Three world champs highlight Greco-Roman at Asian Games

Tuesday, October 3, 2023 - 07:03 By Vinay Siwach

HANGZHOU, China (October 3) -- Kyrgyzstan has only won one Greco-Roman gold medal in Asian Games history. But on Wednesday, it will have a chance to win two on the same day as world champions Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) and Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) take the mat on October 4 in Hangzhou.

The Chinese city is hosting the 19th Asian Games which kicked off on September 23. Wrestling is scheduled to be held from October 4 to 7 at the Lin'an Sports and Culture Center in 18 weight classes.

FREESTYLE PREVIEW | WOMEN'S WRESTLING PREVIEW

Apart from Sharshenbekov and Makhmudov, 130kg world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is also wrestling at the Asian Games, leading Iran which hopes to improve on the two-gold finish from 2018.

One of the gold medals was at 77kg, won by Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) after beating Makhmudov in the final. But since that loss, Makhmudov has won an Olympic silver medal, two world titles and two Asian Championships.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) is a returning silver medalist. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Makhmudov will be the favorite to win the gold medal in his weight despite the presence of former Asian champion Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI). The Iranian and Makhmudov met in the Asian Championships final in April but the former forfeited the gold-medal bout due to an injury.

Kaviyaninejad will be up against Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), a veteran of three Asian Games, in his first bout at 77kg. Kim will look for another medal to his Asian Games haul as he won a gold medal in 2014 and a bronze medal in 2018. The London Olympic Games champion and world champion from 2013 has lost some steam with age catching up but still has it in him to win against the best.

Asian Championships bronze medalists Kodai SAKURABA (JPN) and Rui LIU (CHN) are also wrestling in Hangzhou with the Japanese falling on Makhmudov's side of the bracket while Liu is with Kaviyaninejad and Kim.

U23 Asian champion Dilshod OMONGELDIYEV (UZB) will also look to make his mark at the senior event and will face the winner of the Kaviyaninejad-Kim bout in the quarterfinals.

For Sharshenbekov to win his Asian Games medal, he will have to go through a bracket that includes some of the best Asian wrestlers. Sharshenbekov had an extremely successful World Championships in which he defended his gold medal and defeated Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) and Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) in successive bouts.

Bakhramov won the bronze medal at the World Championships via repechage and will look to continue his good form at the Asian Games. But to win a medal, he will have to go past fellow world bronze medalist from Belgrade Liguo CAO (CHN). The two are expected to wrestle in the quarterfinals with Sharshenbekov likely waiting in the semifinals.

Bakhramov is a 2019 Asian champion and reached the semifinal in the 2018 edition of the Asian Games before finishing fifth.

The surprise of the 60kg weight class could be 2014 Youth Olympic champion Seung RI (PRK) who was fifth in Jakarta after losing to eventual silver medalist Kanybek Zholchubekov (KGZ). But Ri was a silver medalist at the 2019 Asian Championships in Xi'an, China and a fifth-placer at the 2018 World Championships.

The 26-year-old will look to mark his return to international competitions after years with a medal at the Asian Games. He is likely to face two-time Asian bronze medalist Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) in his second bout. Suzuki has not competed since the 2022 Asian Championships in Mongolia and has recently recovered from an injury.

63kg world champion in 2021 Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) is dropping down to the 60kg weight class for the first time. Since that gold medal, he has only wrestled at four international competitions and won the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series 63kg gold medal in February. Dalkhani comes in with a lot of experience but has never won a gold medal at the continental level.

He will open his campaign against Gyanender DAHIYA who finished eighth at the 2018 Asian Games.

Two-time world bronze medalist Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) is also entered at 60kg. Sultangali is a 2021 Asian champion and has wins over Cao but has lost to Sharshenbekov.

Iran will look forward to Mirzazadeh's performance as he comes into the Asian Games after joining the short list of wrestlers with wins over Riza KAYAALP (TUR). Mirzazadeh stunned Kayaalp 2-2 in the World Championships final to win his first gold medal.

The top six wrestlers from the 2023 Asian Championships are wrestling in Hangzhou. But the champion Mirzazadeh is likely to have a rematch of the Asian final against Lingzhe MENG (CHN) who finished fifth at the recent World Championships in Belgrade. Meng finished seventh at the 2018 Asian Games after losing in the quarterfinals.

Roman KIM (KGZ) and Minseok KIM (KOR) are set to clash in the quarterfinals at 130kg. Roman is a three-time Asian bronze medalist including this year after losing to Mirzazadeh in the quarterfinals. He came back to win the bronze against Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB).

Misnseok is a returning bronze medalist and has three Asian Championships medals including two silvers he won in 2020 and 2022. He lost to Mirzazadeh in 2020 and to Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) in 2022. He finished fifth this year after suffering a loss to Meng and later to Syzdykov in the bronze medal bout.

Youngster Nasimov finished fifth at the Asian Championships but has a chance to win a medal at the Asian Games. NAVEEN (IND) will look to avenge his 2018 loss to Meng as the two are likely to meet in the quarterfinals.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) and Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) will face each other in the opening round in Hangzhou. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

World Championships bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) will be the favorite at 97kg even though he has veteran Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) in the opening bout. Saravi, a world champion in 2021, finished with a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and has previously defeated Assakalov.

But the 39-year-old Uzbek has so many tricks that Saravi won't take him lightly. Assakalov won the Asian Games gold medal in 2014 and added a silver medal in 2018. But those medals came at 85kg and 87kg respectively.

The winner of the bout will face returning bronze medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) as the Kyrzgystan wrestler chases the gold medal this year. The Asian champion in 2019 has four other medals in the continental event including a silver medal this year.

Two-time Asian Games silver medalist Seyeol LEE (KOR) will face Narinder CHEEMA in his first bout but can find it tough against the winner of Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN) or Yiming LI (CHN).

Hansu RYU (KOR) is a two-time Asian Games champion. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Two-time defending champion Hansu RYU (KOR) has a chance to become a three-time Asian Games champion as he returns at 67kg. The 35-year-old won a bronze medal in Budapest in July after losing to Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), the young sensation and world silver medalist. Ryu may face a similar fate in Hangzhou as the younger wrestlers continue to make a mark. The two-time world champion's first big test is likely to be 21-year-old Danial SOHRABI (IRI) who won the U23 World Championships in 2022. At the recent Ranking Series in Bishkek and Budapest, Sohrabi came home with gold medals at 72kg.

The Asian Games will also mark the return of 2018 world bronze medalist Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) who was out of action since June 2022 due to an injury. The Asian champion in 2022 after beating Ryu, is also looking for a gold medal for Kazakhstan as one of the leading prospects for the wrestling-obsessed country. Shermakhanbet, who lost to Ryu in the 2019 Asian final, last wrestled at the 2022 Bolat Turlykhanov Cup at 72kg in Almaty and stunned Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI).

2018 U23 world champion Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) will have his task cut out on the lower side of the bracket if he wants to reach the final at 67kg. Former U17 world champion Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ), who won bronze at the Asian Championships this year, can prove to be a real hurdle. If Endo holds, he is likely to face Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) who is wrestling at his first international tournament since the 2022 Asian Championships.

Bakhshilloev, a silver medalist in the 2020 Asian Championships, will have to first beat NEERAJ (IND) who has moved up from 63kg.

Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) will look to add an Asian Games gold to his three Asian Championships gold medals. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Three-time defending 87kg Asian Championships gold medalist Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) will look to win the gold at the Asian Games as well. He gets three-time Asian Championships silver medalist Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) in the opening bout.

Alizadeh has been a dominant force at the continental level and it is unlikely that he will be challenged in Hangzhou. If he moves past Azisbekov, the route to the final looks rather simple.

Challenging Alizadeh is 2014 Asian Games bronze medalist Fei PENG (CHN), who is returning to competition for only the second time after the Tokyo Olympics, has Sunil KUMAR (IND) in the opening bout. Kumar won the gold medal in 2020 and is the bronze medalist from 2023 after he lost to Alizadeh.

But Jalgasbay BERDIMURTOV (UZB) will be hoping to avenge his 2022 Asian final loss to Alizadeh if the two meet. The two can only face each other in the final as both are on different sides of the bracket. Berdimuratov, a world silver medalist from 2022 at 82kg, won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships this year after beating Azisbekov 2-2.

Masato SUMI (JPN), who finished eighth in Jakarta, and U23 Asian champion Maksat SAILAU (KAZ) will hope to return with medals at 87kg.

#WrestleAmman

Rising star Masoumi gains revenge, joins gold rush by young Iran team

Sunday, March 30, 2025 - 20:27 By Ken Marantz

AMMAN, Jordan (March 30) -- Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) settled an old score as he continued his emergence as the new face in the heavyweight class.

Rising star Masoumi defeated Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) in the 125kg final as Iran won three of the five Freestyle titles at stake on the final day of the Asian Championships on Sunday in Amman, Jordan.

The 20-year-old Masoumi's 6-0 victory over Munkhtur avenged a loss in the quarterfinals two years ago at the Asian Championships, and gave the reigning world U23 and U20 champion the first of what could be many senior Asian titles to come.

Iran also got golds from teenager Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) at 86kg and world U23 champion Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), who successfully defended his 92kg title, while collegian Takara SUDA (JPN) gave Japan its third freestyle gold with a victory at 61kg and Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) triumphed at 74kg to become a three-time Asian champion.

The young Iran squad, which medaled in all but one weight class, compiled 190 points to run away with the team title for the second straight year and sixth time in seven years. Japan finished second with 146, while Kazakhstan edged Mongolia by two points for third place with 125.

"Iran did something really great and valuable this year by bringing young wrestlers to the Asian Championships, proving that we can win the title with them and that they deserve our trust," said Masoumi, whose father Fardin was a two-time world medalist and finished fifth at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"The championship age is getting lower in the world, and I believe the more opportunities we give these young athletes, the bigger achievements they can accomplish."

Masoumi came into Amman riding high from a victory at the Zagreb Ranking Series event in February, a year after losing in the final to compatriot, world champion and two-time Olympic medalist Amir ZARE (IRI). Lanky for a heavyweight, Masoumi combines a lethal combination of speed, agility and power.

In the final against Munkhtur, a two-time world medalist and the 2023 Asian champion, Masoumi quickly took advantage of an opening and tripped the Mongolian backward at the edge for a 4-point takedown. He then used a double underhook to muscle Munkhtur over the edge to get a stepout with a fleeing point tacked on.

Although Masoumi went scoreless in the second period, he was never put in danger and fended off all of Munkhtur's efforts.

"Munkhtur is a tough and respectable opponent," Masoumi said. "He’s a world silver medalist, a world bronze medalist, the runner-up at the Asian Games, and an Asian champion.

"Thank God, with my coaches’ analysis and my own progress over the past few years, I was able to wrestle a smart match, winning 6-0 and avenging my loss to him in the Asian Championships two years ago."

Masoumi said his next competition will be the domestic Takhti Cup, which will serve as a national team qualifer for this year's World Championships in Zagreb.

"All of the top heavyweight contenders, including the biggest names, will compete there," he said. "I’ll also participate and test my chances for the Zagreb competition."

Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) posted an 11-4 victory over Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) in the 86kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 86kg, Rahmani put on an impressive performance in roaring to an 11-4 victory over Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ), the 2023 Asian champion at 79kg who, at 32, was an opponent nearly twice his age.

Rahmani, less than one year removed from taking an Asian U20 silver, started his quest for senior gold with a single-leg takedown, then gave up one to Sakayev. Rahmani gained an activity point to lead 3-2 going into the second period.

The Iranian increased the gap by stepping over for a 2-point exposure on the edge, then really got rolling when he got behind for a takedown and hit a gut wrench. Another takedown put him up 11-2 before Sakayev capped the scoring with a late takedown.

Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) wrestles Deepak PUNIA (IND) in the 92kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Firouzpour, like Masoumi a world U23 champion and winner in Zagreb, turned in the most dominant victory of the night's finals, crushing Deepak PUNIA (IND) 10-0 for his second straight gold at 92kg and third overall.

A stepout and a snap-down takedown gave the 22-year-old Firouzpour a 3-0 lead in the first period. In the second, he added three more stepouts -- with a fleeing point added to one -- and an activity point to go up 8-0, then ended the match by countering a trip attempt and getting behind with 39 seconds left.

Firouzpour finished the tournament with two technical falls in three matches, and without conceding a point.

"My main goal was to not give up any points and wrestle my best in this tournament," Firouzpour said. "I’m happy that I achieved the result I wanted. I hope to perform well in the upcoming Takhti Cup...and to win gold at the World Championships in Croatia."

Firouzpour also praised Iran coach Pejman DOROSTKAR for taking the chance to assemble such a young team for the tournament.

"Not every head coach would take that risk, but he embraced the challenge and built a U23 team," Firouzpour said. "In fact, most of our team was under 21. Only one other wrestler and I were 22, while almost everyone else was under 20.

"Thanks to his decision, we won nine medals and dominated Asia. With a coach and federation president like we have now, I’m confident we’ll achieve the best results at the World Championships as well."

Punia, a world silver medalist at 86kg in 2019, earned his fourth Asian medal and first since 2022. He also has a silver from the 2023 Asian Games and placed fifth at the Tokyo Olympics.

Takara SUDA (JPN) defends against UDIT (IND) in the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Suda, winner at the Tirana Ranking Series event in February in his international senior debut, made it 2 for 2 on this level with a 6-4 victory in the 61kg final over UDIT (IND), last year's silver medalist at 57kg.

"I was determined to win the gold medal," Suda said. "To win my second senior tournament, following the Ranking Series, shows I can be competitive on this level."

Suda fired straight out of the blocks and scored a stepout with a charging single leg, then added a single-leg takedown to go into the break 3-0.

Udit went on the offensive in the second period, but couldn't seem to keep hold of the elusive Suda, who twice jumped free when Udit grabbed a low single. Udit kept his grip a third time, but Suda still managed to squirm free.

An activity point put Udit onto the scoreboard, but Suda quickly responded with a snap-down takedown. The two traded late stepouts before Udit scored a takedown in the final seconds that still left him short.

"In the final, I knew the Indian opponent would be strong physically," Suda said. "At the very least, I wanted to be aggressive in the first period."

Suda earned his ticket to Amman by winning his first national title last December in the absence of injured world champion Masanosuke ONO (JPN), his Yamanashi Gakuin University teammate and training partner. Ono has since announced he will compete for Penn State University in the United States next season.

Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) added a third Asian title to his name. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the 74kg final, Kaipanov put on a masterclass in defending against a dangerous opponent, with a stepout and activity point in the second period lifting him to a 2-1 victory over Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) and his first Asian title since 2021.

Toktomambetov, the 2024 world U23 silver medalist who took an Asian bronze at 70kg in 2023, gained an activity point for the lone score of the first period. But he couldn't break through Kaipanov's defenses in the second as the Kazakh veteran took the lead and held on for the win.

The victory makes Kaipanov a four-time Asian medalist, having won his first gold at 70kg in 2019 and a silver medal in 2022. He also took a world bronze at 70kg in 2019.

Dauletbekov grabs 92kg bronze for 6th career medal

Veteran Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), who moved up 92kg late last year, was unable to continue his remarkable streak of Asian titles, but assured he would not leave Amman empty-handed when he defeated Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) 2-1 for a bronze medal.

Dauletbekov scored a stepout in the first period, and that proved the difference when the two had offsetting activity points to give him a sixth career Asian medal dating back to 2017.

The world bronze medalist, who won three straight Asian golds at 86kg from 2022-2024, bumped up a weight class following the Paris Olympics, where he placed 11th.

The other 92kg bronze went to Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN), who stormed to an 11-0 victory over Bekzat RAKHIMOV (KGZ) to add to his bronze at 97kg in 2021. Ishiguro barged to a 4-point takedown right off the bat, then got behind in standing position and took Rakhimov to the mat while executing a gut wrench, then added another roll for the 10-point gap at 1:52. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

In one of the oddest matches of the tournament, DINESH (IND) scored a takedown with :40 left to cap a comeback in a wild 14-12 victory over an obviously fatigued Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM) for a 125kg bronze.

Saparov, the 2023 Asian U23 champion, looked chipper at the start, hitting Dinesh with a slick arm throw for 2, then using an arm spin for another takedown and adding a gut wrench to lead 6-0.

But from there, it became clear he was struggling for breath, and the only thing that seemed to save him were constant breaks to stop a bloody nose. Dinesh continually chipped away at the lead, although Saparov managed one spurt in the second period when he got behind for a takedown and added a gut wrench to go ahead 12-7.

Dinesh kept pressing and kept scoring, inevitably getting the winning points to clinch his first major medal. With Saparov's loss, Turkmenistan continued a medal drought at the Asian Championships dating back to 2018.

Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) claimed the other 125kg bronze and his second in a row with a victory by fall over Ahmed AL JAMIE (IRQ).

Leading 4-1 in the second period, Sharipov was sprawling when he reached under and pulled in Al Jamie's leg, forcing him to his back for a 4-point move before pressing down for the fall in 4:53.

At 61kg, Ahmad JAVAN (IRI), the winner at this year's Zagreb Ranking Series event, capped his debut at the Asian Championships with a solid 6-1 victory that relegated Kum Chol RI (PRK) to a second straight silver medal.

After thwarting a nice ankle pick by Ri and converting it into a takedown, Javan went on the offensive and got two takedowns off a high crotch, sandwiched around a stepout by Ri. Javan then defended well in a scoreless second period to add the Asian bronze to those at the world U20 in 2022 and world U23 in 2021 at 57kg.

Wanhao ZOU (CHN) won the other 61kg bronze, getting a takedown and stepout in the first period in a 4-2 victory that denied Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ) a second career bronze.

At 74kg, Tu Erxun AHEIYOU (CHN) received an activity point in each period, while putting up a Great Wall of Defense to defeat Fazliddin NASRITDINOV (UZB) 4-0. Aheiyou got his last two points when he stopped a last-ditch throw attempt by Nasritdinov.

Mohammad Reza SHAKERI (IRI) became the lone Iranian in freestyle to leave without a medal when was dealt a heartbreaking 2-2 defeat by Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN), despite being the aggressor throughout their 74kg match.

Shakeri, the 2023 world U230 champion at 65kg, gained an activity point in the first period, but Asluev went ahead in the second when he managed to gain control long enough for a takedown during a scramble that ended with Shakeri gaining a stepout.

To his credit, Asluev deftly slipped out when Shakeri got behind on the ankles, and whizzered out of another takedown attempt as he added to his bronze from 2023.

At 86kg, Asian U20 champion Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL), burned once by an arm spin by Nan CAO (CHN), was ready the second time, stopping his opponent in mid-twist and securing a second-period fall.

Cao, the Asian U23 champion at 79kg, took the lead with an acrobatic takedown in the first period. But Naadambat was ready the second time and it resulted in his first senior medal.

Stocky Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) came away with his second straight 86kg bronze, using his low center of gravity to score four stepouts and defeat Mukul DAHIYA (IND) 4-2.

Shirai, the 2022 world U23 champion, chalked up two stepouts in each period before 2023 Asian U20 champion Dahiya finally got on the scoreboard with a takedown late in the second period.

Day 6 Results

Freestyle

61kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Takara SUDA (JPN) df. UDIT (IND), 6-4

BRONZE: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) df. Kum Chol RI (PRK), 6-1
BRONZE: Wanhao ZOU (CHN) df. Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ), 4-2

74kg (16 entries)
GOLD: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) df. Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), 2-1

BRONZE: Tu Erxun AHEIYOU (CHN) df. Fazliddin NASRITDINOV (UZB), 4-0
BRONZE: Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) df. Mohammad Reza SHAKERI (IRI), 2-2

86kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) df. Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ), 11-4

BRONZE: Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL) df. Nan CAO (CHN) by Fall, 3:56 (2-2)
BRONZE: Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) df. Mukul DAHIYA (IND), 4-2

92kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) df. Deepak PUNIA (IND) by TF, 10-0, 5:21

BRONZE: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Sherzod POYONOV (UZB), 2-1
BRONZE: Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) df. Bekzat RAKHIMOV (KGZ) by TF, 11-0, 1:53

125kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) df. Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL), 6-0

BRONZE: DINESH (IND) df. Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM), 14-12
BRONZE: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Ahmed AL JAMIE (IRQ) by Fall, 4:53 (8-1)

Three world champs highlight Greco-Roman at Asian Games

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Rising star Masoumi gains revenge, joins gold rush by young Iran team