Live Blog: Asian Championship day six

Sunday, April 24, 2022 - 03:11 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 24) -- The final of the Asian Championships is here. After 10 champions in Greco-Roman and women's wrestling each, the freestyle will get the 10 champions as well.

Five of the 10 were decided Saturday and the remaining five will be on Sunday. Rio Olympics silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) is wrestling at 61kg and is the favorite to win the gold.

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13:40: The morning session is over. The 10 finalists in 5 weight classes are set and the medal bouts will begin 1800 hours local time.

13:36: Yergali did give up a takedown but did not let Jung get a turn. He wins 9-6 by countering Jung's final attack. Yergali will face Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) in the 125kg final. Mohebi had to stepouts and a takedown against Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL) in the first period before Ekhtuvshin scored a takedown of his own in the second. But all his other attacks were easily countered by Mohebi as he secured a 12-2 win.

13:33: Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), the Asian champion at 97kg, leads Yeihyun JUNG (KOR) 7-0 in the 125kg semifinal. Yergali lost his concentration for a moment and now Jung has scored a four-pointer. Can Jung score 4 more with 40 seconds remaining?

13:27: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) once again leads a series of leg laces to lead 5-0 against Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ) at the break in the 74kg semifinal. Orozbekov gets a takedown in the second period but gives up one as well. He then gets a duck under and gut to make it 9-6. Kaipanov counters with a single leg and leads 11-6. Orozbekov's attack is countered with a double to four-pointer exposure from Kaipanov as he wins 15-8.

13:22: Higuchi starts out the second period with a low single-leg attack, and stops Zholdoshbekov's attempt to counter to gain a takedown for an 8-4 lead. He repeats it and how he's up 10-4. With 1:24 left, it's the same move for another takedown, and this time he pops a gut wrench for a 14-4 technical fall at 4:50. A short time earlier, Darioush HAZRATCGHOLIZADEH (IRI) fought back from a 5-0 deficit against Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ) in the other semifinal, scoring the winning takedown with :12 left to win 6-5.

13:21: Deepak PUNIA (IND) hits a four with a whizzer in the second period to lead 5-0 against Gwanuk KIM (KOR). The underhook defense of Punia keeps giving him the advantage over his opponents.

13:19: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) with a strong performance as he stuns Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ) with a series of gut wrenches to make it to the 86kg final in which he will face the winner of Deepak PUNIA (IND) vs Gwanuk KIM (KOR)

13:16: In the featured match of the session in the 61kg semifinals, Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) comes out with a takedown, but Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) responds with a 4-point counter lift. Higuchi ties the score with a roll from an attack, but he's trailing on criteria. With :04 left in the first period, the Rio Olympic silver medalist bulls his way to a takedown and a 6-4 lead.

13:10: 2021 world junior champion Amirhossein FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) easily puts away Takuma OTSU (JPN) with a 10-0 technical fall to make the final at 92kg. The other semifinal was equally one-sided, as Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL) gains a spin-behind takedown to top Viky CHAHAR (IND) 11-0.

13:03: Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) has Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) in the semifinal and he begins with a takedown and roll to lead 4-0. A series of takedowns and he wins 10-0 to reach the 74kg final

12:57: Two 125kg quarterfinals and Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) beats Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM) 14-4 while home favorite Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL) beats Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN) 5-1

12:50: In another 86kg quarterfinal, Muhammad INAM (PAK) trailed 5-0 against Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ) but then scored a takedown before getting a point for passivity. He got an exposure to lead 5-5 with 6 seconds remaining but Usupov scores the reversal to win 6-5

12:45: Anirudh KUMAR (IND) had made it 4-4 after Yeihyun JUNG (KOR) had hit an early four-point throw. But Jung scored a takedown with 30 seconds remaining and adds another as he counters an attack to make it 8-4 and win the bout.

12:42: At 86kg, world silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) is wrestling against Mohsen MOSTAFAVI (IRI). He gets the first point for Mostafavi's inactivity before giving a takedown on edge. Punia leads 3-0. A lost challenge gives him 4-0 in the second period. None of Mostafavi's attacked worked and Punia wins 6-0

12:40: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) is in real form at 74kg. He gets a takedown and then locks Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) in lace to win 11-0 inside the first minute.

12:35: The semifinal in the bottom half of the bracket at 61kg has been set. It will be Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ), who ousted 2021 world U23 bronze medalist Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL) by a 10-0 technical fall, and Darioush HAZRATCGHOLIZADEH (IRI), who took advantage of a clearly winded 2021 world junior bronze medalist Alibeg ALIBEKOV (BRN) to rally from an 11-4 deficit with 2 minutes to a 14-11 win.

12:30: A thrilling quarterfinal at 74kg. Byambadorj BAT-ERDENE (MGL) was leading 5-2 with 20 seconds remaining and a scramble resulted in Seungbong LEE (KOR) scoring a takedown. He tried to get a roll but could not. Baterdene wins 5-4

12:22: Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) sets up a semifinal clash at 61kg with Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) after breaking open a close match late in the second period and defeating defending champion Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB ) 6-2.

12:17: Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) has countered Diachi TAKATANI (JPN) every time the Japanese has tried to attack. Emamichoghaei now leads 6-2 as they battle it out in the 74kg quarterfinal. Takatani with a leg attack and converts that into a takedown. The final 20 seconds had Emamichoghaei being passive which the Japanese corner challenges, asking for a caution and passivity point. However, the jury rules it out. Emamichogaei wins 7-5

12:15: Viky CHAHAR (IND) pulled a rabbit off his hat to defeat Mirian CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ) and advance to the semifinals at 82kg. Just seconds after giving up an exposure that put the Kyrgyz ahead 3-2, Charhar somehow reversed the situation with :05 left for a 4-3 win. The 92kg semifinals are now set: Takuma OTSU (JPN) vs Amirhossein FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI), and Charhar vs Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)

12:08: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), perhaps still smarting from missing out on the Tokyo Olympics and the chance to get the gold he was denied in Rio, looked like a man on a mission in handily putting away Mangal KADYAN (IND) by 10-0 technical fall. Higuchi started with a pair of takedown-gut wrench combinations, then ended the match with an exposure off a tackle attempt.

12:07: Shota SHIRAI (JPN) works hard to beat Temuujin MENDBILEG (MGL) 6-0 at 86kg. Shirai with a strong counter game and puts Mendbileg's conditioning to test

12:03: Yeihyun JUNG (KOR) exposes Rustam ISKANDARI (TJK) and then holds him to the back to secure the fall in the second period at 125kg.

12:02: Orgilokh DAVADORJ (MGL) gets the home crowd charged up with a 10-0 technical fall over Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB ) to advance to the semifinals at 92kg.

11:59: 2020 silver medalist and top seed Takuma OTSU (JPN) turns Jinmyeong KIM (KOR) over on a takedown counter for a 5-0 lead, and looks to be content with just running out the last 80 seconds in their quarterfinal clash at 92kg. But he manages to lever the Korean over enough to record a fall with :13 left.

11:55: Navruzov takes a stepout and leads 11-4. He is cautioned for headbutting Tushir who adds three takedwons to make it 11-10 but the time runs out. Navuroz moves into the quarterfinals.

11:50: Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) begins his 74kg qualification with two big arm throws to be up 8-0 against Yash TUSHIR (IND). He then gets countered for a takedown before Navruzov adds two stepouts to lead 10-2. Tushir gets a takedown to make it 10-4 at the break.

11:45: At 74kg, Atamyrat CHARLYYEV (TKM) with a clinical 11-0 win over HONG YEOW LOU (SGP) and Seungbong LEE (KOR) beats Lakmal Wijesooriya (SRI) via technical superiority as well

11:41: Diachi TAKATANI (JPN) is up at 74kg and he has a quick fall over Abdullah ABDALKAREEM (TKM) in the opening round.

11:39: Defending 61kg champion Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB ) easily handles Sampath WATHTHE GEDARA (SRI) in a 12-0 technical fall. He will next face 2020 champion Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) in the quarterfinals, with the winner likely getting a semifinal clash with Higuchi who has Mangal KADYAN (IND) in the quarterfinals. Kadyan began with an 11-0 technical fall over Mekan MUHAMMEDOV (TKM).

11:34: Rio Olympic silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) begins his campaign for the first Asian gold medal by overwhelming Ali ALHOHAINI (KUW) in their qualification match at 61kg. A takedown and four straight lace locks and that was all for the Kuwaiti in 26 seconds.

11:30: All ready for the start of the final day at Buyant Ukhaa Sports Palace, with the final five weight classes in freestyle, 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg. Let the action begin.

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Rio silver Higuchi marks return with 1st Asian gold

Sunday, April 24, 2022 - 16:53 By Ken Marantz

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 24) -- After a trying three years that included missing out on the Tokyo Olympics, Rio 2016 silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) has returned to his winning ways. And he's eating normally, too.

Higuchi captured his first Asian title in dominant style, blitzing Darioush HAZRATGHOLIZADEH (IRI) 10-0 in just 46 seconds of the freestyle 61kg final on Sunday, the final day of the six-day Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar.

"From the beginning, I thought to go with my attacking style," said Higuchi, who won all four of his matches by technical fall. "My single-leg tackles and arm locks were working from the first match, so I don't think it was too bad."

It was an otherwise good day for Iran, which added three golds to the three it won on Saturday to easily win the team title with 201 points. India finished second with 152 points, one point ahead of Kazakhstan after both had one champion and three silver medalists.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) outscored his opponents 44-4 to in his four bouts. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Higuchi, in making amends for a disappointing third-place finish in 2017, came out firing on all cylinders in the final, catching Hazratgholizadeh with a 4-point arm throw soon after the opening whistle. He added a pair of gut wrenches, then closed out the match with a takedown.

"I decided to give it a shot right at the start," Higuchi said of the arm throw, a common weapon used by Japanese lightweights. "From the first match, I was always using single-leg tackles and arm locks, so I thought my opponent had figured it out. So I decided to go for an arm throw from the beginning."

It marked a grand renewal for one of Japan's most promising wrestlers, who got caught up trying to find an appropriate Olympic weight.

After Rio, he moved up to 61kg and finished third at the Asian Championships in New Delhi. In late 2017 he made the jump to 65kg, where he won the 2018 world U23 title, but could not dislodge eventual Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) for the Olympic spot in that weight class.

After losing to Otoguro in a playoff for the Olympic spot, he decided to make the drastic drop back to 57kg, in which he had not competed since Rio. More than the domestic competition, Higuchi's battle was with the scale.

"Last year, in particular, was really bad," Higuchi said. "More than from a standpoint of wresting technique or stamina, the battle became with my weight. Last year ended with a really disappointing result. But at the end of this year, the trial process for Paris [2024] starts, I'll train harder and harder to have a better result."

Higuchi hit rock bottom in April last year when he failed to make weight at the Asian Olympic qualifier in Almaty, a tournament in which he would have been a strong favorite to take a top-two place.

The Japan federation opted to send former world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) to the final world Olympic qualifier, where he secured a spot in Tokyo at 57kg for Japan. Takahashi then defeated Higuchi in a playoff for the spot, ending his dream of winning an Olympic title on home soil.

For now, Higuchi is happily ensconced at 61kg, where last December he finished second at the national championships. He still has to count calories, but not as drastically.

"At 61kg, I can eat normally," said the 26-year-old Higuchi, now a coach at his alma mater Nippon Sports Science University. "Cutting weight is just the usual amount so that I don't get emaciated and can be like a regular wrestler."

Asked about what lies ahead in the future in terms of his weight class and the 2024 Paris Olympics, Higuchi replied, "If I go up to the 65kg division, Takuto OTOGURO and Kaiki YAMAGUCHI are there. It would be a tough battle. Of course, at 57kg, there are many strong wrestlers such as Toshihiro HASEGAWA. I have to work hard on my wrestling and raise my level in practice."

So which way will he go, up or down? "[It's a] secret," he said in English with a sly smile.

Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) won his first Asian title after beating the defending champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) in the 74kg final. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Iran's second golden treble

Iran's golden treble on Sunday came from Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) at 74kg, teenager Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) at 92kg and Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) at 125kg.

In the 74kg final, Emamichoghaei scored all five of his points in the first period, and that held up in a 5-2 victory over defending champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ).

After gaining a point on the activity clock, Emamichoghaei put together a takedown-gut wrench combination to go ahead 5-0. In the second period, Kaipanov scored a takedown with :20 left, but it was too little, too late.

In adding the gold to his bronze at 70kg in 2019, Emamichoghaei avenged a 7-6 loss to Kaipanov in the semifinals at 70kg at the 2019 World Championships, where Kaipanov took the silver and Emamichoghaei a bronze.

The Iranian's win evened their head-to-head record at 2-2.

"I have defeated him twice now," Emamichoghaei said. "Once in Norway and now a second time. I am very happy about it. Next time I will train harder and win in a better way."

Emamichoghaei also faced a stiff test in his opening match in the quarterfinals, when he barely eked out a 7-5 win over Daichi TAKATANI (JPN).

"It was the first match," Emamichoghaei said. "If you are a wrestler, you know the first match is different from other bouts. In that, I was a little tight and didn’t do well, but I am happy that I won.

"A win is a win anyway. I’m the next tournament, I will definitely start my first match better than what I did here."

Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) claimed an 11-0 win in the 92kg final to win the gold. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Firouzpour, the world junior champion and world U23 bronze medalist in 2021, simply overpowered Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL) in the 92kg final, winning 11-0 in 4:51 for his third straight technical fall of the day, without conceding a point.

"Yes my opponents were not that strong and I was able to win easily," Firouzpour said.

Firouzpour stopped a throw attempt by the Mongolian for 2, then added three stepouts to take a 5-0 lead into the break. In the second period, he added a takedown and lace lock combination for 4, then finished up the match with a snap down takedown.

"I am happy," Firouzpour said. "Thank God that at the age of 19 I could win the gold medal of Asia. This is just the beginning. I hope to win more and more."

Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) is now a three-time Asian champion at 125kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Bringing the curtain down on the tournament was Mohebi's 3-1 win over Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) in the 125kg final, which added to titles he had previously won in 2017 and 2019.

In a staid affair in which both had received activity points, Mohebi scored the decisive single-leg takedown in the second period. For Yergali, it was his fourth straight Asian medal, although none are gold. He won the previous ones at 97kg.

"After I won in Iran, I was chosen for the Asian competition," Mohebi said. "I am wrestling here for the third time and I have won all of them, so thank God. Asian competition is always important for Iran and it’s all because of God that we won this time as well in team rankings."

Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) captured the lone gold for Kazakhstan at the Asian Championships. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

The remaining gold went to Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), who after one silver and one bronze in four previous appearances, finally made it to the top step of the podium with a solid 6-1 victory over Deepak PUNIA (IND) in the 86kg final.

"I can say that this is a big victory in my career," Dauletbekov said. "Of course I am happy. With God's will, I was honored to make Kazakhstan's anthem play and the flag be raised. I'm glad that I could protect my country's honor. I'm dedicating this victory to my mom and dad."

Dauletbekov, who was second in 2017 and third in 2018, chalked up a stepout and takedown in each period to defeat the former world junior champion Punia, who settled for the silver for the second year in a row.

The 2017 world U23 and 2014 world junior silver medalist, is looking to make his mark on the global senior stage.

"There are many good wrestlers in my weight category," Dauletbekov said. "To be a champion at all the other wrestling events, I will train as hard as possible."

In the bronze-medal matches, Yeihyun JUNG (KOR) gave Korea its lone medal of the entire championships when he caught Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM) in an early headlock and clamped down for a fall in 1:34 at 125kg.

The other match at 125kg was a doozy, made even more so by the presence and eventual victory of local favorite Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL). Enkhtuvshin gave the home crowd one final thrill by rallying from a 9-1 deficit to edge Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB) by the un- heavyweight score of 15-12.

Both bronze-medal matches at 61kg also had thrilling finishes, with neither outcome decided until the final seconds.

Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ), the 2020 champion, scored a 2-point exposure off a single-leg takedown attempt with :02 left to edge Mangal KADYAN (IND), 6-4.

Likewise, Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ) came out of a final scramble behind Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN), then forced him to the mat with :12 left for the winning takedown and a 5-4 win.

Mohsen MOSTAFAVI (IRI), the only Iranian who did not make the finals Sunday, will go home with a bronze after scoring three stepouts in a 4-0 win over Gwanuk KIM (KOR) at 86kg.

The other 86kg bronze went to Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB), who edged Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ) 6-5 to deny him a second straight bronze.

At 92kg, 2020 silver medalist Takuma OTSU (JPN) was left to rue what might have been, after he got caught on his back attempting a front headlock roll while holding a 12-8 lead, and Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ) clamped down for a fall in 5:34.

Viky CHAHAR (IND) took the other 92kg bronze, scoring two takedowns in the second period of a 5-3 victory over Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB).

At 74kg, neither match went the distance. Japan's Takatani picked up his third Asian medal with a 10-0 technical fall over Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL), while Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ) won his second straight bronze by whitewashing 2021 silver medalist Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) 11-0.

Photos: Asian Championships day six

Day 6 Results

Freestyle

61kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) df. Darioush HAZRATGHOLIZADEH (IRI) by TF, 10-0, :46

BRONZE: Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) df. Mangal KADYAN (IND), 6-4
BRONZE: Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ) df. Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN), 5-4

74kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) df. Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ), 5-2

BRONZE: Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) df. Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) by TF, 10-0, 4:37
BRONZE: Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ) df. Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) by TF, 11-0, 5:42

86kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Deepak PUNIA (IND), 6-1

BRONZE: Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) df. Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ), 6-5
BRONZE: Mohsen MOSTAFAVI (IRI) df. Gwanuk KIM (KOR), 4-0

92kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) df. Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL) by TF, 11-0, 4:51

BRONZE: Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ) df. Takuma OTSU (JPN) by Fall, 5:34 (10-12)
BRONZE: Viky CHAHAR (IND) df. Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB) 5-3.

125kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) df. Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), 3-1

BRONZE: Yeihyun JUNG (KOR) df. Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM) by Fall, 1:34 (4-0)
BRONZE: Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL) df. Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB) 15-12

Live Blog: Asian Championship day six

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Rio silver Higuchi marks return with 1st Asian gold