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Kim, Nouri Add to Asian Greco Gold Collections; Tasmuradov Denied by Tuo, Back Injury

Saturday, April 27, 2019 - 16:15 By Ken Marantz

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XI’AN, China (April 27)— Former Olympic champion KIM Hyeonwoo (KOR) didn’t need much help in capturing a fifth gold medal at the Asian Championships, but got some anyway in the form of a risky decision by his opponent. 

Hossein NOURI (IRI), meanwhile, didn’t dominate the opposition, but was never really challenged either in capturing a fourth career gold. 

Iran won two gold medals out of five on the first day of the Greco-Roman competition in Xi’an, while host China gained a title when a bad day for four-time Asian champion Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) only got worse.

Olympic champion KIM Hyeonwoo (KOR) won his fifth Asian title with an 8-0 win over India's Singh GURPREET in the 77kg gold-medal match. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Kim, who had two falls and a technical fall leading up to the final at 77kg, secured the gold with an 8-0 technical fall over Singh GURPREET (IND). But the match ended on an odd note--with the winning point being awarded on an unsuccessful challenge by the Indian side.

Kim, a 2018 world bronze medalist, had a five-point lead when he spun behind for a takedown to make it 7-0. The Indian coach threw the stuffed toy used for a challenge, and Gurpreet approved the move, despite the risk that it could cost him the bout.

“His leg was outside the zone,” Gurpreet said of his decision. “So I said OK to the coach.”

For Kim, it was his first Asian gold since winning three straight from 2013-15. The London 2012 Olympic champion and Rio 2016 bronze medalist, who finished third at last summer’s Asian Games in Jakarta, looks to be on track to being a contender at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Hossein NOURI (IRI) won his second consecutive Asian title with a 2-0 win over India's Kumar SUNIL (IND) in the 87kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Nouri, the defending champion at 87kg, also faced an Indian opponent in his final, and struck gold again after scoring a first-period takedown against Kumar SUNIL (IND) then holding on for a 2-0 victory.

Nouri gained his points when he deftly avoided a stepout by slipping to the side, then shrugging Sunil past him and getting behind.

“My opponent was good, but when I scored two points, I thought, no problem, I can hold him and I can win,” Nouri said. As for the scoreless second period. “I was reacting to the action of the opponent. Everything he did, I had a strategy for,” he said.

Nouri, a 2017 world bronze medalist and last year’s Asian Games champion, said this Asian title was the hardest to win, as he won all four of his matches by two points. 

“The competition was very high and strong, and all of my matches were very hard,” Nouri said. 

TUO Erbalu (CHN) was awarded the 63kg gold medal after Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) was unable to complete the match. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

China gained its title when Tasmuradov was unable to continue in the 63kg final against TUO Erbalu (CHN) after suffering a severe back strain. The bout was ended 37 seconds into the second period with Tuo leading 4-3.

“I know he was second at the world championships in 2018, and I feel very sorry for him to get an injury,” said Tuo, who graciously assisted Tasmuradov in descending the steps from the mat, much to the appreciation of the crowd at Xidian University’s Invengo Gymnasium.

Asked by Chinese TV if he thought he could have won anyway, Tuo replied: “He is really strong and an outstanding wrestler. But I think I have the confidence to challenge him. I have been building up my strength and fitness.”

Circumstances notwithstanding, Tuo, the Chinese national champion, was ecstatic over winning his first major international title. 

“I’m really excited, even shocked,” he said. “I’m still hesitant to believe this is real.”

For Tasmuradov, who missed the medal ceremony, the injury was the last blow of a forgettable day. Already suffering from an upset stomach, his nose started to bleed early in the final and he had to take a break several times to staunch the flow.

In the first period, Tasmuradov scored two points with a slick arm throw, but Tuo came back with two-point lift from a front headlock. After scoring on a stepout, Tasmuradov suddenly dropped to the mat, holding the right side of his back. He later said he suffered the injury while twisting during the earlier lift.

He finished the period, but the pain became too much and he gave up the fight, which drew a fleeing penalty. That was immaterial, as he quickly dropped again to the mat, where he remained to be examined by the tournament doctor, who deemed him unable to continue. 

After helping Tasmuradov off the mat, Tuo returned to take a victory lap holding the Chinese flag.  

Amir GHASEMIMONJEZI (IRI) snuck past Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 3-2 in the 130 gold-medal match. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Iran also grabbed the last of the gold medals at stake on the fifth day of the six-day tournament when Amir GHASEMIMONJEZI (IRI) edged Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) 3-2 in the 130kg final. 

All of the points came in a quick flurry early in the first period. Ghaseminmonjezi stopped a back-drop attempt to go up 2-0, but Abdullaev gained two back by stepping over on a roll attempt, only to see the Iranian get behind again for a one-point reversal.   

Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB) captured the first gold of the night at 55kg, getting a point by stepout with 1:25 left to defeat Hiromu KATAGIRI (JPN), 1-1, and add the senior Asian title to the junior one he captured in 2016

.Katagiri’s point came for passivity in the first period. He launched a number of positive throw attempts, but while some came close, none were enough to pick up points as he was denied in his bid to keep the Asian title in the lightest Greco weight class in Japanese hands for a third straight year.

The tournament concludes Sunday with competition in the five remaining Greco-Roman weight classes, which could see a rematch of the 59kg final from the 2017 world championships between winner Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) and Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ) at 60kg.

Day 5 results

Greco-Roman

55kg (10 entries)
Gold – Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB) df. Hiromu KATAGIRI (JPN), 1-1
Bronze – Asan SULAIMANOV (KGZ) df. Reza KHEDRI (IRI), 3-1 
Bronze – Khorlan ZHAKANSHA (KAZ) df. JEON Hyeokjin (KOR) by TF, 9-0, 3:50 

63kg (9 entries)
Gold – TUO Erbalu (CHN) df. Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) by Injury Def., 2;23 (4-3) 
Bronze – JUNG Jinwoong (KOR) df. Urmalbek AMATOV (KGZ), 7-3
Bronze – Saman ABDOUVALI (IRI) df. Kudaibergen TURSYNOV (KAZ), 2-1

77kg (11 entries)
Gold – KIM Hyeonwoo (KOR) df. Singh GURPREET (IND) by TF, 8-0, 2:28 
Bronze – Tamerlan Shadukayev (KAZ) df. Bakhit BADR (QAT) by TF, 8-0, 1:11. 
Bronze – Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) df. Naotsugu SHOJI (JPN) by TF, 9-0, 1:43

87kg (10 entries)
Gold – Hossein NOURI (IRI) df. Kumar SUNIL (IND), 2-0
Bronze – Azamat KUSTUBAYEV (KAZ) df. Tokhirdzhon OKHONOV (TJK) by TF, 8-0, 4:35
Bronze – Ruslam ASSAKALOV (UZB) df. Masato SUMI (JPN) by TF, 9-1, 2:39

130kg (8 entries)
Gold – Amir GHASEMIMONJEZI (IRI) df. Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 3-2 
Bronze – Damir KUZEMBAYEV (KAZ) df. Prem PREM (IND) by Fall, 1:27 (5-0)
Bronze – Murat RAMONOV (KGZ) df. KIM Minseok (KOR) by TF, 10-2, :55

Obituary

Abdullah Movahed: Iranian Legend Who Elevated Wrestling to Art Form

Friday, May 1, 2026 - 10:44 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland, (May 1) -- Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI), one of the all-time greats of world wrestling and a dominant force in Freestyle during the 1960s, passed away in the United States on Thursday, April 30, after suffering a heart stroke. The Iranian legend was 86.

A member of the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame, Movahed’s name became synonymous with technical brilliance and relentless discipline. A five-time world champion, an Olympic gold medalist and twice Asian Games winner, Movahed was at the forefront of an era of Iranian excellence on the global stage. Competing in the 68kg and 70kg Freestyle weight classes, Movahed achieved a level of sustained dominance rarely seen in the sport.

Born in March 1940 in Babolsar, in Iran’s Mazandaran province, Movahed was introduced to volleyball as a young boy and was known locally for his exploits as a spiker. However, he quit the sport as he felt he wasn’t tall enough and didn’t believe he was suited for it. Ultimately, it was on the wrestling mat that he would carve out his legacy. 

He went on to join the Tehran Javan Sports Club, and as a youngster, Movahed didn’t have it easy. He frequently lost to established wrestlers like Mohammad SANATGARAN (IRI). However, he persevered, and coaches recognized his rare blend of agility, intelligence, and composure under pressure. These traits would define his career.

Movahed emerged during a time when Iranian wrestling was rich in talent. He shared the stage with wrestling legends such as Gholamreza TAKHTI (IRI), Mansour MEHDIZADEH (IRI), Ebrahim SEYFPOUR (IRI), and Emamali HABIBI (IRI). In such a company, greatness was neither guaranteed nor easily attained, but Movahed’s rise was swift.

His breakthrough came in 1962, when the erstwhile Soviet Union’s Freestyle champions travelled to Iran for a series of friendly bouts. His win over Zarbag BERYASHVILI made him an overnight sensation in Iran, and the following year, Movahed made his debut for the Iranian national team at the World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

As a 23-year-old rookie, Movahed didn’t make much of an impact -- he shared sixth place with well-known Bulgarian wrestler Enyu VALCHEV (BUL). At the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, he showed signs of improvement and finished fourth. A year later, at the World Championships in Manchester, he claimed his first world title, beginning an extraordinary run.

Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI)

From 1965 to 1970, Movahed was virtually untouchable. He won six consecutive major global titles at 68kg and 70kg, including World Championships in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1970, along with Olympic gold at the 1968 Summer Olympics. That 1968 triumph, often cited as the pinnacle of his career, showcased his tactical mastery and unyielding determination. He also won the gold medal at the 1966 and 1970 Asian Games.

He returned for the 1972 Summer Olympics, but an unfortunate shoulder injury cut his campaign short, preventing a final chapter that might have further illuminated his already illustrious record. After the Games, Movahed, who had a master’s degree, moved to the USA, where he pursued a PhD at George Washington University. He continued to live there after earning his doctorate and worked as a mechanic.

Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI)

Beyond his medals, Movahed’s legacy lies in the standard he set. He helped define a golden generation of Iranian wrestling and inspired countless athletes who followed in his footsteps. His induction into the United World Wrestling's Hall of Fame secured his place among the all-time greats.

In mourning his passing, the wrestling world remembers not just a champion, but a craftsman whose sustained excellence elevated freestyle wrestling to an art form.