Sharshenbekov makes it two 1st-time Asian champions in family

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 - 15:37 By Ken Marantz

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 20) -- After watching his cousin become a first-time Asian champion the day before, world silver medalist Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) was determined to do the same.

The 22-year-old did just that, matching kinsman Tynar by winning the Greco-Roman 60kg title when Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) defaulted in the second period of the final due to injury on Wednesday, the second day of the six-day Asian Championships at the Buyant Ukhaa Sports Palace.

“Thanks to God this Asian Championships has been successful for us,” a jubilant Sharshenbekov said. “We have been preparing for this tournament with the whole team for quite a long time. With God's help, we will win the Olympics many times in the future as well.”

Sharshenbekov had built up a 4-0 lead and was in control when Mohsen Nejad was forced to stop due to a painful left side injury with 1:40 left in the match, making him settle for a silver medal for the second straight year.

Even with Iran coming away with the three other gold at stake, it was Kazakhstan that walked off with the team title with 190 points thanks to five silver medals to go with its two gold. Iran was second with 176 points, followed by Kyrgyzstan in third with 148.

In the 60kg final, Sharshenbekov gained a passivity point in the first period but was unable to turn Mohsen Nejad. In the second period, Sharshenbekov again gained the par terre position and this time he was able to roll his opponent for a 4-0 lead.

Mohsen Nejad came up holding his side and received treatment from the tournament doctor. He continued the match, but soon after the pain became too unbearable and he conceded with 1:38 left.

“All the opponents are very tough,” said Sharshenbekov, who finished seventh at the Tokyo Olympics. “I was getting ready to wrestle against each of them as if he was the strongest one."

His victory, which ended a run of second-place finishes over the past four years -- two each at both the World and Asian Championships -- completed a remarkable two days for the Sharshenbekov clan. On Tuesday, Tynar Sharshenbekov won the 63kg gold.

“Thanks a lot to my brother,” Zholaman, referring to Tynar, who is three years his senior. “He is the reason for all my results and achievements.”

Sharshenbekov said he draws inspiration from Kyrgyzstan’s other gold medalist in Ulaanbaatar, Olympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) at 77kg.

“Akzhol is my close friend forever,” he said. “I take him as an example. We both participated in the Olympics and many other tournaments. I learn a lot from him.”

Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) celebrates with his coaches after winning gold at 67kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mard)

In other action, Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) notched arguably the biggest win of his career, chalking up an 11-3 technical fall over four-time champion Hansu RYU (KOR) in the 67kg final to avenge a loss to the Korean star in 2019 final.

Shermakhanbet, a world bronze medalist in 2018, took a slim 4-3 lead over the former world champion into the second period, before scoring a takedown off a counter.

From there, he latched on and executed a dazzling throw that was originally awarded four points but was changed to a match-ending five on the challenge.

“I wasn't surprised,” Shermakhanbet said of bringing the match to an early end. “I had to do so. I'm very happy. It's my second time meeting this guy [Ryu]. The first time I lost, so I paid off my debt.”

Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI) won gold on his Asian Championships debut at 72kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mard)

Triple play for Iran

Iran monopolized the last three finals of the night, with Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI) at 72kg and Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) at 82kg taking titles in their senior Asian debuts, and Medhi BALIHAMZEDEH (IRI) capping the Greco competition by successfully defending his 97kg crown.

Mokhtari scored a takedown and gut wrench late in the first period and held on for a 4-1 victory in the 72kg final over Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ).

In an earlier sequence, Amzeyev scored a four-point counter to the back that Mokhtari reversed before adding a two-point roll. But Amzeyev’s initial move was ruled a tackle below the waist, and all of those points were wiped off the board.

Mokhtari, a 2016 world cadet silver medalist, placed fifth at the 2021 World Championships, and now is aiming for a chance to return to the world stage in Belgrade later this year.

“I am glad to win the gold, it’s my first time at Asians,” Mokhtari said. “I began wrestling 12 years ago. My father was a wrestler and watching him wrestle got me excited to train in wrestling.

“I will now rest for one week and, if I qualify for the World Championships in Iran, I will train to win there.”

Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) eked out a close 4-3 win over Dias KALEN (KAZ). (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mard)

At 82kg, Garmsiri scored a stepout point with 1:08 left to clinch a 4-3 victory over Dias KALEN (KAZ) in the final of his first individual competition as a member of Iran national team.

Kalen gained the par terre position first and got two points with a throw that was otherwise well defended, but Garmsiri reversed him to his back to cut the lead to 3-2. In the second period, Garmiri gained a passivity point to go ahead on criteria, then secured the win with the stepout.

Balihamzehdeh’s final hurdle to a second straight 97kg gold came in the form of one of Asia’s most decorated active wrestlers in Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), but the Iranian was up to the task in forging a 5-1 victory.

“I fought with an expert who won a world medal and he was also in the Olympic Games,” Balihamzehdeh said. “Thank God I won.”

Balihamzehdeh took a 4-0 lead in the first period after receiving a passivity point, then scoring with a stepout and a two-point counter to a takedown. He added a stepout early in the second period, gave up a point on a lost challenge, then fended off all attempts in finishing off the win.

For Assakalov, who was third last year at 87kg, it was the eighth Asian medal of his career that includes three gold. The Russian-born 37-year-old is also a two-time world medalist and two-time Olympian.

In the bronze medal matches, host Mongolia’s last chance for a first-ever Asian medal in Greco ended with a valiant but unsuccessful effort by Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL), who dropped a 12-6 decision to Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ).

Fidakhmetov scored seven points from the par terre position in the first period, but Tsveenravdan ended the run with defensive two points and went into the break trailing 8-2. The Mongolian countered a back-drop attempt with a bear hug for four points, but Fidakhmetov reversed to the back, then added a roll to make it 12-6.

Japan, which failed to advance any of its wrestlers to the finals on the second day, went 4-for-5 in third-place matches, with Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) winning his second straight Asian bronze at 60kg.

Suzuki finished off an 11-0 technical fall over Gyanender DAHIYA (IND) with a four-point bear hug counter.

Katsuaki ENDO (JPN), the 2018 world U23 champion at 63kg, took home a 67kg bronze with a 7-1 victory over Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (IRI), a 2019 world junior bronze medalist at 63kg.

For Endo, it was a small consolation for his 6-2 loss in the semifinals to Korea’s Ryu.

“Looking at the tournament, I thought I could beat him [Ryu], who has been on top for a long time,” Endo said. “But I lost. He was able to stop what I do best. More than strong, he’s really good. The Asian Games are ahead, and I hope to get revenge there.”

At 72kg, Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN) added to the bronze he won in 2019 with an 11-3 technical fall over Jiyeon LEE (KOR). Takahashi trailed 0-3 early on, but regrouped with a four-point throw, then pulled away in the second period. The match ended on a two-point penalty for finger-grabbing.

Unheralded Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN) had a tougher time securing his first-ever international medal, taking advantage of a winded Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ) to rally to a 6-6 victory on criteria.

Kyrgyzstan added a pair of bronze to its tally, with Adlikhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) edging Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB) 3-3 at 72kg, and Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) overwhelming Jewoo PARK (KOR) by 11-1 technical fall at 97kg.

Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND) took the other bronze at 67kg when he used a slick arm throw to send Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) to his back and secure a fall with :11 left in a match he had been trailing 2-3.

The 82kg bronze went to Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB), who defeated Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN) 5-1, and Harpreet SINGH (IND), who picked up his fourth Asian bronze and fifth medal overall with a victory by default.

Correction: An earlier version of the story referred to Tynar as Zholaman's brother. We have updated it to correct the fact that the two are cousins

Day 2 Results

Greco-Roman

60kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) by inj. def., 4:20 (4-0)

BRONZE: Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) df. Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL), 12-6
BRONZE: Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) df. Gyanender DAHIYA (IND) by TF, 11-0, 5:34

67kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) df. Hansu RYU (KOR) by TF, 11-3, 3:14

BRONZE: Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) df. Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (IRI), 7-1
BRONZE: Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND) df. Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) by Fall, 5:48 (7-3)

72kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI) df. Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ), 4-1

BRONZE: Adlikhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) df. Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB), 3-3
BRONZE: Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Jiyeon LEE (KOR) by TF, 11-3, 4:33

82kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) df. Dias KALEN (KAZ), 4-3

BRONZE: Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) df. Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN), 5-1
BRONZE: Harpreet SINGH (IND) by Jafar KHAN (QAT) by inj. def.

97kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Medhi BALIHAMZEDEH (IRI) df. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), 5-1

BRONZE: Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN) df. Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ), 6-6
BRONZE: Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) df. Jewoo PARK (KOR) by TF, 11-1, 3:00

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Rio silver Higuchi marks return with 1st Asian gold

Sunday, April 24, 2022 - 16:53 By Ken Marantz

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 24) -- After a trying three years that included missing out on the Tokyo Olympics, Rio 2016 silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) has returned to his winning ways. And he's eating normally, too.

Higuchi captured his first Asian title in dominant style, blitzing Darioush HAZRATGHOLIZADEH (IRI) 10-0 in just 46 seconds of the freestyle 61kg final on Sunday, the final day of the six-day Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar.

"From the beginning, I thought to go with my attacking style," said Higuchi, who won all four of his matches by technical fall. "My single-leg tackles and arm locks were working from the first match, so I don't think it was too bad."

It was an otherwise good day for Iran, which added three golds to the three it won on Saturday to easily win the team title with 201 points. India finished second with 152 points, one point ahead of Kazakhstan after both had one champion and three silver medalists.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) outscored his opponents 44-4 to in his four bouts. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Higuchi, in making amends for a disappointing third-place finish in 2017, came out firing on all cylinders in the final, catching Hazratgholizadeh with a 4-point arm throw soon after the opening whistle. He added a pair of gut wrenches, then closed out the match with a takedown.

"I decided to give it a shot right at the start," Higuchi said of the arm throw, a common weapon used by Japanese lightweights. "From the first match, I was always using single-leg tackles and arm locks, so I thought my opponent had figured it out. So I decided to go for an arm throw from the beginning."

It marked a grand renewal for one of Japan's most promising wrestlers, who got caught up trying to find an appropriate Olympic weight.

After Rio, he moved up to 61kg and finished third at the Asian Championships in New Delhi. In late 2017 he made the jump to 65kg, where he won the 2018 world U23 title, but could not dislodge eventual Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) for the Olympic spot in that weight class.

After losing to Otoguro in a playoff for the Olympic spot, he decided to make the drastic drop back to 57kg, in which he had not competed since Rio. More than the domestic competition, Higuchi's battle was with the scale.

"Last year, in particular, was really bad," Higuchi said. "More than from a standpoint of wresting technique or stamina, the battle became with my weight. Last year ended with a really disappointing result. But at the end of this year, the trial process for Paris [2024] starts, I'll train harder and harder to have a better result."

Higuchi hit rock bottom in April last year when he failed to make weight at the Asian Olympic qualifier in Almaty, a tournament in which he would have been a strong favorite to take a top-two place.

The Japan federation opted to send former world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) to the final world Olympic qualifier, where he secured a spot in Tokyo at 57kg for Japan. Takahashi then defeated Higuchi in a playoff for the spot, ending his dream of winning an Olympic title on home soil.

For now, Higuchi is happily ensconced at 61kg, where last December he finished second at the national championships. He still has to count calories, but not as drastically.

"At 61kg, I can eat normally," said the 26-year-old Higuchi, now a coach at his alma mater Nippon Sports Science University. "Cutting weight is just the usual amount so that I don't get emaciated and can be like a regular wrestler."

Asked about what lies ahead in the future in terms of his weight class and the 2024 Paris Olympics, Higuchi replied, "If I go up to the 65kg division, Takuto OTOGURO and Kaiki YAMAGUCHI are there. It would be a tough battle. Of course, at 57kg, there are many strong wrestlers such as Toshihiro HASEGAWA. I have to work hard on my wrestling and raise my level in practice."

So which way will he go, up or down? "[It's a] secret," he said in English with a sly smile.

Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) won his first Asian title after beating the defending champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) in the 74kg final. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Iran's second golden treble

Iran's golden treble on Sunday came from Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) at 74kg, teenager Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) at 92kg and Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) at 125kg.

In the 74kg final, Emamichoghaei scored all five of his points in the first period, and that held up in a 5-2 victory over defending champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ).

After gaining a point on the activity clock, Emamichoghaei put together a takedown-gut wrench combination to go ahead 5-0. In the second period, Kaipanov scored a takedown with :20 left, but it was too little, too late.

In adding the gold to his bronze at 70kg in 2019, Emamichoghaei avenged a 7-6 loss to Kaipanov in the semifinals at 70kg at the 2019 World Championships, where Kaipanov took the silver and Emamichoghaei a bronze.

The Iranian's win evened their head-to-head record at 2-2.

"I have defeated him twice now," Emamichoghaei said. "Once in Norway and now a second time. I am very happy about it. Next time I will train harder and win in a better way."

Emamichoghaei also faced a stiff test in his opening match in the quarterfinals, when he barely eked out a 7-5 win over Daichi TAKATANI (JPN).

"It was the first match," Emamichoghaei said. "If you are a wrestler, you know the first match is different from other bouts. In that, I was a little tight and didn’t do well, but I am happy that I won.

"A win is a win anyway. I’m the next tournament, I will definitely start my first match better than what I did here."

Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) claimed an 11-0 win in the 92kg final to win the gold. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Firouzpour, the world junior champion and world U23 bronze medalist in 2021, simply overpowered Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL) in the 92kg final, winning 11-0 in 4:51 for his third straight technical fall of the day, without conceding a point.

"Yes my opponents were not that strong and I was able to win easily," Firouzpour said.

Firouzpour stopped a throw attempt by the Mongolian for 2, then added three stepouts to take a 5-0 lead into the break. In the second period, he added a takedown and lace lock combination for 4, then finished up the match with a snap down takedown.

"I am happy," Firouzpour said. "Thank God that at the age of 19 I could win the gold medal of Asia. This is just the beginning. I hope to win more and more."

Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) is now a three-time Asian champion at 125kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Bringing the curtain down on the tournament was Mohebi's 3-1 win over Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) in the 125kg final, which added to titles he had previously won in 2017 and 2019.

In a staid affair in which both had received activity points, Mohebi scored the decisive single-leg takedown in the second period. For Yergali, it was his fourth straight Asian medal, although none are gold. He won the previous ones at 97kg.

"After I won in Iran, I was chosen for the Asian competition," Mohebi said. "I am wrestling here for the third time and I have won all of them, so thank God. Asian competition is always important for Iran and it’s all because of God that we won this time as well in team rankings."

Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) captured the lone gold for Kazakhstan at the Asian Championships. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

The remaining gold went to Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), who after one silver and one bronze in four previous appearances, finally made it to the top step of the podium with a solid 6-1 victory over Deepak PUNIA (IND) in the 86kg final.

"I can say that this is a big victory in my career," Dauletbekov said. "Of course I am happy. With God's will, I was honored to make Kazakhstan's anthem play and the flag be raised. I'm glad that I could protect my country's honor. I'm dedicating this victory to my mom and dad."

Dauletbekov, who was second in 2017 and third in 2018, chalked up a stepout and takedown in each period to defeat the former world junior champion Punia, who settled for the silver for the second year in a row.

The 2017 world U23 and 2014 world junior silver medalist, is looking to make his mark on the global senior stage.

"There are many good wrestlers in my weight category," Dauletbekov said. "To be a champion at all the other wrestling events, I will train as hard as possible."

In the bronze-medal matches, Yeihyun JUNG (KOR) gave Korea its lone medal of the entire championships when he caught Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM) in an early headlock and clamped down for a fall in 1:34 at 125kg.

The other match at 125kg was a doozy, made even more so by the presence and eventual victory of local favorite Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL). Enkhtuvshin gave the home crowd one final thrill by rallying from a 9-1 deficit to edge Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB) by the un- heavyweight score of 15-12.

Both bronze-medal matches at 61kg also had thrilling finishes, with neither outcome decided until the final seconds.

Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ), the 2020 champion, scored a 2-point exposure off a single-leg takedown attempt with :02 left to edge Mangal KADYAN (IND), 6-4.

Likewise, Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ) came out of a final scramble behind Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN), then forced him to the mat with :12 left for the winning takedown and a 5-4 win.

Mohsen MOSTAFAVI (IRI), the only Iranian who did not make the finals Sunday, will go home with a bronze after scoring three stepouts in a 4-0 win over Gwanuk KIM (KOR) at 86kg.

The other 86kg bronze went to Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB), who edged Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ) 6-5 to deny him a second straight bronze.

At 92kg, 2020 silver medalist Takuma OTSU (JPN) was left to rue what might have been, after he got caught on his back attempting a front headlock roll while holding a 12-8 lead, and Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ) clamped down for a fall in 5:34.

Viky CHAHAR (IND) took the other 92kg bronze, scoring two takedowns in the second period of a 5-3 victory over Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB).

At 74kg, neither match went the distance. Japan's Takatani picked up his third Asian medal with a 10-0 technical fall over Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL), while Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ) won his second straight bronze by whitewashing 2021 silver medalist Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) 11-0.

Photos: Asian Championships day six

Day 6 Results

Freestyle

61kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) df. Darioush HAZRATGHOLIZADEH (IRI) by TF, 10-0, :46

BRONZE: Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) df. Mangal KADYAN (IND), 6-4
BRONZE: Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ) df. Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN), 5-4

74kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) df. Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ), 5-2

BRONZE: Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) df. Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) by TF, 10-0, 4:37
BRONZE: Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ) df. Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) by TF, 11-0, 5:42

86kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Deepak PUNIA (IND), 6-1

BRONZE: Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) df. Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ), 6-5
BRONZE: Mohsen MOSTAFAVI (IRI) df. Gwanuk KIM (KOR), 4-0

92kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) df. Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL) by TF, 11-0, 4:51

BRONZE: Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ) df. Takuma OTSU (JPN) by Fall, 5:34 (10-12)
BRONZE: Viky CHAHAR (IND) df. Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB) 5-3.

125kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) df. Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), 3-1

BRONZE: Yeihyun JUNG (KOR) df. Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM) by Fall, 1:34 (4-0)
BRONZE: Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL) df. Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB) 15-12

Sharshenbekov makes it two 1st-time Asian champions in family

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Rio silver Higuchi marks return with 1st Asian gold