Asian Championships entry list

Monday, March 27, 2023 - 16:00 By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (March 27) -- The Paris Olympics qualification cycle will officially begin with the Asian Championships. Astana will host the continental championships from April 9 to 14 and the nations competing in Astana will be eligible to compete at the World Championships in September, the first qualifying event for Paris 2024.

China, India, Japan and Kazakhstan are the four nations with 30 entries which means that these countries will be allowed to place 30 wrestlers at the World Championships as well. Iran has a full squad for freestyle and Greco-Roman.

In freestyle, Iran will be the favorite to lift the team trophy but Kazakhstan and India will be its biggest challenges, especially with the home advantage for the former. Kyrgyzstan too has a strong squad for freestyle.

In women's wrestling, Japan is bringing a mixed squad with defending champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) leading the charge. World champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), 2021 world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) and Sae NANJO (JPN) are also part of the squad.

But China, returning to Asian Championships after four years, will be keen on making a mark after finishing second to Japan in the team race at the World Championships. Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN) will be wrestling at 55kg while world silver medalist Jia LONG (CHN) is at 65kg.

In Greco-Roman, Iran is bringing a solid team with world silver medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) leading. While the squad is young, it still has hammers like Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) and various other U23 world medalists.

Kyrgyzstan will see world champions Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) and Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) taking the mat in Astana. Hansu RYU (KOR) and Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) will also feature in the tournament.

World and Asian champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), right, will be wrestling at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Freestyle

57kg
Wanhao ZOU (CHN)
AMAN (IND)
Alireza SARLAK (IRI)
Rikuto ARAI (JPN)
Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ)
Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)
Sunggwon KIM (KOR)
Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Muhammad BILAL (PAK)
Ali M M ABURUMAILA (PLE)
Ekanayaka MUDIYANSELAGE (SRI)
Sunatullo BOBOEV (TJK)
Nodirjon SAFAROV (UZB)

61kg
Minghu LIU (CHN)
PANKAJ (IND)
Yasin REZAEI (IRI)
Kodai OGAWA (JPN)
Nurbolat ABDUALIYEV (KAZ)
Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ)
Hyeonsik SONG (KOR)
Ali ALMOHAINI (KUW)
Tuvshintulga TUMENBILEG (MGL)
Eddy BIN KHIDZER (SGP)
Muhamad IKROMOV (TJK)
Myrat HOJANEPESOV (TKM)
Ibrahim GUZAN (YEM)
Sardor RUZIMOV (UZB)

65kg
Shaohua YUAN (CHN)
Anuj KUMAR (IND)
Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)
Mohammed KAREEM (IRQ)
Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN)
Sanzhar MUKHTAR (KAZ)
Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
Changsu KIM (KOR)
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
Zi Xyan LIM (SGP)
Divoshan CHARLES FERNANDO (SRI)
Ahmad DIRKI (SYR)
Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK)
Gurbanmuhammet CHARYYEV (TKM)
Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)

70kg
Agudamu AGUDAMU (CHN)
Mulaym YADAV (IND)
Morteza GHIASI CHEKA (IRI)
Ali AL OBAIDI (IRQ)
Orts ISAKOV (JOR)
Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN)
Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ)
Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ)
Suhyeon PARK (KOR)
Mohammed ABDULKAREEM (KUW)
Khanburged GANKHUYAG (MGL)
Inayat ULLAH (PAK)
Mohamed BIN ABDULLAH (SGP)
Karuna PELI GEDARA (SRI)
Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK)
Perman HOMMADOV (TKM)
Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB)

74kg
Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN)
Shengsong XIA (CHN)
YASH (IND)
Hossein ABOUZARIPASHKOLAEI (IRI)
Erzo ISAKOV (JOR)
Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN)
Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ)
Adilet ZHAPARKULOV (KGZ)
Byungmin GONG (KOR)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Abdullrahman IBRAHIM (QAT)
Hong LOU (SGP)
Udayantha FERNANDO (SRI)
Magomet EVLOEV (TJK)
Jumadurdy MAMISHOV (TKM)
Jafar CHULIBOYEV (UZB)

79kg
Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN)
Peilong LI (CHN)
DEEPAK (IND)
Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI)
Yajuro YAMASAKI (JPN)
Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ)
Adilet MARATBAEV (KGZ)
Gunwoo LEE (KOR)
Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Shuhrat BOZOROV (TJK)
Vepa HEMENEKOV (TKM)
Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB)

86kg
Zushen LIN (CHN)
Jointy KUMAR (IND)
Alireza KARIMI (IRI)
Mustafa AL OBAIDI (IRQ)
Zaid SHISHANI (JOR)
Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ)
Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Noman ZAKA (PAK)
Weng CHOW (SGP)
Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM)
Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB)

92kg
Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN)
Xiao SUN (CHN)
Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Arashk MOHEBI (IRI)
Issa AL OBAIDI (IRQ)
Abdul ABUIDAIJ (JOR)
Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)
Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ)
Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ)
Woomin JANG (KOR)
Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL)
Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB)

97kg
Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)
Awusayiman HABILA (CHN)
DEEPAK (IND)
Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI)
Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN)
Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ)
Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ)
Juhwan SEO (KOR)
Ulziisaikhan BAASANTSOGT (MGL)
Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM)
Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB)

125kg
Zhiwei DENG (CHN)
Anirudh KUMAR (IND)
Amirreza MASOUMI VALADI (IRI)
Ahmed AL JAMIE (IRQ)
Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ)
Muzafar ZHAPPUEV (KGZ)
Yeihyun JUNG (KOR)
Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
Omar SAREM (SYR)
Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM)
Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) and Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) will be renewing their rivarly in Astana. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Ziqi FENG (CHN)
NEELAM (IND)
Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)
Ellada MAKHYADDINOVA (KAZ)
Miran CHEON (KOR)
Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL)
Lachyn ANNAMURADOVA (TKM)
Yi Jing CHEN (TPE)
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)
Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE)

53kg
Li DENG (CHN)
ANTIM (IND)
Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ)
Hyunyoung OH (KOR)
Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL)
Hsiao LIM (SGP)
Ahinsa PORUTHOTAGE (SRI)
Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE)
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)
Thi Dao BUI (VIE)

55kg
Qianyu PANG (CHN)
SITO (IND)
Rino KATAOKA (JPN)
Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ)
Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ)
Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL)
Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)
Thi NGUYEN (VIE)

57kg
Qi ZHANG (CHN)
ANSHU (IND)
Sae NANJO (JPN)
Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ)
Youngjin KWON (KOR)
Erdenesuvd BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Danielle LIM (SGP)
Yu Han CHENG (TPE)
Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB)
Thi Anh TRAN (VIE)

59kg
ZHUOMALAGA (CHN)
SARITA (IND)
Yui SAKANO (JPN)
Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)
Kalmira BILIMBEKOVA (KGZ)
Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB)

62kg
Xiaojuan LUO (CHN)
SONAM (IND)
Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ)
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Subeen JO (KOR)
Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)
Sachini WERADUWAGE (SRI)
Hsin Ping PAI (TPE)
Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB)
Anh Tuyet TRAN (VIE)

65kg
Jia LONG (CHN)
MANISHA (IND)
Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN)
Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ)
Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ)
Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)
Nadeesha PERERA (SRI)
Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB)

68kg
Feng ZHOU (CHN)
NISHA (IND)
Ami ISHII (JPN)
Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Minji HA (KOR)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Deepthika KUMARASINGHE (SRI)
Oguljan EGEMBERDIYEVA (TKM)
Dieu Thuong LAI (VIE)
Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB)

72kg
QIANDEGENCHAGAN (CHN)
REETIKA (IND)
Sumire NIIKURA (JPN)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ)
Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)
Ping Tsen HUNG (TPE)
Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB)

76kg
Juan WANG (CHN)
PRIYA (IND)
Mizuki NAGASHIMA (JPN)
Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Seoyeon JEONG (KOR)
Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL)
Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE)
Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB)
Thi Linh DANG (VIE)

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) will lead Iran's charge in Astana. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Sailike WALIHAN (CHN)
RUPIN (IND)
Poya DAD MARZ (IRI)
Mostafa ALQADE (JOR)
Taiga ONISHI (JPN)
Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)
Sardarbek KONUSHBAEV (KGZ)
Hyeokjin JEON (KOR)
Abduvali RAHIMBAYEV (TKM)
Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (CHN)

60kg
Liguo CAO (CHN)
SUMIT (IND)
Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI)
Maito KAWANA (JPN)
Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ)
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Hanjae CHUNG (KOR)
Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK)
Umit DURDYYEV (TKM)
Jui Chi HUANG (TPE)
Akmal KHAMROEV (UZB)

63kg
Haodong TAN (CHN)
NEERAJ (IND)
Iman Hossein Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI)
Chiezo MARUYAMA (JPN)
Mukhamedali MAMURBEK (KAZ)
Dastan KADYROV (KGZ)
Jinseub SONG (KOR)
Siyovush ACHILOV (TJK)
Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB)

67kg
HUSIYUETU (CHN)
ASHU (IND)
Reza Mahdi ABBASI (IRI)
Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN)
Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ)
Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ)
Hansu RYU (KOR)
Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK)
Begmyrat NOBATOV (TKM)
Hong Yu CHEN (TPE)
Abror ATABAEV (UZB)

72kg
Jian TAN (CHN)
VIKAS (IND)
Sajjad IMENTALABFOUMANI (IRI)
Ali Mohammed ALABODA (IRQ)
Taishi HORIE (JPN)
Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ)
Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ)
Jiyeon LEE (KOR)
Loiqi AMIRKHONZODA (TJK)
Toyly ORAZOV (TKM)
Jamol JUMABAEV (UZB)

77kg
Rui LIU (CHN)
SAJAN (IND)
Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI)
Amro SADEH (JOR)
Kodai SAKURABA (JPN)
Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ)
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR)
Bakhit K BADR (QAT)
Gadiel MISSO (SGP)
Jeyhun OVEZDURDYYEV (TKM)
Lai Hsing YAO (TPE)
Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)

82kg
Halishan BAHEJIANG (CHN)
Rohit DAHIYA (IND)
Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI)
Sultan EID (JOR)
Yuya MAETA (JPN)
Dias KALEN (KAZ)
Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ)
Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ)
Sejin YANG (KOR)
Aryan BIN AZMAN (SGP)
Sukhrob ABDULKHAEV (TJK)
Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB)

87kg
Chengwu WANG (CHN)
Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Naser ALIZADEH (IRI)
Masato SUMI (JPN)
Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ)
Byeongcheol SHIN (KOR)
Saidislomiddin ASLAMOV (TJK)
Shyhazberdi OVELEKOV (TKM)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

97kg
Yiming LI (CHN)
Narinder CHEEMA (IND)
Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI)
Ali AL KAABI (IRQ)
Yuta NARA (JPN)
Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ)
Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Seyeol LEE (KOR)
Azizdzhon ZARIPOV (TJK)
Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM)
Abrorbek NURMUKHAMMEDOV (UZB)

130kg
Lingzhe MENG (CHN)
NAVEEN (IND)
Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)
Ali AL SHARUEE (IRQ)
Sota OKUMURA (JPN)
Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
Roman KIM (KGZ)
Minseok KIM (KOR)
Timothy Yu LOH (SGP)
Aybegshazada KURRAYEV (TKM)
Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB)

#WrestleTirana

European Championships 2026 Freestyle Preview

Friday, April 17, 2026 - 11:36 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.

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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) 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) 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), 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) 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) 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.

Asian Championships entry list

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European Championships 2026 Freestyle Preview