#WrestleUlaanbaatar

#WrestleUlaanbaatar Asian Championships entries

By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 11) -- For most participating nations, the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia will be the first opportunity to return to the mat after a long break. The Continental Championships will be held from April 19-24. More than 270 wrestlers will aim to become Asian champions.

In freestyle, India and Iran are bringing strong teams with Tokyo medalists Ravi KUMAR (IND) and Bajrang PUNIA (IND) leading the charge for the former, while the latter will have Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI), Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI), Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) and Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI).

Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan can surprise in a few weight classes. For Kyrgyzstan, Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) and Uluukbek ZHODOSHBEKOV (KGZ) are the big names. Uzbekistan will bank upon Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), veteran Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) and Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB).

Rio silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), 2019 Asian silver medalist Minghu LIU (CHN), Deepak PUNIA (IND) and Zhiwei DENG (CHN) are other names to keep an eye on.

The women's wrestling will see the return of Japan and China teams after six months. The two nations last competed at the Oslo World Championships. Both teams had missed last year's edition due to travel issues.

Japan is the favorite to win the team title as they are bringing five wrestlers, including three gold medalists, who were in Oslo. World champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) will be the star attraction of the competition as the 18-year-old wrestles at her second senior tournament.

Kyrgyzstan's world champions Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) will try to defend their titles from Almaty. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be hoping to upgrade her Almaty silver to gold at 76kg.

Tokyo silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN), Ningning RONG (CHN), Jia LONG (CHN), World silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND), two-time Asian champion Sarita MOR (IND) and Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) are other storylines to follow.

The Greco-Roman will be headlined by Tokyo silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and former World and Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) at 77kg. 

Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI), Ayata SUZUKI (JPN), Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) and Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) are all entered at 60kg to make it one of the most stacked weight class.

Hansu RYU (KOR) will wrestle at 67kg. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) has moved up to 97kg and will wrestle in Ulaanbaatar after winning the Ranking Series title in Istanbul.

Wrestling begins with Greco-Roman Tuesday followed by women's wrestling Thursday and freestyle will finish the competition.

All the action and recaps will be live on uww.org.

Mohammadian

Freestyle

57kg

Seeds
1. Ravi KUMAR (IND)
2. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)
3. Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)
4. Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)

Ravi KUMAR (IND)
Reza MOMENIJOUJADEH (IRI)
Rikuto ARAI (JPN)
Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ)
Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)
Sunggwon KIM (KOR)
Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Muhammad BILAL (PAK)
Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE)
Gayan KATHURANGANA (SRI)
Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

61kg

Seeds:
1. Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
2. Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
3. Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ)
4. Mangal KADYAN (IND)

Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
Mangal KADYAN (IND)
Darioush HAZRATGHOLIZADEH (IRI)
Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)
Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ)
Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
Insang CHOI (KOR)
Ali ALMOHAINI (KUW)
Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL)
Sampath BANDARA (SRI)
Muhamad IKROMOV (TJK)
Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB)

65kg

Seeds:
1. Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
2. Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
3. Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN)
3. Haji ALI (BRN)

Haji ALI (BRN)
Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI)
Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN)
Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ)
Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
Seonho YOO (KOR)
Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL)
Inayat ULLAH (PAK)
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)

70kg

Seeds:
1. Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
2. Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)

Naveen NAVEEN (IND)
Mohammadmehdi YEGANEHJAFARI (IRI)
Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN)
Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
Yongseok JEONG (KOR)
Mohammed ABDULKAREEM (KUW)
Temuulen ENKHTUYA (MGL)
Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB)

74kg

Seeds:
1. Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
2. Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
3. Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
4. Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)

Yash TUSHIR (IND)
Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
Daichi TAKATANI (JPN)
Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
Seungbong LEE (KOR)
Abdullah ABDALKAREEM (KUW)
Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Hong LOU (SGP)
Lakmal WIJESOORIYA (SRI)
Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB)

79kg

Seeds:
1. Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ)
2. Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI)
3. Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ)
4. Gourav BALIYAN (IND)

Gourav BALIYAN (IND)
Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI)
Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN)
Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ)
Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ)
Bumgue SEO (KOR)
Abdullah HAIDAR (KUW)
Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL)
Shuhrat BOZOROV (TJK)
Jasurbek USMONOXUNOV (UZB)

86kg

Seeds
1. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
2. Deepak PUNIA (IND)
3. Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
4. Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ)

Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Mohsen MOSTAFAVI (IRI)
Shota SHIRAI (JPN)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ)
Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
Temuujin MENDBILEG (MGL)
Muhammad INAM (PAK)
Weng CHOW (SGP)
Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB)

92kg

Seeds:
1. Takuma OTSU (JPN)
2. Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)
3. Viky CHAHAR (IND)
4. Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)

Viky CHAHAR (IND)
Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)
Takuma OTSU (JPN)
Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)
Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ)
Jinmyeong KIM (KOR)
Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)
Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB)

97kg

Seeds:
1. Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
2. Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
3. Satywart KADIAN (IND)
4. Minwon SEO (KOR)

Satywart KADIAN (IND)
Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN)
Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ)
Minwon SEO (KOR)
Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB)

125kg

Seeds:
1. Anirudh KUMAR (IND)
2. Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
3. Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)
4. Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)

Anirudh KUMAR (IND)
Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI)
Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)
Yeihyun JUNG (KGZ)
Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL)
Rustam ISKANDARI (TJK)
Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)

Anshu

Women's Wrestling

50kg

Seeds:
1. Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)
2. Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL)
3. Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)
4. Miran CHEON (KOR)

MANISHA (IND)
Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)
Aigul NURALIM (KAZ)
Miran CHEON (KOR)
Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL)
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)

53kg

Seeds:
1. Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
2. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

Swati SHINDE (IND)
Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ)
Hyunyoung OH (KOR)
Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

55kg

Seeds:
1. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ)

Sushma SHOKEEN (IND)
Umi IMAI (JPN)
Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ)
Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL)
Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB)

57kg

Seeds:
1. Anshu MALIK (IND)
2. Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
3. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
4. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)

Anshu MALIK (IND)
Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)
Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
Hyungjoo KIM (KOR)
Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
Danielle LIM (SGP)
Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)

59kg

Seeds:
1. Sarita MOR (IND)
2. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)
3. Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)

Sarita MOR (IND)
Sara NATAMI (JPN)
Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)
Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)
Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB)

62kg

Seeds:
1. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
2. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
3. Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ)

MANISHA (IND)
Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ)
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Hanbit LEE (KOR)
Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL)
Sachini SILVA (SRI)
Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB)

65kg

Seeds:
1. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)
2. Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB)
3. Dariga ABEN (KAZ)

RADHIKA (IND)
Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)
Dariga ABEN (KAZ)
Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB)

68kg

Seeds:
1. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
2. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
3. Azoda ESBERGENOVA (UZB)

Sonika HOODA (IND)
Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN)
Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Sujin PARK (KOR)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Azoda ESBERGENOVA (UZB)

72kg

Seeds:
1. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
2. Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)

NIKKI (IND)
Sumire NIIKURA (JPN)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)
Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB)

76kg

Seeds:
1. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)

Sudesh KUMARI (IND)
Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)
Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Seoyeon JEONG (KOR)
Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL)
Valentina TORENIYAZOVA (UZB)

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV

Greco-Roman

55kg

Seeds:
1. Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)
2. Hyeokjin JEON (KOR)

Arjun HALAKURKI (IND)
Ali NOURBAKHSH (IRI)
Mostafa ALQADE (JOR)
Yu SHIOTANI (JPN)
Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)
Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ)
Hyeokjin JEON (KOR)
Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL)
Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB)

60kg

Seeds:
1. Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
2. Gyanender DAHIYA (IND)
3. Ayata SUZUKI (JPN)
4. Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ)

Gyanender DAHIYA (IND)
Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI)
Ayata SUZUKI (JPN)
Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ)
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Hanjae CHUNG (KOR)
Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL)
Firuz TUKHTAEV (UZB)

63kg

Seeds:
1. Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN)
2. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

NEERAJ (IND)
Iman KHOONMOHAMMADI (IRI)
Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN)
Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ)
Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Jinseub SONG (KOR)
Baljinnyam DAMJIN (MGL)
Ahmad AL NAKDALI (SYR)
Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

67kg

Seeds:
1. Hansu RYU (KOR)
2. Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)
3. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)

Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND)
Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (IRI)
Katsuaki ENDO (JPN)
Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)
Eldiiar SATAROV (KGZ)
Hansu RYU (KOR)
Nyamdorj BATTULGA (MGL)
Mohamad FAWAZ (SYR)
Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)

72kg

Seeds:
1. Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI)
2. Jiyeon LEE (KOR)
3. Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ)
4. VIKAS (IND)

VIKAS (IND)
Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI)
Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN)
Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ)
Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ)
Jiyeon LEE (KOR)
Khanburged GANKHUYAG (MGL)
Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB)

77kg

Seeds:
1. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
2. Kodai SAKURABA (JPN)
3. Sajan BHANWALA (IND)
4. Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)

Sajan BHANWALA (IND)
Aref HABIBOLLAHI (IRI)
Kodai SAKURABA (JPN)
Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ)
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)

82kg

Seeds:
1. Dias KALEN (KAZ)
2. Harpreet SINGH (IND)

Harpreet SINGH (IND)
Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI)
Sultan EID (JOR)
Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN)
Dias KALEN (KAZ)
Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ)
Sejin YANG (KOR)
Batzul DAMJIN (MGL)
Jafar KHAN (QAT)
Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB)

87kg

Seeds:
1. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
2. Sunil KUMAR (IND)
3. Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Naser ALIZADEH (IRI)
Masato SUMI (JPN)
Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ)
Jinhyeok KIM (KOR)
Batbayar LUTBAYAR (MGL)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

97kg

Seeds:
1. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)
2. Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
3. Jewoo PARK (KOR)
4. Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ)

RAVI (IND)
Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI)
Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN)
Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ)
Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Jewoo PARK (KOR)
Munkhbayar TSOGTBAYAR (MGL)
Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)

130kg

Seeds:
1. Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)
2. Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
3. Arata SONODA (JPN)
4. Minseok KIM (KOR)

PREM (IND)
Amir GHASEMIMONJEZI (IRI)
Arata SONODA (JPN)
Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
Roman KIM (KGZ)
Minseok KIM (KOR)
Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL)
Timothy LOH (SGP)
Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Freestyle Finals

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 26) -- The second Ranking Series of 2025, Muhamet Malo, is underway in Tirana, Albania. Kicking off with Freestyle, six weight class will be held on day one -- 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

15:30: Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) and Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) enter the 86kg final after contrasting wins. Marsteller controlled his way to a 4-0 win over Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) while Sakayev hangs on for a 4-4 criteria win over Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO).

15:20: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) finds a way to beat Yones EMAMI (IRI) 8-3 in the 74kg semifinal. A big armthrow for two points for Valiev which he challenged to ask for four points. Emami with a takedown to lead 3-2 at break. But Valiev switches levels in the second period with six points including a takedown and gut wrench to win 803. He will face Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) in the final. Salkazanov will be aiming for his second straight Ranking Series gold medal after he defeated Magoma DIBIRGADZHIEV (UWW) 5-0 in the other semifinal. Two takedowns in his win.

15:15: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) blanks Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) 6-0 to enter the 70kg final. He will take on Asian silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) who hangs on for a 2-1 win over James GREEN (USA) despite Green's multiple efforts to score. Aoyagi with some sneaky defense.

15:05: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) is into another Ranking Series final but not without a fight. Real WOODS (USA) had him in trouble in the first period with a takedown but Amouzad kept the pace of the bout and score seven stepouts, two takedowns and a point for Woods fleeing to win 13-2

Amouzad will face Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) in the final after the Kyrgyz beat Kaisei TANABE (JPN) 14-3 in the other semifinal. Zhumashbek led 1-1 on criteria but was put on activity clock again but he scored two points via attempted suplex. Tanabe blocked his second throw attempt and scored two. Tanabe challenged but there was no change in scoring and it gave Zhumashbek Uulu another point. A takedown later, Zhumashbek led 8-3 before he finished the bout with another throw for four and turn for two.

14:50: Takara SUDA (JPN), making his international debut at senior level, blanks Artem GOBAEV (UWW) 9-0 in the 61kg semifinals. After leading 3-0, Suda with a huge suplex for four and two stepouts to win 9-2. He will take on Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) in the final who beat Stilyan ILIEV (BUL) 7-1 in the other semifinal.  

14:40: Ali Hossein MOMENI (IRI) takes out Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) 6-2 in the first semifinal of 57kg. Huge win for Momeni who will now take on Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK) who just became the first Tajik wrestler to reach a Ranking Series final after beating Sultan KURMANALIYEV (KAZ) 10-4.

14:10: Cherman VALIEV (ALB) sets up a 74kg semifinal against Yones EMAMI (IRI) after a 5-1 win over Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ). Valiev was down 1-1 on criteria but he gets on Toktomambetov's leg and blocks a chest wrap for two points. A gut wrench gives him two more as he settles for a 5-1 win.

14:00: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) continues to be solid his underhook game and U23 world silver medalist Kaiji OGINO (JPN) found no way to break that grip. Amouzad posts a 4-0 win and marches into the semifinals at 65kg.

13:53: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) with a front headlock exposure over Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) with two seconds remaining in the 65kg quarterfinal to win 3-2. Sharip Uulu challenges but the move was in time. One more point for Zhumashbek Uulu to make it 4-2 

13:45: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) will be upset with himself for not attacking from the word go but he manages to survive a huge upset against Vasile DAICON (MDA). Daicon was leading 2-0 when Tevanyan made desperate attempts to score. He gets a stepout and Daicon a fleeing caution to give Tevanyan a 2-2 criteria lead. Daicon challenges the call but the original fleeing decision is confirmed. A lost challenge added to Tevanyan's score who wins 3-2

13:40: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) blanks William LEWAN (USA) 11-0 at 70kg. The Asian silver medalist is likely to go all the way and has looked in stunning form this tournament. James GREEN (USA) waits next in the semifinals.

13:25: Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) looks very good at 61kg. He rolls to an 11-0 win over Daviti ABDALADZE (GEO). Arten GOBAEV (UWW) wins his bout as well and a Mongush vs Gobaev final looks inevitable at 61kg.

13:05: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) was with unreal speed in his attacks as Narek HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) fails to stop him and Valiev wins 9-0 in his first bout at 74kg. Valiev retuning to the mat since his bronze medal in Paris.

12:50: Big upset on Mat A as Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) beats U23 world champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) 14-4 at 65kg. Ibragimov was leading 4-2 but Sharip Uulu with a traparm gut-wrench and 12 straight points to claim victory.

12:40: Islam DUDAEV (ALB) faces a tough one in Kaisei TANABE (JPN). Dudaev with a cut-back using his hands but it is scored two points each with Dudaev leading on criteria. Tanabe with a takedown and gut wrench to make it 8-2. Dudaev scores to cut the lead to 8-4 at the break. Dudaev continues his comeback with another takedown and is now down 8-6 with 45 seconds remaining. Tanabe throws himself on the mat once Dudaev gets to his leg and Dudaev scores a takedown to lead 8-8 on criteria. Dudaev on the legs, Tanabe sitting in the final few seconds and Tanabe scores exposure to win 10-8 just within time.

12:30: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) with a underhook masterclass in his bout against Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO). He scores two stepouts and then gets an activity point. A stunning takedown to lead 5-0 at the break. He adds two more takedowns in the second period, and a throw for four to win 13-0 with around two minutes remaining.

12:20: Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ), a former U23 world champion, is turning up for Kazakhstan at 70kg. This is his first UWW event in six years. He takes on Vasile DAICON (MDA) in the 1/8 final. Kuular put on activity clock and Daicon leads 1-0 at the break. Daicon with a single leg attack and converts it into a takedown for a 3-0 lead. He adds another takedown with a minute remaining to lead 5-0. Leg lace on Kuular and Daicon wins 11-0. Kuular's comeback ends in unfortunate way.

12:00: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) got two activity points and a takedown as he beats Mihail GEORGIEV (BUL) 4-0 at 70kg. He is wrestling a weight class up than his preferred 65kg.

 

11:45: Artem GOBAEV (UWW) has no trouble seeing off Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) at 61kg. In the next UWW vs KAZ bout at 61kg, Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) with two takedowns in his 4-0 win over Mukhamed BALGABAY (KAZ).

11:25: Ali Hossein MOMENI (IRI) and Hadi REZAEI (IRI) were clubbed together in the opening round of 57kg and Momeni comes out unscathed 6-1. Rezaei with a desperate headlock throw in the final seconds but is awarded only two. He challenges for a four but loses the challenge. Momeni's win revised to 7-3

11:20: Asian champion Kento YUMIYA (JPN) was stuck in a leg lace and fell behind 14-6 against Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) at 57kg. But he unleashes a leg lace on Khndzrtsyan and cuts to score to 14-10. A stepout to make it 14-11. Underhook dense till the end of the time by Khndzrtsyan and he wins 14-11.

11:10: At 74kg, Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) with a 2-1 win over Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN). All three points scored were activity points!

11:00: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Islam DUDAEV (ALB) up against Klevisi PRECI (ALB) and he impresses with a 12-0 blanking of his compatriot. Dudaev looked on the mat with

10:40: A little warm up for Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) but he manages to post a controlled 7-0 win over Nursultan SDYK (KAZ) at 65kg. Soon after, Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) with a thrilling 8-7 win over Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG).

10:30: Welcome to Tirana for the second Ranking Series of the year. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), the Olympic silver medalist from Paris, is up on the mat straightaway.