BANGKOK (February 21) – Former Russian national team member Adam BATIROV (BRN) laced up the shoes again for the first time in nearly five years Sunday and spoiled Iran’s hopes of sweeping all four gold medals on the final day of the Asian wrestling championships.

Batirov scored early with an under-arm spin to control in his semifinal match-up at 70kg with Muhammad NADERI (IRI), then added a quick gut wrench for a 4-0 lead.

The 31-year-old veteran then frustrated the Takhti Cup winner throughout the remainder of the bout for a 7-2 win and a berth Sunday evening in the 70kg gold medal final opposite Kumar VINOD (IND).

According to the international wrestling database, Batirov last wrestled at the 2011 world championships in Istanbul, taking fifth place at 66kg for Russia.  His last medal, a bronze, came at the 2011 European championships in Dortmund, Germany.

With a medal assured, Batirov gives Bahrain its second medal of the Asia meet following a bronze medal won by Mohamed Abdelfattah MOHAMED (BRN) at 98kg on the first day of the championships.

Meanwhile, after mining three gold medals Saturday, Iran advanced three more wrestlers to Sunday evening’s finals – last year’s silver medalist Behnam EHSANPOOR (61kg), world and Olympic bronze medalist Ehsan LASHGARI (86kg) and Asian Games gold medalist Parviz HADI (125kg).

Ehsanpoor posted a pair of technical falls on his way to the finals where he will encounter 2015 Asia champion Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) in a rematch of last year’s championship final at 61kg. The defending champion also scored a pair of technical falls in the morning session.

Lashgari, meanwhile, opened with a 5-0 win over 2014 Asia runner-up Azlan KAKHIDZE (KAZ) and cruised into the 86kg final for a meeting with ORGODOL Uitumen (MGL), a bronze medal winner in 2014.

At 125kg, Hadi, who owns championship belts from the 2013 and 2012 Asia meets, notched two technical falls and a 12-6 semifinal win over NAM Koungjin to make it to the finals.

Asian Games silver medalist Daulet SHABANBAY (KAZ) scored with a quick arm throw for four points in his semifinal match with defending Asia champion Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ), but needed a late takedown to secure a 6-6 victory and become Kazakhstan’s second finalist Sunday evening.
 

Freestyle

61kg (11 entries)
Gold – Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) v Behnam EHSANPOUR (IRI)
Bronze – Divoshan CHARLES FERNANDO (SRI) v ZHANGBULADAORJI Zhangbuladaorji (CHN)
Bronze – Keisuke OTOGURO (JPN) v TUMENBILEG Tuvshintulga (MGL)
 
Semifinal – Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) df. ZHANGBULADAORJI Zhangbuladaorji (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 4:21
Semifinal – Behnam EHSANPOUR (IRI) df. TUMENBILEG Tuvshintulga (MGL), 2-1

70kg (13 entries)
Gold – Adam BATIROV (BRN) v Kumar VINOD (IND)
Bronze – Nobuyoshi TAKOJIMA (JPN) v Mohammad NADERI (IRI)
Bronze – MENGHEJIGAN Menghejigan (CHN) v BUYANJAV Batzorig (MGL)
 
Semifinal – Adam BATIROV (BRN) df. Mohammad NADERI (IRI), 7-2
Semifinal – Kumar VINOD (IND) df. BUYANJAV Batzorig (MGL), 8-5

86kg (15 entries)
Gold – ORGODOL Uitimen (MGL) v Ehsan LASHGARI (IRI)
Bronze – Aibek USUPOV (KGZ) v GWON Hyeokbeom (KOR)
Bronze – Aslan KAKHIDZE (KAZ) v Somveer SOMVEER (IND)
 
Semifinal – ORGODOL Uitimen (MGL) df. GWON Hyeokbeom (KOR), 3-0
Semifinal – Ehsan LASHGARI (IRI) df. Somveer SOMVEER (IND) by TF, 10-0, 4:58

125kg (11 entries)
Gold – Daulet SHABANBAY (KAZ) v Parviz HADI (IRI)
Bronze – SHANG Hai (CHN) v Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ)
Bronze – NATSAGSUREN Zolboo (MGL) v NAM Koungjin (KOR)
 
Semifinal – Daulet SHABANBAY (KAZ) df. Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ), 6-6
Semifinal – Parviz HADI (IRI) df. NAM Koungjin (KOR), 12-6