Bishkek Ranking Series entry list

Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 09:57 By Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (May 23) -- An entry list that will put most international tournaments to shame, the Bishkek Ranking Series will be attended by more than 400 wrestlers.

The third Ranking Series of the year will be headlined by 29 continental champions who won gold medals in the recently concluded championships across the world.

In freestyle, Azerbaijan is bringing a solid squad headlined by Haji ALIYEV (AZE) and Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE). The nation has also entered three wrestlers at 74kg -- Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE), Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) and Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) -- in a bid to get a clearer picture of its World Championships team.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia are also bringing some of their top names in freestyle while India will see the return of Olympic silver medalist Ravi KUMAR (IND), his first competition since the World Championships.

Women's wrestling will see powerhouse China bring a full squad as it continues to get international competition after missing out on some in the past three years.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine will be its biggest opponents as the three countries are also bringing their best teams.

In Greco-Roman, Iran will be the favourite in most weight classes as it has decided to land with a full strength squad for the Ranking Series event. Georgia and Turkiye too have a tough squad for the tournament.

Iran will be led by Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) and it also includes Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), Daniel SHORABI (IRI), Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) among others.

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will try to challenge the these countries when the competition begins June 1 in Bishkek.

Ravi KUMAR (IND) will be wrestling for the first time since the World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Freestyle

57kg
Wanhao ZOU (CHN)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)
Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO)
Abzal OKENOV (KAZ)
Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ)
Yerassyl MUKHTARULY (KAZ)
Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ)
Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ)
Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ)
Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)
Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
Nodirjon SAFAROV (UZB)

61kg
Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE)
Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO)
Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO)
Ravi KUMAR (IND)
PANKAJ (IND)
AMAN (IND)
Kairat AMIRTAYEV (KAZ)
Nurbolat ABDUALIYEV (KAZ)
Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ)
Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ)
Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ)
Ali M M ABURUMAILA (PLE)
Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR)
Sardor RUZIMOV (UZB)

65kg
Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG)
Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE)
Shaohua YUAN (CHN)
Maikai ABULIZI (CHN)
Nuerlaxi BIEKEZHATI (CHN)
Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO)
Anuj KUMAR (IND)
Meirzhan ASHIROV (KAZ)
Galymzhan IBADULLA (KAZ)
Ilyas AMANZHOLOV (KAZ)
Aden SAKYBAEV (KGZ)
Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ)
Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK)
Hamza ALACA (TUR)
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)
Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)

70kg
AGUDAMU (CHN)
Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO)
Davit PATSINASHVILI (GEO)
Mulaym YADAV (IND)
Orts ISAKOV (JOR)
Doszhan ASSETOV (KAZ)
Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ)
Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ)
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
Turbayar DAVAANYAM (MGL)
Servet COSKUN (TUR)
Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB)

74kg
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)
Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE)
Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN)
Adam THOMSON (CAN)
Shengsong XIA (CHN)
Nuerlanbieke WURENIBAI (CHN)
AWUSAYIMAN KELAN (CHN)
Amr Reda HUSSEN (EGY)
Otari BAGAURI (GEO)
YASH (IND)
Erzo T ISAKOV (JOR)
Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ)
Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ)
Alinur TAKIROV (KGZ)
Adilet ZHAPARKULOV (KGZ)
Kubat AZIZBAEV (KGZ)
Sumiyabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Magomet EVLOEV (TJK)
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
Ilyas BEKBULATOV (UZB)

79kg
Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN)
Hade AYIDUSI (CHN)
Tu Erxun AHEIYOU (CHN)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
Deepak DEEPAK (IND)
Daulet YERGESH (KAZ)
Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ)
Bibarys NURYLLAULY (KAZ)
Myrza ZHYRGALBEK UULU (KGZ)
Adilet MARATBAEV (KGZ)
Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Ermak KARDANOV (SVK)

86kg
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN)
Peilong LI (CHN)
Jumabieke ABAIYI (CHN)
Xiao SUN (CHN)
Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP)
Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO)
Zaur BERADZE (GEO)
Jointy KUMAR (IND)
Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Maksat SATYBALDY (KAZ)
Islyambek ILYASSOV (KAZ)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ)
Narbek IZABEKOV (KGZ)
Mukhammad ABDULLAEV (KGZ)
Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB)
Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB)

92kg
Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Jumabayi AERGEN (CHN)
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)
Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO)
Abdimanap BAIGENZHEYEV (KAZ)
Nurdaulet BEKENOV (KAZ)
Yeskali DAULETKAZY (KAZ)
Stambul ZHANYBEK UULU (KGZ)
Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL)
Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR)
Rustam SHODIEV (UZB)

97kg
Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)
Awusayiman HABILA (CHN)
Reheman RUSIDANMU (CHN)
Tuerxunbieke MUHEITE (CHN)
DEEPAK (IND)
Nursultan AZOV (KAZ)
Serik BAKYTKHANOV (KAZ)
Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ)
Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ)
Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Radoslaw BARAN (POL)
Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK)
Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR)
Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB)
Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB)

125kg
Catriel MURIEL (ARG)
Zhiwei DENG (CHN)
BUHEEERDUN (CHN)
Benxin DUAN (CHN)
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)
Anirudh KUMAR (IND)
Omar EYUBOV (KAZ)
Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ)
Muzafar ZHAPPUEV (KGZ)
Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ)
Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL)
Robert BARAN (POL)
Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB)
Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)

Grace BULLEN (NOR) will be competing in the 62kg weight class in Bishkek. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Kamila BARBOSA (BRA)
Madison PARKS (CAN)
Ziqi FENG (CHN)
Jiang ZHU (CHN)
Meng FAN (CHN)
Nada MOHAMED (EGY)
NEELAM (IND)
Gulzhazira AMANTAYEVA (KAZ)
Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ)
Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR)
Oksana LIVACH (UKR)
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)

53kg
Karla GODINEZ (CAN)
Samantha STEWART (CAN)
Li DENG (CHN)
Qianyu PANG (CHN)
Yongxin FENG (CHN)
Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)
Stalvira ORSHUSH (HUN)
POOJA (IND)
Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ)
Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL)
Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL)
Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR)
Liliya HORISHNA (UKR)
Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

55kg
SITO (IND)
Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ)
Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ)
Melda DERNEKCI (TUR)
Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)

57kg
Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)
Giullia PENALBER (BRA)
Qi ZHANG (CHN)
ZHUOMALAGA (CHN)
Luisa VALVERDE (ECU)
Kexin HONG (CHN)
Emma TISSINA (KAZ)
Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)
Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR)
Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB)

59kg
Sarita SARITA (IND)
Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)
Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
Othelie HOEIE (NOR)
Ebru DAGBASI (TUR)
Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)
Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR)
Yuliia LESKOVETS (UKR)

62kg
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
Lais NUNES (BRA)
Ana GODINEZ (CAN)
Xiaojuan LUO (CHN)
Jia LONG (CHN)
Lydia PEREZ (ESP)
Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)
SONAM (IND)
Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)
Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL)
Grace BULLEN (NOR)
Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR)
Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB)

65kg
MANISHA (IND)
MUKATAY (KAZ)
Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ)
Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)

68kg
Olivia DI BACCO (CAN)
Feng ZHOU (CHN)
Qian JIANG (CHN)
NISHA (IND)
Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB)
Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB)

72kg
REETIKA (IND)
Dalma CANEVA (ITA)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)

76kg
Martina KUENZ (AUT)
Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN)
Juan WANG (CHN)
QIANDEGENCHAGAN (CHN)
Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
Samar HAMZA (EGY)
Epp MAE (EST)
Cynthia VESCAN (FRA)
PRIYA (IND)
Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTOVA (UKR)
Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR)

Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) will be at his second Ranking Series event of the year at 72kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)
Rupin RUPIN (IND)
Poya DAD MARZ (IRI)
Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)
Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ)
Yersin ABYIR (KAZ)
Taalaibek BEISHENBEK UULU (KGZ)
Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB)
Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB)

60kg
Liguo CAO (CHN)
Haodong TAN (CHN)
Erbatu TUO (CHN)
Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY)
Pridon ABULADZE (GEO)
SUMIT (IND)
Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI)
Aibek SABYRBEKOV (KAZ)
Nursultan BAZARBAYEV (KAZ)
Olzhas SULTAN (KAZ)
Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ)
Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ)
Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ)
Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)
Umit DURDYYEV (TKM)
Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

63kg
Ainiwaer AIKEREMU (CHN)
Geminghan REHETI (CHN)
Ahmed BAGHDOUDA (EGY)
Leri ABULADZE (GEO)
Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI)
Madiyar MALTEKBAYEV (KAZ)
Dastan ZARLYKHANOV (KAZ)
Mukhamedali MAMURBEK (KAZ)
Baiaman KARIMOV (KGZ)
Dastan KADYROV (KGZ)
Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB)

67kg
HUSIYUETU (CHN)
Lei LI (CHN)
Sailike WALIHAN (CHN)
Luis ORTA (CUB)
Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO)
NEERAJ (IND)
ASHU (IND)
Danial SOHRABI (IRI)
Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ)
Daniyar KALENOV (KAZ)
Merey BEKENOV (KAZ)
Amanat SAMAT UULU (KGZ)
Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ)
Mihai MIHUT (ROU)
Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)
Abror ATABAEV (UZB)

72kg
Jian TAN (CHN)
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)
Otar ABULADZE (GEO)
VIKAS (IND)
Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI)
Yerassyl NURBOSSYNOV (KAZ)
Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ)
Khabibullo TYNCHTYK UULU (KGZ)
Selcuk CAN (TUR)
Abdullo ALIEV (UZB)

77kg
Rui LIU (CHN)
Halishan BAHEJIANG (CHN)
Yesitai ZIYINI (CHN)
Sachino DAVITAIA (GEO)
Iuri LOMADZE (GEO)
Sajan SAJAN (IND)
Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI)
Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ)
Azat SADYKOV (KAZ)
Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ)
Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ)
Alibek BERDIEV (KGZ)
Renat ILIAZ UULU (KGZ)
Jeyhun OVEZDURDYYEV (TKM)
Yunus BASAR (TUR)
Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR)
Samandar BOBONAZAROV (UZB)

82kg
Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)
Rohit DAHIYA (IND)
Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI)
Dias KALEN (KAZ)
Shamil BATYROV (KAZ)
Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ)
Beksultan NAZARBAEV (KGZ)
Temirlan BEKTURDIEV (KGZ)
Alperen BERBER (TUR)
Nurbek KHASHIMBEKOV (UZB)
Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB)

87kg
Chengwu WANG (CHN)
Yi YANG (CHN)
Talimubieke AYIDINGBIEKE (CHN)
Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO)
Kumar SUNIL (IND)
Naser ALIZADEH (IRI)
Baurzhan MUSSIN (KAZ)
Azamat KUSTUBAYEV (KAZ)
Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ)
Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ)
Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ)
Shyhazberdi OVELEKOV (TKM)
Ali CENGIZ (TUR)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

97kg
Yan LIU (CHN)
Yiming LI (CHN)
Maimaiti KAISAIER (CHN)
Artur OMAROV (CZE)
Narinder CHEEMA (IND)
Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI)
Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI)
Zhantas NURGALI (KAZ)
Yerulan ISKAKOV (KAZ)
Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ)
Arkyt OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM)
Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)

130kg
Lingzhe MENG (CHN)
Di XIAO (CHN)
Teliuhan HAIYISHAOER (CHN)
Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB)
Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY)
Sulkhan BUIDZE (GEO)
Sahil SAHIL (IND)
Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)
Mansur SHADUKAYEV (KAZ)
Anton SAVENKO (KAZ)
Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU)
Fatih BOZKURT (TUR)
Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB)

#JapanWrestling

'Tired' Olympic champ Kinjo gives way to blooming Sakurai

Saturday, June 17, 2023 - 09:54 By Vinay Siwach

TOKYO (June 17) -- The Meiji Cup witnessed another upset as Tsugumi SAKURAI triumphed over Risako KINJO (formerly Kawai) in the 57kg weight class, marking the third Olympic champion to be defeated in just two days.

While Mayu SHIDOCHI and Yukako KAWAI couldn't hold back their emotions after their losses, Kinjo took her 11-1 defeat on Friday in stride.

With a laugh, Kinjo remarked, "I'm tired."

For more than seven years, Kinjo has been a dominant force in women's wrestling, securing gold medals in Rio and Tokyo and claiming titles at the World and Asian Championships during this period.

However, after her victorious performance at the Tokyo Olympics, Kinjo entertained doubts about continuing in the sport. She contemplated whether her participation at 57kg was her final endeavor in that weight class. Over the course of two years, she got married, gave birth, and started raising a child, prompting her to question her future in wrestling.

"After the Tokyo Olympics, I thought 'was that my last for me at 57kg?'," she said.

Nevertheless, as the Paris Olympics approached, Kinjo found herself back on the mat, initially competing at 59kg before returning to 57kg with the aim of earning a chance to win her third consecutive Olympic gold medal.

"I am very happy to be able to again compete at the biggest domestic tournaments like the All-Japan [Meiji Cup]," she said. "It was my first time at 57kg since the Tokyo Olympics, and even though it's been a while, I had no problem getting down to the weight.

"This time, I had no breakdown in my condition and was in good shape. When I started wrestling as a child, I had never experienced not being in this sport and I had found out what it felt like. It made me realize how glad I am that I did wrestling."

Among the notable stars of Japanese wrestling, Kinjo stands out as one of the few athletes to defeat the four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO. Her remarkable career has solidified her status as a true legend in the sport.

So when Kinjo was asked about her loss to Sakurai in the 57kg semifinal, she offered a straightforward assessment.

"I have won two Olympic gold medals and I entered this tournament with a goal to win this and go to the Olympics," she said. "The effort you put as a two-time Olympic champion and to someone who has never been [is very different]. The feeling I had when I was going for the first time and the mindset was different. For someone going for the first time to the Olympics, it becomes everything in their life. For me, it's not."

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) Tsugumi SAKURAI won her 57kg semifinal against Risako KINJO, 11-1. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Perhaps that's why she stepped aside for a while after the Tokyo Olympics. And it was only then that Sakurai could win the domestic competition and go to Oslo where she became the world champion in 2021.

So Saturday provided a perfect opportunity for Sakurai to establish herself as the best in Japan. She took the first step by overcoming Kinjo.

"I am younger, and I was determined to win," Sakurai explained.

Sakurai's triumph over Kinjo involved not only her performance on the mat but also meticulous preparation with her coaches. Soon after the draw in the morning, Sakurai realized that her path crossed with Kinjo's, and she understood that the moment had arrived. Her coaches reviewed Kinjo's previous matches, analyzing her techniques and providing instructions to Sakurai.

"I was not seeded," she said. "Before the match, my coach said that you are the world champion so go out and fight with confidence and she is the Olympic champion but believe that you are the strongest."

The pep talk seemed to ignite Sakurai's determination, as she began the bout aggressively, earning the activity point. She managed to get to Kinjo's legs multiple times, attempting to score a pushout as well. However, in one such scramble, Kinjo was awarded a stepout, putting her ahead with a 1-1 criteria lead.

During the break, Sakurai received another pep talk.

"After watching Kawai's other bouts, my coaches told me that she will attack from the second period so be careful," she said.

Sakurai turned the tide, launching her own attacks. She seized opportunities to attack Kinjo's legs and executed a leg lace. Kinjo defended against the first turn, but eventually succumbed, resulting in an 11-1 victory for Sakurai.

Although Sakurai had defeated Kinjo, her celebrations were somewhat subdued, as her achievement only secured her a spot in the Meiji Cup final. On Sunday, she would need to defeat Nanjo, who had previously bested her in the Emperor's Cup final in December. If successful, Sakurai would have to face Nanjo once again in a playoff on July 1 to secure her ticket to the Belgrade World Championships, in accordance with the rules set by the Japanese Wrestling Federation.

"If I don't win tomorrow, I can't go to the World Championships," she said. "There is still tomorrow. I want to win the title, the playoff and go to the World Championships."

According to the JWF rules, any wrestler who secures a medal in the Olympic weight classes at the World Championships earns an automatic spot on the Paris Olympics team. Failure to do so requires them to face the winner of the 2023 Emperor's Cup in another playoff whose winner will be dispatched to the Asian Olympic Qualifiers next year.

Considering the almost certain success of Japanese women wrestlers in winning medals at the World Championships, Kinjo's path to the Paris Olympics has become incredibly challenging. However, she confirms that she remains committed to wrestling.

"But my love for wrestling has not changed," she said. "I will continue to practice, thinking 'I can keep up one more time' with the younger wrestlers as I watch them make their mark."

For now, as the reigning Emperor's Cup champion in the 59kg weight class, Kinjo has the opportunity to compete in Belgrade. She can challenge the Meiji Cup winner at 59kg in a playoff on July 17. Kinjo intends to consider this possibility once things calm down.

"When things calm down, I will think [about 59kg]," she said. "There is not much time but I will talk to my coach and family and decide and set new goals. It would have made me look cooler if I had won here and aimed for Paris."

Bishkek Ranking Series entry list

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'Tired' Olympic champ Kinjo gives way to blooming Sakurai