Iran dominates Islamic Solidarity Games with 3 golds

Thursday, August 11, 2022 - 20:42 By Ali Feizasa

KONYA, Turkey (August 11) -- Iran finished the freestyle competition of the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games with three gold medals on the second day in Konya, Turkey. Overall, the nation ended with five gold medals while Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan achieved two gold medals each.

Opening the medal session was 2021 Asian champion Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) who claimed the gold after a dramatic win over Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) in the final.

Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) came from behind to win the 61kg gold. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

Bazarganov led the 61kg final bout 5-0 but in the last minute, Turobov came from behind to lead 6-5. Bazarganov did score another point in the final 10 seconds but Turobov won 6-6 on criteria as his technical moves were superior to Bazarganov.

At 70kg, 2021 world silver medalist and U23 world champion Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) took the only gold medal for Kyrgyzstan in freestyle competition by edging Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI), 6-0, in the 70kg final.

Ahmad BAZRI (IRI) won the 92kg gold medal in Konya. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

But three Iran wrestlers held the country finish on a high.

In the 79kg final, Asian champion Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) downed the host country's star Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR). At the start of the match, Savadkouhi was surprised by a four-pointer from Akdeniz but soon controlled the bout with a takedown and two gut wrenches. The Iranian then continued to earn a 12-6 victory.

Ahmad BAZRI (IRI), the 2022 Yasar Dogu champion, collected the gold medal at 92kg with an easy win over Erhan YAYLACI (TUR). The Iran wrestler won the gold with a 7-1 win.

The third Iran-Turkey final was at the super heavyweight with Seyed Mehdi HASHEMI (IRI) wrestling Salim ERCAN (TUR). Hashemi helped Iran end with five gold medals as he defeated Ercan 8-0 and become the best team in the Games.

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) became the 62kg champion. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

Three women's wrestling weight classes were also contested on Thursday.

Two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) warmed-up to defend her world title with a gold medal at 62kg. She defeated Yarie CAMARA (GUI) 11-0 in the final.

Turkey and Azerbaijan won a gold medal each with Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) winning the 53kg gold and Bose TOSUN (TUR) winning the 72kg title.

Gurbanov defended her gold medal from 2017 and won her bouts with ease. In the final, she wrestled two-time Asian Championships bronze medalist Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) and won the bout 6-1.

Bose TOSUN (TUR) won the home country's first gold medal. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

World medalist Tosun ended the gold drought for Turkey by winning the 72kg title. After going through the bracket, she pinned Gozal ZUTOVA (AZE) in the final to claim the top place on the medal. She needed only 50 seconds to pin Zutova, using a double leg takedown and delighted the home fans.

Wrestling at the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games continues with Greco-roman and women’s weights on Friday.

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) defeated Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI), 6-0 in the 70kg final. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD: Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 6-6

BRONZE: Recep TOPAL (TUR) df. Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE), 11-3
BRONZE: Majid DASTAN (IRI) df. Muhammad BILAL (PAK), 6-3

70kg
GOLD: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI), 6-0

BRONZE: Asgar MAMMADALIYEV (AZE) df. Dzhamshed SHARIFOV (TJK), 3-0
BRONZE: Bacar DUM (GBS) df. Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB), 7-7

79kg
GOLD: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) df. Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR), 12-6

BRONZE: Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) df. Fetai EDDINE (ALG), 10-0
BRONZE: Gadzhimurad OMAROV (AZE) df. Meiir KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ), 10-4

92kg
GOLD: Ahmad BAZRI (IRI) df. Erhan YAYLACI (TUR), 7-1

BRONZE: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Abdimanap BAIGENZHEYEV (KAZ), 10-0
BRONZE: Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) df. Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ), 5-4

125kg
GOLD: Seyed Mehdi HASHEMI (IRI) df. Salim ERCAN (TUR), 8-0

BRONZE: Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) df. Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM), 10-0

Women’s Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) df. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), 6-1

BRONZE: Ellada MAKHYADDINOVA (KAZ) df. Vatansulton SHAKARSHOEVA (TJK), 7-2
BRONZE: Rahime ARI (TUR) df. Candra MARIMAR (INA), via fall

62kg
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Yarie CAMARA (GUI), 11-0

BRONZE: Tetiana OMELCHENKO (AZE) df. Tantri HERLINA (INA), 11-0
BRONZE: Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) df. Goudiaby SAFIETOU (SEN), via fall

72kg
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Gozal ZUTOVA (AZE), via fall

BRONZE: Nour JELJELI (TUN) df. Ngiri NYEH (CMR), 11-4
BRONZE: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Sambou ANTA (SEN), 10-0

#BeachWrestling

Asian Champs Long, Xie Shine for Hosts China at 6th Asian Beach Games

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 - 15:47 By United World Wrestling Press

SANYA, China (April 28) -- Just two weeks ago, Jia LONG (CHN) and Mengyu XIE (CHN) were winning Asian Championships gold medals on mat in Bishkek.

Now on the beach in home country, Long and Xie entered the Beach Wrestling finals at the 6th Asian Beach Games that are underway in Sanya, China.

Apart from China, India and Vietnam also entered two wrestlers each in the gold medal bouts while Sri Lanka and Mongolia managed one each.

In men's, Iran has a chance to sweep the gold medals after all four its wrestlers reached the final. Pakistan was the most successful country after Iran with two wrestlers in the final whereas India and China made one final each.

Beach Wrestling at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Beach Wrestling got underway at the Games on April 28, Tuesday, with knockout rounds, group round-robin bouts, quarterfinals and semifinals in eight weight categories -- four men's and four women's.

Also Read: Inam Reaches For Beach Wrestling Glory

Asian champion at 72kg Long reached making the 70kg final in Sanya. Long defeated Beibit SEIDUALY (KAZ), 3-1, in the semifinals. She will now face Thi Linh DANG (VIE) for the gold medal after the Vietnam wrestler pinned Jaspreet KAUR (IND) in the other semifinal.

The host country's chances of gold were further boosted when Asian champion at 59kg Xie reached the final in 60kg. She had to battle it out against Thi My Hanh NGUYEN (VIE) but prevailed 3-2. She will now take on Pushpa YADAV (IND) who claimed a 3-1 win over Asian bronze medalist Youngjin KWON (KOR).

PRIYA (IND) defeated Wenji LI (CHN) in the +70kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Former U17 and U20 world champion PRIYA (IND) reached the final at +70kg after a close 2-0 win over Asian bronze medalist Wenji LI (CHN). She will now face Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) who defeated Alina YERTOSTIK (KAZ), 3-0, in the other semifinal.

At 50kg, Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI) has put her country within reach of its first gold medal of the Games after making the final with fall over Funa YANO (JPN). She will now have to beat Thi Kim Oanh DOAN (VIE) for the historic gold. The Vietnam wrestler made it to the final after beating Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND), 3-0, in the other semifinals.

Seyedamirreza SAHRAEMAHALI (IRI) defeated world bronze medalist Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) in the +90kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Iran Puts 4 in Finals

Iran's first finalist came at 70kg as Aliakbar ZAROUDI (IRI) defeated Adis RAKHAT UULU (KGZ), 2-0, in a close semifinal. He will face SIDDARTH (IND) who defeated Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK), 1-0 to advance.

At 80kg, winner of Katerini World Series in 2025 Ali GHOLAMI (IRI) had no trouble beating Yermakhan KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ) via fall in the semifinals. He will take on Muhammad Asad ULLAH (PAK) for the gold medal after the Pakistan wrestler confirmed a 4-0 victory over world bronze medalist Feng LU (CHN).

Muhammad INAM (PAK) reached the 90kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling File)

A mouth-watering final is set in 90kg after former Asian Championships bronze medalist and Katerini World Series gold medalist Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) secured the spot in last two against former Beach Wrestling world champion Muhammad INAM (PAK).

While Kavousi secured a 3-0 win over Peilong LI (CHN), Inam defeated Turbold GANBOLD (MGL) by 1-0 to enter the finals.

The +90kg category will see Seyedamirreza SAHRAEIMAHALI (IRI) take on Da LU (CHN) in the final. Sahraeimahali stunned Asian Championships silver medalist Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) by pinning him to enter the final. Lu also won via fall, pinning Muzafar ZHAPPUEV (KGZ).

Da LU (CHN) reached the +90kg final at the 6th Asian Beach Games. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

RESULTS

Men's Beach Wrestling

70kg
SF 1: SIDDHARTH (IND) df. Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK), 1-0
SF 2: Aliakbar ZAROUDI (IRI) df. Adis RAKHAT UULU (KGZ), 2-0

80kg
SF 1: Muhammad Asad ULLAH (PAK) df. Feng LU (CHN), 4-0
SF 2: Ali GHOLAMI (IRI) df. Yermakhan KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ), via fall

90kg
SF 1: Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) df. Peilong LI (CHN), 3-0
SF 2: Muhammad INAM (PAK) df. Turbold GANBOLD (MGL), 1-0

+90kg
SF 1: Seyedamirreza SAHRAEIMAHALI (IRI) df. Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), via fall
SF 2: Da LU (CHN) df. Muzafar ZHAPPUEV (KGZ), via fall

Women's Beach Wrestling

50kg
SF 1: Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI) df. Funa YANO (JPN), via fall
SF 2: Thi Kim Oanh DOAN (VIE) df. Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND), 3-0

60kg
SF 1: Mengyu XIE (CHN) df. Thi My Hanh NGUYEN (VIE), 3-1
SF 2: Pushpa YADAV (IND) df. Youngjin KWON (KOR), 3-1

70kg
SF 1: Thi Linh DANG (VIE) df. Jaspreet KAUR (IND), via fall
SF 2: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Beibit SEIDUALY (KAZ), 3-1

+70kg
SF 1: PRIYA (IND) df. Wenji LI (CHN), 2-0
SF 2: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) df. Alina YERTOSTIK (KAZ), 3-0

Iran dominates Islamic Solidarity Games with 3 golds

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Asian Champs Long, Xie Shine for Hosts China at 6th Asian Beach Games