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

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025 Day 3 FS 65kg, 97kg and WW 55kg, 59kg Highlights

Monday, September 15, 2025 - 08:39 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 15) -- The World Championships day three will see the start of Women's Wrestling in Zagreb. Two weight classes -- 55kg and 59kg -- will be in action. Freestyle will continue in 65kg and 97kg with two Olympic champions in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 RESULTS

65kg semifinals
SF 1: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) vs Piabani (CAN)
SF 2: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) vs. Umidjon JALALOV (UZB)

14:56: Peiman BIABANI (CAN) comes back from a 2-0 down to beat Andrii BILIICHUK (UKR) in the 65kg quarterfinals. Biabani scored three stepouts and a takedown to take the lead and held on to it to win the quarterfinals.

14:55: SUJEET (IND) gave it all against Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in the 65kg quarterfinals but Amouzad got a takedown in the final 20 seconds to be safe. Amouzad scored four stepout to lead 4-0 but struggled with conditioning. Sujeet scored a takedown and stepout to make it 4-3. Needing only one to win, Sujeet committed to a far leg attack and Amouzad countered with a takedown to make it 6-3. Sujeet scored a takedown with 4 seconds on the clock but could not get one point for the win. Amouzad reaches semifinal with a 6-3 win.

14:52: Olympic champ Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) fires out at the gun in his 65kg quarterfinal against Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW), grabbing a single leg, snatching the other ankle and going straight to a lace-lock roll. The action, however, is so fast he is given just 2 points, which proves enough as he fends off Ibragimov to post a 3-0 victory. Kiyooka's final point came on an unsuccessful challenge after the buzzer when Ibragimov's side tried to get the Japanese penalized for fleeing, but the judges ruled he properly defended.

14:51: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) breaks open a close match with a pair of takedowns in a 20-second span of the second period, then holds on for a 5-3 victory over Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) to advance to the 65kg semifinals. Jalolov held the criteria advantage after both had received an activity point, but scored a takedown at with 1:20 left, then added another a short time later. Rivera picked up a takedown with :22 to go, but it was too little, too late.

55kg semifinals
SF 1: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) vs. Kyong Ryong OH (PRK)
SF 2: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) vs. Andreea ANA (ROU)

14:41: Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) uses her lace to great effect to deny any comeback from Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) in the 55kg quarterfinals. Oh manages to go past Kamaloglu 14-7

14:40: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) reaches the 55kg semifinals after beating Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) 10-5. It was a takedown masterclass from Uchida who led 8-0 before Khomenets had a big four pointer. But Uchida kept her cool and managed to win 10-5.

14:39: Andreea ANA (ROU) runs 2022 world bronze medalist Karla GODINEZ (CAN) out of the ring in the final minute for a stepout with a fleeing point tacked on, putting her into the 55kg semifinals with a 3-1 victory. Each wrestler had received an activity point, with the Canadian holding the last-point criteria.

14:39: European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) scores three takedowns, which is enough to trump the 4-point takedown that Yaynelis SANZ VERDECIA (CUB) chalked up and temporarily put her in the lead. Verbina walks away with a 6-4 victory in the 55kg quarterfinal, in which all of the points came in the first period.

59kg semifinals
SF 1: Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) vs. Sakura ONISHI (JPN)
SF 2: Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) vs. Maria VYNNYK (URK)

14:30: Elena BRUGGER (GER) and Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) trade takedowns in the second period but Brugger leads 3-3 on criteria with a 2 minutes left. She makes it 5-3 with a takedown before two lace turns make it 9-3 with 1 minute left in the match. BUT TOGTOKH WITH A BIG MOVE AND FALL! She beats Brugger despite the latter leading 9-5 and advances to the 59kg semifinals.

14:26: After spotting Bediha GUN (TUR) a four-point lead, Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) comes back to go ahead on criteria in the second period, only to fall behind again. But Beauregard comes up with a late takedown to win 6-6 on criteria and earn a spot in the 59kg semifinals.

14:25: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) hits the move of the day in the women's competition, tossing Othelie HOEIE (NOR) for 5 with a high-amplitude back suplex en route to a 11-0 victory to advance to the 59kg semifinals.

14:20: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) with an inside trip and the fall over Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) after a 12-0 lead. She advances to the 59kg semifinal and a step closer to the first senior world title. She is a two time world U20 champion, the second coming just a month ago in Samokov, Bulgaria.

97kg semifinals
SF 1: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) vs Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)
SF 2: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Kyle SNYDER (USA)

14:15: Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) survives a huge scare against Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) in the 97kg quarterfinals. Kurbanov threated to run away with it when he began with two stepouts to lead 2-0. He made it 4-0 with a takedown but Tazhudinov got going in the second period with a takedown to cut the lead to 4-2. He used a front headlock move to score six more points to lead 8-2. A challenge, which was lost, from Kurbanov made it 9-4. But Kurbanov got a breather and then got a takedown to make it 9-6. In the final 15 seconds, he managed a front chestwrap exposure but Tazhudinov got a reversal as the score changed to 10-8. Tazhudinov gave up a stepout but still managed to win 10-9.

14:10: Young Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) puts on an impressive display of power, scoring five stepouts in bulling to a 6-2 victory over Olympic silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) to advance at 97kg. Yoshida's other point came on a rare reversal after he gave up a takedown. That sets up a rematch with Snyder of their semifinal encounter at the Tirana Ranking Series event in February won 5-5 by the Japanese.

14:09: Kyle SNYDER (USA) provides no openings for Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) in their 97kg quarterfinal as the seven-time world medalist post a workmanlike 5-0 victory comprised of a takedown, two stepouts and an activity point.

14:05: The first semifinalist at 97kg is Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) who beats VICKY (IND) 10-0 in 3:30. A blast double in that match from Azarpira for four points.

13:55: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) spends much of his 65kg match trying to chase down the elusive Ayub MUSAEV (BEL), but he manages to snatch an ankle enough to score three takedowns, with one thigh-lock roll added in for a 9-4 victory. There was one lapse of caution, when Kiyooka was thrown for 4 on a counter lift, but was otherwise in no danger.

13:40: Real WOODS' (USA) got on point in his match against Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and that was for a lost challenge from the Iranian. Otherwise, Amouzad showed why his underhooks are lethal, scoring 10 points from the move to win 12-1. A stepout and point for lost challenge from the United States were the other two points.

13:36: Three-time former European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) chalks up a 4-point move in the first period and two stepouts in the second and she's through to the 55kg quarterfinals with a 6-3 victory over 2024 world U20 champion Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA).

13:35: World silver medalist Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority win over Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO) to secure his place in the 65kg quarterfinals.

13:28: SUJEET (IND) with a typical hard-working win over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) at 65kg. A lot of stepout given up by a tired Kim. Sujeet into the quarterfinals.

13:25: Asian champion Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) looks like one to beat at women's 55kg as she storms to a 12-2 victory over Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) to advance to the quarterfinals. Oh has a reply to all of Samoil's counter moves, and her victory in 2:36 includes a 4-point takedown off a double leg.

13:25: European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) with a fall over veteran Oleksandra KOGUT (AUT) at 55kg. Verbina is looking to win a first world medal at the senior level and she looks good to do it.

13:13: World silver medalist Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) warms up with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Hyerim LEE (KOR) at 55kg. Khomenets is looking find her old form after returning from an injury.

13:12: Less than a month after winning a second straight world U20 gold, Sakura ONISHI (JPN) begins her quest for a title in her senior world debut with a 10-0 rout of Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) at 59kg.

13:09: European champion and Olympic silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) eases by Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM) 4-0 in his opening match at 97kg as he looks to improve on his two career world bronze medals. A takedown in the first period and activity points in each half were all he needed.

13:10: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) holds on to her 8-4 lead and beats NISHU (IND) at 55kg to advance to the quarterfinals at the World Championships. This is her debut at the senior level

12:59: Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), looking to give Japan a rare medal in the upper weights, continues his run with a 10-0 victory over Ertugrul AGCA (GER) at 97kg. Yoshida, whose father is Iranian and runs the kids club in Japan where he started the sport, scores a takedown and lace-lock roll in the first period, then finishes up the match with three takedowns in the second.

13:00: Pyol HONG (PRK) and Elena BRUGGER (GER) waited and waited for some action. Brugger took a 2-1 lead when Hong was on the second activity period and did not score. In the final 10 seconds, Hong locks Brugger's arms and throws her for two points and wins 3-2. Germany challenges the call. There was no danger for Brugger in that throw and the scores are reversed to 2-1 and a victory for Brugger at 59kg.

12:53: In a contentious match at 97kg that included penalty points and a dressing down of both wrestlers from the match chairman, Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) comes away with a 6-3 victory over Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL).

12:42: Kyle SNYDER (USA), a 10-time world and Olympic medalist, begins his quest for an 11th one with a 10-0 victory over Cristian SARCO (VEN) at 97kg. He missed out on a medal in Paris, the first World or Olympics since 2015 that he failed to win a medal.

12:40: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN), competing internationally for the first time since his triumph at 65kg at the Paris Olympics -- with a new, braided hair style -- opens with a 13-2 victory over Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN). It is Alibegov who strikes first, surprising the Olympic champion with a quick double-leg takedown. But Kiyooka replies with a single-leg takedown, then transitions to his patented thigh-lock with the head between the legs and rolls twice for a 6-2 lead. He adds a stepout before the buzzer. Kiyooka stays on the attack in the second period and gains a takedown and two traditional lace-lock rolls to end the match in 4:59.

12:32: Paris Olympic and 2023 world bronze medalist Sebastien RIVERA (PUR)appears to wake up after giving up an early stepout to Chouaib SAHRAOUI (ALG) at 65kg. He comes back with a takedown, then goes on a gut wrench spree to make it 12-1, at which point Sahraoui throws in the towel and it officially goes into the books as a fall at 1:57.

12:30: World and Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) faces Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) in his first match at 97kg. He begins with a takedown and stepout to lead 3-0. A blast double for four to make it 7-0. Two points for exposure to make it 9-0 before he finishes the match with a stepout.

12:29: Budpest Ranking Series champion SUJEET (IND) storms out to a quick 6-0 lead against Cavit ACAR (TUR) at 65kg, but it suddenly begins to evaporate as Acar scores a pair of defensive exposures and the exchange reversals. That puts Sujeet up 7-5 at the break. But he pulls away in the second period, with a 4-point takedown when Acar attempts a reverse counter lift and an unsuccessful challenge gives Sujeet a 15-5 win.

12:25: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) was leading 5-0 but Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) hit a takedown and rallied a leg-lace to win to win 16-5. Tevanyan seems in some trouble with his knee. Armenia challenges and the last turn is removed. But down 14-5, Tevanyan managed only three more points as Kudiev wins 14-8.

12:18: Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) wastes little time in getting his campaign for a second career world gold at 65kg off to roaring start, using a 4-point takedown to finish off a 13-0 whitewash in just under two minutes. over Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ).

12:15: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) controls his bout against Gantulga BATBAATAR (MGL) throughout the six minutes to win 12-0 and advance at 65kg. Ibragimov is trying to win his first world medal

11:54: Real WOODS (USA) gives no chance to Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) in his 65kg opening bout. Woods with a gut-wrench to rack up those points but he wins 11-0

11:38: A victory for the Philippines. In a battle between wrestlers from countries trying to develop the sport, American-born Arian CARPIO (PHI) defeats Victoria CHHEN (AUS) 7-0 to advance at women's 59kg. Carpio, who competed for the U.S. until 2019, scores a takedown-lack lock combination and stepout in the first period, then caps the win with a second-period takedown.

11:35: Seems like Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) has recovered from an ankle injury she picked at the U20 World Championships. She starts her 55kg campaign with a 10-0 victory over Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)

11:20: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) matches 2023 Asian Games bronze medalist Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) with an activity point and stepout, but both of his come in the second period and that gives the Iranian a 2-2 victory on last-point criteria at 97kg.

11:20: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), a world 55kg champion in 2019, moved up to 59kg for this World Championships but Hong LIANG (CHN) shows Winchester that there are different levels to this. She pins Winchester

11:14: Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) picks up a first-period fall against Domantas PAULIUSCENKO (LTU) at 97kg, a weight class that is absolutely packed

11:10: In the first of many high-profile matchups to come in the super-stacked 97kg division, 2023 world 92kg champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) gives up a takedown and the lead with just under two minutes left to Magomed KURBANOV (UWW), the 2021 silver medalist at 92kg. But Aitmukhan gets behind off a scramble with :48, then adds a stepout. But a second apparent stepout with :08 left is overturned on challenge and awarded to Kurbanov, suddenly giving him a 4-4 lead on criteria. A last-ditch challenge at the end is denied, giving Kurbanov a 5-4 win.

10:58: Asian bronze medalist Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) gets a first-period takedown and that holds up for a 2-0 victory over Junsik YUN (KOR) to clear his first hurdle at 65kg.

10:50: A match marred with multiple medical timeouts, Olympic bronze medalist and world silver medalist Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) has to be carried off the mat after he called for an injury. Magomedov and VICKY (IND) battled it out and the India wrestler led 5-0 before Magomedov woke up. The score was 9-7 with Vicky leading but Magomedov scored a takedown and turn to lead 11-9. But he failed to recover for a restart and the match was decided with Vicky as winner.

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

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World Championships 2025 Day 3 FS 65kg, 97kg and WW 55kg, 59kg Highlights