#WrestleXian

Younger Geraei Earns Shot at Asian Greco Gold; Iran, Uzbekistan Put 2 Each in Finals

By Ken Marantz

XI’AN, China (April 28)— Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) has already exceeded his older brother at the Asian Championships, while Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) prevented the possibility of a Iranian sweep of the four heaviest weights in Greco-Roman. 

Geraei was one of two Iranians to advance to the finals in the five remaining weight classes on the final day of the six-day tournament in Xi’an, setting up a clash for the 72kg gold with local favorite ZHANG Hujun (CHN).

Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) gained a place in the 82kg final against Singh HARPEET (IND), but world bronze medalist Mahdi ALIYARIFEIZABADI (IRI) was denied a shot at the 97kg gold after suffering a nail-biting 7-5 loss to Dzhuzupbekov in the semifinals.

Uzbekistan also placed two wrestlers in the finals in the night session at Xidian University’s Invengo Gymnasium, with 2018 bronze medalist Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) advancing at 60kg and Jahongir TURDIEV (UZB) taking on Dzhuzupbekov at 97kg.

Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) will wrestle China's ZHANG Hujun in the 72kg finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Geraei, third at last summer’s Asian Games in Jakarta, overcame a high hurdle in the semifinals by beating 2017 world silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), 9-3, capping the victory with a highlight-reel four-point throw.

Geraei had watched as older brother Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) had to settle for the 77kg bronze the day before, when Iran picked up golds at 87kg and 130kg. 

 “There was no effect on my wrestling,” Geraei said of his brother’s defeat. “But I was little sad about my brother. My brother could have been first.”

Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) will wrestle Jahongir TURDIEV (UZB) in a rematch of the Asian Games bronze-medal match. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

ZHANG Hujun (CHN) seemed to be heading to the 97kg final when Dzhuzupbekov reversed him to his back during a roll attempt with 30 seconds left for the winning points. That avenged a loss to the Iranian at a tournament in Istanbul last year.

“Everyone was screaming and it was motivating me,” said Dzhuzupbekov, a bronze medalist on home soil last year in Bishkek as well as at the Asian Games. “At the end, I was just thinking to keep attacking him.”

The final against Turdiev, who turns 37 this week, will be a rematch of the bronze-medal match in Jakarta won by Dzhuzupbekov.

RI Se Ung (PRK) knocked off world champion Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) and world bronze medalist Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) on his road to the 60kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

The depth of quality in Asia in the 60kg division came out as neither 2017 world champion Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) nor 2018 world bronze medalist Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) made it to the final.

Both wrestlers were knocked off by crafty RI Se Ung (PRK), and will meet for a bronze medal. Ri will take on Bakhramov for the gold.

Ri, the silver medalist at Bishkek 2018, defeated Fumita, 5-3, in the quarterfnals. From the par terre position, Ri reeled off a pair of rolls before giving up a reversal to lead 5-1. In the second period, Fumita put the pressure on, but could only gain a two-point penalty for fleeing. 

“[The difference] was that I didn’t attack, that was big,” said Fumita, who returned from a knee injury to defeat 2018 Asian champion Shinobu OTA (JPN) at the national championships in December, a month after winning the world U23 title. 

Ri’s victory over Walihan in the semifinals followed a similar pattern, as he scored five points in the first period and went on to win 5-2.

Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ), the runner-up to Fumita at the Paris 2017 world championships and an Asian bronze medalist last year, failed to make it out of the first round, falling to LEE Jungbaik (KOR), who was subsequently ousted by Walihan.

RYU Hansu (KOR) will look to win his third Asian title when he competes against Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) in the 67kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

At 67kg, Asian Games champion RYU Hansu (KOR) will look to add to his long list of laurels, which includes two previous Asian titles, when he takes on world bronze medalist Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) in the final.

Ryu, a 2017 world champion, knocked off 2018 bronze medalist Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB), 7-2, in the semifinals, while Shermakhanbet trailed 2-0 going into the second period against gritty Abdulkarim ALHASAN (SYR) before blitzing his way to a 10-2 technical fall victory.

Day 6 results

Greco-Roman

60kg (12 entries)
Gold – Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) v RI Se Ung (PRK)
Bronze – HUANG Jui Chi (TPE) vs Gyanender GYANENDER (IND)
Bronze – Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) v Sailike WALIHAN (CHN)

Semifinals
RI Se Ung (PRK) df. Sailike WALIHAN (CHN), 5-2
Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) df. Gyanender GYANENDER (IND) by TF, 9-0, 1:24

67kg (14 entries)
Gold – Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) v RYU Hansu (KOR)
Bronze – ZHANG Gaoquan (CHN) v Abdulkarim AL HASAN (SYR)
Bronze – Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN) v Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB)

Semifinals
Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) df. Abdulkarim AL HASAN (SYR) by TF, 10-2, 4:06
RYU Hansu (KOR) df. Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB), 7-2

72kg (9 entries)
Gold – ZHANG Hujun (CHN) v Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI)
Bronze – Yogesh YOGESH (IND) v Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ)
Bronze – Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) v Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ)

Semifinals
Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) df. Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), 9-3
ZHANG Hujun (CHN) df. Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ), 5-5

82kg (9 entries)
Gold – Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) v Singh HARPEET (IND)
Bronze – Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ) v Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)
Bronze – Burgo BEISHALIEV (KGZ) v QIAN Haitao (CHN)

Semifinals
Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) df. Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 4:27
Singh HARPEET (IND) df. QIAN Haitao (CHN) by TF, 10-1, 3:42

97kg (9 entries)
Gold – Jahongir TURDIEV (UZB) v Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Bronze – LEE Seyeol (KOR) v XIAO Di (CHN)
Bronze – Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) v Mahdi ALIYARIFEIZABADI (IRI)

Semifinals
Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) df. Mahdi ALIYARIFEIZABADI (IRI), 7-5
Jahongir TURDIEV (UZB) df. XIAO Di (CHN), 4-1

#WrestleAmman

Asian Championships 2025 Day 3 Blog: China, DPR Korea shine

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (March 27) -- Asian Championships enters day three with Women's Wrestling in 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 RESULTS

76kg gold medal bout: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs REETIKA (IND)

14:11: REETIKA (IND) gives India a presence in the finals with a victory by fall over Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) at 76kg, giving her a chance to avenge a quarterfinal loss at the Paris Olympics to Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ). Reetika, the 2023 world U23 champion, had an answer for everything Yamamoto attempted. The Indian opened the scoring with a double-leg takedown, getting the points by going over the edge as Yamamoto attempted a counter lift, then added a takedown to go ahead 4-0 at the break. In the second period, Reetika got 2 more with a counter-lift of her own off a scramble, then ended the match when she slammed Yamamoto to the mat for 4 and secured the fall at 4:13.

14:07: Quick movement from Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and she cradles Mi Hyang KIM (PRK) for a fall in the 76kg semifinals! Kim escaped Medet Kyzy's cradle but the Kyrgyz managed to still pin Kim on her back.

68kg gold medal bout: Zelu LI (CHN) vs Sol Gum PAK (PRK)

14:02: In a clash of Paris Olympians, Sol Gum PAK (PRK) gets a pair of stepouts, the second coming with Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) on the activity clock, to take a 3-0 lead in their 68kg semifinal. In the second period, Pak gets 2 when she counters a takedown attempt with a Greco-like back throw. Pak adds another stepout, then scores 2 when she stops a headlock attempt and, despite giving up a late takedown, she's through to the final in her senior Asian debut with an 8-2 win. Enkhsaikhan, a 2023 world silver medalist, will have to be content battling for a fourth career Asian bronze and fifth medal overall.

14:00: Zelu LI (CHN) will clash with Paris fifth-placer Sol Gum PAK (PRK) for the 68kg gold medal after she takes down world U17 champion Mansi LATHER (IND) 10-1 in the semifinal with some brute strength and counters. Li was pretty defensive in the first period and got put on the activity clock. Lather led 1-0 and tried getting a stepout but Li defended and circled to score a takedown. She laced with a bent knee to make it 4-1 at the break. Lather was on the attack in the second period as well but Li's strength was little too much as she fails to finish after a single-leg attack. Li manages to get out of the hold and scores a takedown for a 6-1 lead. A double leg throw for four to make it 10-1 which she defends for the final minute and win.

59kg gold medal bout: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) vs. Pyol HONG (PRK)

13:51: Pyol HONG (PRK), a newcomer onto the international scene, takes it directly to veteran Mengyu XIE (CHN), a former world bronze medalist and Asian champion, in their 59kg semifinal. Hong scores a single-leg takedown in the first period, then adds another in the second. Hong defends against a pair of tackle attempts and she's through to the final with a 4-0 victory. 

13:46: World U20 champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) needs only 42 seconds to beat Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) in the 59kg semifinal. Onishi with a head-outside single and gut-wrenches for a 4-0 lead. She transitions into a lace and gets the 10-0 win to enter the final.

55kg gold medal bout: Yuxuan LI (CHN) vs Kyong Ryong LI (PRK)

13:42: Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) will get a chance to improve on her silver medal from last year at 55kg after overwhelming Dilshoda MATNAZAROVA (UZB). Oh starts out with a single-leg takedown and adds a lace lock. Matnazarova squirms out of the lock and attempts a switch, but Oh presses forward and stuffs Matnazarova onto her back, then secures a fall at 1:58.

13:42: Yuxuan LI (CHN), who made her international debut at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series 2025, is into the final at 55kg of Asian Championships. A meek surrender by Otgontuya BAYANMUNKH (MGL) as Li gut-wrenches her way to the final.

50kg gold medal bout: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) vs. Yu ZHANG (CHN)

13:39: Two-time Asian champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) with a strategic win over Myonggyong WON (PRK) in the 50kg semifinal. Won got a 1-0 lead after Yoshimoto was put on the activity clock. But Yoshimoto scores a takedown in the second period when Won is on the clock to lead 3-1. Won tries a arm-throw which is blocked by Yoshimoto and she countries with a go-behind and gets a takedown. She defends her 5-1 lead, never allowing Won to reach her legs.

13:36: World U20 champion Yu ZHANG (CHN) will battle for her first senior-level gold after sweeping to a 10-0 victory over Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ) in the 50kg semifinals. Zhang starts off with a single-leg takedown, then adds 2 with a high-thigh lock and roll. She spins behind for another takedown to make it 6-0. Ankicheva attempts an inside trip, but Zhang thwarts the effort and spins behind for 2, then hits a regular lace lock to finish her off in 2:43. 

The semifinals will begin at 13:30 local time in Amman

12:47: In the final bout of the session, world U23 bronze medalist Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) scores an opportunistic takedown with :23 left to defeat Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) 4-2 and advance to the 76kg semifinals. Yamamoto opened the scoring with a takedown, but Enkh Amar, the 2023 world silver medalist at 72kg, came back with a takedown at the first-period buzzer. It looked like the Mongolian's defenses would hold in the second period when Yamamoto appeared to stumble. Enkh Amar made a charge at her, but Yamamoto deftly shrugged her aside and spun behind for the winning takedown.

12:38: REETIKA (IND), the 2023 world U23 champion, books her place in the 76kg semifinals with a one-sided 10-0 win over Seoyeon JEONG (KOR). 

12:40: Aiperi MEDEY KYZY (KGZ) passes the Chinese test with ease. She got a point for YANGLA (CHN) passivity and then scored a nice double-leg attack for two points. With a 3-0 lead, Medet Kyzy defends it and wins to enter the 76kg semifinals

12:37: Sol Gum PAK (PRK), fifth at the Paris Olympics, secures her spot in the 68kg semifinals with an 11-4 victory over returning bronze medalist Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ).

12:36: In an unexpected twist, Mansi LATHER (IND) is awarded a victory by forfeit in her 68kg quarterfinal when world 72kg champion and tournament favorite Ami ISHII (JPN) becomes a late withdrawal due to injury. 

12:34: Mi Hyang KIM (PRK) ends 33-year-old Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ)'s bid for a third Asian gold at 76kg when she wears down the eight-time Asian medalist and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist before securing a 12-0 victory at 5:16. 

12:30: World silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) keeps hitting double-leg attacks and scores two takedowns and a stepout for a 5-0 lead against Miju KIM (KOR). Another takedown and turn for a 9-0 lead before Enkhsaikhan holds Kim on the mat and secures the fall inside first period and reach the 68kg semifinals.

12:25: China puts another wrestler into the semifinals when Mengyu XIE (CHN), a 2022 world bronze medalist at 55kg and former Asian champion, storms to a 10-0 victory over Hyeonju KWON (KOR) at 59kg. 

12:25: Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) led 2-1 at the break against Tancholpon KYBALBEKOVA (KGZ) but she changes levels in the second period and adds takedowns on counter to win 8-2 and advance to the semifinals.

12:22: It's simultaneous wins for China wrestlers named Li on Mats B and C. On Mat B, Zelu LI I(CHN) secures a quick fall over Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) to advance to the 68kg semifinals, and seconds later, Yuxuan LI (CHN) completes a 2-0 victory in the 55kg quarterfinals over Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE).

12:19: In one of the feature matches of the afternoon session, it's multi-world champion Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO (JPN) up against Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) for a place in the 55kg semifinals. Murayama Okuno gets an activity point, but Oh responds with a single-leg takedown to lead 2-1 at the break. In the second period, Murayama Okuno scores a takedown after she finally gets behind Oh, who looks like a U.S. collegiate wrestler doing sit-outs. Then things get real interesting, as Oh scores a takedown, but Murayama Okuno responds with one of her own with :35 to go for a 5-4 lead. But with :10 left, Oh gets behind for a takedown for a dramatic 6-5 win. Whew!

12:15: World U20 champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN), making her Asian Championships debut, is tested by MUSKAN (IND). Onishi scores two takedowns but cannot finishes her lace. Muskan fakes a couple of attempts and scores a go-behind to make it 4-2. Onishi keeps her calm, comes back for another takedown to lead 6-2. No more trouble for Onishi as she laces her way to a 12-2 win at 59kg.

12:13: Otgontuya BAYANMUNKH (MGL) is into the 55kg semifinals with an 11-0 win over Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ). Leading 3-0 in the second period, Bayanmunkh twice scores a double-leg takedown and adds a 2-point exposure.

12:12: Myonggyong WON (KOR) makes it two wins out of two and enters the 50kg semifinals! She needs 19 seconds in the second period against Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) to finish the bout 11-0.

12:08: Yu ZHANG (CHN) gets a takedown, uses a grapevine and cross-face to put Nipuni WASANA (SRI) on her back, then secures a fall in 1:02 to secure a spot in the 50kg semifinals.

12:05: YANGLA (CHN) too unleashes the strong gut-wrench before pinning Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB) at 76kg. Yangla had a 10-0 lead but decided to secure the fall.

12:04: Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ) gets creative in her 50kg quarterfinal with Yi Hui LIN (TPE), locking up an arm and a leg with her back to Lin to score a takedown and gain two 2-point exposures. In the second period, Ankicheva uses an inside trip to slam Lin to back and secures the fall.

12:00: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) gets another technical superiority win at 50kg. Miran CHEON (KOR) tried a few tricks but Yoshimoto has the arm-bar which gets her a 4-0 lead before she finishes 11-0, including a lost challenge from Korea.

11:57: Layal SUKKAR (JOR) makes history when she takes the mat against Dilshoda MATNAZAROVA (UZB) for her 55kg quarterfinal match, becoming the first-ever Jordanian woman to compete at the senior Asian Championships. Matnazarova works a 2-on-1 and Sukkar is put on the activity clock, during which Matnazarova scores a takedown for a 3-0 lead. She adds another takedown before the break. In the second period, Matnazarova gets a quick takedown and ends the match by fall.  

11:55: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) shows why you never give up, coming back to defeat Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB) by fall while trailing 8-0 at 68kg. 

11:51: Another big win for the DPR Korea as Pyol HONG (PRK) cruises to a 10-0 victory over Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB) at 59kg. 

11:47: Yuxuan LI (CHN) adds to India's loss column. She gets the takedown on NISHU (IND) and then enforces the lethal gut-wrench that Chinese wrestlers have mastered to win 10-0 at 55kg.

11:46: Two-time Asian U23 champion Otgontuya BAYANMUNKH (MGL) has no trouble putting away Hyerim LEE (KOR) 10-0 to advance to the 55kg quarterfinals. 

11:44: Two-time Asian champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) got the arm-bar to pin ANKUSH (IND), who managed to roll over and survive. But she failed to defend Yoshimoto's lace. Yoshimoto wins 10-0 at 50kg

11:42: Kyong Ryong OH (PRK), last year's losing finalist at 55kg, gives up a 2-point counter against Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) in their 50kg match, but comes back with a pair of deep double-leg takedowns, then turns her opponent over enough times for a 13-2 win. She will next face three-time world champion and top seed Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO (JPN). 

11:40: Yi Hui LIN (TPE) was made to work hard for her 8-1 win over Thi Nga DUONG (VIE) in the opening bout at 50kg. Duong kept going for attacks while Lin countered them perfectly to score four different takedowns.

11:37: Myonggyong WON (PRK), an Asian U20 bronze medalist back in 2019, needs some time to get Gozel KURBANOVA (TKM) to hit her knees to the mat in their 50kg opener. But once she does, Won goes immediately to a lace lock, rolls four times and the match is over 10-0 in 45 seconds. 

11:35: World U20 champion Yu ZHANG (CHN), competing in her second senior international tournament, gets off to a strong start with a 10-0 victory over Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) at 50kg.