#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Live Blog: Asian Championships day five

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 23) -- The Asian Championships move to freestyle on day five. Wrestlers from 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg will be in action in Ulaanbaatar.

Ravi KUMAR (IND), Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), Bajrang PUNIA (IND), Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI), Mohammadhossien MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

13:50: The semifinals and repechage matches are over, bringing a close to the morning session. The crowd has been great, and we can expect some fireworks in the finals starting at 18:00 local time. 

13:43: Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), making his first international appearance since 2017, stormed into the final at 70kg with an 11-5 victory over defending champion Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ). Narikuni will face world silver medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) in the final. Interesting to note that Narikuni's mother was a world champion in 1990 and 1991 (as Akiko IIJIMA) and the coach at the kids club where he started wrestling. 

13:42: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) comes back from 6-3 down and scores a 12-6 win over Temuulen ENKHTUYA (MGL). He added a stepout before launching a gut wrench to secure the win.

13:34: In a rematch of the '20 Asian final, Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) and Gourav BALIYAN (IND) in a back-and-forth bout and Baliyan avenge that loss with an 8-5 victory. He led 2-1 at the break with a counter. But in the second period, the two changed leads three times. Budazhapov scored a stepout before Baliyan added an exposure for two but gave up the reversal and a roll. Budazhapov needed to defend the 5-4 lead for a minute but he failed to keep up and conceded a takedown with 11 seconds remaining. Baliyan won 8-5, making him the third Indian in the final

13:30: Rahman AMOUDZADKHALILI (IRI) gives Iran a third finalist with an 6-0 victory in the 65kg semifinal over Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN. He'll face Punia for the gold in the night session. 

13:28: Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ) pulls off an amazing comeback to make the final at 57kg. Down 5-0 against Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) going into the second period, he cuts the gap with a takedown. With the clock ticking down, he scores a takedown, then muscles Smanbekov over with a gut wrench to go ahead 6-5 with :16 left. He holds on to the end to earn a date in the final against India's defending champion Kumar. 

13:25: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) moves into the 79kg final after a 3-0 win over Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN). He got a point for the passivity of Takahashi in the first period. He was called passive in the second period but he scored a takedown in the activity period.

13:18: Ravi KUMAR (IND) starts out in a 4-0 hole in the 57kg semifinal against a fired-up Zanabar ZANDANBUD (MGL), who scores a takedown and gut wrench in the opening seconds. But the Olympic silver medalist shakes it off and puts on a takedown clinic, reeling off three in a row to go ahead 6-4 at the break. From there he pads the lead and wins 12-5, giving him a shot at a third straight Asian gold.

13:17:Bajrang PUNIA (IND) will make his fourth straight 65kg final at the Asian Championships as he controls his semifinal against Haji ALI (BRN) to win 3-1

13:10: Satywart KADIAN (IND) is wrestling Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) in the semifinal. Mohammadian begins with a stepout before adding a takedown. At the break, he leads 4-0 with a stepout. He wins 10-0 after adding a takedown to gut and another takedown.

13:03: S. TALGAT (KAZ) gets a win by technical superiority and he confirms a semifinal against Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) who beats Mohammademehdi YEGANEHJAFARI (IRI) 6-2 at 70kg

12:56: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) bounces back from 2-0 down to beat NAVEEN (IND) 6-3 and reach the 70kg semifinal. We will be beginning with the semifinals shortly

12:50: Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) fills the final semifinal place at 65kg with a workmanlike 8-0 win over Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN). The match was a  battle between current (Amouzadkhalili) and 2019 (Yamaguchi) world junior champions at 61kg. The semifinals will be Bajrang PUNIA (IND) vs Haji ALI (BRN) and Amoudzadkhalili and Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL).

12:50: At the 97kg semifinal, Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) quickly built a 5-0 lead against Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB). On Mat C, Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) is leading NAVEEN (IND) 3-2 at 70kg

12:42: The semifinal in the bottom half of the bracket at 57kg is now set. Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ) defeated No. 2 seed Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB ) 6-1, and will face Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ), a 4-1 winner over Sunngwon KIM (KOR). 

12:36: Tsogbadrakh Tseveensuren (MGL) is trailing 4-1 when he twists Alibek Osmonov (KGZ) to his back and secures the fall, much to the delight of the home crowd, to advance to the semifinals at 65kg. 

12:35: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) and Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL) wrestled an action-packed second period at 79kg. Savadkouhi was leading 7-4 before Enkhbayar managed to make it 7-6 with 10 seconds remaining. His last attack did not yield any points as he goes down at 79kg

12:32: Olympic silver medalist Ravi KUMAR (IND) faced tough competition from Rikuto ARAI (JPN), but ultimately overpowered the young Japanese with a run of takedowns for a 15-4 technical fall to advance to the semifinals at 57kg. He will face local favorite Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) for a place in the final.

12:31: Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang PUNIA (IND) begins his campaign for a third Asian gold at 65kg win a 3-0 win in the quarterfinals over a cautious Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB ). Punia scored two points on the activity clock and another on a stepout in a match a bit shy of action.

12:30: 2020 champion Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) gets the small contingent of Kyrgyzstan fans going with an 11-0 win over Bumgue SEO (KOR). A series of gut wrenches to finish the bout

12:20: Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) could not have begun in a better style. He scores a takedown and then Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM) is put in par terre for his forced break for bleeding during the action. Mohammadian scores three gut wrenches before closing out a 10-0 win with a takedown

12:19: 2017 silver medalist Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) gets the crowd roaring as he roars back from a 6-1 deficit to defeat Reza MOMENIJOUJADEH (IRI) 10-6 to advance to the 57kg semifinals. With 1:20 left, Zandanbud starts his comeback with a takedown, followed by two gut wrenches. He adds a stepout, then tackles the Iranian to his back, where he remains as time expires.

12:10: Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) was trailing 5-5 against Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ) but then got into a bear hug and scored a big four and win 9-5 at 97kg. The home crowds loves it

12:00: At 97kg, Satyawart KADIAN (IND) shuts out Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) attacks and counters them with go behinds to win 5-0 in the quarterfinals.

11:52: NAVEEN (IND) with an 11-0 win over Perman HOMMADOV (TKM) at 70kg and he gets World silver and U23 world champion Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) in the quarterfinals.

11:50: Jasurbek USMONOXUNOV (UZB) did score two takedowns but that was not enough as Bumgue SEO (KOR) hung on for a 5-4 win at 79kg

11:48: Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN) begins with a four and then adds two takedowns to lead 8-0 against Shuhrat BOZOROV (TJK). A takedown and stepout in the second period gave him the win 11-1

11:46: Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL) gets the home crowd charged up when he finished up an 11-0 win over Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ) with :28 left in their qualification round match at 65kg. 

11:45: Rahman AMOUZADKHLILI (IRI), the world junior champion at 61kg, started his campaign at 65kg with an 11-0 technical fall over Inayat ULLAH (PAK) in the qualification round. Amouzadkhlili is the favorite to make the final in the bottom half of the bracket. 

11:27: On an overcast morning in Ulaanbaatar, the mat will be shining with Asian's top freestyle wrestlers with competition at 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg on Day 5. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

#WrestleCasablanca

African Championships 2025 Entries

By United World Wrestling Press

CASABLANCA, Morocco (April 21) -- The African Championships will be held in Casablanca, Morocco from April 29 to May 4 in three different age-groups. The championships will kick off with the U17 level on April 29, the U20 competition will be held on May 1 and 2 while the senior event will be held on May 3 and 4.

All 10 Greco-Roman and five Women's Wrestling weight classes will be in action on May 3 while 10 Freestyle and remaining five Women's Wrestling weight classes will take place on May 4.

All matches will be live on uww.org and the UWW App using UWW+.

Note: These entries are subject to change. Please refer to UWW Arena for final entries on the day of the competition.

Greco-Roman

55kg
Bofenda KALUWEKO (ANG)
Ephraim MWINI (COD)
Ahmed ALY (EGY)
Ayoub SBETE (MAR)
Joel IPINGE (NAM)
Lennie STEYN (RSA)
Adem LAMLOUM (TUN)

60kg
Adel FEGAS (ALG)
Reginaldo da SILVA (ANG)
Rabby KILANDI (COD)
Ahmed SHABAN (EGY)
Mouad JAHID (MAR)
Virinao NGUATJITI (NAM)

63kg
Mohamed DRIDI (ALG)
Godefroid KALUBI (COD)
Youssef MOHAMED (EGY)
Benson KARIUKI (KEN)
Mouncif MESROUR (MAR)

67kg
Ishak GHAIOU (ALG)
Roland KALAMBAYI (COD)
Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY)
Kenneth KOECH (KEN)
Bilal EL BAHJA (MAR)
Oussama NASR (TUN)

72kg
Abdelmalek MERABET (ALG)
Norvil BUKASA (COD)
Anthony WESLEY (CPV)
Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY)
Brian OLOO (KEN)
Walid TALBI (MAR)
Nkosinathi MASHININI (RSA)

77kg
Andy MUKENDI (COD)
Yehia ABDELKADER (EGY)
Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN)
Souhaib KHDAR (MAR)
Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN)

82kg
Abd OUAKALI (ALG)
Aly ABDELGHANY (EGY)
Evans SIEUNDA (KEN)
Elias CHIGUER (MAR)
Shafaihuuna BENHARD (NAM)

87kg
Bachir SID AZARA (ALG)
Mahmoud IBRAHIM (EGY)
Wadii OUALAL (MAR)

97kg
Barthelemy TSHOSHA (COD)
Mohamed GABR (EGY)
Emmanuel OSEI SARFO (GHA)
Dan CHEPTAI (KEN)
Wissam KOUAINSO (MAR)

130kg
Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY)
Joel TUKAI (KEN)
Anis HNINI (MAR)
Oussama ASSAD (MAR)

Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS)Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS) wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Freestyle

57kg
Salah KATEB (ALG)
Alex VEMBA (ANG)
Roland TAMBI NFORSONG (CMR)
Ephraim MWINI (COD)
Mostafa MAHMOUD (EGY)
Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS)
Mohamed CAMARA (GUI)
Samuel MUMO (KEN)
Finoana RAKOTONIAINA (MAD)
Ben TARIK (MAR)
Lenerd VAN SCHALKWYK (RSA)
Omar FAYE (SEN)

61kg
Radouane SISSAOUI (ALG)
Seko KINAVIUD (ANG)
Ndjidda BOUBA (CMR)
Rabby KILANDI (COD)
Hassan ELSAYED (EGY)
Solomon ADDICO (GHA)
Thierno DIALLO (GUI)
Benson KARIUKI (KEN)
Yassine RAZZAK (MAR)
John LEOPOLD (MRI)
Saviour EGOLI (NGR)
Roehan DU PLESSIS (RSA)
Didier DIATTA (SEN)
Khalil BARKOUTI (TUN)

65kg
Rida DJEFFAL (ALG)
Miguel ANTONIO (ANG)
Godefroid KALUBI (COD)
Wilson VEIGA GOMES (CPV)
Mansour ELGHATIET (EGY)
Wotna NDOC (GBS)
Kenneth KOECH (KEN)
Ahmed EL BAHJAJI (MAR)
Stephen IZOLO (NGR)
Sulaiman KARGBO (SLE)
Farouk JELASSI (TUN)

70kg
Abderrahmane BENAISSA (ALG)
Gabriel MUANDA (COD)
Anthony WESLEY (CPV)
Mohamed AHMED (EGY)
James OMWANGE (KEN)
Otmane EL BAHJA (MAR)
Tope ADEBAYO (NGR)
Jaun HUGO (RSA)
Sylvio DIATTA (SEN)
Khairiddine BEN TLILI (TUN)

74kg
Saad BOUGUERRA (ALG)
Francisco KADIMA (ANG)
Jacques MONTY MBOUGOU (CMR)
Norvil BUKASA (COD)
Joao BARBOSA VICENTE (CPV)
Omar MOURAD (EGY)
Caetano SA (GBS)
Brian OLOO (KEN)
Mohammed BOUZGAR (MAR)
Ebierelayefa ANDREW (NGR)
Jesse VAN BAALEN (RSA)
Maodo BA (SEN)
Foday KARGBO (SLE)
Jamal ABDUL (UGA)

79kg
Abdelkader IKKAL (ALG)
Andy MUKENDI (COD)
Yahya ELGAMAL (EGY)
Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN)
Mohammed BOUAZOUNI (MAR)
Keean BOSSE (RSA)
Mbaye DIOP (SEN)
Alfred DANIEL (SLE)

86kg
Houssem OUCIF (ALG)
Iliassou BONI (BEN)
Matteo FURTADO TRESSE (CPV)
Ahmed MAHMOUD (EGY)
Evans SIEUNDA (KEN)
Walid CHEIKH LAHLOU (MAR)
Oluwafemi JACKSON (NGR)
Ulrich WITTE (RSA)
Siny SEMBENE (SEN)

92kg
Cedric ABOSSOLO (CMR)
Mohamed AHMED (EGY)
Dan CHEPTAI (KEN)
Ahmed FRIFRA (MAR)
Ebikeme NEWLIFE (NGR)
Immanuel BOSHOFF (RSA)
Mamadou DIOUF (SEN)

97kg
Barthelemy TSHOSHA (COD)
Aabdelrahman SHEYATAN (EGY)
Gino INTCHALA (GBS)
Jonathan SUTHERLAND (GHA)
Ayoub NASSR ELLAH (MAR)
Pape NDIAYE (SEN)

125kg
Youssef ABOUDAWABA (EGY)
Issah FUSEINI (GHA)
Joel TUKAI (KEN)
Oussama ASSAD (MAR)

Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR)Farah HUSSEIN (EGY), blue, and Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) are entered at 62kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Cheima CHEBILA (ALG)
Malak AHMED (EGY)
Emma WANGILA (KEN)
Sabah KANEB (MAR)
Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR)
Chloe BREWIS (RSA)

53kg
Chahinez RABAH (ALG)
Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV)
Rose KOMBE (CMR)
Sama MAHMOUD (EGY)
Zineb ECH CHABKI (MAR)
Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR)
Matilda KOKERA (RSA)
Mama SAMBOU (SEN)
Chahrazed AYACHI (TUN)

55kg
Achouak TEKOUK (ALG)
Rosine NTSA ASSOUGA (CMR)
Salma ELBOSTANY (EGY)
Emily WANYAMA (KEN)
Sara ETTAKI (MAR)
Adijat IDRIS (NGR)
Kara LE ROUX (RSA)
Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN)

57kg
Chaimaa AOUISSI (ALG)
Ivyone MASIBO (KEN)
Mamy RASOANOMENJANAHARY (MAD)
Douaa BHAR (MAR)
Mercy ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
Chaima DAHI (TUN)

59kg
Rayane HOUFAF (ALG)
Rahma BEDIWY (EGY)
Malala SOLONIAINA (MAD)
Zineb HASSOUNE (MAR)
Kavelishimwe ABRAHAM (NAM)
Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR)
Chahd JELJELI (TUN)

62kg
Nawel BAHLOUL (ALG)
Angelina RODRIGUES MIRANDA (CPV)
Farah HUSSEIN (EGY)
Sanaa MANDAR (MAR)
Vihanshy KANAPETRADU (MRI)
Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR)
Safietou GOUDIABY (SEN)
Saida CHERIDI (TUN)

65kg
Sofia VEMBA (ANG)
Lec ANDE (CAF)
Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY)
Faith WAMALWA (KEN)
Oumaima EL ATLA (MAR)
Ebipatei MUGHENBOFA (NGR)
Cara DU PLESSIS (RSA)

68kg
Joseth MAVUNGU (ANG)
Kawiyatou ISSIFOU (BEN)
Mariam MESBAH (EGY)
Aminata IMBALI (GBS)
Koumba SOW (GUI)
Saadia ET TAMMAR (MAR)
Hannah RUEBEN (NGR)

72kg
Yasmine BOUREGBA (ALG)
Aimelda NDIFFO (CMR)
Rosie TABORA (COD)
Asmaa ABACH (MAR)
Ebi BIOGOS (NGR)

76kg
Amy YOUIN (CIV)
Pelagie WILITA (CMR)
Malachi KYSER (GHA)
Yacout EL GORAI (MAR)
Damola OJO (NGR)