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.

#WrestleBratislava

Young stars make Azerbaijan best team at Europeans

Sunday, April 13, 2025 - 23:03 By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 13) -- Azerbaijan is the best team of Europe and its way ahead of others.

The country claimed the Greco-Roman team title at the European Championships in Bratislava with 151 points, 41 points more than second-placed Turkiye which had 110 points. Hungary managed to put itself on the podium at the third place with 104 points.

After only a silver and bronze medals on Saturday, Azerbaijan bounced back with three gold medals and a bronze medal to finish on the top of the standings.

Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) initiates a throw against Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) in the 60kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Starting the gold rush world 63kg champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) who downed Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), 7-3, in the 60kg final.

"The final started well and even though I had made seven points, I was more confident in winning," Mammadli said. "In the second period, I made a mistake. I gave two moves to my opponent but I was still able to hold on to the victory."

Mammadli got the first par terre advantage and completed a standing to danger suplex for four points and a turn to lead 7-0. He tried one more turn but Tibilov defended the attempt. Tibilov managed to turn Mammadli in the second period when he got the par terre position but that was all the action from him.

The 7-3 win gave Mammadi his second straight European gold medal and confirmed his spot on the Azerbaijan team for the World Championships.

"I am very happy with the second [title]," he said. "I felt ready for this, I was overwhelmed with myself. When I came to the competition, I was thinking about the gold medal. I had prepared myself well, both physically and technically. I achieved what I wanted."

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In his three earlier bouts, Mammadli completed three technical superiority wins including a thunderous 8-0 win over former world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA) in the semifinal, a rematch of the final of European Championships last year which Mammadli won.

"The competition was very good and there were very talented wrestlers," he said. "The gold last year at 60kg is almost a year past and every competition is very high. Because it was an Olympic weight class, this was expected. It was like a European World Championship in wrestling."

The 22-year-old will now wants to repeat as the world champion but in 60kg weight class. The challenge with that category is that it is dominated by wrestlers from Asia. At both the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics, all four medalists at 60kg were from Asia.

"[For Asian wrestlers] I can say that it will be a very difficult match," Mammadli said. "Hopefully, the next match will be at the World Championship. I know that it is a very difficult match but I will prepare even better for them."

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) celebrates after winning the 67kg final at the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 67kg, Paris Olympic bronze medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) continued his dominance at the continental event, winning his third straight European gold medal.

Facing Abu AMAEV (BUL), who Jafarov had defeated last European Championships in the quarterfinal, in the final in Bratislava, Jafarov turned him in par terre for two points. At the end of the mat, Jafarov lifted Amaev and completed the throw for four points to lead 7-0.

Amaev failed to break Jafarov's defense from par terre and got only one point as he dropped the bout 7-1. By reaching the final, Amaev earned his best European Championships medal -- a silver. He has two bronze medals from past editions.

"This European Championships was really tough for me," Jafarov said. "I managed to retain my title for the third time. I have endured a lot of hardships and hard work during this time. I injured my ear when I was playing the Zagreb tournament. An operation was performed, I continued to work hard, regardless of the surgery. I could not stay in camp in Croatia. I returned and continued to work hard in Azerbaijan."

Jafarov, who has an Olympic bronze medal and two medals at the World Championships, is determined to win the gold medal at the World Championships now.

"I haven't been a world champion. I'm want to be a world champion," he said. "I have to work hard for Azerbaijan so that I can win a gold medal at the upcoming world championships. I really want that medal and God willing it will be like that because I really want that medal in any way."

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) defeated world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN), in par terre, in the 82kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Another young star gave Azerbaijan its third gold as Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) won the top medal at 82kg. He defeated world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) 6-0 in the final.

Earning a par terre advantage in the first period, Gurbanov scored from a turn to lead in the first period before blocking an armthrow from Szilvassy to earn two points. Hungary challenged the call for slip throw but lost it, giving one more point to Gurbanov for a 6-0 lead.

The gold medal is Gurbanov's first major senior gold medal as he already has two European U23 golds and one U17 gold. Gurbanov has won the World Championships gold medal at U17, U20 and U23 levels.

Milov completes golden run

Kiril MILOV (BUL) completed is glorious run at the European Championships with the 97kg gold medal, his second in the continental history. In the final, he beat Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), 7-1, a day after he defeated seven-time European champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM).

"This is one of the most long-awaited medals because in the semifinals I managed to defeat Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), who is a great wrestler, and I am glad that I managed to win the title," Milov said.

Milov scored two gut wrench turns from par terre to lead 5-0 and then was saved by a challenge in the second period. Lazogianis completed a throw from par terre which was blocked by Milov and he never landed in danger. But Lazogianis was awarded four points which gave him a 5-5 criteria lead for a bigger move.

Bulgaria challenged the decision and got two points as he had blocked Lazogianis and made him land in danger instead. He then defended his 7-1 lead for the gold medal.

"We trained very differently, very hard, we did very good training, we prepared well and I managed not to make a mistake in the matches and that is why I managed to win," he said.

Kiril MILOV (BUL) celebrates after winning the 97kg final at the European Championships. (Photos: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In his semifinal against Aleksanyan, Milov countered the Armenian's strongest suit -- the gut wrench. Milov led 1-1 on criteria after getting the first par terre position. Aleksanyan, in the second par terre position, tried to turn Milov who managed to stay in his position and scored a reversal.

With a 2-1 lead, Milov defended his position in the remaining 90 seconds and handed Aleksanyan his first-ever European defeat since 2017.

"With Artur, I know that whatever I do, I have to defend myself from the ground [par terre], because that's his best grip." Milov said. "He's very good from there and I'm glad I was able to defend myself from the ground."

The 28-year-old was at the Paris Olympics at 130kg after the spot was offered to Bulgaria due to reallocation of quotas. Milov underwent surgery before Olympic qualifiers in 2024 and missed qualifying at 97kg.

"Yes, before the two Olympics, even in Tokyo, I had an operation before the Olympics itself and in Paris too, I underwent a very serious operation," he said. "I wasn't able to get a quota but I got the chance to participate. I participated at 130kg, but I couldn't get prepared and the results. I was shaking. So now I'm training to succeed at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles."

At 72kg, two gold medals were awarded after a scoreboard glitch gave Levente LEVAI (HUN) a 4-4 criteria win over Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) in the final.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), 7-3

BRONZE: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE: Sadyk LALAEV (UWW) df. Olivier SKRZYPCZAK (POL), 5-0

67kg
GOLD: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df. Abu AMAEV (BUL), 7-1

BRONZE: Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) df. Yanis GUENDEZ NIFRI (FRA), 5-0
BRONZE: Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) df. Murat FIRAT (TUR), 3-1

72kg
GOLD: Levente LEVAI (HUN) and Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) [NO SILVER]

BRONZE: Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) df. Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (UWW), 2-1
BRONZE: Mehmet SAHIN (TUR) df. Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU), 9-1

82kg
GOLD: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Erik SZILVASSY (HUN), 6-0

BRONZE: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) df. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR), 5-3
BRONZE: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM), 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Kiril MILOV (BUL) df. Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), 7-1

BRONZE: Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW) df. Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED), 8-5
BRONZE: Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), via inj. def.

Live Blog: Asian Championship day six

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Young stars make Azerbaijan best team at Europeans