Tynybekova rises again to win 62kg Asian title; Fujinami repeats

Wednesday, April 12, 2023 - 16:42 By Ken Marantz

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (April 12) -- To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the sporting demise of Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) have been an exaggeration.

The former two-time world champion Tynybekova showed she was alive and kicking in the athletic sense when she captured the gold medal in a formidable 62kg weight class as women's wrestling concluded at the Asian Championships on Wednesday in Astana.

Tynybekova came away with her fifth career Asian gold and 10th medal overall with a gutsy 9-5 victory over former world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) in the final at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace.

That victory came hours after Tynybekova eked out a 2-2 victory in the semifinals over defending champion and reigning world champ Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), avenging a pair of losses to the young Japanese in 2022 that included the final at last year's Asian Championships.

"I am very proud of myself," Tynyvekova said. "Last year was super tough for me. Right from the beginning of the year, it was super tough. Now I am happy that I was able to overcome it all. I wish everyone to keep dreaming and believing in themselves."

While Tynybekova was re-establishing her status as a world elite, teen phenom Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) was solidifying her credentials as a budding superstar by storming to her second straight title at 53kg, racking up three one-sided victories that extended her winning streak in domestic and international competitions to 119 in a row.

Japan, which won three titles on Tuesday, also got a gold medal from Sae NANJO (JPN) at 57kg but saw its wrestlers in the two heaviest of the five weight classes in action both fall in the finals.

World silver medalist Jia LONG (CHN) gave China its second gold in Astana with a victory over Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) at 65kg, while hometown favorite Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) successfully defended her 76kg title by beating Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) in a rematch of the 2022 championship bout.

Not surprisingly, Japan ran away with the team title with 205 points, while China finished second with 149 and India, with no champions overall but five medalists on Wednesday, edged host Kazakhstan by two points for third with 143.

Tynybekova, who had been recovering from a knee injury suffered during a loss to Ozaki at last year's Asian Championships in Mongolia, struggled to fifth place at the 2022 World Championships. She then started this year with a first-round loss at the Zagreb Open to Xiaojuan LUO (CHN), who would lose a bronze-medal match here on Wednesday.

Tynybekova showed some of her old form three weeks later by winning the Ranking Series tournament in Egypt with a win over Luo in the final, but there were questions about how she would perform when the stakes were higher in Astana.

The 29-year-old national hero wiped away the doubts with a vintage performance, keeping her cool in desperate situations and relying on her experience to take advantage of every opening.

In the 62kg final, Tynybekova twice gave up points to counters by Purevdorj that would put her behind, but quickly scrambled for a reversal after each, with the second one putting her ahead 5-4. She put the match away with a double-leg takedown and 2-point exposure in the last minute.

"I am very happy to be back at the top of the podium," Tynybekova said. "I am glad this day had finally come. I also would like to note that I have become a five-time Asian champion. Maybe there was no one before. I am proud to be the first one in our country."

Tynybekova was denied her dream of striking Olympic gold when she lost to Japanese rival Yukako KAWAI (JPN) in the final at the 2021 Tokyo Games. As Kawai went on hiatus, Tynybekova regained the world title later that year that she previously won in 2019. Her first-round opponent at the 2021 Worlds was the then-teenaged Ozaki, whom she beat in a struggle.

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) scoring a counter over Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) which proved crucial in the win. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Fast-forward to April last year in Mongolia, where Ozaki gained revenge with a victory over Tynybekova by injury default in a match the Japanese seemed to be dominating. Ozaki made sure it was no fluke in their next meeting at the 2022 Worlds in Belgrade, posting a one-sided 11-5 win in the semifinal.

In their clash in the afternoon session on Wednesday, Tynybekova made a 2-point counter lift in the first period hold up for a 2-2 win over Ozaki. In the second period, Ozaki received an activity point, then nearly got the go-ahead takedown, but Tynybekova fought to limit it to a stepout.

"I am happy I managed to beat Ozaki, to whom I lost twice last year," Tynybekova said. "Also, back in 2018, I lost to the Mongolian wrestler in the final match in Indonesia at the Asian Games. That was a 10-0 loss. Today I proved to myself that I deserve this gold."

Ozaki was left to rue her missed opportunities.

"I got in on a high crotch tackle and she turned me over for the first two points," the 20-year-old Ozaki said. "It's very disappointing in one aspect because I was the aggressor and she scored off it. The fact that I couldn't finish it off is something I have to fix. It was the first time a foreign wrestler had countered for points against me."

Ozaki added that having to settle for a stepout after getting in so deep on the takedown attempt "was really big."

Looking ahead, Ozaki has other issues to address besides Tynybekova. Back home, she faces a difficult path in a bid to get back to the World Championships, where the first berths at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be up for grabs.

Japan has two domestic qualifiers for the world team, and Ozaki lost last December to Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) at the first one, the All-Japan Championships. The second qualifier will be the All-Japan Invitational Championships, also known as the Meiji Cup, which Ozaki will need to win to force a playoff.

At 53kg, Fujinami methodically piled up points against the fellow teenager and world U20 champion Antim PANGHAL (IND) en route to a 10-0 technical fall in 3:11 in the final. It was Fujinami's third technical fall of the day, but the first that made it into the second period.

"I wanted to try things other than my specialty of low tackle," Fujinami said. "I found some good things and some things I want to work on. I want to put what I gained here to use going into the Meiji Cup and the World Championships."

Fujinami is set on regaining the world crown that she won in 2021 but was forced to abdicate last year due to a foot injury, then winning the gold in Paris.

At the Meiji Cup, she faces a possible clash with Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN), who won the gold in Tokyo under her maiden name of MUKAIDA.

On top of her amazing streak, Fujinami has now not given up a point in 29 matches over a span of more than two years. The last opponent to score on her was Nanami IRIE (JPN), who managed to get a takedown in the final at the All-Japan Championships in December 2020 -- a match that Fujinami still won 8-2 for her first national title.

In Japan, the streak takes more importance because it now equals that of one of the country's most beloved sporting legends, three-time Olympic champion and fellow Mie Prefecture native Saori YOSHIDA (JPN). Yoshida put together 119 wins from 2001 to 2008.

Japan's longest winning streak is held by four-time Olympic gold medalist Kaori ICHO (JPN), who won 189 straight from 2003 to 2016 before losing to Purevdorj at the Yarygin Grand Prix.

Her mark comes with a caveat, however, as it does not include a loss by default that she purposely took at the 2007 Asian Championships, when she was injured but had to enter the tournament to be eligible for that year's World Championships.

In the 57kg final, Nanjo added to the Asian gold she won in 2017 with a victory by fall in 2:16 over Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB). Nanjo was leading 11-4 when she ended the match.

Nanjo, last year's world bronze medalist and world U23 champion, was up 8-0 when she got a little overexuberant in trying to gain the clinching points. She got in deep with a duck under, only for Sobirova to use her momentum for a 4-point counter lift. But Nanjo quickly recovered, gaining a reversal then locking up both of Sobirova's arms and levering her over for the fall.

Like her compatriots, Nanjo is looking ahead to the road to the Olympics. "This year, the Meiji Cup is an important domestic tournament heading to the Olympics," she said. "I only looked at this as a step toward the Meiji Cup, so from that aspect, it is not so important."

Nanjo advanced to the final with a 5-1 victory in the semifinals over 2022 silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND), a match that she had been looking forward to.

"At the last World Championships, I was third and she was second, so I had wanted to have one match against her," Nanjo said. "When I actually faced her, she was tough."

Jia LONG (CHN) won her first Asian title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 65kg, Long scored a reversal and two back exposures in the second period for a 5-3 win over Yoshitake, the world U20 champion who was coming off a victory at the Zagreb Open.

Long, who won all three of her Nordic group matches and her semifinal by 10-0 technical falls, gave up an activity point in the first period, then fell behind in the second when Yoshitake caught her with an elbow roll. But the Chinese squirmed out for a reversal, then scored with a gut wrench and tilt to go ahead 5-3.

The match ended with Long using a whizzer to stave off a double-leg takedown attempt by Yoshitake, who last December won her first national title after world champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) moved up to the Olympic weight of 68kg.

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) defended her 72kg gold medal in Astana. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Bakberbergenova gave the host country a sweep of the two heaviest weights when she scored all of her points in the second period to defeat Niikura 5-1 and retain the 72kg title.

After Niikura received an activity point in the first period, Bakberbergenova went ahead when she scored a takedown off a single-leg attempt after fighting off a counter-lift by Niikura. An activity point made it 3-1 and then Bakberbergenova put it away with exposure as Niikura attempted another counter-lift.

Her victory followed the gold-medal run at 76kg of compatriot Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) the previous night, much to the delight of the partisan crowd.

Ozaki settles for bronze; India takes home 4

Ozaki will not leave Astana empty-handed, as she bounced back from her disappointing loss to Tynybekova by winning a bronze medal that likely will be less than satisfying.

Ozaki went out the back door on a single-leg attempt against Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) and ended up between her legs, then simply pressed forward to score a fall in 40 seconds.

The other bronze at 62kg went to world U20 silver medalist Sonam MALIK (IND), one of four won by India along with Malik at 57kg, MANISHA (IND) at 65kg and Reetika HOODA (IND) at 72kg.

Sonam scored a 4-point double-leg tackle to the back in the first period of a 5-1 victory over China's Luo, a two-time former Asian champion and last year's world bronze medalist.

Malik, shrugging off a knee injury suffered during her semifinal loss to Nanjo, had no trouble cruising to a 10-0 technical fall over Erdenesuvd BAT ERDENE (MGL).

Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) won the other 57kg bronze, scoring 4 with a spinning arm throw in the second period to defeat Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ) 7-0.

Manisha won her second straight bronze and the only one at stake in the seven-woman 65kg weight class by overwhelming Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ), building up a six-point lead before stuffing a lateral drop attempt and clamping down for a fall in 2:15.

Hooda, a world U20 bronze medalist, scored a takedown in each period in posting a 5-1 victory over Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB).

Mongolia picked up a pair of bronze medals as Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) and Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) both crushed Taiwanese opponents with 11-0 technical falls. Bat Ochir crushed Meng HSIEH (TPE) at 53kg and Enkh Amar took the other 76kg bronze with a shellacking of Ping HUNG (TPE).

Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) picked up the third Asian bronze of her career when she rallied from a five-point deficit to defeat Li DENG (CHN) 9-6 at 53kg, going ahead with a 4-point driving takedown with 1:30 left.

Day 4 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Antim PANGHAL (IND) by TF, 10-0 (2:48)

BRONZE: Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) df. Li DENG (CHN), 9-6
BRONZE: Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) df. Meng HSIEH (TPE) by TF, 11-0 (3:53)

Semifinal: Antim PANGHAL (IND) df. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) by Fall, 5:52 (8-1)
Semifinal: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) by TF, 10-0 (2:32)

57kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Sae NANJO (JPN) df. Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) by Fall, 2:16 (11-4)

BRONZE: Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) df. Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ), 7-0
BRONZE: Anshu MALIK (IND) df. Erdenesuvd BAT ERDENE (MGL) by TF, 10-0 (3:20)

Semifinal: Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) df. Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ) by TF, 11-0, 1:22
Semifinal: Sae NANJO (JPN) df. Anshu MALIK (IND), 5-1

62kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), 9-5

BRONZE: Sonam MALIK (IND) df. Xiaojuan LUO (CHN), 5-1
BRONZE: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) by Fall, :40 (2-0)

Semifinal: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. Xiaojuan LUO (CHN), 7-3
Semifinal: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), 2-2

65kg (7 entries)
GOLD: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), 5-3

BRONZE: MANISHA (IND) df. Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ) by Fall, 2:15 (8-0)

Semifinal: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ) by TF, 10-0 (1:38)
Semifinal: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) df. Manisha MANISHA (IND) by Fall, 4:07 (2-1)

72kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Sumire NIIKURA (JPN), 5-1

BRONZE: Reetika HOODA (IND) df. Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB), 5-1
BRONZE: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Ping HUNG (TPE) by TF, 11-0 (1:44)

Semifinal: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) by TF, 11-1, 4:23
Semifinal: Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) df. Reetika HOODA (IND) 5-4

#wrestlebishkek

Makhmudov Repeats Triumph in Bishkek as Kyrgyzstan Strikes Three Gold

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 - 19:08 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 7) -- The decibel level was just as deafening, and the outcome the same. The only thing different was the venue, although it was only about 50 meters across the street.

Local hero Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) gave the host country the victory it most wanted to see, winning the 77kg gold in Greco-Roman at the Asian Championships on Tuesday in Bishkek to repeat his breakout victory of 2018 in the same city.

Makhmudov held off a fierce challenge from Ali OSKOU (IRI) for a 3-3 victory in the final to secure his fourth career Asian gold and fifth medal overall, much to delight of the thunderous partisan crowd packed into Zhastyk Arena.

“It’s a huge, huge joy,” Makhmudov said. “Of course, it’s hard to put into words, but at the same time, I’m not going to stop here or dwell on it. Yes, I became the Asian champion, the anthem was played, the flag was raised. Now it’s time to move forward.”

While the spotlight shined brightest on Makhmudov, he had to share it a bit with compatriots Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) and Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), who also defeated Iranian opponents in striking gold at 63kg and 87kg, respectively, on the first night of medal matches in the seven-day tournament.

The night wasn’t a total wash for Iran, however, as reigning world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) showed he was still the preeminent power at 130kg by snatching his fourth career Asian gold, while Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) won the other gold at stake at 55kg.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) after winning his first Asian title in Bishkek in 2018. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fyne)

It was eight years ago that a then-teenaged Makhmudov burst onto the international stage at Bishkek’s Soviet-era Kojomkul Sports Palace on the other side of Togolok Moldo Street, sending the home crowd into a cacophonous frenzy by winning the 72kg gold.

“I still remember 2018 the most, because I was younger then and the wrestling was much more spectacular,” Makhmudov said. “Right now, I’m not in my best shape, but I still managed to win my fourth gold medal. At the moment, I’m only at about 25–30 percent of my form.”

That 2018 win served as the launching pad for one of Asia’s top Greco wrestlers in history, although his ascent was delayed for some time due to a severe knee injury.

After taking a silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he reached the pinnacle in 2022 with victories at 77kg at both the World and Asian Championships, a feat he repeated in 2023. He added a second Olympic medal the next year with a bronze in Paris.

He took his time returning to the sport from a break after Paris, winning the title at the 2025 Islam Solidarity Games in his lone competition that year. This year, his only action ahead of Bishkek came at the Zagreb Ranking Series in February, where he failed to medal at 82kg.

If there were any concerns whether Makhmudov, who will turn 27 next week, has lost his edge, he put the matter to rest with his solid performance before the home fans.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) sets up a throw against Ali OSKOU (IRI) during the 77kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the final against Oskou, the winner of the Zagreb tournament, Makhmudov got the first chance in par terre and muscled the Iranian over with a reverse body lock, although Oskou rolled through for a reversal. The Kyrgyzstan side challenged for a leg foul, but it was denied, leaving Makhmudov with a slim 3-2 lead.

In the second period, Oskou received a passivity point but could not turn Makhmudov, leaving the latter ahead 3-3 on criteria. Makhmudov got a second chance at par terre, but after failing to pad his lead, he successfully fended off Oskou for the final minute to clinch the win.

“Without a doubt, the toughest match for me was the final, as you saw yourselves,” Makhmudov said. “It was very hard and intense. I prepared for it like any other match, there was responsibility, and of course, I wanted to win, as always.”

Making the moment more special was that his family was among the throng packed into the arena.

“This victory was very important to me,” he said. “My family was here, my father was in the stands, supporting me, praying for my victory. To win in front of him and to justify his hopes means a lot.”

Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) scored a 7-2 victory over Erfan JARKANI (IRI) in the 63kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Prior to Makhmudov’s triumph, Taalaibek Uulu fired up the crowd with a stunning 7-2 victory in the 63kg final over Zagreb Ranking Series champion Erfan JARKANI (IRI) for his first major medal of any kind.

Taalaibek Uulu scored an opening takedown, then hit a 4-point throw from par terre, off of which Jarkani scored a reversal to make it 7-1 after the first period. Jarkani got his chance at par terre in the second, but couldn’t budge Taalaibek Uulu, whose only previous senior international medal was a bronze in Antalya in 2024.

Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) celebrates after beating world champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) in the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Not to be outdone, world bronze medalist Zhanyshov completed Kyrgyzstan’s triple crown of titles with a masterful 11-4 victory at 87kg over a very tough Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), the 82kg champion at last year’s World Championships in Zagreb.

Zhanyshov, no doubt inspired by his compatriots’ success and the crowd’s fervor, stunned Farokhi with a spectacular 4-point lateral drop for a quick lead, which grew to 7-0 with an activity point, stepout and unsuccessful challenge.

Farokhi, also the 2025 world U23 champion in this weight class, surged back with a barrel roll for 2 and a 2-point exposure. But when he tried a roll, Zhanyshov stepped over for a 2-point exposure, and another 2 was tacked on after Farokhi bridged out of the ring, making it 11-4.

That was how it ended, as neither wrestler could generate any more points. A despondent Farokhi abandoned the fight with a full seven seconds still on the clock.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) captured his fourth Asian title at 130kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 130kg, Mirzazadeh proved too much for Russian-born Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB), as he was never threatened in a 9-0 victory to add to his previous Asian golds from 2020, 2023 and 2024.

Mirzazadeh, who won his second world title in Zagreb last September, rolled Tsitsuashvili twice from par terre in the first period for a 5-0 lead, then ended the match at 27 seconds into the second with a takedown-gut wrench combination.

“After the World Championships in 2025, my first competition in 2026 started with the Asian Championships and I was able to achieve the gold medal with a brilliant performance,” Mirzazadeh said. “This is the first step of my path this year in 2026 and I hope that I can achieve succes one after the other.”

For Mirzazadeh, getting to Bishkek was half the battle, given the limits on air travel out of his country.

“Emotionally, it was definitely different,” he said. “We were probably on the road for fifty hours, on the ground, because our country is in a difficult situation right now, but I thank God that I was able to win the gold medal despite these issues and the difficulty of the route.

“I hope that I was able to bring a smile to the faces of the people of my country for a moment."

Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) celebrates after winning his first Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 55kg, two-time bronze medalist Botirov struck gold at last with an impressive 9-0 win in 1:47 over LALIT (IND).

Botirov got the first chance in par terre, and that was all he needed, as he reeled off four gut wrenches despite some tough resistance from Lalit, who had been looking to become India’s first Asian champion in Greco since 2020.

“This is the result of all our efforts, my first gold medal at the senior Asian Championships,” Botirov said. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my coaches who supported me closely throughout this journey. We prepared very ntensively for this competition. Before coming here, my coach told me, ‘You will become a champion,’ and sent me here with that belief.”

Botirov, who added to the bronze medals he took home in 2023 and 2025, had avenged a loss in this year’s Zagreb Ranking Series final to Mohammad HOSSEINVAND (IRI) in the quarterfinals.

“I lost that match by two points,” Botirov said of the defeat in Zagreb. “But this time, I changed my tactics. I started attacking from the very beginning, took the first period, and studied his movements. That’s how I managed to win.”

Kaisei TANABE (JPN), Freestyle 65kg Asian champion last year, won a Greco bronze this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Ex-Freestyle champ Tanabe joins exclusive club with Greco bronze

In the bronze-medal matches, Kaisei TANABE (JPN) joined an exclusive club of wrestlers in Asian Championships history who have won medals in both Freestyle and Greco when he took home a bronze at 63kg.

Tanabe, the champion last year at Freestyle 65kg, secured his place in history when he forged out a 9-0 victory over Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM), securing the winning point with a stepout at the first-period buzzer.

“My feeling is that I’m relieved, but I also have a strong regret that I didn’t put out in yesterday’s match what I did today,” Tanabe said, referring to his loss on Monday in the semifinals to Taalaibek Uluu.

Tanabe pulled away with a 4-point back drop from par terre, then reeled off three consecutive stepouts. An unsuccessful challenge that the final one was scored in time added the final point.

Regarding the flashy 4-pointer, Tanabe said, “A lot of people said they wanted me to put on an exciting match for the people watching. Whether I win or lose, I want to liven things up.”

Tanabe, who father and coach Chikara TANABE (JPN) was an Olympic bronze medalist, was unable to defend his Freestyle crown after losing in the semifinals at the All-Japan Championships in December, but earned his ticket to Bishkek by winning at Greco 63kg.

Tanabe, a product of powerhouse Nippon Sports Science University, said he will continue competing in both styles “as long as it continues to be fun for me. I want to be a wrestler who people find incredibly entertaining, whether or not they wrestle or whether or not that know about wrestling.”

On Wednesday, Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), the Freestyle 70kg champion in 2022, will get a chance to join Tanabe in becoming a double-style medalist when he competes in the bronze-medal match at Greco 72kg.

The other 63kg bronze on Tuesday went to Hyunwoong CHOI (KOR), who jumped out to a 7-0 lead after a 4-point headlock throw, then held on to deny former champion Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) a fourth career Asian medal.

Korea also picked up a bronze in the wildest match of the tournament so far, with Yeonghun NOH (KOR) chalking up three 4-point throws while also nearly being pinned in coming away with a crazy 15-14 win at 77kg over AMAN (IND).

Noh used a back trip, headlock and hip throw for his 4-pointers, the last of which should have ended the match at 12-3, but Aman rolled through to continue the movement and came up with a 2-point exposure that kept him alive.

Behind 14-7 heading into the second period, Aman countered for 2-point takedown, then stopped a throw attempt to send Noh straight to his back for 4 – and what the mat referee indicated was a fall. But it was not confirmed, and Noh survived the final 23 seconds, albeit there were the obligatory challenges that added to the drama but did not change the outcome.

In the other 77kg match, Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) got three gut wrenches from par terre in the first period, then finished up a 10-1 victory in the second over Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ) for his second career Asian bronze.

At 55kg, Hosseinvand, the lone Iranian to fail to make the final on the first day, assured he would not return empty-handed, silencing the home crowd with a 7-1 victory over Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ).

Hosseinvand, put on top in par terre for a second time in the first period after a foul, used the opportunity to score a 4-point throw to go up 7-0, then held out when he was on the bottom in the second period to deny Muratbek Uulu a second career Asian bronze.

Huoying SHI (CHN), who had his breakout year in 2025 with a bronze medal at the World Championships, added a continental bronze in his senior Asian debut with a 9-0 pasting of Mizuki ARAKI (JPN).

Shi, who had failed to medal on the U20 and U23 levels at either of the Asian or World Championships, scored 2 with a counter to the back, then pancaked Asian debutante Araki for 4. From there, he went to a gut wrench to finish the match in 1:17.

At 87kg, former champions Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) and Sunil KUMAR (IND) both added to hefty Asian medal collections, one with an one-sided win and other having to come from behind for a close victory.

Tursynov, who won the Asian title back in 2014 and won two silvers in the ensuing years, had little trouble demolishing Dovletmyrat BAYRAMOV (TKM), scoring a roll, 4-point back suplex and another roll from par terre for a 9-0 win in 1:41.

Kumar, the 2020 Asian champion, trailed by four points going into the second period when he used the par terre advantage to score two gut wrenches and walk off with a 5-4 victory over Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) – a two-time past bronze medalist himself – and boost his medal tally to six overall.

At 130kg, Korea made it 3 for 3 in bronze-medal matches by winning the battle of the Kims, as Minseok KIM (KOR) defeated namesake Roman KIM (KGZ) 4-0, scoring all of his points with slick first-period arm throw that emulated wrestlers half his size.

It was the Korean Kim’s fifth career Asian medal, adding to two bronzes from the Asian Games and another from the 2018 World Championships.

Three-time Asian U23 champion Wenhao JIANG (CHN) earned his first senior Asian medal with a 9-2 win over returning bronze medalist Yuta NARA (JPN) in the other 130kg match.

Day 2 Results

55kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) df. LALIT (IND) by TS, 9-0, 1:47

BRONZE: Huoying SHI (CHN) df. Mizuki ARAKI (JPN) by TS, 9-0, 1:17
BRONZE: Mohammad HOSSEINVAND (IRI) df. Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ), 7-1

60kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) by TS, 10-0, 2:00
SF2: Se Ung RI (PRK) df. Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ) by TS, 8-0, :27

63kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Erfan JARKANI (IRI), 7-2

BRONZE: Kaisei TANABE (JPN) df. Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM) by TS, 9-0, 3:00
BRONZE: Hyunwoong CHOI (KOR) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 9-6

67kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) by TS, 9-0, 1:58
SF2: Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN) df. Abdumalik AMINOV (UZB), 5-2

72kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ) df. Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ), 3-1
SF2: Javad REZAEI (IRI) df. Shakhzod KUCHKOROV (UZB) by TS, 9-0, 1:55

77kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Ali OSKOU (IRI), 3-3

BRONZE: Yeonghun NOH (KOR) df. AMAN (IND), 15-14
BRONZE: Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) df. Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ) by TS, 10-1, 4:59

82kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) df. Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), 9-8
SF2: Amin HOSSEINI (IRI) df. PRINCE (IND) by TS, 10-0, 2:25

87kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), 11-4

BRONZE: Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) df. Dovletmyrat BAYRAMOV (TKM) by TS, 9-0, 1:41
BRONZE: Sunil KUMAR (IND) df. Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB), 5-4

97kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Hadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), 3-1
SF2: NITESH (IND) df. Zegang WANG (CHN), 7-2

130kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB) by TS, 9-0, 3:27

BRONZE: Minseok KIM (KOR) df. Roman KIM (KGZ), 4-0
BRONZE: Wenhao JIANG (CHN) df. Yuta NARA (JPN), 9-2

Tynybekova rises again to win 62kg Asian title; Fujinami repeats

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Makhmudov Repeats Triumph in Bishkek as Kyrgyzstan Strikes Three Gold