#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships 2026 Entries

By United World Wrestling Press

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (March 20) -- The Asian Championships will return to Bishkek, a city that hosted the competition in 2018 and 2024. Close to 350 wrestlers are competing for the 30 gold medals on offer.

The event, which will follow a two-day format for the first time, will begin April 6 with Greco-Roman, followed by Women's Wrestling and then Freestyle.

Click here for the Asian Championships 2026 Wrestling Schedule

Note: The entries are subject to change 72 hours before the draws of the respective styles. For latest entries, refer to Asian Championships 2026.

Freestyle

57kg
Liguo CAO (CHN)
ANKUSH (IND)
Milad VALIZADEH (IRI)
Husein ALBEHADILALBORS (IRQ)
Fuga SASAKI (JPN)
Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ)
Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ)
Sunggwon KIM (KOR)
Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Gayan MUDIYANSELAGE (SRI)
Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK)
Nodirbek JUMANAZAROV (UZB)
Wessem ALYAMANI (YEM)

61kg
Wanhao ZOU (CHN)
AMAN (IND)
Ahmad JAVAN (IRI)
Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN)
Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ)
Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ)
Changsu KIM (KOR)
Batnasan GANKHULEG (MGL)
Kwang Myong KIM (PRK)
Azatberdi ASHYRGULYYEV (TKM)
Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

65kg
Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
Xuexian OU (CHN)
SUJEET (IND)
Peyman NEMATI (IRI)
Takara SUDA (JPN)
Adi SERIKULY (KAZ)
Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ)
Junsik YUN (KOR)
Zeneemeder BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Divoshan FERNANDO (SRI)
Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK)
Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)

70kg
Shuang CHEN (CHN)
ABHIMANYOU (IND)
Sina KHALILI (IRI)
Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN)
Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ)
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
Seonho YOO (KOR)
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
Viktor RASSADIN (TJK)
Shakhzodbek YARASHEV (UZB)

74kg
Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN)
BATUQINGGELE (CHN)
JAIDEEP (IND)
Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI)
Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN)
Yernur NURGAZY (KAZ)
Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ)
Daegil HAN (KOR)
Sumiyabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Suresh CHUNARA (NEP)
Anil PELI GEDARAA (SRI)
Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK)
Vatan ANNAORAZOV (TKM)
Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB)
Abdulkareem AL RABEDHI (YEM)

79kg
Feng LU (CHN)
Sandeep Singh MANN (IND)
Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI)
Erzo ISAKOV (JOR)
Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN)
Daulet YERGESH (KAZ)
Adilet MARATBAEV (KGZ)
Sungho LEE (KOR)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Somonjon IKROMOV (TJK)
Soltan BEGENJOV (TKM)
Razambek JAMALOV (UZB)

86kg
Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN)
Suhe GANG (CHN)
Mukul DAHIYA (IND)
Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI)
Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN)
Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ)
Malik SHAVAEV (KGZ)
Gyeongyeon LEE (KOR)
Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Song Gang JI (PRK)
Weng CHOW (SGP)
Madushanka MUDIYANSELAGE (SRI)
Bakhodur KODIROV (TJK)
Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM)
Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB)

92kg
Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN)
Hade AYIDUSI (CHN)
Punit KUMAR (IND)
Mobin AZIMI (IRI)
Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Iakov CHAPLIN (KGZ)
Seohyun CHA (KOR)
Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Ismail KARTOEV (TJK)
Dovletgeldi MYRADOV (TKM)
Sadirdin DAMINJONOV (UZB)

97kg
Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)
Awusayiman HABILA (CHN)
VICKY (IND)
Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)
Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)
Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ)
Kanybek ABDULKHAIROV (KGZ)
Juhwan SEO (KOR)
Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL)
Triloki YADAV (NEP)
Rahmonjon MAHMADBEKOV (TJK)
Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM)
Sherzod POYONOV (UZB)

125kg
Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN)
BUHEEERDUN (CHN)
DINESH (IND)
Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)
Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ)
Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ)
Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
Nambardagva BATBAYAR (MGL)
Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM)
Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB)

Yui SUSAKI (JPN)Yui SUSAKI (JPN) will be wrestling at 50kg for the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Ziqi FENG (CHN)
NEELAM (IND)
Yui SUSAKI (JPN)
Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Miran CHEON (KOR)
Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Aliah Rose GAVALEZ (PHI)
Son Hyang KIM (PRK)
Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI)
Yi Hui LIN (TPE)
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)
Ngoc Linh DO (VIE)

53kg
Jin ZHANG (CHN)
MEENAKSHI (IND)
Moe KIYOOKA (JPN)
Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ)
Aziza KELDIBEKOVA (KGZ)
Seoyoung PARK (KOR)
Tsovoo GANKHUYAG (MGL)
Pabasara GAMAGE (SRI)
Vatansulton SHAKARSHOEVA (TJK)
Ya Hsin CHEN (TPE)
Sakibjamal ESBOSYNOVA (UZB)
Thi My Linh NGUYEN (VIE)

55kg
Yuxuan LI (CHN)
Hansika LAMBA (IND)
Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN)
Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ)
Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ)
Jeongbin OH (KOR)
Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL)
Dilshoda MATNAZAROVA (UZB)

57kg
Kexin HONG (CHN)
MANISHA (IND)
Sara NATAMI (JPN)
Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
Tancholpon KYBALBEKOVA (KGZ)
Youngjin KWON (KOR)
Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Danielle LIM (SGP)
Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI)
Pei Ying LIAO (TPE)
Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB)
Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE)

59kg
Mengyu XIE (CHN)
NEHA (IND)
Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN)
Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (KAZ)
Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Hyebin AHN (KOR)
Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB)

62kg
Qi ZHANG (CHN)
MANSI (IND)
Balqis TAAIBIN (JOR)
Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
Tynys DUBEK (KAZ)
Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ)
Subeen JO (KOR)
Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL)
Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK)
Hsin Ping PAI (TPE)
Nigina SABIROVA (UZB)

65kg
LILI (CHN)
MONIKA (IND)
Tala ABUKHEIT (JOR)
Nana IKEHATA (JPN)
Aizhan SUIDUOVA (KAZ)
Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ)
Hanbit LEE (KOR)
Narkhajid NYAMSUREN (MGL)
Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB)

68kg
Zelu LI (CHN)
Mansi LATHER (IND)
Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)
Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Sheng Fang CAI (TPE)
Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB)
Thi Linh DANG (VIE)

72kg
Jia LONG (CHN)
HARSHITA (IND)
Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ)
Soobin KIM (KOR)
Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL)
Sevinchoy POLVONOVA (UZB)

76kg
Wenji LI (CHN)
KAJAL (IND)
Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN)
Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Eunju HWANG (KOR)
Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)
Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE)
Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB)

Hadi SARAVI (IRI)World and Olympic champion Hadi SARAVI (IRI). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Huoying SHI (CHN)
LALIT (IND)
Hajiali HOSSEINVAND (IRI)
Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ)
Ahmad AHMAD (JOR)
Mizuki ARAKI (JPN)
Nurzat KABDYRAKHIMOV (KAZ)
Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ)
Jonghyeon KIM (KOR)
Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL)
Alexander CUEVAS (SGP)
Rasul JORAYEV (TKM)
Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB)

60kg
Haodong TAN (CHN)
SAHIL (IND)
Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI)
Yu SHIOTANI (JPN)
Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ)
Kurmanbek ZHAPAROV (KGZ)
Minwoo KIM (KOR)
Se Ung RI (PRK)
Yong Xiang SU (TPE)
Alisher GANIEV (UZB)

63kg
Huangsheng WU (CHN)
Sunny KUMAR (IND)
Erfan JARKANI (IRI)
Kaisei TANABE (JPN)
Saifulla KURMAN (KAZ)
Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ)
Hyunwoong CHOI (KOR)
Rayan HAWSAWI (KSA)
Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT)
Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM)
Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

67kg
Ji LENG (CHN)
sachin SAHRAWAT (IND)
Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI)
Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN)
Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ)
Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ)
Hanjae CHUNG (KOR)
Munthir JANDU (KSA)
Man Gwang SON (PRK)
Sunat ABDULLOEV (TJK)
Abdumalik AMINOV (UZB)

72kg
Dongyu LI (CHN)
ANIL (IND)
Javad REZAEI (IRI)
Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN)
Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ)
Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ)
Dohun LIM (KOR)
Rafeeq ELNATSHEH (QAT)
Loiqi AMIRKHONZODA (TJK)
Didar ORAZBERDIYEV (TKM)
Shakhzod KUCHKOROV (UZB)

77kg
Halishan BAHEJIANG (CHN)
AMAN (IND)
Ali OSKOU (IRI)
Amro SADEH (JOR)
Isami HORIKITA (JPN)
Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ)
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Yeonghun NOH (KOR)
Saoud ALMEFQAEY (QAT)
Alisher RUZIMADOV (TJK)
Lai YAO (TPE)
Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB)

82kg
Rui LIU (CHN)
PRINCE (IND)
Amin HOSSEINI (IRI)
Tatsuya FUJII (JPN)
Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ)
Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ)
Bada LEE (KOR)
Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT)
Kakabay KAKABAYEV (TKM)
Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)

87kg
Shichang ZHENG (CHN)
Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)
Yahiro MOTOHASHI (JPN)
Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ)
Seunghwan LEE (KOR)
Muhammad SULTONZODA (TJK)
Dovletmyrat BAYRAMOV (TKM)
Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB)

97kg
Zegang WANG (CHN)
NITESH (IND)
Hadi SARAVI (IRI)
Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN)
Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ)
Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ)
Minho LEE (KOR)
Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA)
Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL)
Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM)
Abdikodir JALILOV (UZB)

130kg
Wenhao JIANG (CHN)
Joginder RATHEE (IND)
Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)
Yuta NARA (JPN)
Jokhar UZAROV (KAZ)
Roman KIM (KGZ)
Minseok KIM (KOR)
Omer AMIROGLU (KSA)
Nambardagva BATBAYAR (MGL)
Eduard BABENOSHEV (TJK)
Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB)

#WrestleTirana

European Championships 2026 Freestyle Preview

By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (April 17) -- After six years away from the continental stage, Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) is set to walk back into the European Championships in Tirana, Albania. Barring an upset of the highest order, he’s likely to reclaim the title he won for the fifth time in Rome back in 2020.

Sadulaev’s absence from the continental championships for the better part of a decade wasn’t a typical one – due to injury or lack of form. As a two-time Olympic champion and a six-time world champion, Sadulaev had built up a resume that made European gold almost routine.

WATCH SADULAEV LIVE | Download European Championships 2026 Preview

His was a schedule built on world conquest and he simply didn’t need the European Championships. He skipped the tournament year after year even as he dominated globally.

Sadulaev’s return to the European Championships doesn’t seem to be linked to any sentimentality, legacy or any need to prove himself. In an interview he had given to UWW at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series 2026, where he beat Takhir KHANIEV (UWW) to secure his spot for the European Championships, Sadulaev’s explanation was very practical. “For me, this gold means qualifying for the European Championships… It was very important for me to qualify there,” he said.

The 29-year-old hasn’t treated the European Championships as essential for years. At the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series, Sadulaev gave further insights into where his focus lies by saying he was already looking ahead to a stacked World Championships field later in the year and mentioned the possibility of multiple Olympic champions in one bracket.

Sadulaev is unlikely to face anything close to that challenge in Tirana. If anyone expected rust -- the 2026 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series was his first international competition since he won gold at the 2024 World Championships at this same venue --  he ended that idea comprehensively. He beat a strong field at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series, including Khaniev, who beat Kyle SNYDER (USA) earlier in the competition.

A fully fit and focused Sadulaev should find the field in Tirana -- where, incidentally, he will be competing for the third straight international tournament -- a straightforward one despite the presence of defending champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) and world medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), who is moving up from 92kg to 97kg.

However what Sadulaev does though, his return changes the nature of the tournament. If he wins, it sets him up for a crack at a remarkable seventh world title later this year. If the unthinkable should occur in Tirana though, anyone who does get the better of Sadulaev in Europe will immediately become relevant worldwide.

While Sadulaev headlines the event, two other former European champions will be wrestling in Tirana. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) are also lining up for their fifth European title in Tirana.

Uguev vs Harutyunyan
In contrast to an open 57kg division, the 61kg category has a strong favorite in defending champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW) who is in excellent form having won the Muhamat Malo Ranking series earlier this year. Expect last year’s silver medalist Harutyunyan and bronze medalist Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) to also contend for the podium at this edition.

Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL)Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) will make his European Championships debut in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

New king at 65kg
A new champion will be crowned in the 65kg category, always one of the most competitive weight categories, since last year's victor Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) isn’t returning.

Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL), who is competing in his first international competition since he won bronze at the 2023 World Championships, has to be the favorite as he dawns into a new era in his career.

Former champions Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) and Islam DUDAEV (ALB) will be key contenders but both haven’t been in the best of form last year. Two-time U23 world champion Bashir MAGOMEDOV (UWW) will likely be another main threat.

Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) is a four-time European champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Salkazanav Eyes Fifth Title
Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) saw his bid to win a fifth straight European title end following an early loss to Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) last time around. But with neither Sidakov, who won silver, nor defending European champion Chermen VALIEV (ALB) competing in Tirana, Salkazanov is well placed to return to the top of the podium. 

Also looking to add to his European gold medal tally is Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW). The 33-year-old has been bouncing across weight categories over the past couple of years. He wrestled at 74kg at the Paris Olympics, then won silver at last year's European Championships in the 86kg category but is now cutting down to 79kg, the category in which he won his first continental title back in 2020.

Standing between him and a second European title are Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) who is trying to improve on the silver he won last time and Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) who himself briefly wrestled in the 86kg class without much success at this year's edition of the Muhamet Malo Ranking series.

Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB)Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB), returning silver medalist, will look to change his medal color to gold this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Shootout at 57kg
Unlike the 97kg category, the 57kg weight class is wide open with no Sadulaev-like figure to shut the door on everyone else. Defending champion Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) isn’t returning this year. In his absence, the closest thing to a favorite might be Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB), but, he too, also hasn’t had the best run since taking silver last year, placing 21st at last year's World Championships and failing to medal at the Zagreb Open earlier this year.

Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (UWW), who will be competing in his first continental championships, doesn’t have any real hardware from international competition but is more than capable of being a contender having picked up a win against last year’s European bronze medalist Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) at the 2025 World Championships.

Arsenii DZHOIEV (AZE)Arsenii DZHOIEV (AZE) and Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) are two favorites at 86kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Shake Up at 86kg and 92kg
The 86kg category is also looking at a shake up. Osman GOCEN (TUR) is the only returning medal winner in this year’s bracket. Expected to lead the charge for the podium this time around is Ibragim KADIEV(UWW), who had a strong outing at the Muhamet Malo Ranking series where he won gold beating world champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) in the final.

However, Kadiev was pushed hard by world bronze medalist Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) who would be itching to repay the favor once again in Tirana. 

The 92kg division will also see just one medal winner from 2025 -- Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) returning to Tirana. That leaves the field open for 2025 world silver medalist Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW), reigning U23 European champion Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) and Ahmed BATAEV (BUL) for a chance to win their first European title.

Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE)Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) is the defending European champion at 125kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Meshvildishvili Firm
Although he hasn’t been in the best of form recently, failing to medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking series, last year's champion and 2025 worlds silver medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) is still the man to beat at the 125kg category especially since last year’s runner up Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) has had an up an down season.

While Meshvildishvili is the favorite, former U23 world silver medalists Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) and Shamil MUSAEV (UWW) may yet spring a surprise.

David BAEV (UWW) dropped just one point en route to the European title last year including a 10-0 blowout against former world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), and is the favorite in the 70kg category this year as well.