Tevanyan closer to first Euro title, Azerbaijan dominates Day 1

Monday, April 17, 2023 - 20:18 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (April 17) -- United World Wrestling commentator George RAMM explained what makes Vagzen TEVANYAN (ARM) successful at 65kg. On air for the European Championships, Ramm said that getting close to Tevanyan can prove catastrophic. Rather, one should stay in a standing position and force Tevanyan to open up. Ramm was speaking with experience as he had wrestled Tevanyan in 2019.

One would wish Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) knew this before his semifinal against Tevanyan at 65kg in Zagreb, Croatia. He played into Tevanyan's strengths and suffered a 12-4 loss.

The U23 world champion was wrestling at his first European Championships in four years as he last wrestled in 2019, finishing 11th. But his rise in the ranks in the last two years was once again underlined by his performance on Monday.

Since his last European Championships, Tevanyan has wrestled at the Olympics, won the Individual World Cup in 2020, and won the U23 Worlds in 2022 after being in the final in 2021. So a run to the final in Zagreb was expected.

Tevanyan reached his first-ever European Championships final after a fruitful day as he defeated Joshua FINESILVER (ISR) 10-0 in his opening bout and Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE) 4-1 in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinal against Arushanian, Tevanyan began with some solid defense before getting an arm drag and go behind, adding a gut wrench for a 4-0 lead. He then sat on that lead for some time even as Arushanian tried finding an opening.

But using his experience, Tevanyan got another takedown and roll to extend his lead 8-0. In the same sequence, he tried to push Arushanian out and thought he did but the Ukrainian hadn't stepped out and scored a takedown to cut the lead to 8-2 at the break.

Tevanyan got a single leg with an exceptional move which he converted into a stepout. Arushanian scored a takedown with a duck under to keep himself in the match, however, his next attempt was blocked by Tevanyan who scored a go behind. He added a stepout to win 12-4.

He will now be looking to place his name among the best in Europe by winning the gold on Tuesday.

Mikyay NAIM (BUL) reached the final at 65kg, confirming his first European medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Mikyay NAIM (BUL) will look to stop Tevanyan from doing so and create history himself by becoming his country's first freestyle European champion in 18 years. By reaching the final, he confirmed his first European medal.

Wrestling Stefan COMAN (ROU) in the semifinal, Naim scored via a step over and cartwheel, giving him four. Coman was also penalized for passivity and he got on a desperate takedown attempt which was easily countered by Naim who moved ahead with a 7-0 win.

With the 65kg defending champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) sitting out due to an infection and silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) moving up to 70kg, it gave a chance for others to seize the opportunity and win the title.

Moments after Naim reached the final, Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) also reached the final, at 70kg after beating Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR) 14-4 in the semifinal. He too will have a chance to end the 18-year title drought for Bulgaria on Tuesday.

In the semifinal, it did not look like easy sailing for Ramazanov at the start as Nykyforuk used a trap-arm gut for two and two. But as Nykyforuk fizzled out, Ramazanov got on the scoreboard with a takedown and added a turn using the bow-and-arrow technique.

An elbow pass in the second period gave him two more, and a gut wrench made it 8-4. Nykyforuk tried an ankle shot but he did not have the energy to stand up and push forward. Ramazanov happily scored a go-behind before closing out the bout 14-4.

With history on the line, Ramazanov will face his toughest test yet in three-time world champion Aliyev who reached the final from the other side of the bracket.

Haji ALIYEV (AZE) Trademark Haji ALIYEV (AZE) escape he performed in the 70kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Though not at 65kg, Aliyev still reached the final for a second consecutive year as he won the 70kg semifinal against Vasile DIACON (MDA) 4-1 and earned a shot at winning his fifth continental title, with the last two coming in 2019, one at European Championships and other at the Games in the same year.

The Tokyo Olympic silver medalist began his season at 70kg, incidentally at the Ranking Series in Zagreb and finished with a silver medal. He was expected to be at 65kg for the Euros but decided against it.

“This is my second tournament of the year,” Aliyev said. “The coaches have decided that I will move to 65kg for the Worlds championships. We were thinking that for this European Championships and other tournaments, it wasn't so important to cut weight. I think I am doing quite good at 70kg as well.”

Indeed that was the case as Aliyev managed to navigate through the field and reach the final with some controlled, yet aggressive wrestling, in Zagreb.

The prime example was in the semifinal as Aliyev teased Diacon, allowing him to get on the single leg on multiple occasions. However, he did not let Diacon score a single point. The only point scored by Diacon was Aliyev's passivity in the first period.

On one occasion, the Moldovan managed to get on a deep shot and transitioned into a standing go behind which Aliyev, as we have seen in the past, flexed his way out of the lock. Diacon was left stunned, thinking about what he needed to do to get Aliyev to give up a point. This is despite Aliyev wrestling at a weight class above his preferred category.

“It's a bit tough for me to wrestle in 70kg weight class,” he said. “They are physically very strong, they usually have to cut 4-5 kilos. I made the decision to wrestle technically and I think I tricked them and won.”

Those tricks were on display in the second period as well. Aliyev scored a takedown and took a step back in the second period, waiting for Diacon to initiate moves. Diacon got hold of Aliyev's legs four times but failed to finish, as if in awe of his fancied opponent's skills to defend every shot.

Aliyev managed a late takedown with a misdirection shot and got the 4-1 win, reaching his second straight final moments after another of his teammate did the same.

“The guy who qualified for the 57kg final was also at the European final last year,” he said about Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE). “I think we will have two more finalists today at 79kg and 97kg. Four finalists for us on the first day is okay.”

Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) made it to back-to-back European finals at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Aliyev was off by one though in his prediction. Apart from Rzazade, Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) reached the final at 97kg while Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE) suffered a defeat in the 79kg semifinal.

Rzazade will have a chance to win his first European Championships gold medal after returning to the final. He finished with a silver medal in 2022.

Rzazade dealt with a stiff semifinal against Simone PIRODDU (ITA) who almost upset the former U23 world champion.

After knocking off Horst LEHR (GER) via fall in the quarterfinal, Rzazade would have wished for an easier path to the final but Piroddu put on a fight despite giving up the first six points.

Rzazade burst into action with the word go and locked Piroddu's hands to get exposure for two. He then got a takedown and high gut for a 6-0 lead. At this point, Piroddu looked clueless. He took some time to regain his composure and then got to business, scoring a single-leg takedown to make it 6-2. A duck under made it 6-4 before Piroddu added a roll with an ankle pick to lead 6-6 criteria.

Piroddu began the second period with stepout to get an outright 7-6 lead. That was short-lived as Rzazade got a takedown but Piroddu scored a reversal. The lead, however, had switched hands and Rzazade led 8-8 on criteria.

A duck under attempt from Piroddu is countered by Rzazade with a chest wrap throw. It was scored two but Azerbaijan challenged the call and on review, it was changed to four points as he got the move from standing. It was easy to defend the 12-8 score from there and make the final.

Rzazade, who lost to Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) in the final last year, will face Suleyman ATLI (TUR), an even more challenging opponent.

Suleyman ATLI (TUR) Suleyman ATLI (TUR) reached his fifth straight European finals on Monday. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

A consistent performer at the European Championships, Atli reached his fifth straight final at the tournament and will now be looking for his third title. He had performed at 61kg last year and finished with a silver medal.

Fresh off the Ranking Series win in Alexandria, Atli scored a thrilling 5-4 win over Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) before dispatching Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) 13-1 in the semifinal.

Atli broke the deadlock with a takedown before Dingashvili scored a stepout to make it 2-1 at the break. But Atli broke loose in the second period with a deep shot and made it into a double leg to get two. He added two rolls to lead 8-1. He then scored a back exposure four to win 12-1. Georgia challenged and lost, adding one more point to the score.

Of the two silver medalists from the last edition, one is guaranteed gold this year.

Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) hits a double leg on Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN) in the semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Magomed will be looking to defend his 97kg title as he faces Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) in the final Tuesday.

In a near-perfect performance on Monday, Magomed defeated Benjamin HONIS (ITA) 12-2, Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) 11-0 and Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN) 6-0 in his three bouts.

Baitcaev and Magomed met in finals last year which the latter won and the story was similar on Monday as he defeated Baitcaev in the semifinal without much trouble.

He shot for a double leg early in the semifinal and then managed to turn Baitcaev just inside the zone to lead 4-0 at the break. Baitcaev never looked like in the bout and gave up another double in the second period and Magomed's 6-0 win took him to the finals.

Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) defeated Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) to reach the final at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Matcharashvili will look to upset Magomed in what will be the battle of two world bronze medalists from 2022. The Georgian will fancy his chances against Magomedkhan, going by his performance so far.

He began with an 11-0 win over Radu LEFTER (MDA) before eking out a 4-3 win over Ibrahim CIFCTI (TUR) in the quarterfinals. Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) was the next to fall against Matcharashvili in the semifinal.

Mchedlidze was called passive in the semifinal which gave the opening point to Matcharashvili who then got an outside single and scored a takedown after some resistance from Mchedlidze.

He got three turns from par terre and made it 9-0 and was interrupted on the fourth attempt as the time ran out. He gave up a stepout in the second period but that was all as he clinched the semifinal 9-1.

Earlier in the day, Mchedlidze stunned world silver medalist Batyrbek TCAKULOV (SVK) 6-4 in the opening round. Tcakulov was put on the shot clock and as he tried to shoot, Mchedlidze threw his legs behind and circled to score a takedown. He added two gut wrenches to lead 5-0.

Tcakulov got a double in the second period but failed to tie a leg lace and the two wrestlers went back into neutral. After spending too much time trying to find a way to score, Tcakulov hit another double-leg attack but Mchedlidze had his arm around Tcakulov's leg. He did get the two points to close the gap to 5-4 but had only 22 seconds to score a point and win.

Mchedlidze did enough to not get called by the referee for fleeing and Tcakulov failed to get any points. He did challenge a final scramble, hoping for a stepout but it was not to be.

Comeback kid

In what was the match of the day, defending champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) rallied from 10-2 to beat Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) 12-10 in an epic semifinal at 79kg.

Kougioumtsidis fell behind after Avagyan scored a takedown in the period. But both wrestlers were happy to keep it slow for the remaining time of the first period, a trend in their previous bouts as well.

But all hell broke loose in the second period as Avagyan went for a stunning ankle pick. He did not get any points but never let go of Kougioumtsidis' leg, ultimately scoring a takedown using a trip and adding a roll to make it 6-0 with 2:20 remaining on the clock.

Kougioumtsidids got on a single leg but Avagyan used back exposure to score four points to win 10-0. However, Greece challenged and won as the review showed that Kougioumtsidis also got exposure over Avagyan. He was awarded two points and Avagyan now led 10-2. This was with 1:58 remaining in the bout.

Avagyan then went into defensive as he struggled for breath and Kougioumtsidis scored a takedown by stepping over to cut the lead to 10-4. Both wrestlers were hand locked for a few seconds before Kougioumtsidis got the takedown. He did not try any other move and asked for the neutral position with 38 seconds left.

Kougioumtsidis got a go behind with 24 seconds and added two trap-arm guts even as Avagyan tried defending the roll. The match had turned on its head as Kougioumtsidis now led 12-10 with just 12 seconds left. Avagyan sat in disbelief as Kougioumtsidis celebrated an unexpected win after the 10-2 scoreline.

This was in contrast to the U23 World Championships bronze medal bout which Avagyan won 6-4 in October 2022. More recently, Avagyan defeated Kougioumtsidis 13-7 in the repechage of the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series event.

Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) reached the final at 79kg after beating Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Kougioumtsidis will now wrestle Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) in the final as the latter defeated
Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE) 5-2 in the other semifinal.

Amiraslanov reached the semifinal after beating U23 world champion Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) 10-0 while Mykhailov defeated Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) 8-1.

Mykhailov and Amiraslanov did not have a thrilling semifinal as the former controlled much of the action against an injured Amiraslanov who never felt he could complete the bout.

Mykhailov will be starting out as the favorite against Kougioumtsidis as he defeated the U23 European champion 10-0 twice last year -- in the quarterfinal of the World Championships and at the Matteo Pellicone.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) vs. Suleyman ATLI (TUR)

SF 1: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df. Simone PIRODDU (ITA), 12-8
SF 2: Suleyman ATLI (TUR) df. Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO), 13-1

65kg
GOLD: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) vs. Mikyay NAIM (BUL)

SF 1: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR), 12-4
SF 2: Mikyay NAIM (BUL) df. Stefan COMAN (ROU), 7-0

70kg
GOLD: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs. Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL)

SF 1: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Vasile DIACON (MDA), 4-1
SF 2: Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR), 14-4

79kg
GOLD: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) vs. Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)

SF 1: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) df. Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE), 5-2
SF 2: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Arman AVAGYAN (ARM), 12-10

97kg
GOLD: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) vs. Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE)

SF 1: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) df. Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR), 9-1
SF 2: Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN), 6-0

#wrestlebishkek

Susaki Marks Post-Paris Reformation with Asian Gold

Thursday, April 9, 2026 - 18:51 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 9) -- To hear Yui SUSAKI (JPN) speak of it, she is a new version of the wrestler who had stormed to every major title on offer before her unexpected and devastating downfall at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Having made serious changes to both her lifestyle and wrestling style in the ensuing years, she made a golden return in her first international competition since Paris.

Susaki made sure there would be no lapses or surprises when she defeated Son Hyang KIM (PRK) 6-0 in the women’s 50kg final at the Asian Championships on Thursday in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

“I’m genuinely happy, and I’m so glad to be back here and to have won,” Susaki said. “After Paris was over, I experienced various setbacks and I made various changes over the two years. The results of my new lifestyle in the two years since Paris and the daily practice I put in all came out in the four matches at these Asian Championships.”

In the four other women’s finals on the fourth day of competition, the host country had mixed results, as Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) won the gold in a stacked 68kg division, while Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) stunned defending champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) at 76kg.

The powerful Japanese squad had three other finalists besides Susaki, but only got a title from teenager Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) at 55kg, while Mengyu XIE (CHN) triumphed at 59kg for her first Asian gold.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) hits a leg-attack on Son Hyang KIM (PRK) during the 50kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: Untied World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki had established herself as one of the new faces of the sport in the wake of the retirements of legends Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) and Kaori ICHO (JPN) with her triumph at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

That victory had made her the founding member of the “Golden Grand Slam” club for those who had won an Olympic gold as well as titles on all four levels of World Championships – senior, U23, U20 and U17.

But leading up to the defense of her Olympic title in Paris, she had shown chinks in the armor, first with some near-misses at the 2024 Asian Championships, which she still won but in less-than-convincing fashion.

It then all came crashing down at the Champs de Mars Arena, where she was dealt a stunning last-second loss by Vinesh PHOGAT (IND), marking her first-ever loss to a non-Japanese wrestler. Susaki ended up taking home a bronze, but that was small consolation.

After taking some time off, Susaki decided that some changes were in order, from altering her diet to make cutting weight easier to revising her match strategy.

“Along with Vinesh in Paris, I also learned much from my first-round match against the DPR Korean [Yong Ok HWANG] at the Asian Championships before Paris,” Susaki said, referring to an unusually difficult victory. “After that, I lost at the National Games [to Moe KIYOOKA], making it really a difficult two years.

“But thanks to those experiences, I have grown considerably. I definitely want to win the gold at the Los Angeles Olympics, and taking it one step at a time, I will take each title along the way.”

An emotional Yui SUSAKI (JPN) at the medal ceremony. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The final at the Zhastyk Arena on Thursday, which brought her to tears on the medal podium, was a reunion of sorts. Susaki and Kim had faced each twice way back in 2017, first in the final at the Asian Championships and again in the semifinals of the World Championships. Susaki won both encounters.

Given her Paris experience, Susaki knew she could not underestimate Kim, and set up her moves deliberately and without anxiousness. She broke through with a go-behind takedown in the first period, then added a stepout for a 3-0 lead.

In the second period, Susaki got in deep on a tackle, but could only manage a stepout, then padded the lead with a snapdown takedown to make it 6-0. Down the stretch, she kept calm and on alert as Kim tied up, looking for an opportunity for a last-ditch throw that never came.

“It’s been nine years since I faced Kim Son Hyang, so it’s been quite awhile,” Susaki said. “She has achieved good results. I think I myself have changed and grown a lot over these past nine years.”

Susaki seemed unconcerned about a potential future encounter with the current world 50kg champion, Myong Gyong WON (PRK).

“The country and the opponent does not matter,” she said. “My objective is to assure I win by giving 100 percent.”

Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) won her second Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 68kg, Zhumanazarova spun behind for a first-period takedown and held on for a 2-1 victory over Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), last year’s world and Asian champion at 65kg who has moved up to the Olympic weight.

The victory gave Zhumanazarova her second Asian gold, after previously winning in 2021, and fifth medal overall.

“This is my second gold medal at the Asian Championships, but it means just as much to me as the first one,” Zhumanazarova said. “I’m just as happy, because I’ve worked very hard for it and this is the result.”

Like Susaki and Kim, Zhumanazarova and Morikawa have a history that goes back some time. The two had met in the quarterfinals of the 2016 World Cadet (U17) Championships, where Morikawa won 4-0 en route to the silver medal. Zhumanazarova took a bronze.

Since then, they have both achieved varying levels of success. Zhumanazarova has two Olympic medals, including a bronze from Tokyo, and a world title from 2021. Morikawa has medals from five consecutive World Championships from 2021 to 2025, including two golds, and two Asian titles.

Morikawa needed to beat reigning world champion Ami ISHII (JPN) at the Japan national championships just to make the team to Bishkek.

Davaansan ENKH AMAR (MGL) defeated home favorite Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

While the home crowd was still buzzing over Zhumanazarova’s win, compatriot Medet Kyzy was dealt a come-from-behind 4-2 loss by Enkh Amar in the 76kg final.

With no real attacks and lots of mutual pushing, Medet Kyzy had taken a 2-0 lead on an activity point in the first period and a face-shoving penalty in the second. After Enkh Amar received an activity point, the match finally started to heat up in the final minute.

Enkh Amar used a headlock to get Medet Kyzy off balance and slipped behind her with the two on their feet, then proceeded to march her over the edge for a stepout with :13 left. Medet Kyzy’s lack of a resistance led to a 1-point fleeing penalty to put the Mongolian ahead 3-2.

“I was very calm, and my coach also said to me to stay very calm, and that's why I made the correct decision at the last moment,” said Enkh Amar, the 2023 world silver medalist at 72kg.

As the clock ticked down, Medet Kyzy powered Enkh Amar to the edge and slammed her to the mat, sending the crowd into a frenzy. But the move failed to beat the clock, and an unsuccessful challenge made the final score 4-2.

Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), red, turns Yuxuan LI (CHN) during the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 55kg final, Japan’s Uchida spotted Yuxuan LI (CHN) a six-point lead, only to storm back for a 10-6 victory that relegated the Chinese to a silver medal for the second straight year.

Li gained a takedown off a counter and proceeded with two gut wrenches. But on an attempt at a third, Uchida stepped over for a 2-point exposure.

Uchida’s next attack hit the mark for a single-leg takedown, to which she added two rolls of her own for an 8-6 lead. Uchida then sewed up the victory with a takedown for the lone points of the second period.

“Right away, I gave up a go-behind takedown and she rolled me, so I was really panicking,” Uchida said. “It made me uneasy that I couldn’t finish off my single-leg tackle, which is my specialty, and I gave up points off of it.

“But I have a variety of moves, and I know the hardships I went through to get here. I believed in myself and remembered to keep attacking to the end.”

Uchida said that when she noticed her opponent appeared to be running out of gas, she applied more pressure.

“I realized that my opponent was getting winded and even though it was tough for me, too, mentally I was feeling a bit at ease,” she said. “Even though I came back, it was still only a two-point difference. I made sure not to let up through the end.”

For the 19-year-old Uchida, a recent world U17 and U20 champion who had to settle for a bronze medal at last year’s World Championships in her first major senior-level tournament, the win in Bishkek had special meaning.

“I definitely wanted to win my first [major] senior tournament, but I lost convincingly at the World Championships in September,” Uchida said. “It was really tough to take, so I was really determined to win here.

“This is my last international tournament as a teenager, so I really wanted to finish with a win. Even if it was messy, I just wanted to be able to smile at the end.”

Mengyu XIE (CHN) won the 59kg gold medal with an 8-6 victory over Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 59kg, China’s Xie won her first Asian gold by surviving a fierce battle with Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), hanging on for an 8-6 victory after holding a five-point lead in the second period.

“I know the opponent, the Japanese wrestler is very strong and tough,” Xie said. “I knew it would be a difficult final, but I didn't put too much burden on my shoulders. I just followed my mood and tactics and what the coach told me to do.”

Xie, a bronze medalist last year, struck first with a duck under for a takedown, but Nagamoto used a low single for a takedown in the final seconds of the first period to make it 2-2.

Xie broke the match open with a stepout and two takedowns to lead 7-2, but Nagamoto was not prepared to give up the fight. The 2023 world U23 silver medalist gained a 2-point exposure from a reverse headlock, which Xie slipped out of for a reversal.

Nagamoto picked up a late takedown, but Xie held on for the win.“I needed to be more careful to do all the actions because the opponent will try her best to attack,” Xie said. “But I cannot only think about defense, but also find a chance to do counterattack or attack.”

Xie, who also has a world 55kg bronze won in 2022, reveled in triumphing in her first trip to a major final.

“I never had this experience before,” she said. “It’s the first time in the final and I won gold the first time. So it’s like a dream.”

Returning champion at 68kg, Zelu LI (CHN) had to settle for a bronze medal in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

All 5 Chinese make medal podium

Zelu LI (CHN), dethroned as the 68kg champion by Zhumanazarova in the semifinals, was among a trio of Chinese who won bronze-medal matches to ensure that all five of the country’s wrestlers made it to the podium on Thursday.

Li, a 2025 world bronze medalist at 72kg, had little trouble rolling to a 10-0 victory in 1:25 against an overmatched Thi Linh DANG (VIE) to take home a 68kg bronze.

Li twice combined a takedown with two rolls – using an intriguing technique in which she locked Dang’s heel against the back of her leg in lieu of the more common lace lock.

In the other 68kg match, Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) picked up her second straight bronze and fifth Asian medal overall by ending what had been a close match with Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) with a fall 47 seconds into the second period.

With the score tied 1-1, Enkhsaikhan powered the 37-year-old Shalygina straight to her back and secured the fall, denying the veteran another major medal in a vast collection that includes a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

At 50kg, Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) denied Sri Lanka its first-ever Asian medal, scoring an activity point and a takedown off a barrel roll in the first period to edge Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI) 3-0. Hewa Pedige became the fourth wrestler overall and second woman from the island nation to make it to a bronze-medal match, and the fourth to come away empty-handed.

Olympic bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) earned her third career Asian medal by taking the other 50kg bronze with a quick 10-0 win over Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ), scoring a takedown and four rolls in 1:16.

At 76kg, Wenji LI (CHN) secured China’s third bronze of the night, scoring a takedown and three stepouts in a 5-0 victory over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE).

Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) became a five-time Asian bronze medalist – dating back to 2015 – when she defeated Eunju HWANG (KOR) 5-1 for the other 76kg bronze.

The 30-year-old Yerkebayeva scored a takedown in the first period and added another in the last 10 seconds of the match to clinch the victory.

The wildest match of the day came at 59kg, in which Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) squandered a nine-point lead to fall behind by three points, only to throw down Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and secure a fall with 23 seconds left.

Esenbaeva had a 4-point takedown as she raced to a 9-0 lead in the first period. But Zhumanazarova came to life, scoring a takedown and then piling up points in a scramble that included a 2-point penalty against Esebaeva for grabbing the head. When the dust was cleared on challenge, Zhumanazarova had a 12-9 lead at the break.

In the second period, Esenbaeva cut the gap with a backwards trip for a takedown. With time running out, she secured a headlock and took Zhumanazorova to her back for a 13-12 lead that became irrelevant when the fall was confirmed.

The other 59kg match has its share of drama as well, as NEHA (IND) rallied from a 4-1 deficit with second-period surge that gave her a 10-4 victory over two-time Asian medalist Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL).

Neha won her first Asian medal after moving up to 59kg, having finished second at the Zagreb Ranking Series at 57kg, the weight class in which she won a world U17 gold and U23 bronze in 2024.

That was India’s second bronze of the night, after Hansika LAMBA (IND) scored all of her points in the second period of a 6-1 victory over 2024 bronze medalist Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) at 55kg.

Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) received the other 55kg bronze when Jeongbin OH (KOR) defaulted due to injury.

Day 4 Results

Women’s Wrestling

50kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Son Hyang KIM (PRK), 6-0

BRONZE: Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) df. Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI), 3-0
BRONZE: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ) by TS, 10-0, 1:16

53kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Jin ZHANG (CHN) df. Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) by Fall, 2:33 (2-2)
SF2: MEENAKSHI (IND) df. Seoyoung PARK (KOR), 4-2

55kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Yuxuan LI (CHN), 10-6

BRONZE: Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) df. Jeongbin OH (KOR) by Inj. Def.
BRONZE: Hansika LAMBA (IND) df. Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ), 6-1

57kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Youngjin KWON (KOR) by TS, 10-0, :30
SF2: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) df. Sara NATAMI (JPN) by Fall, 3:20 (8-1)

59kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Mengyu XIE (CHN) df. Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), 8-6

BRONZE: NEHA (IND) df. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), 10-4
BRONZE: Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) df. Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) by Fall, 5:37 (13-12)

62kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Nigina SABIROVA (UZB) by Fall, 1:55 (8-0)
SF2: Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) df. Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) by TS, 11-0, 3:20

65kg (9 entries)
SF 1: LILI (CHN) df. Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB) by Fall, 2:09 (4-0)
SF2: Nana IKEHATA (JPN) df. Hanbit LEE (KOR), 4-0

68kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), 2-1

BRONZE: Zelu LI (CHN) df. Thi Linh DANG (VIE) by TS, 10-0, 1:25
BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) by Fall, 3:47 (3-1)

72kg (8 entries)
SF 1: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) by TS, 11-1, 4:31
SF2: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) df. HARSHITA (IND) by Fall, 5:59 (7-2)

76kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) 4-2

BRONZE: Wenji LI (CHN) df. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE), 5-0
BRONZE: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) df. Eunju HWANG (KOR), 5-1

Tevanyan closer to first Euro title, Azerbaijan dominates Day 1

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Susaki Marks Post-Paris Reformation with Asian Gold