#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Live Blog: #WrestleUlaanbaatar Asian Championships day two

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 20) -- The second day of the Asian Championships will see the five Greco-Roman weights in action. After Kyrgyzstan won two gold and Kazakhstan, Japan, and Iran had one each, Wednesday will decide the team title race.

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13:23: That's it for the morning session on Day 2 at the Buyant Ukhaa Sports Palace. Iran has four wrestlers in the five finals in the evening session to start at 18:00 local time. Korea and Kazakhstan have two finalists each, while Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have one each. 

13:20: Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) was trailing 1-1 on criteria against Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) with 40 seconds remaining but scores a takedown to lead 3-1. Kyrgyzstan challenged it but lost. Balihamzehdeh sets up a final against Assakalov

13:14: Ryu builds up an early lead and chalks up a hard-fought 6-2 victory over Endo to make the final at 67kg against Shermakhanbet--a rematch of the 2019 final won 3-1 by Ryu. Shermankhanbet advances with a 6-3 win over 2020 silver medalist Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB )

13:05: Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) goes for a reverse lift from par terre to get five points and ultimately pin Harpreet SINGH (IND). That was a stunning move from Garmsiri

13:00: Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) is into the finals at 97kg. He beats Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ) 8-0 to secure his spot in the gold medal bout.

12:55: Sharshenbekov sets up a final against Mohsen Nejad with a 6-1 win in the other 60kg semifinal over Fidakhmetov. 

12:53: Mohsen Nejad beats Suzuki for the second year in a row in the semifinals at 60kg, but it was much more difficult than last year's 9-1 win. Mohsen Nejad scores 5 points in the first period in par terre, then holds off the Japanese for a 5-4 win.

12:40: Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB ), the 2020 silver medalist, fills the final semifinal spot at 67kg with a 14-5 technical fall over a gutsy Nyamdorj BATTULGA (MGL). He next faces 2018 world bronze medalist Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), who pulled off one of the most intriguing moves of the session in beating Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND), gaining an arm lock and somersaulting the Indian onto his back before getting a headlock for a fall.

12:25: Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) did get hit for four but Jewoo PARK (KOR) cannot get out of the lock after hitting the drop. Balihamzehdeh secures the fall at 97kg

12:22: Ryu twice hits the same slick lateral drop as he's backed to the edge for 4, and that's it for Badaghimofrad in 2:38. He'll face 2018 world U23 champion Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) in the semifinals. 

12:10: Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN) had no wins in three Asian Championships in his career but he snubs that trend by beating a silver medalist from Almaty Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ) 5-3 at 82kg in Ulaanbaatar.

12:07: Mohammadreza MOKHTARI (IRI) gets four points from par terre in the first period to lead 5-0 before a takedown and stepout in the second period makes it 8-0 against Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) at 72kg

12:06: On deck at 67kg on Mat C, veteran Hansu RYU (KOR), who won his fourth Asian title in 2021 at 72kg, against Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (IRI), a 2019 world junior bronze medalist at 63kg. 

12:05: Top seed Dias KALEN (KAZ) gets the par terre in the second period and gets the guts going to win 9-1 against Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB)

11:55: Ayata SUZUKI (JPN), a bronze medalist in 2021, will get a chance to avenge his semifinal loss last year in Almaty to Mohsen Nejad after notching a 12-3 technical fall over Firuz TUKHTAEV (UZB)

11:55: Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) goes four gut wrenches from par terre to win his quarterfinal at 97kg 10-0 against Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN). He is looking for his first gold at 97kg

11:45: At 60kg on Mat A, world silver medalist Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) and Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) both won handily. The two are favorites to meet in the final

11:42: Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) scores a 2-point takedown at the edge with :05 left to knock off Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) in the 60kg quarterfinals. 

11:32: Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB ) needed little time to finish off Vikas VIKAS (IND) at 72kg, gaining a takedown and four back-and-forth gut wrenches for an 8-0 technical fall in :40.

11:30: The action is ready to start on Day 2 in chilly Ulaanbaatar, with the final five weight classes in Greco, 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg.

#UnitedWorldWrestling

Lalovic attends WADA Conference, completes development visits in Asia

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 8) -- United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC, who serves on the WADA Executive Committee as an IOC representative, attended the 2025 WADA World Conference held from December 1 to 5 in Busan, Korea.

The conference brought together the global anti-doping community for high-level discussions on the World Anti-Doping Program, with a key focus on approving the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards. The revision process, launched in September 2023, has allowed stakeholders to contribute to strengthening and modernizing the global anti-doping system.

Nenad LALOVIC

Development visits

President Lalovic also completed wrestling-related visits to China, Korea, and Kyrgyzstan, reinforcing UWW’s commitment to supporting National Federations and expanding the sport across the region.

In each country, Lalovic emphasized UWW’s ongoing efforts to deepen cooperation with National Federations, increase engagement, and grow wrestling at the elite and grassroots levels. He encouraged federations to integrate wrestling programs into schools, offering more opportunities for young athletes to enter the sport.

Nenad LALOVIC

A key area of discussion was UWW’s development strategy leading into the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle, including updates on Olympic qualification, the Pro Series, and opportunities available to National Federations.

In China, meetings were held with Vice Minister of General Administration of Sport of China Lixin TONG and Vice President of National Olympic Committee of China Jinqiang ZHOU.

UWW also recently announced the addition of Raul TRUJILLO DIAZ, longtime coach of Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) and recipient of the 2025 IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award, to support global development of Greco-Roman. Lalovic highlighted that such initiatives strengthen the sport and promote valuable exchanges of expertise among federations and coaches.

MoU

MoU signed in Kyrgyzstan

During the visit to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan inaugurated a new wrestling arena and academy, marking a significant step forward in its cooperation with UWW.

A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between UWW and Izabekov Wrestling Academy to expand development programs and training opportunities in the country.

Accompanied by UWW Asia President Mohammad Al-AWAMLEH and Secretary General Carlos ROY, Lalovic met with representatives of the Kyrgyzstan federation to discuss regional initiatives and long-term development plans.

On December 6, Lalovic was received by Sadyr JAPAROV, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, to whom he presented the UWW medal in recognition of his support for wrestling.