#DanKolov2019

Russia and India Lead Dan Kolov After Day Two

By Eric Olanowski

RUSE, Bulgaria (March 1) – lias BEKBULATOV and Magomed KURBANOV won the 70kg and 92kg Dan Kolov gold medals respectively and gave the Russian Federation (80 points) a 15 point lead over the United States (65 points) heading into the third day of competition at the Monbat Sports Park Arena in Ruse, Bulgaria. 

In the all-Russian 70kg finals, lias Bekbulatov closed out his dominating Dan Kolov performance with a 10-0 win over Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS). In total, Bekbulatov only surrendered two points in his four matches and outscored his opponents 38-2.

Bekbulatov, arguably the best wrestler in the world to never compete at a world championship, scored an inactivity point, followed by a takedown and controlled the 3-0 lead heading into the second period. The 2018 European runner-up stalked Zakuev in the second period and scored seven straight points to close out the match with a 10-0 shutout victory. 

It’s also worth noting, Russia’s Viktor RASSADIN defeated 2016 Rio Olympic fifth-place finisher Frank Aniello MOLINARO (USA), 15-10 in the 70kg bronze-medal bout, giving Russia their third 70kg medal. Russia entered three wrestlers into the 70kg bracket and finished first, second, and third receptivity.

The second Russian gold-medal winner on the day was Magomed KURBANOV (RUS). 

Kurbanov trailed 3-1 after the opening period of the 92kg finals, but ignited in the second and outscored Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) 8-2 in the final frame to pick up the 9-5 victory. 

Meanwhile, the United States, who sits in second place with 65 points, welcomed a champion in Alexander DIERINGER. Dieringer, who also goes by “Ringer,” quickly dismantled Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU), 10-0 in the opening period of the 79kg finals. In the last twelve months, Dieringer, who is the No. 2 79kg American guy behind reigning world champion Kyle DAKE, has won titles at the Alexander Medved Prizes, International Ukrainian Tournament, and the Dan Kolov, while also finishing in third-place at the first Ranking Series event of the season, the Ivan Yariguin. 

The final freestyle gold of the day went to Kazakhstan’s Nurislam SANAYEV. It took just 35 seconds for Sanayev to wrap up Sandeep TOMAR (IND) in the 61kg finals. The reigning 57kg world silver medalist scored an early takedown from a duck under and seamlessly transitioned into four leg laces, ending the match with a 10-0 technical superiority victory.

In women’s wrestling, Pooja DHANDA’s 59kg gold and Sakshi MALIK ‘s 65kg silver gave India (45 points) the ten point lead over Turkey (35 points) after the second day of wrestling in Ruse. 

Dhanda, the 2018 world bronze medalist at 57kg, bumped up to 59kg and went undefeated in the round-robin competition to claim the gold medal. Her teammate Malik, the Rio bronze medalist who upset reigning world champion Petra OLLI to make the 65kg finals, fell to Sweden’s Henna JOHANSSON (SWE), 8-3 in the gold-medal match. Johansson reached the top of the Klippan Lady Open podium last weekend and won her second consecutive tournament when she stopped Malik’s quest for gold today. 

Turkey sits in second place, thanks to fourth-ranked Buse TOSUN’s gold-medal performance at 72kg. In the finals, Tosun broke a 4-4 tie, scoring the match-deciding takedown with 15 seconds left, defeating Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR), 6-4. 
 

The final women’s wrestling gold medal of the day went to Greece’s Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE). The 2018 European bronze medalist controlled the entirety of 55kg gold-medal match with her left side underhook, completely shutting down Kazakhstan’s Marina SEDNEVA, 10-0 to win her first Ranking Series title. 

Wrestling resumes tomorrow in Ruse at 10:00 (local time), with the Day Three finals beginning at 18:00. 
 

For news, highlights, interviews, and behind the scenes clips, make sure you’re following United World Wrestling on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
 

RESULTS 
Freestyle

Team Scores 
GOLD - Russia (80 points)
SILVER - United States (65 points)
BRONZE - Georgia (39 points)
Fourth - Turkey (35 points)
Fifth - Ukraine (33 points)

61kg
GOLD - Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) df. Sandeep TOMAR (IND), 10-0 
BRONZE - Aryian TIUTRIN (RUS) df. Joseph Daniel COLON (USA), 13-3

BRONZE - Volodymyr BURUKOV (UKR) df. Munir Recep AKTAS (TUR), 3-2

70kg 
GOLD - Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) df. Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS), 10-0

BRONZE - James GREEN (USA) df. Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR), via inj. def.  
BRONZE - Viktor RASSADIN (RUS) df. Frank MOLINARO (USA), 15-10

79kg
GOLD - Alexander DIERINGER (USA) df. Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU), 10-0
BRONZE - Atsamaz SANAKOEV (RUS) df. Ender COSKUN (TUR), 4-3 
BRONZE - Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Muhammet KOTANOGLU (TUR), 5-0 

92kg
GOLD - Magomed KURBANOV (RUS) df. Irakli MTSITURI (GEO), 9-5
BRONZE – Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR) df. Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR), 7-6  
BRONZE - Michael Justin MACCHIAVELLO (USA) df. Mohammed FARDJ (ALG), via inj. def. 

Women's Wrestling

Team Scores 
GOLD - India (45 points)
SILVER - Turkey (35 points)
BRONZE - Sweden (33 points)
Fourth - Ukraine (28 points)
Fifth - Greece (25 points)

55kg
GOLD - Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ), 10-0 
BRONZE - Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL) df. Bediha GUN (TUR), 4 - 0
BRONZE - Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), 4-25

59kg (Round-Robin)
GOLD - Pooja DHANDA (IND) 
SILVER - Sarita SARITA (IND) 
BRONZE - Kornelija ZAICEVAITE (LTU)
BRONZE - Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) 

65kg
GOLD -Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) df. Sakshi MALIK (IND), 8-3 
BRONZE - Petra OLLI (FIN) df. Adina POPESCU (ROU), via inj. def.
BRONZEForrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Maya NELSON (USA), 6-3

72kg
GOLD - Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR), 6-4
BRONZE - Maria SELMAIER (GER) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), via DSQ
BRONZE - YAN Chuchu (CHN) df. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), via forfeit

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships 2026 Day 1 Greco-Roman Highlights

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 6) -- For the first time, the Asian Championships will be held in two-day format. The edition in Bishkek will begin with Greco-Roman, followed by Women's Wrestling and then Freestyle. Five Greco-Roman weight classes -- 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg -- are in action on Monday.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW

The semifinals will begin at 18:00 local time

55kg
SF 1: Huoying SHI (CHN) vs. LALIT (IND)
SF 2: Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) vs. Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ)

63kg
SF 1: Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM) vs. Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ)
SF 2: Erfan JARKANI (IRI) vs. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

77kg
SF 1: Ali OSKOU (IRI) vs. AMAN (IND)
SF 2: Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) vs. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)

87kg
SF 1: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) vs. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
SF 2: Sunil KUMAR (IND) vs. Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)

130kg
SF 1: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) vs. Minseok KIM (KOR)
SF 2: Yuta NARA (JPN) vs. Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB)

13:10: World champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) begins his Asian title defense with a 10-0 win over Roman KIM (KGZ) and advance to the semifinals. He will face Minseok KIM (KOR)

13:03: Returning bronze medalist Yuta NARA (JPN) gets the winning score with a slow-motion gut wrench in the second period, prevailing on last-point criteria 3-3 over two-time Asian U23 silver medalist Jokhar UZAROV (KAZ) to advance to the 130kg semifinals.

12:58: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) gets a gut wrench to the back upgraded to a 4-point move upon his opponent's challenge, giving him a 10-0 victory over two-time bronze medalist Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) and moving him a step closer to a second straight gold, this time up at 87kg after winning at 82kg last year.

12:57: World bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) with some big throws and a fall against Dovletmyrat BAYRAMOV (TKM) at 87kg in just 30 seconds. Zhanyshov vs Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) final will be a treat.

12:50: Sunil KUMAR (IND), the last Indian to win a Greco gold when he did on home soil in New Dehli in 2020, reeled off two gut wrenches from par terre in the second period for a 5-1 victory over Shichang ZHENG (CHN) and a place in the 87kg semifinals. Kumar is also going for his fourth career Asian medal.

12:42: Kaisei TANABE (JPN), last year's champion at freestyle 65kg looking to make history with a victory at Greco 63kg, minimized the points scored by Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ), but failed to get enough of his own and came out on the short end of a 4-3 score. Taalaibek Uulu had the first chance in par terre, but even though he lifted Tanabe off his feet, he could only get a 1-point throw out of it. Taalaibek Uulu then got in on a bear hug and lifted Tanabe again, but only got a takedown out of that situation to lead 4-0 at the break. Tanabe got a chance at par terre and hit a gut wrench to cut the gap to 1, but could not pull out the win.

12:32: Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB), aiming to improve on his two bronze medals from 2023 and 2025, rips off four straight rolls from par terre and he's into the 55kg semifinals with a 10-0 win over Hajiali HOSSEINVAND (IRI). The Iranian side pushed the challenge button before the first roll, looking for a leg foul, but the scoring was upheld.

12:25: Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), a bronze medalist in 2024, makes short work of Amro SADEH (JOR), storming to a quick 9-0 win to earn a semifinal date with Makhmudov.

12:23: There cannot be a better way to find a way to win a Greco-Roman bout that a five-point throw! AMAN (IND) does exactly that in his quarterfinal against Halishan BAHEJIANG (CHN) at 77kg. Aman was down 4-1 but got on a duckunder and locked Bahejiang and completes a perfect throw for five points and wins 6-4

12:20: Ali OSKOU (IRI), Zagreb Open Ranking Series champion at 77kg, defends from par terre twice, against Yeonghun NOH (KOR) and he does that well, once with 25 seconds remaining to win 5-2 and advance to the semifinals.

12:18: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) with another spectacular throw as he defeats Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ) 9-1 to gain a place in the semifinals. Makhmudov is put on the bottom of par terre, but wiggles his way out and gets behind for a takedown. Then the fun starts, as he hits a high-flying 4-point throw to lead 6-1. In the second period, Makhmudov gets the top position, and he quickly executes a gut wrench that ends the proceedings.

12:10: Roman KIM (KGZ) gets the home crowd going, getting four straight rolls from par terre to knock off Nambardagva BATBAYAR (MGL) 9-0 at 130kg. Batbayar is one of a few wrestlers who will be doing the Greco-Freestyle double in Bishkek — he's the Asian U23 champion in freestyle!

12:08: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), the reigning world champion at 82kg, has moved up to the Olympic weight of 87kg and gets off to a good start, overwhelming Muhammad SULTONZODA (TJK) 9-0 in less than two minutes.

12:05: Hyunwoong CHOI (KOR) survives a battle against Huangsheng WU (CHN) at 63kg. He was leading 11-6 when Wu scored a huge four-pointer with 11 seconds remaining to make it 11-10. But the last desperate attempt ended with Choi getting two points and a 13-10 win

12:02: Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), an Asian champion in 2019 and world bronze medalist in 2023, is looking to regain the magic up a weight at 63kg. He cruises through his opening match, handily defeating  Rayan HAWSAWI (KSA) 8-0.

11:51: Hajiali HOSSEINVAND (IRI), winner at the Zagreb Ranking Series tournament, advances at 55kg with a 4-0 victory over Nurzat KABDYRAKHIMOV (KAZ). Hosseinvand chalks up three points in the first period, then adds a stepout in the second.

11:41: Local star Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) gets the tournament off to an exciting start with a 4-point bear hug en route to a 7-3 victory over a spunky Isami HORIKITA (JPN) in the opening match at 77kg. Makhmudov, a two-time Olympic medalist and two-time world champion aiming for his fourth career Asian gold, used a bear hug to power Horikita to the mat, then added a 2-point roll for 6-1 lead. In the second period, Makhmudov got the passivity point, but when he tried a gut wrench from par terre, Horikita stepped over for a 2-point exposure. But that was the end of the scoring and Makhmudov was safely through. 

11:15: The Asian Championships will get underway in Bishkek with Greco-Roman. Five weight classes with local hero Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) in action as well.