Six Freestyle Wrestlers Overthrow Reigning World Champs for Nur-Sultan Top Seed

Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - 23:04 By Eric Olanowski

*These seeds are based off the current unofficial entries United World Wrestling has received as of August 21. These seeds are subject to change.

VEVEY, Switzerland (August 21) --- After a year of jockeying for position, the top-four freestyle seeds for the 2019 World Championships (September 14-22) are finally locked up. Six non-returning world champions overthrew a Budapest world gold medalist and head into Nur-Sultan garnering a top spot at their respective weight class.

Here are the five wrestlers who overthrew a 2018 world champion for a No. 1 spot:
57kg - Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
65kg- Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
74kg - Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)
86kg - Fatih ERDIN (TUR)
97kg - Kyle SNYDER (USA)

Suleyman ATLI (TUR) ascended to the No. 1 spot at 57kg -- overthrowing world champion Zaur UGUEV (RUS) by winning the European title. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Alti Ascends to Top Spot at 57kg
Suleyman Atli made somewhat of a surprising rise to the top seed at 57kg. A year after the 25-year-old departed Paris with a 15th-place finish, Atli improved to a bronze-medal finish at last year's World Championships. En route to overthrowing Russia's returning world champion Zaur UGUEV for the world's top spot at 57kg, Atli reached the top of the European podium for the first time in his senior-level career with a win over Muslim SADULAEV (RUS) in the gold-medal bout. Atli also finished in second and third place, respectively, at the Dan Kolov and European Games.

Uguev returned from a seven-month hiatus in May and grabbed gold at the prestigious Ali Aliev Tournament in his home region of Dagestan, Russia. His second appearance of the season came in Minsk, Belarus, at the European Games, where he finished with a bronze medal. His only loss came at the hands of the eventual champion, Mahir AMIRASLANOV (AZE), 3-2 in the semifinals. For Uguev to make his third consecutive appearance on Russia's world team, he defeated Aryian TYUTRIN (RUS) in a special wrestle-off. That win came after Ugev was granted a release from the Russian National Championships.

Third-seeded Yuki TAKAHASHI, Japan's defensive wizard, will be looking for his third straight world medal at 57kg. Takahashi was named United World Wrestling's 2017 Breakout Wrestler of the Year after capping off his season with a win over Thomas GILMAN (USA) in the Paris world finals. Last year, Takahashi failed to defend his world title in Budapest. He fell to the eventual world champion Uguev in the semifinals, 7-2, but clawed his way back to a bronze-medal finish with a 5-2 win over Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB).

Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) is perhaps Kazakhstan's best shot at earning a world title in Nur-Sultan. Last year, Sanayev fell short in the gold-medal bout and will return to the World Championships eyeing a gold medal in his home country. He'll be the fourth seed at 57kg.

Expected 57kg Top-Four Seeds
1. Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
2. Zavur UGUEV (RUS)
3. Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN)
4. Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ)

India's Bajrang PUNIA will be the No. 1-seeded wrestler at 65kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Punia Pushes Himself Ahead of Otoguro at 65kg
Arguably the most traveled man in wrestling is India's Bajrang Punia. At one point during this season, Punia competed on three different continents in 14 days. Over those two weeks, the reigning world runner-up won titles at the Asian Championships (Xi'an, China) and Ali Aliyev Tournament (Kaspiysk, Russia). He also put it on the line at the Grapple at the Garden (New York, New York).

Top-ranked Punia used gold-medal points from the Asian Championships and Dan Kolov to pass reigning world champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) for the top spot at 65kg.

If Punia improves on his second-place finish from last year's World Championships, he will join Sushil KUMAR as the only Indian wrestlers to ever win a senior-level freestyle world title. Kumar won his title at the 2010 World Championships in Moscow, Russia.

Japan's reigning 65kg world champion Takuto Otoguro nearly missed out on defending his Budapest gold medal. Rio Olympic silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) handed him his first loss to a Japanese opponent since junior high school in the Meiji Cup finals. But, the 20-year-old Japanese phenom quickly bounced back from his loss in the Meiji Cup finals and chalked up a solid 5-0 victory over Higuchi in a special wrestle-off to fill the 65kg spot. After making Japan's world team, Otoguro told reports, "I wasn't accustomed to losing, and it was so devastating. It was like I had no idea what to do." He added, "So many people helped me out, and I'm happy I could come out with a win through their support."

The World Championships will be Otoguro's first international competition of the season. The second-seeded wrestler was forced to pull out of the World Cup and the Asian Championships due to knee issues.

Although Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) is ranked third in the world at this weight, he lost his starting spot to two-time world runner-up Gadzhimurad Rashidov. He'll surrender his third seed to European runner-up Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR).

With Rashidov being Russia's world team representative, Nachyn KUULAR (RUS) also got canned from his top-four seed. After removing Kuular from the rankings, it'll slide Sayatbek OKASSOV (KAZ) into the fourth slot.

Expected 65kg Top-Four Seeds
1. Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
2. Takuto OTOGURO (JPN)
3. Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)
4. Sayatbek OKASSOV (KAZ)

Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) climbed past Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) for the No. 1 seed at 74kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Chamizo Climbs to No.1 Seed at 74kg
A year after a fifth-place finish at the World Championships, Frank Chamizo climbed to the top of the world rankings at 74kg after winning the European Championships and Sassari City Tournament. The Italian also won silver and bronze medals, respectively, at the Yasar Dogu and Dan Kolov -- both of which were Ranking Series events.

But, it wasn't Chamizo's rapid rise to the top of the rankings at 74kg or his pair of 2019 gold medals that caught the attention of the wrestling world. It was his forfeiture to his biggest rival Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) in the gold-medal bout of the Yasar Dogu that caused rumblings throughout the wrestling community. Heading into the Yasar Dogu -- which was the final Ranking Series event of the year, Chamizo was ranked second. He trailed only reigning world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) in the rankings. The two-time world champion made it to the finals in Istanbul, Turkey, and collected enough Ranking Series point to lock up the No. 1 seed -- which is why he sat out of the gold-medal bout. Chamizo defended his decision to forfeit out of the finals by saying the choice was made with his head and not with his heart.

London Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs, who is widely regarded as the best offensive wrestler in the world, comes into Nur-Sultan searching for his seventh world medal. The American has won four gold medals and a pair of bronzes -- one of which came at last year's World Championships. Burroughs fell to eventual champion Zaurbek Sidakov in last year's Budapest world quarterfinals. Then, he scored back-to-back wins -- including a 4-4 criteria win over Frank Chamizo in the bronze-medal bout to reach the world podium for the sixth time in his storied career.

This season, Burroughs has torched the rest of the 74kg field at every competition he's entered -- winning a pair of Ranking Series gold medals and two continental championships (Pan-Am Championships and Pan-Am Games). His couple of Ranking Series titles came at the Dan Kolov and Yasar Dogu, where he scored wins over Frank Chamizo in both tournaments. At the Dan Kolov, Burroughs defeated his Italian rival, 9-2 in the second round, then grabbed a win via forfeit at the Yasar Dogu.

Burroughs comes into the World Championships as the second-seeded wrestler in the world at 74kg.

Zaurbek Sidakov came into Budapest relatively unknown but created quite a name for himself after he took down Burroughs and Chamizo en route to the finals. In the gold-medal bout, the 23-year-old Russian finished off his run to the top of the world podium with a 2-2 criteria win over U23 world champion Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO).

Sidakov and Kentchadze are seeded third and fourth, respectively.

Expected 74kg Top-Four Seeds
1. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)
2. Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)
3. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS)
4. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)

Fatih ERDIN (TUR), the No. 1 seed at 86kg, will be looking to improve on his second-place finish from last year's World Championships. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Erdin Enters World's as No. 1 Seed at 86kg
Fatih ERDIN (TUR) was jockeying with returning world champion David TAYLOR (USA) for the No.1 spot at 86kg. But, the American suffered a freak injury during a mid-season charity event -- which ended his 2019 campaign after the injury required season-ending surgery.

Erdin, last year's world runner-up will be the top-ranked wrestler at 86kg. This season, Erdin finished in second place at the prestigious Ivan Yariguin and in third place at the European Championships.

Taylor's departure inserts Boris MAKOEV (SVK) into the second seed at 86kg. Makoev will be looking to get back on the world podium for the first time since 2017, where he was a world runner-up.

Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) and Deepak PUNIA (IND) round out the top four seeded wrestlers at 86kg.

World and Olympic champion Hassan "The Greatest" Yazdani will be the third-seed, while Punia, this year's 86kg junior world champion, will be the fourth seed.

Expected 86kg Top-Four Seeds
1.Fatih ERDIN (TUR)
2. Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
3. Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI)
4. Deepak PUNIA (IND)

Kyle SNYDER (USA) soared past the Abdulrashid SADUALEV (RUS) for the No. 1 seed at 97kg. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Snyder Soars Past Sadulaev for the Top Seed at 97kg
Perhaps the biggest rivalry headlining the sport is multiple time world and Olympic champions Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) and Kyle Snyder. The pair squared off twice for the 97kg world title. Snyder, the two-time world and Rio Olympic champion got the best of his Russian rival in Paris at the 2017 World Championships. But, Sadulaev exacted revenge on the American last year in Budapest -- picking up the 69-second fall to claim his third world title.

Though Sadulaev is the reigning 97kg world champion, Snyder comes into Kazakhstan as the weight’s top-rank wrestler. The American amassed 94 Ranking Series points after his title-winning efforts at the Pan-American Championships, Dan Kolov and Yasar Dogu.

Sadulaev will be the second-seeded wrestler at 97kg. He collected gold medals in his two appearances on the year. His titles came at the European Championships and the European Games.

ULZIISAIKHAN Batzul (MGL) and Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA) round out the top-four at 97kg, respectively.

Third-seeded Ulziisaikhan wrestled in two Ranking Series tournaments and also the Asian Championships -- where he fell to Iran’s Reza YAZDANI in the gold-medal match.

Conyedo Ruano, last year’s world bronze medalist, capped off his season with back-to-back Ranking Series bronze medals. He finished in third place at the City of Sassari Tournament and the Yasar Dogu.

Expected 97kg Top-Four Seeds
1. Kyle SNYDER (USA)
2. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS)
3. ULZIISAIKHAN Batzul (MGL)
4. Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA)

Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) will be looking to defend his 61kg world title from a year ago. He's the top seed at 61kg. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Meanwhile, five returning world champions started and ended the year as the top-ranked wrestlers in their respective weight classes. The five guys who head into Nur-Sultan just as they departed Budapest are: Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB), Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS), Kyle DAKE (USA), J'Den COX (USA), and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO).

Bonne Bounces into Nur-Sultan As No. 1 Seed at 61kg
Returning world-champion Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez is the lone returning medalist from last year’s World Championships that is ranked inside the top four at 61kg. Mongolia’s 2018 world bronze medalist TUMENBILEG Tuvshintulga is also at the weight, but he’s ranked eighth heading into Nur-Sultan.

The other two medalists Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) and Daniel COLON (USA) have either since moved up to another weight or missed out on making their country’s spot.

Russia’s two-time world runner-up Gadzhimurad Rashidov will compete up at the Olympic weight of 65kg, while Colon failed to make the United States’ world team.

India’s Rahul AWARE (IND) had his work cut out for himself to reach a top-four seed. But, the Indian wrestler finished his season with a gold-medal performance at the Yasar Dogu -- which came after he won bronze medals at the Asian Championships and City of Sassari Tournament. After removing Colon and Rashidov from the rankings, Aware will be the No. 2 seed at 61kg.

Beka LOMTADZE (GEO), a fifth-place finisher at the 2018 World Championships, will be the third-seeded wrestler at 61kg.

Mohammadbagher YAKHKESHI (IRI) would have been the fourth-seeded wrestler at the weight, but Iran will instead be rolling with Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI). The Iranian switch means Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU) will take over the fourth seed at 61kg.

Expected 61kg Top-Four Seeds
1. Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
2. Rahul AWARE (IND)
3. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)
4. Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI)

Adam BATIROV (BRN) will be the top seed at 70kg after Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) bumped up to the Olympic weight of 74kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Gazimagomedov Gone, Batirov Bumps up to No. 1 at 70kg
Although reigning 70kg world champion Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov is the top-ranked wrestler in the world heading into the World Championships, he's moved up to the Olympic weight class of 74kg. He'll forfeit his top seed to Adam BATIROV (BRN), who was last year's world runner-up at 70kg.

Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ), the Asian and City of Sassari Tournament champion, will be the second-seeded wrestler at 70kg.

Had Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR) made Ukraine's team, he would have been the third seed at the weight. But, they will instead be sending Semen RADULOV (UKR). Ukraine's flipping their entires means Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) and Devid SAFARYAN (ARM) will be seeded third and fourth, receptivity.

Expected 70kg Top-Four Seeds
1. Adam BATIROV (BRN)
2. Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
3. Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
4. Devid SAFARYAN (ARM)

Kyle DAKE (USA) will return to the World Championships looking to win his second consecutive world title. He'll be the No. 1 seed at 79kg. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Dake Locks Up Top Spot at 79kg
The top-two 79kg wrestlers from last year’s World Championships Kyle Dake and Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) headline the entries at the weight again this year. Dake, the returning world champion, will be the top seed at 79kg, while his world finals opponent Hasanov will be seeded second.

Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) would have been the third seed at 79kg, but he had knee surgery to repair injuries suffered during the semifinals at the European Championships and won’t compete until at least mid-October.

Alexander DIERINGER (USA), who is ranked fourth in the world, lost to Kyle Dake in America’s wrestle-offs and will give up the third seed to Turkey’s Muhammet KOTANOGLU, who’ll be making his world championship debut.

Bahman TEYMOURI (IRI) rounds out the top-four seeded wrestlers at 79kg.

Expected 79kg Top-Four Seeds
1. Kyle DAKE (USA)
2. Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE)
3. Muhammet KOTANOGLU (TUR)
4. Bahman TEYMOURI (IRI)

J'den Cox is undefeated this season and has cruised to the No. 1 seed at 92kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Cox Cruises to No.1 Seed at 92kg
J’den Cox is the fourth returning world gold medalist that heads into Kazakhstan atop the world rankings. He’ll be the No. 1 seed at the weight where he claimed his first world title.

Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI), a bronze-medal finisher at last year’s World Championships, will be seeded second.

Magomed KURBANOV (RUS), Batyrbek TCAKULOV (RUS) and Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN), who are ranked third through fifth, respectively, failed to make their country’s world teams. Without those three guys, Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) will move up into the third seed.

Finally, Viky VIKY, who is ranked seventh, also missed out on making a world team, so Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) will be the fourth seed at 92kg.

Expected 92kg Top-Four Seeds
1. J'Den COX (USA)
2. Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI)
3. Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR)
4. Irakli MTSITURI (GEO)

Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) will be looking to win his third consecutive world title. He enters the World Championships as the No. 1 seed at 125kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Petriashvili Picks up No. 1 Seed At 125kg
You have to go back to 2013 to find the last 125kg world champion not named Geno Petriashvili or Taha AKGUL (TUR). The pair have accounted for every world and Olympic title since 2014.

Petriashvili, the reigning two-time 125kg world champion, comes into Nur-Sultan as the No. 1-seeded wrestler. But, he’s not the clear-cut favorite to win his third consecutive world title after his most prominent Turkish rival reclaimed 125kg supremacy with a dominating 7-0 victory in the European finals.

The pair will be stationed on opposite sides of the bracket and wouldn’t meet until the finals. They were ranked first and fourth, but Akgul leaped into the third seed after he won the final Ranking Series event, the Yasar Dogu, in his home country of Turkey.

If the seeds hold, Petriashvili will meet Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) for a spot in the finals, and Akgul will see China’s DENG Zhiwei in the semifinals. Zhiwei, the returning world finalist, is seeded second, while Gwiazdowski, a two-time world bronze medalist, is seeded fourth.

Expected 125kg Top-Four Seeds
1. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
2. DENG Zhiwei (CHN)
3. Taha AKGUL (TUR)
4. Nicholas Edward GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)

#wrestlebishkek

Local stars Makhmudov, Tynybekova among 10 world champs on quest for Asian gold

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - 16:02 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 9) -- They are both defending champions, both world gold medalists and Olympic silver medalists, and together will be competing in front of a partisan Kyrgyz crowd that absolutely adores them.

For local heroes AKZHOL MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) at Greco 77kg and Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) at women's 62kg, the setting for the upcoming Asian Championships in Bishkek could not be more perfect.

But that does not mean it will be easy. Another thing that the two superstars have in common is that a Japanese opponent is waiting in the wings for each, fully determined to avenge a close semifinal loss at last year's World Championships. Makmudov and Tynybekova are among 10 current world champions, including compatriot Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) at Greco 60kg, who will be taking the mat during the six-day tournament at Bishkek Arena that starts on Thursday.

The field has been thinned a bit by the fact that the Asian Olympic Qualifier will be held three days after the tournament ends, but there are still more than enough top competitors to ensure a lively event.

Makmudov, Tynybekova and Sharshenbekov are among 13 returning champions, although a weight class change has put two of them together. Among the baker's dozen, Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) at Greco 130kg and Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) at freestyle 97kg also completed the world-Asian double.

Powerhouse Iran has sent a freestyle contingent with a mixed bag of experience, led by former world champion and defending Asian champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) at 65kg, three-time world medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) at 79kg and reigning world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) at 125kg.

A clash of world champions is possible at 97kg, although Tazhudinov, who established his credentials with one-sided victories over both Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) in Belgrade last September, handily defeated 92kg gold medalist Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) in a meeting last month.

In Greco, Mirzazadeh is among four returning champions for Iran, along with Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) at 55kg, Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) at 63kg and Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) at 87kg. Olympic bronze medalist and three-time world medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) will look to keep the 97kg gold in Iranian hands while adding to his 2020 Asian title.

In women's wrestling, the all-mighty Japanese can be expected to dominate, particularly since four of the six wrestlers who qualified for the Paris Olympics are making the trip to Bishkek, including Tokyo Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and fellow world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN).

"The Asian Championships will be my last competition before the Paris Olympics," Susaki said in a recent video posted on the Japan federation's Facebook page. "I want to take the mat with the same emotion as at the Olympics, definitely win the gold medal and make a good start heading towards the Olympics."

The tournament will mark the international debut at 68kg of Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), who failed to make the squad to Paris at 62kg, the weight in which she won the world title in 2022. She won the gold at 65kg last year, then made a bold move up to 68kg and won a dramatic playoff for the Olympic spot.

Bishkek will also see the return to the global stage of two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN) after she missed out on Paris at 57kg. Kinjo, who is entered at 59kg, last competed internationally at the Tokyo Olympics and has since gotten married and given birth. She won two Olympic, four world and four Asian titles under her maiden name of KAWAI.

The wild card of the tournament will be the presence of wrestlers from the DPR Korea, which has four entries in freestyle, four in Greco and six in the women's competition.

From 2020 and the disruption of the pandemic up to this year, the nation has entered just one international tournament, sending two Greco wrestlers to last October's Asian Games.

While Yong Ok HWANG (PRK) was a senior bronze medalist at women's 50kg in 2019, most of the team members are relative unknowns, with some having won Asian medals on the cadet or junior level in the pre-pandemic years. Other teams will underestimate them at their own peril.

India, which will be competing under its name and flag following the lifting of the suspension of its national federation, is sending a young squad built around two-time champion SARITA (IND) at women's 57kg. There are a number of wrestlers with recent success on the age-group levels, including world U20 champion PRIYA at women's 76kg.

World champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) is making his Asian Championships debut in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Here is a short overview of each weight class:

Freestyle (April 11-12)

57kg: This division is wide open, with Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) the lone returning medalist after adding the silver last year to the bronze he won in 2022. Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL), a world bronze medalist in 2022, will be looking to improve on his Asian silver from 2017. The draw also includes the finalists from last year's Asian U20 tournament, champion UDIT (IND) and runner-up Ebrahim KHARI (IRI).

61kg: The host country's Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ), the defending champion and a world bronze medalist, and 2022 world silver medalist Reza ATRI (IRI) look like the ones to beat. Atri was the Asian champion at 57kg in 2019 and finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics. Also worth watching is two-time world U23 bronze medalist Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ).

65kg: Amouzad, who earned Asia's lone spot at the Paris Olympics in this weight class by placing fifth in Belgrade, will be the favorite to win his third title in a row. The 2022 world champion, who placed second at the Zagreb Ranking Series tournament in January, could see a rematch of the 2023 final with Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), a 2021 world bronze medalist.

The two can expect competition from Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ), who picked up his fifth senior Asian medal last year when he took bronze. His lone gold came in 2020 at 61kg. Also in the field is two-time Asian bronze medalist Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB) and Masanosuke ONO (JPN), surprise winner at last month's Yasar Dogu tournament in Antalya, Turkey.

70kg: World bronze medalist Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) heads a field that includes returning bronze medalist and world U23 silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), two-time Asian bronze medalist Meirzhan ASHIROV (KAZ) and 2021 world bronze medalist Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ).

74kg: This Olympic weight is a bit light on name recognition, with two medalists from the past two years at 70kg coming in as the favorites. Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) was a bronze medalist in 2022 and the champion in 2021, while Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB) has moved up after his runner-up finish last year. Iran will be represented by Hossein ABOUZARIPASHKOLAEI (IRI), who was second at this year's Zagreb Open, with 2022 world U23 bronze medalist Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) also in the draw.

79kg: The gold medal is Nokhodi's to lose as the Iranian makes his first Asian appearance since winning a bronze in 2019. The 2023 world bronze medalist, who lost to Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) in the finals at both the 2021 and 2022 worlds, arrives in Bishkek with a victory at the Zagreb Open under his belt.

Looking to upend Nokhodi are Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN) and Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL), the champion and runner-up, respectively, in Antalya, and 2022 world U20 silver medalist Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN).

86kg: Two-time world bronze medalist Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) will be going for his third straight Asian title and fifth medal overall, and could get a chance to avenge a 4-3 loss at the Asian Games to eventual bronze medalist Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB). Shapiev, who was fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, earned a ticket to Paris by winning the fifth-place playoff in Belgrade.

Looking to knock off those two will be 2022 world U23 champion Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN), Asian U23 champion Batbilguun NAAMDAMBAT (MGL), and Yasar Dogu winner Hadi VAFAEIPOUR (IRI) -- who has the rare achievement of also being a champion in the Beach Wrestling series, having won at a tournament in Turkey last October.

92kg: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) is back on the Iranian team after a successful run in 2022, when he won the senior Asian and world U23 and U20 golds, and is coming off a victory in Antalya. Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) will be aiming to improve on the bronze he won last year, while Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ) will be looking to strike gold after settling for silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022.

97kg: Tazhudinov got the best of his fellow world champion Aitmukhan in the semifinals in Antalya, winning by fall after leading 9-3 en route to the title. Tazhudinov has not been defeated since February 2023, when he fell 6-4 to Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN) in the quarterfinals at the Alexandria Ranking Series tournament. Since then, he has been on a rampage, winning golds in succession at the Asian Championships, Bishkek Ranking Series, World Championships, Asian Games and Yasar Dogu.

It remains to be seen if veteran Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) can stop the juggernaut. The 31-year-old won his second Asian title in 2022, seven years after his first and following a blank between 2015 and 2019. Others to watch are returning bronze medalist Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB) and two-time silver medalist Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL).

125kg: Zare, a Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, is the prohibitive favorite to triumph in his senior Asian debut, having captured the Asian Games gold in October. The two-time world champion opened the year with a victory at the Zagreb Open. Both bronze medalists from 2023, BUHEERDUN (CHN) and Anirudh KUMAR (IND), are back, as well as 38-year-old Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ), who will be gunning for his sixth Asian medal dating back to 2010. He won his lone gold in 2015.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) is returning to the Asian Championships after a gap of seven years. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling (April 13-14)

50kg: Susaki has still never been defeated by a non-Japanese opponent, and while her ultimate goal is the successful defense of her Olympic title in Paris, she has no intention of letting her guard down in Bishkek. The three-time world champion is riding a 51-match winning streak since losing to compatriot Yuki IRIE (JPN) in a world team playoff in July 2019 -- with 39 of the victories by fall or technical superiority.

Susaki opened the season with a dominant performance at the Zagreb Open, beating one of her main competitors in Bishkek -- world bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) -- 10-0 in the final. She also faced two other medal contenders last year, world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) and Asian silver medalist Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB), beating them both by a similar result. In aiming to add to her lone Asian title from 2017, Susaki will need to be wary if she encounters the DPR Korea's Hwang--the reclusive nation's wrestlers have a recent history of tunning big-name Japanese opponents.

53kg: World champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) will not be returning for a three-peat after recently suffering a dislocated elbow in practice. That leaves the door wide open in a field with no obvious favorite. Taking Fujinami's place is Nagisa HARADA (JPN), who finished second at the Klippan Lady and seventh at the world U20 in 2023. Other contenders are Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL), the silver medalist at 55kg last year; 2018 gold medalist Chun LEI (CHN); and two-time Asian U20 silver medalist Dilshoda MATNAZAROVA (UZB). Ji Hyang KIM (PRK) was the 2019 Asian cadet champion, so it will be interesting to see what she brings to the table.

55kg: Dulguun MUNKHBOLD BOLORMAA (MGL) completed the full set of Asian medals when she won the gold in 2021 (following a silver in 2020 and bronze in 2019). Can she add to the collection and, if so, which color will it be? Looking to prevent it from being gold will be 2022 world U23 and U20 champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) -- a teammate of Harada's at Ikuei University -- Asian U23 champion Min ZHANG (CHN), and TAMMANA (IND), the Asian U23 silver medalist at 53kg. Kiyooka will be competing a few days before older brother Kotaro tries to earn an Olympic berth for Japan at freestyle 65kg.

57kg: Three-time reigning world champion Sakurai, a recent Ikuei grad, will be aiming for a second Asian gold as she begins final preparations for her first Olympics, having previously triumphed in 2022. India's Sarita has moved down from 59kg, the division in which she won back-to-back golds in 2020 and 2021 and a bronze in 2022, as well as a world bronze in 2021.

Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL) has dropped down from 62kg, in which she won world bronze in 2021. Yongxin FENG (CHN) medaled at the Zagreb Open for the second straight year in January, while Hyon Ju PARK (PRK) was the 2019 Asian junior champion.

59kg: Kinjo lost out to Sakurai in a bid to make the Paris Olympics at 57kg, but does not view making Japan's team to Bishkek at 59kg as a consolation prize. She remains a serious competitor and ready to take on all challengers. Her main competition happens to be the reigning world champion, Qi ZHANG (CHN), who also has a pair of Asian bronzes from 2017 and 2019.

62kg: A rematch of the final at the World Championships -- and possibly a preview of Paris -- is a strong possibility between Tynybekova and rising star Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), who moved up from 59kg and snatched the Olympic spot at 62kg from Ozaki and Tokyo champion Yukako KAWAI (JPN). Tynybekova, with the crowd on her side, will be aiming for a sixth Asian gold and 11th medal overall. She also has four world medals, including three golds.

Tynybekova and Motoki have met twice over a recent four-month span--in Belgrade and Zagreb -- with the former winning both by close decisions. Motoki is ready to turn the tide. "The Asian Championships will be held in Kyrgyzstan, and that's the country of my biggest rival Aisuluu, and I will do all I can to beat [her]," Motoki declared in an interview.

The battle for the other medals will likely be between world 65kg bronze medalist LILI (CHN), 2015 world silver medalist and three-time Asian bronze medalist Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) and two-time Asian bronze medalist MANISHA (IND).

65kg: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), the 2022 world U20 champion, has a golden opportunity to upgrade her 2023 silver to gold as the prohibitive favorite. Yoshitake won the Yasar Dogu title in January with an 11-1 victory in the final over Asian U23 champion Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL), who will likely be one of her main rivals in Bishkek. Also expected to be in the mix are world U20 silver medalist ANTIM (IND) and 2022 world U20 bronze medalist Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ).

68kg: Any doubts about whether Ozaki could handle the extra weight in moving up to 68kg were likely answered when she pulled off a dramatic victory over 2022 world silver medalist Ami ISHII (JPN) in the domestic Olympic playoff. She can expect a battle from the most recent world silver medalist, Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL), who will be looking for her first Asian gold after taking home two bronzes and a silver over the past three years. RADHIKA (IND) has made a similar weight progression as Ozaki, from 2021 world U23 bronze medalist at 62kg to 2022 Asian silver medalist at 65kg.

72kg: After coming away with silver medals at the last two Asian Championships, Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) is well-positioned to capture an elusive gold. A world U20 and U23 bronze medalist in 2022, she gained a boost of confidence by winning the gold in Antalya. Two rivals in Bishkek, 2022 world U20 silver medalist Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ) and Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL), were also in Antalya, but both lost in the quarterfinals and neither faced Niikura. Also expected to be in the medal hunt are 2023 world U20 bronze medalist HARSHITA (IND) and Asian Games 68kg silver medalist Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ).

76kg: With world champion Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) also withdrawing due to injury, a rematch of last year's final between defending champion Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) and world silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) could be in the cards. Looking to prevent that will be returning bronze medalist and world U20 champion PRIYA (IND), 2022 world U23 bronze medalist Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) and Yasar Dogu bronze medalist Zagardulam NAIGALSUREN (MGL).

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will look to defend his 60kg title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Greco-Roman (April 15-16)

55kg: In his quest to repeat as Asian champion, Iran's Dad Marz could encounter the wrestler with whom he shared the podium at the World Championships. Both Dad Marz and Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) took bronze medals home from Belgrade, and also have multiple Asian medals to their credit. Dad Marz, the 2022 world U23 champion, is coming off a gold-medal run in Antalya. Ortikboev, a two-time world bronze medalist, was second at the 2020 Asian Championships and third in 2022. Aiming to stop them will be two-time Asian bronze medalist Arjun HALAKURKI (IND), 2023 Zagreb Open champion HUSIYUETU (CHN) and Asian U23 champion Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ).

60kg: Kyrgyzstan's Sharshenbekov has been the dominant figure at this weight for the past two years, monopolizing both the Asian and world titles while also picking up the Asian Games gold. A victory in his home country would give him a fifth Asian medal overall. Who can stop him? Liguo CAO (CHN), an Asian and world bronze medalist last year, will certainly give it a shot. As will Ilkhom BAKHRAMOV (UZB), who will be looking to combine with brother Islomjon at 63kg in a repeat of their golden sibling double of 2019. Also look out for world U20 bronze medalist Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) and 2021 Asian bronze medalist Seunghak KIM (KOR).

63kg: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI), the 2022 world U23 and U20 champion, is back to defend the title he won a year ago in Astana. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), a 2023 world 60kg bronze medalist, will be looking to regain the title he won in 2019 and earn a fourth Asian medal overall. Others to watch are Asian U23 champion Haodong TAN (CHN), Asian Games bronze medalist Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) and 2018 Asian bronze medalist Dokyung JUNG (KOR).

67kg: With the cream of the weight class heading to the Olympic qualifier, returning bronze medalist Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) has a chance to move up to gold in front of the home crowd. Beishekeev also won the Asian U23 title and an Asian Games bronze medal last year. Hanjae CHUNG (KOR), the silver medalist last year at 60kg, has jumped up two weight classes in a bid for a third career Asian medal. Others to watch are Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB), last year's silver medalist at 63kg, 2022 world U20 champion Saeid ESMAELI LEIVESI (IRI) and 2023 world U23 bronze medalist Haruto YABE (JPN).

72kg: This one looks like a toss-up between Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ), a bronze medalist the past two years, 2019 world junior bronze medalist Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) and Asian U20 champion Abdullo ALIEV (UZB).

77kg: Anyone who was in the Kozhomkul Sports Palace in 2018 to see a teenaged Makhmudov win a dramatic gold medal for host Kyrgyzstan on the final day knows how frenzied and passionate the home crowd can get. And Nao KUSAKA (JPN) would love nothing better than to spoil the mood.

Kusaka took Makhmudov to the limit at the World Championships before conceding a 7-5 loss in the semifinals. Kusaka went on to win a bronze medal and clinch his first trip to the Olympics, and avenging the loss to Makhmudov is all part of a grand plan to optimize his chances in Paris.

"I'm looking forward to it," Kusaka said in a video interview. "The opponent who I lost to in the semifinals at the World Championships is also entered. I looked back at the footage of our match and it was filled with places where I thought, 'If I only had done this more.' I'm really excited right now.

"After Asia, I will go the [UWW Ranking Series in] Hungary, because I want to be seeded for the Olympics," said Kusaka, who currently sits fourth in the UWW rankings. "Everyone looks at it differently, but for me, even one less match [at the Olympics] is best. That's because the concentration I can put out for each match is different."

Either Makhmudov and Kusaka could have to contend with a champion from 2023 in Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), who won the gold at 72kg in Astana. Also worth watching are SAJAN (IND), a 2022 world U23 bronze medalist with Kusaka, and Amir Ali ABDI (IRI), who also won a 2022 world U23 bronze, but at 72kg.

82kg: With just seven entries in the non-Olympic weight, 2o22 Asian champion Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) looks like the wrestler to beat as the Iranian comes off a runner-up finish in Antalya. Others to watch are 2022 bronze medalist Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB), 2019 world U23 bronze medalist Yevgeniy POLIVADOV (KAZ) and 2023 world U17 champion Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN).

97kg: Tokyo Olympic and 2023 world bronze medalist Saravi is the clear favorite in a field that includes Makhmudov's brother Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), a bronze medalist in 2021. Saravi has one Asian title to his credit from 2020, as well as an Asian Games gold won last year. Also in medal contention will be 2022 world U20 silver medalist Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ).

130kg: It would be tough to bet against world champion Mirzazadeh, who won his second Asian title last year, and also has an Asian Games gold and 2022 world silver medal to his credit. Lingzhe MENG (CHN) will be gunning to avenge losses in the finals to Mirzazadeh at both the Asian Championships and Asian Games. Also in the mix will be 2018 world bronze medalist and two-time Asian silver medalist Minseok KIM (KOR), 2022 Asian U23 champion Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ) and 2020 Asian bronze medalist Mansur SHADUKAYEV (KAZ).

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Local stars Makhmudov, Tynybekova among 10 world champs on quest for Asian gold