#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Live Blog: #WrestleUlaanbaatar Asian Championships Day 1

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.

MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE

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

#development

Strength Through Solidarity: Palestine, Jordan Partnership Strengthens Wrestling Development

By United World Wrestling Press

AMMAN, Jordan (February 10) -- A two-week wrestling development program aimed at strengthening wrestling in Palestine concluded on January 25, marking the completion of the first phase of the Development of National Sport System (DNSS) in Wrestling framework. 

The program, held from January 11 to 25 in Amman, Jordan, brought together 17 Palestinian participants, including athletes and coaches. The initiative was organized through a partnership between Olympic Solidarity and United World Wrestling, with logistical and technical support from the Jordan Wrestling Federation.

The coaching course and training camp were delivered by Hassan MADANY (EGY) and Ahmed KHEDHRI (TUN), both UWW-certified educators and wrestling experts in the region.

Palestine

The training course featured a combination of classroom instruction and on-mat technical training, designed to advance coaching standards while improving wrestling performance. The program also included practical teaching sessions, during which participants learned how to introduce and teach new skills using key factors and Discovery Games, supported by continuous evaluation to monitor learning progress.

Practical training emphasized foundational wrestling skills, including stance, movement, and level transitions. Participants practiced core offensive and defensive techniques, including single-leg and double-leg takedowns, grip control, sprawls, and pinning combinations.

The program also incorporated instructional methodology workshops, where participants practiced introducing new techniques using structured teaching models and game-based learning strategies, supported by continuous performance assessments.

The theoretical component covered wrestling fundamentals, including rules, terminology and technical principles, alongside broader athlete welfare subjects such as safety protocols, risk management, safeguarding measures and anti-doping education. Other sessions also explored coaching communication strategies and methods for identifying performance indicators critical to technical development, particularly for youth and beginner athletes.

Palestine

United World Wrestling Asia Council President Mohammad AWAMLEH and Palestine Wrestling Federation President Firas DOUDIN attended the program. 

"I express my sincere appreciation to Olympic Solidarity and United World Wrestling for their continued support of the Olympic Development Program," Doudin said. "It plays an important role in strengthening wrestling structures in Palestine. I thank the educators for their professionalism and commitment, as well as the Jordan Wrestling Federation and the UWW Asian Council leadership for their support and cooperation."

Participants described the course as a valuable learning experience, highlighting the quality of instruction, the balance between theory and practice, and the progressive on-mat training approach.

Palestine

The execution of the program marks a crucial step in developing coaching and wrestling in Palestine, demonstrates solidarity, and reflects UWW’s commitment to sustainable wrestling development worldwide.