#WrestleNewDelhi

Sunil Rallies to Give Host India a Finalist on Opening Day of Asian Championships

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 - 10:31 By Ken Marantz

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NEW DELHI (Feb. 18)---Kumar SUNIL (IND) took losing in the final at last year’s Asian Championships personally. With a furious comeback in the semifinals, he put himself into position to make amends in front of home crowd.

Sunil stormed back from an 8-2 deficit to defeat Azamat KUSTUBAYEV (KAZ), 12-8 to make the final of Greco-Roman 87kg on the opening day of action at this year’s Asian Championships in New Delhi.

In the medal round in the night session at K.D. Jadhav Wrestling Stadium, Sunil will face Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ), who became a beneficiary of a late injury suffered by Behrooz HEDAYAT (IRI) in their semifinal. Hedayat was leading 7-0 when an apparent knee injury forced him to stop with just seven seconds left in the match. 

Even with Hedayat’s misfortune, a second-string Iranian squad had the most wrestlers make the five finals with three. Korea and Uzbekistan had two each, with host India, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan having one each. 

Sunil, who lost to Hossein NOURI (IRI) in the Asian final last year in Xi’an, China, fell behind in the semifinal when Kustubayev stopped the Indian’s back suplex attempt twice, each giving him four points.

Sunil, started his comeback with a takedown and two rolls to tie the score, although it left him trailing on criteria. With 1:13 left, he went ahead with a stepout, then added two more (the second a 2-point fleeing) for the 12-8 win.

“I’m feeling really good,” Sunil said. “I thought the opponent had less endurance.”

Coach Bhusan Prasad SHASHI (IND) said Sunil was still feeling the sting of last year’s loss in the final 

“It is more personal that he should win,” Shashi said. “We have prepared to get the gold medal.”

Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) will square off against SONG Jinseub (KOR) in the 63kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Meanwhile, Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) showed he is feeling more at home at his usual weight of Greco-Roman 63kg, and just how dominant he remains on his home continent.

Tasmuradov, a Rio 2018 Olympic bronze medalist aiming for his fifth career Asian gold and first since 2018, stormed by world U-23 champion Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) by 10-1 technical fall in the semifinals.

Tasmuradov, who dropped to the Olympic weight class of 60kg at the World Championships and secured an spot at Tokyo 2020 by placing fifth, will face SONG Jinseub (KOR) in the finals.

Song emerged from the lighter bracket by beating Mohammad ALAJMI (KUW), 8-1 in his semifinal. In his opening match in the quarterfinals, Song rallied from a 7-0 deficit against Mubinhon AKMEDOV (TJK) to go ahead 8-7 in the first period, then held on to win by that score.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is one of three Iranian finalists. He'll wrestle KIM Minseok (KOR) in the 130kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

The Iranian finalists are Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI) at 55kg, Pejman POSHTAM (IRI) at 77kg and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI).

Naserpour, a 2018 world junior champion, survived a scare in his semifinal victory over Arjun HALAKURKI (IND), rallying for a 8-7 victory, after which he appeared to lose consciousness. After remaining prone of the mat and being checked by a doctory, he woozily got to his feet to have his hand raised, then was helped off the mat. 

In the final, Naserpour will face Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB), who grinded up 2019 bronze medalist Khorlan ZHAKANSHA (KAZ) by 8-0 technical fall. 

Last year’s runner-up, Hiromu KATAGIRI (JPN), fell in the qualification round to Sardarbek KONUSHBAEV (KGZ), who subsequently lost in the quarterfinals to Zhakansha.

Postham defeated Renat ILIAZ UULU (KGZ) 5-0 in the semifinals to set up a showdown in the final with Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV (KAZ), who has already improved on his bronze medal from 2019 after sweeping aside Sultan Ali EID (JOR) by 8-0 technical fall.

Mirzazedah, a 2018 world junior champion, will face KIM Minseok (KOR) for the gold. Mirzadedeh topped Arata SONODA (JPN), 6-1, while Kim scored a 9-1 technical fall over Singh MEHAR (IND)

The tournament is missing teams from China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Turkmenistan, due to circumstances related the new coronavirus outbreak mainly in China.

Greco-Roman

55kg (9 entries)
SEMIFINAL - Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI) df. Arjun HALAKURKI (IND), 8-7
SEMIFINAL - Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) df. Khorlan ZHAKANSHA (KAZ) by TF, 8-0 (1:40)

63kg (10 entries)
SEMIFINAL - SONG Jinseub (KOR) df. Mohammad ALAJMI (KUW), 8-1
SEMIFINAL - Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) df. Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) by TF, 10-1, 5:13

77kg (13 entries)
SEMIFINAL - Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV (KAZ) df. Sultan Ali EID (JOR) by TF, 8-0, 1:52
SEMIFINAL - Pejman POSHTAM (IRI) df. Renat ILIAZ UULU (KGZ), 5-0

87kg (9 entries)
SEMIFINAL - Kumar SUNIL (IND) df. Azamat KUSTUBAYEV (KAZ), 12-8
SEMIFINAL - Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ) df. Behrooz HEDAYAT (IRI) by Inj. Def., 5:53 (0-7)

130kg (8 entries)
SEMIFINAL - KIM Minseok (KOR) df. Singh MEHAR (IND) by TF, 9-1, 2:17
SEMIFINAL - Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Arata SONODA (JPN), 6-1

#WrestleAlexandria

Olympians gear up for African & Oceania qualifiers for Paris 2024

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - 09:58 By Vinay Siwach

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ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (March 19) -- Wrestlers from two continents will battle on the mat for 18 Paris Olympic spots at the African & Oceania OG Qualifiers in Alexandria on March 22-24.

All eyes will be on Tokyo Olympic medalists Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) at 68kg in Women's Wrestling and Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) at 67kg in Greco-Roman. The two failed to earn a Paris quota at the World Championships in September but will be the favorite to claim the spot in Alexandria.

The tournament will follow a bracket system and two winners of the semifinals will earn the Paris spot. There will be no gold medal bouts and repechage.

Oborududu won the African Championships on Monday in dominating fashion and has the best chance to qualify. Samah ABDELLATIF (EGY), Tayla FORD (NZL) and African medalist Khadija JLASSI (TUN) will try to stop her and earn a quota for themselves.

For Elsayed, Ishak GHAIOU (ALG) will be the biggest test as he will be randomly drawn in the 67kg bracket. Japan-born Gaku AKAZAWA (SAM) will be seeded number two and cannot face Elsayed.

In other Women's Wrestling weight classes, African champion Mercy GENESIS (NGR) will be primed to win the semifinal at 50kg. Traditional powerhouses in Africa Egypt and Tunisia will be represented by Nada MOHAMED (EGY) and Nourhene HEDHLI (TUN) respectively.

At 53kgm Nigeria will see Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) going for the Paris spot. She won the African Championships gold medal on Monday but the addition of Oceania wrestlers can make things interesting. 

Jessica LAVERS MCBAIN (AUS) will be at 53kg for Australia while Guam has Mia AQUINO (GUM). Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY) and Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN) will also look to win as well.

Nigeria already has won the quota at 57kg through world bronze medalist Odunayo ADEKOUROYE (NGR), leaving others to earn a Paris spot. Irene SYMEONIDIS (AUS), Natacha NABAINA (CMR), Louji YASSIN (EGY), Rckaela AQUINO (GUM) and Faten HAMMAMI (TUN) will have to fight it out for the two spots.

Marwa AMRI (TUN) usually locked the 62kg for Tunisia but the now-retired wrestler will be coaching Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) as she tries to fill the shoes. Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) will be a big test for everyone in this weight class as she won the African Championships.

Two-time world medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) will be looking for a second trip to the Olympics if she can win the 76kg spot in front of the home crowd. It could go three-way as African silver medalist Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) and now African champion Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) are also entered.

Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY)Tokyo bronze medalist Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) is the favorite at 67kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan) 

Greco-Roman

Tokyo Olympian Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG) will be tested by Moamen MOHAMED (EGY) and Mohamed HKIRI (TUN) as the three look to win the two spots available at 60kg in Greco-Roman.

Egypt and Algeria usually dominate Greco-Roman in Africa which will add pressure on Abd OUAKALI (ALG) and Mahmoud ABDELRAHMAN (EGY) who will be the favorite to win the Paris spot at 77kg. Sheng ZHANG (AUS) will be representing Australia.

Two Tokyo Olympians will have a chance to earn another trip to the Olympics as Bachir SID AZARA (ALG) and Mohamed METWALLY (EGY) gear up for a battle in 87kg. Both skipped the African Championships to prepare for the qualifiers.

At 97kg, Fadi ROUABAH (ALG), Mohamed GABR (EGY) and Mohamed MISSAOUI (TUN) have the best chance to win a spot while top seed Maulalo ALOFIPO (SAM) will look to get one through as only six wrestlers are entered in the weight category.

As Egypt already has a quota at 130kg, four wrestlers will battle for the two quotas in this weight class. Hemza HALOUI (ALG), Oussama ASSAD (MAR), Marcus CARNEY (NZL) and Tokyo Olympian Amine GUENNICHI (TUN) will face each other in a round-robin format to decide the two spots.

Amr REDA (EGY)Amr REDA (EGY) will look to repeat as an Olympian. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Freestyle

Egypt will hope to get all six Freestyle spots for Paris as it fields a strong team. Tokyo Olympian Amr REDA (EGY), backed by the home crowd in Alexandria, has his eyes set on the Paris spot in the 74kg weight class. Reda has proved on several occasions that he is a notch up the field in Africa. However, Bacar NDUM (GBS), a former African Championships silver medalist, will hope to get a spot even if he falls in the same bracket as Reda.

At 57kg, African champion Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS) will be the favorite to win the spot along with Tokyo Olympian Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG). Gamal MOHAMED (EGY), Thomas SANTIAGO (GUM) and Suraj SINGH (NZL) will also fancy their chance to win a Paris spot.

Oceania Championships silver medalist Ethan AGUIGUI (GUM) pulled out of the qualifiers at 65kg. But Oceania champion Georgii OKOROKOV (AUS) will be a huge favorite to earn a quota. Omar MOURAD (EGY), Gaku AKAZAWA (SAM), who is also competing in Greco-Roman, and Sylvio DIATTA (SEN) can prove to be dark horses.

Australia can have a second Olympian from Alexandria if Jayden LAWRENCE (AUS) can bring out his best performance and earn a spot at 86kg. He also needs Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) to fall on the other side of the bracket.

Tokyo Olympian and African champion Benferdjallah has dominated the weight class in Africa and will look to earn a Paris quota for himself. Other names include Ahmed MAHMOUD (EGY) and Imed KADDIDI (TUN).

Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN) was in Tokyo and has a chance to be in Paris if he can earn a quota at 97kg in Alexandria. It will be a similar case for South Africa as former African silver medalist Nicolaas DE LANGE (RSA) hopes to win a quota.

Wali KEBIR (ALG), Mostafa ELDERS (EGY) and Anas SAMIR (MAR) will also hope to finish in the top two to earn a ticket.

The two wrestlers who won the 125kg quotas for Tokyo from continental qualifiers are back at it. Diaaeldin ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY) and Hamza RAHMANI (TUN) will be the favorite to win the two spots again.