#WrestleIstanbul

Wrestling's 2022-'23 Ranking Series explainer

Friday, February 18, 2022 - 11:37 By Vinay Siwach

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ISTANBUL, Turkey (February 18) -- United World Wrestling has updated the point allocations for the '22 Ranking Series events, starting with next week's #WrestleIstanbul Yasar Dogu.

The top eight wrestlers who acquire the most points from the four Ranking Series events and the Continental Championships will earn a seed for September's World Championships, which will be held in Belgrade, Serbia. As of now, wrestlers who competed, and subsequently earned points from the Tokyo Olympic Games and Oslo World Championships, fill out the top-20 in the rankings heading into Istanbul.

Updated Ranking Series Point Distribution:
1st - 8000
2nd - 6400
3rd - 5200
5th - 4000
7th - 3520
8th - 3200
9th - 2800
10th - 2480
11th - 800
12th - 100
13th - 75
14th - 50
15th - 25
16th - 13

Additionally, the number of points awarded at a competition will also be impacted by the number of wrestlers entered in each bracket. In weight categories with 2-5 competitors, ranking points will be reduced in half and only the top three finishers will be awarded points. In brackets that feature 6-12 participants, no additional points will be added. For weight categories with 13-16 entries, an additional 3000 points will be given. For categories with 16+ wrestlers entered, an additional 5000 will be awarded.

Additional points
1 participant - no ranking or additional points
2-5 participants - ranking points reduced in half and only the first three will be awarded
6-12 participants - no additional points
13-16 participants - 3000 additional points to all wrestlers
16+ participants - 5000 additional points to all wresters

*This article is according to the new point structure which will be displayed on the UWW website after the Yasar Dogu tournament.

Jordan BURROUGHSWorld champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) can consolidate his top rank at 79kg in Istanbul. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

FS 57kg (18 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 4 Alireza SARLAK (IRI)
No. 8 Horst LEHR (GER)

Alireza SARLAK (IRI) and Horst LEHR (GER) are the two guys who have a shot at making the most noise at 57kg. Currently, Sarlak and Lehr are ranked fourth and eighth, respectively, and both can break into the top three with medal-winning performances in Turkey.

Sarlak heads into the Yasar Dogu with 37000 points from his silver-medal finish in Oslo. A gold medal in Istanbul would give him 8000 points. As the bracket sits, there are more than 16 wrestlers entered, which means he'll get an additional 5000 points.

A total of 13000 points would give Sarlak 50000 points, which is more than the current third-place wrestler, Ravi KUMAR (IND) [41400]. 

Lehr is in a similar situation, but he'll need to win the competition to move above Sarlak and Kumar. If he wins, he'll jump from 31000 to 44000 points.

65kg (28 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 2 Zagir SHAKHIEV (RWF)
No. 3 Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)

It'll be a two-way battle at 65kg.

World champion and No. 2 Zagir SHAKHIEV (RWF) can overthrow top-ranked Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) with at least a 10th place finish. Currently, the Russian has 45000 points, and with a 10th-place finish, Shakhiev will get 7480 points, bringing his overall total to 58000 points. That'd be enough to overtake Otoguro, who has 51000. 

Third-ranked Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) is at 44500 points and can grab the top-ranking with a 10th-place finish. That will take his tally to 51980 points, while gold will take him to 57500 points.

FS 70kg (21 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 2 Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
No. 3 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)

Similar to 65kg, the current second and third-placed 70kg wrestlers can be the top movers. World silver medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) is ranked second with 37000 points. He can fly past top-ranked Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), who has 45000 points.

A gold medal will take Akmataliev to 50000 points, while silver would be good for 48400. The lowest he can finish and still reach the top spot is 8th. That will give him 8200 points.

Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO), who is also entered, sits third with 31000 points. He can move up to the second rank with a tournament win, as that will take him to 44000 points.

FS 79kg (24 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 1 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)

Top-ranked world champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) can cement his place further with a medal-winning performance in Istanbul. Burroughs enters the Yasar Dogu with 45000 points. He can add 13000 points for gold, 11400 points for silver and 10200 points for bronze.

FS 86kg (22 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 7 Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)

David TAYLOR (USA), Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) and Artur NAIFANOV (RWF) have taken an enormous lead at the top from the rest of the field at 86kg. Since the three are not entered, Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) can be the biggest mover if he wins the gold in Istanbul.

The Kazak wrestler is currently in the seventh spot with 25000 points, and a medal in Istanbul can move him to the fourth spot.

FS 97kg (17 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 9 Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR)

Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR) can break into the top-three at 97kg if he can finish ninth or above. He currently has 31000 points and a ninth-place finish would take him past Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR), who has 38500 points.

Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL), placed 11th with 25000 points, can jump up to fifth in the rankings with a gold medal. That'd put him at 38000 points.

Rafiq HUSEYNOVWorld champion Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE), left, and Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) are number one and two at 82kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

GR 63kg (12 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 6 Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE)

Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) is currently ranked sixth at 63kg with 25000 points. He can jump up to the third spot with a gold or silver medal in Istanbul.

Since there are only 12 wrestlers are entered at 63kg, no entry points will be awarded.

Mammadov will get 8000 points for winning gold and 6400 points for silver. Both would be good enough to take him past both third-placed Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) and fourth-placed Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN). They both have 31000 points.

GR 72kg (14 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 3 Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU)
No. 6 Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR)

Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) and Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) could be the biggest movers at this weight. Sleiva has 31000 points and is currently ranked third. A gold-medal finish will give him 11000 points [14 participants] and take him to 42000. He'd move ahead of current second-ranked Sergei KUTUZOV (RWF) who has 37000 points. Even if he finishes as low as eighth, the Lithuanian will be ahead of Kutuzov.

Arslan has 25000 points but could jump three spots to third place. A gold-medal finish would take him to 36000 points. That'd move him ahead of Sleiva who needs at least a 10th place finish to remain ahead of Arslan. The Turkish wrestler will be guaranteed fourth if he can finish eighth or above.

GR 77kg (13 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 5 Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)

World silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) is currently ranked fifth with 37000 points. He can break into top-three with a medal finish. A bronze would take him past third-placed world champ Roman VLASOV (RWF) who has 45000 points.

GR 82kg (8 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 1 Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)
​​​​​​No. 2 Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)

Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) and Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) met in the finals at the World Championships and are ranked first and second, respectively. The two are expected to consolidate their ranks in Istanbul. Huseynov has 45000 points, while Akbudak has 37000 points. Akbudak cannot jump above Huseynov even with a gold medal.

GR 87kg (13 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 1 Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB)
No. 7 Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL)

World champion Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) sits atop the 87kg pile with 79200 points. A win would bring his point total to 90200.

Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL) is currently ranked seventh (31000 points) but has a shot at breaking into the top three. He needs to win gold, as that would take his tally to 42000 points, 800 points more than Viktor LORINCZ (HUN).

GR 97kg (21 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 4 G'Angelo HANCOCK (USA)
No. 6 Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL)

Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL) has a good chance to be in the top four if he can pull out a gold-medal win at the Yasar Dogu. He's currently ranked sixth with 34200 points, but he could jump to fourth with 13000 points. That will raise his tally to 47200 points.

G'Angelo HANCOCK (USA) also has 47200 points and is ranked fourth. To break the tie, the rank at the Olympics will be the trumping factor. In this scenario, Michalik would prevail over Hancock as he won bronze in Tokyo, while the USA wrestler finished seventh.

GR 130kg (14 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 7 Riza KAYAALP (TUR)

Greco-Roman star and former world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) can reach the fourth spot from his current seventh place with a gold-medal finish at his home turf. He has 34200 points, and the addition of an 11000-point gold medal will give him 45200 points. That'd place him 200 points ahead of the current fourth placer, Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI).

Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL)Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) can well be the top-ranked wrestler at 53kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

WW 50kg (25 participants)

Who can be big movers:
No. 5 Miglena SELISHKA (BUL)
No. 7 Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL)
No. 8 Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS)
No. 11 Alina VUC (ROU)

The top three positions at 50kg will remain unchanged, but there are four wrestlers who have a chance to break into the fourth spot of the rankings with a gold medal finish. Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) [31700 points], Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) [31000 points] and Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS) [31000 points] can replace SUN Yanan (CHN) [41400 points] with a silver-medal finish.

Depending on how the aforementioned trio of wrestlers finish, Alina VUC (ROU) could move up to fourth. She has 29600 points and is ninth in the rankings.

WW 53kg (20 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 4 Iulia LEORDA (MDA)
No. 6 Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL)
No. 9 Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)

Olympic bronze medalist and currently third-ranked Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) can topple Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) from the top spot if she can finish eighth or better in the 20-wrestler bracket. As of now, she has 43200 points. In any case, she will replace Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), who has 45000 points.

World silver medalist Iulia LEORDA (MDA) can improve from sixth to second if she wins the gold. But that's a long shot, as Bat Ochir would have to finish outside the top-10. Leorda currently has 37000 points.

Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) [31000 points] can also make a significant jump in rankings -- from ninth to fourth. She has to win a gold medal and hope that Leorda fails to finish in the top-10.

WW 55kg (15 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 3 Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR)

Third-ranked Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) can replace Nina HEMMER (GER) with a strong showing in Turkey. Khomenets has 29000 points and an eighth-place or better finish will take her past Hemmer's 35000 points.

WW 57kg (22 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 2 Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)
No. 4 Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR)

Olympic bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) will consolidate her second position in the ranking. She has 51200 points, but cannot move past Helen MAROULIS (USA) [79200 points] even if she wins a gold medal.

Tokyo silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) is currently fifth with 41400 points. She can jump up to the third spot if she finishes with a medal in Istanbul.

WW 59kg (18 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 3 Sarita MOR (IND)

World bronze medalist Sarita MOR (IND) is ranked third with 31000 points. She needs to finish in the top-10 in Istanbul to overtake Akie HANAI (JPN) for the second spot. She, however, won't be able to replace Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) from the top even if she finishes with gold.

WW 62kg (29 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 1 Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)

World champ Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA'S (KGZ) top ranking will remain untouched. She already has 86400 points but is looking to add to that total in Istanbul.

Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), who has 34200 points, can jump to third place from fifth if she manages to at least reach a medal bout at the Yasar Dogu.

Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) is ranked eighth-ranked with 29600 points. However, a  fourth rank is realistic if she wins the gold and hope that Yusein fails to finish in top-seven.

WW 65kg (19 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 3 Forrest MOLINARI (USA

Forrest MOLINARI (USA) has a chance to be second-ranked at 65kg if she finishes in the top 10 wrestlers of the weight class. The world bronze medalist currently has 31000 points and can overtake Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN). Top-ranked Irina RINGACI (MDA) won't be affected.

WW 68kg (15 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 2 Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
No. 3 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)

Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) is all set to be the top-ranked wrestler at 68kg. All she has to do is step on the mat in Istanbul. Currently, she's ranked second with 77200 points. The defending world champion will overtake Olympic champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA), who has 80000 points.

Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) is ranked third with 56400 points and can only reduce the gap to the top. A gold medal will take her to 67400 points.

WW 72kg (11 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 2 Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
No. 3 Anna SCHELL (GER)
No. 4 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR)

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) is ranked number two with 35000 points. If she wins the gold, she will be awarded 8000 points, which would tie her with top-ranked Masako FURUICHI (JPN). As Furuichi finished with gold at the World Championships and Bakbergenova had silver, the Kazak wrestler will remain at the second spot.

World bronze medalist Anna SCHELL (GER) and Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) both have 29000 points each. If they reach the final and Bakbergenova finishes outside the top-10, the gold winner will take the second spot and the silver medalist will be third.

But in most likelihood, it will be a battle of third-place between Schell and Cavusoglu Tosun.

WW 76kg (22 participants)

Who can improve their ranking the most?:
No. 3 Epp MAEE (EST)
No. 4 Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
No. 5 Samar HAMZA (EGY)

A fact: no wrestler will be able to displace Adeline GRAY (USA) from the top spot in Istanbul.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) [54000 points] and Epp MAEE (EST) [52000 points] will battle it out for the second spot at the Yasar Dogu tournament. If Maee reaches the final, Medet Kyzy needs to win at least the bronze medal to retain her second place.

If Maee manages a bronze, the Kyrgyz wrestler needs to finish eighth or above. Maee, a world silver medalist, will not be able to overtake Medet Kyzy if she finishes below the ninth spot. For that, Medet Kyzy needs to be 11th or lower.

World bronze medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) has 43300 points and can overtake Olympic champion Aline FOCKEN (GER) for the fourth spot if she can finish ninth or above. She, however, cannot go better than fourth even if she wins gold in Istanbul.

#WrestleAmman

Asian Championships 2025 GR day one finals set

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - 07:58 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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AMMAN, Jordan (March 25) -- The 2025 Asian Championships begins in Amman with Japan hoping for continental domination after a rich show at the Paris Olympics. Iran, the leader in Greco-Roman and Freestyle, will be challenged by Japan. In Women's Wrestling, Japan has China and DPR Korea.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW

Iran comes out of the sessions with four finalists and Uzbekistan manages three. All three Uzbekistan's gold medal bouts will be against Iran wrestlers.

Kazakhstan, Iraq and Japan with a finalist each. The gold medal bouts will begin at 18:00 hours local time.

130kg gold medal bout: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) vs Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)

14:33: In the final semifinal bout of the session, Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) assures himself of a fourth career Asian medal with a 4-1 win over Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB) in their 130kg semifinal. Nasimov gets the first-period passivity call, but can't turn Syzdykov. In the second period, Syzdykov gains a stepout, then pretty much puts the match away with a gut wrench from par terre as Nasimov can find no way to break through the Kazakh's defenses. Syzdykova has the full collection of medals — a silver in 2021, a gold in 2022 and a bronze in 2023. What color will this year's be?

14:28: U23 world champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) makes it to the 130kg final with an 8-0 technical superiority win over Yuta NARA (JPN). Takedown, stepout, takedown and two turns help him win 9-0 in one minute and seven seconds.

87kg gold medal bout: Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) vs Yasin YAZDI (IRI)

14:21: Yasin YAZDI (IRI) is into the final at 87kg in just his second international tournament on the senior level, getting the points in par terre for a correct throw while avoiding giving any away while in bottom in a 3-1 victory over Sunil KUMAR (IND).

14:20: Former Asian champion Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) is into the final at 87kg after a fairly one-sided victory over Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ) in the semifinal. Berdimuratov hit a suplex from par terre to lead 5-0 before defending the par terre position in the second period to win 5-1.

77kg gold medal bout: Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) vs Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI)

14:10: Two-time reigning world U20 champion Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) is into the final at 77kg in his senior Asian debut, outlasting a determined Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) in a lively 4-3 victory. Maksatbek Uulu, winner of the Tirana Ranking Series tournament and a 2023 world U23 bronze medalist, is on top in par terre first, but Abdevali extricates himself from a front headlock. The Iranian then dances out of potential stepouts and, in final seconds of the first period, gets behind for a takedown and a 2-1 lead. Abdevali scores a pair of stepouts, and those points prove vital when Maksatbek Uulu gets behind for a takedown.  

14:05: Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), who has only a bronze medal at the Asian Championships back in 2018, is guaranteed a silver medal as he moves into the 77kg final with a 9-0 win over Amro SADEH (JOR), dashing the hopes of the hosts.  

63kg gold medal bout: Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) vs Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB)

13:58: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR), the returning bronze medalist at 63kg, hits off a correct throw for two points from par terre to lead Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) 3-0 at the break. Keshtkar gets the par terre in the second period and he fails to put his hands on Chung twice and is asked to resume in standing. A huge blunder from Keshtkar. Chung leads 3-1. Keshtkar gets the third passivity advantage and par terre. This time he puts his hands correctly and completes a throw outside for a point. Chung is docked two points for an aggressive elbow and asked to restart in par terre. Chung sneaks out. He pressures Keshktar for a stepout but the Iranian hits a chest wrap for four to lead 8-3 with 13 seconds on the clock. Challenge from Korea for stepout. On review, the step is inside and Keshtkar gets four points. He leads 9-3 and will win with hte same score.

13:56: It doesn't get more fast and furious than the 63kg semifinal between Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) and Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB). Assetuly opens the scoring with a takedown and a 2-point throw, only to see Khalmakhanov come back with a 4-point fireman's carry, to which he added a 4-point throw. But when he tried another throw at the edge, Assetuly shut it down and forced the Uzbek to land on his back to get 2, with an unsuccessful challenge tacking on another point. Assetuly caps the first period with a stepout for a 9-7 lead. The second period is all Khalmakhanov, who finishes off a 16-7 win with a takedown straight to a roll.

55kg gold medal bout: Kohei YAMAGIWA (JPN) vs Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ)

13:45: Defending champion Yu Chol RO (PRK) falls to Kohei YAMAGIWA (JPN) after a tense semifinal at 55kg. Ro built a 5-0 lead in the first period but Yamagiwa answers with a a big four from par terre to lead 5-5 on criteria. Ro tries a arm-throw that is blocked by Yamagiwa who gets a out-of-bounds point. DPR Korea challenge but lost and Yamagiwa leads 7-5. Ro with a front headlock two to make it 7-7 but Yamagiwa leads on criteria. The Japanese brings out a arm-throw to make it 11-7. With five seconds left, Ro manages to hit a body throw which is scored only two points. Yamagiwa is asked to be in par terre but fails to score and Yamagiwa wins 11-9.

13:37: In the 55kg semifinals, Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ) fights back from a five-point deficit to not only take the lead, but finish off Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) with a fall and assured a better medal than the bronze he took home last year. Botirov, a bronze medalist in 2023, makes the most of his first shot at par terre, scoring with a gut wrench and then going top for a headlock roll, although Albidhan squirmed out of that and got behind for a reversal. Trailing 5-1, he then scores a 4-point takedown to the back when Botirov momentarily loses his balance to go ahead 5-5 on criteria. In the second period, Albidhan scores a takedown, gets 2 for an exposure, then holds Botirov down for the fall at 4:27.  

Semifinals in the five weight classes begin now

13:15: Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) gets Sanghyeok PARK (KOR) in par terre and Park is cautioned for fleeing. Berdimuratov finishes the bout 10-0 after Park is asked to restart in par terre. Berdimuratov into the 87kg semifinal.

13:14: Sunil KUMAR (IND), a silver medalist back in 2019 looking to regain some of his old magic, gives India a presence in the opening-day semifinals with a 10-1 victory over Sukhrob ABDULKHAEV (TJK) at 87kg. Sunil scores all of his points in the second period, getting two gut wrenches from par terre with a 2-point penalty tacked on after the second one; a point for an unsuccessful challenge of the penalty; then a 2-point roll to finish the match at 4:25.

13:04: World U23 and U20 champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) emulates his compatriot Yazdi, building up a 7-0 lead in his 130kg quarterfinal before using a stepout to defeat Asian U23 champion Wenhao JIANG (CHN) 8-0.

13:03: Yasin YAZDI (IRI) gives Iran another semifinalist with an 8-0 win over Jiaxin HUANG (CHN). Yazdi scores three rolls in par terre for a 7-0 lead. He needs just 28 seconds of the second period to finish off the victory.

13:00: Seonjae KIM (KOR) with two turns from par terre to lead 5-0 against Yuta NARA (JPN) at the break in the 130kg quarterfinal. But Nara shows up in the second and scores six turns from par terre to win 13-5 and enter the semifinals. But Korea challenge for the last turn and wins the challenge to give a lifeline to Kim. But Nara holds on to win to However, Nara scores a stepout in the final second and a caution for fleeing against Kim. A 13-5 win for Nara.

13:00: Former Asian champion and three-time medalist Alimkhan SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) proves too much for Ali AL SHARIJEE (IRQ), chipping away before posting an 8-0 victory to advance to the 130kg semifinals.

12:56: Russian-born Shamil OZHAEV (KGZ) gets a takedown late in the first period to take a 2-2 lead on criteria over world U23 bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) in their 87kg quarterfinal. in the second period, Ozhaev appears to get a takedown-roll combination at the edge, but on challenge, it is ruled a stepout for Zhanyshov. Just when it looks like he's going to hold on for a win, Ozhaev arm drags him to the mat for the winning takedown in the final seconds. The move is upheld on challenge for a 5-3 win. 

12:49: Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ), the 2023 world U23 champion and 2021 Asian champion at 67kg, cruised into the 63kg semifinals with a 9-0 rout of Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ).

12:45: Incredible strength from AYTJAN KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) to throw Chan KIM (PRK) with a underhook setup. He gets the par terre and then scores another four-pointer to win 9-0 in a minute and 43 seconds at 63kg.

12:45: World U23 bronze medalist Kohei YAMAGIWA (JPN) hits a nifty 4-point spinning arm throw in the second period to top off a 6-0 victory Yun LU (CHN) to book his spot in the 55kg semifinals.

12:36: World U20 champion Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) is through to the semifinals at 77kg with an 11-2 victory over Lai Hsing YAO (TPE).

12:35: Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) gets the par terre advantage in the 63kg bout against Godai MITANI (JPN) and he fails to score. Iran quickly challenge for a fleeing foul against Mitani who is cautioned for fleeing and returned in par terre with Keshtkar leading 2-0. However, he fails to add any points. Keshtkar make it 4-0 with a takedown. In the second period, Keshtkar scores a stepout as Mitani's head touched out of bounds. Mithani gets a lifeline with par terre with 1:55 left on the clock. Mitani's a few tricks but fails to add any points. He later scores a stepout and makes it 5-2. Keshtkar answers with a four-pointer and wins the bout 9-2

12:35: Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB), a bronze medalist two years ago, makes short work of 2024 bronze medalist Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ), scoring four gut wrenches from par terre for a 9-0 victory and a place in the 55kg semifinals.

12:31: In one of the feature bouts of the session, defending champion Yu Chol RO (PRK) gets the first shot at par terre in his 55kg quarterfinal with Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), but the Iranian doesn't budge. In the second period, Dad Marz gets his shot, and he also can't get any points. With 1:16 to go, Ro gets a second chance, and this time he muscles Dad Marz over for 2, then hangs on for hard-fought 3-1 victory. It was a far different result from last year in Bishkek, when Ro scored a 9-0 win for the gold medal.

12:30: Back and forth match at 55kg between Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ) and Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ). Albidhan races to a 7-0 lead but Kamaliyev adds a takedown from scramble to cut it to 7-2 at the start of the second period. Kamaliyev keeps the pressue and as Albidhan tries to evade, he called for a foul and par terre with a 7-3 lead. He reverses the position and scores two turns to win 12-3.

12:22: Amro SADEH (JOR) gives the home crowd another impressive victory, capping a 10-0 victory over Sagar THAKRAN (IND) with a 4-point throw from par terre to book a place in the semifinals at 77kg.

12:20: Hekim GURBANMYRADOV (TKM) got two points on Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) at 77kg but Maksatbek Uulu, who recently won gold in Tirana Ranking Series, scores 10 to win 10-2

12:17: Kim CHAN (PRK), a bronze medalist at 63kg a year ago, has a scary moment when he was stopped on his back during a roll by Suhib ALHASANAT (JOR), but otherwise has no trouble scoring a 13-2 victory.

12:10: Paris Olympics fifth placer Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) needs one par terre advantage to sprint to a 9-0 technical superiority victory over 2022 Asian champion Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) at 77kg

12:08: Two-time Asian U23 champion Haodong TAN (CHN) pulls off a miracle victory over Iranian-born Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT), scoring 4 points in the final seconds for a 6-3 win. Mohammadi had gone ahead 3-2 with a second-period takedown and appeared to have the victory well in hand. Qatar has had just one Asian medalist in its history, a freestyle silver in 2018 from Georgian-born Giorgi Sakandelidze.

12:07: Ali AL SHARUEE (IRQ) with a big 9-0 win over PREM (IND) at 130kg. Al Sharuee with a stepout and caution to lead 2-0. He gets the par terre advantage to lead 3-0. Three turns from par terre and he wins 9-0

12:03: Takedown and three turns will do it for multiple time Asian medalist Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) against Ganbayar NAMSRAI (MGL) at 63kg. Chung is chasing the elusive gold he fell short in 2023

12:00: Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) with a takedown and gut-wrench for a 4-0 lead over Abduvali RAHIMBAYEV (TKM). Botirov blocks an attempted takedown from Rahimbayev which is scored two. Turkmenistan challenges but lost. The restart is in par terre and Botirov gets the turn for a 9-0 win

11:59: Can Mostafa ALQADE (JOR) make it 2-for-2 for the hosts? He gets the roll from par terre against Asian U23 champion Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ), but Kamaliyev reverses him to his back. A foul, puts Kamaliyev on top and he adds a gut wrench for a 6-3 lead. In the second period, Kamaliyev gets the passivity call, and from par terre bulls Alqade over for 2 before ending the match by fall.

11:50: Defending 55kg champion Yu Chol RO (PRK) advances to the quarterfinals with a 9-0 victory over NITIN (IND), setting up a rematch of the 2024 final with Poya DAD MARZ (IRI). 

11:55: Kohei YAMAGIWA (JPN) has to do it twice but he beats Junsik YU (KOR) 11-1 at 55kg. Yamagiwa with a reverse lift and then a front headlock throw to  lead 7-1. He then gets a four-pointer for the win.

11:45: Another fall on Mat A. Hekim GURBANMYRADOV (TKM) needs only a minute to pin Orgil NYAM ERDENE (MGL) at 77kg. 55kg weight class matches on Mat A now.

11:42: Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), the 2022 gold medalist at 72kg, gets three rolls from par terre, then gives up nothing from the bottom for a 7-1 victory over Dowon LEE  (KOR) at 77kg. 

11:42: Amro SADEH (JOR) gets off to a good start at 77kg for the host nation, which hasn't had an Asian medalist since 2013. He scores a 4-point throw in the first period, then hangs for a 6-6 victory on criteria over Jixin YU (CHN).    

11:30: Not the ideal start for Japan here. Kodai SAKURABA (JPN) gives an injury walkover to U20 world champion Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) at 77kg. Next match on Mat A, Sagar THAKARAN (IND) gets a quick fall over Aryan BIN AZMAN (SGP) at 77kg in the first 30 seconds.

11:15: Welcome to Amman! The Asian Championships is here with Greco-Roman on day one. Wrestling in 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg will wrestle today.