Pedigreed Pakistani aims to revive illustrious family legacy via Japan

Sunday, March 20, 2022 - 13:04 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO, Japan (March 21) -- The quest started from a bond formed over a half-century ago in a pro wrestling match and meant leaving the comfort of home and traveling 6,000 kilometers to a country where he did not speak the language, to train in a sport he had never done.

But when Haroon ABID (PAK) accepted the challenge to move to Japan as a teenager to become a wrestler, he was not acting in self-interest. It became a mission to revive a family legacy in the sport that dates back centuries.

"The reason that I came to Japan was to regain the name of my family members because we had a long history," Abid said in a recent interview in the wrestling room at collegiate powerhouse Nippon Sports Science University, where he is finishing up his senior year and has found remarkable success despite his late start in wrestling.

"But it is old, people have forgotten it. So I want to be the key that people still remember us."

In his four years at NSSU (referred to locally as "Nittaidai") from 2018-2021, Abid finished second or third every year at either of the two national collegiate championships at freestyle 97kg or 125kg. He even dabbled in Greco-Roman, finishing as runner-up at 97kg in 2019.

"In terms of natural ability, he has what it takes," said NSSU head coach Shingo MATSUMOTO, who won nine straight national Greco titles from 1999 to 2007. "If he didn't, he wouldn't have achieved what he did. He was in a Japanese training environment and that led to his progress in high school and college."

As laudable as his achievements are, for the 22-year-old Lahore native, the ultimate way to restore the family to prominence is to get to the Olympics, and ideally, win a medal. Pakistan has not had a wrestling entry at the Olympics since 1996, and its lone medal was won in 1960.

ABID Haroon ABID (PAK) gets in on a tackle against Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) in the repechage round of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers at 125kg. (Photo: UWW)

Abid had a shot at making last year's Tokyo Olympics, but circumstances linked to the pandemic left him less than prepared, plus he agreed to yield the Pakistan spot at 97kg for the Asian qualifier to veteran teammate Muhammad IMAM (PAK) and competed at 125kg instead. He dropped back down to 97kg for the tougher World Olympic Qualifier but lost his first match.

"I was not properly trained for those," Abid said. "Because of corona [COVID-19] and all, the training was closed at Nittaidai. We were not allowed to go out of our dorms, so were stuck in the rooms. So I didn't have much time.

"The Olympics is not a little dream, a lot of people have that dream in their mind. It's not that easy, you don't train for a few months and go and participate. I was not well prepared, but I tried my best in the time I had."

Time spent going to Pakistan ahead of the qualifiers also put him behind in his classes at NSSU, and he will not be graduating with his class later this month. But his path to qualifying for Paris 2024 is clear, as he recently signed a deal with the Japan pro-wrestling circuit Noah that will allow him to continue to train full-time at NSSU, which has a spacious campus with top-notch facilities in suburban Yokohama, 40 minutes by train and bus southwest of Tokyo.

"I think it's good at the start because right now, they gave me permission to do wrestling," Abid said. "I don't have to go there and train. I just have to come here [to NSSU]. It's more of a sponsorship. And they gave me the chance, if you want to do pro wrestling in the future, you can do it. It's my choice. That's really nice of them."

ABID Haroon ABID (PAK) poses with Narihiro TAKEDA, director of CyberFight, the parent company of Pro Wrestling Noah, to announce his signing a post-graduation contract with Noah. (Photo: ©Noah)

Chance of a lifetime

Nothing could have prepared Abid for the chance of a lifetime that came his way when he was 14.

A diligent student at the prestigious Bloomfield Hall School in Lahore, he was looking toward a career in business and perhaps following his father into money exchange and real estate.

Instead, his career path veered toward that of his revered ancestors.

Abid had grown up hearing the tales of his great-grandfather Imam BAKSH, a great champion and brother of Gulam BAKSH, who earned the title "The Great Gama." Both were unbeaten superstars in the early 20th century who defeated all-comers both at home and abroad in matches fought on the sand. They moved from India to Pakistan after the partition in 1947.

"It's called pro wrestling, but it was actual wrestling," Abid said. "It was not decided who was going to win and lose. The strong one is going to win. So they were training so hard for that."

Imam Baksh had five sons who kept up the family tradition in wrestling in the next generation. One would have a match that would change the course of a future grandson of one of his brothers.

In the 1970s, pro wrestling was flourishing in Japan and the biggest star was Antonio INOKI, a giant with a jutting jaw who would later become world famous for a special match in the ring against boxing legend Mohammad ALI.

In 1976, Inoki fought and won a special-rules match with Abid's great-uncle Akram PAHALWAN, whose glory days were already well behind him. Watching that match was a teenaged Zubair JHARA -- Abid's uncle -- who vowed to avenge the loss. Three years later, he did just that in a match in Pakistan.

Inoki Haroon ABID (PAK), right, with Japan's pro-wrestling great Antonio INOKI, sitting, and Abid's father.

Fast forward four decades and Inoki, who had served several terms in the Japanese Diet while continuing his pro wrestling career, was visiting Pakistan to promote a sports friendship festival.

While there, he decided to look up his old friend and rival Jhara. When he learned that this iconic wrestling family had not had anybody in the sport for nearly three decades, Inoki made a generous offer -- he would cover the expenses for a family member to come to Japan for school and to become a wrestler.

But who would it be?

Abid was athletic, but had only limited exposure to sports, mainly in team sports like cricket, basketball and soccer. He had never taken part in any kind of combat sport.

"I knew that my family belonged to a wrestling background, but it was all finished, so I was not doing that much sports at that time," Abid said. "I was just studying and all that stuff.

"I was interested in wrestling because I had a wrestling background, but around me, none of our family members were doing it. I used to watch WWE and used to watch Olympic wrestling, too. But I was not doing anything."

And yet he became the Chosen One.

"He asked somebody to meet some member of the family, and I don't know for what reason he picked me," Abid said. "I can't tell, why me? Because I was not doing sports at that time. No gym, no sports, nothing. I was just a normal teenager. I'm so thankful that he chose me, but I don't know the reason behind that."

Abid was not rushed into the decision and was flown over to Japan to see what it was like. He had been planning to study abroad anyway, so being away from home was not an issue. His father, who had wrestled but never at a high level, favored his going, but with a caveat.

"He said, 'If you go into it, you have to go all in it. It's not like you can go halfway then you leave. It's not like that,'" Abid said. "So I was thinking about it and I saw that my family was happy, so I thought I should give it a try because of that. I have a passion, too, that I wanted to do that."

ABID Haroon ABID (PAK) has the upper hand in the 120kg match of the team final of the national high school invitational championships in March 2017, helping Nittadai Kashiwa win the title. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation)

New life in Japan

Although he came over to Japan to start a wrestling career. Abid actually spent his first year learning judo instead.

Inoki had a connection with Nippon Sports Science University, so it was arranged that he would go to one of its affiliated high schools, Nittaidai Ebara in Tokyo. The only problem was that it did not have a wrestling team. So he learned judo as he endured culture shocks that included his first experience of living in a dormitory.

"The place where I was staying in my school when I came, it had like eight people to a room," he said. "And we used the same bathroom... I had to wait for the last member to take a shower. I was like, what did I get myself into? But it was nice, it was a good experience. It's good to have new friends."

He also took to the new sport, enough so that when another Nittaidai-affiliated high school in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, started a wrestling team, the Ebara coach tried to get him to stay.

"Judo was also a really good experience. My coach at that time, Kokubo-sensei, told me that you can stay with us. We will give you all of the expenses. At the time, Inoki-san was supporting me. He said I can leave him and we will support you if you want to do judo. And he used to tell me that judo was more famous in Japan.

"But I came here for wrestling, so I had to shift."

Abid recalled that his first impression of Japan was that it was nothing like he had imagined. Coming from an upper-middle-class family in Pakistan, he did not expect just how compact a sprawling city like Tokyo can be.

"Japan is such a well-known place, so I thought there would be big homes. But when I came, they sleep on the floor, they were so humble. I was like, damn, it was the opposite of what I thought Japan would be.

"Now I am used to it, but it was completely different than I had thought. There were big buildings, but I thought there would be robots and all. [And] everyone uses the train in Japan, so you can't judge who is rich or poor. That's the nice part of Japan."

For his second year of high school, Abid made the move to Kashiwa, which had newer facilities and the dorm only had four to a room. The sport-oriented school also had more foreign students, which made it easier for him to adjust.

"It was a good school," he said. "It was clean; Ebara was clean, too, but Kashiwa was like new beds and all that stuff, so it was a good place to study. The competition was very good, too. "

Abid said it took him six or seven months to achieve a passable level of Japanese, which became a necessity in one aspect.

"For me, I'm a Muslim, so I can't eat pork and I have to tell people, I can't eat this, I can't eat that, so I had to learn really fast. That was the reason I learned Japanese really fast."

He also made rapid progress in wrestling. In just his second year in the sport, he finished third at 120kg at both the national invitational high school championships and the Inter-High tournament, both of which had over 45 entries in his weight class. For good measure, he took the silver medal at Greco 120kg in the high school division at the National Games.

Abid chalks his success up to more than good genes. "I had a really good partner," he said. "He was from Mongolia, and he was also 125. So I got used to training with heavy guys. That was a really plus point for me. And that guy was strong, too, he was also an Inter-high champion. So I had the confidence that I was training with this guy and taking points, too. That's why I could [do well]."

In all three tournaments, he was defeated by Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN), who would become his teammate at NSSU and last December placed second at the senior All-Japan Championships at Greco 97kg. Abid is not eligible to take part in the All-Japan.

ABID Haroon ABID (PAK) is aiming to get to Paris 2024 and become the first wrestler from Pakistan to make the Olympics since 1996. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation)

Overcoming nerves

With eyes on Paris 2024, Abid is still looking for his first victory over a non-Japanese opponent outside of Japan.

Aside from facing foreign opponents from other schools in Japan, Abid was poised to face global competition for the first time at the Asian Junior Championships in 2018 in New Delhi.

But he was unable to get a visa to enter his ancestral homeland, and his international debut was pushed back to the same tournament the next year in Chonburi, Thailand.

In Chonburi, he lost his opening match in the quarterfinals at freestyle 97kg to Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM), then the bronze-medal match to Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ).

In 2021, he was dealt a succession of first-round losses: to Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) in the qualification round at 125kg in the Asian Olympic qualifier (followed by a repechage loss to Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ)); to Minwon SEO (KOR) at 97kg at the Asian Championships; and to Timofei XENIDIS (GRE) at 97kg the World Olympic qualifier.

"He has continually been improving," NSSU coach Matsumoto said. "During the pandemic, he could not leave Pakistan for an extended period during Tokyo Olympic qualifying. If he has an environment in which he can continually train and prepare, he will become stronger and look ahead to the next competition."

No doubt the pandemic had an effect by curtailing his preparation. But there is another reason for his lack of success, as well as his failure to win a major collegiate title at NSSU. Granted, he made plenty of podiums, but, save for a victory at the spring newcomers tournament in his freshman year, he never ascended to the highest step.

For Abid, who said his next tournament will likely be the Asian Games in China in September, every match is as much a battle against nerves as an opponent.

"In matches, I'm not as good as in practice," he said. "I don't know why, I can't say I'm still at the start, it's been seven years I've been wrestling. But I need more competitions so I can gain more confidence."

Looking back at his first international outing in Thailand, he said, "I was prepared well, but the pressure was immense. It was not me on the mat. I couldn't move properly like I could in the training because it was my first international match.

"My family was looking at me, and there were all different people around me. I wasn't scared, but I was a bit under pressure. I would have gotten a medal in that [tournament], but after that match, I thought I really need to work hard."

ABID Haroon ABID (PAK) has had success at Greco-Roman in Japan. Here he battles Yamanashi Gakuin University's Bakhdaulet ALMENTAY (KAZ) in the 97kg final of national collegiate championships in October 2019. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation)

Abid points to two matches that he said helped boost his confidence. Ironically, both were in Greco, which he decided to do because it gives him a chance to enter more tournaments. It was how he held his own against expectations that makes the encounters --- one was even a defeat -- so significant.

Back in 2019, Abid made the final of the national collegiate Greco championships with a semifinal victory over Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN), who last year won the senior national and was an Asian bronze medalist title at freestyle 97kg.

"Everyone was telling me he's strong and I beat him," Abid said. "And it was a good point-difference [6-0], so that match really gave me a boost.

In the final, he would fall to Bakhdaulet ALMENTAY (KAZ), who went undefeated in his career at rival Yamanashi Gakuin University. Almentay would also defeat Abid in one freestyle final.

"I didn't beat him, but it was a good match between us, you couldn't tell who would win," he said. "Even though it was in Greco, when I came back from the match, I had gained that confidence of being among the best in Japan, and I could be that good."

It's an attitude that would make his ancestors proud. Now he has to back it up with deeds on the mat, and he's determined to fulfill his quest. Getting to Paris 2024 would make him the first Pakistani wrestler at an Olympics since Mohammad BHALA competed at the 1996 Atlanta Games at freestyle 90kg.

The Southeast Asian nation's lone Olympic wrestling medal came in Rome in 1960 with Mohamed BASHIR's bronze at freestyle 73kg, and it has not had a world medalist since winning two bronzes in 1959.

"I'm definitely going to be the Olympics at Paris 2024," Abid declared. "I have that confidence right now. For sure, I'm going to be in that match. For sure."

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships 2026 Preview

Friday, April 3, 2026 - 20:30 By Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 3) -- Soon after Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) became the Olympic champion in 2024, he went missing from the wrestling world. Past injuries and two surgeries kept him out of action for close to two years, skipping the entire 2025 and early 2026 season.

But the Paris Olympic champion at 74kg is returning to action at the Asian Championships in Bishkek, from April 6 to 12 at 79kg, leading a young Uzbekistan team.

"I missed wrestling," Jamalov said. "It was tough watching others win medals while I couldn't. It made me feel more motivated to win."

Jamalov will have a chance to win his first medal at the Asian Championships, which will be his debut continental championships in Asia. At 79kg, Jamalov should not face much trouble but will be checked as he has wrestled only five matches against Asian wrestlers in his career.

The foremost will be Iran's defending Asian champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI), who also won U20 world gold last year. Another challenge will be the weight class itself as Jamalov will be wrestling at his highest weight in his career.

"I have wrestled Asian wrestlers before and I know their style," he said. "I will try to wrestle according to my style and make it challenging for them."

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), red, and Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) during the 70kg final at the 2022 Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Bayrem Ben Mard)

Weight to Watch

The 70kg weight class will be one of the toughest in Bishkek with three world medalists entered along with two returning medalists.

Defending champion and world bronze medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) will lead the challenge against a field that also has world silver medalist Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) and former world and Asian champion Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN).

Returning to the Asian Championships for the first time in four years, Narikuni will also be wrestling 72kg Greco-Roman in a bid to win double titles. In 2022, won Freestyle 70kg gold after beating Akmataliev in a memorable final.

Akmataliev will look to avenge that loss in front of his home fans and also keep the gold medal with himself. He defeated Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) last year but the Tajikistan wrestler is returning with the hopes of upgrading his silver to gold.

U23 world silver medalist and returning bronze medalist Sina KHALILI (IRI) will also be looking for some revenge especially against Rassadin who defeated the Iranian in the opening round last year.

97kg battle

Can Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) return to golden ways or will Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) defend his title? Will Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) come back and sail through the field?

All the questions will be answered in Bishkek as the 97kg battle heats up. World silver medalist Azarpira and world bronze medalists Yoshida and Tazhudinov are among the favorites to win gold. Yoshida is the defending champion but did not wrestle Tazhudinov, who pulled out late from the tournament last year.

Tazhudinov has been off-color for a few tournaments now, losing at the World Championships and later at the Islamic Solidarity Games. Azarpira was the one who handed Tazhudinov the defeat in the semifinals of the World Championships in a very tactical bout. He will be in the race to win gold in Bishkek but a match against Yoshida will be a fan-delight.

Former U20 world champion at 92kg, Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) will also be in the mix but may find the going tough as he is still adjusting to the new weight class.

Zare Leads Iran

Iran is bringing a young team to Bishkek but has world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) lead the pack. He will be the favorite to win the 125kg gold medal despite the presence of Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), perhaps the second-best heavyweight around the world in action.

U20 world and Asian champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) will be making his senior debut at 125kg and will look to at least finish on the podium.

At 86kg, Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) will look to put a disappointing end to last year and start with a gold medal at the Asian Championships, a feat that should not be a hard one to achieve.

Mobin AZIMI (IRI) may face a tougher battle at 92kg with the likes of Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN), Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) and Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) entered in the field. However, Azimi appears to be little ahead in the race to win gold.

Aoyagi Aims 74kg Glory

In the premier weight 74kg, world champion at 70kg Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) will look to add an Asian title to his name. He finished with a bronze medal at 70kg last year. He will face the likes of Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN), Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) and Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), among others in the field.

The 57kg weight remains an open one with returning silver medalist Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) hoping to upgrade his medal. He will be the favorite to be crowned champion. The field also has Zagreb Open bronze medalist Fuga SASAKI (JPN), ANKUSH (IND) and Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ).

Returning bronze medalist Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) and former U23 world silver medalist Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ) are also in the mix to win medals.

Olympic Medalists Collide at 61kg

Paris Olympic bronze medalists Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) and AMAN (IND) are likely to clash at 61kg. Abdullaev, who also won world bronze, has struggled with conditioning in recent times and a bout against Aman will test him. Aman, who won the 61kg gold medal in Zagreb and a former Asian champion at 57kg, will also need to find a way to win a second Asian title.

World silver medalist Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) will challenge them both in the bracket along with former U23 world champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN), who last wrestled when he won gold at the 19th Asian Games in 2023.

Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ), world silver medalist at 57kg, will be at 61kg and wrestling in front of home fans which makes him one of the favorites to win gold.

SUJEET (IND) is unbeaten so far this year, winning golds in Zagreb and Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Will Sujeet Breakthrough?

India's last Asian champion, in a weight class not 57kg, was crowned in 2019 when Bajrang PUNIA (IND) won the 65kg gold in a comeback for ages in Xi'an, China. Now, SUJEET (IND) will look to end that drought and also look to give India an Asian title in three years.

The two gold medals to start the season, in Zagreb and Tirana, put Sujeet in the top position to win gold at 65kg. He will have a familiar foe in Umidjon JALALOV (UZB) in the weight class. When a match between Sujeet and Jalalov has taken place, the Indian has won all four times and the Uzbekistan wrestler will be keen on getting one back to the Indian.

Last year's 61kg Asian champion Takara SUDA (JPN) will be at 65kg in Bishkek and a challenge for Sujeet.

Kaisei TANABE (JPN), Freestyle 65kg champion last year, will try his luck in Greco 63kg this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

GRECO-ROMAN

The Greco-Roman field at the Asian Championships in Bishkek will be highlighted with Olympic and world champions. But a standout story will be that of Kaisei TANABE (JPN). The 65kg Asian champion in Freestyle, is attempting to win the Greco gold at 63kg this year.

Tanabe switching the styles of wrestling was not forced. He tried making the Japan team for both Freestyle and Greco but failed to win the qualifying tournament in the former.

A step ahead of Tanabe is his compatriot Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), a Freestyle world and Asian champion, who is entered in both styles for Bishkek. Narikuni was crowned champion in Freestyle 70kg and Greco 72kg in Japan, making him to first to complete the double in 52 years. He will try to regain his Asian 70kg title and also win gold at Greco 72kg.

A win in Japan at 63kg does make Tanabe a threat but competition in Bishkek will be tough. Erfan JARKANI (IRI), the Zagreb Open champion this year, will be the biggest test for Tanabe as Iran usually brings a style that depends both on strong par terre and conditioning.

Another potential challenger is Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), a former Asian champion in search of another Asian medal since 2021. Despite his lack of form in recent years, Bakhramov brings a tough style.

Narikuni's path at 72kg is similar with Javad REZAEI (IRI), former U23 world silver medalist and Muhamet Malo Ranking Series champion last month, being a favorite to win. Narikuni has an exceptional record in Freestyle but his Greco international debut at the Zagreb World Championships ended in a first-round loss.

Paris Olympic fifth-placer Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) can stop Narikuni in his quest as well. Ismailov will be wrestling in front of his home crowd, giving another advantage. Uzbekistan is going with newbie Shakhzod KUCHKOROV (UZB), who won the bronze medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series.

Olympic and world champion Hadi SARAVI (IRI) will aim to defend his Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran's Champions

Iran still remains the team to beat in Asia and once again the country is bringing a solid squad. Olympic champion Hadi SARAVI (IRI) leads at 97kg along with world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) at 130kg.

Saravi seems to be a notch above the field right now and should have no trouble winning gold. Mirzazadeh too has an upper hand at the highest weight class and will be a clear favorite to win.

Former U20 world champion and Zagreb Open silver medalist Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) has moved up to 97kg with his debut coming in Zagreb. Last year's silver medalist Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) and bronze medalist NITESH (IND) are expected to repeat as medalists.

The breakout star of 2025 Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) will take on the 87kg field. He became the world champion at 82kg in Zagreb, then moved up to 87kg and won the U23 world title a month later.

He starts as the favorite at 87kg but experienced wrestler Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) and world bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) can make his path trickier.

Alisher GANIEV (UZB) will carry Uzbekistan's hopes for the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Uzbekistan with Hopes

This may be the best chance for the ever-improving Uzbekistan team to clear Iran at the Asian level. Despite missing its star Aytjan KHALMANOV (UZB), Uzbekistan is still bringing a good team to Bishkek.

World silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) has a chance to win his first Asian title at 60kg. He lost four of the five finals last year but with lessons from World Championships, in which he put himself under undue pressure, Ganiev is a strong favorite.

Olympic bronze medalist and defending champion Se Ung RI (PRK) will be one of the opponents he needs to get past. Ri has proven to be an extremely strong wrestler, winning bronze at the Asian Games and Paris.

Former U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) will try to establish himself at the senior level, a feat he failed to do at the World Championships. A medal in Bishkek can boost his confidence and make him Iran's first choice at 60kg.

Japan's big-throwing Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) will also hope for a medal. He lost to Ganiev at the Ranking Series in Zagreb but will get a chance to avenge that loss.

Another hopeful for Uzbekistan will be Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), who is now jumping from 77kg to 82kg. Vardanyan won the gold medal last year with a buzzer-beating throw in the final and will hope to use it as motivation.

Former Asian champion and veteran Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) will look to challenge Vardanyan, both being perhaps the most experienced wrestlers in the field.

Then comes Amin HOSSEINI (IRI) who made his international debut in Tirana and won the 82kg gold medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series.

Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) has a good chance to improve on his bronze medal he won last year and claim another historic medal, perhaps gold, for Qatar.

Makhmudov at Home

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) returned to competition at the Islamic Solidarity Games last year and won gold at 77kg. He also wrestled at 82kg in Tirana in February but went home without a medal.

But the Paris bronze medalist returns to the Asian Championships in Bishkek as the favorite at 77kg with fans eager to watch him perform at home.

Last time Makhmudov wrestled in Bishkek, he lost to Nao KUSAKA (JPN) at 77kg but with Kusaka not in the field, Makhmudov should find it smooth sailing to gold.

Iran is betting on Zagreb Open Ranking Series winner Ali OSKOU (IRI). His run in Zagreb was impressive and he will be confident going into the Asian Championships of winning a gold medal.

Chung's Chance

After bringing a long-awaited medal at the World Championships for Korea in Zagreb, Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) can win more silverware for Korea. Chung won silver in Zagreb at 63kg but is moving up to the Olympic weight class of 67kg for the Asian Championships.

Former U20 world champion Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) will be a tough opponent along with returning silver medalist Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ). The change in weight class may hurt Chung's chances rather than improving them.

Others at this weight class include Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN), a world bronze medalist from 2022, U23 Asian champion Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ) and returning bronze medalist Man Gwang SON (PRK).

At 55kg, Zagreb Open finalists Mohammad HOSSEINVAND (IRI) and Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) are likely to reach the final in Bishkek as well. Botirov lost the final in Zagreb to Hosseinvand but will look to avenge that loss if the two meet in Bishkek.

Sara NATAMI (JPN) will look to defend her 57kg Asian title in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

WOMEN'S WRESTLING

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) pulled out of the Asian Championships after an injury. Despite her absence, the favorite at 57kg is still a Japanese, Fujinami's replacement Sara NATAMI (JPN).

The depth of the Japanese team will be on display once again at the Asian Championships as the country looks to dominate. Apart from Natami being the favorite to win as defending champion, world champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), former world and Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN), who is returning to competition for the first time since Paris Olympics, and two former world champions Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) and Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) are also in the squad.

For Natami to defend her title and win her third Asian gold she will have to go past Olympic bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) in her field. Natami had pinned Hong last year on her way to the gold.

Asian champion at 62kg MANISHA (IND) made a drastic step to drop to 57kg and she began the season with gold at the Zagreb Open. Asian Championships, however, will be a different test.

Big-throwing and Sri Lanka's history-maker Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI), former world 53kg silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) and former Asian silver medalist Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) will have a chance to put themselves on the podium.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) will return to the mat for the first since the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki 2.0

Susaki's return will be at 50kg as she prepares for another Olympic cycle after suffering a shock and first international loss at the 2024 Paris Games. The Asian Championships should be a good test for Susaki, who incidentally wrestled her last Asian Championships in Bishkek in 2024 in which she won gold. Susaki will face some familiar foes at the weight class including fellow Paris Olympic bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN).

The Chinese star almost pinned Susaki in the final of the Asian Championships in 2024 before the Japanese managed to comeback and win the gold medal. Feng would look to finally get a win over her.

Son Hyang KIM (PRK), who has wrestled Susaki three times, will look to get one back against the three-time world champion. The two first met at the 2017 Asian Championships and Susaki blanked her en route toher first Asian gold as an 18-year-old.

Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), who has four bronze medals to her name, will have her eyes on reaching the final this time. NEELAM (IND), a returning bronze medalist, can be among the medalists.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) is a two-time Asian champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Morikawa Eyes Hat-Trick

Morikawa has a perfect record at Asian Championships, winning two golds in as many attempts. But Bishkek will be different as those came at 65kg.

Now at 68kg, it presents a tougher challenge with Olympic silver medalist and home favorite Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) as the biggest one. Zhumanazarova has previously shown her mettle on quite a few occasions and with the home fans behind her, Zhumanazarova can upset Morikawa.

Defending champion Zelu LI (CHN) will be another strong contender. Li won bronze at the World Championships at 72kg but is now back to 68kg

Former world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) and young star Mansi LATHER (IND), a 72kg silver medalist at Zagreb Open, also have a chance to stand on the podium.

Ozaki Back at 62kg

After a whirlwind journey from 62kg to 65kg and then to 68kg which saw her win the world title and Olympic bronze, Ozaki is back to 62kg. She won gold at the Zagreb Open and now starts as the favorite for the Asian Championships.

She would also hope to avenge a loss. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Ozaki was leading the final against Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) when the latter used an arm-throw to clinch a 6-6 criteria win. Mun will be in Bishkek, giving an opportunity to Ozaki to avenge that loss.

Two former world champions are also in the fray -- Qi ZHANG (CHN) and Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL). Both will be in line for medals if not the gold along with world bronze medalist Nigina SABIROVA (UZB).

At 53kg, Kiyooka will hope to regain the Asian title she lost last year. In a one-sided final, Hyo Gyong CHOE (PRK) defeated her 12-1 at 53kg. With Choe not in the field, Kiyooka will be keen to win the gold medal.

She will still have to deal with former U20 world champion and senior silver medalist Jin ZHANG (CHN) and MEENAKSHI (IND) among others.

Japan will also hope that two youngsters can win gold medals in Bishkek.

Zagreb Open champion Nana IKEHATA (JPN) at 65kg and Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) have a great chance to add to Japan's gold tally. While Ikehata doesn't have a deep field at 65kg, world fifth-placer Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) will have to face returning silver medalist Yuxuan LI (CHN) at 55kg. Li remains the favorite to win the title, despite not wrestling internationally since.

U23 world champion Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) is also in the mix as she wrestles in her first senior level continental event.

Home Star Medet Kyzy

Kyrgyzstan will witness world silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) wrestling at home when she steps on the mat to defend her 76kg title. Medet Kyzy is a huge favorite to win gold, unless U20 world champion KAJAL (IND) can spring a surprise.

Another young star India can bet on is NEHA (IND) at 59kg. In an impressive performance, she managed to win silver at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in February.

But navigating a bracket with Asian Championships debutant Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), winner at the Zagreb Open, and returning bronze medalist Mengyu XIE (CHN) will be tough for Neha. Xie will also like to change the color of her medal and given the depth (or lack of it) at 59kg, she can certainly hope for gold.

Stars Merge at 72kg

A few stars have merged at 72kg. The weight class has former 65kg world champion Jia LONG (CHN), world silver medalist and Asian champion Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), world bronze medalist Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), former Asian champion Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) and former silver medalist HARSHITA (IND), who defeated Bakbergenova last year in Budapest.

Long won bronze at 68kg at the World Championships but is looking for an Asian title at 72kg. But going through Bakbergenova, a legend at 72kg, will be difficult. U23 world champion Nurtaeva is searching for her first Asian medal and wrestling at home may well be the motivation she needs.

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