#AsianGames2018

World and Olympic Champs Yazdani, Kawai Aim to Add Asiad Golds

Friday, August 17, 2018 - 19:23 By Ken Marantz

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JAKARTA, Indonesia (August 17) - Six months after the Asian Championships in Bishkek, the continent's elite wrestlers are back together again, but with fewer prizes at stake. That aspect only enhances the competition. 

The wrestling program at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta runs from Aug. 19 to 22, but the fields in this edition of the quadrennial event are limited to the 18 Olympic weight classes---six each in the three styles. A number of Bishkek medalists, including three champions, from the four missing divisions have either gone up or down in a bid to get in on the action.

Heading the list of entries are two wrestlers currently holding both the world and Olympic titles, Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) and Risako KAWAI (JPN). Both will be aiming to add a first Asiad gold to their extensive medal collections.

Yazdani, who won the Rio 2016 Olympic gold in the freestyle 74kg class, has successfully made the jump up two divisions to the next Olympic weight class of 86kg, capturing the world title at Paris 2017. He followed that up by cruising to his first career Asian gold in Bishkek. 

The 23-year-old Yazdani is the prohibitive favorite at 86kg, where the runner-up in Bishkek, Uitumen ORGODOL (MGL), will try to get another shot at beating the Iranian star. Also entered is Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), who was third in Bishkek and, for what it's worth, the only opponent to score a point on Yazdani among his three technical fall victories. Rashid KURBANOV (UZB), the 2014 Asiad champion at 74kg, will have to deal with moving up a weight class, after winning the 79kg gold in Bishkek.

World and Olympic champion, Risako KAWAI (JPN). Photo by Martin Gabor 

Kawai, one of the four Japanese women's champions in Rio, is entered at 62kg, although she will drop down to 59kg in a bid for a second straight world title in Budapest in October. Because of the early deadline for entries, Japan's team to Jakarta was based on the results from the national championships back in December, in which Kawai won at 62kg. 

Kawai, who has not lost since being defeated in the final of the 2015 world championships by Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL), could clash with another Mongolian world champion in Jakarta. 

Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), the gold medalist at 63kg at Paris 2017, has won nine consecutive international tournaments, including a victory in Bishkek. Another wrestler who can't be overlooked is Sakshi MALIK (IND), whose bronze medal at Rio 2016 made her India's first female Olympic medalist. She was second in Asia in 2017 and third this year. 

In addition to Yazdani, Kawai and Purevdorj, there are three other reigning world champions making the trip to Jakarta. Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) will be the favorite in freestyle 57kg, while Haruna OKUNO (JPN), the women's 55kg champion in Paris, has dropped down to 53kg. RYU Han-Soo (KOR), one of eight defending Asian Games champions in the tournament, heads the field at Greco-Roman 67kg.

In total, there will be 15 medalists from Paris 2017 and eight from Rio 2016 (including Yazdani and Kawai in both groups) taking the mat in Jakarta. There are 17 champions from Bishkek 2018, and 10 weight classes could see rematches between the finalists.

In terms of depth, two weight classes in particular stand out. The brackets in Greco-Roman 77kg will not only include the gold and silver medalists from Bishkek 2018, but the champions from the weight classes immediately above and below it. 

YANG Bin (CHN) by Martin Gabor. 

Champion YANG Bin (CHN) will contend in a division that also features teenager Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), who thrilled the home crowd in Bishkek when he won the 72kg gold, as well as Ashkat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ), who captured the 82kg title. 

Added to that trio is KIM Hyeong-Woo (KOR), who won the 75kg title at the last Asian Games in Incheon in 2014 and the world title the previous year, and Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI), the runner-up to Yang in Bishkek and a world bronze medalist.

Fireworks can also be expected at freestyle 74kg, in which Bekzod ABDURAKHMANOV (UZB) will aim to win a second straight Asian Games gold and make up for a disappointing showing at Bishkek, where, as defending Asian champion, he finished out of the medals. Standing in his way will be Mostafa HOSSEINKHANI (IRI), veteran Susil KUMAR (IND) and Yuhi FUJINAMI (JPN). 

Hosseinkhani, a two-time Asian champion and former world bronze medalist, had to settle for the bronze in Bishkek. Kumar, the 35-year-old two-time Olympic medalist, had to skip Bishkek due to injury, but prepped for Jakarta by taking the gold at the Commonwealth Games. Fujinami, who has fully recovered from a cheek fracture suffered in May, won a bronze medal at Paris 2017, where he defeated Hosseinkhani in the third round.

Here's a look at other weight classes of interest:

Yui TAKAHASHI (JPN) by Tony Rotundo. 

Freestyle, Aug. 19-20
World champion Takahashi skipped the Asian Championships, and in his absence, unheralded KANG Kum-song (PRK) impressively scraped his way to the 57kg gold. At Paris 2017, Takahashi had his hands full in a third-round clash with Bekhbayar ERDENET (MGL), scoring a 4-4 win by big point. Those three, along with 2017 Asian bronze medalist Reza ATRINAGHARCHI and Sandeep TOMAR (IND), should battle for the medals.

At 96kg, Russian-born Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) will look to add the Asiad gold to the Asian titles he won in 2017 and 2018 and his Olympic bronze in Rio. While a heavy favorite, he could be challenged by Magomed MUSAEV (KAZ), another Russian native who won a silver medal at the 2014 Asian Games, and Alizreza KARAMIMACHIANI, the 2017 Asian champion at 86kg who is returning from a six-month ban for purposely losing a match at the U-23 World Championships in November to avoid facing an Israeli opponent in the next round. 

Georgian-born David MODZMANASHVILI (UZB), a London 2012 silver medalist, will look for more Asian success at 125kg to go with his gold in Bishkek, while Parvis HADI BASMANJ (IRI) aims to defend his Asiad title.

Yuki IRIE (JPN) by Max Rose-Fyne

Women's Wrestling, Aug. 20-21
Yuki IRIE (JPN) earned her ticket to Jakarta at 50kg by beating world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) at the national championships. That also put her on the team to Bishkek, but she suffered a close loss to Vinesh VINESH (IND) and had to settle for a bronze. Irie has since lost twice to Susaki to miss out on the world championships, giving her even more incentive to take the Asian Games gold. 

Vinesh will try to improve on her runner-up finish from Bishkek, while also in the mix will be Rio 2016 bronze medalist SUN Yanan (CHN) and KIM Son-Hyang (PRK), a bronze medalist at Paris 2017. Of note is that Irie defeated Sun by fall at the Women's World Cup in March, but just edged Kim 8-7 at the Yarygin Grand Prix in January. 

At 53kg, world champion Okuno, like most top Japanese, skipped the Asian Championships to focus on the World Cup hosted by Japan. In her absence, PAK Yong-Mi (PRK) and Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) took the gold and silver medals, respectively, and should be her main competition in Jakarta.

China can be expected to dominate the two heaviest weight classes, with Bishkek 2018 champions FENG Zhou (68kg) and ZHOU Qian (76kg) well established as the favorites. Feng is a defending Asiad champion, while Zhou was the 2015 world silver medalist.

Shinobu OTA (JPN) by Sachiko Hotaka

Greco-Roman, Aug. 21-22
Now that Rio 2016 silver medalist Shinobu OTA (JPN) has finally gotten the best of Paris 2017 champion and top domestic rival Kenichiro FUJITA (JPN), he can start concentrating on bringing home more international hardware at 60kg. Coming off his victory in Bishkek, Ota could face a rematch with teenager RI Se-Ung. 

The division also includes Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ), who was second at both the Asian and World Championships in 2017, losing both finals to Fumita. He was third in Bishkek at 63kg.

At 67kg, world champion Ryu will face a challenge from a pair of Asian champions. Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) won the 63kg gold in Bishkek, but has moved up to join 67kg champion Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ). And for good measure, Bishkek silver medalist Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN) joins the fray. 

The heavier weights are currently the domain of Iran. Hossein NOURI (87kg) and Behnam MEHDIZADEH (130kg) both successfully defended their Asian titles in Bishkek and are the hot favorites, while Aliakbar HEIDARI (97kg), third at the World Military Championships, heads what is arguably the most open weight class. 

Schedule 
Saturday,  Aug. 18
11:00 - 12:00 - Draw for all weight classes

Sunday,  Aug. 19
11:00-12:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: FS 57, 65, 74, 86 & 97kg 
13:00-17:00 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FS 57, 65, 74, 86 & 97kg 
19:00-21:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: FS 57, 65, 74, 86 & 97kg 

Monday,  Aug. 20
11:00-12:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: FS 125kg; WW 50, 53, 57, 62kg 
13:00-17:00 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FS 125kg; WW 50, 53, 57, 62kg 
19:00-21:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: FS 125kg; WW 50, 53, 57, 62kg 

Tuesday,  Aug. 21
11:00-12:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: WW 68, 76kg; GR 60, 67 kg
13:00-17:00 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: WW 68, 76kg; GR 60, 67 kg
19:00-21:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: WW 68, 76kg; GR 60, 67 kg

Wednesday,  Aug. 22
11:00-12:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: GR 77, 87, 97, 130kg
13:00-17:00 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: GR 77, 87, 97, 130kg
19:00-21:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: GR 77, 87, 97, 130kg

#WrestleSamokov

Onishi, Blaze reach final at U20 World Championships

Tuesday, August 19, 2025 - 06:38 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 18) -- Japan and India emerged as the two countries with two finalists each in Women's Wrestling at the World U20 Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria on Tuesday.

Defending champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) will look to become a two-time world U20 champion after she reached the 59kg final and 2023 world U20 champion Ray HOSHINO (JPN) made it to the 68kg final.

India had two wrestlers in action and both made the final. TAPSYA (IND) shocked returning champion Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) at 57kg while returning bronze medalist SRISHTI (IND) made it to the final after beating Laura KOEHLER (GER).

Onishi, a senior Asian champion, completed his third technical superiority of the day as she defeated Aubre KRAZER (USA), 10-0, in the semifinals. Onishi used a leg lace to lead 8-0 before an exposure finished the bout 10-0.

For the gold medal, she will face Karin SAMUELSSON (SWE) who earned the chance at the expense of European U20 and U23 champion Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE), who was handed her first defeat of the year.

Samuelsson needed a challenge and some extra-ordinary defense in the final 10 seconds to win the bout 8-7 against Hurbanova. The match hung in balance when Samuelson had a 6-5 lead but Hurbanov managed to hit a leg-attack score a takedown. As Samuelson tried to attack, Hurbanova pulled the Sweden wrestler's hair and was cautioned after a challenge, giving a 7-7 criteria lead to Samuelson.

Hurbanova bodylocked Samuelson in the final seven seconds and tried to drive her out but Samuelson stood taller on her toes to overpower that attempt and win. Azerbaijan challenged but it was for no gain.

Another Nordic country made history as Norway got a finalist in Women's Wrestling. Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) rallied to beat Anna STRATAN (KAZ), 12-2, and became the first Norway wrestler to enter the World U20 Championships final in Women's Wrestling in 15 years.

She will now try to become the first world U20 champion from Norway in 37 years on Wednesday when she faces Tapsya in the final after the Indian defeated Uchida in the semifinal 4-3 with a takedown in the final 10 seconds.

Uchida had a 3-2 lead with a takedown in the second period but struggled with injury in her ankle and needed medical timeout with 15 seconds left in the match. Tapysa waited for the final five seconds before she went for the far and cradled Uchida for two points as time finished and she won 4-3.

At 68kg, Hoshino was in trouble in her semifinal, falling behind 5-0 at the break against Odzaya ERDENEBAT (MGL) but she scored a quick takedown to cut it to 5-2. Another takedown later, she used the arm-bar to pin Erdenebat and win the semifinal.

Srishti scored a huge four-pointer in her semifinal against Kuehler and three setpout to complete a 7-3 win and set up a clash with Hoshino.

U.S. gets 2 more finalists

The United States had two more finalists in Freestyle as returning bronze medalist Marcus BLAZE (USA) and Maxwell MCENELLY (USA) won their respective semifinals at 61kg and 86kg respectively.

In the 61kg semifinals, Blaze rolled to a 15-4 technical superiority against Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (UWW). The match began with Magamedkhanov chestwrap for two but Blaze planted him for two as well to take criteria lead.

The bout then turned one-sided as Blaze scored a takedown and Magamedkhanov was cautioned for locking hands with Blaze. The bout began in par terre with Blaze leading 5-2. Blaze scored four points by turning Magamedkhanov twice before a lost challenge added one more point to his score for a 10-2 lead at the break.

Blaze got another takedown when Magamedkhanov missed a shot and then a turn finished the bout 15-4.

The 2023 world U17 champion Blaze will now take on another former world U17 champion in Ahora KHATERI (IRI) who wrestled an almost perfect semifinal against Adlan SAITIEV (UWW), winning 3-1.

Saitiev opened the scoring when he was given a point for Khateri's passivity. But the Iranian scored a takedown and then was given a point for Saitiev's passivity in the second period.

At 86kg, Mcenelly needed a late takedown to overcome senior Asian champion Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) and earn himself a chance to win gold medal. Rahmani was slow to pick up pace in the match and Mcenelly built a 3-1 lead.

But Rahmani did show more speed in the second period and he scored a takedown using a beautiful duck under to lead 3-3 on criteria. A stepout made it 4-3 for Rahmani.

With 30-seconds left on the clock, Rahmani planted one foot in the center with no position and Mcenelly pounced on him in a split second scoring a takedown after some effort and led 5-4.
Rahmani got a point for Mcenelly's fleeing but kept the criteria for a 5-5 win. He will now try to beat Bozigit ISLAMGEREEV (UWW) who defeated Ahmet YAGAN (TUR), 5-1, to enter the final.

The morning session updates follow

14:00: 2023 world U20 champion Ray HOSHINO (JPN) with a 12-2 win over Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR) at 68kg and then defending 59kg champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) completes a 10-0 win over Yifan ZHU (CHN) to enter the semifinal at 59kg.

13:54: No problems for Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) as she sees off ALIMOVA (LTU) 10-0 and reaches the semifinal at 57kg against TAPSYA (IND). In the other semifinal, European U20 champion Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) will take on Anna STRATAN (KAZ), a former world U17 bronze medalist 

13:45: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) with a fall over Mohammad UMKHADJIEV (FRA) at 86kg and moves into the semifinal. He is looking to upgrade his bronze medal from 2024.

13:40: Ahora KHATERI (IRI) gave up four stepouts and was cautioned once as Allan ORALBEK (KAZ) led 5-0. One stepout for Khateri before the break to make it 5-1. The second period is better for Khateri who begins with a takedown to cut the lead to 5-3. A point for passivity from Oralbek make it 5-4. Khateri with a leg attack and drives Oralbek out with takedown and scores two points to lead 6-5 and win the bout.

13:32: Marcus BLAZE (USA) is on a different level than the field at 61kg in Samokov. He gets his positions, waits for other wrestlers move and then launches his own. That's what Asian U20 champion Askat TOKTOMATOV (KGZ) got in the 61kg quarterfinals. Blaze got the point for passivity first and then an ankle pick and turn made it 5-0. In the second period, Blaze waited for almost two minutes but got a cradle and then a turn to make it 9-0. A reversal point for Toktomatov but Blaze finishes with a takedown and wins 11-1.

13:22: Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE), European U20 champion and unbeaten this year, gets an easy 6-0 win over Rahma BEDIWY (EGY) and moves into the quarterfinals at 59kg.

13:18: Adlan SAITIEV (UWW) hangs on for a desperate 17-9 win at 61kg and makes the semifinals! Saitiev got good laces to lead 14-5 at the break against Ajay KAPADE (IND) who began with some good forward pressure in the second period and gets a takedown. Saitiev was struggling with conditioning but he scored one takedown in the second period as well the 9 point lead was too much to cover for Kapade.

13:10: A 27-second finish for defending champion at 59kg Sakura ONISHI (JPN). She leg laces Mariia MIZIURKO (UKR) to advance to the quarterfinals

12:57: 2023 world U20 champion Ray HOSHINO (JPN) overpowers Jordyn FOUSE (USA) in their 68kg bout and wins 13-2. Fouse failed to get past Hoshino in those scrambles.

12:55: Aubre KRAZER (USA) mounts a comeback after being 3-0 down against Erdenebolor LKHAGVASUREN (MGL) at 59kg and wins 10-3 and advance to the quarterfinals.

12:50: Defending 57kg champion Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) looks so comfortable. She warms up with a 10-0 win over Anna KOEBLO (HUN)

12:45: That is history for Angola! Joseth MAVUNGU (ANG), the first-ever woman enter for a World Championships from the country, pulls off a fall over Ilinka STEFANOVA (BUL) in a back-and-forth bout at 68kg. First win at the world level for Angola in women's wrestling.

12:32: Odzaya ERDENEBAT (MGL) gets the fall over world U17 champion Wenjin QIU (CHN) at 68kg! Erdenbat reached the far leg of Qiu and picked her for four-points before finishing the bout 11-0 and advance

12:15: In a rematch of the European U20 final at 57kg, Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) once again beats Tindra DALMYR (SWE). Domajeva got a takedown and a point for passivity and hung to her 3-1 lead for the win at 57kg.

12:05: Ahora KHATERI (IRI) must thank his luck that he managed to hang on for an 8-6 victory over Omar AYOUB (PUR) at 61kg. Ayoub had a 6-1 lead at the break but a takedown and stepout made it 6-4 for Khateri. Ayoub then gave a point for passivity and takedown in final seconds and drop the bout against the Iranian who is former world U17 champ.

11:55: Askat TOKTOMATOV (KGZ) tried pinning Takuto OSEDO (JPN) but the Japanese managed to survive. Toktomatov hit the same cut-back for four points again in the second period and pinned Osedo at 61kg and book a place in the quarterfinal against Marcus BLAZE (USA)

11:46: Adlan SAITIEV (UWW) scores two takedowns in his 61kg bout against Andrii SHOKALIUK (UKR) and wins 4-1 and advance to the quarterfinals.

11:32: Marcus BLAZE (USA) is into the quarterfinals at 61kg after European U20 champion Sargis BEGOYAN (ARM) is given three cautions and is out. In typical Blaze style, he is on a relentless attacking spree and Begoyan keeps evading. But a takedown right at the break makes it 3-0 for Blaze. They offered one for fleeing but not given. Begoyan gets on board in the second period with a head-outside finish for a takedown and makes it 3-2. A flurry of action and Blaze gets a stepout which Armenia challenges but lost which makes it 5-2 for Blaze with over a minute left in the bout. Blaze gets another point for open hands from Begoyan to lead 6-2. A caution for for Blaze for not engaging and one point for Begoyan. But two cautions against Begoyan for aggressive open hands and he is cautioned out of the match. 

11:20: That match felt like it went on for ages! European U20 silver medalist Sevim AKBAS (TUR) falls to Mariia MIZIURKO (UKR), 7-5, at 59kg. Miziurko had a big four-pointer which proved to be the difference. 

11:07: Returning bronze medalist at 68kg SRISHTI (IND) with a big double-leg for four to get a 10-0 win over Pan-Am U20 champion Eduarda RODRIGUES (BRA). Srishti is also the Asian U23 champion this year.

11:05: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ), the Asian U20 champion at 68kg, scores a 10-0 win over Sheng Fang CAI (TPE) at 68kg. While she has frequently won medals at the Asian level, Tashtanbekova is looking for her first world medal.

10:55: Sabina TOREY (KAZ) with a quick fall over Michaela SEBOEKOVA (SVK) at 68kg to begin her international debut for Kazakhstan.

10:53: 2023 world U20 champion Ray HOSHINO (JPN) was in all sorts of trouble as returning silver medalist Ayse ERKAN (TUR) got her pinned on the mat in the 68kg bout. But Hoshino managed to move her head outside. Erkan had built a 6-0 lead before Hoshino scored a go-behind and then used an arm-bar to pin Erkan. All that in just two minutes.

10:50: Returning bronze medalist and senior Asian champion Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) puts a takedown clinic and beats Grigor CHERNAKOV (BUL) at 86kg. Rahmani is one of the favorites to win the gold in Samokov.

10:35: Adlan SAITIEV (UWW), who failed to medal last year, begins with a 10-1 win over Danoush JOWKAR (GBR) at 61kg. He won a silver medal at the European U20 Championships and now hoping for a world medal as well.

10:20: European U20 champion Sargis BEGOYAN (ARM) completes a first-period technical superiority win over Haci ZADE (TUR) at 61kg. Begoyan is looking to a world medal to his resume after the bronze he won in 2022 world U17.

10:15: Marcus BLAZE (USA) has to be one of the most exciting talents in Freestyle out there. The returning bronze medalists takes only 87 seconds to gut-wrench Sandro HUNGERBUEHLER (SUI) and 10-0 at 61kg.

10:00: The U20 World Championships will see the final two Freestyle weight classes, 61kg and 86kg, in action on Tuesday and the start of Women's Wrestling with 57kg, 59kg and 68kg.