#WrestleAlmaty

Otoguro repeats as 65kg champ without a fight as Punia injury aborts anticipated clash

By United World Wrestling Press

The highly anticipated third clash of the Asian 65kg titans never made it to the mat, and after receiving an injury default from rival Bajrang PUNIA (IND), Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) said he would love for the match to happen this summer in Tokyo.

Former world champion Otoguro repeated as 65kg champion at the Asian Championships when Punia pulled out of the final due to an elbow injury suffered during his semifinal match earlier Saturday in Almaty.

"It feels weird to not wrestle," said Punia, for whom the silver becomes the sixth Asian medal of his career. "This is the first time ever I have said no to a bout internationally against a person from another country. It feels bad."

Ravi KUMAR (IND) also retained his Asian crown when he defeated Alireza SARLAK (IRI) 9-4 in the 57kg final, as the five golds up for grabs went to wrestlers from five different nations on Day 5 of the six-day tournament in the empty Baluan Sholak Palace of Culture and Sports.

Otoguro, who was competing for the first time since his victory over Punia in the final at last year's Asian Championships in New Delhi, was disappointed that the match with the Indian star was aborted, but accepted that injuries are part and parcel to the sport.

"A final with Bajrang is always an interesting match, and I was really looking forward to it," Otoguro said. "He also wrestles hard and has his share of injuries. It can't be helped.

"I look forward to having a match at the Tokyo Olympics."

The two had first met in the final at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, where a then-19-year-old Otoguro came out on top in a wild 16-9 victory that made him the youngest freestyle world champion in Japan history.

Otoguro, who graduated from Yamanashi Gakuin University in March, said he was able to continue training for the most part, as Yamanashi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, was not hard-hit by the coronavirus. "At the very least, I could run in the mountains," he said.

He participated in sporadically scheduled national team training camps, and then prepared for Almaty as a new member of the sports division of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, into which he was inducted in March. His older brother Keisuke, who will compete tomorrow at 74kg, is also a member.

Asked about being in what is regarded as the most competitive weight class, Otoguro responded, "I'm happy that I can fight in the weight class with the highest level. I welcome the challenge of beating them."

In the 57kg final, Kumar outlasted Sarlak for a victory that left the Iranian in tears after they kept trading scoring moves, but Kumar's were for bigger points.

"The feeling to be a champion again is unexplainable," Kumar said. "It has been long. I lost one tournament last year so it’s great to be back on top position," he said, referring to a loss by fall at the World Cup in Serbia.

In the first period, Kumar interspersed a takedown and 2-point barrel roll with three stepouts by Sarlak for a 4-3 lead. The two exchanged stepouts to start the second period, before the 2019 world bronze medalist pulled away with two takedowns in the last 1:15.

"The Iran wrestler was really good, but this was my first bout with him so I was keeping it normal," he said. "I wasn’t trying to do too much."

The surprise of the finals came at 79kg, where Byungmin GONG (KOR) edged 2020 bronze medalist Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) 5-3, scoring a takedown with 11 seconds left for his third straight close win of the competition.

Byungmin GONG (KOR)
Byungmin GONG (KOR) after winning the final of 79kg in Almaty. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko HOTAKA)

"Korean freestyle wrestling has not been so good in the past couple of years and I am happy to change that to a certain extent with this gold medal," said Gong, a 2018 Asian Games bronze medalist at 74kg. "I am happy to be part of this tradition."

In the final, Savadkouhi was going behind when Gong clamped down on his arm and turned him over for 2, after which the Iranian finished off his move for a 1-point reversal.

In the second period, Savadkouhi looked to have clinched the victory when he came out of a flurry in control for 2 with :16 left, only to be caught in a double-leg tackle that allowed Gong to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

"Regardless of who the opponent is, I always go into the bout to beat them," said Gong, whose combined margin of victory in his three matches was three points (he won his semifinal 5-5).

"[My coaches and I] developed a strategy that whatever happens, keep calm," he said. "Play it safe but don't back down. Play cool, calm and collective."

Gong already has his next challenge lined up -- dropping to 74kg to enter the final Olympic qualifying tournament in Sofia next month.

"I am not going to lie, it is going to be hard in 74kg at Sofia. But I just want to wrestle hard and adapt to the situation whenever it arises. I think that is the best I can do."

For Savadkouhi, the 2019 Asian U-23 champion, all that is left is to reflect on what might have been. "I can't believe the mistakes I made in the final," he said. "I was not able to win the gold and it pains me."

In contrast to Gong's tight path to gold, Ali SHABANIBENGAR (IRI) was totally dominant at 97kg, steamrolling 2020 bronze medalist Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) 12-2 in the final for his third technical fall in three matches.

Shabanigengar got a stepout late in the first period to take a 3-2 lead into the second, but opened the floodgates with a 4-point ankle pick that he followed with a 2-point gut wrench.

An unsuccessful challenge added a point, which provided the necessary margin of difference when he dumped Yergali during a single-leg takedown to end the match at 3:44.

"Thank God that I got a gold medal at the Asian Championships, and I thank God that I could defeat my opponent so dominantly," said Shabanibengar, a 2018 world U-23 bronze medalist.

The host nation earned the other gold of the night, when two-time world junior medalist Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) scored four points in the second period of an 6-2 victory over Sirojiddin KHASANOV (UZB) in an at-times tempestuous 70kg final.

Khasanov had a 2-2 lead on criteria after the first period, but got a takedown and two stepouts -- after the second one, Khasanov gave him a little shove to the head -- to add the Asian senior title to the junior one he won in 2019.

"I am really happy to win the competition since we are hosting at home," Talgat said. "I felt the responsibility to win at home.

"All of my opponents were prepared and were tough, so to win gold against them was a good thing. Most of my opponents had already competed at the senior level, but for me it was the first time."

In the bronze-medal matches, Narsingh YADAV (IND) picked up his first major medal since returning last year from a four-year doping ban, defeating Ahmed AL GBURI (IRQ) 8-2 at 79kg.

Yadav last brought home hardware in 2015, when he won world and Asian bronze medals at 74kg. Yadav, who placed 13th at the London 2012 Olympics, won the Asian title back in 2010.

Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ) returned to the medal podium for the first time since 2016, again to receive a bronze, when he rolled to a 10-0 technical fall over Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ) in the other third-place match at 79kg.

Yuto TAKESHITA (JPN) extended Japan's run of bronze medalists at 57kg to four straight years, posting a solid 7-0 victory over Muhammad BILAL (PAK). Takeshita followed in the footsteps of 2017 world and Asian champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN), who had back-to-back third-place finishes in 2019 and 2020, and Tomohiro HASEGAWA (JPN), a bronze medalist in 2018.

Morteza GHIASI CHEKA (IRI), one of the group of up-and-coming wrestlers dispatched by Iran for international seasoning, added a bronze medal to the Middle East powerhouse's tally with victory by fall over Nodir RAKHIMOV (UZB).

Ghiasi Cheka had levered Rakhimov to his back to go up 7-0 when the Uzbek called it a day with 10 seconds left.

Satywart KADIAN (IND), a silver medalist at 97kg a year ago, captured his third career Asian bronze, and he couldn't have cut any closer. He scored the winning takedown at the buzzer, and with an unsuccessful challenge point added, came away with a 5-2 win over Minwon SEO (KOR).

The other bronzes went to: Nodirjon SAFAROV (UZB) at 57kg, Yongseok JEONG (KOR) at 65kg, Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ) and Karan MOR (IND) at 70kg, and Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) at 97kg.

The tournament wraps up Sunday with competition in the other five weight classes in freestyle, 61g, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg.

Featured is the return of world and Olympic champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) to the Asian Championships at 86kg for the first time since 2018, when he won the gold in his lone appearance.

Yazdani, the 2019 world champion, has lost only once since 2016, a first-round loss to David TAYLOR (USA) at the 2018 worlds, where he went on to win a bronze medal.

Day 5 Results Freestyle

Finals

57kg (12 entries)
GOLD - Ravi KUMAR (IND) df. Alireza SARLAK (IRI), 9-4
BRONZE - Nodirjon SAFAROV (UZB) df. Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE) by TF, 12-2, 3:55
BRONZE - Yuto TAKESHITA (JPN) df. Muhammad BILAL (PAK), 7-0

65kg (11 entries)
GOLD - Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) df. Bajrang PUNIA (IND) by Default
BRONZE - Yongseok JEONG (KOR) df. Bilguun SARMANDAKH (MGL), 4-4
BRONZE - Morteza GHIASI CHEKA (IRI) df Nodir RAKHIMOV (UZB) by Fall, 5:50 (7-0)

70kg (10 entries)
GOLD - Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) df. Sirojiddin KHASANOV (UZB), 6-2
BRONZE - Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ) df. Perman HOMMADOV (TKM), 6-1
BRONZE - Karan MOR (IND) df. Seungbong LEE (KOR), 3-1

79kg (11 entries)
GOLD - Byungmin GONG (KOR) d. Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI), 5-3
BRONZE - Narsingh YADAV (IND) df. Ahmed AL GBURI (IRQ), 8-2
BRONZE - Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ) df. Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ) by TF, 10-0, 6:00

97kg (11 entries)
GOLD - Ali SHABANIBENGAR (IRI) df. Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) by TF, 12-2, 3:44
BRONZE - Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) df. Altangerel CHINBAT (MGL), 1-1
BRONZE - Satywart KADIAN (IND) df. Minwon SEO (KOR), 5-2

#wrestlebishkek, #WrestleParis

Top Asian stars battle for Paris 2024 spots at Olympic qualifier

By Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 18) -- Japan is the only nation from Asia to earn all six quotas in any style but other nations will be hoping to increase their 2024 Paris Olympic qualification as the Asian OG Qualifier begins in Bishkek from April 19.

The competition will offer 36 quotas in three styles, 12 in each style. The winner of the semifinals in each Olympic weight class will earn a Paris Olympic quota for their countries. There will be no gold and bronze-medal bouts as well as no repechage.

At the World Championships, wrestlers from Asia were able to win 32 out of the 90 available quotas with 12 each in Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling. Freestyle wrestlers, however, could only win eight quotas. That being the case, the qualifiers in Bishkek have received more entries in Freestyle than the other two.

Here's a brief preview of each Olympic weight class:

57kg: Asian champion AMAN (IND) will be looking to earn a spot for India but will face a big challenge from Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) who will look to return to the Olympics. As Aman is seeded number two and Abdullaev is three, both should clash in the semifinal if the seeds hold.

Asian Games silver medalist Chong Song HAN (PRK) will have the responsibility of winning the quota for the DPR Korea. Iran is banking on Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) while Kyrgyzstan has U23 Asian champion Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ). Yerassyl MUKHTARULY (KAZ), who was second to Almaz Uulu at the U23 event, will be in for Kazakhstan.

65kg: With only Iran qualifying from the World Championships, a few strong countries will battle it out for the two spots at 65kg. Local star Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), who qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 with a dramatic pin over Ilyas BELBULATOV (UZB), will hope to repeat that success.

Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) failed to win the domestic competition in Japan and lost his right to represent Japan at the qualifiers and the Olympics. Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN), who defeated Otoguro in the final in Japan, will have the responsibility of earning the qualification for Japan.

Asian Championships silver medalist Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) lost in the national trials to Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL) who will be in Bishkek. Asian Games bronze medalist Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) is entered for the DPR Korea.

Former U20 world champion Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) will be one of the favorites to win the quota as well along with U20 Asian champion Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) who is seeded number one.

74kg: If the seeds hold, seed number two Yones EMAMI (IRI) likely gets number three Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) in the semifinals for the Paris quota. Former Asian champion Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) is unseeded for the tournament and drawn at random. 

Feng LU (CHN) is seeded number one in the bracket and also has Asian Games bronze medalist Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) in the mix. Former Asian Championships Byungmin GONG (KOR) will look to earn one for Korea.

86kg: Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) will look to earn the second Paris Olympic quota after Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN). Sharipov will be seeded number one for the tournament and can face Tokyo Olympic fifth-placer Deepak PUNIA (IND) for a place in Paris.

Zushen LIN (CHN) is the number two seed for the tournament with Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) taking the third spot. But it will be Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) who will be the biggest threat to all the competitors.

97kg: It won't be the 92kg world champion Aitmukhan RIZABEK (KAZ) for Kazakhstan at 97kg in the qualifiers. He won a silver medal at the Asian Championships but Kazakhstan is going ahead with Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), who also gets the top seed.

His seed avoids a battle with Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) who defeated Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the Zagreb Open at the beginning of the year. Veteran and Rio 2016 bronze medalist Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) is seeded third and battle with Azarpira for the spot in Paris looks unavoidable.

Fourth seed and former Asian silver medalist Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) will fancy his chances as well. 20-year-old Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), who finished a commendable fifth at last year's World Championships at 92kg, can upend all the established wrestlers.

125kg: Tokyo Olympians Zhiwei DENG (CHN) and Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) will avoid each other in the tournament and hope to earn Olympic quotas for their respective nations. Former world silver medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) will be one of the favorites to win the quota along with Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) and former age-group star Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB).

Vinesh PHOGAT (IND)Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) will compete at 50kg at the Asian OG Qualifier. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg: With three out of five quotas won by Asian countries at the World Championships, the 50kg weight class is wide open. The biggest surprise is 53kg world bronze medalist and Tokyo Olympian VINESH (IND) moving down to 50kg in a bid to earn the quota for India.

Vinesh moved up from 50kg to 53kg in 2019 and won the world bronze medal to earn a Tokyo Olympics spot. But ANTIM (IND) won with a 53kg quota for the Paris Olympics at the World Championships, Vinesh moved to 50kg to remain in contention for Paris. 

The biggest challenge for the Indian star will be Asian Games silver medalist Son Hyang KIM (PRK) who is one of the strongest 50kg wrestlers. Asian Games bronze medalist Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) is also in the mix.

53kg: Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN) is the biggest name at 53kg with the Paris 2024 quota on line. 2022 world silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) is also entered as she replaces Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bortulya BAT OCHIR (MGL).

57kg: Kexin HONG (CHN) won a bronze medal at the Asian Games and began this year with a big win over Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) at the Zagreb Open. She will be the top seed in the tournament. She will avoid a clash with Asian Games silver medalist In Sun JONG (PRK) who is seeded third. Jong defeated Hong 4-2 in the semifinals in Hangzhou.

Tokyo Olympian ANSHU (IND) returns to international competition since last year's Asian Championships and will look to win a 57kg quota for India. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) and former Asia silver medalist Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) are also in the mix.

62kg: Asian Games champion Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) will be the best bet for the DPR Korea to win a quota at 62kg. She will unlikely to face any challenges unless Tokyo Olympian Jia LONG (CHN) and former world champs Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) are drawn on her side. 

68kg: With only seven wrestlers entered at 68kg, the draw will be Nelson style and the wrestlers will be divided into two groups of four and three. The top two wrestlers from each wrestler will reach the semifinal. The top wrestler in Group A will face second-placed wrestlers in Group B.

Feng ZHOU (CHN) will be in Group A as the top seed and will avoid Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) who is number two. Former world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) is seeded number three and likely to be placed in Group B. 

That leaves former Asian Championships silver medalist NISHA (IND) and Sol Gum PAK (PRK) to be drawn at random in the bracket.

76kg: Another weight class with seven wrestlers and two groups. Asian Games bronze medalist and silver medalist at the Zagreb Open this year Juan WANG (CHN) takes the top spot in the seeding. But two-time world silver medalist at 72kg Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) has to be the favorite to win one of the two spots available at 76kg.

U23 world champion REETIKA (IND) and Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) also can win the Paris spots.

Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN)Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) and Abror ATABAEV (UZB) will be wrestling at 67kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

60kg: The Greco-Roman 60kg was the only weight class at the World Championships that saw all five qualifications from one continent. With Kyrgyzstan, Japan, China, Uzbekistan and Iran qualified, two more Asian countries have a chance to win the quota for Paris.

A bronze medalist at the 2022 World Championships Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) will have a good chance to put Kazakhstan in for the Paris 2024 along with India represented by U20 World Championships silver medalist SUMIT (IND).

Former two-time Asian silver medalist and Asian Games bronze medalist Se Ung RI (PRK) will be an unseeded wrestler in the bracket with Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK) taking the top seed.

67kg: A few stars will have to return empty-handed from Bishkek as the 67kg bracket draws some big names. Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) will be the top seed and Rovshen ATDAYEV (TKM) the second but it is Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN), HUSIYUETU (CHN), Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), Hansu RYU (KOR), Yong Jin RO (PRK) and Abror ATABAEV (UZB) who look to the top names to earn the two spots for Paris.

Sogabe was involved in a thrilling bout against Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) which he lost. He would be keen to earn the spot he missed in Belgrade. However, for that, he will have to go through a strong bracket. Challenging him will be Ryu, who is looking to enter his fourth Olympics. Asian Games silver medalist Shermakhanbet is another big threat to all other competitors.

Former U17 world champiom Atabaev along with Husiyuetu and Ro can upset the established stars in Bishkek.

77kg: Asian Games silver medalist Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) will have the task of earning a Paris 2024 quota for Iran. He will be the favorite as he lost only to Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) at the Games. 

He defeated Rui LIU (CHN), who is entered, 1-1 at the Asian Games. Liu earlier defeated VIKAS (IND) 9-1. This leaves top seed Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) as the other favorite to secure a place. 

87kg: Asian Games champion Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) and Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) are seeded number two and three for the qualifiers which means only one of Uzbekistan and Iran will earn a quota for Paris 2024. Berdimuratov reached the quarterfinals at the World Championships while Mohmadipiani moved to 87kg at the start of this year.

A win for Mohmadipiani and Kaviyaninejad at 77kg will make Iran the first time to qualify all six weights in Greco-Roman.

Former Asian champion Sunil KUMAR (IND) and Soh SAKABE (JPN) will also be in the bracket.

97kg: Veteran Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), the top seed, is looking to qualify for yet another Olympics. He will have to go through a bracket that has Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ) and Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) as the biggest challengers.

Yiming LI (CHN) and NITESH (IND) will be the dark horses in this weight class.

130kg: Seungchan LEE (KOR), who finished 12th at the World Championships, will be seeded number one at 130kg. Iran and China, the two biggest nations in Greco-Roman in Asia, have already won the quotas.

Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) and Roman KIM (KGZ) will have the best chance to earn the spot for Paris with NAVEEN (IND) and Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB) also in the fray if the bracket plans out well for them.