the pantheon of greats.

Having once made history as an athlete here -- winning the first of four Olympic gold medals at the 2004 Olympics -- Icho now sets out to carve a new legacy, this time as coach to the next generation of Japanese talent.

In Athens, she is making her international debut as coach of the Japanese women's team at the World U17 Championships as she returns to the Ano Liossia Olympic Sports Hall, the same venue she won the Olympic gold.

"I have returned to this arena for the first time in 21 years," Icho told United World Wrestling. "I won an [Olympic] gold medal in this arena for the first time."

Icho, who ended her wrestling career in 2019, started coaching after the Tokyo Olympics. She has coached Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) domestically as both Morikawa and Icho are recruited with ALSOK.

Japan managed to win only one gold medal in Women's Wrestling at the World Championships and finished third in the team race. While Japan is not used to finishing at that position in Women's Wrestling, the third-place highlighted that even Japan's second-tier team poses a significant challenge to the world.

The presence of Icho definitely helped the wrestlers, who were not only helped by her experience but the presence of the four-time Olympic champion motivated them.

Japan's world champion in Athens, Hanano OYA (JPN), said that watching Icho win her record fourth gold medal in Rio 2016 inspired her to take up wrestling.

"The reason I started wrestling was because of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics," Oya said. "It was when Kaori achieved her fourth consecutive victory, and I saw it on TV. I started wrestling myself, so I was very happy when she accompanied me and acted as my second coach, and I felt that I had to live up to her expectations."

Kaori ICHO (JPN)Kaori ICHO (JPN) coaches one of the members of the Japanese team. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

For Icho, not being on the mat and coaching from the corner was a different experience.

"I feel really strange being able to come back here as a coach," she said. "This tournament is the World Championships for those under 17 years old. I also became an Olympic gold medalist at this venue when I was 20 and I hope that the young athletes will work hard towards their Olympic dreams."

Back in 2004, the first Olympics when Women's Wrestling became part of it, Icho remembered the nervous and the excitement. The enjoyment, however, came only after she had won the gold.

"It was my first Olympics," she said. "I was very nervous and excited. I was here for about two weeks, from the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony. After winning, I went swimming in the Aegean Sea. It was a very enjoyable Olympics."

Kaori ICHO (JPN)Kaori ICHO (JPN) during a warm-up session of the Japanese team in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

When she landed at the airport in Athens on Monday, memories from the past came rushing back.

"I don't particularly feel it at the airport, but I wondered if it was this hot," she said. "I wondered what the venue will be like. I was reminiscing about 21 years ago."

Once at the venue, Icho was requested for photos from wrestlers and coaches which she obliged. With her first tournament as coach behind her, Icho is determined to work even harder as she prepares the senior Japan team for the World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, this September.

"Coaches and players asked me to take pictures with them," she said. "I felt stronger coming here. I want to work harder as a coach."