#WrestleUlaanbaatar

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

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

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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.”

ShermakhanbetMeiirzhan 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 MOKHTARIMohammad 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 GARMSIRIRasoul 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

#JapanWrestling

World champion in Freestyle, Narikuni earns elusive shot at Greco title

Friday, June 20, 2025 - 16:42 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO (June 20) -- Taishi NARIKUNI was never ready to abandon his quest of completing the extremely unique double of world titles in both freestyle and Greco. But after his latest setback six months ago, he began to wonder if it was beyond his limits.

Narikuni, the world freestyle 70kg champion in 2022, put the dream within reach again when he secured a place on Japan's team to this year's World Championships at Greco 72kg.

Also Read: Tokyo champ Shidochi dealt setback in return from two-year layoff

Narikuni captured the title at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships on Friday at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, then returned to the mat a short time later to win a playoff for the ticket to the senior worlds to be held September 13-22 in Zagreb.

"I finally did it," Narikuni said. "Of course, I'm happy, but there's also a feeling of relief."

The Meiji Cup is the second of two domestic qualifiers for the Zagreb worlds, following the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships last December. Winners at both earned places outright on the world team, while a playoff determined spots in which the champions differed.

Joining Narikuni on the plane to Zagreb will be his long-time friends and brothers Hayato and Takashi ISHIGURO, who started the sport in the same Gold Kids club run by Narikuni's mother -- a former two-time world champion herself.

Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN)Taishi NARIKUNI works to turn Ryoma HOJO in the Greco 72kg final.  (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

It was Mom's two world titles that inspired Narikuni to launch a quest to not only match her in number of golds, but top her in uniqueness by going for one each in the two men's styles.

But since winning the freestyle title in Belgrade, he endured a tough road in switching full-time to Greco. Hampered at times by injury, he failed to even make the final of any of the domestic qualifiers.

One obstacle was that he tried to make it at 67kg, which is one of Japan's most stacked weight classes. He dropped down to 63kg for the Emperor's Cup in December, but the strain of cutting so much weight took its toll and he was ousted in the semifinals.

"When I cut down to 63kg in December, that was really, really tough," Narikuni said. "It took three months and I barely made it. But I thought if I want to win the world title, 63kg was the only path.

"To put everything on the line and then lose, it was depressing and made me feel that I had reached my limit. I was close to giving up. But I thought of the people who had long been supporting me, who put up with my selfishly going into Greco after becoming a freestyle champion, and I couldn't give up."

Narikuni then made the bold step of moving up two weight classes. With a natural weight of about 74kg and a proclivity for weight training, 72kg became a good fit.

"I think [this] weight class is just right for me," said Narikuni, who never looked inferior in terms of power, using a high chest wrap to lethal effect to get his turns. "I was never the type who cut a lot of weight, and it was really tough getting down to 63kg."

On Friday, Narikuni won the Meiji Cup title -- the first in his career in either style -- with a solid 9-0 victory in the final over Ryoma HOJO.

He then clinched the world team spot with a 9-0 demolition of Emperor's Cup champion Issei HONNA that took just 1:47 and included a 5-point throw. He had defeated Honna 6-0 in the semifinals on Friday.

Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN)Hayato ISHIGURO makes short work of Tatsuya SHIRAI in the world team playoff at freestyle 86kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

In the only other playoff on the day, Paris Olympian Hayato Ishiguro clinched the world team spot at freestyle 86kg with a lightning-quick 10-0 win over Emperor's Cup and former world U23 champion Tatsuya SHIRAI.

Ishiguro, who beat Shirai 3-0 earlier in their final round-robin match to top the standings and set up the playoff, scored a takedown, then reeled off a tilt, roll, exposure and roll to end the match in 54 seconds.

Ishiguro's older brother, Asian bronze medalist Takashi, completed the Emperor's Cup-Meiji Cup double at freestyle 92kg with an 8-2 victory over Takato UCHIDA.

It will be the third time for the brothers to appear at the same World Championships, after 2021 and 2023.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN)Sakura ONISHI and older brother Taiga celebrate making Japan's team to the World Championships together. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Onishi makes world team, with a brotherly bonus

World U20 champion Sakura ONISHI had little trouble cruising to victory at women's 59kg to earn her first trip to the senior worlds. Then she got an added bonus when older brother Taiga secured a ticket to Zagreb as well at Greco 55kg.

The 19-year-old Sakura scored a takedown in each period and was never in danger as she rolled to a 5-0 victory over Sena NAGAMOTO in the final, repeating her win in the gold-medal match at the Emperor's Cup but in much smoother fashion.

The victory erases the lingering sting from last year, when she defeated two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO en route to the title, only to suffer a heartbreaking last-second loss in the world team playoff.

"Last year, I was left with a tough memory after losing in the playoff, but I think this makes up for it and I'm really happy," Onishi said.

Onishi was clearly the favorite this time, and said she was energized by the combination of the pressure, the support of those around her, and the victory by her brother.

"There was a lot of pressure and things to think about, but I received a lot of messages of support from many people that really gave me strength. And three was my older brother winning. Instead of being pressure, I turned it all to energy. I'm really satisfied."

Onishi, who won the senior Asian title in March, has established herself of one of Japan's fastest rising stars. She has suffered just one loss in seven international tournaments, falling to Maria YEFREMOVA (UKR) in the final at the 2022 World U17 Championships in Rome.

Prior to Zagreb, she will defend her world U20 title in August in Bulgaria. Looking farther ahead, her aim is to make it to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics along with senior Nippon Sport Science University teammate Akari FUJINAMI, the Paris Olympic champion at 53kg who has moved up to 57kg. That would entail a move up to 62kg, an issue she said she will address when the time comes.

Meanwhile, 2022 world U20 bronze medalist Taiga, a student at Waseda University, will be heading to his second senior worlds after defeating Sanshiro TAKAHASHI 7-1 in the Greco 55kg final.

Takahashi had defeated Emperor's Cup and Asian champion Kohei YAMAGIWA in the semifinals, but Yamagiwa was injured in the match and unable to take part in the playoff, handing Onishi the world team spot by default.

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)Arash YOSHIDA secures a fall in the freestyle 97kg final against high schooler Noah LEIBOWITZ. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Japan national team gets double helping of Yoshida

Two of Japan's rising young male stars, who happen to share a last name, clinched their tickets to Zagreb by adding the Meiji Cup title to their Emperor's Cup triumph.

Arash YOSHIDA overwhelmed high schooler Noah LEIBOWITZ in the freestyle 97kg final, muscling him over and scoring a victory by fall in 2:31.

Three matches later, Taizo YOSHIDA rallied from a 6-3 deficit, scoring the go-ahead points in the last 20 seconds to defeat Reon KAKEGAWA 11-6 for the Greco 82kg gold.

Arash Yoshida has occasionally sparred with the 17-year-old Leibowitz, who, through his coaches' connection, has been invited to practices at Nihon University. The son of an American father and Japanese mother who came to Japan when he was 4, Leibowitz still has a way to go to catch up to Yoshida, a two-time Asian champion.

"At times, Leibowitz comes to our practices, so I think there were things about me that he knew," Yoshida said. "Even so, it was good that I was able to stop him and get the fall."

Also proficient in judo, Leibowitz has set a lofty goal of winning a wrestling gold at the Los Angeles Olympics, then striking gold in judo at a future Olympics.

In other action, four-time world medalist Miwa MORIKAWA cut it close in capturing the women's 65kg title, then former world champion Masako FURUICHI cut it even closer to triumph at women's 72kg.

Morikawa needed a victory in the final round of matches in the five-women round-robin, and she barely held on to secure a 4-3 win over Nana IKEHATA.

Morikawa went ahead 3-1 with a stepout and takedown in the second period. In the last 10 seconds, Ikehata put the pressure on but had to settle for two stepouts. An unsuccessful challenge after the second one gave Morikawa her final point.

Masako FURUICHI (JPN)Masako FURUICHI turns over Ayano MORO to pull out a last-second victory in the women's 72kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

At 72kg, Emperor's Cup champion Furuichi was trailing 2-1 against 2022 world U20 champion Ayano MORO, with all of the points coming on the activity clock, when she launched a last-ditch shot at a single leg. Moro's sprawl seemed to be enough to fend off the attack as the seconds ticked down.

But suddenly, Furuichi got enough leverage to dump Moro onto her back, where she lay stunned to make it a victory by fall at 5:58 and miss out on forcing a playoff. A distraught Moro later wept loudly, her wailing audible throughout the arena.

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

61kg (12 entries)
SF 1: Toshihiro HASEGAWA df. Aiki KAWAI, 10-2
SF 2: Akito MUKAIDA df. Takuto OSETO by Fall, 4:04 (14-4)

70kg (12 entries)
SF 1: Ryoya YAMASHITA df. Yoshinosuke AOYAGI, 4-2
SF 2: Shoya MIURA df. Makoto HOSOKAWA, 7-4

79kg (9 entries)
SF 1: Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI df. Ryunosuke KAMIYA, 4-4
SF 2: Subaru TAKAHARA df. Natsura OKAZAWA, 5-1

86kg (5 entries)
GOLD: Hayato ISHIGURO (4-0)
SILVER: Yudai TAKAHASHI (3-1)
BRONZE: Tatsuya SHIRAI (2-2)

Key match: Ishiguro df. Takahashi 5-4 in Round 3

World Team Playoff: Ishiguro df. Shirai by TF, 10-0, :54.

92kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Takashi ISHIGURO df. Takato UCHIDA, 8-2

BRONZE: Masanobu MITSUI df. Shuichiro SATO, 4-3
BRONZE: Sorato KANAZAWA df. Rintaro MOTOHASHI, 9-5

97kg (7 entries)
GOLD: Arash YOSHIDA df. Noah LEIBOWITZ by Fall, 2:31 (6-0)

BRONZE: Yuta SASAKI df. Takuma TATEOKA by Def.

125kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Taiki YAMAMOTO df. Hibiki ITO, 2-1

BRONZE: Ryusei FUJITA df. Hosei FUJITA by Fall, 1:33 (5-4)

Greco-Roman

55kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Taiga ONISHI df. Sanshiro TAKAHASHI, 7-1

BRONZE: Kohei YAMAGIWA (no match)
BRONZE: Taketo NINOMIYA df. Ryuma KAWANO by TF, 9-0, 1:49

World Team Playoff: Onishi df. Kohei YAMAGIWA by Def.

63kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Manato NAKAMURA df. Ayata SUZUKI by TF, 12-2, 1:53

BRONZE: Yuto NAGASAWA df. Kazuki YABE by Def.
BRONZE: Shoya ITO df. Sota SUGIMOTO, 8-3

72kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Taishi NARIKUNI df. Ryoma HOJO by TF, 9-0, 2:15

BRONZE: Rei NAGAMATSU df. Issei HONNA by Def.
BRONZE: Daigo KOBAYASHI df. Kento NOMURA, 6-2

World Team Playoff: Narikuni df. Honna by TF, 9-0, 1:47

82kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Taizo YOSHIDA df. Reon KAKEGAWA, 11-6

BRONZE: Tesshin HIGUCHI df. Daichi AKIHO by Fall, 1:39 (7-0)
BRONZE: Yudai KOBORI df. Yoshimitsu MATSUZAKI by Fall, 1:29 (4-0)

87kg (7 entries)
SF 1: Tatsuya FUJII df. Genki YAHAGI, Inj. Def.
SF 2: So SAKABE df. Isshin ONITSUKA by TF, 8-0, 1:57

97kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Yuri NAKAZATO df. Ryosei KATAMATSU by TF, 9-0, 3:30
SF 2: Takahiro TSURUDA df. Sorato KANAZAWA by Fall, 5:06 (10-2)

130kg (7 entries)
SF 1: Yuta NARA df. Shion OBATA, 3-1
SF 2: Sota OKUMURA vs Ayumu IWASAWA by TF, 9-0, 3:15

Women's Wrestling

53kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Moe KIYOOKA df. Haruna MORIKAWA, 2-1
SF 2: Haruna MURAYAMA df. Saki YUMIYA, 5-0

55kg (7 entries)
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA df. Umi IMAI, 2-0

BRONZE: Karina HONDA df. Narumi NAKAMURA by Fall, 5:50 (5-1)

59kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Sakura ONISHI df. Sena NAGAMOTO, 5-0

BRONZE: Sae NOGUCHI df. Sayaka OTA, 3-0
BRONZE: Miuna KIMURA df. Misaki YOSHIBA, 3-0

65kg (5 entries)
GOLD: Miwa MORIKAWA (4-0)
SILVER: Nana IKEHATA (3-1)
BRONZE: Akari ASAI (2-2)

Key match: Morikawa df. Ikehata 4-3 in Round 5

68kg (4 entries)
Standings through 2 rounds: 1. Ami ISHII (2-0); 2. Seia MOCHINAGA (2-0); 3. Kaede MATSUYAMA (0-2); 4. Rin MIYAJI (0-2).

72kg (7 entries)
GOLD: Masako FURUICHI df. Ayano MORO by Fall, 5:58 (3-2)

BRONZE: Mahiro YOSHITAKE df. Chisato YOSHIDA by TF, 10-0, 3:16

76kg (4 entries)
Standings through 2 rounds: 1. Nodoka YAMAMOTO (2-0); 2. Yasuha MATSUYUKI (2-0); 3. Mizuki NAGASHIMA (0-2); 4. Sakura NAKANO (0-2).