#WrestleHangzhou

Asian Games Wrestling: Amouzad beats Bajrang, Ozaki beats Tynybekova

By Vinay Siwach

LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 5) -- The Asian Games will see Freestyle action on Friday as 57kg and 65kg wrestlers take the mat. Women's Wrestling will continue with 62kg, 68kg and 76kg weight classes.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | BRACKETS | DAY 2 RESULTS

Here are the finals for the evening session

WW 62kg
Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) vs. Nonoka OZAKI (PRK)

WW 68kg
Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) vs. Feng ZHOU (CHN)

WW 76kg
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)

FS 57kg
Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) vs. Chongsong HAN (PRK)

FS 65kg
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) vs Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)

13:20: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) uses two big four-point moves to beat BAJRANG 8-1 in the 65kg semifinal. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR with a big fall over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) to enter the final at 65kg. Rahman AMOUZAD vs Tulga TUMUR OCHIR for the gold medal.

13:00: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) with a fall over Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) to reach the 62kg final while Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) pins KIRAN to enter the 76kg final. She will wrestle returning bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)

12:50: Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) pins SONAM to reach the final at 62kg while in Freestyle 57kg, Chongsong HAN (PRK) with a final second takedown to beat Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) 3-2. He will face Hasegawa in the final.

12:45: AMAN's comeback in the semifinal falls short as Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) closes out the match 12-10. Hasegawa led 6-1 but Aman made it 8-5. But a seatbelt move gave Hasegawa four points as he won 12-10.

12:30: Defending champion BAJRANG with a controlled 4-0 victory over Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) to enter the semifinal against Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI). It will be a rematch of the 2022 Asian Championships final which Amouzad won 3-1

12:15: Defending Asian Games champion at 68kg Feng ZHOU (CHN) with a quick 10-0 win over KANHA CHEA (CAM). On Mat B, Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) pins Seoyeon JEONG (KOR) at 76kg. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR won 6-0 to advance to the 65kg semifinals. 

12:10: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) and Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) going for their fifth encounter in two years. Both wrestlers have won two bouts each. Tynybekova is put on the activity clock and Ozaki will go into the break leading 1-0. Tynybekova has a solid defense to Ozaki's double-leg shot. Ozaki put on the activity clock. She scores a takedown as soon as the activity clock expires to lead 3-1. Tynybekova tries to score a takedown for the win but Ozaki defends the 3-1 lead to win.

12:00: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) with a fall over Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) at 76kg. The two-time world silver medalist at 72kg is making her debut at 76kg at an international competition.

11:50: AMAN up on Mat B against Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) in the 57kg quarterfinals. Khari with the first takedown but Aman scores a reversal. Khari with the second takedown to make it 4-1. Solid underhook from Khari and he manages to make it 6-1 as Aman struggles with his defense. A slip from Aman and Khari goes behind to score another takedown 8-1. Aman with an outside single to close the gap 8-3 at the break. An exposure to start the second period and then a double leg counter from Aman. He comes out with a lace to lead 9-8. Another takedown for Aman 11-8. A medical break for Khari and he comes out blazing but he can't score. Aman will get the takedown to make it 13-8. Aman now making Khari pay for the high-pace of wrestling. Aman will come back from 8-1 down to win 19-8 at 57kg.

11:40: After the mini break, quarterfinal action resumes. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), world silver medalist, pins Thi Linh DANG (VIE) at 76kg while Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) with a fall over Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR) at 68kg

11:20: KIRAN holds on to a 3-0 win over former U20 Asian champion Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) to move to the 76kg semifinals.

11:10: Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL) with another 10-0 win. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) manages to see off Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN) 2-1 in an absolutely no-action bout. He will move into the quarterfinals. On Mat B, BAJRANG, wrestling in his first bout in over a year, starts with a 10-0 win over RONIL TUBOG (PHI). He will take on Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) in the 65kg quarterfinals.

10:47: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) with a fall at 76kg, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) with a 10-0 win at 62kg and U20 Asian champion Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) wins 11-0 against Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) at 65kg. Things moving so fast here.

10:45: A DPR Korea wrestler advancing at the expense of a Chinese wrestler, again! Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) led 3-1 against Jia LONG (CHN) before using an underhook throw to pin Long and advance at 62kg.

10:40: SONAM with a quick fall over Sushila CHAND (NEP) at 62kg but world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is even quicker to pin SALINEE SRISOMBAT (THA)

10:35: Asian champion AMAN takes full six minutes to go past Sunggwon KIM (KOR) at 57kg. He scored two takedowns in his 6-1 win.

10:25: Former U23 world champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) starts his 57kg campaign with a 7-0 win over Minghu LIU (CHN). A solid warm-up for the Japanese.

10:10: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) with a stepout before Abbos RAKHMANOV (UZB) scored a takedown and roll. Amouzad gets a reversal. A takedown to make it 4-4 with Rakhmonov leading on criteria. Amouzad with another takedown to take a 6-4 lead. Rakhmonov with a single leg and takedown to reclaim the criteria lead 6-6 with two minutes still on the clock. Amouzad with a cross double leg finish, 8-6 lead for Amouzad. Rakhmonov shoots but Amouzad jumps and comes behind to increase the gap to four points. Rakhmonov with some desperate attempts but Amouzad hangs on for a 12-6 win.

10:12: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) has no trouble in beating Sanzhar MUKHTAR (KAZ) 10-0 with 36 seconds left on the clock. The underhook supremacy!

10:05: The first win of the day goes to Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) as he takes three minutes and 30 seconds to beat Nattawut KAEWKHUANCHUM (THA) 10-0 at 57kg.

10:00: Welcome to day three of the Asian Games. Five weight classes, two in Freestyle and three in Women's Wrestling highlight the day. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), Bajrang PUNIA, AMAN, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), Feng ZHOU (CHN), Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) are some of the stars in action.

#WrestleCoralville

U.S. Kicks Off Pan-American Championships with Six Greco Golds

By Vinay Siwach

CROALVILLE, IOWA, United States (May 8) -- The United States opened the 2026 Pan-American with six golds medals out of eight on offer on day one of the tournament in Coralville, Iowa. The two other golds went to Cuba, who suffered two losses as well in the finals.

The most significant gold medal for the U.S. came at 130kg as Cohton SCHULTZ (USA) upset defending champion Oscar PINO (CUB) in the final, avenging his last year's loss, to win gold. Though it was an actionless final with both wrestlers exchanging passivity points, it was Schultz who got the first one which gave him the criteria win.

Both wrestlers had their chances to score from the top with Schultz trying to do a front headlock throw and Pino trying the classic gut-wrench. However, both failed in their moves and the American defend his criteria to claim his first-ever Pan-Am gold.

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Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) also had to battle it out against a former Pan-Am champion Daniel GREGORICH (CUB) for his 8-6 win and the 82kg gold medal. Melelashvili raced to a 7-0 lead from par terre but as he was trying the match-winning turn on Gregorich, the Cuban blocked him and held him in danger for two points. Melelashvili led 7-2 at the break.

As no passivity was awarded in the second period, Gregorich made a desperate headlock throw for four points but Melelashvili scored a reversal and led 8-6 with 42 seconds remaining. He defended his lead till the end to beat Gregorich for the second time in the day as he also won 1-1 on criteria in the Nelson bracket.

 

Former U17 world champion Joel ADAMS (USA) turned the 77kg final on its head from par terre in the second period to beat Oscar BARRIOS (HON), 10-1. When Adams got the par terre 1:52 remaining, he lifted Barrios and slammed him on the mat for a four-pointer. He continued the sequence and thew Barrios for another four-pointer to finish 9-1. Honduras challenged the second throw as it may have come after Adams moved outside the zone but on review the throw was changed to five points.

At 82kg, as only two wrestlers were entered, Kamal BEY (USA) and Diego MACIAS (MEX) wrestled in the final and former displayed his big-throwing ability to win the bout and gold 9-1.

The first scoring sequence was rather lame when Bey pushed Macias towards the zone and the Mexican just fell on his back, giving Bey four points. The two traded stepouts and Bey led 5-1 at the break. 15 seconds into the second period, Bey launched Macias for a big body throw, finishing the bout 9-1.

Landon DRURY (USA)Landon DRURY (USA) tries to score on Angel SEGURA (MEX) during their 63kg bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Landon DRURY (USA) and Max NOWRY (USA) won all their round-robin bouts to win gold medals at 63kg and 55kg, respectively.

Drury won four bouts with varied dominance but his first win, 9-3 over Jeremy PERALTA (ECU) in Round 1, proved crucial as Peralta did not lose any other bouts and finished with a silver medal.

Returning to international wrestling after four years, 36-year-old Nowry won his fourth Pan-Am title to go along with his golds in 2013, 2019 and 2020. He won all three bouts in the 55kg round-robin via technical superiority to claim gold.

Luis ORTA (CUB)Luis ORTA (CUB), red, wrestles Otto BLACK (USA) during the 67kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Orta Wins 5th Pan-Am Gold

Former Olympic and world champion Luis ORTA (CUB) continued his undefeated streak at the continental championships, winning his fifth gold medal on Thursday. In a thrilling final against Otto BLACK (USA) at 67kg, Orta barely held on for a 5-3 victory.

Orta opened the scoring with stepout before getting the passivity call. He scored a turn using high gut-wrench for two and then added another for a 6-0 lead. However, the U.S. challenged and the second turn was cancelled as Orta committed an offensive leg foul to run Black.

Black got the par terre in the second period and foxed Orta with a turn. He initiated the attack towards his right before switching direction to neutralize Orta's defense. Black's two-point turn but Orta's lead to 4-3 with 1:59 remaining.

Luis ORTA (CUB)Luis ORTA (CUB) won his fifth Pan-American gold medal on Thursday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

But Orta was not done. He used a drag to score a takedown but the referee blew the whistle before he could complete it. Orta was awarded one point for a stepout which did not please him but he led 5-3.

The victory extended Orta's unbeaten streak at Pan-Ams to 16 wins and he has outscored his opponents 99-15 in those matches.

The second gold medal for Cuba was won by Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) as he blanked Clisman CARRACEDO (ECU), 11-0, in the 60kg final.

On his Pan-Am debut, De Armas faced the youngster Carracedo but showed no mercy, scoring two front headlock turns for a 4-0 lead. He then got the par terre position and using a high gut-wrench, got two more points. He then lifted Carracedo and slammed him on the mat for four points that confirmed his technical superiority win.

Photo

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Max NOWRY (USA)
SILVER: Isaac MARIN MATA (MEX)
BRONZE: Moises PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)

60kg
GOLD: Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) df. Clisman CARRACEDO (ECU), 11-0

BRONZE: Pedro DE SOUZA (BRA) df. Carlos HERRERA (VEN), 5-3
BRONZE: Yerony LIRIA (DOM) df. Abel SANCHEZ (PER), 10-1

63kg
GOLD: Landon DRURY (USA)
SILVER: Jeremy PERALTA (ECU)
BRONZE: Angel SEGURA (MEX)

67kg
GOLD: Luis ORTA (CUB) df. Otto BLACK (USA), 5-3

BRONZE: Nilton SOTO (PER) df. Irving SALAZAR (MEX), 5-5
BRONZE: Julian HORTA (COL) df. Jose VARELA (GUA), 9-0

77kg
GOLD: Joel ADAMS (USA) df. Oscar BARRIOS (HON), 10-1

BRONZE: Eduardo BERNAL (CHI) df. Justin BOYCE (BAR), 8-0
BRONZE: Joilson DE BRITO (BRA) df. David CHOC HUOC (GUA), 3-1

82kg
GOLD: Kamal BEY (USA) df. Diego MACIAS (MEX), 9-1

87kg
GOLD: Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) df. Daniel GREGORICH (CUB), 8-6

BRONZE: Luis AVENDANO (VEN) df. Johan BATISTA (DOM), via inj. def.

130kg
GOLD: Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) df. Oscar PINO (CUB), 1-1

BRONZE: James FORD (PUR) df. Jose NUNEZ (DOM), via fall
BRONZE: Guilherme EVANGELISTA (BRA) df. Tyrece THOMPSON (JAM), via fall