#Bishkek2018

Uzbekistan Opens Asian Freestyle with Wrestlers in Four of Five Finals

Saturday, March 3, 2018 - 10:33 By Ken Marantz

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Uzbekistan shone brightest on the opening day of  men's freestyle at the Asian Championships, with Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalists Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV and Magomed IBRAGIMOV among a foursome that advanced to the finals in the five weight classes.

Navruzov, who won a second career Asian silver medal last year in New Delhi,  will aim for his first continental gold when he faces LEE Seungbong (KOR) in the 70kg final on the fifth day at the Kozhomkul Sports Palace.

Ibragimov struck gold in New Delhi, and he'll try to make it back-to-back championships with a victory in the 97kg final, where he will clash with Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI), a world U23 champion in 2017.

Ezzatollah AKBARIZARINKOLAEI (IRI) picks as a takedown on his way to the 79kg gold-medal bout. Photo: Max Rose-Fyne.

There will be another Uzbekistan-Iran duel on tap, as 2013 world silver medalist Ezzatollah AKBARIZARINKOLAEI (IRI) and Rashid KURBANOV (UZB) advanced to the 79kg gold-medal match.

Kurbanov had been a fixture on the Asian medal podium for a half-decade, winning golds in 2011 and 2013 before finishing third in 2014 and 2015. He also won a world bronze medal in 2013.

The other Uzbeki in a final will be Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV, who failed to medal at the past two Asian Championships but is now assured of nothing less than a silver. But his objective will be gold when he faces KANG Kumsong (PRK) in the 57kg final.

Uzbekistan will have a chance for five medals on the day, as Temurjon USMONOHUNOV advanced to a bronze-medal match at 65kg and a clash with KIM Kukgwang (PRK).

"It is normal," said Uzbekistan coach Olimdjan Khikmatov when asked if his squad's showing exceeded expectations. "Today is good, tomorrow will be better," he added with a smile.

The Uzbeki-less final will pit 2015 and 2016 Asian champion Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) against up-and-coming Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) for the 65kg title.

En route to the final, Takatani, the younger brother of former world silver medalist Sosuke TAKATANI, knocked off the other gold medalist from New Delhi 2017 in action on Saturday, Bajrang BAJRANG (IND), in the quarterfinals.

Bajrang has made a name for himself for giving up early points, then storming back with his extraordinary stamina and countermoves---in his first-round match, he turned a 5-0 deficit into a 16-5 technical fall.

But it was Takatani, a world junior bronze medalist in 2014, who had to come from behind, as he trailed 2-0 and 5-4 before scoring a late takedown and a step-out for a 7-5 victory.

Takatani then followed that up by scoring a pair of takedowns in each period to top Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) 8-4 in the semifinals.

Japan freestyle coach Shogo MAEDA said the new rule specifying that wrestlers weigh-in on the morning of the competition, instead of the day before, works in Takatani's favor as he is adept at weight control and assuring he is in top condition.

"Bajrang has stamina and is strong late in the match, but this time, he stopped moving and seemed winded," Maeda said. "Takatani is especially strong in tackling late in the match. He's good when the opponent stops moving, catching a leg and fighting to score.

"It was the same against Iran. He's strong in fighting to the end."

Among the more interesting matches of the morning session was the first-round clash between New Delhi 2017 silver medalist LEE Seungchul and Russian-born Haji Mohamad ALI (BRN).

Lee dominated and built up a 10-2 lead, but mistakenly stopped wrestling momentarily, thinking he had earned a technical fall. Whether or not that inspired Ali is unknown, but he suddenly came to life and ended up going ahead 16-14 before winning by fall with 1:06 left.

Unfortunately, Ali had to then default his quarterfinal match against Uzbekistan's Usmonohunov.

Freestyle
57kg (14 entries)
Gold - KANG Kumsong (PRK) v Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV (UZB)

Bronze - Zhandos ISLMAILOV (KAZ) v Nader HAJIAG HANIASAMAKOUSHI (IRI)
Bronze - SONG Hyeonsik (KOR) v Tomohiro HASEGAWA (JPN)

Semifinal - KANG Kumsong (PRK) df. Tomohiro HASEGAWA (JPN), 8-0
Semifinal - Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV (UZB) df. Nader HAJIAG HANIASAMAKOUSHI (IRI), 10-9

65kg (14 entries)
Gold - Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) v Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ)

Bronze - KIM Kukgwang (PRK) v Temurjon USMONOHUNOV (UZB)
Bronze - Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) v Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)

Semifinal - Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) df. Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI), 8-4
Semifinal - Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) df. Temurjon USMONOHUNOV (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 2:24

70kg (12 entries)
Gold - Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) v LEE Seungbong (KOR)

Bronze - Byambadorj BAD ERDENE (MGL) v Meirzhan ASHIROV (KAZ)
Bronze - Kumar VINOD (IND) v Elaman DOGDURBEK UULU (MGL)

Semifinal - Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) df. Elaman DOGDURBEK UULU (MGL), 5-2
Semifinal - LEE Seungbong (KOR) df. Meirzhan ASHIROV (KAZ), 4-3

79kg (12 entries)
Gold - Ezzatollah AKBARIZARINKOLAEI (IRI) v Rashid KURBANOV (UZB)

Bronze - LEE Yunseok (KOR) v Tsubasa ASAI (JPN)
Bronze - Turbold GANBOLD (MGL) by Default

Semifinal - Ezzatollah AKBARIZARINKOLAEI (IRI) df Turbold GANBOLD (MGL) by TF, 10-0, 3:15
Semifinal - Rashid KURBANOV (UZB) df. Tsubasa ASAI (JPN), 3-1

97kg (11 entries)
Gold - Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) v Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB)

Bronze - Aibek USUPOV (KGZ) v Takeshi YAMAGUCHI (JPN)
Bronze - Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ) v KIM Jaegang (KOR)

Semifinal - Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) df. KIM Jaegang (KOR) by TF, 11-0, 1:51
Semifinal - Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) df. Takeshi YAMAGUCHI (JPN) by TF, 10-0, 5:15

#Bishkek2018

Iran, Japan Prepped to Reign in Bishkek

Monday, February 26, 2018 - 16:06 By Ken Marantz

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At last year's Asian Senior Championships in New Delhi, Iran swept the titles in the four heaviest Greco-Roman weight classes. Three of those wrestlers will aim for back-to-back crowns in this year's tournament in Bishkek as Iran looks again to dominate the men's competitions.

Hossein NOURI (87kg), Seyedmostafa SALEHIZADEH (97kg) and Behnam MEHDIZADEH (130kg) are among the seven gold medalists from New Delhi 2017 who are listed among the entries for the 2018 edition, although with the adjustments of weight classes in line with expansion from eight to 10, not all with be "defending" their titles. 

In men's freestyle, Paris 2017 world and Rio 2016 Olympic champion Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (92kg) will lead a vastly different Iranian lineup from the team that took three golds and seven medals overall a year ago. 

Iran's lone returning freestyle medalist is Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (57kg), who finished third in New Delhi. But the Asian powerhouse will still present a formidable force, as it includes 2014 Asian champion and two-time world medalist Seyed Ahmad MOHAMMADI (70kg), and Mostafa HOSSEINKHANI (74kg), an Asian champion and world bronze medalist in 2016.

Others looking to strike gold for the second straight year are: in freestyle, the Uzbekistan pair of Bekzod ABDURAKHMANOV (74kg) and Magomed IBRAGIMOV (97kg), and India's Bajrang BAJRANG (65kg); Kazakhstan's Maxat YEREZHEPOV (77kg) in Greco-Roman; and Paris 2017 bronze medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (57kg) of host Krygyzstan in women's wrestling.

In women's wrestling, Japan, which took home five golds from New Delhi, will send none of those winners, nor any of its reigning world and Olympic champions for that matter, opting instead to give their understudies more international experience. Part of the reason is the proximity of the tournament to the Women's World Cup, to be hosted by Japan in mid-March.  

"This tournament is a bit early, as the last Asian [Championships] was in May," Japan Wrestling Federation managing director Hideaki TOMIYAMA said. "There is the factor of the season. Of course [the Women's World Cup] is the main thing."

The spotlight will be on Yuki IRIE (50kg), who won her first national title with an amazing run that included a stunning semifinal victory over Paris 2017 champion Yui SUSAKI. Irie won the 2015 Asian gold, and will head to Bishkek coming off a victory at the Ivan Yaryguin Grand Prix.

While most of the Japan team is filled with runners-up from the Japan championships--including world junior champion Yuzuru KUMANO (59kg)--Irie became a rare case and opted to join the Asian squad.  "I want to enter various international tournaments and gain experience," said Irie, a member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces' Physical Training School.

Tomiyama agreed that Irie made the right decision, giving the fierce competition among Japanese women in the lightest weight class that includes Rio 2016 Olympic champion Eri TOSAKA. "She herself decided," he said. "The others at 48 [kg] have had success, and internationally, she has to keep up." 

Meanwhile, the tournament lost the chance to see the return to continental competition of Indian legend Sushil KUMAR, a two-time Olympic freestyle medalist. He had been entered at 74kg, but Indian media reported that the 34-year-old had withdrawn to avoid aggravating a knee injury ahead of the Commonwealth Games in April. 

Kumar had come out of retirement and earned a place on India's team to Bishkek, where 11 years ago he won the second of his three Asian medals. 

In total, 33 medalists from New Delhi will be looking to add to their collection in the Krygyzstan capital for the tournament, which has been extended from five days to six to accomodate the additional weight classes.

Here's a look at some weight classes of particular interest:

Greco-Roman, Feb. 27-28

Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ) will be looking for a second straight Asian gold and fifth medal overall when he takes the mat in the new weight class of 77kg. Standing in his way will be Paris 2017 bronze medalist Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI), who warmed up for frigid Bishkek with a victory at the Takhti Cup. YANG Bin (CHN), a New Delhi 2017 bronze medalist, will also aim to be in the medal mix. 

For Japan's Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist Shinobu OTA (60kg), just getting to Bishkek was a major challenge---he had to beat world and Asian champion Keniichiro FUMITA at the national championships to make the team. Still, he can expect stiff competition from Paris 2017 silver medalist KIM Seunghak (KOR) and Takhti Cup winner Kanybek ZHOLCHUBEKOV (KGZ).

At 63kg, Paris 2017 silver medalist Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ) will attempt to improve on his runner-up finish from New Delhi, where he lost in the 59kg final to Fumita. Look for challenges from Rio 2016 bronze medalist Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB), world junior champion Keramat ABDEVALI (IRI) and Takhti Cup winner Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ).

Women’s Wrestling, March 1-2

The absence of the top Japanese leaves the fields a bit more open, while providing a good test of the depth of the Far East powerhouse. That's not to say it's a completely inexperienced team. Yu MIYAHARA, a 2014 Asian champion and winner at the Ivan Yaryguin Grand Prix in January, can certainly be considered among the favorites at 53kg, in which Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) will look to improve on her runner-up finish from 2017.

Paris 2017 champion PUREVDORJ Orkhon (MGL) will make her senior continental debut at 62kg, having gone unbeaten in individual events in 2017 and opening this year with a victory at the Ivan Yaryguin Grand Prix. Tasked with stopping her will be 2014 Asian and former world junior champion Yurika ITO (JPN) and New Delhi 2017 bronze medalist Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ).

In the upper weights, Paris 2017 bronze medalist HAN Yue (CHN) heads the field at 72kg that includesz New Delhi 2017 silver medalist Masako FURUICHI (JPN), while at 76kg, Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) and world bronze medalist Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) look to be the ones to beat. Minagawa will be looking to give herself a wedding present--she formerly competed at Hiroe SUZUKI.

Freestyle, March 3-4

Only two of the 30 weight classes could feature a rematch of a final from New Delhi 2017, and both are in freestyle. 

Last year, Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) thrilled the hometown crowd when he defeated LEE Seungchul (KOR) for the 65kg gold, but the two will be on neutral ground if they set up a rematch in Bishkek. Look for Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ), a New Delhi 2017 bronze medalist at 61kg, to try to crash the party.

At 74kg, Muslim EVLOEV (KGZ) will have the home mat advantage if he earns another shot at Bekzod ABDURAKHMANOV (UZB), who defeated him in the final a year ago. Also challenging for the gold will be Mostafa HOSSEINKHANI (IRI), a two-time world medalist and 2014 Asian champion. 

Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) will look to improve on his silver medal from New Delhi at 70kg, with opposition from double world medalist Seyed Ahmad MOHAMMADI (IRI), who will aim to add to his Asian gold from 2014. 

Schedule 

Monday, Feb. 26
16:30 - Draw: GR 55, 63, 77, 87 & 130kg 

Tuesday, Feb. 27
8:30-9:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: GR 55, 63, 77, 87 & 130kg 
10:30-13:30 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: GR 55, 63, 77, 87 & 130kg 
13:30 -  Draw: GR 60, 67, 72, 82 & 97kg 
17:30-18:00 - Opening Ceremony 
18:00-20:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: GR 55, 63, 77, 87 & 130kg 

Wednesday, Feb. 28
8:30-9:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: GR 60, 67, 72, 82 & 97kg 
10:30-13:30 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: GR 60, 67, 72, 82 & 97kg 
13:30 - Draw: WW 50, 55, 59, 68 & 76kg 
18:00-20:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: GR 60, 67, 72, 82 & 97kg 

Thursday, March 1 
8:30-9:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: WW 50, 55, 59, 68 & 76kg 
10:30-13:30 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: WW 50, 55, 59, 68 & 76kg 
13:30 - Draw: WW 53, 57, 62, 65 & 72kg 
18:00-20:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: WW 50, 55, 59, 68 & 76kg 

Friday, March 2 
8:30-9:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: WW 53, 57, 62, 65 & 72kg 
10:30-13:30 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: WW 53, 57, 62, 65 & 72kg 
13:30 - Draw: FS 57, 65, 70, 79 & 97kg 
18:00-20:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: WW 53, 57, 62, 65 & 72kg 

Saturday, March 3 
8:30-9:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: FS 57, 65, 70, 79 & 97kg 
10:30-13:30 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FS 57, 65, 70, 79 & 97kg 
13:30 - Draw: FS 61, 74, 86, 92 & 125kg 
18:00-20:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: FS 57, 65, 70, 79 & 97kg 

Sunday, March 4 
8:30-9:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: FS 61, 74, 86, 92 & 125kg 
10:30-13:30 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FS 61, 74, 86, 92 & 125kg 
18:00-20:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: FS 61, 74, 86, 92 & 125kg 
20:30 - Official Banquet