#WrestleAstana

Asian Championships, WW Day 3 finals set

Tuesday, April 11, 2023 - 05:00 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan (April 11) -- After Iran's domination in Greco-Roman, it's time for women's wrestling and don't be surprised if you witness Japanese wrestlers winning most of their bouts. Five weight classes in action are 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg.

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The finals for the night are set

50kg
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) vs Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)

55kg
Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) vs. Qianyu PANG (CHN)

59kg
ZHUOMALAGA (CHN) vs. Yui SAKANO (JPN)

68kg
Ami ISHII (JPN) vs. NISHA (IND)

76kg
Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) vs. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)

14:31: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) thrilled the home crowd and assured herself of a seventh career Asian medal when the 2021 champion held on for a 6-4 victory over Juan WANG (CHN) to advance to the 76kg final. After scoring an activity point and takedown in the first period, Syzdykova padded the lead to 5-0 with a spin-behind takedown. But Wang came back with a stepout and fleeing penalty with 1:29 left, then scored a takedown with :10 on the clock to make it 5-4. Her efforts to turn Syzydykova failed, as did a challenge to get points that were not there.

14:25: Defending champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) moves into the final with a controlled 3-2 win over Mizuki NAGASHIMA (JPN). She got a 3-1 lead and did give up a late stepout but was aware that she won't be affected by that.

14:19: What a win for Nisha DAHIYA (IND) over Feng ZHOU (CHN) in the 68kg semifinal. Zhou led 6-3 after a scramble and had no business losing it but Dahiya got on a low double and Zhou lay flat to defend it. Dahiya then used two exposures from a lift to win 7-6. She will wrestle for gold against Ami ISHII (JPN)

14:16: World silver medalist Ami ISHII (JPN) survives a tough clash in the 68kg semifinals with 2021 world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), scraping out a 6-2 win. With the match limited to an activity point for Ishii in the first period, it opened up with Ishii on the clock when she got in on a low single. Zhumanazarova used a counter lift to turn Ishii over, but the Japanese twisted to expose her opponent's back, giving Ishii a 3-2 lead. She added a stepout, then spun behind for a takedown in the dying seconds. 

14:01: Yui SAKANO (JPN), making her senior Asian debut at 28, will get a chance to add to the U20 Asian titles she won in 2012 and 2014 when she barged into the 59kg final with a 10-0 technical fall over Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ). Kayumova was working on a front headlock when Sakano lunged for a low ankle pick and scored a takedown. She then used an inner thigh pancake for 4, followed by a lace lock for an 8-0 lead. A low fireman's carry gave her another takedown and the victory in 3:27. 

14:00: ZHUOMALAGA (CHN) had a slow start to the semifinal against Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) but she gets a 3-0 lead at the break. A stepout in the second period makes it 4-0. Bilimbek Kyzy gets a takedown to cut the lead to 4-2. She needs a takedown for the win. However, Zhuomalaga is solid in defense and avoids any last-second mishappenings. She wins 6-2

13:52: Qianyu PANG (CHN) denies Japan. She beats Rino KATAOKA (JPN) 6-1 to reach the final at 55kg. Pang, an Olympic silver medalist from Tokyo, was called passive which gave Kataoka a 1-0 lead. Pang scored a stepout just before the break and got another point for Kataoka's passivity in the second period. The Japanese tried tripping Pang, only to fall on her own back, giving up four points.

13:45: Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) wastes little time in making the first major final of her career, storming to a quick 10-0 technical fall in the 55kg semifinals over 2019 bronze medalist Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ). Chinbold swept in for a takedown, then ripped off four consecutive rolls to end the match in 48 seconds. 

13:40: Two big four-point throws for Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) as she beats Miran CHEON (KOR) 8-1 in the semifinal. She will wrestle Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) for the gold.

13:36: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) will get a shot at a second straight title after putting away NEELAM (IND) by fall in the 50kg semifinals. Yoshimoto scored three takedowns, and after the third one, secured an arm bar and levered Neelam over for the fall with :16 to spare in the first period.

13:01: Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) scores 4 with a tackle to the back to complete an 11-0 technical fall over Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB) and clinch the top spot in round-robin Group A at 59kg. 

12:54: Six-time Asian medalist (and 2021 champion) Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) gets a pair of stepouts in the second period to finish off an 11-1 technical fall over Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZ) in the 76kg quarterfinals. Syzdykova closed the first period with a takedown and two tilts for a 9-1 lead and was close to turning her opponent again to end the match when time ran out. She will face Juan WANG (CHN) for a place in the final. 

12:45: In a thriller on Mat C, NISHA (IND) scores a takedown with :14 left to notch a 10-10 victory over Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in the 68kg quarterfinals. Nisha was leading 8-2 when Enkhsaikhan locked her up in a cradle while countering a takedown attempt for 4, then went ahead with a pair of lace-lock rolls. 

12:45: Defending champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) is up against U17 world champion PRIYA (IND) but doesn't take much time for the win. A fall using the cradle in 43 seconds.

12:40: Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) was awarded a point for Mizuki NAGASHIMA (JPN) passivity in the first period. Nagashima tried to be more attacking in the second period but never got a hold of her throws. Ganbat got a takedown to lead 3-0. However, Nagashima with an absolute arm throw for four to lead 4-3. That remains the difference as Nagashima wins 4-3

12:35: Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZ), a bronze medalist a year ago at 50kg, is into the semifinals with a 10-0 technical fall over Yi Jing CHEN (TPE).  She will next face Miran CHEON (KOR).

12:30: Feng ZHOU (CHN), a two-time former Asian champion and two-time world medalist, puts up five points in the second period to secure an 8-2 victory over Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB) and advance to the 68kg semifinals.

12:30: Ami ISHII (JPN), the world silver medalist from 2021, is returning after an injury break. She asserts her dominance with a 10-0 win over Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ). As solid as you like.

12:28: Yui SAKANO (JPN), a 2017 world U23 gold medalist who could never seem to find a place on the national senior team, scores all of her points in the first period to defeat SARITA (IND) 6-1. She uses a barrel roll for the takedown, then adds a pair of gut wrenches. That gives Sakano two wins in her four-woman round-robin group.

12:20: NEELAM (IND) will face Remia YOSHIMOTO (JPN) after she pinned Ellada MAKHYADDINOVA (KAZ) in the 50kg quarterfinal. A tough test for Neelam against the defending champion

12:18: Defending champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) is into the 50kg semifinals with a 10-2 win over 2019 world U23 silver medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN). Yoshimoto gets a pair of takedowns in the first period for a 4-0 lead. In the second, Feng uses a counter lift off a takedown attempt for 2, but when she tries another, Yoshimoto steps over for 2. The Japanese adds two late takedowns to top off the win.

12:08: Rino KATAOKA (JPN) earns a shot at Pang in the 55kg semifinals, finishing off an 11-0 technical fall of her own over Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) with a 2-on-1 to a single leg takedown. 

12:02: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN), looking to add to the Asian gold she won in 2016, begins with an 11-0 technical fall over Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) to make the semifinals at 55kg.

12:00: Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) and ZHUOMALAGA (CHN), both of whom have lost their Round 1 bouts, are on Mat A. Khurelkhuu with a two and two but a reversal from Zhuomalaga. Khurelkhuu leads 4-1. She tries a one-on-two to trip but Zhuomalaga survives and gets the takedown to make it 4-3. Zhuomalaga is definitely tiring her out. She now has built a 6-4 lead. She eventually wins with the same score.

12:00: Up-and-coming PRIYA (IND), the world U17 champion and world U20 silver medalist last year, gets a first-period takedown then holds on for a 2-1 victory over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) in the qualification round at 76kg.

11:40: Defending champion and former world gold medalist Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) begins her campaign at 50kg with a quick 10-0 technical fall over Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL). The rematch of the 2022 final in Mongolia lasted just 1:16.

11:30: The women take the mat today in 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg weight classes. Defending champions in action will be Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) at 50kg and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) at 76kg.

#WrestleBratislava

Valiev tops Sidakov; Uguev, Ramazanov win European golds

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - 23:16 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 9) -- It took Chermen VALIEV (ALB) five bouts, a tense European Championships final, a challenge decision in his favor and a some incredible skill but he finally managed to beat world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW).

Valiev and Sidakov clashed in the final of the European Championships in Bratislava on Wednesday, and the Albanian came out as a 4-2 winner, winning for the first time against Sidakov in five bouts and becoming a European champion at 74kg.

"I've faced Zaurbek before," Valiev said. "Until now, he always came out as the winner. Today, I managed to win, and I'm really happy about that. Zaurbek and I have been good friends since childhood, I have a lot of respect for him. But today, I guess luck was more on my side."

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)The final sequence between Chermen VALIEV (ALB) and Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) which resulted in a Valiev win. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The two last clashed in the Russian National Championships which Sidakov won 3-2. But Valiev has since moved to Albania, won a bronze medal at 74kg at the Paris Olympics and emerged as one of the biggest names at 74kg.

Sidakov, world champion in 2023 at the weight class, had wrestled at the European Championships once before -- in 2016 at 70kg but did not win a medal.

In the final, Sidakov held the criteria lead 1-1 when Valiev was put on the activity clock again but he managed to drive Sidakov out of bounds during the 30-second period and get a point for a 2-1 lead.

With 50 seconds left on the clock, Sidakov went for a deep ankle pick, but got countered by Valiev for two-point exposure. Both continued the scramble and Sidakov managed to get a reversal for one point. However, it was initially scored two points for Sidakov which made it 3-2 for Sidakov before the referees awarded two for Valiev and a reversal point for Sidakov. That made the score 4-4 with Sidakov leading on criteria with six seconds remaining.

However, Albania challenged the call and on review, the 44-second scramble was awarded as two points for Valiev and a reversal point for Sidakov which gave Valiev a 4-2 lead to defend which he did. Sidakov limped off the mat which was later confirmed as a knee injury.

"The final was really tough for me, very intense match right up until the last second," he said. "Even at the end, it wasn’t clear who would get the score. But the score was given in my favor. I prepared hard and gave it 100 percent, put everything into my training. And today, God rewarded me with a gold medal."

Valiev, a former world U23 champion, is now focused on winning the senior world title and said that the gold medal in Bratislava will be a motivation to win in the Zagreb event in September.

"I’ll start preparing for the next competition," he said. "The main goal this year is the World Championships, and I hope to get there healthy and ready. I’ll keep that gold medal in my mind and keep pushing forward."

With that loss Sidakov, Tokyo Olympic champion at 74kg, suffered his first since 2018 when he lost Hetik CABALOV (SRB) in the Ivan Yaryguin Ranking Series.

While Sidakov suffered a loss, fellow Tokyo Olympic champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW) pulled off another last-second thrilling win over Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) to win his first-ever European gold medal.

Uguev, who was struggling with form in recent past and finished without a medal at the World Championships last year, rebounded with a 7-5 victory in the 61kg final to win gold.

"I’m truly happy," Uguev said. "I had even forgotten what it feels like to be called up to the top of the podium."

The final got off to a mesmerizing start with Uguev suplexing Harutyunyan during the Armenian's activity period. He was awarded two points for the move but he challenged for four points but lost, making the score 3-1.

In the second period, Uguev tried to pass behind for a takedown but Harutyunyan got hold of his leg and tripped him for four points to claim a 5-3 lead. Uguev was not giving up though. As Harutyunyan tried pushing him out, Uguev hit a underhook throw for two points to make the score 5-5 but Harutyunyan led on criteria for his bigger technique.

This was settled in the final minute when Uguev got on a single leg attack, elevated and finished with a takedown with 25 seconds left. He defended his 7-5 lead to win the gold medal.

"I had said it was going to be an interesting match and it really was," he said. "I got thrown unexpectedly early on and had to catch up. I was working, pushing forward, but I wasn’t worried — I believed I could close the gap, even though I couldn’t at first."

Uguev had three European medals, a bronze and silver, in the past having lost to Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) in 2017 and 2018. But he came a two-time world and Olympic champion. 

"I was lying down and a thought came to me," he said. "I looked back and realized -- I didn’t actually have a European medal yet. And I thought, “Now it’s time. I have to win one.”

Since winning the gold at 57kg at the Tokyo Games, Uguev has two fifth-place finishes at the World Championships internationally. But with the win on Wednesday, Uguev put his hat in the ring for the world title later this year.

Denis TSARGUSH, who was in the corners of both Sidakov and Uguev, said that Sidakov's loss a bit difficult to digest.

"We performed well overall. It’s just that the final match with Zarubek left a bit of a bitter aftertaste," he said. "He could have won but Chermen also wrestled really well."

Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL), Paris 2024 Olympic champion was also in action on Wednesday and he scored a thrilling 9-5 win against Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) in the 86kg final.

Kadzimahamedau was leading in 5-1 after he had scored two takedowns and Ramazanov got going only in the final minute. He scored a takedown with a leg-hold before turning Kadzimahamedau four times to make it 9-5. Ramazanov got Kadzimahamedau.

"All my thoughts were about winning — I really didn’t want to lose," Ramazanov said. "If the match had ended like that, without me giving it my all, it would’ve been incredibly disappointing. That’s why I switched into full gear — I wasn’t thinking about tactics anymore, I was just pushing forward. I would rate my performance around 6 out of 10. There were a lot of strong athletes."

Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL)Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) gut wrenches Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) for the win in the 86kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

With the win, Ramazanov won his second European title and he also avenged his 2019 79kg final loss at the European Championships.

"I wanted to avenge for past losses, but it wasn’t about proving anything," he said. "I just always try to choose the toughest opponents — especially the ones I’ve lost to before."

Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE)Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) won his fourth European Championships gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 92kg, three-time European champion Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) added a fourth after he sneaked through the final against Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 6-5.

Kurugliev, who also has a European Games gold medal, opened the final with an ankle pick for a takedown in the first thirty second of the bout and maintained till the break. There was no points scored in the bout until the last 25 seconds.

Nurmagomedov asked for a takedown but he lost the challenge which gave Kurugliev another point. He soon scored a stepout to cut the lead to 3-1 and as he tried to score another, Kurugliev circled and scored a go-behind as Nurmagomedov thought he completed the stepout.

A challenge would have helped Nurmagomedov at this point but he had already used it and Kurugliev's lead swelled to 5-1.

Nurmagomedov got a takedown with a ankle pick for two point and he got another point for Kurugliev's fleeing, making the score 5-4. The bout resumed in par terre with four seconds on the clock but Nurmagomedov failed to score a turn and lost the final.

 Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE)Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) scores the winning throw against Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) during the 125kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The European Championships had a different winner at 125kg in 13 years as Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) needed a buzzer-beating front body throw for four to defeat Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO), 7-7, in the final.

Meshvildishvili thus became the first wrestler not named Taha AKGUL (TUR) or Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) to win the 125kg gold medal since 2012.

Manashvili was  leading 7-3 with seven seconds remaining when Meshvildishvili scored a reverse exposure throw for four, awarded only after the Azerbaijan side challenged.

Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE)Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) with Taha AKGUL (TUR) during the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The win also captured the Freestyle team title for Azerbaijan over Georgia. The two countries were tied at 94 points and the winner of 125kg would take his country to the top of the podium.

Meshvildishvili's win gave Azerbaijan 119 points for the top spot while Georgia was second with 114 points. Turkiye finished third with 73 points.

 

Photo

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 7-5

BRONZE: Andrii DZHELEP (UKR) df. Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW), 3-1
BRONZE: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) df. Leomid COLESNIC (MDA), 11-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL), 6-4
BRONZE: Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 3-0

86kg
GOLD: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW), 9-5

BRONZE: Osman GOCEN (TUR) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), 4-2
BRONZE: Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) df. Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA), 10-0

92kg
GOLD: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) df. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 6-5

BRONZE: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Yaraslau IADKOUSKI (UWW), 5-0 
BRONZE: Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) df. Ahmed BATAEV (BUL), 8-6

125kg
GOLD: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO), 7-7

BRONZE: Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) df. Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN), 5-2
BRONZE: Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) df. Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE), 8-0