Soryan, Greco-Roman, World Championships, Gaber

Soryan Eyes Sixth Title, Gaber Readies Run to Rio (Live Updates)

Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 04:39 By William May

TASHKENT (September 14) – London 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist Hamid SORYAN (IRI) seeks his sixth world title and Athens 2004 champion Karam GABER (EGY) prepares a run for Rio 2016 on Sunday, the final day of the wrestling world championships in Tashkent.

Soryan, however, could be looking at a challenge from Asia champion and local favorite Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) in the semifinals at the Gymnastics Palace, and then, in the 59kg final, from 2013 world champion Ivo ANGELOV (BUL).

For his part, even before reaching the semifinals, Angelov will likely have to get by the winner of the match-up between Olympic bronze medalists Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS) or Roman AMOYAN (ARM).

The 35-year-old Gaber, meanwhile, wrestling in his first competition since winning a silver medal in London, will be tested early and, if he navigates the bracket successfully, then face world silver medalist Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) in the 98kg championship final.

Aleksanyan, who narrowly missed the title last year in Budapest, is on a mission to win it all this year and follow Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARM) to the top of the medals podium in Tashkent. Julfalakyan won the world title at 75kg on Friday.

Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), runner-up to Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) at the European championships and Golden Grand Prix Final, will try to capitalize on the Hungarian’s move to 66kg and close out the year with the world title at 71kg.

MAT A: http://new.livestream.com/unitedworldwrestling/events/3369840

MAT B: http://new.livestream.com/unitedworldwrestling/events/3369848

MAT C: http://new.livestream.com/unitedworldwrestling/events/3369851

Greco-Roman

59kg (36 entries)

Soryan begins his quest for a sixth world title near the bottom of the 36-wrestler bracket. A bump in the road might be European runner-up Victor CIOBANU (MDA), his likely opponent in the quarterfinals.

Asia champion Tasmuradov will have the backing of a boisterous crowd as he opens against Edward BARSEGIAN (POL) and Kristijan FRIS (SEB) on his way to a semifinal berth opposite Soryan.

Angelov starts at the bottom of the upper half of the bracket and in the quarterfinals could meet the winner of the Amoyan-Semenov match-up in the first round.

Peter MODOS (HUN), a 2013 bronze medalist in Budapest, has had a quiet year recuperating from a knee injury suffered in March, but could still navigate to the fourth semifinal berth.

71kg (30 entries)

Chunayev would seem to be the class of this non-Olympic weight category, but will be tested early at the bottom of the bracket by Justin LESTER (USA) in the round of 16 and European bronze medalist Yunus OZEL (TUR) in the quarterfinals.

Varsham BORANYAN (ARM), winner at the German Grand Prix in June, could emerge a challenger to Chunayev from the quarter above.

At the top of the bracket, Poddubny tournament winner Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) and and Afshin BYABANGARD (IRI) could duel for the uppermost semifinal berth, while Aleksandar DZEMYANOVICH (BLR) and Pytlasinski tourney runner-up Mathia MAASCH (GER) battle for the berth opposite.

98kg (30 entries)

European champion Aleksanyan begins the upper half of the bracket and is looking at a potential meeting in the quarterfinals with Aleksander HRABOVIK (BLR), a bronze medalist at the German Grand Prix.

London 2012 gold medalist Ghasem REZAIE (IRI), 2013 junior world champion Musa EVLOEV (RUS) and European bronze medalist Marthin NIELSEN (NOR) make for a crowded top quarter of the bracket in a battle to face Aleksanyan in the semifinals.

At the very bottom of the bracket, Gaber appears ready to make a run for Rio, but first will to battle through a swarm of tough competitors, including European runner-up Cenk ILDEM (TUR).

The final semifinal berth may well go to the Pytlasinski bronze medal winner Miloslav METODIEV (BUL) or Alin ALEX-CIURARIU (ROU), a bronze medalist at the world student championships in July

59kg

GOLD: Hamid Mohammad SORYAN (IRI) v. Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS)
BRONZE: Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) v. Ismael BORRERO (CUB)
BRONZE: Spenser Thomas MANGO (USA) v. Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR)

Semifinal: Hamid Mohammad SORYAN (IRI) df. Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB), 2-1
Semifinal: Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS) df. Spenser Thomas MANGO (USA) by TF, 9-1

Repechage: Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) df. Jung-Baik LEE (KOR), 1-0
Repechage: Ismael BORRERO (CUB) df. Haithem Ahmed FAHMY (EGY), 13-9
Repechage: Jung-Baik LEE (KOR) df. Roman AMOYAN (ARM), 4-2
Repechage: Haithem Ahmed FAHMY (EGY) df. Alex Iordache ANECHITEI (ROU) by TF, 9-0

Quarterfinal: Hamid Mohammad SORYAN (IRI) df. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE), 3-0
Quarterfinal: Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) df. Lumin WANG (CHN) by TF, 9-0
Quarterfinal: Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS) df. Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR), 5-0
Quarterfinal: Spenser Thomas MANGO (USA) df. Kazuma KURAMOTO (JPN) by TF, 10-0

1/8: Hamid Mohammad SORYAN (IRI) df. Ismael BORRERO (CUB), 5-0
1/8: Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) df. Tonimir SOKOL (CRO) by TF, 9-0
1/8: Kazuma KURAMOTO (JPN) df. Andres MONTANO (ECU), 2-2
1/8: Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Deniz MENEKSE (GER), 6-3
1/8: Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) df. Ivo Serafimov ANGELOV (BUL), 1-1
1/8: Spenser Thomas MANGO (USA) df. Peter MODOS (HUN), 4-0
1/8: Lumin WANG (CHN) df. Arsen ERALIEV (KGZ) by TF, 12-3
1/8: Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS) df. Jung-Baik LEE (KOR) by FALL, 6-0

1/16: Hamid Mohammad SORYAN (IRI) df. Haithem Ahmed FAHMY (EGY), 2-1
1/16: Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Yasin OZAY (FRA), 3-2
1/16: Tonimir SOKOL (CRO) df. Kristian FRIS (SRB), 4-4
1/16: Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) df. Manuel A. LOPEZ (MEX), 5-0
1/16: Kazuma KURAMOTO (JPN) df. Ravinder SINGH (IND), 4-1
1/16: Peter MODOS (HUN) df. Tobias Fonnesbek (DEN), 3-1
1/16: Ismael BORRERO (CUB) df. Goderdzi DAVITADZE (GEO), 7-1
1/16: Arsen ERALIEV (KGZ) df. Ievgen MIAGKYI (UKR), 2-1
1/16: Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) df. Edward BERSEGIAN (POL) by TF, 8-0
1/16: Jung-Baik LEE (KOR) df. Jussi-Pekka NIEMISTOE (FIN) by TF, 13-3
1/16: Andres MONTANO (ECU) df. Andrey TSARYUK (ISR) by TF, 8-0
1/16: Deniz MENEKSE (GER) df. Victor CIOBANU (MDA) by FALL, 6-2
1/16: Lumin WANG (CHN) df. Maksim KAZHARSKI (BLR), 6-2
1/16: Ivo Serafimov ANGELOV (BUL) df. Albert BAGHUMYAN (ESP) by TF, 9-0
1/16: Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS) df. Roman AMOYAN (ARM), 3-0
1/16: Spenser Thomas MANGO (USA) df. Fatih UCUNCU (TUR), 2-2

Qualification: Haithem Ahmed FAHMY (EGY) df. Suparmanto SUPARMANTO (INA) by TF, 8-0
Qualification: Goderdzi DAVITADZE (GEO) df. Fouad FAJARI (MAR), 5-0
Qualification: Hamid Mohammad SORYAN (IRI) df. Alex Iordache ANECHITEI (ROU) by TF, 8-0
Qualification: Ismael BORRERO (CUB) df. Yerbol KONYRATOV (KAZ), 5-0

71 kg

GOLD: Yunus OZEL (TUR) v. Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS)
BRONZE: Varsham BORANYAN (ARM) v. Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE)
BRONZE: Aliaksandr DZEMYANOVICH (BLR) v. Afshim BYABANGARD (IRI)

Semifinal: Yunus OZEL (TUR) df. Varsham BORANYAN (ARM) by forfeit, 5-0
Semifinal: Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) df. Aliaksandr DZEMYANOVICH (BLR) by TF, 8-0

Repechage: Afshim BYABANGARD (IRI) df. Balint KORPASI (HUN), 4-3
Repechage: Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) df. Ionel PUSCASU (ROU) by TF, 9-1
Repechage: Balint KORPASI (HUN) df. Aleksandar MAKSIMOVIC (SRB), 7-2
Repechage: Ionel PUSCASU (ROU) df. Fernando Vicente GOMEZ (MEX) by TF, 8-0

Quarterfinal: Yunus OZEL (TUR) df. Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), 4-1
Quarterfinal: Varsham BORANYAN (ARM) df. Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), 2-1
Quarterfinal: Aliaksandr DZEMYANOVICH (BLR) df. Shermet PERMANOV (TKM) by FALL, 4-6
Quarterfinal: Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) df. Afshim BYABANGARD (IRI), 4-0

1/8: Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) df. Justin Dashaun LESTER (USA), 9-7
1/8: Shermet PERMANOV (TKM) df. Knut Zakarias TALLROTH (SWE) by FALL, 7-3
1/8: Afshim BYABANGARD (IRI) df. Young-Ha KIM (KOR), 2-0
1/8: Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) df. K.K. YADAV (IND) by TF, 8-0
1/8: Aliaksandr DZEMYANOVICH (BLR) df. Kairat TUGOLBAEY (KGZ), 10-2
1/8: Yunus OZEL (TUR) df. Ionel PUSCASU (ROU), 3-1
1/8: Varsham BORANYAN (ARM) df. Dilshodjon TURDIEV (UZB) by TF, 10-2
1/8: Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) df. Balint KORPASI (HUN), 2-1

Qualification: Justin Dashaun LESTER (USA) df. Mindia TZULUKIDZE (GEO), 5-0
Qualification: Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) df. Ridong ZHANG (CHN) by TF, 9-0
Qualification: Knut Zakarias TALLROTH (SWE) df. Matthias MAASCH (GER), 2-2
Qualification: Aliaksandr DZEMYANOVICH (BLR) df. Tomas SOBECKY (CZE) by TF, 8-0
Qualification: Yunus OZEL (TUR) df. Fernando Vicente GOMEZ (MEX) by TF, 8-0
Qualification: Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) df. Noritomo ETO (JPN) by TF, 8-0
Qualification: Dilshodjon TURDIEV (UZB) df. Kristaps KALNAKARKLIS (LAT) by TF, 8-0
Qualification: Shermet PERMANOV (TKM) df. Franson Rsei GIBBONS (PLW) by FALL, 4-0
Qualification: Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) df. Aleksandar MAKSIMOVIC (SRB), 5-2
Qualification: Ionel PUSCASU (ROU) df. Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE), 7-0
Qualification: K.K. YADAV (IND) df. Vojtech JAKUS (SVK) by FALL, 5-3
Qualification: Varsham BORANYAN (ARM) df. Riccardo Vito ABBRESCIA (ITA) by TF, 9-0
Qualification: Kairat TUGOLBAEY (KGZ) df. Joseph Dominic LOPEZ (GUM) by TF, 9-0
Qualification: Balint KORPASI (HUN) df. Armen VARDANYAN (UKR), 2-0

98kg

GOLD: Oliver Adrian HASSLER (GER) v. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)
BRONZE: Cenk ILDEM (TUR) v. Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU)
BRONZE: Ghasem Gholamreza REZAEI (IRI) v. Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR)

Semifinal: Oliver Adrian HASSLER (GER) df. Cenk ILDEM (TUR), 5-0
Semifinal: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Ghasem Gholamreza REZAEI (IRI), 3-1

Repechage: Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR) df. Adam VARGA (HUN), 6-0
Repechage: Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU) df. Miloslav Yuriev METODIEV (BUL) by Injury Default, 0-0
Repechage: Adam VARGA (HUN) df. Arslan SAPARMAMMEDOV (TKM), 5-0
Repechage: Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU) df. Radoslaw Pawel GRZYBICKI (POL), 3-0

Quarterfinal: Cenk ILDEM (TUR) df. Ardo ARUSAAR (EST), 1-0
Quarterfinal: Oliver Adrian HASSLER (GER) df. Miloslav Yuriev METODIEV (BUL) by Injury Default, 7-2
Quarterfinal: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR), 1-0
Quarterfinal: Ghasem Gholamreza REZAEI (IRI) df. Marthin Hamlet NIELSEN (NOR), 2-0

1/8: Oliver Adrian HASSLER (GER) df. Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU), 3-0
1/8: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Adam VARGA (HUN), 2-0
1/8: Cenk ILDEM (TUR) df. Timo Antero KALLIO (FIN), 3-1
1/8: Miloslav Yuriev METODIEV (BUL) df. Erwin Jose CARABALLO (VEN) by DQ, 4-0
1/8: Ghasem Gholamreza REZAEI (IRI) df. Musa EVLOEV (RUS), 2-1
1/8: Ardo ARUSAAR (EST) df. Hardeep SINGH (IND), 4-1
1/8: Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR) df. Zhanarbek KABDOLOV (KAZ), 4-2
1/8: Marthin Hamlet NIELSEN (NOR) df. Caylor Ryan WILLIAMS (USA), 3-0

Qualification: Timo Antero KALLIO (FIN) df. Karam Mohamed GABER (EGY) by FALL, 2-0
Qualification: Ardo ARUSAAR (EST) df. Abudurexiti ALIMUJIANG (CHN) by TF, 10-1
Qualification: Miloslav Yuriev METODIEV (BUL) df. Dimitriy TIMCHENKO (UKR), 3-2
Qualification: Zhanarbek KABDOLOV (KAZ) df. Vasil IMERLISHVILI (GEO), 1-0
Qualification: Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Evgeniy ACHKASOV (UZB), 6-0
Qualification: Cenk ILDEM (TUR) df. Shalva GADABADZE (AZE), 2-0
Qualification: Oliver Adrian HASSLER (GER) df. Radoslaw Pawel GRZYBICKI (POL), 2-1
Qualification: Erwin Jose CARABALLO (VEN) df. Spyridon KOUNTOURATZIS (GRE), 3-0
Qualification: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Arslan SAPARMAMMEDOV (TKM) by TF, 10-1
Qualification: Ghasem Gholamreza REZAEI (IRI) df. Carl Fredrik Stefan SCHON (SWE), 3-1
Qualification: Hardeep SINGH (IND) df. Akira OSAKA (JPN), 4-1
Qualification: Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU) df. Daniel GASTL (AUT), 2-0
Qualification: Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR) df. Vilius LAURINAITIS (LTU) by TF, 11-0
Qualification: Adam VARGA (HUN) df. Robert AVANISYAN (ISR), 3-0

#WrestleAmman

Asian Championships 2025 Preview

Thursday, March 20, 2025 - 15:58 By United World Wrestling Press

AMMAN, Jordan (March 20) -- The 2025 Asian Championships will be held in Amman, Jordan from March 25 to 30. More than 370 wrestlers from across the continent will compete in Amman, a city which is hosting the Asian Championships for the first time in its history.

The Asian Championships will be live on uww.org and UWW+. Follow United World Wrestling on Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook and TikTok.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PREVIEW HERE | Asian Championships 2025 Entries

Text version:

While Iran has dominated the Asian scene for a long time in wrestling, Japan has emerged as the new challenger to its dominance. The Asian Championships in Amman will provide more insight into Japan's ever-improving wrestling program which helped it win eight gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Undoubtedly, Japan is the supreme power in Women's Wrestling. But for the 2025 Asian Championships, it is bringing strong teams in Freestyle and Greco-Roman as well. Iran, on the other hand, is banking on young stars in Freestyle and mixing youth and experience in Greco-Roman.

Another big talking point of the tournament is the return of Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) after his shoulder surgery. He has won the Asian, World and Asian Games and Olympic gold medals over the last two years.

Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) is is the defending 67kg champion at Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Greco-Roman

With two Olympic champions and several age-group and senior world champs, Iran's juggernaut in Greco-Roman is set to continue at the Asian Championships. Led by Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) and Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) at 67kg and 97kg respectively, Iran will be hoping to win at least five gold medals.

Add to the list the phenom Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) at 130kg, who is quickly rising to be the best Greco-Roman in the super heavyweight class.

Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) at 55kg, Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI) at 60kg, Danial SOHRABI (IRI) at 72kg, Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) at 77kg, Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) at 82kg and Yasin YAZDI (IRI) at 87kg complete the line-up expected to dominate at the Asian Championships.

Kaito INABA (JPN) is the returning 60kg silver medalist. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The big question is -- can Japan, or any other country, challenge Iran?

Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) at 67kg, Kaito INABA (JPN) at 60kg, and Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) at 82kg are among the favorites to win the gold medals. Yoshida is the returning champion at 82kg and one of the biggest prospects of the Nippon Sports Science University (NSSU) that produced five out of eight Japanese gold medalists in Paris. Endo and Inaba, both from NSSU, have past experience and can go all the way on their day.

In total, six of the 10 Japanese Greco-Roman wrestlers train at NSSU. [High-school student Yoshida will formally join NSSU on April 1].

A few other challengers to these two countries include returning champion Yu Chol RO (PRK) and bronze medalist Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ) at 55kg, Paris bronze medalist Se Ung RI (PRK), and U23 world champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB) will be the key names at 60kg.

Kyrgyzstan is without its three Paris medalists Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Uzur DZHUZUPBEOKV (KGZ) but the likes of Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ), Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ), Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ), Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ), Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) will be hoping to climb the podium as a few of them did at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series 2025.

Kazakhstan is clearly trying to rebuild its team as it has Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ) and Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) and also veterans Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) and Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) among others.

Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) is looking for his first Asian Championships gold medal at 125kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Freestyle

Another style which Iran dominates at the Asian level. While it is not bringing its first team to Amman, Iran still has its young stars in Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI), Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), Sina KHALILI (IRI) and a few others.

Masoumi at 125kg is looking to win his first Asian medal that he missed in 2023, losing to world silver medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) and later to BUHEEERDUN (CHN). For Firouzpour, the road to gold should not have many hurdles.

Iran's bench strength will be tested in the other weight classes as it hopes to win medals with Khalili at 70kg, Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) at 61kg, Abbas EBRAHIMZADEH (IRI) at 65kg, Mohammad Reza SHAKERI (IRI) at 74kg, Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) at 79kg, Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) at 86kh and Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI) at 97kg.

Despite a relatively depleted squad, Japan still boasts of Rin SAKAMOTO (JPN) at 57kg, 2025 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series winner Takara SUDA (JPN) at 61kg, returning silver medalist at 70kg Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), former world U20 silver Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN) at 79kg, former world U23 champion at 86kg Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN), Paris Olympian Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) at 92kg and former champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), who recently defeated Kyle SNYDER (USA) in Tirana, at 97kg.

Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) will look to upgrade his silver medal at 97kg this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kazakhstan's two world champs in Freestyle -- Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) and Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) -- will be in action. Aitmukhan, an Asian silver medalist, will once again challenge Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) who he lost to.

Kaipnov will be challenging the 74kg field, a category one weight up. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) will be moving to 92kg for the Asian Championships.

World U23 champion CHIRAG (IND) will lead India's challenge at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

India has won the 57kg gold medal four times out of the last five but the weight class is stacked for this year. Paris bronze medalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) entered will be the favorite to win the gold medal. He will be challenged by Milad VALIZADEH (IRI), Rin SAKAMOTO (JPN), Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ), Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ), Chong Song HAN (PRK) and Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK) among others.

While India's Paris medalist AMAN (IND) has skipped the tournament, world U23 champion CHIRAG (IND) will be leading the charge at 57kg. 2024 57kg silver medalist UDIT (IND) will be at 61kg while world U20 medalist SUJEET (IND) at 65kg. At 92kg, Deepak PUNIA (IND) is returning to action after missing the Paris berth.

Other than aforementioned stars, other big names include Tuvshintulga TUMENBILEG (MGL) and Kum Chol RI (PRK) at 61kg, Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) and Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) at 65kg, and Feng LU (CHN) and Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) at 79kg.

Battle at 70kg

While defending champion Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) is not entered at 70kg, returning silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) will have his hands full.

Former world U23 champion Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ) will hope to put aside a forgetful Muhamet Malo Ranking Series and start afresh in Amman. Another world medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) is long due for a rocking performance and Asian Championships offers the perfect platform to announce his return to the podium.

Add to the mix Asian Games champion and Asian silver medalist Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) who is not reducing his weight to fit into 65kg this edition. Then there is returning 74kg silver medalist Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) who is at 70kg as well, making this weight class the deepest in Freestyle.

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) is the 2022 and 2023 Asian champion at 50kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling

As the Women's Wrestling powerhouse, Japan has entered seven world champions in 10 weight classes. In the remaining weight categories, it has two age-group world champs.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) at 62kg, the lone Paris medalist from Japan entered, will lead the charge along with 2024 world champs Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) at 55kg and Ami ISHII (JPN) at 68kg. Former world champion at 50kg Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN), three-time world champion Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) at 55kg, world U23 champion Sara NATAMI (JPN) at 57kg, world U20 champion at 59kg Sakura ONISHI (JPN), former world champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) at 65kg, former world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN) at 72kg, and Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) at 76kg complete the line-up.

The possibility of all 10 returning with a medal is extremely high. China is likely to offer some resistance to this line-up and DPR Korea may surprise in some weight classes like it did at the 2022 Asian Games.

China is banking on world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) who is now at 65kg, Paris bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) at 57kg, world silver medalist Jin ZHANG (CHN) and U20 world champ Yu ZHANG (CHN). Former Asian champion Mengyu XIE (CHN) is wrestling at 59kg.

DPR Korea will spice up Asian Championships in Women's Wrestling as it is likely to cause some disruptions. Its first medalist in Olympics, Hyo Gyong CHOE (PRK) is making her Asian Championships debut and will lead a team that consists of Myong Gyong WON (PRK) at 50kg, returning silver medalist at 55kg Kyong Ryong OH (PRK), World Military Championships gold medalist Il Sim SON (PRK) and Paris 5th placer Sol Gum PAK (PRK) among others.

World bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) is wrestling for the first time after a disappointing Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

India, however, will have a young line-up to challenge Japan and China led by Paris Olympian world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND). Former world U23 champion REETIKA (IND) will be at 76kg and world U17 champion Mansi LATHER (IND) made it to her first senior team at 68kg.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), Elmira SYDYZKOVA (KAZ), Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB), Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) and Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) are a few other stars entered for the women's competition.

Soryan Eyes Sixth Title, Gaber Readies Run to Rio (Live Updates)

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Asian Championships 2025 Preview