China's Zhou Tandem Takes Final 2 Women's Asian Games Golds; Ryu, Ota Prevail in Greco

Tuesday, August 21, 2018 - 20:13 By United World Wrestling Press

China got a double helping of golden Zhou at the Asian Games when its two wrestlers sharing that same family name took the final two women's gold medals on Tuesday in Jakarta.

ZHOU Feng (CHN) defeated Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL) 4-1 in the final at 68kg, and namesake ZHOU Qian (CHN) followed by continuing her dominance of Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) and taking the 72kg title with an 8-0 rout.

Both finals were repeats of the gold medal matches at the Asian Championships six months ago in Bishkek, as the heavyweights came through as expected after the Chinese women ended the previous day with just a single silver medal in four weight classes.

Zhou Feng, who won the 2014 Asian Games gold in Incheon at 75kg and a world silver in 2015, scored with a pair of takedowns in the first period, and that was all she needed to defeat Sharkhuu.

Any chance of a comeback in the second period by the Mongolian all but ended when she seemed to reinjure her heavily taped right shoulder after Zhou squirmed out of an attempted high body lock. Still, she gave a better accounting of herself than in Bishkek, when she lost by technical fall.

Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) prevented Japan from taking home a medal in all six weight classes when she defeated Ayana GEMPEI (JPN), 7-3, in a bronze medal match.

Gempei, the 2017 Asian silver medalist at 63kg and U-23 world champion, had moved up to 68kg to fill the spot left open by Sara DOSHO (JPN). The world and Olympic champion withdrew due to a shoulder injury suffered at the Women's World Cup in March, and Gempei had to win a three-women playoff to earn the spot.

The other 68kg bronze medal went to Divya KAKRAN (IND), who scored a comprehensive 10-0 technical fall victory over CHEN Wenling (TPE).

At 76kg, Minagawa represented Japan's final chance to avoid being completely shut out of the women's gold medals for the first time since women's wrestling was added to the Asian Games program in 2002 (and there were only three or four weight classes prior to Jakarta). But Zhou Qian remained a Great Wall of China that Minagawa, who won a bronze medal at the Paris 2017 world championships under her maiden name of Suzuki, still can't get over.

Zhou, the 2015 world silver medalist, scored with a double leg takedown-roll combination for four points in the first period, then added two takedowns in the second to defeat Minagawa for the third time in six months and fourth time in four career meetings.

In a twist of fate, the two bronze medalists from Bishkek clashed for one of the bronzes in Jakarta, with Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) taking home the hardware with a 5-2 decision over HWANG Eunju (KOR). Syzdykova had also won a bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) took the other bronze with a 4-2 win over Nasanburumaa ORCHIRBAT (MGL), the Bishek 2018 silver medalist at 72kg.

The start of the Greco-Roman competition produced some tense moments but otherwise no surprises for the two favorites, as world champion RYU Sansu (KOR) captured a second straight Asian Games crown with a victory at 67kg, and Rio 2016 silver medalist and Bishkek 2018 champion Shinobu OTA (JPN) stormed to gold at 60kg.

Ryu scored with a 4-point move in the first period, and rode that to a 5-4 victory over Bishkek 2018 champion Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) in the final.

In a quicksilver sequence in the first period, Kebispayev scored with a front headlock roll, but he ended on top of Ryu's back. The Korean then rose up, twisted Kebispayev around and slammed him to the mat for four points and a 4-3 lead. Kebispayev added another point when the two went out of bounds to make it 4-4 at the end of period, but Ryu leading on big point criteria. Ryu then successfully fought off Kabispayev in the second period while adding a point to secure the victory.

After starting out with an 8-0 technical fall over Pongsit DEEMARK (THA), Ryu had two close calls en route to the final, edging Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) 1-1 and ZHANG Gaoquan (CHN) 2-0.

In the bronze medal matches, Ismailov prevailed over Zhang, 6-1, while Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) overwhelmed HUNG Yinghua (TPE) with an 11-0 technical fall in :56.

In Bishkek, Ryu suffered a loss by injury default in the quarterfinals to Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN), who went on to lose to Kebispayev in the final. In Jakarta, Shimoyamada's day ended with a first-round loss to Manish MANISH (IND).

Another early casualty was Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB), the Bishkek 2018 champion at 63kg who moved up because only the six Olympic weights are on the Asian Games program. He blew a 5-1 lead in his quarterfinal match with Geraei, losing by fall with :18 left after the Iranian went ahead 9-8.

At 60kg, Ota managed to save Japanese pride after both the freestyle and women's teams failed to reach the top of the podium by posting a slick victory by fall in the final over Kanybek ZHOLCHUBEKOV (KGZ).

Ota, whose spectacular throws has earned him the nickname "Ninja wrestler," scored with a 4-point move to take a 4-3 lead after the first period. His second 4-pointer, however, also led to the end of the match as he finished it off with a fall at 4:05.

"I felt pressure because I knew if I didn't win, (Japan wrestling) would end without any gold medals," Ota told the Japanese press. "I'm glad I was able to finish it off with my specialty body tackle."

Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ), the 2017 Asian silver medalist, took home a bronze with a victory by fall over RI Se Ung (PRK), while Mehrdad MARDANI (IRI) earned the other bronze by beating Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) by 8-0 technical fall.

Ota has been on a mission of redemption that he is determined will lead to gold at the world championships in Budapest in October and eventually the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

After winning the silver in Rio, he suddenly found himself with a new rival in younger Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), who is also a training partner. Fumita gained the upper hand and pipped Ota for places on the Japan national team, going on to win both the Asian and world titles in 2017.

But Ota turned the tables at the national championships last December, earning spots on the teams to both Bishkek and Jakarta. When Fumita skipped the final qualifying tournament for the world championships in May due to injury, Ota's ticket to Budapest was secured.

The wrestling at the Asian Games concludes Wednesday with the final four weight classes in Greco-Roman, 77kg, 87kg, 97kg and 130kg.

Women's Wrestling

68kg (12 entries)

Gold - ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL), 4-1
Bronze - Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Ayana GEMPEI (JPN), 7-3
Bronze - Divya KAKRAN (IND) df. CHEN Wenling (TPE) by TF, 10-0, 1:29

SF - Zhou df. Zhumanazarova by Fall, 4:10 (9-2)
SF - Sharkhuu df. Chen by TF, 10-0, :45

76kg (9 entries)

Gold - ZHOU Qian (CHN) df. Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN), 8-0
Bronze - Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Nasanburumaa ORCHIRBAT (MGL), 4-2
Bronze - Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. HWANG Eunju (KOR), 5-2

SF - Minagawa df. Medet Kyzy, 2-1
SF - Zhou df. Hwang by TF, 10-0, 3:26

Greco-Roman

60kg (14 entries)

Gold - Shinobu OTA (JPN) df. Kanybek ZHOLCHUBEKOV (KGZ) by Fall, 4:35 (8-3)
Bronze - Mehrdad MARDANI (IRI) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) by TF, 8-0, 3:24
Bronze - Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ) df. RI Se Ung (PRK) by TF, 13-5, 4:34

SF - Ota df. Bakhramov, 6-0
SF - Zholochubekov df. Ainagulov by TF, 9-0, :53

67kg (16 entries)

Gold - RYU Hansu (KOR) df. Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ), 5-4
Bronze - Mohammedreza GERAEI (IRI) df. HUNG Yinghua (TPE) by TF, 11-0, :56
Bronze - Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) df. ZHANG Gaoquan (CHN), 6-1

SF - Kebispayev df. Geraei by TF, 10-0, 1:45
SF - Ryu df. Zhang, 2-0

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Olympic Champ Ramazanov Shows No Signs of Rust on Return

Saturday, June 6, 2026 - 17:48 By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 6) -- Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) had been sidelined from wrestling action for more than a year. He did not wrestle after winning the European Championships in April 2025.

The absence, however, was forced as Ramazanov was nursing an injury and also got operated. He missed the World Championships last year and the European Championships this year.

On Saturday, the Paris Olympic champion marked his return to action at the Ulaanbaatar Open at 86kg and won a silver medal. Not that he lost the final, but Ramazanov injury defaulted the final against Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI).

Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) tries to bodylock Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) in the opening round bout at 86kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The 86kg weight class has seen quite a few changes since Paris 2024 but with the return of Ramazanov, without any signs of rust, it will be a tough-to-predict weight come the World Championships in October.

Before he forfeited his final, Ramazanov controlled all his bouts. He began with an 8-2 win over Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) which included a four-point throw. He then won 5-0 against Abdulmuslim ABULMUSLIMOV (RUS) in the quarterfinals, displaying his well-known upper body offence. The semifinal was a much easier affair as he blanked Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL), 10-0.

Ramazanov's offence worked smoothly including his duckunders which he used multiple times on Saturday. He even kept his opponents quiet when he wanted to defend the lead.

A final against Nokhodi would have presented more insights into his form but Ramazanov, perhaps satisfied with his run, decided to skip the final.

Nokhodi is the latest entrant in the growing list of new stars at 86kg. He made a late move from 79kg to 86kg at Ulaanbaatar Open but had no trouble reaching the final. He began with two wins via technical superiority and one 10-5 win over Malik SHAVAEV (KGZ) in the semifinals.

Sagar JAGLAN (IND) won gold medal at 74kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In other Freestyle action, Sagar JAGLAN (IND), a former U17 world champion and U20 world silver medalist, also found home in a weight class.

Jaglan moved around weight classes in 2025, competing at 79kg and 86kg. In 2023, he won multiple medals at 79kg before a shoulder injury ruled him out for more than a year. In the only tournament he competed internationally in 2025, Jaglan finished fifth at the U23 Asian Championships at 86kg.

In his first tournament in over a year, Jaglan began returned to 74kg and excelled at the Ulaanbaatar Open, winning gold. While JAIDEEP (IND) has been at 74kg for India for sometime, Jaglan knocked him off in the quarterfinals and later won semifinals via technical superiority.

Up against Tamir ESHINIMAEV (RUS) in the gold-medal bout, Jaglan was called passive in the first period as Eshinimaev went up 1-0. Jaglan took the lead when he pushed the Russian out of bounds for two points. Russia challenge the decision but lost it to add one more point to Jaglan's score.

Eshinimaev did well to get to Jaglan's legs late in the final and he elevated the Indian's one leg. A two-point takedown would have given Eshinimaev the criteria lead but Jaglan hopped around defending any attempts of takedown. Eshinimaev managed to score a stepout with only seven seconds left on the clock.

Jaglan defended his 3-2 lead with ease to win his first-ever Ranking Series gold medal.

Askhab SAADULAEV (RUS) defeated Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), 6-3, in the 92kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 92kg, defending champion Askhab SAADULAEV (RUS) managed to defend his gold medal against Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), thanks to the clock which saved him from being pinned.

Saadulaev had a comfortable 5-1 lead with 20 seconds left when Dauletbekov managed a cradle for two points and then held Saadulaev on the mat. The referees called the fall but it was only after the clock had expired. Kazakhstan challenged asking for two more points but Saadulaev was exposed only once and did not come in neutral before Dauletbekov went for the fall.

The lost challenge of Kazakhstan added one more point to Saadulaev's score as he won 6-3.

Hyo Gyong CHOE (PRK) celebrates after pinning Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) in the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

DPR Korea Wins 3 Golds

The first of the three gold medals was won by Hyo Gyong CHOE (PRK) who pinned Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) in the 55kg final. Choe, a Paris 2024 bronze medalist, began with a sweep single for two points and then turned Masuda for two more and lead 4-0. Choe scored another takedown for two more points and then pancaked Masuda for a fall.

World silver medalist Ok Ju KIM (PRK) then dominated Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 10-0, to capture the gold medal at 62kg. Kim used her strong slideby to score the takedown and after some effort, she managed to turn Dudova for a 4-0 lead. Before the break, Kim also managed to score a step while defending anything that Dudova threw at her.

Dudova pressured Kim in the second period and she pushed her to the zone. But Kim flung Dudova for a four-pointer to extend her lead to 9-0. Bulgaria challenged the call but on review, it was clear that Dudova did not score any points. The lost challenge gave the winning point to Kim.

Hyon Gyong Mun (PRK) scores the final two points on Shuai ZHANG (CHN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

A hat-trick of gold was completed by Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) who claimed the 65kg title with a 14-2 technical superiority win over Shuai ZHANG (CHN).

Mun began with a four-pointer using an over-under grip but Zhang caught Mun's arm and scored two points as well. However, Mun reversed the position but she got the point only after a challenge to lead 5-2. A stepout further extended her lead to 6-2 with a stepout before the break.

Mun's strength was little too much for Zhang as she opened the second period also with a takedown and then a huge throw for four points. Zhang tried to roll out of the grip but ended up giving two more points as Mun confirmed her win.

Host Mongolia claimed a gold medal through former world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) who won the 68kg final 8-2 against Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS). After the first takedown, Enkhsaikhan hit a double-leg blast for four points to lead 6-0 but gave up two points when setting up the next takedown.

The second period went scoreless for 2:50 but Enkhsaikhan hit another double-leg for two points to confirm her win in the final.

KAJAL (IND) added another gold for India, which won two golds on Friday, by claiming the 76kg gold over Damola OJO (NGR). Kajal opened the final with a takedown to lead 2-0 and then a stepout to make it 3-0. Ojo was called passive in the second period which gave one more point to Kajal who scored two different takedowns to win 8-0.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

55kg
GOLD: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) df. Natsumi MASUDA (JPN), via fall (6-0)

BRONZE: Hansika LAMBA (IND) df. Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL), 11-0
BRONZE: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ), 8-4

62kg
GOLD: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 10-0

BRONZE: Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) df. Huan YANG (CHN), 10-0
BRONZE: MANSI (IND) df. NITIKA (IND), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) df. Shuai ZHANG (CHN), 14-2

BRONZE: Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) df. PULKIT (IND), 6-3

68kg
GOLD: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS), 6-2

BRONZE: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Gantsetseg BATSUKH (MGL), via fall (4-4)
BRONZE: Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) df. Sol Gum PAK (PRK), via fall (6-0)

76kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) df. Damola OJO (NGR), 8-0

BRONZE: PRIYA (IND) df. Tuvshinjargal TARAV (MGL), 8-0
BRONZE: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ), 7-3

Freestyle

74kg
GOLD: Sagar JAGLAN (IND) df. Tamir ESHINIMAEV (RUS), 3-2

BRONZE: JAIDEEP (IND) df. Tolui MUNKHBAT (MGL), 15-4
BRONZE: Tumen BODIEV (RUS) df. Sangho HAN (KOR), 3-1

86kg
GOLD: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) df. Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) df. Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL), 10-0
BRONZE: Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) vs. Malik SHAVAEV (KGZ)

92kg
GOLD: Askhab SAADULAEV (RUS) df. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), 6-3

BRONZE: Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) df. Ganbat TSERENPUNTSAG (MGL), 4-1
BRONZE: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) df. Punit KUMAR (IND), via fall (4-0)

China's Zhou Tandem Takes Final 2 Women's Asian Games Golds; Ryu, Ota Prevail in Greco

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Olympic Champ Ramazanov Shows No Signs of Rust on Return