#WrestleAstana

Asian Championships women's wrestling storylines

By Taylor GREGORIO

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (March 31) -- Come April 9, the continental tournament season will be underway with the Asian Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Seeds, which will be released later next week, were determined by performances at the 2022 World Championships and this year’s two Ranking Series events. This tournament will also serve as seeding criteria for the 2023 World Championships in Serbia.

Plenty of stars fighting for the crown, including seven Olympic medalists and five past world champions, will be at the Asian Championships. All the action from Kazakhstan can be followed live on uww.org or on the UWW app.

Here are the storylines to keep an eye on in women's wrestling:

Bakbergenova twins seek repeat

In 2022, twin sisters Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) and Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) won the Asian championships, taking out big competition to top the podium. At 68kg, Madina took out then-reigning world champion and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) in the gold-medal bout.

For the 72kg title, Zhamila defeated newcomer Sumire NIIKURA (JPN), who went on to win bronze medals at the U20 and U23 World Championships later. This year, the Bakbergenovas return in hopes of doing it again. Zhamila, a two-time World silver medalist, seeks her third overall Senior Asian title, while Madina aims for the second.


Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) is one of the six returning Asian champions. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Six returning champions

In addition to the Bakbergenova sisters, four other 2022 Asian champions will be in Astana next weekend. Japan will bring three returning champs in Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) at 50kg, Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) at 53kg and Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) at 62kg. Yoshimoto and Fujinami each earned World gold in 2021, and Ozaki claimed Senior, U23 and U20 World gold last year.

Representing Kyrgyzstan, Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) is registered at 76kg. She won her first Asian title in 2022, fresh off a bronze-medal performance at the ’21 World Championships.

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is a Tokyo Olympic silver medalist. (Photo: UWW /  Ginnie Coleman)

Seven Olympic medalists highlight field

This year’s field features seven Olympic medalists across all weights with two silver medalists and five bronze winners.

Leading the group is Tokyo Olympics runner-up Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), who will compete at 62kg. Tynybekova has a loaded resume with 2019 and 2021 World titles, a 2017 world bronze and four Asian gold medals.

Also an Olympic runner-up is Qianyu PANG (CHN) at 55kg, who won her medal in Tokyo. A two-time World bronze medalist, Pang seeks her second-career Asian title. Her first came in 2016.

The Olympic bronze medalists expected to wrestle include Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) at 53kg, Zhumanazarova, Qian ZHOU (CHN) and Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) at 68kg and Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) at 76kg.

Weight to watch: 68kg

If you haven’t noticed yet, the 68kg weight is FULL of talent. A quick breakdown: Bakbergenova comes in as the returning continental champ; Shalygina and Zhumanazarova own Olympic bronze medals; and Feng ZHOU (CHN) and Ami ISHII (JPN) bring World medals to the field.

Feng has held the weight for China for several years and brings a wealth of experience to Astana. Her presence will keep the competition on their toes. She has a 2015 silver and a 2018 bronze at the World Championships.

If Bakbergenova is not entered, Kazakhstan will go with Shalygina, a 2008 Olympic medalist. She has three World medals from 2007, 2009 and 2010. She’s in the midst of a comeback to wrestling after taking an international hiatus from 2012-2022.

Rounding out the group, Zhumanazarova won gold at Oslo 2021, and Ishii claimed silver in her World Championships debut last September.

Development

United World Wrestling's Commitment: Empowering Athletes and Coaches for the Paris Olympics

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (July 22) -- In a remarkable demonstration of dedication and support for athletes, United World Wrestling (UWW) has played an important role in helping athletes qualify for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Olympic Solidarity, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and UWW Development, a total of 213 athletes and coaches benefited from the UWW Technical Assistance for the continental qualifiers and participated in acclimatization camps ahead of the continental qualifiers for the Paris Olympics.

In total, over 200,000 CHF has been invested globally in helping athletes qualify for the Games via continental qualifiers. This substantial financial commitment underscores UWW's unwavering dedication to nurturing wrestling talent and fostering elite-level development of the sport worldwide.

Athletes Qualified for the Paris Olympic Games
The result of this concerted effort has been outstanding, with 9 athletes under UWW financial support from 4 different nations successfully qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games.

The following athletes have secured their spots at the Paris Olympic Games via the continental qualifiers:

  • Chaimaa Fouzia Aouissi (ALG)
  • Bacar Ndum (GBS)
  • Diamantino Iuna Fafe (GBS)
  • Oussama Assad (MAR)
  • Gaku Akazawa (SAM)
  • Tayla Tuahine Ford (NZL)
  • Genesis Rosangela Reasco Valdez (ECU)
  • Darian Toi Ruz (PUR)
  • Ethan Adrian Ramos (PUR)

In addition, last year, through UWW Technical Assistance provided during the Senior World Championships (1st phase of the Paris OG qualifier), 3 athletes secured their qualification for the Paris Olympic Games. These athletes are:

  • Sebastian C Rivera (PUR)
  • Otgonjargal Dolgorjav (MGL)
  • Tatiana Renteria Renteria (COL)

In total 12 athletes benefited from the UWW financial support qualified spots for the Paris Olympic Games.

Refugee Athletes
With the support of Olympic Solidarity, the following refugee athletes have also qualified and will be part of the Refugee Olympic Team:

  • Iman MAHDAVI
  • Jamal VALIZADEH

Empowering Female Coaches at Elite Level
In addition to the athletes, the Olympic Solidarity and UWW Women in Sport High-Performance (WISH) program has made a significant advancement for gender equality in wrestling.

Three WISH program coaches attended the continental Olympic qualifiers:

  • Marwa Amri (TUN)
  • Carissa Holland (AUS)
  • Happiness Enugu Burutu (NGR)

This initiative marks a significant step forward for the sport of wrestling, contributing to the expansion of elite female coaches participating in high-level international competitions.

Safeguarding Athletes at Olympic Qualifiers
In alignment with IOC recommendations, United World Wrestling (UWW) has taken proactive measures to safeguard athletes participating in championships and Olympic Qualifiers. Dedicated staff members have been stationed at these events to provide vigilant oversight and ensure athletes' safety, protecting them from any form of harassment or abuse.

UWW's steadfast commitment to athlete welfare extends beyond competition success, prioritizing their well-being and creating a secure environment conducive to athletic excellence. By implementing these measures, UWW upholds the principles of fairness, respect, and integrity, fostering a culture where athletes can thrive and pursue their Olympic aspirations, reinforcing the organization's role as a guardian of athlete rights and dignity on the global stage.

United World Wrestling's comprehensive support system, encompassing financial aid, technical assistance, and development programs, has been crucial in helping athletes and coaches achieve their dreams of qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games. This initiative not only highlights the global reach and impact of UWW but also underscores its commitment to fostering talent and promoting gender equality and inclusion in the sport of wrestling. As the countdown to the Paris Olympic Games continues, the success stories of these athletes and coaches will undoubtedly inspire future generations of wrestlers worldwide.