#WrestleHangzhou

Asian Games Wrestling GR 60kg, 67kg, 77kg, 87kg Finals Set

By Vinay Siwach

LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 4) -- The 19th Asian Games are being held in Hangzhou, China with wrestling taking place at the Lin'an Sports and Culture Exhibition Center. Greco-Roman will kick off proceedings with 60kg, 67kg, 77kg and 87kg wrestlers taking the mat.

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Here are the finals for the evening session

60kg
Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) vs Ayata SUZUKI (JPN)

67kg
Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) vs Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)

77kg
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) vs Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI)

87kg
Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) vs Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

12:29: World champion Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) and Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) confirm their 60kg final spots! Sharshenbekov with a fall over Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) while Suzuki beats Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) 9-0 in the other semifinals

12:25: Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) will wrestle for the 87kg gold medal as he beats Masato SUMI (JPN) 3-1 after a turn for par terre. Alizadeh had beaten Berdimuratov in the Asian Championships in 2022.

12:23: Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) will face Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) in the 77kg. He dashes the hopes of the hosts by beating Rui LIU (CHN) 1-1 as he got the second par terre advantage. Liu was given a third advantage but he failed to score. The Iranian had forfeited his 77kg Asian Championships final against Makhamudov in April

12:20: World and Asian champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) returns to the Asian Games final. He beats Azat SADYKOV (KAZ) 9-0 using a takedown, exposure and two turns. Makhmudov lost the 2018 Asian Games final to Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI).

12:17: Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) into the final at 87kg at the expense of Sunil KUMAR! Alizadeh had two turns from par terre while Kumar failed to score any to go down 5-1.

12:15: Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) books his spot in the 67kg against Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ). He defended his par terre against Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) before scoring a takedown in the second period. Bakhshilloev challenged the call but lost it. Endo with a par terre point and a throw on the edge to make it 6-1 and won with the same score.

12:10: What a start to the semifinals as Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) pins Danial SOHRABI (IRI) in 67kg. Sohrabi got the par terre advantage and scored three turns but he trapped Shermakhanbet's head when defending a reversal. Shermakhanbet challenged the call as it was not initially awarded. Sohrabi was put in par terre for that foul but he was quick to get a reversal to lead 9-2. When he was trying to finish the bout with a headlock, Shermakhanbet grabbed his arm. Sohrabi tried to hit a whizzer but that arm lock from Shermakhanbet was too tight as he put Sohrabi on his back and held him till the referee called it a pin. Top energy from Shermakhanbet who is coming back from an injury

12:00: Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) falls! Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) led 3-1 before a stepout from Dalkhani. But a late flurry of action saw Dalkhani score which was seen as a foul on challenge from Kazakhstan. A 4-2 win for Sultangali.

11:55: Masato SUMI (JPN) has no troubles in his quarterfinal at 87kg against Veasna CHHOEUNG (CAM). An 8-0 technical superiority win over the Cambodian. On Mat B, another win for Japan! Former Asian Championships bronze medalist Ayata SUZUKI (JPN), with the help of two challenges, survives Seung RI (PRK). Suzuki led 3-1 but Ri launched a headlock throw in the final 5 seconds. Referees called it a dangerous throw as Ri had locked Suzuki's head with both hands. Suzuki won 4-1.

11:50: In a battle of the two World Championships bronze medalists at 60kg, Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) gets the better of birthday boy Liguo CAO (CHN) 3-1. A turn the difference between the two wrestlers.

11:45: Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) with a winning takedown in the second period at 77kg. He beats Dilshod OMONGELDIYEV (UZB) 5-3 and advances to the semifinal against Rui LIU (CHN)

11:40: Azat SADYKOV (KAZ) with an 8-0 win over Wisit THAMWIRAT (THA) in the 77kg quarterfinals. On Mat B, Rui LIU (CHN) with two suplexes to beat VIKAS 9-1 and advance to the 77kg semifinals

11:30: Sunil KUMAR into the semifinals with a 9-1 technical superiority over Sukhrob ABDULKHAEV (TJK) at 87kg. He will take on three-time Asian champion Naser ALIZADEH (IRI)

11:25: Mansur NURBERDIYEV (TKM) got a takedown but that was not enough as Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) won 8-3 at 67kg. On Mat A, Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) is made to work hard by Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) but the Japanese won 3-1.

11:15: Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) takes his time but beats Azym ANNAMAMMEDOV (TKM) 7-1 in the 87kg quarterfinals. Then comes Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) with an 11-0 quick win over Maksat SAILAU (KAZ). And in no time world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) with a fall over SOPHAK KEO (CAM).

11:05: A thriller on Mat A! Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) took a 10-7 lead with two four-point throws against Lei LI (CHN) who also had a big move. Li made it 10-8 with a stepout. He scored a takedown to lead 10-10 on criteria but Kazakhstan challenged the call and it was a slip from Shermakhanbet who won 10-8

11:01: Daniel SOHRABI (IRI) ends the reign of two-time defending champion Hansu RYU (KOR) in the Asian Games! Sohrabi with two body throws to win 9-0 in the first period and move to the quarterfinals at 67kg

10:55: Meysam DALKHANI (IRI), who is wrestling at 60kg for the first time in his career, with a body lift and throw from par terre to beat GYANENDER 7-1 at 60kg. On Mat C, world champion Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) was down 5-0 against Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK) but has three turns from par terre plus a caution warning against Azizov to win 8-5.

10:50: Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) wins 11-1 against Chi Jui HUANG (TPE) and 2014 Youth Olympic champion Seung RI (PRK) gets his gut wrench going against Arslanbek ZAKIRBAYEV (TKM) to win 8-0. Both at 60kg.

10:45: Another world bronze medalist and birthday boy Liguo CAO (CHN) with a takedown and three turns to finish his pre-quarterfinal bout against Pros CHRAY (CAM) 8-0 in just 34 seconds. The crowd appreciates it.

10:40: World bronze medalist at 60kg Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) with a takedown and three turns to finish the bout 8-0 technical superiority over Tien Hai BUI (VIE). Asian silver medalist Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) survived a close call to beat Suparmanto SUPARMANTO (INA) with an 11-3 win

10:30: London Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) got a solid headlock over Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) but failed to get the pin. Kaviyaninejad answered with a four-point throw and Kim failed to find an opening to comeback. Kaviyaninejad wins 8-3.

10:25: Three-time 87kg Asian champion Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) gets three turns from par terre to beat A. AZISBEKOV (KGZ) 7-1 at 87kg. A battle on Mat B between former Asian champion Sunil KUMAR and Fei PENG (CHN). Peng with a turn from par terre and leads 3-0. But Kumar stops Peng in the middle during the second turn and gets close to a fall but Peng survives to lead 3-2. Kumar gets the passivity advantage in the second period to make it 3-3 and lead on criteria. A stepout to make it 4-3 and Kumar wins at 87kg 

10:22: Back-to-back victories for Japan! Former U23 world champion Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) with two four-point moves over Firuz MIRZORADZHABOV (TJK) in a 10-0 rout at 67kg. Masato SUMI (JPN) with a match-winning stepout over Byeongcheol SHIN (KOR) to advance at 87kg.

10:18: Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) gets to turns from par terre while defending his own to down NEERAJ 5-3 in the 67kg opening encounter. Neeraj scored a takedown in the first period but failed to get any points in the second.

10:15: Two-time defending champion Hansu RYU (KOR) with a big four-pointer from par terre and then defends that lead to win 5-1. He defends in the second period before a big upcoming bout against the U23 world champion Daniel SHORABI (IRI). Shorabi with a beautiful suplex over Yong RO (PRK) to win 5-2. Ryu vs Sohrabi confirmed

10:05: Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) with a quick 10-0 superiority over Nuttapong HINMEE (THA) to kick off proceedings at 67kg. He moves into the quarterfinals.

10:00: Welcome to the Asian Games! The Greco-Roman in four weight classes will kick off the action. World champions Azkhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will be in action at 60kg and 77kg.

#WrestleBucharest

Nine return to defend European titles in Women's Wrestling

By Vinay Siwach

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 5) -- Nine out of the ten Women's Wrestling European champions will return to the European Championships, hoping to defend their gold medals in Bucharest next week. The one not coming, Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) is yet to recover from an injury which also kept her out of the World Championships.

Two of them, Andreea ANA (ROU) and Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), will be the most keen on repeating as European champions. In Zagreb last year, they gave the double gold to Romania but next week, wrestling at home will give them extra motivation to repeat.

Ana and Anghel will be in the non-Olympic weight classes 55kg and 72kg respectively. Ana is a two-time European champion and will be the favorite in Bucharest. If any, former age-group European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (AIN) can trouble Ana as she returns to competition. Ukraine is sending Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) while Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), Roksana ZASINA (POL) and Tuba DEMIR (TUR) are also in the field.

Anghel, who defeated 68kg world champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) to win the gold medal at 72kg last year, can have a tougher time this year. 68kg European champion Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) is moving to 72kg after losing her place to Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) at 68kg. Kendra DACHER (FRA), age-group world medalist Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), U23 world champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) are also in this weight class.

Yasemin ADAR (TUR)Yasemin ADAR (TUR) is a six-time European champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

2022 world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) is returning to the mat after one year, having skipped all competitions after the 2023 Euros. She will, despite her time off, be the favorite to win the 76kg gold medal. Adar is chasing her seventh European title after six golds and a silver medal.

Former European champion Epp MAE (EST) will be her biggest threat as she also looks to return after a medalless World Championships. Mae recently trained in Japan with world champion Yuka KAGAMI (JPN). Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTOVA (UKR) will also hope to make the final.

Turkiye's world champion in 2023, Tosun will be at 68kg. She had a disastrous start to the year, losing her first-round bout at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series in January. Tosun will look to put that behind her and start afresh for the Bucharest tournament.

To avoid any disappointments, Tosun will have to navigate past world bronze medalist Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), 65kg European champion Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) and former European champion Tetiana SOVA RIZHKO (UKR). Larroque won the European Championships gold medal in 2021 and will be keen on getting back on the top of the podium.

Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN)Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) will look to win her first European title since 2020. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Two world silver medalists, Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) at 53kg and Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) at 59kg, will also be in action in Bucharest.  

Kaladzinskaya last wrestled at the European Championships in 2020 and won the gold medal. She will start as the favorite at 53kg despite the likes of Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) and Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) entered for the tournament.

Kaladzinskaya won the silver medal at the World Championships, dropping the final to Akari FUJINAMI (JPN). It was her first competition since winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Malmgren, the two-time defending champion, will have her task cut out this year. She lost to Kaladzinskaya at the World Championships but that loss can only be a lesson for the former U20 world champion.

Former Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (AIN), Sztalvira ORSUS (HUN), Iulia LEORDA (MDA) and Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) can upset the field in Bucharest and finish on the podium.

Defending champion Nichita is the clear front-runner for the gold at 59kg. After finishing with a silver medal at the World Championships at 57kg, Nichita returned to competition in Zagreb but suffered a loss to Kexin HONG (CHN).

Nichita will be drawn at random into the bracket as she has no ranking at 59kg. The top seed will be Othelie HOIE (NOR), a returning European bronze medalist and world bronze medalist. Age-group world medalists Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) and Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) can also finish on the podium.

Grace BULLEN (NOR)Grace BULLEN (NOR) and Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) put a thriller in the 62kg semifinal last year. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 62kg, world bronze medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) will have a chance to win her first European gold medal since 2020. She was a silver medalist last after suffering a heartbreaking loss to Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) in the final. She will have a chance to win the gold medal this year. Koliadenko has moved to 65kg for this tournament and is replaced by veteran Yuliia TKACH (UKR) which will also be a big test for Bullen.

Tkach, the silver medalist at 59kg from last year, has moved to 62kg after world bronze medalist Koliadenko moved up to 65kg. Tkach has every trick up her sleeve to keep Bullen at bay. But the Norway wrestler has improved leaps and bounds in recent times and can be called the favorite for this event.

One wrestler who will be waiting keenly to meet Bullen on the mat is Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL). She suffered a 7-6 loss to Bullen in the semifinal last year and finished with a bronze medal. Dudova, a former world champion at 59kg, is still trying to find her feet at 62kg. The two can only meet in the final, thanks to being seeded one and two.

Former U20 world champion Alina KASABIEVA (AIN) will also like to finish on the podium.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE)Mariya STADNIK (AZE) became a nine-time European champion last year. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

At 50kg, Mariya STADNIK (AZE) will look to extend her record streak of 10 European titles [12 as she has two European Games gold as well]. Last year, Oksana LIVACH (UKR) gave Stadnik a scare in the final but the Azerbaijan wrestler controlled the second period to keep her energy and win the gold.

A year older at 35, Stadnik will once again be tested by the young wrestler who will be participating in Bucharest. Livach will look to avenge the loss from last year while Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) and Emilia VUC (ROU) will also have a chance to upset the wrestling legend.

The 57kg weight class will see a new European champion as Hrushyna has not entered for her title defense. Tokyo silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) will be the favorite along with returning silver medalist Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) and bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL). Veteran Veronika CHUMIKOVA (AIN) and U20 world champion Aurora RUSSO (ITA) and former world bronze medalist Anhelina LYSAK (POL) are also entered.

World bronze medalist and returning silver medalist Irina RINGACI (MDA) will be at 65kg, hoping to win the gold that she dropped against Hristova last year. Ringaci will be tested by Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), Kriszta INCZE (ROU) and world bronze medalist at 62kg Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR).