#WrestleAstana

Asian Championships Greco-Roman Preview

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

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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)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.

#WrestleAstana

Asian Championships day five freestyle finals set

Thursday, April 13, 2023 - 04:35 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan (April 13) -- The Asian Championships has entered its business end with freestyle beginning Thursday. Five weight classes will be in action led by world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) at 65kg. The other weight classes in action are 57kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The finals for the evening session

57kg - AMAN (IND) vs. Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)

65kg - Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) vs. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)

70kg - Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ) vs. Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB)

79kg - Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) vs. Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ)

97kg - Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) vs. Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)

14:30: Top-seed Awusayim HABILA (CHN) gets off to a flying start against Makhsud VEYUSALOV (UZ) at 97kg, scoring a takedown and a pair of lace-lock rolls. He adds a high-crotch takedown to lead 8-0 after the first period. In the second, he gets in deep on a single, then gets behind. Veyusalov holds out for a bit, but Habila finally forces him to the mat to end the match at 3:53.

14:30: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) gave up a stepout but he scores one for himself before a takedown to lead 3-1 against Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN). A stepout in the second period makes it 4-1. But Tazhudinov with a body lock and four! He also gets two laces to lead 9-4. Just under two minutes left. Tazhudinov gets two more takedowns to lead 13-4 but Goleij comes with two of his own against a tiring Tazhudinov. However, that is all the time we have and the Bahrain wrestler will go to the 97kg final.

14:23: Can Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) follow up compatriot Doszhanov's thrilling win with a victory of his own over an Iranian opponent at 79kg? It doesn't start too well, as Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) opens with a takedown and an activity point. But Sakayev scores with a double-leg takedown and, keeping a firm grip on the legs, lifts up and gets a 2-point exposure to go ahead. Kavousi goes ahead with a pair of stepouts, but in the final 30 seconds, Sakayev gets in deep on a single, lifts up and dumps Kavousi to the mat. A fall! And he's into the final.

14:18: Walking into the 79kg finals, Bekzod ABDURAKHMANOV (UZB). He beats DEEPAK (IND) 10-0 in the 79kg semifinal using five different takedowns and transitions.

14:10: In perhaps the bout of the day, Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ) overcomes Morteza GHIASI (IRI) with some help from the crowd. A lot of scrambles in the bout but Doszhanov got the cradle for exposure to lead 4-1 with under a minute remaining. Ghiasi on his part tried to get an opening but failed to get one. 

14:02: Zafarbek OTAKHANOV (UZB) makes short work of Orts ISAKOV (JOR) in their 70kg semifinal, scoring a quick takedown and locking up an arm, then flip-flopping his opponent back and forth for four quick exposures and a 10-0 technical fall in 54 seconds.

13:59: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) scores a takedown with :30 left to clinch a 5-2 victory over world U20 champion Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) to make the 65kg final. Jalolov uses a slick duck under for a takedown in the first period, but hurts himself in the second period, when he backs out for a stepout and a fleeing point, then gives up another point with a lost challenge that puts him behind 3-2.

13:55: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) gets the job done against Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN). A stepout and passivity point for Amouzad against Anraku's passivity point in the 2-1 win.

13:43: Almaz SMANBEKOV (KAZ), a bronze medalist a year ago, will be fighting for the 57kg gold after putting away  Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) 8-6. Smanbekov scores a takedown in the first period, then opens the second with an arm throw for a 4-1 lead. He then stops a throw attempt and puts the Mongolian directly to his back for 4. With the big lead, he concedes three stepouts in the waning moments, two of which have a penalty point tagged on for lack of effort. 

13:30: U23 world champion AMAN (IND) is up against Wanhao LUO (CHN) and he has been called passive and Luo is up 1-0. He scores stepout to start the second period. A nice ankle pick for Aman to lead 2-2 on criteria. Luo is tiring and Aman is up 7-2. Luo gets a single leg for a takedown to cut the lead to 7-4. No more action in that semifinal and Aman is into the final.

Welcome to the finals. We start with 57kg.

13:05: In a cracker of a match, Orts ISAKOV (JOR) completes a wild 20-7 victory over AGUDAMU (CHN) in the 70kg quarterfinals with a spectacular 5-point back suplex that draws cheers from the crowd. Jordan has never had a freestyle medalist at an Asian Championships. 

12:57: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) joins the Iranian parade into the semifinals, overpowering Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) with an 11-0 technical fall at 97kg. A takedown to a pair of gut wrenches gave Goleij a 9-0 lead in the first period, and he finished the match with a takedown in the second.

 

12:52: Zagreb Open bronze medalist Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) jumps out to a five-point lead, then holds on for a 5-2 victory over Asian U23 champion Deepak NEHRA (IND) to advance to the 97kg semifinals.

12:38: Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ) pulls off a thrilling victory over Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) for a place in the 70kg semifinals. Doszhanov was trailing 4-0 when he hits a back-roll counter that barely exposes Toktomambetov's back. The referees give him 2, but when Kyrgyzstan challenges, the move it upgraded to 4, giving Doszhanov a 4-4 win on criteria.

12:35: World U23 champion AMAN (IND), looking to keep the 57kg title that Ravir KUMAR (IND) won last year in Indian hands, fends off Rikuto ARAI (JPN) 7-1 to advance to the semifinals. Aman showed his flexibility when Arai had put in a grapevine during a takedown attempt but the Indian squirmed out of it. The Japanese side thought Arai should have been awarded the 2, but the challenge was lost.  

12:14: Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ), a bronze medalist a year ago, scores two first-period takedowns and holds on to defeat last year's silver medalist Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ) 4-2 and book his place in the 65kg semifinals. 

12:00: Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB) with a takedown and then goes for the gut wrench to lead 6-0 against U20 world bronze Mulaym YADAV (IND). A takedown on the edge before finishing the bout 10-0.

11:56: 2021 world bronze medalist Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) cruises into the 97kg quarterfinals with a 12-0 technical fall over Ulziisaikhan BAASANTSOGT (MGL). Goleij, the Asian champ in 2020, gets a takedown and two gut wrenches to finish the first period up 8-0. He ends the proceedings with a 4-point back trip. 

11:54: Former Asian champion Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) gets a rude welcome to the 65kg class, as the four-time medalist at 61kg falls is dealt a 4-0 defeat by Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) in the quarterfinal round. Tumur Ochir scores an activity point and a stepout in each period for the win.

11:46: World champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) begins defense of his Asian title with a solid 6-0 win over Sanzhar MUKHTAR (KAZ) in the 65kg quarterfinals. Amouzad gets three stepout points off his attack which, added to an activity point and a late spin-behind takedown, is enough to defeat Mukhtar, who never comes close to a successful attack of his own.

11:35: Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN) was a little surprised by the defense of Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) in his 65kg bout. Kudiev led 2-0 before Anraku got one point for Kudiev's passivity and then the Tajik blocked Anraku's attack with a hand on the neck, resulting in the caution and win. That gave the win to Anraku. Kudiev challenged it but lost.

11:28: In one of those matches between gold-medal candidates that the draw sometimes produces in the qualification round, 2022 bronze medalist Rikuto ARAI (JPN) knocks off 2021 world silver medalist Alireza SARLAK (IRI), finishing up a 12-1 technical fall with a tilt at the buzzer. Arai led 2-0 going into the second period when he upped the lead with two takedowns. Sarlak takes an injury timeout. With a minute remaining, Arai stays aggressive and gains a double-leg takedown. Sarlak loses interest and easily gives up a pair of exposures.

11:15: World U20 champion Umidjon JALOLOV (UZ) crunches Divoshan CHARLES  FERNANDO (SRI) for a fall in less than a minute to advance to the quarterfinals at 65kg. 

11:10: Local favorite Sanzhar MUKHTAR (KAZ) opens the action on Mat B with a 5-0 win over Mohammed KAREEM (IRQ) at 65kg, earning him a quarterfinal clash with reigning Asian and world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI).

11:00: Hello again from Astana as we get ready for Day 5 and the start of the freestyle competition, with action at 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg. Back to defend his title is world champion Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) at 65kg.