World Champ Fumita Shows Effective Defensive Side in Regaining Asian Gold

Wednesday, February 19, 2020 - 18:30 By Ken Marantz

NEW DELHI (Feb. 19) — Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) was put on the defensive in the final, but it hardly kept the world champion from regaining the Greco-Roman 60kg gold medal at the Asian Championships.

Fumita scored points off a counter to an arm throw attempt by Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) and went on to notch a 4-0 victory in the final as the Greco-Roman competition concluded on the second day in New Delhi.

“He’s really good at throws, and I felt that from the first contact,” Fumita said. “So, I kept firmly in mind not letting him complete a throw.”

Just as he regained the world title that he last won in 2017, Fumita regained the Asian gold that he had previously captured three years ago—also in New Delhi. The victory on Wednesday night also assured he will finish at the top of the UWW rankings and gain the top seed for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“It’s an honor,” Fumita said of the top seed. “It’s a rare thing, as there have hardly been any Japanese No. 1 going the into Olympics. For me, with No. 1 seed comes responsibility, but I will work hard to be worthy of it.”

Fumita said his main objective coming into New Delhi was to score points from the standing position. While he failed to actually do so in any of his three matches, he said he feels he made progress.

“In the end, I didn’t score any points, but in terms of form, I feel my wrestling was very good,” he said. “My coach said it was good and that I [have the basis] for making more progress.”

Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) shutout Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), 4-0, and claimed his second Asian gold medal. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

In the final, Sharshenbekov, the world U-23 silver medalist, came out aggressively and threw caution to the wind with a twisting arm throw. But Fumita reacted perfectly and stopped the move halfway to gain 2 points. When Sharshenbekov got to his feet, Fumita forced him out for a 3-0 lead. At the end of the first period, Sharshenbekov attempted the same move, but came up with nothing but air.

In the second period, Fumita gained a point for passivity, but was unable to pad his lead in the par terre position, despite having scored a combined 14 points from it in his previous two matches. Still, he was never put in danger and fought off all further attempts to secure the gold.

By winning the world gold last September in Nur-Sultan, Fumita secured his place at the Tokyo Olympics, which is where his ultimate goal lies. Prospects are high he can end Japan’s long Greco gold drought at the Olympics—the country has not had a Greco champion since Atsuji Miyahara won the 52kg gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

Is that something he keeps in mind?

“That was more than 10 years before I was born, so it’s not something I actually have a sense of,” Fumita said. “It’s sad that there hasn’t been a Japanese Greco champion in all that time. For me, I want to get [a gold] and help make Greco more popular.”

Fumita said he will compete one more time before the Tokyo Games, at the Grand Prix of Germany in Dortmund in June.

RYU Hansu (KOR) scored the 4-1 win over Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) and won his third Asian title. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Ryu preps for Olympic qualifier with continental gold
In other action, former two-time world champion RYU Hansu (KOR) capped his preparatory tournament for next month’s Asian Olympic qualifier by winning hjs second straight 67kg title and third Asian gold overall.

The other three golds at stake all went to Iran, with two of them coming at the expense of Korean opponents.

Ryu, the 2017 world champion who finished eighth in Nur-Sultan and still needs to qualify for Tokyo 2020, chalked up a 4-1 win in the final over Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB), who was coming off a victory at the Matteo Pellicone ranking series event.

Ryu gained a passivity point and a takedown for a 3-0 lead into the second period. Bakhshilloev gained a chance to go ahead when he received a passivity point and the par terre advantage. When he was unable to turn Ryu, his side lost a challenge that Ryu was using his legs to block, giving Ryu a 4-1 lead, which is how the match ended.

“This competition was a check for me ahead of the next competition,” Ryu said. “It was most important to work on my par terre technique. If I can perfect this technique, I can get a medal at the next competition.”

Almin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) ended his finals match early against Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) with an 8-0 technical superiority win. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

In the 72kg final, 2018 world junior champion Almin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) put together a 4-point takedown-roll combination in each period, defeating Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) by 8-0 technical fall in 4:09.

Compatriot Mahdi EBRAHIMI (IRI) followed by adding the senior gold to his Asian U-23 title with a 3-1 win over CHOI Junhyeong (KOR) in the 82kg final.

World U-23 bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) then capped the night by scoring the go-ahead takedown with :57 left to capture the 97kg gold with a 5-2 win over LEE Seyeol (KOR).

Iran, which also picked up a pair of bronze medals from Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) at 60kg and Hossein ASSADI KOLMATI (IRI) at 67kg, easily won the team title with 190 points. The Iranians took home medals in all but one of the 10 weight classes.

Uzbekistan, which captured three bronze medals on the final day, finished second with 146 points, 10 ahead of Kazakhstan in third.

Host India had no finalists on Wednesday, but went 3-for-3 in the third-place matches, much to the delight of the sparse home crowd at K.D. Jadhav Wrestling Stadium. Winning bronzes were Ashu ASHU (IND) at 67kg, Aditya KUNDU (IND) at 72kg and Hardeep HARDEEP (IND) at 97kg.

The most exciting bronze-medal match came at 82kg, in which world 77kg bronze medalist Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) was losing 2-1 to Yevgeniy POLIVADOV (KAZ), only to execute a nifty duck-under tackle that sent his opponent to his back for a fall with :12 left.

The competition continues Thursday with five weight classes (50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, 76kg) in women’s wrestling.

Day 2 results

Greco-Roman

60kg (10 entries)
GOLD – Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) df. Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), 4-0
BRONZE - Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) df. Gyanender GYANENDER (IND), 6-0
BRONZE - Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) df. Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), 4-3

67kg (11 entries)
GOLD – RYU Hansu (KOR) df. Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB), 4-1
BRONZE - Ashu ASHU (IND) df. Abdulkarim ALHASAN (SYR), 8-1
BRONZE - Hossein ASSADI KOLMATI (IRI) df. Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN), 5-3

72kg (9 entries)
GOLD – Almin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) df. Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) by TF, 8-0, 4:09
BRONZE - Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ) df. CHEN Yan Kai (TPE) by Fall, :41 (8-0)
BRONZE - Aditya KUNDU (IND) df. Nao KUSAKA (JPN) by TF, 8-0, 1:46

82kg (7 entries)
GOLD – Mahdi EBRAHIMI (IRI) df. CHOI Junhyeong (KOR), 3-1
BRONZE - Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) df. Yevgeniy POLIVADOV (KAZ) by Fall, 5:48 (8-2)

97kg (10 entries)
GOLD – Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. LEE Seyeol (KOR), 5-2
BRONZE - Muhammadali SHAMSIDDINOV (UZB) df. Ponlawat SIAMMAI (THA) by Fall, :24 (4-0)
BRONZE - Hardeep HARDEEP (IND) df. Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), 3-1

2026 Muhamet Malo

Muhamet Malo Day 4 Results: Medet Kyzy Beats Reasco to Win 76kg Gold

Saturday, February 28, 2026 - 09:53 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 28) -- The stakes were not the same but Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be very satisfied with her win over world champion Genesis REASCO (ECU).

World champion Reasco and silver medalist Medet Kyzy met in the 76kg final of the 2026 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series on Saturday. In the rematch of the World Championships final, Medet Kyzy changed her strategy and kept Reasco tangled in upper body match-up. It worked out well for Medet Kyzy as she defeated Reasco 5-4 to clinch the gold medal.

Five months ago in Zagreb, Reasco led 4-0 with two different takedowns before Medet Kyzy cut it to 4-2 but was unable to score another takedown which would have given her the win.

In Tirana on Saturday, the Kyrgyzstan wrestler did not let Reasco settle down and dictate. She scored the first stepout of the bout to take a 1-0 lead. Reasco and Medet Kyzy then were locked in par terre but the former managed to get her hand out and score a takedown to lead 2-1. Medet Kyzy got a two-on-one and snapped Reasco for takedown and turned her using a gut-wrench to step ahead 5-2 at the break.

Reasco tried her getting a two-on-one on Medet Kyzy but was blocked as Medet Kyzy kept her left arm on the Ecuadorian's forehead. Reasco then switched plans and went for her favorite double-leg attack to get the takedown and cut the lead to 5-4.

But Medet Kyzy did not panic and locked Reasco in double underhooks and then standing to run out the time and claim the victory.

While there were no celebrations from Medet Kyzy but her win makes her the favorite not just for the April's Asian Championships but also the October's World Championships.

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) finishes her final against Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Bakbergenova Dominates

Three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) was dominant throughout the day and won the gold medal at 72kg.

Coming out of the Nelson bracket as the number one from the group, she won the semifinal, 10-0, against Diksha MALIK (IND). From the other side, world bronze medalist Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) reached the final.

Bakbergenova was put on the activity clock in the first period and Nurtaeva was on the board with a 1-0 lead. But a slide-by from Bakbergenova threw the bout wide open. Bakbergenova elevated Nurtaeva's leg and rolled over for four points but the latter kept her control to get two points.

The Kazakhstan wrestler kept her position and was awarded a point for reversal and then tried to pin Nurtaeva, however, the Kyrgyzstand wrestler flee out of bounds. At the end of the exchange, Bakbergenova led 11-3. Kyrgyzstan challenged the call and lost one more point and Nurtaeva was put in forced par terre.

Bakbergenova sat on Nurtaeva as the latter tried to get out of the hold but going between the former's legs. That was the two points Bakbergenova needed to complete her victory.

Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) turns NEHA (IND) during the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Vynnyk Edges Neha

Albania is turning out to be a happy hunting ground for Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR). After winning her two U23 World Championships gold medals here in 2023 and 2024, Vynnyk won the 57kg gold medal at the Ranking Series on Saturday.

In one of the most exciting finals of the night, Vynnyk defeated NEHA (IND), 8-7, with 13 points coming in the second period. It was the Indian who opened the score with an early takedown to lead 2-0 at the break, before Vynnyk who used a chest wrap to throw her over and led 2-2. She continued the exchange with three turns before a reversal and came out with an 8-3 lead.

Neha, who looked clueless in her defense, used strength to put Vynnyk down for two points to cut the lead to 8-5. With 50 seconds remaining and needing three points to win, Neha elevated Vynnyk's leg, trying to score four points. But Vynnyk defended all attempts to trip her and killed the time as Neha tried to find a way to score.

Eventually, Vynnyk fell on the edge and Neha got only two points, that too after a challenge. Neha was left with only six seconds to win the match and that was always too little against Vynnyk, who improved her bronze from last year.

At 53kg, Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) won all her four bouts in the Nelson bracket to win the gold medal. She outscored her four opponents 36-3 to stamp her authority.

MEENAKSHI (IND) won the silver medal after beating Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), 2-1, in the Round 5 bout. Yetgil ended with a bronze medal.

Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) won the 67kg gold after a 5-1 win over Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Shermakhanbet Returns With Gold

Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), who has been out of action for close to a year, returned to international competition with a gold medal at 67kg. The former Asian champion took out Zagreb Open champion Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 5-1, in the final. He was the second Georgian who Shermakhanbet defeated as he took out European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) in the semifinals.

In the final, Shermakhanbet scored a turn from par terre in the first period and then defended his par terre in the second period despite desperate efforts from Chkhikvadze.

The Kazakhstan wrestler got the last two points when Chkhikvadze tried to throw him but landed on his back.

At 63kg, Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) defeated compatriot Sakit GULIYEV (AZE), 1-1, thanks to the first par terre call he got and held criteria.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW)
SILVER: MEENAKSHI (IND)
BRONZE: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)

57kg
GOLD: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. NEHA (IND), 8-7

BRONZE: Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) df. Kristina MIKHNEVA (UWW), via fall (7-7)
BRONZE: Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) df. Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR), 5-4

72kg
GOLD: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), 14-3

BRONZE: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df. Diksha MALIK (IND), via fall

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Genesis REASCO (ECU)

BRONZE: Dymond GUILFORD (USA) vs. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)
BRONZE: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) vs. Elmira YASIN (TUR)

Greco-Roman

63kg
GOLD: Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) df. Sakit GULIYEV (AZE), 1-1

BROBZE: Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) df. Ali HAJIVAND (IRI), 6-3
BRONZE: Morten THORESEN (NOR) df. Bakytzhan KABDYL (KAZ), 2-1

67kg
GOLD: Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) df. Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 5-1

BRONZE: Mahammad SHUKURZADE (AZE) vs. Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO)
BRONZE: Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) df. Otto BLACK (USA), 8-0

Morning Session Highlights

15:00: Greco 67kg semifinals - Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) books his spot in the 67kg final after a 4-4 criteria over Otto BLACK (USA). This is the second straight Ranking Series final for Chkhikvadze. Black threatened to upset the Georgian as he scored two takedowns in the first period to lead 4-0. But Chkhikvadze managed to control the second period and scored two takedowns against a tiring Black to win.

Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) denied European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO), 3-1, in the other semifinal. A takedown from Shermakhanbet which was challenge by Georgia but lost, giving a 3-0 lead to the Kazakhstan. A stepout is all Khetsuriani could score in the second period.

14:45: Greco 63kg semifinals - Sakit GULIYEV (AZE) goes high gut-wrench from par terre and turn (NOR) Morten THORESEN (NOR) four times to finish the semifinal 9-0. He will face compatriot Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) who rode on a strong first period to beat Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ), 7-3. Babashov hit a four-pointer and turn from par terre to score his points.

14:30: 76kg semifinals - World Championships final rematch in Tirana. World champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) comes back after being 4-2 down against Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) and scores two take downs in the second period to win 6-4. World silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) gets past the young Elmira YASIN (TUR), 9-0, to book her chance to avenge that loss from Zagreb

14:20: 72kg semifinals - Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) was put on the activity clock in the second period but she instantly hits Diksha MALIK (IND) with a double leg and then score six points with a lace to lead 9-1. She scores a stepout to finish the semifinal 10-0. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) will face Bakbergenova in the final after she held off Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) for a 2-1 win

14:10: 57kg semifinals - NEHA (IND), a U20 world bronze medalist, with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) in just one minute and 32 seconds. A stiffer challenge awaits in the final as Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), a U23 world champion, will stand between her and the gold medal. Vynnyk used a strong gut-wrench and then a four-pointer to win her semifinal against Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ), 14-2.

Semifinals will begin at 14:00 hours local time

12:55: Quick finish for Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) as she rolls Vanesa GEORGIEVA (BUL) after a takedown to win 10-0 at 76kg. She will wrestle in the semifinals.

12:50: World champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) is too good for European champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) at 76kg. She opens with a double-leg four-pointer before Alpyeyeva is hit with caution which makes her score 5-0. A scramble is score two points for Reasco and one for Alpyeyeva which Ukraine challenges but loses the challenge, giving extra point to Reasco who wins 8-5

12:45: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) shits gears in the final minute to beat Bose TOSUN (TUR) 6-1 at 72kg. Bakbergenova led 2-1 after two activity clock points and then scored a double-leg takedown and roll to complete the victory

12:40: In a battle of age-group stars, Elmira YASIN (TUR) beats KAJAL (IND), 7-5, at 76kg. Kajal led 3-0 when Yasin hit double-leg for four points which Kajal challenged but lost to give Yasin a 5-3 lead. The first two minutes of the second period were slow before Kajal got a takedown but that only made it 5-5 with Yasin holding criteria. A desperate throw from Kajal at the end resulted in Yasin on top, giving the Turkiye wrestler two more points

12:35: Another excellent win for Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) over Samantha STEWART (CAN) at 57kg. Once again, Domajeva with a comeback from 4-0 down to make it 4-4 in the second period and win on criteria.

12:20: Ali HAJIVAND (IRI) and Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) took a long time to finish their 63kg bout and it is the Iranian who comes out on top 6-3. Mammadov took a 3-0 lead in the first period. But, Hajivand got the par terre in the second and Mammadov committed a defensive foul which gave a 3-3 criteria lead to Hajivand. He then hit a correct throw to make it 5-3. Hajivand then almost got Mammadov in a fall but did not complete it but his lead swelled to 7-3. Mammadov challanged that asking for leg foul but lost it which gave Hajivand the additional one point.

12:00: Zagreb Open champion Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) with first-period victory over Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) 67kg. Chkhikvadze hits an opening four-pointer and then gets a pushout which was actually a throw but Zakriev did not land in danger. Zakriev challenges for two points for himself but challenge is lost. A two-point takedown and stepout gives Chkhikvadze the 9-1 win

11:50: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) gets a win over Buse TOSUN (TUR), 12-1, in the Nelson bracket bout. Tosun unusually clueless in that bout was even docked a caution point

11:25: World silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) recovers from the first takedown that Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) scored on her to complete a 12-2 victory in her opening bout at 76kg in Tirana.

11:15: World champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) needed a stepout with 20 seconds left to pull off a victory against Dymond GUILFORD (USA) in the opening round bout at 76kg. The United States challenged the call but Guilford stepped out first, giving Reasco another point as she wins 3-2.

11:05: U20 world silver medalist Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) with a activity clock point and a stepout to complete a 2-2 win over Jenna HEMIAE (FIN) at 57kg. Really clutch from Domajeva

10:55: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), a three-time world silver medalist, with a 4-3 victory over Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) at 72kg

10:45: Starting the day with 53kg as Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) takes out MEENAKSHI (IND), 5-0, and then Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) hangs on for a 3-3 criteria win over Roksana ZASINA (POL), also at 53kg

10:30: A big day in Tirana as a World Championships final rematch on the cards between champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) at women's 76kg.

World Champ Fumita Shows Effective Defensive Side in Regaining Asian Gold

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Muhamet Malo Day 4 Results: Medet Kyzy Beats Reasco to Win 76kg Gold