#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Asian Championships women's wrestling brackets

By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 20) -- The Asian Championships will move to women's wrestling beginning Thursday. The draws for all 10 weight classes were held Wednesday.

Japan is once again the favorite to win the team title, especially with China unable to compete in the Asian Championships for the third straight year.

Kyrgyzstan and India will also be hoping to crown a couple of champions as they have in the past tournaments.

50kg

The six-wrestler bracket is headlined by world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN). Tokyo Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) opted to sit out the tournament.

Seeded number one, Yoshimoto has been clubbed with fourth seed Miran CHEON (KOR) and MANISHA (IND) in Group A. Two wrestlers from this group will qualify for the semifinal.

Group B will have second seed Namuuntsetseg TSOGTOCHIR (MGL) and third seed Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB). The two will have to wrestle with Aigul NURALIM (KAZ) as well as she takes the third spot in the group.

53kg

World champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) will be wrestling at her first Asian Championships and nothing less than a gold is expected from her. She is the top seed and has Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) and Swati SHINDE (IND) in Group A. In most likelihood, Batkhuyag and Shinde will battle for the second semifinal spot from this group.

The other group has second seed Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) and third seed Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) wrestling it out for the two semifinal spots with HyunyoungOH (KOR).

55kg

The 55kg has only five wrestlers and each one has to wrestle against the other. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) is the top seed but former junior world champion Umi IMAI (JPN) is the favorite to win the gold here.

Sushma SHOKEEN (IND) will represent India while the host nation Mongolia will be represented by the 2017 U23 World bronze Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL). Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB) completes the bracket.

With no semifinals in the bracket, the winner of the most matches will be the gold winner.

57kg

One of the toughest weight classes, the 57kg can see the clash of world silver medalist and defending champion Anshu MALIK (IND) and Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) who won the world title at 55kg in Oslo. The two are in opposite groups and can clash in the final if they both top their groups and win the semifinal.

Malik has fourth seed Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) and Danielle LIM (SGP) in her group while Sakurai is with former Asian silver Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), junior world champion Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) and Hyungjoo KIM (KOR).

59kg

In another five-wrestler bracket, two-time defending champion Sarita MOR (IND) will be tested once as she has three-time World medalist Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) and 2018 Asian silver Sara NATAMI (JPN). Mor and Baatarjav wrestled in the final last year in Almaty and the Indian came out on top.

The other two wrestlers in the draw are Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) and Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB).

62kg

Two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is going for yet another Asian title and she is the favorite to win it.

Seeded number one, Tynybekova will wrestle Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL) in the quarterfinal. Boldsaikhan had finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics.

In the other quarterfinal, Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB) and Sachini WERADUWAGE (SRI) will wrestle and the winner will reach the semifinal against Tynybekova or Boldsaikhan.

The lower side of the bracket has world silver medalist and second seed Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) who will wrestle Hanbit LEE (KOR) in the quarterfinal. She is the favorite to reach the final against Tynybekova.

But for that, she would have to beat Lee and one of MANISHA (IND) or Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ) who was second to Yukako KAWAI (JPN) at the 2020 Asian Championships.

Tynybekova and Ozaki met in the opening round of the Oslo World Championships and the Kyrgyzstan wrestler won 6-4 against the former junior world champion.

65kg

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) will make her debut at the Asian Championships and like any other Japanese wrestler, is the favorite to win the weight class. After winning the silver at the World Championships, she has proved herself to be a force to reckon with.

Trying to stop her from winning gold in the five-wrestler bracket will be two U23 World silver medalists RADHIKA (IND) and Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL). The Indian a silver in 2021 while the Mongolian is a medalist in 2019.

Incidentally, Morikawa is a U23 world bronze medalist from 2018 at 68kg. The world junior champion also came agonizingly close to knocking off Sara DOSHO (JPN) to make the Japan team for the Tokyo Olympics.

Second seed Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB) and third Dariga ABEN (KAZ) will complete the bracket.

68kg

World champion and Olympic bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) will look to defend her title at 68kg in a seven-wrestler bracket. She is part of Group A which has Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) and Sujin PARK (KOR).

Group B will have a even more competitive as number two seed Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) who was second to Zhumanazarova in the '21 Asia final and won the U23 world bronze later that year.

Third seed Azoda ESBERGENOVA (UZB) and Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) will be looking to upset the Mongolian. Matsuyuki was silver at the 2020 Asian Championships and is a former junior world champion.

Sonika HOODA (IND) is the fourth wrestler in the group and can surprise others to make the semifinal.

72kg

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) is chasing a gold medal after finishing with a silver at home in '21. For that, she will have to win the most bout in the five-wrestler group at 72kg.

The silver medalist at the World Championships is the top seed and will be challenged by 2022 Ivan Yarguin silver medalist and second seed Davaansasan ENKH AMAR (MGL).

NIKKI (IND), Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) and Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) close out the bracket.

76kg

She was close to winning the medal at the Olympics and won a bronze at the World Championships but Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be looking to pocket her first Asian title after finishing second last year.

The top-seeded wrestler is in Group A of the six-wrestler bracket with Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) and Sudesh KUMARI (IND). Kagami was a junior world champion and U23 world silver medalist in 2019. Medet Kyzy was bronze at the same event.

The lower group has second seed Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ), Ariunnjargal GANBAT (MGL) and Valentina TORENIYAZOVA (UZB).

The Kazakhstan wrestler would like to reach her first Asian Championships final after missing out on all of her previous attempts. She finished seventh in the 2019 edition. A 2018 U23 world bronze medalist Yerkebayeva is likely to reach the semifinal from this group.

A winner between Ganbat and Toreniyazova will be the other semifinalist from the group if Yerkebayeva wins all her bouts.

#WrestleParis

Wrestling at Paris 2024: Susaki, Makhmudov stunned; Aleksanyan vs Rosillo rematch

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

PARIS -- The Olympic Games enter day two of wrestling at the Champs de Mars arena with Greco-Roman 77kg and 97kg and Women's Wrestling 50kg. Yui SUSAKI (JPN) is hoping to defend her title from Tokyo which she won without conceding a point. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) is looking for his second title as well with the first coming in Rio.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS 2024 DAY 1

13:30: That is the end of the morning session! Mohamed GABR (EGY) is into the semifinal by beating Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) 4-1. On a day of upset, count that one as well.

13:19: The shocks continue as Mariya STADNIK (AZE) sees her bid for an elusive Olympic gold end when two-time world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) scores a pair of takedowns in the final minute for a stunning 4-4 victory on big-point criteria. Dolgorjav went into the match a bit fresher after receiving a first-round forfeit from Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA), and she used her reserves to secure what proved to be the winning takedown with 28 seconds left. Stadnik challenged for eye poke which was confirmed on challenge but Dolgorjav still had criteria

13:18: Returning bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) with a technical superiority win over Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) and he is moving into the semifinal at 97kg.

13:15: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) is into the Greco 77kg semifinals after beating Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) 1-1 on last-point criteria. Levai was put in par terre first, then held out when on the bottom in the second.

13:08: Tokyo bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) scrapes out a well-earned 7-4 victory over Ziqi FENG (CHN) to advance to the women's 50kg semifinals. Feng opens with a double-leg takedown that Hildebrandt reverses for 1, then goes ahead with shrug-by takedown. The two trade takedowns as the American goes into the break with a slim 5-4 lead. In the second period, she clinches the win with a takedown with :40 left.

13:05: Another star has fallen! World champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) saw his bid to become his country's first-ever gold medalist end with a 3-1 loss to Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ). Makhmudov got the chance in par terre first, but a series of rolls were nullified on challenge for leg use. In the second period, Zhadrayev applied a vicious front headlock from par terre and threw the Tokyo silver medalist for 2.

13:08: World champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) was in some trouble against Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) but managed to hold his lead and scored a takedown on the counter in the dying seconds of the bout to win 5-2. He moves into the semifinal at 97kg

12:58: Never count out Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)! He was down 5-5 on criteria after Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) used two front headlocks to score exposure. But Aleksanyan got behind and threw Assakalov for four to win 9-5

12:57: Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB) storms into the women's 50kg semifinals with a 10-0 win over Gabija DILYTE (LTU). Guzman arm drags behind for a takedown, then reels off three rolls for an 8-0 lead. Another takedown ends the match with nine seconds left in the first period.

12:49: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) follows up her monumental win over Yui SUSAKI (JPN) by holding off Oksana LIVACH (UKR) 7-5 in a scrappy women's 50kg quarterfinal. Phogat gets two takedowns and leads 5-2 when Livach puts on a late surge, cutting the gap to 1 with a stepout and a lost challenge. With the clock winding down, Phogat shrugs off a throw attempt for 2, and Livach adds a late stepout.

12:48: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) gets a 2-point throw from par terre in the first period and that holds up for a 3-0 victory over Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) and a spot in the Greco 77kg semifinals.

12:45: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) gets the par terre the second time and turns Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO), adds a four-pointer and finishes the bout 9-1 at 97kg

12:38: Top seed Nao KUSAKA (JPN) finishes off a 12-2 victory over Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) with a 4-point pancake to snatch his place in tonight's Greco 77kg semifinals.

12:34: Veteran Mariya STADNIK (AZE) begins her quest for a fifth Olympic medal -- hopefully a first gold -- with a 6-2 victory over world bronze medalist Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER). The 35-year-old mother of two gets a takedown-roll combination for a 4-0 lead in the first period, then gets 2 more when she rolls through a headlock attempt in the second.

12:30: Mohamed GABR (EGY) gave no chance to Mihail KAJAIA (SRB). Gabr took a 6-0 lead and then defended the par terre position to win 6-1 and advance at 97kg.

12:25: 2021 world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) gets the passivity points and fights off Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) and an apparent left hamstring injury for a 2-0 victory at Greco 77kg.

12:23: Tokyo bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA)  goes out the backdoor for a takedown against Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG), then transitions to the lace lock and reels off four rolls for a 10-0 win in 1:34 for a place in the women's 50kg quarterfinals.

12:18: World bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) uses an effective barrel roll for two takedowns of Nada MOHAMED (EGY), scoring a fall after the second one to advance to the women's 50kg quarterfinals.

12:19: Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) with a big four-pointer as he moves past Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU) 5-1 and enters the 97kg quarterfinals.

12:14: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), the world silver medalist in 2022, gets a second-period stepout and that's enough for a 2-1 victory at Greco 77kg over Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), the 2022 world champ at 82kg.

12:08: Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB) pulls off a thrilling 7-6 victory over Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) at women's 50kg with an exposure during a scramble in the final seconds that took the mat chairman a long time to sort out on challenge. Both wrestlers scored takedowns, only to give up 2-point counters down the stretch.

12:00 Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) with a controlled 4-0 win over Fadi ROUABAH (ALG) and moves into the quarterfinal. He will take on world champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) who was not the best off the block but managed to beat Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER) 7-5.

11:56: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), aiming to improve on his silver medal in Tokyo three years ago at Greco 77kg, can't get the turn in par terre, but rides a series of second-period stepouts to a 4-1 victory over Kamal BEY (USA)

11:53: Gabija DILYTE (LTU) uses a 2-on-1 to slam Alisson CARDOZO (COL) to her back and secures the fall at 4:14 to advance at women's 50kg.

11:45: Four-time world medalist Maklhas AMOYAN (ARM) tosses his way to an 8-0 victory at Greco 77kg over Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN). The winning point comes on a lost challenge by the Finnish side.

11:44: Oksana LIVACH (UKR), fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, scores a pair of 4-point takedowns and she advances at women's 50kg with a 10-0 victory over Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB).

11:37: Asian silver medalist Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) gets the second of the passivity points and that's enough to defeat Yosvanys PENA (CUB) 1-1 at Greco 77kg.

11:33: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Olympic wrestling history, scoring a takedown in the final seconds to stun defending women's 50kg champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) 3-2. It is Susaki's first loss ever in 95 matches against non-Japanese opponents. Phogat stays completely on the defensive throughout the match, giving Susaki both of her points from the activity clock. With the clock running down, Phogat goes on the offensive and knocks Susaki off balance and onto her bottom, then charges ahead for a takedown with :05 left. Japan challenges, but the takedown stands and Susaki is out. 

11:26: Former world silver medalist Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) storms into the quarterfinals at Greco 77kg with a workmanlike 9-0 victory over  Mahmoud ABDELRAHMAN (EGY).

11:24: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) bounces back from her quarterfinal loss to Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) to earn a chance for a bronze medal by defeating Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) 6-0 in their women's 68kg repechage match. Ozaki scores two takedowns and a 2-point exposure, but the former 62kg world champion still seems to be struggling with the extra weight.

11:22: A minute and 44 seconds is all Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) needed to get over Seungjun KIM (KOR) at 97kg opening round. He gets four gut wrenches from par terre to win 9-0.

11:20: Top seed Nao KUSAKA (JPN) begins his campaign at Greco 77kg with an impressive 9-0 win over Abd Elrim OUAKALI (ALG). After an early takedown, Kusaka gets a 4-point lift and throw from par terre. Ouakali comes near to scrambling for a takedown, but Kusaka reverses the momentum to score a match-ending takedown.

11:16: Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) uses a four-point throw in his 6-4 win over Kiril MILOV (BUL) at 130kg. He will wrestle for bronze later tonight against Lingzhe DENG (CHN).

11:15: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) makes short work of Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) in the other Greco 60kg repechage, rolling to a 10-0 victory. He will take on world champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) for the bronze.

 

11:14: World champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) wins a battle of stepouts in the women's 68kg repechage against Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), earning a place in the bronze-medal match with a 4-3 win. Both wrestlers had three stepouts, with the deciding point coming when Poland unsuccessfully challenged Tosun's third stepout.

11:10: The action on Mat A gets underway with the first of the two Greco 60kg repechage matches. Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) will get a chance to give Venezuela its first-ever Olympic wrestling medal after scoring two 4-point takedowns in a 12-1 victory over Moamen MOHAMED (EGY). Rodriguez will face Se Ung RI (PRK) for the bronze later tonight. 

11:00:The day two will begin with repechage in GR 60kg and 130kg and WW 68kg. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is on the mat to wrestle Seungchan LEE (KOR). He wins via technical superiority 9-0 and moves into the bronze medal bout for the evening.