#WrestleAlmaty

Kyrgyzstan's Akmataliev Adds Wild Win for 65kg Gold to Elation Over Olympic Ticket

Sunday, April 11, 2021 - 15:43 By Ken Marantz

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ALMATY, Kazakhstan (April 11) --- The wild victory that gave Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) the freestyle 65kg gold seemed more appropriate for an Olympic final than a  low-stakes clash between wrestlers who had already achieved their goal of securing Olympic spots.

Akmatiev's counter style of wrestling trumped the attacking of Amir Mohammad YAZDANI (IRI) in a rough-and-tumble 15-13 victory on the final day of the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament on Sunday in Almaty.

The fact that nothing was at stake other than the color of the medal that they would be taking home failed to dissuade the two from going all out in a match that produced 20 points in the first period alone.

While Yazdani was putting on a takedown clinic -- he scored five in the first period -- Akmataliev effectively used counters to keep the match from getting away from him. A 4-point counter lift off a tackle attempt and a 2-point counter at the edge helped him end the first period trailing only 12-8.

In the second period, Akmataliev came close to finishing the match when he used a front headlock to put Yazdani onto his back, but the Iranian managed to escape the predicament. Still trailing by 2 points, Akmataliev converted a double-leg tackle attempt into a pair of 2-point exposures with 30 seconds left to take the lead.

"In those final 30 seconds, my mind was blank and I was only thinking of winning the gold medal," Akmataliev said.

A challenge sorted out the confusing flurry, with Yazdani awarded a point for a reversal but Akmataliev gaining one himself because the challenge was lost, resulting in the final score of 15-13.

"This was the second time I have wrestled him," Akmataliev said. "I wrestled him before in Iran and I was young back then. I lost 6-16. He got me in a gut wrench. But now we are tied 1-1."

The 65kg class was the most open at the tournament, as Asian wrestlers had secured four berths at the 2019 World Championships in Nursultan. Akmataliev, a silver medalist at the International Ukrainian Tournament in February, took advantage and took the title with three hard-fought wins.

In another entertaining final, Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) scored a takedown in each period to offset three stepout points for each wrestler in a 7-3 victory at 86kg over Zushen LIN (CHN).

The Russian-born Shapiev, who began competing for Uzbekistan in 2017, missed a chance to qualify for Tokyo when he finished 12th at Nursultan, but showed he was prepared for Almaty by placing third at the Ukrainian Tournament.

In the 57kg final, Ukrainian Tournament champion Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) made short work of 2019 Asian silver medalist Minghu LIU (CHN), hitting a 4-point fireman's carry to finish off a 10-0 technical fall in 3:46.

The final gold of the tournament went to the host nation's 2020 Asian champion Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ), who outmuscled Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) for a 4-2 victory at 125kg. All but one point in the match were scored on stepouts.

"To win a medal in the Olympics, I need to train and there is a lot of work to do to achieve a medal there," Batimurzaev said. "This is one of the best days in my career."

Batirmurzaev's victory was a repeat of the Asian U-23 final in 2019, the year they both won bronze medals at the World U-23 Championships.

"This is a second time I have wrestled Munkhtur in a final and thankfully it went my way," he said.

Munkhtur's disappointment with the defeat was tempered by the reality he will be going to the Olympics for the first time.

"I think I made a lot of mistakes in the final, the second period especially," Munkhtur said. "A lot of things were going on in my mind and I lost focus.

"I began wrestling when I was 10 years old. This will be my first Olympics and I am feeling awesome."

Iran's two other finalists came away with golds, although without a fight as their opponents are nursing injuries and opted not to risk making things worse.

Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) was one of three Iranian wrestlers who qualified their nation for the Olympic Games on Sunday in Almaty. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) took the 74kg title when Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) defaulted, and Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) received a forfeit from Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) at 97kg.

"There is now no pressure on me," said Abdurakhmonov, who will be making his second Olympic appearance. "It’s easier to wrestle at the Olympics than qualifying, so I am done with the hard part. I'll definitely work a lot on my mistakes."

As for what lies ahead after Tokyo, the 31-year-old said, "I will continue wrestling as long as I am healthy. We have Asian Games, Asian Indoor Games, World Championships, Paris Olympics."

Mohammadian, who returned from a four-year doping ban, said he will try to live up to the Iranian tradition of excellence in the 97kg class set by the legendary two-time world champion Reza YAZDANI (IRI).

"Definitely I feel the pressure of replicating what Reza Yazdani did for Iran at 97," Mohammadian said. "I have forgotten about the bad times when I was banned for four years and now I am only training to win gold at the Olympics. That is the only thing that will satisfy me after what happened."

Meanwhile, although Muhammad INAM (PAK) was unable to secure Pakistan's first Olympic freestyle spot since 1996, his performance in winning a bronze medal at 97kg epitomized how a wrestler can still make a solid effort regardless of what is at stake.

Taking on Symbat SULAIMANOV (KGZ), Inam never gave up in fighting back from 6-0 and 7-4 deficits as his opponent became winded. The two-time Commonwealth Games champion came through with a 4-point takedown-roll combination with just under a minute left for well-earned victory.

Freestyle Results

57kg
GOLD - Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df. Minghu LIU (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 3:46
BRONZE - Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ) df. Sunggwon KIM (KOR) by TF, 11-0, 3:53
BRONZE - Muhammad IKROMOV (TJK) df. Tuvshintulga TUMENBILEG (MGL), 7-6

65kg
GOLD - Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Amir Mohammad YAZDANI (IRI), 15-13
BRONZE - Kerim HOJAKOV (TKM) df. Ilyas BEKBULATOV (UZB) by Default
BRONZE - Haji ALI (BRN) df. Mohammed ABDULKAREEM (KUW) by TF, 10-0, :58

74kg
GOLD - Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) df. Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) by Default
BRONZE - Elaman DOGDURBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 2-2
BRONZE - Menghejigan MENGHEJIGAN (CHN) df. Sandeep MANN (INDIA) by TF, 14-4, 3:40

86kg
GOLD - Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) df. Zushen LIN (CHN), 7-3
BRONZE - Sohsuke TAKATANI (JPN) df. Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ), 6-1
BRONZE - Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Bakhodur KODIROV (TJK), 6-3

97kg
GOLD - Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) df. Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) by Default
BRONZE - Muhammad INAM (PAK) df. Symbat SULAIMANOV (KGZ), 10-7
BRONZE - Satywart KADIAN (IND) df. Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM), 5-0

125kg
GOLD - Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) df. Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL), 4-2
BRONZE - Sumit SUMIT (IND) df. Donghwan KIM (KOR), 5-0
BRONZE - Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) df. Tetsuya TANAKA (JPN) by Default

#WrestleAlmaty

Munkhbold clinches women's 55kg gold with match to spare as Tokyo-bound trio advance to finals

Thursday, April 15, 2021 - 09:33 By Ken Marantz

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After moving up from the bronze to silver last year, Dulguun MUNKHBOLD (MGL) assured that she would finish on top of the medal podium at this year's Asian Championships with a match to spare.

The women's competition, diluted by the absences of powerhouses Japan China as well as the People's Republic of Korea, got underway Thursday at the spectator-less Baluan Sholak Palace of Culture and Sports with all of the five weight classes in action having six entries or less.

The 55kg division, with just four participants, is being run as a straight round-robin with no semifinals or final. By winning both of her matches in the afternoon session by fall, Munkhbold clinched the gold regardless of the outcome of her final match in the night session.

"I definitely wanted to win the gold medal here and I still have a bout remaining which I would
like to win," Munkhbold said. "I saw some of [my opponents'] videos, but I have never wrestled them before. I love to win by falls. It's a great feeling."

Meanwhile, Valentina ISLAMOVA BRIK (KAZ), who came to Almaty already in possession of a berth at the Tokyo Olympics, and Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), who clinched spots at the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament held last week at this venue, all earned a chance to leave the Kazakh city with a continental crown.

Islamova Brik, who secured a ticket to Tokyo by placing third at 50kg at the 2019 World Championships in Nursultan, made mince meat of the competition, winning both of her group
matches by fall, then decking Yung Hsun LIN (TPE) in just :23 in the semifinals.

"I have qualified for the Olympics and till then, every tournament I will prepare for will be a
practice tournament for me," Islamova Brik said.

In the final, the Russian-born Islamova Brik will aim for a first career Asian gold after winning bronzes the past two years when she takes on Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB), who edged Seema SEEMA (IND) 3-2 in the other semifinal.

"I have never won the Asian Championships," Islamova Brik said. "I always finished with a bronze medal. So it's good to be in the final and hopefully win the gold medal."

As for the "secret" of her powerful display today, she replied, "My body feels very good. My training has been at a level where I can say that I am fully fit."

Zhumanazarova, a 2019 Asian bronze medalist coming off a successful run in the Asian Olympic qualifier at 68kg, will battle for the gold in that weight class against 2018 world junior silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL).

"The last month I was training at my center in Kyrgyzstan and before the Asian qualifiers, so it has been good training for the last month," said Zhumanazarova, the 2019 world junior silver medalist. "The hard work paid off as I qualified for the Olympics and now I am in the final of the Asian Championships."

Zhumanazarova chalked up a pair of technical falls before using a lift-and-dump to score a semifinal victory by fall in 4:11 over Eun Sun JEONG (KOR). Enkhsaikhan advanced to the final with a 10-0 technical fall in 2:09 over Azoda ESBERGENOVA (UZB).

"I thought I was mentally very strong today and the preparation was up to the mark," Zhumanazarova said. "Every day and every tournament, I prepare in a certain manner and it has worked well for me. Let's see what happens in the final."

Jeong had earned her spot in the semifinals with a remarkable comeback against Nisha NISHA (IND). Trailing 6-0, Jeong took the Indian to the mat with a headlock with 1:10 left, then secured a fall with :17 remaining on the clock.

Medet Kyzy, Tokyo-bound after winning at 76kg in the Asian Olympic qualifier, will look to improve on the silver medal she won last year in New Delhi when she faces 2020 bronze medalist Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) in a rematch of their group encounter.

Both wrestlers sailed into the final with dominant victories, as Medet Kyzy followed a takedown with four straight rolls for a 10-0 technical fall over Seoyeon JEONG (KOR) in 1:41, while Syzdykova took a half-minute less to put away Pooja POOJA (IND) by fall after slamming her to the mat by lateral drop.

In their group match, Medet Kyzy scored two takedowns in the second period to secure a 6-1 victory.

Sarita SARITA (IND), the lone defending champion in action Thursday, went down to defeat in
a group match at 59kg, but earned a shot at revenge and the gold when she set up a final clash with two-time world bronze medalist Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL).

Baatarjav battled to a razor-thin 5-4 victory over Sarita in their opening match of the day, then
the two dominated all others to advance to the final.

In the semifinals, Sarita swept past Nuraida ANARKULOVA (KGZ), winning by 11-0 technical fall in 1:35 with a succession of gut wrenches, while Baatarjav gained 4 points with a slick fireman's carry en route to a 10-0 technical fall in 2:08 over Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB).

Sarita, the 2017 Asian silver medalist, will be looking to become the first Indian to defend an Asian title. For Baatarjav, the final gives her a chance for an elusive senior Asian gold after winning a silver in 2014 and bronze in 2018.

At 55kg, Munkhbold can avoid having the title decided on tiebreaking criteria if, as expected, she defeats winless Hyungjoo KIM (KOR) in the final group match.

If the Mongolian loses, she will finish with a 2-1 record and tied with the winner of the match between Madina USMONJONOVA (UZB) and Aisha UALISHAN (KAZ). But because Munkhbold has beaten both of them, she will get the gold based on the head-to head result.

Kim, who appeared at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and is still going strong at 36, suffered a pair of close losses that dropped her out of title contention. She lost a 5-5 decision to Ualishan, then fell 5-3 to Usmonjonova.

The tournament received the stunning news last week that the Japanese women's team would not be coming after an unspecified number of team members were suspected of coming into contact with someone infected with the coronavirus. The announcement came just before the team was to fly to Almaty.

The Chinese women pulled out as they were undergoing two days of testing arranged by the Chinese embassy, a team official said. The team was to leave from Kazakhstan on Thursday night.

Day 3 Results

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

50kg (6 entries)
Valentina ISLAMOVA BRIK (KAZ) df. Yung Hsun LIN (TPE) by Fall, :23 (4-0)
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) df. Seema SEEMA (IND), 3-2

55kg (4 entries)
Standings (after 2 rounds)
1. Dulguun MUNKHBOLD (MGL), 2-0; 2. Madina USMONJONOVA (UZB), 1-1; 3. Aisha UALISHAN (KAZ), 1-1; 4. Hyungjoo KIM (KOR), 0-2.
Munkhbold clinched gold medal

59kg (6 entries)
Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) df. Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 2:08
Sarita SARITA (IND) df. Nuraida ANARKULOVA (KGZ) by TF, 11-0, 1:35

68kg (6 entries)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Eun Sun JEONG (KOR) by Fall, 4:11 (6-0)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Azoda ESBERGENOVA (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 2:09

76kg (6 entries)
Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Pooja POOJA (IND) by Fall, 1:11 (4-0)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs Seoyeon JEONG (KOR) by TF, 10-0, 1:41