Alizadeh defends Asian title in clash of '21 champs

Tuesday, April 19, 2022 - 16:02 By Ken Marantz

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 19) -- Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) can certainly take pride in winning a second straight gold medal at the Asian Championships. Particularly since he had to beat another champion from 2021 to do it.

Defending champion Alizadeh defeated Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) 3-1 in an intense Greco-Roman 87kg final on the opening day of the six-day tournament at the Buyant Ukhaa Sports Palace in the Mongolian capital.

"I am part of the national team and it’s an honor," said Alizadeh, who was also a world U23 bronze medalist in 2021.

Alizadeh's ability to take advantage of the par terre position, while being able to defend when he was put on bottom, made the difference in beating Berdimuratov, who won the 82kg gold last year in Almaty.

"The final is always tough and I had the point for passivity in the first period. I managed to score from par terre and lead 3-0," Alizadeh said. "In the second period, he got the passivity but I was determined to defend. In my mind, I was thinking that I have to only defend this attack to win."

Alizadeh was somewhat amazed that he could achieve the golden repeat.

"It’s a special feeling to win two Asian gold medals," he said. "Last year and now I am again champion. Incredible."

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) captured his second Asian Championships title. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mard)

Kyrgyzstan took two of the four other titles at stake Tuesday, with Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) winning at 77kg and unheralded Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) putting on an impressive run to capture the 63kg gold.

Makhmudov wasn't overly dominant in picking up his second Asian gold but got the job done in notching a 3-1 victory over veteran Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ) in the 77kg final.

Makhmudov, who won the 72kg title on home soil in Bishkek in 2018 as a teenager, scored with a gut wrench in his chance at par terre in the second period to win.

"What's the difference between 2018 and now?" Makmudov said. "I can say that today I am more experienced, I am not a young guy like I was back in 2018."

For his part, Yerezhepov, who will turn 32 years old later this week, added a seventh Asian medal to his collection, which includes gold from 2017.

In another indication of the changing of the guard, Makhmudov had to get by former Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), who had won five Asian titles between 2010 and 2019. Makhmudov won their semifinal clash 4-1.

"It's a great honor to me to defeat such a wrestler as Kim, he won the Olympic Games, World Championship, and Asian Games," Makhmudov said.

Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) pinned his three opponents on the way to the 63kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mard)

Sharshenbekov earned his first Asian title with his third straight victory by fall of the day, stopping two-time world medalist Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ) at 4:06 of the 63kg final.

With a 1-0 lead in the second period, Sharshenbekov pancaked Ainagulov onto his back, although the Kazakh wrestler believed his opponent used his leg inappropriately in the maneuver and all but gave up.

An unsuccessful challenge upheld the initial move, giving Sharshenbekov the gold. Ainagulov, meanwhile, now has five Asian medals, but still no gold.

"Thanks a lot to all my coaches," said Sharshenbekov, whose main claim to fame up to his point was a 2017 Asian junior title and a fifth-place finish at the 2019 World Championships.

"This is my first victory and God bless not the last one. I want to become an Olympic champion and world champion."

Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) defended his 55kg gold medal in Ulaanbaatar. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mard)

Shiotani never says die, repeats at 55kg

In other action, young Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) successfully defended his 55kg crown, although the score in the final -- a 13-2 technical fall over Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) -- does not reflect the fact that it was his third come-from-behind victory of the day.

"There was a lot of pressure," Shiotani said of being the defending champion. "I was able to wrestle my way [in the final], so I'm very happy."

Shiotani spotted Bekbolatov an early takedown, then came back with a takedown of his own. From there, he took matters into his own hands, ripping off a pair of his trademark big throws, the first for 4 and the second for 5 to end the match at 2:58.

"At first I gave up points, but I thought I could come back," the 20-year-old Tokyo native said. "I took advantage of my chances and that led to the win."

Shiotani also had to rally late in snatching a 6-5 victory in the first round over Hyeokjin JEON (KOR) after trailing 0-5, then again in the semifinals, where he overcame a 4-point deficit to defeat Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) 10-8.

"I wasn't in very good condition, and that's why all of my wins were come-from-behind," Shiotani revealed, adding that he had trouble making weight.

The victory in the final made Shiotani the first-ever Japanese to win consecutive Asian titles in Greco, and only the second two-time champion after Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), who won the 60kg gold in 2017 and 2020.

The way that Shiotani won the final was reminiscent of his victory over world champion Ken MATSUI (JPN) at last December's All-Japan Championships, where he twice slammed Matsui down with five-point throws.

For Matsui to defend his world title, he now has to win the title at the All-Japan Invitational Championships in June, where he could face Shiotani, then beat Shiotani in a playoff for the spot on the team to Belgrade.

"I might have to face Matsui again in June, but I will do everything I can to win," Shiotani said.

Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) upgraded his silver from Almaty to gold at 130kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mard)

The most one-sided victory of Tuesday's finals came in the last bout of the night at 130kg, with 2021 silver medalist Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) putting away 2020 runner-up Minseok KIM (KOR) by fall in 2:28 after scoring a pair of 4-point moves.

After opening the scoring with a quickfire stepout right off the whistle, Syzdykov used a back lift and roll to increase his lead to 5-0. He then got Kim into a bear hug that sent him back to the mat, where he clamped down for the fall.

Host nation denied

In the bronze-medal matches, host Mongolia had two chances to win its first-ever Asian medal in Greco, but its hopes were dashed by Indian opponents.

At 55kg, Arjun HALAKURKI (IND) was put on his back late in his match by Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL) but had built up enough of a lead to hold on for a 10-7 victory that included five stepouts.

Sunil KUMAR (IND), a 2019 silver medalist, had less trouble adding a bronze to his collection at 87kg in defeating Batbayar LUTBAYAR (MGL) by a 9-1 technical fall.

NEERAJ (IND) also picked up a bronze for India at 63kg, jumping out to a seven-point lead before holding on for a 7-4 win over Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), the 2019 champion at 60kg and a three-time Asian medalist.

Uzbekistan came away with two bronze courtesy of Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) at 55kg and Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) at 130kg, the latter scoring a 35-second fall over Timothy LOH (SGP), Singapore's first-ever entry in Greco at an Asian Championships.

Iran also had two bronze medalists in Iman KHOONMOHAMMADI (IRI) at 63kg and Aref HABIBOLLAHI (IRI) at 77kg, both of whom were awarded victories by default.

Kodai SAKURABA (JPN), the 2019 world U23 silver medalist, captured the other bronze at 77kg with an 11-1 technical fall over Sajan BHANWALA (IND) that included two 4-point throws.

At 87kg, Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ), a former Asian champion and runner-up, picked up a first bronze with a 7-2 victory over Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ). Tursynov scored all of his points from the par terre in the first period, when he reeled off three consecutive rolls.

Roman KIM (KGZ) took the other bronze at 130kg when Arata SONODA (JPN) defaulted due to a knee injury.

Asian Championships: See all photos

Day 1 Results

Greco-Roman

55kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) df. Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) by TF, 13-2, 2:58

BRONZE: Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) df. Hyeokjin JEON (KOR) by TF, 8-0, 2:22
BRONZE: Arjun HALAKURKI (IND) df. Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL), 10-7

63kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ) by fall, 4:06 (5-0)

BRONZE: NEERAJ (IND) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 7-4
BRONZE: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Ahmad AL NAKDALI (SYR) by def.

77kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ), 3-1

BRONZE: Kodai SAKURABA (JPN) df. Sajan BHANWALA (IND) by TF, 11-1, 2:39
BRONZE: Aref HABIBOLLAHI (IRI) df. Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) by inj. def.

87kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) df. Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), 3-1

BRONZE: Sunil KUMAR (IND) df. Batbayar LUTBAYAR (MGL) by TF, 9-1, 3:58
BRONZE: Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) df. Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ) 7-2

130 kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) df. Minseok KIM (KOR) by fall, 2:28 (9-0)

BRONZE: Roman KIM (KGZ) df. Arata SONODA (JPN) by inj. def.
BRONZE: Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df. Timothy LOH (SGP) by fall, :35 (4-0)

#WrestleAmman

Uzbekistan dominates first day with 3 Greco golds, all at Iran's expense

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - 20:02 By Ken Marantz

AMMAN, Jordan (March 25) -- While the ageless wonder Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) no longer wreaks havoc on the mat, his influence was strongly felt off it on the opening day of the Asian Championships on Tuesday.

With Assakalov offering encouragement and inspiration from the coach's corner, Uzbekistan came away with three of the five Greco-Roman golds on offer -- all with victories over Iranian opponents -- with teenager Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) joining veterans Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) on the top of the podium.

"Generally speaking, we’ve been working hard for this," said Assakalov, a three-time Asian champion who retired after placing fifth at the 2024 Paris Olympics three weeks after his 40th birthday. "We were aiming to wrestle in at least four finals. Our 130kg wrestler is still a bit weak, but we will work on it and improve."

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) kept Iran from being shut out of the gold medals by keeping the 130kg title safely in Iranian hands, while Japan picked up the other title when collegian Kohei YAMAGIWA (JPN) triumphed at 55kg.

Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) won the 63kg final against Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI), 13-4, in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Khalmakhanov started the gold rush for Uzbekistan in dramatic fashion, coming back from a four-point deficit to stun Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) with a 13-4 win in the 63kg final that included a pair of 4-point throws.

Keshtkar, among a number of young, unproven wrestlers being given a chance by Iran, jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a takedown and 2-point throw. Khalmakhanov responded with a stepout and 2-point arm throw to cut the gap to 4-3 at the break.

In the second period, Khalmakhanov got the first chance at par terre and he took advantage, launching a 4-point throw to take the lead. He then brought an abrupt end to the match with a 4-point hip throw at 4:16.

The victory avenged a 5-4 loss in the quarterfinals at the Zagreb Ranking Series, where Kashtkar finished second and Khalmakhanov, the 2022 world U17 champion, took a bronze medal.

"Khalmakhanov was the first to set the bar high," Assakalov said. "This guy is only 18 years old, which is why all the others followed his example."

In the 77kg final, Vardanyan also needed a comeback to defeat two-time reigning world U20 champion Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), and he couldn't have cut it any closer, scoring a takedown with one second left on the clock for a dramatic 4-2 victory.

Vardanyan, who placed fifth at the 2024 Paris Olympics following an extended drought of results in major competitions, gave up a first-period takedown and trailed 2-1 with the clock ticking down in the second period.

But he managed to drive in low and secure a body lock, then forced Abdevali backward to the mat for the winning takedown as time expired. An Iran challenge was unsuccessful, tacking on an additional point.

The 29-year-old Vardanyan had failed to make a major podium since winning a world silver medal at 72kg in 2019. His best previous finishes at the Asian Championships were a pair of bronzes back in 2016 and 2017.

Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) won his second career Asian Championships gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Unlike his compatriots, two-time world medalist Berdimuratov never had to play catch-up in defeating Yasin YAZDI (IRI) 7-2 to take the 87kg gold for his fifth Asian medal overall.

Berdimuratov stormed to a 7-0 lead in the first period with a 4-point throw and 2-point roll from par terre, then held on after giving up a passivity point and a penalty point for grabbing fingers in the second period.

Berdimuratov, the 2023 Asian Games champion, had previously won an Asian gold at 82kg in 2021. He also has a silver and two bronzes in his collection.

"We are on our way to becoming the best team in the world," Assakalov said. "It doesn’t matter if we’re competing against the national teams of Iran, Russia -- every one of our guys gave it their all and wrestled until the very end. Thank God, we showed a good result today."

At 130kg, Hedayati established himself as a rising force in Iran's packed heavyweight corps by cruising to a 7-0 victory over three-time Asian medalist Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ).

"It was a good competition and at a relatively high level," Hedayati said. "I managed to wrestle four matches and become the champion without losing a single point."

Hedayati, last year's world U23 champion and the 2023 world U20 gold medalist, combined two stepouts, an arm-throw takedown and a passivity point for a 5-0 lead in the first period. In the second, he got behind for a takedown while completely neutralizing an attacks by Syzdykov.

Hedayati's victory gave Iran the 130kg gold for the fourth straight year and ninth time in 10 years. The only year in that span that Iran missed out was 2020 -- the winner? Syzdykov.

"I’m grateful to everyone who supported me along the way," Hedayati said. "I hope to keep progressing so I can win the most beautiful medal at the World Championships and the Olympics."

Kohei YAMAGIWA (JPN) won his first-ever Asian Championships on debut. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Yamagiwa won the first gold of the tournament when he nailed a 4-point back suplex to clinch a 7-1 victory over Iranian-born Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ) in the 55kg final.

Yamagiwa scored his first points from the bottom of par terre in the first period, when he stopped a roll with a headlock for a 2-1 lead.

A scramble that would have put him up 5-3 was wiped out by a challenge that ruled the original move a slipped throw, but Yamagiwa came back by locking up the head and an arm, then tossing Albidhan to his back for 4 with just under a minute left. The Japanese added a late stepout for his final point.

"He suppressed my wrestling and I didn't get a chance in par terre," Yamagiwa said. "To be honest, I have to wonder if I really did enough to win. But I gave it everything I had at the end and scored a 4-point move and I'm glad I was able to win."

Yamagiwa got over his biggest hurdle in the semifinals, when he won an action-packed battle with defending champion Yu Chol RO (PRK) 11-9 in which the lead changed hands several times.

"He was the champion last year, and if I beat him I could see a championship for me," Yamagiwa said. "It was a back-and-forth match, but I came out as the winner."

In winning the Asian gold, Yamagiwa emulated two of his predecessors and role models at powerhouse Nippon Sports Science University, Shinobu OTA (JPN) and Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), who both won senior Asian golds. The latter, who is still active, is among his training partners.

Now he hopes he can follow in their footsteps to Olympic glory -- Ota was a silver medalist at Rio 2016, while Fumita was the Tokyo 2021 silver medalist before winning the gold at Paris 2024.

Host Jordan denied first medal since 2013

In the bronze-medal matches, Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) completed the collection of Asian medals while denying the host country its first hardware since 2013, making the most of his chance at par terre to storm to an 11-3 victory at 77kg over Amro SADEH (JOR).

Sadeh had raised hopes of becoming the third Asian medalist in Jordanian history when he scored a roll from par terre for a 3-0 first period lead. But in the second period, he had no answer from the bottom as Magomadov ripped of five rolls this way and that to end the match in 4:21.

Magomadov's previous medals had come at 72kg, taking the silver in 2020 in New Delhi and the gold two years ago at home in Astana.

Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ), winner at this year's Zagreb Ranking Series, needed little time to grab the other 77kg bronze, taking down Lai Hsing YAO (TPE) to his back and securing a fall in 1:28.

At 55kg, the DPR Korea's Ro wasn't able to successfully defend his title, but he won't leave Amman empty-handed after muscling to a 5-0 victory over Yun LU (CHN) for a bronze.

Ro secured an underhook, dropped down and pancaked Lu to his back for a quick 4, then added a passivity point. Lu did a good job to keep from getting turned in par terre, but in a scoreless second period, Ro kept the enough pressure and never had to go on bottom.

Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) picked up the other bronze at 55kg and the second of his career with an 8-4 come-from-behind victory over 2023 Asian U23 champion Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ).

Botirov had scored a gut wrench from par terre in the first period, only to fall behind in the second when Kamaliyev returned the favor using a front body lock. But Botirov rolled through and reversed Kamaliyev to his back, then added a gut wrench for good measure.

At 63kg, Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) really earned his third Asian bronze and fourth medal overall, scoring three takedowns in the second period for a 6-3 victory over Godai MITANI (JPN), who was making his international debut in Amman.

Chung trailed 3-0 in the second period when he countered a throw attempt for a takedown, then went ahead with a hip throw that, on challenge, was degraded from 4 points to 2 because Mitani skillfully avoided landing on his back. A third takedown clinched the win for the Korean.

Chan KIM (PRK) won his second straight Asian bronze with a dominant 7-0 win over 2021 Asian champion Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ). Kim ripped off two rolls from par terre in the first period, then added an arm spin in the second for a takedown to ice the victory.

At 87kg, Russian-born Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ), a former world U23 bronze medalist, unleashed a 4-point throw from par terre and was never really challenged the rest of way in posting a 5-1 victory over Sanghyeok PARK (KOR).

It was the same scoreline in the other match at 87kg, as Sunil KUMAR (IND) captured his fifth Asian medal by defeating Jiaxin HUANG (CHN) 5-1. Sunil, the 2020 gold medalist, piled up the points with a pair of rolls from par terre.

At 130kg, Ali AL SHARUEE (IRQ) prevented Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB) from joining the Uzbek parade to the medal podium, rebounding after giving up a 4-point move to triumph 6-4.

After scoring a stepout, Al Sharuee gave up a 4-point arm throw, but reversed Nasimov and added a 2-point exposure to trail 4-4 on criteria. He rectified that by scoring a stepout in the final second of the first period to take a 5-4 lead. An unsuccessful challenge gave the Iraqi his lone point of the second period as he went on to capture Iraq's second medal of the night.

Yuta NARA (JPN) won the other 130kg bronze in spectacular fashion, scoring a 4-point amplitude throw with :05 left to stun Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ) 7-3 and deny him a second straight bronze medal.

Nara, a 2023 bronze medalist at 97kg who moved up to the heaviest weight last year, appeared to go ahead with a gut wrench from par terre, but Manatbekov managed to stop the Japanese in mid-roll for 2 and a 3-3 lead on last-point criteria.

Day 1 Results

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD: Kohei YAMAGIWA (JPN) df. Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ), 7-1

BRONZE: Yu Chol RO (PRK) df. Yun LU (CHN), 5-0
BRONZE: Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) df. Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ), 8-4

63kg
GOLD: Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) df. Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) by TF, 13-4, 4:16

BRONZE: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) df. Godai MITANI (JPN), 6-3
BRONZE: Chan KIM (PRK) df. Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ), 7-0

77kg
GOLD: Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) df. Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), 4-2

BRONZE: Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) df. Amro SADEH (JOR) by TF, 11-3, 4:21
BRONZE: Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Lai Hsing YAO (TPE) by Fall, 1:28 (2-0)

87kg
GOLD: Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) df. Yasin YAZDI (IRI), 7-2

BRONZE: Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ) df. Sanghyeok PARK (KOR), 5-1
BRONZE: Kumar SUNIL (IND) df. Jiaxin HUANG (CHN), 5-1

130kg
GOLD: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ), 7-0

BRONZE: Ali AL SHARUEE (IRQ) df. Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB), 6-4
BRONZE: Yuta NARA (JPN) df. Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ), 7-3

Alizadeh defends Asian title in clash of '21 champs

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Uzbekistan dominates first day with 3 Greco golds, all at Iran's expense