#WrestleUlaanbaatar

#WrestleUlaanbaatar Greco-Roman bracket reactions

Monday, April 18, 2022 - 17:48 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 18) -- The Asian Championships kick off with Greco-Roman on Tuesday in Ulaanbaatar.

Mongolia, the host country, is searching for their first Asian Championships medalist in Greco-Roman while many other will try to defend their gold medals from the 2021 edition.

The draws for all 10 weight categories were completed Monday in Ulaanbaatar.

Greco-Roman

55kg

Two big match-ups at 55kg will get the ball rolling. Defending champion Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) faces second seed Hyeokjin JEON (KOR) in quarterfinals while Ali NOURBAKHSH (IRI) will have Arjun HALAKURKI (IND) in the opening round on the top side.

The winner of that bout will get top seed Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) in the quarterfinals. If Bekbolatov wants to reach the final, he is most likely face Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL) in a though semifinal.

Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) and Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ) will face each other in the quarterfinal and the winner is most likely to face Shiotani in the semifinal.

Greco-Roman

60kg

World silver medalist Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) is the top seed and will be the favorite to reach the final from the top side of the bracket. For that, he needs to beat Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL) in the first bout before waiting for the semifinal opponent which could be fourth seed Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ).

The lower side of the bracket is packed with second seed Gyanender DAHIYA (IND) wrestling '21 silver Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) in quarterfinal. Bronze medalist from 2021 and fourth seed Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) will take on Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) in a bid to reach the semifinal against one of Dahiya or Mohsen Nejad.

Greco-Roman

63kg

A bronze medalist from Oslo World Championships and top seed Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN) will be looking for his first Asian title but standing in his way is Iman KHOONMOHAMMADI (IRI) who is likely to his first opponent in the quarterfinals.

If he goes past Khoonmohammadi, a semifinal against Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ) will be another tough test for him before the gold medal bout.

The second finalist will be one of NEERAJ (IND), Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), Jinseub SONG (KOR) and Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB).

If the Uzbek wrestler can repeat his gold-winning performance from Istanbul, he will be unstoppable. But a likely semifinal against Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) may give a reality check.

Greco-Roman

67kg

He won the gold at 72kg in 2021 but Hansu RYU (KOR) is back to his Olympic weight of 67kg in a bid to win another Asian gold. But the top seed will have some work to do if he wants to go past Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (IRI) in quarterfinals and one of Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) or Eldiiar SATAROV (KGZ) to reach the final.

Second seed Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) will face Nyamdorj BATTULGA (MGL) in the quarterfinal while third sed Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) will face Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND). A semifinal between Bakhshilloev and Shermakhanbet is a possibility before a showdown with Ryu for the gold.

Greco-Roman

72kg

A fifth place at World Championships will fire up top seed Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) to win his first Asian title but Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) in the quarterfinals is a start many would avoid. If he manages to win, a likely semifinal against Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB) or fourth seed VIKAS (IND) will be another big test.

Jiyeon LEE (KOR) would like to keep the 72kg gold with Korea but he has local hope Khanburged GANKHUYAG (MGL) in the quarterfinal before a semifinal against one of third seed Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KGZ) or Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN). None of the two will be an easy opponent for Lee.

Greco-Roman

77kg

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) is making only his second appreance at the Asian Championships and would like to maintain a clean record. After winning gold in 2018, he will wrestle in Ulaanbaatar as the Olympic silver medalist.

Facing Aref HABIBOLLAHI (IRI) in the quarterfinal, Makhmudov's real test can be the semifinal. He will face one of London Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) or fourth seed Aram VARDANYAN (UZB). Makhmudov has wins over both of them in the past.

The lower side of the bracket will see second seed and former U23 silver medalist Kodai SAKURABA (JPN) face Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) and third seed and multiple time age-group World medalist Sajan BHANWALA (IND) facing Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ). If the seeds hold true, a semifinal between Sakuraba and Bhanwala will be nail-biting.

Greco-Roman

82kg

The biggest bracket in Greco-Roman will see 10 wrestlers compete for the gold. Dias KALEN (KAZ) is seeded number one while Harpreet SINGH (IND) is at number two.

But the favorite is the silver medalist from 2021 Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ) as he got pinned in the final last year. He will face Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN) in the quarterfinal before a possible clash with Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) or Kalen.

Singh has to await the winner of Sultan EID (JOR) and Sejin YANG (KOR) to find his quarterfinal opponent. But he manages to reach the semifinal, he is likely to face Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) for a place in the final.

Greco-Roman

87kg

The toughest weight class will see defending champion Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) face Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ) in the quarterfinals before a likely semifinal against top seed and Olympian Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ). The semifinal could prove to be Alizadeh's toughest bout.

The lower side will see another '21 gold medalist Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) eyeing for the top medal. The 82kg champion from Almaty faces Batbayar LUTBAYAR (MGL) in the quarterfinal. He will face one of Sunil KUMAR (IND) or Masato SUMI (JPN) in the semifianl. Kumar is a former Asian champion and seeded number two for this tournament.

Greco-Roman

97kg

Top seed and Olympian Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) is likely to meet defending champion Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) in the final as both are on the opposite sides of the bracket.

Assakalov won the Ranking Series event at 97kg and faces Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN) in the quarterfinal before a likely semifinal against fourth seed Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ).

The lower side will have Balihamzehdeh facing Jewoo PARK (KOR) in the quarterfinal before a semifinal against second seed U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ).

Greco-Roman

130kg

Third at the Ranking Series event and seventh at the Olympics Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) is seeded number for the tournament and will face either PREM (IND) or Amir GHASEMIMONJAZI (IRI) in the quarterfinal.

If he wins, a semifinal against '21 bronze medalist Minseok KIM (KOR) will be another big test for the Uzbek wrestler. The two were supposed to meet in the Asian Olympic Qualifiers but Kim injury defaulted.

Silver medalist from '21, Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) will be the favorite to reach the final from the lower side of the bracket. He faces Roman KIM (KOR) in the quarterfinals before facing one of Arata SONODA (JPN) or Mongolia's Khuderbulga DORJKHAND, a former champion and bronze medalist from '21 but in freestyle.

The move to Greco-Roman is likely as the host nation is searching for its first Asian medalist in Greco-Roman at the senior level.

UWW and Iran sign MoU to bring Chouke under Associated Styles

Sunday, April 20, 2025 - 13:07 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 20) — United World Wrestling and the Iran Wrestling Federation took a significant step to promote Choukhe, signing a four-year Memorandum of Understanding.

The MoU will enable both organizations to work together to promote and protect Chouke, a traditional form of wrestling, under the UWW Associated Styles.

Both UWW and the Iranian federation will also work to develop Chouke under their umbrella. This agreement's objective is to facilitate the protection, development, and promotion of Chouke. As per the agreement, both parties will hold regular meetings to exchange ideas and share knowledge.

Chouke is a traditional form of wrestling in Iran with wrestlers performing on mud in a marked circular ring. Each bout is of five minutes with more than one bout conducted at the same time. In case of a tie with a one-minute break, three minutes of extra time are added. Within three minutes, the wrestler who earns the first point will be the winner.

This style of wrestling does not allow the wrestler to touch his opponent's legs. The bout can only be fought with grips above the waist. There are different ways to score points in Chouke.

One point is awarded for a takedown, two points are awarded if a throw is completed outside the ring, and one if completed inside. Most other moves award only one point. A fall occurs when even one shoulder touches the ground.

Both wrestlers have to wear the official clothes to compete in Chouke. A t-shirt, a special jacket and a short are considered to be official outfit. The shirt must be long enough to go below the waist and the sleeves be long till the elbow. A strong cloth belt must be tied around the waist of the wrestlers and is fixed at the back and the wrestlers compete barefoot.

The old form of wrestling has a special place in Iranian history, and the agreement will help with its growth and development in Iran. UWW's commitment to work closely with the Iran federation for Chouke is in line with its vision to grow and promote all the traditional forms of the oldest form of the sport.