#WrestleAlmaty

Live Blog: Bolat Turlykhanov Cup day two

By Vinay Siwach

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (June 3) -- The second day of the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup Ranking Series event will see three Greco-Roman and four women's wrestling weight classes in action.

World and Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI), Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) will be in action for the day.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

13:45: A rematch that Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) wanted. He wins his semifinal to get a chance to avenge his loss against Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ). The two will clash in the 72kg final. Shermakhanbet won the earlier bout 7-3

13:30: As expected, the final at 76kg for women's is set between two World bronze medalists Samar HAMZA (EGY) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)

13:22: They clashed in the group stage and now Emma TISSINA (KAZ) and Mansi AHLAWAT (IND) will clash for the gold medal at 57kg. Ahlawat had defeated Tissina 6-0 in the group stage.

13:15: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) beats Tornike DZAMASHVILI (GEO) 4-1 while Pejman POSHTAM (IRI) defeats Shamil BATYROV (KAZ) 10-1 as the two set up  the 82kg final

13:00: Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) with a strong win over Asian champion Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI). Zhadrayev was trailing 2-0 at the break but got the activity points and then a turn in par terre. Mokhtari was was penalized for defending before the whitsle. A 5-2 win for Zhadrayev

12:35: No successful comeback this time for Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI). Asian champion Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) scored seven points in the first period while Geraei managed only 3 in the second

12:00: Samar HAMZA (EGY) wins her first bout over Pooja SIHAG (IND). She gets the takedown and then turns Sihag twice using the leg-turk. Hamza finishes it with a 10-0 win. 

11:35: Divya KAKRAN (IND) has been in and out of the national team but she marks her return to 68kg with two quick falls in two bouts. Another win will secure her the gold medal

11:10: Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) has handed Yunus BASAR (TUR) an early loss at 77kg. After exchanging passivity points, Zhadrayev managed to score an out-of-bounds against Basar to win 2-1

11:00: 'The Iceman' Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) trailed Azat SADYKOV (KAZ) for four minutes but then goes for a body lock and secures the pin at 72kg. Effortless from the Olympia champion

10:50: Tokyo silver medalist Azkhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) led 4-3 at the break against Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) before adding a point in the second period to extend his lead to 5-3. Akbudak scored a stepout with two seconds remaining and got another point as Makhmudov was warned for fleeing. But Makhmudov holds on for 5-5 criteria win over the world silver medalist

10:30: Welcome to the second day of the second Ranking Series event of the year. A big day is coming up and the first high octane bout at 82kg as Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) clash.

#BeachWrestling

Sakurai swaps mat for sand, wins Beach Wrestling gold

By Vinay Siwach

TOKYO (May 13) -- Paris Olympic champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) made a return to competition for the first time since August last year. However, it was not on the mat.

Sakurai, who won gold medal at 57kg in Paris, returned to compete in beach wrestling. She wrestled at the Japan Beach Wrestling National Team Qualifying Tournament held in Tachikawa, Tokyo on Sunday and won gold at 60kg

"It may sound strange for me to say it, but I felt that I was suited to it," Sakurai was quoted by Japan Olympic Committee.

Sakurai, who is not entered for the June 19-22 Meiji Cup, Japan's qualifying tournament for the World Championships in September, is now qualified to compete for Japan in Beach Wrestling this year.

"Since I am qualified for the international tournament, I will try to participate," she said. "I want to be number one. I'll practice on the sandy beaches of Kochi [Prefecture]."

The three-time world champion, however, did not rule out the possibility of returning to the mat soon.

"I am still practicing on the mat and when I feel like I am ready, I will be back on the mat," she said.