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LIVE BLOG: Bishkek Ranking Series event, Day One

Thursday, June 1, 2023 - 03:49 By Eric Olanowski

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (June 1) --- The third Ranking Series event of the season kicks off today in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. Thursday's action will feature seven Greco-Roman weights--55kg,60kg, 63kg, 67kg, 87kg, 97kg and 130kg.

Everything you need to know:
📍Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬
🗓️: June 1-4
🕙: Qualification = 10:30
🥇🥈🥉= 18:00
#️⃣: #WrestleBishkek
🖥️: http://uww.org 
📱: UWW App

Thursday's final matchups:
55kg:  Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) vs. Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) 
60kg:  Nursultan BAZARBAYEV (KAZ) vs. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)
63kg:  Leri ABULADZE (GEO) vs. Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB) 
67kg:  Husiyuetu HUSIYUETU (CHN) vs. Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) 
87kg:  Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO) vs. Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) 
97kg:  Yiming LI (CHN) vs. Mohammadhadi Abdollah SARAVI (IRI) ​​​​​​​
125kg: Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) vs. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) 

3:00: That does it for our early session. We'll see you back here at 18:00 for the medal matches. Until then, I say, "So long, wrestling fans."

2:42: Saravi showed he's still Iran's top guy at 97kg, beating Balihamzehdeh, 7-1. In the lop-sided win, Saravi scored a takedown, exposure, passivity, and a pair of step outs.

2:25: For the second time this season, Husiyuetu HUSIYUETU (CHN) took down Olympic champion Luis Alberto ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB). In those two matches, he's outscored Orta, 22-4. In the Zagreb Open semifinals, Husiyuetu beat Orta, 13-3, and scored a 9-0 win in Bishkek.

2:10: Here. We. Go. This is the match I have been waiting for since the brackets came out. It's Balihamzahdeh and Saravi, next, over on Mat C.

2:00: I'm not sure just went on, but Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) just injury defeated out of the 130kg semifinals, handing Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) his spot against Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB).

1:40: That was a close call for Pino Hines. The Cuban big man trailed Fatih BOZKURT (TUR), 3-1, with less than 90 seconds left, but increased his pace and scored two takedowns, punching his ticket to the finals, 5-3.

1:23: That's two wins for Balihamzehdeh today. More importantly, that's two wins again over his 2022 and '23 Asian finals opponents, Assakalov and Dzhupbekov, respectively.

Balihamzehdeh will now wrestle 2021 world champion Saravi. The last time these two wrestled, Saravi won, 3-0, in the 2021 Poland Open. Watch the match below.

1:13: The 2022 Asian finals rematch between Mehdi Mohammad BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) and Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) has been a one-sided affair thus far. The Iranian wrestler leads 6-0 after the first, scoring a two-point left foul and a four-point throw.

1:03: We're rolling right along this session. We're two matches away from the semifinals taking place on Mat B. 

12:49: Atabaev and Sohrabi gave up about all we could ask for. The lead changed hands on three occasions, but it was Sohbrabi's takedown with 1:20 left that was the deciding factor.

Sohbrabi built a an early 5-0 lead, but he quickly saw that dwindle away after a par terre point and a four-point throw from Atabaev.

The felling of the match change after Atabaev's throw. He took his left shoe off as the doctors worked on his ankle. When the match resumed, Sohrabi scored a quick arm drag, 10 seconds after the match resumed, winning the bout 7-5. 

Sohrabi will wrestle European runner-up Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) next in the 67kg quarterfinals. 

12:27: Turn your attention to Mat C. Rising stars Abror ATABAEV (UZB) and Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) are making their way to the mat. This is one where I leave my computer and head over to the mat to watch it up close and personal.

I'll see you all after the mat!

12:19: Sharshenbekov was holding his on his feet, but Orta capitalized on his opportunity on top, scoring four turns to win the match, 9-1.

12:10: Olympic champion Luis Alberto ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) will wrestle Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) next on Mat A.

12:08: When he needed it the most, he delivered.

Mirzazadeh drove Yildirm to the out of bounds line with a left-sided undertook, scored the takedown and added a point for a failed Turkish challenge, determining the match, 4-1.

11:56: The second on the list of four matches to watch in the morning session is up now on Mat C. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) ​​and ​​​​​Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) are in a close out, as the Tokyo Olympian is up 1-0 after the first period.

11:32: The crowd came alive for a moment, trying to get behind a Dzhuzupbekov rally, but yet again, he didn't have enough to get past Balihamzedeh.

Balihamzedeh was satisfied with his lead after the first and shut it down in the second, winning the match 7-2. He'll await the winner of Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) and Narinder CHEEMA (IND), who are wrestling over on Mat C.

Assakalov leads Cheema, 1-0, after the first period. If he holds on to win this match, it'll set up a rematch of last year's Asian finals with Balihamzedeh. 

For those wondering, Balihamzedeh won that match, 5-1.

11:26: The rematch from the 97kg Asian finals is going on over on Mat A between Mehdi Mohammad BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) and U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ).

Balihamzehdeh jumped out to an early 7-0 first-period lead after two takedowns, two gut wrenches and a shot clock point.

11:21: Those are the matches where you hate to see someone come out on the losing end. Cengiz and Alizadeh battled for six consecutive minutes, but it was the Turkish wrestler who scored late to take out the reigning Asian champion, 4-1.

Cengiz and Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO) will wrestle next in the 87kg quarterfinals.

10:58: Reigning Asian champion Naser Ghasem ALIZADEH (IRI) has a nasty cut on his head and is currently getting his head wrapped. This is the third time they've stopped the match.

He's currently down on criteria, 1-1, to European silver medalist Ali CENGIZ (TUR).

10:36: Things are going to be slow for about a half hour before the stars being taking over the mats in Kyrgyzstan.

10:16: Before we get started, here are my top three matches for the morning session. The guys listed in bold are 2023 continental champs.
Bout 7 | Mat A: Mehdi Mohammad BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) vs. U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) 
Bout 13 | Mat A:  Luis Alberto ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) vs. Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) 
Bout 70 | Mat C: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) ​​vs. ​​​​​Osman YILDIRIM (TUR)
Bout 74 | Mat C: Abror ATABAEV (UZB) vs. Seyed Danial Seyed Shamsollah SOHRABI (IRI) 
 
9:54: We're about a half hour out from the first whistle. This is always one of the most hectic half hours of any competitions. The last minute preparations are being made to the arena while everyone is scrambling to make sure their respective jobs are done correctly so the tournament runs seamlessly. For now, I'll leave you as I answer the question for the 100th time :"Do you have the wifi password?"

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships 2026 Live, Day 2: Greco-Roman

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 - 05:29 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 7) -- The second of the Asian Championships in Bishkek and Greco-Roman will continue with five more weight classes. Hadi SARAVI (IRI) will be aiming to defend his Asian title at 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW

12:50: A takedown and two massive four-point throws from returning silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) for a 10-0 win in just a minute and four seconds at 60kg. Highlights stuff from Ganiev!

12:45: Former Asian champion Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) slips out from the bottom of par terre and gains a 2-point exposure and reversal in the second period, clinching a 6-2 victory over SAHIL (IND) and berth in the 60kg semifinals.

12:41: Reigning champion and World and Olympic bronze medalist Se Ung RI (PRK) starts his title defense at 60kg with a hard-fought 6-2 victory over 2024 world U23 and U20 champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI). After giving up an early takedown, Ri spins out of an arm throw to go behind for a takedown, then goes ahead 4-2 with a gut wrench. In the second period, Ri adds another takedown and holds on for a place in the semifinals. 

12:33: The Asian gold-medal hopes of world silver medalist Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) came to a painful end, as he had to default his match with Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) due to an elbow injury, shortly after giving up a 4-point throw that saw him fall behind 5-1. Whether Chung will be able to continue to add to his two Asian bronzes and one silver remains to be seen. 

12:30: Olympic and defending champion Hadi SARAVI (IRI) takes his sweet time to score a technical superiority 8-0 win over Minho LEE (KOR) at 97kg. While the match went on for more than four minutes, Saravi never looked in trouble.

12:27: Zegang WANG (CHN) ends the long-shot hopes of Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) for an improbable Greco-Freestyle double gold, storming to an 8-0 win to advance to the 97kg semifinals.  

12:24: Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN) uses a cross-body lift from par terre to slam down Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND) in their 67kg quarterfinal match, but keeps the hold and secures the fall at 1:39. 

12:23: In a battle of past 77kg bronze medalists, Rui LIU (CHN) takes a 4-1 lead into the second period of his 82kg bout with Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) when he gives up a 2-point fingers-grabbing foul to suddenly make things interesting. But Liu fends off everything the home wrestler throws at him for a 4-3 win and a place in the quarterfinals.

12:19: Another quick finish on Mat C. Returning silver medalist Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) falls to Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), 8-0, in just 58 seconds at 97kg

12:16: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) with quick 10-0 win over Sunat ABDULLOEV (TJK). The former U20 world champion took just 2:45 minutes to advance at 67kg.

12:15: Two-time Asian U23 champion Haodong TAN (CHN) hits a 4-point throw late in the first period to complete a stunning fightback against Kurmanbek ZHAPAROV (KGZ) for a 7-5 victory at 60kg. Tan had fallen behind 5-0 in the first period, with part of those points coming on a leg foul after he had apparently stopped a throw by Zhaparov. That foul came into play later after Tan cut the lead to 5-3, as the front headlock throw that he hit was initially scored as 2 points, which would have left him behind criteria. But after a referees' discussion, it was revised to 4, putting him over the top.

12:10: Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), another wrestler trying to achieve a Greco-Freestyle double, gets his first international Greco win with a 11-2 win over Loiqi AMIRKHONZODA (TJK) at 72kg. Narikuni scored a takedown and then got the par terre position from which he scored an exposure to lead 5-0. Amirkhonzoda managed to get a reverse exposure to make it 5-2. Narikuni manages to come back on top and rolls Amirkhonzoda twice to win the 72kg bout

12:05: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) built a 7-0 lead from par terre with three turns against Minwoo KIM (KOR) but used the full seconds period to score the final two points when Kim tried a desperate throw. Ahmadi Vafa was awarded the fall and he advances at 67kg.

12:00: Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), another of the gutsy wrestlers attempting the Greco-Freestyle double in Bishkek, doesn't get the venture off to a good start, as he falls behind 7-0 in the first period of his 97kg bout with Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA). But the Mongolian hangs tough and scores a takedown before the period ends to make it 7-2. Ganbaatar gets shot at par terre, and while Fallatah resists at first, Ganbaatar's gut wrench takes him over four times. Ganbaatar adds a late takedown and walks off a 13-7 winner. 

11:49: Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN), a world bronze medalist at 63kg in 2021, rallies with a stepout and spin-behind takedown midway through the second period for a 4-3 win at 67kg over two-time Asian bronze medalist Ji LENG (CHN).

11:48: In a thriller right off the bat on Mat B, world silver medalist Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) gets a second chance at par terre in the second period, and boy did he make the most of it, launching Asian U23 champion Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ) for a 4-point throw to win 7-4 in their opening match at 67kg

11:30: Welcome to Bishkek on a hazy spring day for the second day of competition in Greco-Roman. The qualifying rounds will be held in the remaining five weight classes of 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg, with world and Olympic champion Hadi SARAVI (IRI) headlining the action as he goes for a fourth Asian title.