Live Blog: #WrestleUlaanbaatar Asian Championships Day 1
Tuesday, April 19, 2022 - 03:03 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 19) -- The first day of the Asian Championships is here. In the Mongolian capital, wrestlers are ready to be crowned champions of Asia. The tournament begins with Greco-Roman and five weight classes will be in action on day one of the competition.
Olympic silver medalist Azkhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), London Games champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN) and other stars will be in action.
13:35: That's all from the first morning session at the Buntyar Ulkhh Sports Palace in the Mongolian capital. Kazakhstan will have four wrestlers going for gold when we return for the evening session at 1800 hours local time.
13:27: Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) made his first Asian final with a wild come-from-behind victory at 63kg over Bakhramov that ended in a fall after he built up a 13-7 lead. In the final, he will face two-time world medalist Mirambek AINUGULOV (KAZ), who ended Mohammadi's run with a 14-3 technical fall.
13:25: Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) keeps coming back to win the bouts. The defending champion is into the final at 55kg with a 10-8 win. He was down 4-0 but worked his way to beat Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB)
13:15: In the match-up of the session, Olympic bronze medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) scored a gut wrench off the par terre in the second period and held on for a 4-1 win over veteran Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR). The 33-year-old Kim put Makhmudov on his back in the first period, but the points were negated after a challenge because the Korean used his leg to block.
13:06: The 87kg final will be a clash of champions from last year in Almaty, after victories over the finalists from 2019. Defending champion Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) beats 2019 champion Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) 3-0, and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), the 2021 gold medalist at 82kg, followed with an 8-0 technical fall over 2019 runner-up Sunil KUMAR (IND).
12:40: World bronze medalist Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN) isn't able to turn Imam MOHAMMADI (IRI) from the par terre position in the final minute, and the Iranian holds on for a 2-0 victory at 63kg. Both of his points came for passivity as he put up a defense that Shimizu just could not penetrate.
12:37: Shiotani was down 5-0 but then makes a comes back with two par terre rolls and two stepouts to win 6-5
12:31: Sunil KUMAR (IND) comes from behind to win his quarterfinal at 87kg 5-3 against Mataso SUMI (JPN). On Mat A, defending champion Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) is wrestling Hyeokjin JEON (KOR) at 55kg
12:28: Arjun HALAKURKI (IND) cannot repeat his exploits from the first match and goes down 10-1 against Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) in the quarterfinals.
12:22: No. 2 seed Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB ) begins his quest for a fourth Asian medal and second gold with a 7-1 win at 63kg over Jinseub SONG (KOR). Bakhramov won the gold at 60kg in 2019.
12:22: Asian champion at 82kg Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) moves up to 87kg and begins with a win against Batbayar LUTBAYAR (MGL). He will wrestle in the semifinals now.
12:10: At 130kg, Arata SONODA (JPN) wins his first bout against Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL). On Mat B, Olympian Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) moves past Amir GHASEMIMONJAZI (IRI) 9-6
12:05: Makhmudov scores all of his points in the second period, including a 4-point throw off the par terre, to post a 9-1 technical fall and set up a clash of Olympic medalists with Korea's Kim in the semifinals.
11:57: At 87kg, Olympian Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) with a technical superiority win over Jinhyeok KIM (KOR) in the quarterfinals
11:55: Kim comes away with a solid 7-1 win. He'll face the winner of the next match, the marquee clash between Olympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHUMUDOV (KGZ) and unheralded Aref HABIBOLLAHI (IRI)
11:46: Now up on Mat A at 77kg, two-time Olympic medalist Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) and 2019 world 72kg silver medalist Aram VARDANYAN (UZB).
11:45: Arjun HALAKURKI (IND) holds on for the 9-5 win and he will move into the semifinal at 55kg. Top seed Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) is next for him.
11:40: Ali NOURBAKHSH (IRI) led Arjun HALAKURKI (IND) 301 at the break but the Indian pulls off two four-point to finish the bout 13-3 but a challenge from Nourbakhsh. A defensive foul from Halakurki and he will be cautioned. 9-5 the score with 40 seconds remaining.
11:36: The Iranian proves too much, getting a takedown and then posting a series of back-and-forth gut wrenches for a 12-4 technical fall. Next up for Mohammadi will be world bronze medalist Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN).
11:35: Damjin pulls a surprise with a lateral drop for 4 to take a 4-2 lead. Mohammadi gets a stepout to cut the lead as they go into the break. We'll see if the Mongolian can make that hold up.
11:29: 2018 world junior bronze medalist Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) to start the action on Mat C against local favorite Baljinnyam DAMJIN (MGL) at 63kg. The matches in the stacked weight class of 77kg are the second ones up on the two other mats.
11:20: Welcome to the Asian Championships from Ulaanbaatar. The competition kicks off with five Greco-Roman weight class
Gold medalist at 79kg in 2024, Nan CAO (CHN) will be wrestling at 86kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov) 
Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) is the defending champion at 87kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)
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