Yazdani, in league of his own, wins gold in Almaty

Sunday, June 5, 2022 - 18:03 By Vinay Siwach

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (June 5) -- There had already been a few high-profile finals before Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) stepped on the mat. Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL) had won his first-ever Ranking Series gold, U23 world champion Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) had been involved in a 16-point final which he won by fall inside the first period, European champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) won at 74kg with ease.

But when Yazdani's name was called for the 86kg final, you knew who is the biggest star of the sport. By the time he scored his first takedown against Boris MAKOEV (SVK) in the final, fans had queued up to take a picture with him. The audience had moved towards the athlete's exit to shake his hand. Nothing mattered more than catching a glimpse of Yazdani. A few managed to do it, and some left disappointed.

The world champion was returning to the mat since winning the gold in Oslo seven months back. He had captivated the world by beating David TAYLOR (USA) for the first time in four attempts, a win that relieved some of Yazdani's pain of losing the Tokyo Olympics final to Taylor in the dying moments.

Sunday's final did not have the same stakes on the line. Yazdani was wrestling for a Ranking Series gold against the opponent from the '17 World final which he won. He did not have millions of eyes on him watching and hoping to win against an opponent he has never.

The 27-year-old still put on a show. Like when Makoev got a full shot on a single leg and Yazdani defended it with a stepback and lifted Makoev for exposure for two points. Or when he used his strength to score a double-leg takedown.

"It's been about eight months since I had not taken part in competitions," Yazdani said. "I decided to wrestle at this competition to re-evaluate my weaknesses and keep my body and mind on edge so that I can be fully prepared for the international competitions ahead."

Winning the final 11-0 was just a testimony of how is still in top form and nothing mattered more to any. The fans will forget the comeback from Amir ZARE (IRI) to win the 125kg or how dominant Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) was to win the 92kg. All that matters is a Yazdani win.

He first made it past Fatih ERDIN (TUR) 11-0 in the quarterfinals and was then tested by Asian champion Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) in the semifinals. The Kazakhstan wrestler was the only one who could wrestle Yazdani for more than four minutes but he ultimately lost 12-1.

The final against Makoev only lasted 4:33 but Yazdani put it on record that he is ready for another season and defend his world title in Belgrade, Serbia.

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) returned to competition and captured the 86kg gold in Almaty. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

"The level of this competition was good," he said. "There some major Asian and a European wrestlers present who were quite good. My main purpose here was to be on the mat and be able to keep my body prepared and these matches helped me with that purpose quite well."

In little more than three months' time, Yazdani will be in Belgrade, Serbia defending his world title at 86kg. While he did not reveal his future competitions, Yazdani did not rule out being part of a couple before Belgrade.

"If my coach sees fit yes, I would like to compete," he said. "However, after so many months of being away from the mat officially, I got the results I was hoping for and now at this point, I will be willing to do so as long as the coach sees competing in a match fitting."

Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) after winning the 92kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

In a similarly dominant fashion, Ghasempour claimed the 92kg gold beating three Kazakhstan wrestlers en route. In his four bouts, the Iran wrestler scored 38 points while not giving up a single one.

Ghasempour had scored a career-defining world title win in Oslo and since then his following has sky-rocketed. In a short time, he has established himself as the top wrestler at 92kg with wins over J'den COX (USA) and Magomedov KURBANOV (RWF).

In Almaty, he started strong with a 10-0 win over Viky CHAHAR (IND) followed by Islyambek ILYASSOV (KAZ) in Round 2 with a fall after scoring 10-0. In the semifinal, he wrestled Abdimanap BAIGENZHEYEV (KAZ) and moved into the finals with an 11-0.

Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ) had entered the final from the other side and he tried stopping Ghasempour from winning the gold but the Iranian wrestler was on a different level.

He quickly led 4-0 with two takedowns and Davlumbayev was already struggling to keep up. It quickly became 9-0 when Ghasempour scored another takedown and rolled the Kazakhstan wrestler for exposure. The corner challenged the two-point call but lost it.

Davlumbayev managed to delay the loss to the second period but Ghasempour was happy to play it easy and finally won the gold with 2:07 remaining.

Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) won his first-ever Ranking Series gold. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

European champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) won his first Ranking Series gold medal at 74kg. While he did not look the most aggressive on the mat, he did not allow his opponents to go through their attacks as well.

In the quarterfinal, he wrestled Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) and despite numerous attempts from the Uzbekistan veteran, he kept his defense intact and pulled off a 3-0 win. The semifinal against Asian silver medalist Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) was a similar affair as the scoreline was 3-1.

From the other side, Byambadorj BAT-ERDENE (MGL) had made it to the final and tried using his underhook defense against Salkazanov but that did not work. The World silver medalist was wrestling with such high pressure that Bat-Erdene gave up four stepout points. Salkazanov eventually won 8-0.

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) won the 70kg gold after beating Rodion ANCHUGIN (KAZ). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In a contrasting final at 70kg, U23 world champion Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) recovered from a shock start against Rodion ANCHUGIN (KAZ) to secure a fall after a 10-7 score.

But he did have a scare at the start when after getting an arm throw for four, teenager Anchugin scored a reversal and a gut wrench. He went for another attack but Akmataliev was ready and defended it with a cartwheel which resulted in Anchugin going out of bounds.

Before Akmataliev could settle down again, Anchugin added two takedowns to take a 7-5 lead. The bout had seen 12 points inside the first two points and it got the local crowd going.

It was at this moment when Akmataliev took a step back and slowed the pace of the bout. The two got in a scramble and Akmataliev scored an exposure and held Anchugin in a cradle to secure the fall with four seconds remaining in the first period.

Akmataliev was all praise for the Kazakhstan wrestler but said that he expected a final of this sort because he is not familiar with his opponent.

"The Kazakhstan wrestler is quite young," Akmataliev said. "I knew he would do something I wouldn’t expect, so I was ready for everything. As I expected, his wrestling was something new to me, he started at a quite high pace. I made a mistake and he caught me, but later I could score back and finally win. I am sure this wrestler will show himself up and well wrestle each other again."

Akmataliev won silver at 70kg in Oslo but he is focused on converting it to gold in Belgrade.

"I was in very good shape in Oslo," he said. "Unfortunately I couldn’t win the gold medal. As soon as we go back from Almaty, we will start training for Belgrade and I’ll do my best to win the gold."

Before Oslo, he also participated in the Tokyo Olympics at 65kg but suffered a 3-3 loss to eventual bronze medalist Bajrang PUNIA (IND) in the opening round. Akmataliev said that if given a chance, he would like to avenge that loss.

"There isn’t any specific wrestler who is really tough, all of them are," he said. "However, I had a very sad loss to Bajrang at Tokyo Olympics, I would like to wrestler him again and take revenge."

Abbos RAKHMANOV (UZB) defeated Bajrang PUNIA (IND) 5-3 at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Punia's unbeaten run ends

At 65kg, Punia's unbeaten record at five Ranking Series was finally ended as he suffered a shock loss to Abbos RAKHMANOV (UZB) in the opening round. After getting two points for Rakhmanov's negative wrestling, Punia's looked like a shadow of his old self and failed to get going. Rakhmanov kept up the pressure and ended the first period with 2-2 criteria lead after a takedown.

He was hit with passivity in the second period and then Punia decided to defend his 3-2 lead for a full minute. But Rakhmanov scored two points with exposure in the dying moments of the bout to win for the first time against Punia in the third attempt.

He reached the final against world bronze medalist Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL) but could repeat his performance from the morning and lost 6-1, giving the Mongolian his first Ranking Series gold.

Punia won the bronze while the other bronze medalist was former U17 world champion Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB).

India did win a gold in Almaty as Aman SEHRAWAT (IND) mounted an inspiring comeback against Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ) in Round 5 at 57kg.

He trailed 6-0 at one moment but Bazarbayev had little gas left in his tank as Sehrawat continued to attack. He eventually won 10-9 and won gold, an improvement from his bronze in Istanbul.

Kyrgyzstan won the 61kg gold medal after Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ) defeated Zhassulan TASKUL (KAZ), 11-0 in a display of high-skilled wrestling.

But the result was reversed at 79kg as Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) beat Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ), 2-1 to win the gold to the home crowds' delight.

The Ranking Series action will now shift Matteo Pellicone to Rome, Italy. The tournament will take place from June 22 to 26.

Results

57kg
Round 5: Aman SEHRAWAT (IND) df. Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ), 10-9
Round 5: Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) df. Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ), via inj. def.

Final standings
GOLD: Aman SEHRAWAT (IND)
SILVER: Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ)
BRONZE: Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ)

61kg
GOLD: Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ) df. Zhassulan TASKUL (KAZ), 11-0

BRONZE: Yeldos MOMBEKOV (KAZ) df. Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE), 3-0

65kg
GOLD: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) df. Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB), 6-1

BRONZE: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) df. Komron KHOLOV (TJK), 10-0
BRONZE: Bajrang PUNIA (IND) df. Rifat SAIBOTALOV (KAZ), 7-0

70kg
GOLD: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Rodion ANCHUGIN (KAZ), via fall (10-7)

BRONZE: Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB) df. Vishal KALIRAMANA (IND), 8-6
BRONZE: Meirzhan ASHIROV (KAZ) df. Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ), 11-9

74kg
GOLD: Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Byambadorj BAT-ERDENE (MGL), 8-0

BRONZE: Amr Reda HUSSEN (EGY) df. NAVEEN (IND), 5-1
BRONZE: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) df. Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB), 17-9

79kg
GOLD: Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) df. Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ), 2-1

BRONZE: Daulet YERGESH (KAZ) df. Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ), 4-4
BRONZE: Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) df. Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ), 6-6

86kg
GOLD: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) df. Boris MAKOEV (SVK), 11-0

BRONZE: Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) df. Nurzhan ISSAGALIYEV (KAZ), 13-2
BRONZE: Fatih ERDIN (TUR) df. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), 4-2

92kg
GOLD: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ), 11-0

BRONZE: Abdimanap BAIGENZHEYEV (KAZ) df. Islyambek ILYASSOV (KAZ), 4-2

#WrestleAlmaty

Payback Adds to Gold Medal's Luster for 2 New Asian Champions as Ryu Completes Almaty Double

Wednesday, April 14, 2021 - 16:23 By Ken Marantz

First-time champions Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) and Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN) added
a sheen of payback to their gold-medals at the Asian Championships, while Hansu RYU (KOR) completed an amazing double in Almaty in grabbing his third straight continental title.

Sultangali rallied from a three-point deficit to defeat Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) 8-4 in a tempestuous 60kg final as the Greco-Roman competition concluded Wednesday on the second day of the six-day tournament in the spectator-less Baluan Sholak Palace of Culture and Sports.

Sultangali's victory avenged a 5-3 loss to the Iranian in a bronze-medal match at last year's Asian Championships in New Delhi, and adds the senior gold to his collection of Asian junior
and cadet titles.

"I have wrestled him before but lost to him, but it was a lesson for me," said Sultangali, a 2018 world bronze medalist. "Today, I felt that he was tired after the first period and I started attacking and worked in par terre. It was a serious win for me."

Mohsen Nejad, a 2019 world U-23 and junior bronze medalist, jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a gut wrench out of the par terre position. In the second period, Sultangali matched that with a throw from par terre, then added a big 4-point hip throw. An unsuccessful challenge gave the Kazakh an 8-3 lead.

Sultangali nearly paid for a premature celebration in the final seconds, but Mohsen Nejad could only force him out for a single point.

"For any wrestler, it means a lot to win in his home country," Sultangali said. "Even though there are no spectators, you can feel the hometown tribute. I love wrestling so that I get the opportunity to raise the Kazakh national flag."

Mohsen Nejad was less than satisfied with the bout and the silver medal.

"I am not satisfied with the referees, I think he committed a leg foul," the Iranian said. "I defeated Uzbek and Japan to reach [the final] and then lose to Kazakh. Not possible. I only came here to win gold. I had beaten him easily in New Delhi last year in the bronze-medal bout."

Shimoyamada also settled a old score by digging himself out of a big hole, fighting back from the brink of a technical fall loss in the 67kg final to defeat Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) with a dramatic fall after building a 12-7 lead.

It was three years ago in the final in Bishkek that Kebispayev denied Shimoyamada with a 5-1 victory.

"It's a great feeling," Shimoyamada said. "At the 2018 Asian Championships, I fought him and lost, and now I got revenge, so I'm very happy."

Kebispayev used a reverse headlock roll from the par terre position to take a 5-0 lead, which he then padded with a stepout and an unsuccessful challenge point. But in the second period, Shimoyamada went on the offensive.

After getting back into the match with a takedown, the Japanese went ahead on criteria with a four-point throw from par terre. In the final minute, he sent Kebispayev to his back with a driving bear hug, and secured the fall with :38 left.

"I wasn't thinking anything, just to do my wrestling," Shimoyamada said of his comeback. Asked about how he will celebrate, the member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police force replied with a smile, "I want to eat Japanese food and drink too much."

Two-in-two for Hansu Ryu

Ryu can be popping some corks after adding another chapter to his legendary story, when the two-time former world champion held off 2020 Asian bronze medalist Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ) to win the 72kg title with a 6-5 victory.

The title came five days after he secured a 67kg berth in the Tokyo Olympics at the Asian Qualifying tournament, held at the same venue April 9-11. With the pandemic curtailing tournaments around the world, he said he stayed for the Asian Championships just for the thrill of competition.

His natural ability made up for the size disadvantage at 72kg, where he more than held his own.

Against Tsarev, Ryu jumped out to a 5-0 lead with a 4-point spinning throw from a high-chest
hold in the par terre position.

In the second period, Tsarev chipped away at the lead with a passivity point, a 2-point leg
blocking penalty and an unsuccessful challenge point. He had a chance to go ahead when he lifted Ryu into the air, but the nimble Korean managed to land on his feet on Tsarev's throw attempt.

Tsarev gained a point for the stepout, which tied the score but left him trailing on criteria. He
understandably challenged the call, and understandably lost it to make the final score 6-5 and
give Ryu his fourth career Asian gold.

"My main target is the Olympic Games and all of these competition are stages to achieve the
target," said Ryu, who finished fifth in his only Olympic appearance at Rio 2016.

"I can win a medal [in Tokyo], but there is also a chance that I may not win the medal. So it's 50-50. My last aim in wrestling is to win an Olympic gold. I may be the coach for the national
team [in the future]."

Iran, which medaled in all but one weight class, easily captured the team title with 194 points, as former Asian junior champion Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) provided the last of its four
golds by taking the 97kg title.

Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), Asian Championships 2021 — Aidos Sultangali won the gold medal at the 60kg Greco-Roman weight category. (Photo: UWW/Sachiko HOTAKA)

Kazakhstan, lifted by Sultangali's gold, finished second with 156 points, edging third-place
Kyrgyzstan by three points.

In the 97kg final, Balihamzehdeh built up a 7-2 lead in the first period, then held off a late surge by Seungjun KIM (KOR) for a 9-7 victory.

"I was able to win the gold medal because of my training and the coaches," Balihamzehdeh said.

"The wrestlers I fought today were very strong and the pace of the bouts was very high. So I am feeling very good now."

Another Tokyo-bound wrestler who captured a gold medal -- also in a different weight class --
was Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), who won the 82kg title with a victory by fall over
Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ).

"In the future I have a big hopes to become Olympic champion," Berdimuratov said. "I qualified for the Olympics already. We have a lot of training to do until [Tokyo]. Now here, I truly competed for the gold medal."

Berdimuratov, who won a bronze medal at 77kg at the 2019 World Championships in Nursultan to gain a ticket to Tokyo, was put on the bottom of the par terre, but stepped over Asykeev's attempted roll and clamped down for the fall in 1:46.

Berdimuratov, a bronze medalist at 82kg a year ago, had defeated Asykeev 3-0 earlier in the day in their round-robin group match. For Asykeev, the loss in the rematch meant having to add a senior Asian silver to his one at U-23 and two at the junior level.

"I wrestled against the Kyrgyz wrestler last time and I lost 3-0," Berdimuratov said. "But today we were competing again and I won the gold medal. I’d like to share this medal with my whole team, and my coaches, because we worked hard to achieve this result."

It was a good day overall for Japan, which also came away with three bronze medals from Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) at 60kg, Taishi HORIE (JPN) at 72kg and Satoki MUKAI (JPN) at 82kg. A chance for a fourth failed to come to fruition when Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) handed
Masayuki AMANO (JPN) a 5-3 loss at 82kg, earning a bronze for himself after consecutive fifth places at the last two Asian Championships.

At 67kg, one of the third-place matches was a clash of the two bronze medalists from 2020, with Hossein ASSADI KOLMATI (IRI) taking home the hardware again after using a devastating front headlock to wipe out Ashu ASHU (IND) by 9-0 technical fall in 26 seconds.

The other 67kg match for the bronze produced a startling comeback, as Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) rallied from a seven-point deficit to defeat Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB) by fall after building up a 15-7 lead.

Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI), last year's 72kg champion, came away with a bronze this time
after edging Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) 2-1. Bakhshilloev was the silver medalist at
67kg behind Ryu last year.

Day 2 Finals

Greco-Roman

60kg (10 entries)
GOLD - Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) df. Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI), 8-4
BRONZE - Seunghak KIM (KOR) df. Karrar Abbas ALBEEDHAN (IRQ) by TF, 9-0, :56
BRONZE - Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) df. Merdan ALLAYAROV (TKM) by TF, 8-0, 2:18

67kg (10 entries)
GOLD - Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN) df. Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) by Fall, 5:22 (12-7)
BRONZE - Hossein ASSADI KOLMATI (IRI) df. Ashu ASHU (IND) by TF, 9-0, :26
BRONZE - Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) df. Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB) by Fall, 4:51 (15-7)

72kg (9 entries)
GOLD - Hansu RYU (KOR) df. Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ), 6-5
BRONZE - Taishi HORIE (JPN) df. Muslihiddin UROQOV (TJK) by TF, 9-0, 3:16
BRONZE - Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) df. Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB), 2-1

82kg (7 entries)
GOLD - Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) df. Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ) by Fall, 1:46 (2-1)
BRONZE - Satoki MUKAI (JPN) df. Yevgeniy POLIVADOV (KAZ), 3-1

97kg (9 entries)
GOLD - Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) df. Seungjun KIM (KOR), 9-5
BRONZE - Yerulan ISKAKOV (KAZ) df. Al Majeed AL KAABI (IRQ) by Default
BRONZE - Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Masayuki AMANO (JPN), 5-3

Yazdani, in league of his own, wins gold in Almaty

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Payback Adds to Gold Medal's Luster for 2 New Asian Champions as Ryu Completes Almaty Double