Ranking Series: Bolat Turlykhanov Cup entries

Wednesday, May 25, 2022 - 14:45 By Eric Olanowski

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (May 25) -- The former Kazakh capital Almaty will host the second of four Ranking Series events, the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup from June 2 to 5.

Over 275 wrestlers from 15 nations spanning Africa, Asia, Europe and Pan-America will make the trek to the southern mountainous region of Kazakhstan for the point-earning Ranking Series event.

On the freestyle side of the competition, the biggest storyline is the insanely stacked squad that Iran is bringing. Leading the charge will be reigning world champions Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) and Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) and Amir ZARE (IRI). Asian and junior world champion Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) is moving up from 92kg to 97kg for the event.

Yazdani, the Rio Olympic gold medalist and Tokyo Olympic runner-up, will return to the mat for the first time since his ultra-emotional win over his arch-rival David TAYLOR (USA), which led to him winning his third world title. “The Greatest” enters the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup ranked second at 86kg – 1600 points behind first-ranked Taylor – but will grab the world’s top spot barring a catastrophic meltdown.

Top-ranked Ghasempour has a stronghold on the 92kg field, but top-20 foes No. 11 Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL), No. 15 Viky CHAHAR (IND) and No. 16 Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ) will be looking to halt his hopes of expanding his 7,500-point lead.

Despite social media rumors that Zare has pulled out of the competition due to an injury, he’s still registered for the competition on Wednesday (May 25).

Another Asian freestyle powerhouse bringing a loaded lineup is India. Their team will feature Olympic medalists Ravi KUMAR (IND) and Bajrang PUNIA (IND) and the 2019 world silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND).

The world’s top Greco-Roman wrestler Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) headlines the GR entries. “The Iceman” enters the competition riding a five-tournament win streak and hasn’t lost since 2019. Geraei won Olympic, senior world, U23, and Asian gold medals during that impressive run.

Geraei will be wrestling at 72kg, which is five kilos up from his Olympic-winning weight of 67kg. Another Iranian reigning world champion that’ll also be moving up is Meysam DALKHANI (IRI). He won world gold at 63kg but will replace Geraei at 67kg for this tournament.

Other massive Greco-Roman storylines to follow are the potential matchups at 63kg and 130kg.

Continental champions Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) and Kerem KAMAL (TUR) are bumping up a weight class and could go toe-to-toe at 63kg.

At 130kg, Olympic silver medalist and top-ranked Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) is the front-runner, but reigning world champion No. 5 Aliakbar YOUSOFIA (IRI) is tailing close behind.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), Iran’s Tokyo Olympic Games rep, will look to regain his starting spot from Yousofia, who stepped into Iran’s lineup at the 2021 World Championships after Mirzazadeh tested positive for COVID-19 in the leadup to the Oslo.

Before Oslo, Mirzazadeh grabbed the Tokyo spot from Yousofia with a win in the Poland Open finals.

Other wrestlers to pay attention to at 130kg are reigning Asian champion Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) and Yasar Dogu Ranking Series champion Osman YILDIRIM (TUR).

In women’s wrestling, Olympic bronze medalist and top-ranked Bolortuya BATOCHIR (MGL) will look to grow her narrow 1,200-point lead on Akari FUJINAMI (JPN). She’ll compete at 53kg.

At 76kg, a colossal top-three clash between No. 2 Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and No. 3 Samar HAMZA (EGY) could happen. Medet Kyzy won gold at the Yasar Dogu and Asian Championships this season, while Hamza is fresh off winning gold at the African Championships.

Wrestling begins next Thursday (June 2-5) and can be watched live on uww.org.

Olympic silver medalist Ravi KUMAR (IND) will look to win his third gold medal of the year. He'll compete up at 61kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

57kg
Aman SEHRAWAT (IND)
Zhakhongir AKHMAJANOV (KAZ)
Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ)
Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ)
Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ)
Munkh BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Dashtseren PURVEE (MGL)
Nasanbuyan NARMANDAKH (MGL)

61kg
Ravi KUMAR (IND)
Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ)
Zhassulan TASKUL (KAZ)
Yeldos MOMBEKOV (KAZ)
Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ)
Chinzorig TSERMAA (MGL)
Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL)
Baljinnyam DAMJIN (MGL)
Ali M M ABURUMAILA (PLE)
Shamsiddin IBODOV (TJK)

65kg
Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ)
Iassaui MUKHTARULY (KAZ)
Rifat SAIBOTALOV (KAZ)
Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL)
Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL)
Tugsjargal ERDENEBAT (MGL)
Komron KHOLOV (TJK)
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)
Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)

70kg
Vishal KALIRAMANA (IND)
Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
Amandyk BAKEYEV (KAZ)
Rodion ANCHUGIN (KAZ)
Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
Khanburged GANKHUYAG (MGL)
Begzjav GANSUKH (MGL)
Temuulen ENKHTUYA (MGL)
Muboraksho QURBONBEKOV (TJK)
Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)
Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB)

74kg
Amr Reda RAMADAN (EGY)
Naveen NAVEEN (IND)
Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
Nurlan BEKZHANOV (KAZ)
Kanat MUSSABEKOV (KAZ)
Byambadorj BAT-ERDENE (MGL)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Sumiyabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR)
Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB)
Asomiddin HASANOV (UZB)

79kg
Gourav BALIYAN (IND)
Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ)
Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ)
Daulet YERGESH (KAZ)
Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ)
Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ)
Dulguun ALTANZUL (MGL)
Batzul DAMJIN (MGL)
Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL)
Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
Jakub SYKORA (SVK)

86kg
Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Nurzhan ISSAGALIYEV (KAZ)
Abylaikhan NURSULTANOV (KAZ)
Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Temuujin MENDBILEG (MGL)
Tsogtgerel MUNKHBAATAR (MGL)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Fatih ERDIN (TUR)
Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB)
Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB)

92kg
Viky CHAHAR (IND)
Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI)
Islyambek ILYASSOV (KAZ)
Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)
Abdimanap BAIGENZHEYEV (KAZ)
Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)

97kg
Deepak NEHRA (IND)
Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)
Yunus GAFUROV (KAZ)
Akezhan AITBEKOV (KAZ)
Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ)
Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK)
Faizi FAIZZODA (TJK)
Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR)
Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB)
Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB)

125kg
Mohit GREWAL (IND)
Amir ZARE (IRI)
Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)
Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ)
Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ)
Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL)
Salim ERCAN (TUR)
Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)

Reigning world and Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) headlines the Greco-Roman entries. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO)
Arjun HALAKURKI (IND)
Poya DAD MARZ (IRI)
Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ)
Alpamys DASTANBEK (KAZ)
Khorlan ZHAKANSHA (KAZ)
Davaabandi MUNKH-ERDENE (MGL)
Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK)
Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB)

60kg
Marat GARIPOV (BRA)
Gyanender DAHIYA (IND)
Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI)
Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI)
Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)
Yernar FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ)
Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ)
Kuttubek ABDYKERIM UULU (KGZ)
Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK)
Mukhammadkodir YUSUPOV (UZB)
Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB)

63kg
Kerim MACHALIKASHVILI (GEO)
Beka GURULI (GEO)
NEERAJ (IND)
Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ)
Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ)
Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ)
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Dastan KADYROV (KGZ)
Ahmet UYAR (TUR)
Kerem KAMAL (TUR)

67kg
Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO)
Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND)
Meysam DALKHANI (IRI)
Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ)
Daniyar KALENOV (KAZ)
Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)
Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ)
Khalmurat IBRAGIMOV (KGZ)
Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ)
Abror ATABAEV (UZB)

72kg
VIKAS (IND)
Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI)
Alikhan KOKENOV (KAZ)
Azat SADYKOV (KAZ)
Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ)
Sheroz OCHILOV (TJK)
Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)
Jamol JUMABAEV (UZB)

77kg
Khvicha ANANIDZE (GEO)
Sajan BHANWALA (IND)
Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI)
Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ)
Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV (KAZ)
Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ)
Renat ILIAZ UULU (KGZ)
Habibjon ZUHUROV (TJK)
Yunus Emre BASAR (TUR)
Dilshod OMONGELDIYEV (UZB)

82kg
Tornike DZAMASHVILI (GEO)
Singh HARPREET (IND)
Pejman POSHTAM (IRI)
Miras BARSHYLYKOV (KAZ)
Rakhmet SAPIYEV (KAZ)
Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ)
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Sukhrob ABDULKHAEV (TJK)
Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)
Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB)

87kg
Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO)
Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO)
Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Ramin TAHERISARTANG (IRI)
Ali Abdolreza SHARIFI (IRI)
Baurzhan MUSSIN (KAZ)
Azamat KUSTUBAYEV (KAZ)
Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ)
Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

97kg
Aleksi LODIA (GEO)
DEEPANSHU (IND)
Mahdi FALLAHHAMIDABADI (IRI)
Yersaiyn SAIFULLA (KAZ)
Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ)
Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ)
Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Metehan BASAR (TUR)
Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)

130kg
Sulkhan BUIDZE (GEO)
Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO)
SATISH (IND)
Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI)
Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)
Mansur SHADUKAYEV (KAZ)
Anton SAVENKO (KAZ)
Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
Murat RAMONOV (KGZ)
Osman YILDIRIM (TUR)

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) is the biggest star of women's wrestling who'll be in Kazakhstan. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Turkan NASIROVA (AZE)
Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE)
NEELAM (IND)
Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ)
Aigul NURALIM (KAZ)
Namuuntsetseg TSOGT-OCHIR (MGL)
Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL)
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)

53kg
Tatyana VARANSOVA (AZE)
Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE)
Pooja GEHLOT (IND)
Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ)
Aisha UALISHAN (KAZ)
Anudari NANDINTSETSEG (MGL)
Buman ENKHBOLD (MGL)
Bolortuya BAT-OCHIR (MGL)
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)
Dilshoda MATNAZAROVA (UZB)

55kg
Sushma SHOKEEN (IND)
Assylzat SAGYMBAY (KAZ)
Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ)
Ainur ASHIMOVA (KAZ)
Khishigsuren BATBOLD (MGL)
Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)

57kg
Mansi AHLAWAT (IND)
Emma TISSINA (KAZ)
Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ)
Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL)
Othelie HOEIE (NOR)
Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB)

59kg
Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
Sarita MOR (IND)
Aizhan ISMAGULOVA (KAZ)
Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)
Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)
Tsogzolmaa DORJSUREN (MGL)
Grace BULLEN (NOR)
Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB)

62kg
Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)
Tetiana OMELCHENKO (AZE)
Sakshi MALIK (IND)
Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ)
Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL)
Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL)
Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL)
Rushana ABDIRASULOVA (UZB)

65kg
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
MANISHA (IND)
Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ)
Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ)
Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB)
Dinora RUSTAMOVA (UZB)

68kg
Divya KAKRAN (IND)
Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL)

72kg
BIPASHA (IND)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)
Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB)

76kg
Samar HAMZA (EGY)
Pooja SIHAG (IND)
Inkara ZHANATAYEVA (KAZ)
Ainagul ABIROVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL)
Zagardulam NAIGALSUREN (MGL)
Urtnasan GAN-OCHIR (MGL)

#WrestleZagreb

Kusaka earns shot at world title; Iran puts 3 in final

Thursday, September 18, 2025 - 15:57 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 18) -- Olympic champion Nao KUSAKA (JPN) is a step away from winning his first world title.

After finishing with a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships at 77kg, Kusaka went on to win the 2024 Paris Olympic Games at the same weight. The Olympic champion now wants the tag of world champion.

Returning for the first time since Paris, Kusaka wrestled like is the Olympic champion, beating Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 3-1, in the semifinals. He scored a takedown to open the scoring before getting the par terre advantage. He failed to score but led 3-0. Fritsch was in danger of giving up a four-pointer but he flung Kusaka on counter for a point to make it 3-1.

There was no action in the second period and Kusaka defended his lead till the time expired to earn his first trip to the finals at a World Championships.

"Like at the Olympics, you can't predict what will happen. But a year after the Olympics, I want to show my strength to the world again," Yoshida said after the win. " I always worked out with him, so we know each other well. But to me, it didn't matter if he had a strategy or not."

Earlier in the quarterfinals, he defeated Olympic silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), 4-2, in a rematch of the Olympic final. Kusaka had to come back as he was down 2-2 on criteria as Zhadrayev launched a counter throw for two points. But Kusaka added two stepouts in the second period to win 4-2.

He will now face Olympic bronze medalist Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) for the gold medal after the Armenian defeated world U20 champion Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) in a one-move semifinal.

Amoyan got the first chance in par terre and he loaded for a suplex on the edge. Abdevali was ready to land on his hands but Amoyan changed his throw and slammed the Iranian in a reverse throw for four and lead 5-0.

Abdevali failed to score from par terre in the second period and dropped the semifinal 5-1 against Amoyan.

Despite Abdevali's loss, Iran managed three other wrestlers in the finals with world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) leading the way. Two World Championships debutants, Payam AHMADI (IRI) and Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) reached the finals at 55kg and 82kg, respectively.

At 130kg, world champion Mirzazadeh had no trouble reaching the final after he defeated Wenhao JIANG (CHN), 3-1, in the semifinals. He got a roll from par terre for two points and despite par terre position in the second period, he won 3-1.

He will face a surprise finalist Darius VITEK (HUN) who denied Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), 1-1, as he got the criteria for the first point in a 1-1 finish.

Farokhi, who won the Zagreb Open this year, powered his way to the 82kg final after denying local star Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 7-1, in the semifinals. Farokhi led 3-1 at the break after a takedown. He scored another as soon as the second period began before adding two stepouts to win.

He will face Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) for the gold medal after the Georgian denied Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) yet another comeback as he had all day on Thursday. Yoshida began with two stepouts before getting the par terre. He failed to score any points but led 3-0 at the break.

It was all Bolkvadze in the second period as he scored three turns from par terre to take a 7-3 lead. Japan challenged the last turn saying that Yoshida's head was out of bounds before last turn. However, the review showed that it was inside and Bolkvadze got a point for the lost challenge to make it 8-3 with 1:10 remaining.

Yoshida used an arm drag to takedown and make it 8-5 but he did not have any another action and Georgia got its second finalist of the night.

Ahmadi upsets Azizli

Iran's gamble to switch Pouya DAD MARZ (IRI) with world U20 champion Payam AHMADI (IRI) a week before the World Championships paid off as he denied four-time world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) a record fifth at 55kg.

Ahmadi was subjected to a selection bout against Dad Marz in Iran and he defeated the former world silver medalist with ease thus earning a trip to Zagreb a month after winning the gold at the U20 World Championships.

In the semifinals, Ahmadi got a takedown to put Azizli on the backfoot. He was awarded the par terre position as well but failed to score. However, he led 3-0 at the break. Azizli got his chance in the second period but Ahmadi brought out his top defense to not give up any points and keep his 3-1 lead, a score he went on to win with.

He will face another teenager for the gold medal, Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO), who defeated Emin CAKIR (TUR), 2-2, on last point criteria to earn a spot in the final.

Lolua, just 18 years of age, won a bronze medal at 55kg at the U20 World Championships in which Ahmadi was the champion. Lolua and Cakir traded passivity points with the latter holding first-point criteria. Lolua got a third passivity which is without points and only position, but he failed to score from that as well. Georgia challenged for a leg-foul but there was none.

Cakir got a point for lost challenge from Georgia which made it 2-1 with 40 seconds left. However, Lolua got a stepout soon after and got the 2-2 criteria for the last point scored to win.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Payam AHMADI (IRI) vs. Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO)

SF 1: Payam AHMADI (IRI) df. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), 3-1
SF 2: Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) df. Emin CAKIR (TUR), 2-2

77kg
GOLD: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) vs. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) df. Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 3-1
SF 2: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), 5-1

82kg
GOLD: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) vs. Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)

BRONZE: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), 8-5
BRONZE: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) df. Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 7-1

130kg
GOLD: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) vs. Darius VITEK (HUN)

SF 1: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Wenhao JIANG (CHN), 3-1
SF 2: Darius VITEK (HUN) df. Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), 1-1

Ranking Series: Bolat Turlykhanov Cup entries

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Kusaka earns shot at world title; Iran puts 3 in final