Asian Championships, WW Day 3 finals set

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

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.

#WrestleHangzhou

Iran bounces back to win two Asian Games golds in Greco-Roman

Thursday, October 5, 2023 - 11:18 By Vinay Siwach

LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 5) -- After the disappointment of two silver medals on Wednesday, Iran bounced back with two gold medals in Greco-Roman on Thursday. Both gold medals came at the expense of home wrestlers.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) gets the first par terre advantage and scores a turn to lead 3-0 against Yiming LI (CHN). A stepout to lead 4-0 at the break. Li got the par terre advantage in the second period and Saravi, confidently, defended the position without giving up any points.

A caution point was awarded to Saravi as Li was penalized for locking fingers. Saravi would calmly see off the remaining time on the clock to win 5-1 and Iran's first gold medal in wrestling at the Asian Games.

"It was a good competition," Saravi said of the final. "Thank God that I was able to win the gold medal with the correct planning that we did with the coaches."

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) won the 97kg gold medal at the Asian Games. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

Saravi began the day with a big 6-3 win over two-time World Championships medalists Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) and followed that with a 3-1 victory over U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) in the quarterfinals. Islam UMAYEV (KAZ) failed to put up any challenge and Saravi moved into the finals with ease.

Having wrestled Li at the Bishkek Ranking Series this year, Saravi used the same strategy and kept it under control after the first turn in par terre. However, Saravi did not deny that the partisan crowd in the Lin'an Sport and Culture Exhibition Center.

"I wrestled with Li in the Ranking Series, but the conditions here were a little more difficult," he said. "The presence of Chinese spectators made the situation a little more difficult."

The 2021 world champion came into the Asian Games after a bronze-medal finish at the 2023 World Championships. But he said that the Belgrade tournament did not really affect his preparation for the Asian Games.

"I was ready because I trained hard for the World Championships and we had already planned for this competition," he said. "Thank God that my body was ready for this competition and I could get the best result."

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) won the 130kg gold after beating Lingzhe MENG (CHN) 1-1 in the final. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

The second gold medal for Iran in Greco-Roman was captured by 130kg world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) who also defeated a Chinese wrestler, Lingzhe MENG (CHN), to win his Asian Games title.

In what was a repeat of the 2023 Asian Championships final, Mirzazadeh continued his unbeaten run this year with a 1-1 victory over Meng. The two wrestlers exchanged passivity points and Mirzazadeh won by the virtue of scoring the last point.

Mirzazadeh won his first world title in Belgrade after he stunned five-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) 2-2 in the final.

While Iran coach Hassan RANGREZ was happy with the result of two gold medals, he was worried about his wrestlers competing at two demanding tournaments in less than 10 days.

"Ideally we should have won four gold medals," Rangrez said. "However, with the World Championships and Asian Games being so close together, it was difficult to prepare and it impacted our performances."

For Mirzazadeh's gold, Rangrez said that he was never in doubt

"He is the new king of super heavyweight," the coach said. "He wrestled very well."

Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) won the 97kg bronze, thus completing the set of medals at the Asian Games. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

Assakalov, 39, completes medal set

Two-time World Championships medalist Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) completed the medal set as he won the bronze medal in the 97kg weight class. The 39-year-old pinned Islam UMAYEV (KAZ) in the bronze-medal bout after leading 7-0. Assakalov was the 85kg Asian Games champion at the 2014 edition in Icheon and won a silver in the 2018 Games in Jakarta. Assakalov had earlier lost to Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) 6-3 in the opening round bout.

"I have a full set of Asian games medals," Assakalov said. "Thank God for everything, thanks to my solid team"

Assakalov has been wrestling for over two decades now but the hope of winning an Olympic medal keeps him going. He has been to two Olympic Games -- 2016 and 2020 -- but finished eighth in both editions.

"The Olympic medal makes me keep doing this sport," he said. "I am 39 years old. I still work hard to make my dream come true. My children are my motivation. When I leave home, they say, dad, bring us the medal."

The other 97kg bronze medal went to Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN) as he defeated Seyeol LEE (KOR) 4-3. Tsuruda would be thanking his stars as he was trailing 3-1 till the last 11 seconds when Lee headbutted Tsuruda and the referees awarded two points to the Japanese.

Lee challenged the call and on review, the jury upheld the original decision and awarded another point to Tsuruda.

At 130kg, multiple-time Asian medalist Minseok KIM (KOR) and 2022 Asian champion Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) won the bronze medals. Both won with an identical scoreline of 5-1.

Kim scored two turns from par terre to beat NAVEEN while Syzdykov managed to get the bronze by beating Aybegshazada KURRAYEV (TKM) 5-1.

RESULTS

97kg
GOLD: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Yiming LI (CHN), 5-1

BRONZE: Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) df. Islam UMAYEV (KAZ), via fall (7-0)
BRONZE: Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN) df. Seyeol LEE (KOR), 4-3

130kg
GOLD: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Lingzhe MENG (CHN), 1-1

BRONZE: KIM Minseok KIM (KOR) df. NAVEEN, 5-1
BRONZE: Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) df. Aybegshazada KURRAYEV (TKM), 5-1

Asian Championships, WW Day 3 finals set

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Iran bounces back to win two Asian Games golds in Greco-Roman