Blades Helps USA Claim WW Team Title After Thrilling Race at #WrestleUfa

Friday, August 20, 2021 - 17:21 By Vinay Siwach

UFA, Russia (August 20) – It came down to the final bout of the day but Kennedy BLADES (USA) made sure they didn't have to wait for the full six minutes of the bout.

USA, India and Russia were locked in the women's wrestling team title race down to the wire but Blades secured a win via fall in 17 seconds to claim the top position for USA. This is USA's second team title inside one month after they won the cadet world title last month in Budapest after another close race with India.

USA finished top with 143 points while Russia and India finished with 134 points for the second and third positions respectively. Russia was second as it had two gold medals compared to none from India.

Blades, whose sister Korina won bronze at 65kg, was wrestling Lilly SCHNEIDER (GER) in the 72kg final and came out with a post double leg straight up to her feet and picked up the 17 second fall.

“I just wanted to go hard and my plan was to shoot a double leg because I like it," Blades said. "She ended up with her back and I wanted to hold her there and get it over with. It's awesome."

Blades went unscored on during the tournament which makes her the third wrestler from her team to not give up any points in her bouts. She is one of the four world champions from USA, the first time the country had multiple champions at women's wrestling at junior Worlds.

Going into the final day, India led USA and Russia in the team race but by the time Blades came to wrestle, USA just needed her to win the gold. At the back of her mind, she had the scenario but did not realize it on the mat.

“I wanted to win for myself and my team as well,” she said. “When I won, I didn't even realize the team won. When I realized I was like 'my gosh we all won'.”

Blades wrestled Olympic champion Taymra MENSAH STOCK (USA) at the Olympic team trials and later saw her win the medal in Tokyo. She said that inspired her to win big as well.

“One of my opponents Mensah, seeing her win gold at Olympics inspired me and I wanted to win something big like her," she said. "“I have been wanting to be a world champion for some time now."

Baldes will most likely feature on the US team to the senior World Championships in Oslo, Norway as she is entered the trials for tournament at 72kg.

India had two finalists Friday but both failed to win the gold, extending India's wait for a women's junior world champion. Both Sanju DEVI (IND) and BHATERI (IND) were outclassed by their opponents in the 62kg and 65kg finals respectively.

At 62kg, junior European champion Alina KASABIEVA (RUS) wrapped up Devi 10-0 in the first period. She punched her first two of the match with a blistering knee pick. Then, she ended the match with an ankle pick to three leg laces to close the match with a technical superiority victory.

"I can’t describe my emotions," she said. "The tournament wasn’t really tough for me, it was important to be well-prepared mentally."

The 20-year-old said that it was her brother who introduced her to wrestling saying that there is girls wrestling. But when she arrived at the training hall, there were no girls wrestling.

"There were only the boys. It was a bit strange to train with the boys," she said. "Even now I train with the girls only at the training camps, back home I still train with the boys."

Irina RINGACI (MDA) won her first world title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Senior Euro champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) collected her first world title as she rolled past Bhateri 12-2 in the 65kg finals. She scored four points from a takedown and gut wrench in the first period.

Despite giving up a takedown in the second period, Ringaci scored an exposure off a turn attempt from Bhateri, then stopped an Indian shot attempt and scored a counter offensive takedown and led 8-2. She ended the match with a pair of laces and won world gold 12-2.

"I am really happy. I came for the belt, and today [Friday] my dream have come true," Ringaci said. "Since it’s my last junior year, I came here to win, and here is my belt."

After pocketing the junior world title, Ringaci, who began wrestling only at the age of 13 years, said she is keen on winning the other two Worlds remaining in the year -- senior and the U23 -- as well.

Sweden came up with a stunning performance at 53kg to win the gold medal as Emma MALMGREN (SWE) defeated Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) 7-4.

Emma MALMGREN (SWE) won the gold medal at 53kg in Ufa. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The compact Malmgren struggled to find an answer to the height of her Moldovan opponent in the first period in which she was denied on her three shot attempts. Then she failed to make a pair of single legs and a double but led 1-0 after an inactivity point was awarded.

After three failed attempts in the first period, Malmgren broke through with a four-point double leg, her go to move in tough situations. She came up to her feet on her shot and denied a judo-esk throw from Samoil and extended her lead to 5-0.

With a minute left, Malmgren worked on right-side underhook when Samoil jammed her hip in and slipped around – cutting the Swedish wrestlers lead to 5-3.

A late flurry, ending with Malmgren on top, put two points on the board for both wrestlers but it was the Swedish wrestler who topped the podium at 53kg with a 7-4 victory.

“It feels amazing. It's been a dream and I am finally standing on the top of the world. It's unreal,” she said.

Malmgren, who trains at Helsingborg which has given Sweden multiple World medalists and Olympians, is looking forward to being with her family.

“I just want to spend some time with them,” she said. “I was seven when I told my parents that I want to start wrestling.”

Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) won against Aurora RUSSO (ITA) 8-6 in the 53kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In a historic final at 57kg, Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) produced a comeback for the ages and erased a five-point deficit and stopped Aurora RUSSO (ITA) from winning Italy’s first-ever women’s wrestling world title.

Raimova trailed 2-1 when she shot a desperation double leg. She couldn’t finish the shot but came up to an underhook and surrendered a perfectly timed four-point headlock to her exposed right side. She fell into a 6-1 hole, but never stopped moving forward.

A stepout cut Raimova’s lead to 6-2. She scored two points from a picturesque double underhook throw, which was followed by a second takedown that stemmed from a ride-side dominant underhook.

She kept her pace high and with 25 seconds left forced Russo to take an ill-advised shot. Raimova picked up the match decided go-behind and claimed the 8-6 win.

Russia Sends 3 Into GR Finals

Local boy Adlan AMRIEV (RUS) rose to the expectations of the Ufa crowd and made it to the final at 87kg final as Greco-Roman wrestling began at the Ufa Arena. Amriev one of the three Russian wrestlers who reached the final Friday with seven other countries also sending one wrestler each in the final.

Amriev was wrestling Tansel ORTUCU (TUR) in the semifinal and began on a slow one and was called passive. But Ortucu didn't score any from the par terre position. In the second period, it was Amriev's turn to take advantage of the par terre position and he did so with a body lock and throw for two before continuing for a four-point throw. The 7-1 remained till the clock expired.

He will take on Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) who confirmed Netherlands first Junior Worlds medal in 43 years after beating former cadet world champion Lachin VALIEV (AZE) 4-1.

Sterkenburg was called passive in the first period but he did not give any point from par terre and then scored a stepout to lead 1-1 in criteria. Valiev was then called passive in the second period which gave a 2-1 lead to Sterkenburg. Valiev, looking to score a winning takedown, pressured and took Sterkenburg to the danger zone before the Dutch used that momentum to go behind and score a takedown and win 4-1.

Two-time junior Euro champion Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) is one step closer to capturing his first world title after he entered the final at 63kg with a dominating 6-0 win over Niklas OEHLEN (SWE). It was a rematch from the junior Euros this year where Chkhikvadze defeated Oehlen 3-1. I Ufa, the Georgian opened the scoring with a point from Oehlen's passivity. He then used a big four throw and a step out to complete the 6-0 win.

In the final, he will have Said BAKAEV (RUS) as he won over Manuel STOICA (ROU) 5-1. Bakaev was exceptional in his par terre defense and then used a gut wrench and a takedown to win the semifinal.

At 77kg, Islam ALIEV (RUS) made it to the final after a big and hard-fought win over junior European champ and former cadet world champ Alexandrin GUTU (MDA). Aliev won the first passivity call and then got a gut wrench over Gutu to lead 3-0.

It was only in the second period that Gutu got going. He tried a head pinch which failed but a chest wrap gave him two points. He gave up a point for reversal on the same move to trail 2-5. He scored via a stepout but lost 3-5.

Aliev will now take on Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) in the final. Mukubu finished with a gut wrench and beat Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY) 8-0 inside one minute of the semifinal.

An all-Asian final will be at 55kg as Alimardon ABDULLAEV (UZB) and Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) made it to teh final with controlled wins in the semis.

Abdullaev was under pressure when he was called passive and Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK) got a gut wrench. But Abdullaev also get two for exposure and lead 3-3 on criteria. In the second period, she scored four points and one for a lost challenge to win 8-3.

Dehbozorgi scored six points in the first period and then held on to that lead for the second period and won 6-0 against Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ).

At 130kg, former cadet world champ and junior Euro champion Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) defeated Armen CHOLOKIAN (RUS) 4-0 to make the final. All for points were either passivity or stepouts.

He will take on Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE) in a rematch of the 2018 cadet Worlds finals which Bakir won. Mammadov had a close semifinal against Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE) but came out on top 3-2.

Greece got the first advantage when Mammadov was passive but could not capitalize from par terre. Azerbaijan then second a takedown to lead 2-1. But Ntounias was called passive in the second period which extended the lead to 3-1. Ntounis scored a pushout to trim it to 3-2 but with only 32 seconds left, Mammadov defend it to win the spot the in the final.

Results WW Medal Bouts

53kg
GOLD: Emma MALMGREN (SWE) df Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA), 7-4

BRONZE: Choigana TUMAT (RUS) df Jaslynn GALLEGOS (USA), via fall
BRONZE: Emine CAKMAK (TUR) df Aizhan SABYRBEK KYZY (KGZ), 5-4

57kg
GOLD: Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) df Aurora RUSSO (ITA), 8-6

BRONZE: Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df Patrycja STRZELCZYK (POL), 9-4
BRONZE: Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) df Maryia HULIDA (BLR), 9-0

62kg
GOLD: Alina KASABIEVA (RUS) df Sanju DEVI (IND), 10-0

BRONZE: Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE) df Luisa SCHEEL (GER), via fall
BRONZE: Korina BLADES (USA) df Viktoria OEVERBY (NOR), 11-1

65kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df BHATERI (IND), 12-2

BRONZE: Amina CAPEZAN (ROU) df Khadija JLASSI (TUN), 6-3
BRONZE: Viktoria VESSO (EST) df Alara BOYD (USA), via fall

72kg
GOLD: Kennedy BLADES (USA) df Lilly SCHNEIDER (GER), via fall

BRONZE: Alexandra ZAITSEVA (KAZ) df Daniela TKACHUK (POL), via fall
BRONZE: Mariam GUSEINOVA (RUS) df SANEH (IND), via injury default

Semifinals GR Results

55kg
GOLD: Alimardon ABDULLAEV (UZB) vs Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI)

SF 1: Alimardon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK), 8-3
SF 2: Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) df Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ), 6-0

63kg
GOLD: Said BAKAEV (RUS) vs Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Said BAKAEV (RUS) df Manuel STOICA (ROU), 5-1
SF 2: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df Niklas OEHLEN (SWE), 6-0

77kg
GOLD: Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) vs Islam ALIEV (RUS)

SF 1: Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) df Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY), 8-0
SF 2: Islam ALIEV (RUS) df Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), 5-3

87kg
GOLD: Adlan AMRIEV (RUS) vs Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED)

SF 1: Adlan AMRIEV (RUS) df Tansel ORTUCU (TUR), 7-1
SF 2: Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) df Lachin VALIYEV (AZE), 4-1

130kg
GOLD: Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) vs Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE)

SF 1: Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) df Armen CHOLOKIAN (RUS), 4-0
SF 2: Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE) df Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE), 3-2

#wrestlebishkek, #WrestleParis

Ageless Abdurakhmonov gains ticket to Paris 2024, third Olympics

Friday, April 19, 2024 - 17:09 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 19) -- Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) had to battle the altitude, the home crowd and a determined opponent. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist showed his 34-year-old body could still work its wonders.

Abdurakhmonov earned a ticket to his third straight Olympics with a masterful 6-0 victory over home favorite Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) at 74kg as the freestyle quotas for Paris were decided at the Asian Olympic Qualifier on Friday in Bishkek.

"This win is not just mine," said Abdurakhmonov, who has two Asian golds and two world bronze medals from the last decade to his credit. "Wrestling is such a tough sport that it is not just you. You need the whole team, country to push you forward, to do better. I am very blessed to have these fans and friends, teammates, coaches and people at my home. So I am very excited."

Combined with a one-sided victory earlier at 57kg by Tokyo Olympian Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), Uzbekistan was one of six nations that evenly split the 12 available tickets to Paris with two each and now has three Olympic places overall.

The others winning two quotas were Iran, host Kyrgyzstan, Japan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Iran has now filled five of the six freestyle weight classes with just the World Olympic Qualifier in May remaining.

Bekzod ABDURAKHAMONOV (UZB) clashes with Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) in the 74kg Paris qualification bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In a clash between the bronze medalists at last October's Asian Games, Abdurakhmonov came out firing from the opening whistle to score a single-leg takedown which, despite lifting Toktomambekov full into the air and slamming him to the mat, was good only for two points. No matter, because Abdurakhmonov secured a high chest lock and easily rolled Toktomambekov for a 4-0 lead.

In the second period, Toktomambetov, who is 11 years Abdurakhmonov's junior, got in on a deep single, but Abdurakhmonov doesn't concede points easily. He initiated a counter scramble that ended with him on top for a takedown.

Despite how it appeared on the mat, the ever-moving Abdurakhmonov said he had trouble with his stamina. "I don't know what it is," he said. "I came here in very good shape but the altitude, the mountains are killing me a little bit. It's hard to wrestle here."

Even so, Abdurakhmonov managed to make both of his previous matches entertaining, as he won his opener against Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) 10-4 after surviving a cradle and near fall situation, then built up a 15-9 lead before securing a late fall over Feng LU (CHN).

In addition to the thin air, Abdurakhmonov also had to contend with facing an opponent wrestling on home soil.

"You have to [step it up]. When it's your hometown, even the walls help you. There was a lot of crowd cheering for him. But thank God I found a way to beat him."

Abdurakhmonov, who attended and competed at Clarion University in the United States and speaks fluent English, finished fifth at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he famously beat Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) 11–1 but lost in the bronze-medal match to Jabrayil HASENOV (AZE). He made amends by taking home a bronze from Tokyo in 2021.

Among the more amazing aspects of Abdurakhmonov's colorful career is that his return to 74kg for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics included stops at weights as high as 86kg.

"I moved around a bit," he said. "I went up to 79kg and I was trying up to 86kg. I went to a couple of tournaments but 86kg guys are monsters. I feel better at 74kg. So I moved back down. We have an 86kg wrestler [Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB)] who is very good and qualified for the Olympics. So it's good we have one more weight qualified."

Yones EMAMI (IRI) defeated Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) to win the Paris quota at 74kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Iran's Asian Games champion Yones EMAMI (IRI) secured the other spot at 74kg, just as he did in 2021, but this time will be hoping that he gets to use it after cruising to a 10-0 rout of the 2021 Asian champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ).

In a clash between world 70kg medalists in 2019, Emami puts on a takedown clinic with three in the first period, then opens the second period with a stepout. He then scores two more points with a driving takedown, then immediately finishes off the match with a gut wrench at 3:49.

In 2021, Emami won the Asian qualifier in Almaty but was not on the team to Tokyo. He missed a chance to qualify this time at last year's World Championships in Belgrade, where he lost to eventual champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) before falling to Hetik CABALOV (SRB) in the repechage.

Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) won Iran's fifth Freestyle quota for the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling.)

Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), a two-time world U23 champion, gave Iran its fifth Paris berth with a 3-0 victory over Asian Games bronze medalist Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) at 97kg, clinching the victory with a takedown in the second period while on the activity clock.

"Today's competition was very difficult because it was the Olympic quota and there was no place for mistakes," Azarpira said. "I could be better than this but I was careful because I wanted the Olympic quota. The selection for the Olympics for Iran was in this competition, so it was highly sensitive."

In his only other match before the qualifier, Azarpira ousted rising Japanese star Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), whose father is Iranian and runs the kids club where he got his start in the sport, in a bout that was close until the Iranian pulled away for a 9-1 win.

"I was wrestling Japan [Yoshida] for the first time," Azarpira said. "Yoshida is a very great opponent and it was a hard match. It was my first wrestling, my body hadn’t yet started and I wasn’t in the condition of the competition. But whatever the circumstances were, I had come to win and I was able to win."

Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) scores the winning takedown to secure the Paris 2024 ticket for Kyrgyzstan. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the opening match of the night session, two-time world U23 bronze medalist Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) electrified the crowd by pulling a ticket to Paris out of his hat, scoring a counter takedown with 14 seconds left to edge Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) 3-3 on criteria at 57kg.

Each wrestler had received an activity point that gave Almaz Uulu the lead on criteria. In the second period, Batkhuyag fought out of Almaz Uulu's deep double-leg shot to score a takedown with a minute left for a 3-1 lead.

Batkhuyag looked like he might run out the clock when he grabbed a single leg and hung on for dear life, but Almaz Uulu, the winner of this year's Yasar Dogu tournament in Turkey, broke the hold and spun behind for the victory.

Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) hits a fireman carry against AMAN (IND). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Abdullaev's overwhelming victory by fall over AMAN (IND) for the other 57kg berth could not have contrasted more with the preceding match.

Abdullaev, who finished seventh at the Tokyo Olympics, started things off with a low-single takedown, then tripled the lead with a slick 4-point fireman's carry. He then added a pair of 2-point exposures, the second of which gave him a 10-0 lead and would have ended the match had he not secured the fall at 2:17.

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) celebrates after winning the 65kg Paris quota for Kyrgyzstan. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Former world 70kg silver medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), who is back at 65kg after three years, put together a controlled 5-3 win over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) to win the Olympic qualifier for the second time in a row.

"Words can’t describe my emotions," Akmataliev said. "You saw the support I had. The stands were full of our fans, my friends and relatives and I had to win. Our main goal is not just the quota, but the Olympic gold."

Trailing 2-1 at the break, Akmataliev got a pair of stepouts in the second period, with the second coming with Kim on the activity clock. The two then exchanged stepouts and Akmataliev held on for the victory.

Akmataliev recorded an amazing comeback in the previous round when he overcame a six-point deficit in the second period in a 12-6 win over Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL). Now he will look to do better in Paris than he did in Tokyo, where he lost in the first round to Bajrang PUNIA (IND).

"This will be my second Olympics," he said. "In the first one, I lost to an experienced wrestler. This time we will take into account all of the mistakes and not repeat them and bring back an Olympic medal."

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) qualified the 65kg weight class for Japan. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) picked up the other 65kg berth -- and the chance to keep the Olympic gold in Japanese hands -- with a comprehensive 11-0 victory over Shaohua YUAN (CHN).

Kiyooka used a low single to maximum effect to score two takedowns in the first period which, combined with an activity point, gave him a 5-0 lead. In the second, he landed a double-leg takedown, applied the lace lock and rolled twice to end the match in 4:29.

"I'm happy to clinch [the quota], but looking at my performance overall, it's filled with issues that need to be worked on," Kiyooka said. "My goal is the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. It's good that the issues came to light, but I can't give my performance full marks. I think it was about a 50 [out of 100]."

Kiyooka, who earned the right to represent Japan in Bishkek by knocking off Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), had his toughest test in the first round when he held on for a 10-7 win over Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK).

Kiyooka is a recent graduate of Nippon Sports Science University, where among his training partners is 2016 Olympic silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), who will be among the medal favorites in Paris at 57kg. He said that helped him against Yuan, who assumes a left-foot-forward stance.

"He uses a left-handed stance, well, my teammate Rei Higuchi also does that -- and honestly speaking, Higuchi is the best -- so it was no problem," Kiyooka said.

The 23-year-old Kiyooka, whose victory came six days after younger sister Moe won the women's 55kg gold at the Asian Championships in the same venue, came into the tournament with little international experience. He won the Kolov-Petrov tournament in Bulgaria in 2023, then finished ninth that year at the World U23.

"I've become more mentally strong," Kiyooka said. "The World U23 last year was a good experience for me. Today I watched videos of past matches and I was able to stay composed when I gave up points."

Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), left, and Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) secured the Paris quota at 86kg for Japan and Mongolia respectively. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan's other win came at 86kg, where 2023 Asian bronze medalist Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) spent all of 33 seconds on the mat the entire day booking his ticket to Paris.

That was all the time it took Ishiguro to score a takedown on Gwanuk KIM (KOR), then reel off four quick gut wrenches for a 10-0 win. Ishiguro did not have to wrestle in the afternoon session as he received a victory by default in his lone match.

Sources said that Deepak PUNIA (IND) was unable to wrestle because he was late to the weigh-in after his flight from Dubai was delayed. He was stuck in Dubai for two days because of flooding.

"In the first match, you're usually pretty tight," said Ishiguro, the 2018 world junior (U20) champion at 79kg and 2019 world U23 bronze medalist who is a product of the same Tokyo kids wrestling club that produced Otoguro. "So there was a bit of anxiety. But everyone around me encouraged me, and that lifted my mood."

Mongolia secured the other Paris ticket at 86kg, when Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) defeated Tokyo Olympian Zushen LIN (CHN) 1-1 on criteria, with both points scored on the activity clock in a dull match.

Three-time Asian medalist Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) earned a place for Kazakhstan in Paris and a possible second Olympics for himself at 97kg by edging Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) 3-2 at 97kg.

Yergali scored an activity point and stepout to take a 2-0 lead into the break. In the second period, Habila was on the clock again when he got in on a single-leg, but time ran out before the Chinese could finish the takedown, leaving Yergali ahead 3-2. It was a similar outcome to Yergali's 2-1 win over Habila in the first round at last year's World Championships.

Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) defeated Zhiwei DENG (CHN) to win the 125kg quota for Mongolia. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Two-time world medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) made China 0-for-4 on the night when earned a ticket to a second straight Olympics at 125kg, while denying Zhiwei DENG (CHN) what would be his third trip by scoring an activity point in each period for a 2-0 win.

The match was a clash between the losers of the bronze-medal matches at the Tokyo Olympics and a rematch of Deng's 2-1 win in the first round at last year's World Championships.

"The match was hard," Munktur said. "At the World Championships, Deng beat me, but today I won so I am happy about it. I am going for the gold in Paris. Everything is possible. Why not?"

Tokyo Olympian Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) capped the night with a second-period scoring spree to defeat Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) 7-3 in the other 125kg match.

Batirmurzaev, the 2021 Asian champion who finished third last year, received an activity point in the first period. In the second, he scored back-to-back 2-point counter lifts from a front body lock, then added a gut wrench for a 7-0 lead.

Sharipov, one of a handful of wrestlers who also competed at last week's Asian Championships -- where he won a bronze -- came back with a takedown and stepout, but it was too little, too late.

Paris 2024 Qualification Matches

57kg
Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) df. Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) 3-3
Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df. AMAN (IND) by Fall, 2:17 (10-0)

65kg
Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Shaohua YUAN (CHN) by TF, 11-0, 4:29
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Kwang Jin KIM (PRK), 5-3

74kg
Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) df. Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), 6-0
Yones EMAMI (IRI) df. Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) by TF, 11-0, 3:49

86kg
Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) df. Gwanuk KIM (KOR) by TF, 10-0, :33
Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) df. Zushen LIN (CHN), 1-1

97kg
Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) df. Awusayiman HABILA (CHN), 3-2
Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) df. Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), 3-0

125kg
Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) df. Zhiwei DENG (CHN), 2-0
Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) df. Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), 7-3

Blades Helps USA Claim WW Team Title After Thrilling Race at #WrestleUfa

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Ageless Abdurakhmonov gains ticket to Paris 2024, third Olympics