Asian Championships Greco-Roman Preview

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 - 12:34 By Jimmy Pawelski

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (March 29) -- The 2023 Asian Championships kick off April 9 in Astana, Kazakhstan, with Greco-Roman wrestlers being the first to take the mat following the opening whistle. On Sunday, April 9, 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg participants will compete, while 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg participants compete on Monday, April 10.

The competition schedule for both days is as follows:
11:30 local time: Qualification rounds
13:30 local time: Semifinals
14:15 local time: Repechage
18:00 local time: Finals

This year’s Greco-Roman entries are highlighted by five reigning Asian Championship gold medalists and 17 total returning medalists from 2022. Last year’s world champions Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) and Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) will look to defend their Asian first-place finishes at 60kg and 77kg, respectively.

World silver medalist at 130kg, Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) will be competing in the tournament for the first time since his first-place finish in 2020.

Tournament-host Kazakhstan will attempt to earn back-to-back first-place team finishes with four returning 2022 Asian Championships medalists.

Meanwhile, 2022 third-place team finisher Kyrgyzstan has the most returning medalists registered to compete with five and 2022 second-place team finisher Iran returns four medalists. Despite not having any 2022 Asian Championships medalists registered this year, Japan is sending a talented young team and was the sixth highest-placing Asian country at the 2022 World Championships. Just ahead of them was China, who did not compete in last year’s Asian Championships but will be this year, and Uzbekistan, who were late entries into Astana.

Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), red, will be the favorite to win the 55kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Weight-by-Weight Preview

55kg
Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) is the only wrestler registered at the non-Olympic weight class of 55kg who is a returning 2022 Asian medalist. Bekbolatov is riding an undefeated 2023 streak, winning the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series in February.

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist at 60kg, Sailike WALIHAN (CHN), will drop to 55kg in hopes of his first Asian Championships podium finish.

Meanwhile, Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), a 2022 U23 world champ and No. 7 in the world at 55kg, will try to win his first Asian Championships gold medal after finishing third in his only appearance in 2021. He began the year with a gold medal finish at the Zagreb Open.

60kg
Reigning world champion and No. 1 ranked Sharshenbekov is a three-time Asian Championships finalist and will look to repeat as champion this year. Two additional returning 2022 Asian medalists are also registered to compete at the lightest Olympic weight, Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) and Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ), who earned silver and bronze medals, respectively, in 2022.

Fourth-ranked Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) is not registered to compete for Japan. Instead, Maito KAWANA (JPN), who is coming off a third-place finish at the 2023 Zagreb Open Ranking Series event, will be representing the country.

63kg
Though the weight class has just nine wrestlers competing, two returning medalists are returning -- Iran’s Iman Hossein MOHAMMADI and NEERAJ (IND) -- both bronze medalists from 2022. The next highest ranked participant is representing tournament host country Kazakhstan No. 21 Mukhamedali MAMURBEK (KAZ).

Mohammadi won the U20 world and Asian titles after the bronze at Asians before ending the year with a U23 World Championships gold. He began this year with a bronze medal finish at the Zagreb Open.

Neeraj, the U23 Asian champion, returns to competition since the World Championships and after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Chiezo MARUYAMA (JPN), a 2022 U20 bronze medalist, will look to make waves on the senior level as another young and rising star for Japan’s Greco-Roman team.

U23 Asian champion at 63kg Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB) will wrestle at 63kg, a weight class he finished fifth in Zagreb.

67kg
Hometown hero Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ), a 2018 Asian gold medal winner and three senior world medals [2015, 2019, 2021], is the star to watch in this year’s 67kg bracket.

He will be challenged by 2022 Asian silver medalist Hansu RYU (KOR), the sole returning Asian Championships medalist set to compete at 67kg. Also, watch for Reza ABBASI (IRI), who will replace No. 2 Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) in Iran’s lineup at 67kg.

Another wrestler to keep an eye on is HUSIYUETU (CHN) who defeated Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) in Zagreb, where he won gold. He added a bronze in Alexandria and is ranked number three in the world. In Asia, he will be the top seed for the competition.

Abror ATABAEV (UZB) will have fond memories of Kazakhstan as he defeated world champion Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup last year. But he is yet to replicate that success further. The Asian Championships could well be that platform.

72kg
Though not highly ranked globally, Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) is the lone returning 2022 Asian medalist registered for this year’s tournament. His competition will be fierce as the bracket also features Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), who’s coming off a fifth-place finish at the 2022 World Championships.

Magomadov, a 2020 Asian finalist, is the highest-ranked wrestler at this weight, coming in at No. 7. He’s followed by No. 11 Jian TAN (CHN) and No. 13 Sajjad IMENTALABFOUMANI (IRI).

77kg
In the weight class with the most registrations, Greco superstar, Tokyo Olympic finalist and reigning world champion Makhmudov will attempt to make it two straight Asian championship victories after winning the tournament a season ago.

Meanwhile, Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) will seek to avenge two previous 4-1 losses to Makhmudov in tournaments where he fell just one match short of the podium, the 2022 Asian Championships and 2022 World Championships.

Since Makhmudov will be seeded first and Kim will be fourth, the two are most likely to meet in the semifinal.

Also in the mix at 77kg will be fifth-ranked Rui LIU (CHN) and former 72kg Asian champion Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI), trying to make space on the national team at 77kg. World number 20 SAJAN (IND) is also registered along with returning bronze medalist Kodai SAKURABA (JPN).

82kg
In the heaviest non-Olympic weight class of 82kg, Dias KALEN (KAZ) will look to update his 2022 Asian Championships second-place finish in this year’s tournament.

As the only top-10 ranked Greco-Roman wrestler registered for the 2023 Asian Championships at 82kg, Kalen will be up against two top-20 ranked wrestlers in No. 13 rank Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) and No. 17 Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ).

87kg
A whopping one-third of registrants at 87kg are returning Asian Championships medalists despite being only one of two weight classes with less than 10 registrants.

Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) will try to repeat his 2022 Asian gold-medal finish, carrying some extra motivation after being just a win short of a podium finish at the 2022 World Championships.

But second to him last year, Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) will be returning seeking his second Asian title. Berdimuratov was second at the World Championships at 82kg but has jumped a weight class in pursuit of Olympic dreams.

Both returning bronze medalists Sunil KUMAR (IND) and Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) will attempt to repeat as 2023 podium finishers.

97kg
Returning Asian gold medalist Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) went undefeated at the Greco-Roman World Cup in November 2022 and would be keen to take that form into the Asian Championships.

One of those World Cup victories, a 3-3 criteria win, was over Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ). The two are familiar foes having faced off in last year’s Asian Championships semifinal match at 97kg, where Balihamzehdeh etched out a 4-1 victory.

Dzhuzubekov will look to earn his fifth Asian Championships podium finish. He’s already earned gold in 2019 and bronze medals in ‘16, ‘18 and '22.

130kg
In a stacked 130kg bracket, Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is returning to the Asian Championships for the first time since winning the tournament in 2020. Since then, he’s amassed a fifth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, a U23 World Championships gold (‘21) and a senior World Championships silver (‘22).

Other Greco-Roman superstars to watch at heavyweight will be Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ), Minseok KIM (KOR), and Roman KIM (KGZ), who are the returning 2022 Asian Championships top three finishers.

How to Follow Along
Fans can track the action on United World Wrestling's mobile app or uww.org. Download #TheHomeOfWrestling, United World Wrestling's mobile app today to access real-time match center data, get regular updates on tournaments and receive all the latest wrestling news in a flash.

#WrestleZagreb

World C'ships Day 5 WW 53kg, 62kg, 68kg and 72kg Highlights

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 - 08:11 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 17) -- Women's Wrestling will continue at the World Championships in 53kg, 62kg, 68kg and 72kg in Zagreb.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 6 RESULTS

62kg semifinals
SF 1: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) vs. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)
SF 2: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) vs. Amina TANDELOVA (UWW)

13:40: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) worked on five different takedowns before securing the fall over Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) and reach the 62kg semifinals. Motoki, the Paris Olympic champion, is cashing her first world title.

13:45: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), a world champion in 2017, with two big headlocks in her 5-1 victory over Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA). She returns to the World Championships semifinals to face Olympic champion Motoki.

13:42: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) not only advances to the 62kg semifinals, she avenges her loss in the final of this year's Asian Championships MANISHA (IND) with a solid 8-0 victory. Kim accumulates all of her points in the first period, topping each of her two takedowns with a 2-point roll or exposure.

13:37: The activity clock is just about to run out on Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) when she not only gets a score, her 4-point arm throw sends Ana GODINEZ (CAN) sailing onto her back in their 62kg quarterfinal. Tandelova doesn't let the opportunity get away and she secures the fall at 2:02.

53kg semifinals
SF 1: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) vs. ANTIM (IND)
SF 2: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) vs. Hyongyong CHOE (PRK)

13:32: In a battle of young stars, Jin ZHANG (CHN) and ANTIM (IND) square off in the 53kg quarterfinals. Antim gets on board with a go-behind before powering her way to another takedown for a 4-0 lead. A similar takedown for Antim and she races to a 6-0 lead. Zhang fires one back and catch Antim off guard to score two points and cut the lead to 6-2 at the break. Zhang with high pressure and gets the reward with a takedown and two lace turns for an 8-6 lead. Antim gets a reversal for an 8-7 score but she has only 18 seconds to score two points for a win. She remains calm and scores the takedown to win 9-8 for a place in the semifinals at 53kg.

13:30: Olympic silver medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) gets the first takedown against Emma MALMGREN (SWE) and then turns her for a 4-0 lead. Malmgren tries hard in the second period but she can only score a takedown to make it 4-2 as Yepez wins 4-2.

14:29: Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO (JPN) wrestles tentatively to start against a defensive opponent, Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), gaining just an activity point without taking a shot in the first period of their 53kg quarterfinal. But the three-time world champion finds an opening in the second, scoring with a single leg. She then gets behind twice as Yetgil starts to show fatigue and the Japanese advances with a 7-0 victory.

14:28: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) continues her impressive run, storming to an 11-0 victory over Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) in their 53kg quarterfinal. Choe goes ahead in the first period with a takedown and two lace-lock rolls -- albeit the referee gave her more than ample time to execute them -- then added a takedown and exposure in the second.

68kg semifinals
SF 1: Buse TOSUN (TUR) vs. Ami ISHII (JPN)
SF 2: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) vs. Jia LONG (CHN)

13:20: Buse TOSUN (TUR) gets the first passivity call against Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) and the Czechia wrestler leads 1-0 at the break. Tosun on board in the second period with a point before a takedown helps her take a 3-1 lead with a minute remaining. Hanzlickova gets stepout but it's too little too late as Tosun wins 3-2 for a place in the 68kg semifinal.

13:18: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) scores two takedowns in the last two minutes of the second period, giving her a come-from-behind 8-4 victory over Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) and a place in the 68kg semifinals. Yaneva opened the scoring with a takedown and gut wrench, only to fall behind on criteria when Zelenkykh scored a takedown on each side of the break.

13:18: Ami ISHII (JPN) and Kennedy BLADES (USA) in a big quarterfinals at 68kg. Ishii blasts with a takedown and then exposure for two more to lead 4-0 against Kennedy BLADES (USA). She uses the arm-dram to score another takedown and lace for an 8-0 lead inside the first two minutes. Blades gets on board with a stepout to make it 8-1. Both scramble but Ishii scores a takedown for a 10-1 lead at the break. Ishii takes some time but manages to power her way to the match winning takedown. A 12-1 victory for Ishii as she reaches the semifinal.

13:17: In an high-profile all-Asian clash in the 68kg quarterfinals with little action, Jia LONG (CHN) scores a takedown in the final seconds to finish off a 4-1 victory over two-time Olympic medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ).

72kg semifinals
SF 1: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) vs. Alla BELINSKA (UKR)
SF 2: Nesrin BAS (TUR) vs. Zelu LI (CHN)

13:05: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) with four takedowns against Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) to secure a place in the 72kg semifinals with an 8-4 win.

13:03: After Nesrin BAS (TUR) receives an activity point, Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) goes on the attack as the first-period clock in winding down. Can she finish it off in time? Instead, Bas whizzers her over onto her back and completes the fall with one second to go to earn the spot in the 72kg semifinals.

13:01: Zelu LI (CHN), the Asian champion at 68kg, barges into the 72kg semifinals with a 10-0 victory over Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL). Li takes Zorigt directly to her back and, although she can't complete the fall, she adds a gut wrench. Another takedown and two more turns and she's the winner in 1:45.

13:00: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) steps over and catches Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) flat on the mat to secure the fall at 72kg and advance to the semifinal.

12:55: In the last match before the quarterfinals, Asian champion MANISHA (IND) keeps Astrid MONTERO (VEN) at bay at 62kg. Manisha got two points for two passivity calls against Montero who scored one point for the same. But Manisha hangs on for a 2-1 victory. This also means that European champion Iryna BONDAR (UKR) will return empty-handed.

12:45: Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) had just made a leg attack when Nikolett SZABO (HUN) called out injured. She seemed in a lot of pain having injured her knee. She had to carried off the mat on a stretcher. Motoki advances to quarterfinals at 62kg.

12:37: Veteran Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), eight years removed from her lone world championship, stays on track at 62kg with a comprehensive 10-0 victory over three-time European bronze medalist Veranika IVANOVA (UWW).

12:31: European champion Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) makes short work of Kseniya STANKEVICH (UWW) to advance to the 53kg quarterfinals, taking her straight to her back and recording a fall at 1:26.

12:28: Jin ZHANG (CHN), last year's world silver medalist at 55kg, looks impressive in posting her second straight one-sided win at 53kg when she takes out Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) with a 10-1 victory. Only an activity point early on kept her from keeping a perfect sheet, but she quickly followed it with a takedown as she took a 6-1 lead at the break.

12:27: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) scored one takedown to lead 2-1 against Roksana ZASINA (POL) and then held her fort with that lead. Zasina tried desperately for an attack but failed to score and gave up a takedown. Malmgren wins 5-1 at 53kg.

12:25: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) cannot find a way to break the defenses of Ok Ju KIM (PRK) who scores four different takedowns in their 62kg bout to win 8-0

12:18: Jia LONG (CHN), the 2024 world champion at 65kg, gives up the big points to Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in their 68kg match, but she piles up more than enough for a 12-6 victory.

12:17: Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) gives up a 4-point takedown early in her 62kg clash with Johanna LINDBORG (SWE), then erupts for 13 points in the second period, including a pair of 4-pointers of her own, for a 13-6 victory.

12:05: Ami ISHII (JPN), gunning for a second straight world title after winning last year at 72kg, continues her quest at 68kg by rolling to a 10-0 victory over Noemi SZABADOS (HUN) to advance to the quarterfinals. Ishii scores a single-leg takedown just as she receives an activity point to go up 3-0. After a second similar takedown, she goes to laces and finishes off the win ni 2:42.

12:04: Defending 68kg champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) gets the fall over Grabriela DA ROCHA (BRA) when she put her back on the mat in the second period and held on till the fall was called.

12:03: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) takes a 3-0 lead at the break in her 53kg bout against Annika WENDLE (GER). In the second period, she works a takedown and roll to make it 7-9. Another takedown on the edge puts her at 9-0 before she finishes the bout 11-0.

11:57: An upset on Mat C, as Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), aiming for her fifth world medal but first gold at 72kg, will have to settle for bronze at best after falling 3-3 on criteria to Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ). Nurtaeva trails 2-1 after giving up a second activity point, but scores a single-leg takedown with :51 left. Bakbergenova gains a stepout to tie, but trails on criteria, and Nurtaeva fends off a final attack to clinch the win.

11:56: Asian champion Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) goes to the lace lock after a second takedown, and three rolls later she advances at 53kg with a 10-0 victory over Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) in 2:20.

11:55: Olympic silver medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) comes from 4-1 down to get a fall over Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB) and advance at 53kg. Yepez is looking to add to her bronze medal from 2023.

11:51: A takedown and four quick lace-lock rolls and two-time Asian bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) advances at 53kg with a 10-0 win over Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP).

11:49: Sol Gum PAK (PRK) tries to score the one point she needs to beat Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) at 68kg but Yaneva defends everything that is thrown at her to win 7-6 and advance.

11:49: Two-time Olympic medalist and 2021 world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) opens her campaign with a 10-0 win over Aniseta ACOSTA (ASA) at 68kg. Zhumanazarova had a pair of 4-point moves, the second coming with a hip throw that made it a 10-point difference. The match ended when Acosta fought off her back.

11:45: Kennedy BLADES (USA), the Paris Olympic silver medalist at 76kg who has dropped down to 68kg, gets off to rousing start, overwhelming RADHIKA (IND) for an 11-0 victory in 1:38. Blades gets a 4-point takedown thwarting a Radhika counter to take a 7-0 lead within the first minute. She then bulls her opponent over for a takedown, then caps the proceedings with a classic gut wrench.

11:40: Six-time Asian medalist Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) is trailing 2-1 against Jyoti BERWAL (IND) in the second period of their 72kg bout when she does what Mongolian's do best -- hit her opponent with a headlock throw, giving her a victory by fall.

11:39: In a case of anything you can do, I can do better, LILI (CHN), a 2023 world bronze medalist at 65kg, scores three exposure tilts after a takedown to give her a 9-7 win over Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE) at 62kg. Lili's sequence came after Soltanova had gone ahead with three consecutive 2-point lifts to counter a single-leg attempt by Lili.

11:35: After a longish defense from Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR), Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) secures the fall as Park runs out of steam.

11:28: Three-time world champion Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN), looking to fill the 53kg spot following the move up to 57kg by compatriot and Paris Olympic gold medalist Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), opens with an 11-0 victory over Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB). Murayama leads 3-0 in the second period when she scores with a snapdown takedown, then reels off four gut wrenches.

11:32: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) with a fall over Aurora CAMPAGNA (ITA) in her opening bout at 62kg. Kim just too strong for Campagna

11:30: Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) opened the scoring against Masako FURUICHI (JPN) with a stepout before getting a point for inactivity of Furuichi. The Japanese bounces back with a takedown but gives up a reversal as Glaude leads 3-2. She hangs on to that lead to upset Furuichi

11:16: World 55kg silver Jin ZHANG (CHN) works on five different takedowns to beat Felicity TAYLOR (USA), 10-0, at 53kg with 31 seconds left on the clock.

11:11: In a battle of former European champions at 68kg, 2021 world silver medalist Khanum VELIEVA (UWW) gets a stepout just moments after giving up an activity point to Yuliana YANEVA (BUL). But Yaneva dominates the second period, scoring a takedown-gut wrench combination, then putting Velieva onto her back and securing a fall at 4:31.

11:09: Nice win for South America as Astrid MONTERO (VEN) scores two takedowns in the second period to knock off European champion Iryna BONDAR (UKR) 6-4 at 62kg. Montero gets behind for an early takedown, only to see Bondar come back with a takedown and quick exposure to lead 4-2 at the break.

10:50: Two-time Asian silver medalist RADHIKA (IND) gives up a 4-point takedown to the back to Laura GODINO (ITA) at the start of their 68kg qualification bout. That appears to wake up the Indian, who comes back with a takedown and stepout to cut the gap at the break. Another takedown puts Radhika ahead 5-4, then she ends the match by muscling Godino down and over for a fall with just over a minute left.

10:45: World 72kg champion Ami ISHII (JPN), back down at 68kg, starts her bid to win her second world title with a 10-0 victory over Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) in a minute and 31 seconds.

Asian Championships Greco-Roman Preview

Comments

World C'ships Day 5 WW 53kg, 62kg, 68kg and 72kg Highlights