#WrestleBucharest

European Championship Preview

By Eric Olanowski

BUCHAREST, Romania (April 4) – The Polyvalent Hall in Bucharest is set to host the deepest continental championship in the world on April 8-14 when it welcomes over 520 athletes from 38 nations to the 2019 European Championships. 

The star-studded competition will feature 22 champions from last year’s Kaspiisk European Championships, and six wrestlers who captured gold medals at the both the World and Continental Championships 

Greco-Roman and women’s wrestling each return eight title-winners, while freestyle has six returning champions. 

Freestyle

The Return of “The Russian Tank”
The freestyle competition returns six of ten champions, but none more important than Russia’s top-ranked Abdulrashid SADULAEV. 

On Wednesday morning, the Russian Federation pulled the mat out from undeath the feet of wrestling fans when they announced that three-time world and Rio Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev’s knee is healthy enough to compete at the European Championships. 

Wednesday's announcement trumped the previous reports that “The Russian Tank” was unlikely to compete in Bucharest and would be preparing for the June’s European Games, which take place in Minsk, Belarus. 

That announcement that Sadulaev will indeed be competing removed Vladislav BAITCAEV (RUS), the returning 97kg European champion, from the entry list, but kept the freestyle total at six returning champions who’ll be looking to at least repeat their title-winning efforts from last season. 

For the heavily favored Sadulaev to repeat as a European champion, he'll have to go through three of the four returning medalists from last season. They are Kaspiisk silver medalist Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR), and both bronze medalists, Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE) and Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO). 

Sadualev hasn’t recently met Hushtyn, but he’d be favored against Odiakdze or Gadzhiyev, as he’s defeated each wrestler in their previous meeting. Most recently, the Russian roared past Odiakdze in the world semifinals, 10-0, and defeated Gadzhiyev at the 2015 European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan. 

Ranked Wrestlers at 97kg
No. 1 Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) (60 points) 
No. 16 Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) (14 points) 
No. 18 Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) (14 points) 

Handful of Other Returning Champions 
The five other returning European title holders who’ll be joining Sadulaev are Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) (57kg), Haji ALIYEV (AZE) (65kg), Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) (74kg), Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) (79kg), and Taha AKGUL (TUR) (125kg). 

Azerbaijan’s returning 57kg champion Giorgi Edisherashvili scored his second consecutive European gold and secured his third overall continental championship with a late four-point throw against eventual world champion Zavur UGUEV (RUS).

If Edisherashvili expects to win his third consecutive European title, he’ll have to upend Turkey’s talented rising star Suleyman ATLI, who closed out last year’s Budapest World Championships by upsetting returning world silver medalist Thomas GILMAN (USA), claiming a surprising world bronze medal. 

Ranked Wrestlers at 57kg 
No. 2 Suleyman ATLI (TUR) (41 points) 
No. 7 Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) (18 points) 
No. 10 Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA) (16 points) 
No. 11 Muslim SADULAEV (RUS) (16 points) 

Azerbaijan’s Haji Aliyev is the third returning freestyle champion. 

In last year’s 65kg finals, Aliyev, the three-time world champion, sparked one of the most memorable European Championship comebacks by scoring six unanswered points in the final 49 seconds to defeat Russia’s Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS), 8-7. 

Aliyev has hopes of repeating his magical run and win his third overall European title, but to do so, he’ll have to avenge his Rio Olympic loss to eventual Olympic champion Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO), who will be looking for his fourth European title. 

Ranked Wrestlers at 65kg 
No. 11 Andrei PERPELITA (MDA) (16 points) 
No. 15 Nachyn KUULAR (RUS) (14 points) 

The fourth returning champion is Russia’s 70kg gold-medal winner from a year ago, Magomed Kurbanaliev. Although the 2016 world champion won’t be competing at his title-winning weight from last year. He’ll be representing Russia at 74kg, replacing defending world champion Zaubek SIDAKOV, who is preparing for the European Games. 

Kurbanaliev will have a steep road to repeating, and the odds will be stacked against him. To repeat, he’ll have to stop the trio of title-worthy competitors in Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA), Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO), and Yakup GOR (TUR). 

Chamizo, one of the sport’s biggest superstars, is a two-time world champion and a Rio Olympic bronze medalist. He’s coming off a fifth-place finish in Budapest, and only dropped matches to eventual world champion Zaurbek Sidakov, and the four-time world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA). 

If Chamizo happens to win the 74kg bracket, it’ll be the third European first-place finish on his resume. He also finished the 2016 and 2017 European Championships with a gold medal. 

Avatandil Kentchadze is another serious threat at 74kg. Kentchadze was the last year’s U23 world champion and senior-level world silver medalist. 

Turkey’s Yakup Gor will also be looking to make some noise and continue to rise in the 74kg world rankings. The two-time world bronze medalist is making his return to the Turkish lineup for the first time since 2017 after Turkey elected to insert Gor at 74kg over three-time defending European champion Soener DEMIRTAS. Gor bumped up to 74kg after finishing the 2017 Paris World Championships with a 70kg bronze medal but lost his starting spot to Demirtas in 2018. 

Gor comes into the European Championships ranked No. 6 in the world at 74kg. He has 28 Ranking Series points after his falling to Sidakov in the Ivan Yariguin finals, and a bronze-medal finish at the Dan Kolov.

Ranked Wrestlers at 74kg 
No. 4 Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) (40 points) 
No. 5 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) (34 points) 
No. 6 Yakup GOR (TUR) (28 points) 
No. 7 Azamat NURYKAU (BLR) (24 points) 
No. 16 Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) (12 points) 

At 79kg, The reigning European champion Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) is going to be challenged by 2018 world runner-up Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) and 2018 U23 world champion Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO). 

Hasanov will be looking to reach the top of the podium for the third time, but first since he last won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. Since then, Hasanov has fallen short in the finals twice and finished with a pair of bronze medals. 

Ranked Wrestlers at 79kg 
No. 2 Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) (40 points) 
No. 3 Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) (39 points) 
No. 10 Grigor GRIGORYAN (ARM) (16 points) 
No. 13 Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU) (14 points) 
No. 19 Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO) (12 points) 

The final returning European champion is Turkey’s two-time world and Olympic champion, Taha Akgul. The larger than life Turkish heavyweight has won the last two 125kg European titles and has aspirations of claiming his third consecutive title. If he’s successful in doing so, it’ll bring his overall continental gold medal total to seven. 

He’ll most likely take on Georgia’s Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), who is looking to reach the top of the podium at a European Championship for the first time since 2016. Since his last continental title run, the Georgian big man has won back-to-back world titles in Paris and Budapest. 

Last year, Petriashvili fell to Akgul in the finals, 2-1, and settled for a silver medal. 

Ranked Wrestlers at 125kg
No. 1 Geno PETRIASHVILI (70 points)
No. 4 Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) (34 points) 
No. 5 Taha AKGUL (TUR) (30 points) 
No. 6 Daniel LIGETI (HUN) (26 points) 
No. 13 Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR) (14 points) 

Greco-Roman 

Trio of World and European Champions Entered 
Three of the first four weights will feature reigning world and European champions Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), Sergey EMELIN (RUS), and Artem SURKOV (RUS). 

Azizli, the 55kg world and European champion should have no problem making it to the finals, where he’ll most likely be joined by 2018 world and European bronze medalist Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO). 

These two met twice last season, and it was Azizli who came out on top of both matches. The Azeri cruised to the 9-0 victory in Kaspiisk and picked up the 6-3 victory over the Georgian in the world semifinals. 

Ranked Wrestlers at 55kg
No. 1 Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) (60 points) 
No. 6 Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) (25 points) 

The 60kg world and European titleholder from a season ago Sergey Emelin will be targeted by the man he defeated in Budapest to win his world title, Victor CIOBANU (MDA). The Russian won that Budapest finals matchup, 10-1. 

Outside of Emelin and Ciobanu, the two others competitors that can make a title run at this weight are 2018 European bronze medalist Jacopo SANDRON (ITA) and two-time junior world champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR).

Ranked Wrestlers at 60kg
No. 1 Sergey EMELIN (RUS) (60 points) 
No. 2 Victor CIOBANU (MDA) (40 points) 
No. 11 Kerem KAMAL (TUR) (18 points) 
No. 13 Etienne KINSINGER (GER) (16 points) 
No. 18 Erik TORBA (HUN) (14 points)   

Artem SURKOV (RUS) is the reigning world and European champion at 67kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

The third reigning world and European champion is Russia’s Artem Surkov, who’ll wrestle at 67kg. Surkov’s toughest competition will be last year’s bronze medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM). 

The pair met in the European quarterfinals, where Surkov was the victor, 6-3. 

Ranked Wrestlers at 67kg
No. 1 Artem SURKOV (RUS) (60 points) 
No. 3 Danijel JANECIC (CRO) (30 points) 
No. 8 Fredrik Holmquist BJERREHUUS (DEN) (18 points) 
No. 16 Mate NEMES (SRB) (14 points) 

Russia is Heavily Favored 
The clear cut favorites to win the Greco-Roman team title is the Russian Federation. Their team boasts five returning world champions, two Olympic champions, and a four-time age-group world champion whose record remains unblemished during his international career. 

In addition to Emelin and Surkov who are favored at their respective weights, the frontrunner at 63kg is Russia’s returning world champions, Stepan MARYANYAN. 

Maryanyan has won a European Games title but has never represented the Russian Federation at a European Championships. The path for Maryanyan to win his first European Championship title is no easy one, as his weight features a Budapest bronze medalist, the returning European champion, and two other medalists. 

Although Budapest bronze medalist Rahman BILICI (TUR) is the only other returning world medal winner, last year’s European finalists, Mihai MIHUT (ROU) and Olympic bronze medalist Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) have entered their names into the 63kg entries. 

Though he's a dark horse, Moldova’s 2018 European bronze medalist Donior ISLAMOV is also expected to compete for a title at this weight. 

Ranked Wrestlers at 63kg
No. 1 Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) 60 points)
No. 5 Rahman BILICI (TUR) (25 points) 
No. 9 Donior ISLAMOV (MDA) (16 points) 
No. 12 Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) (14 points) 
No. 17 Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) (12 points) 

Russia’s fourth world champion Musa EVLOEV will represent his country at the continental championships for the fourth time. In his previous four appearances, Evloev has only medaled once, and has never competed in a gold-medal match. 

Even if Evloev is successful in making his first gold-medal match appearance, he’ll have to scrap it out with either Kiril MILOV (BUL) or Mihail KAJALA (SRB). 

Milov is the man that Evloev defeated in Budapest to win his world title, while Mihail Kajala fell in last year’s European finals. 

Ranked Wrestlers at 97kg
No. 1 Musa EVLOEV (RUS) (60 points) 
No. 5 Mihail KAJALA (SRB) (25 points) 
No. 19 Mélonin NOUMONVI (FRA) (12 points) 

The fifth and final Russian Greco-Roman reigning world champion is Sergey SEMENOV (RUS). Semenov will compete at the senior-level European champions for the first time in his career.

Semenov’s path to a 130kg European title is likely to go through defending champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR). The Turkish super heavyweight in on track to win his eighth consecutive European title, and tenth overall Continental Championship gold medal. Since dropping the 2011 European finals match to Russia’s Khassan BAROEV, Kayaalp has gone undefeated at seven straight continental champions.

Ranked Wrestlers at 130kg
No. 1 Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) (60 points) 
No. 3 Heiki NABI (EST) (38 points) 
No. 5 Oskar MARVIK (NOR) (28 points) 
No. 8 Marko KOSCEVIC (CRO) (24 points) 
No. 9 Eduard POPP (GER) (20 points) 
No. 14 Oleksandr CHERNETSKYY (UKR) (14 points) 
No. 16 Balint LAM (HUN) (14 points) 
No. 19 Miloslav METODIEV (BUL) (12 points) 

In addition to the five reigning world champions, Russia’s team will also feature Olympic champions Roman VLASOV and Davit CHAKVETADZE, and four-time age-group world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV. 

At 77kg, defending champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Roman Vlasov will be making his return to the Russian lineup after withdrawing from the World Championships two weeks before the start of the competition in Budapest due to knee surgery. 

Viktor NEMES (SRB) will be waiting to exact revenge on Vlasov after the Russian scored a four-point throw to grab the 5-1 victory in last year’s 77kg gold-medal match.

Ranked Wrestlers at 77kg
No. 3 Viktor NEMES (SRB) (43 points) 
No. 6 Alex BJURBERG KESSIDIS (SWE) (20 points) 
No. 9 Elvin MURSALIYEV (AZE) (16 points) 
No. 10 Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO) (16 points) 
No. 20 Laszlo SZABO (HUN) (12 points) 

Olympic champion Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS) will represent Russia at 82kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Russia's second Olympic champion that's entered into the European Championships is Davit Chakvetadze. Though he’s an Olympic champion, Chakvetadze comes in as an extreme underdog in the deepest and most open Greco-Roman weight class of the tournament. 

In addition to Chakvetadze’s Olympic gold, 87kg also features two other Olympic medalists, three senior-level world champions, a U23 world champion, the returning European champion, and last year’s European bronze medalist. 

The three senior-level world champions at this weight are Metehan BASAR (TUR), Zhan BELENIUK (URK), and Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM). 

Basar is the reigning two-time world champion, Beleniuk won his world title back in 2015, and Manukyan reached the top of the world podium in 2017. 

Maksim Manukyan, last year’s 82kg gold medalist will be bumping up to 87kg, where he’ll try to stop defending 87kg champion Roberti KOBIASHVILI (GEO) from winning his second consecutive European title. 

Olympic bronze medalist Denis KUDLA (GER), Hungary’s U23 world champion Erik SZILVASSY, and 2018 European bronze medalists Kristoffer BERG (SWE) are also entered at this weight.

Ranked Wrestlers at 87kg
No. 1 Metehan BASAR (TUR) (60 points) 
No. 2 Zhan BELENIUK (40 points) 
No. 6 Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) (26 points) 
No. 8 Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO) (25 points) 
No. 10 Islam ABBASOV (AZE) (20 points) 
No. 13 Kristoffer Zakarias BERG (SWE) (16 points)
No. 20 Mikalai STADUB (BLR) (12 points) 

Aleksandr Komarov is the last credentialed Russian entered into the European Championships. Komarov, the four-time age-group world champion, will wrestle at 82kg. His resume remains unblemished, as he’s won every cadet, junior and senior-level international tournament he’s ever entered. 

The two wrestlers stopping him from winning his first senior European title are Emrah KUS (TUR) and Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR). 

Kus is last year’s world runner-up, while Sasunouski was the Budapest bronze medalist at 82kg. 

Ranked Wrestlers at 82kg
No. 2 Emrah KUS (TUR) (54 points) 
No. 4 Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) (25 points)
No. 16 Rajbek  BISULTANOV (DEN)  (14 points) 
No. 20 Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) (12 points) 

Women’s Wrestling 

Two Defending World and European Champions
Outside of Mariya STADNIK (AZE) and Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS), every reigning women’s wrestling European champion has entered their name into the Bucharest field. 

The eight returning champions are Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) (53kg), Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) (57kg), Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) (57kg), Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) (59kg), Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) (62kg), Petra OLLI (FIN) (65kg), Anna FRANSSON (SWE) (68kg), and Yasemin ADAR (TUR) (76kg).

The women’s wrestling portion of the tournament is highlighted by two of the most consistent wrestler's from last year, world and European champions Taybe Yusein and Petra Olli. 

Yusein, the reigning 62kg world and European champion's toughest test will be Ukraine’s 2018 European bronze Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK, while Olli, on the other hand, will have to again defeat 2018 European runner-up Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) and 2018 European bronze medal winner Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) if she hopes to reach the top of the podium.

Six Returning Champions; 57kg Doubling up with Two Champs
Russia’s returning 53kg champion Stalvira Orshush will have one of the top-five most difficult roads to repeat out of the 22 returning champions. 

To win her second consecutive title, Orshush will have to go through 2018 runner-ups Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) and Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL). The Russian defeated Kaladzinskaya in last year’s 53kg finals, but her potential Polish opponent is dropping down from 55kg where she fell in last year's finals. 

Outside of the three 53kg returning finalists, Sweden’s six-time world medalist and Rio bronze-medal finisher Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) is also entered at this weight. 

Ranked Wrestler at 53kg 
No. 17 Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) (12 points) 

Arguably the toughest women’s weight of the competition, 57kg, there will be a pair of returning champions, Bilyana Dudova and Iryna Kurachkina. Dudova is the current titleholder at this weight, but, Kurachkina is coming up from her gold-medal weight of 55kg. 

In addition to the pair of reigning champions,  last year’s U23 world champion Grace BULLEN (NOR), 2018 European runner-up Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS), and the pair of continental bronze medalists, Emese BARKA (HUN) and Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE), are also entered at 57kg. 

Ranked Wrestler at 57kg 
No. 2 Bilyana  DUDOVA (BUL) (62 points) 
No. 3 Grace BULLEN (NOR) (45 points) 
No. 5 Emese BARKA (HUN) (25 points) 
No. 7 Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (FOU) (20 points) 
No. 13 Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) (14 points) 
No. 15 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) (12 points) 
No. 17 Sara Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) (12 points) 

At 59kg, Elif Yesilirmak will look to defend her title from a season ago. Yesilirmak, who closed out the year with a world silver, will again have to stop 2018 European silver medalist Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL), and Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS), 2018 European runner-up, if she has plans of repeating. 

Ranked Wrestler at 59kg 
No. 2 Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) (40 points) 
No. 3 Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) (32 points) 

Last year’s 72kg champion Anna Fransson will be competing at a different weight than last year’s title-winning weight. The Rio Olympic bronze medalist will be dropping down to the Olympic weight of 68kg, where Ukraine's reigning 68kg world champion Alla CHERKASOVA will be looking to stop her from winning back-to-back European golds. 

The pair's toughest competition will be Russia’s young star and United World Wrestling’s 2018 Junior Women’s Wrestler of the Year, Khanum VELIEVA (RUS). Velieva won her fourth age-group world title last year, while also finishing in third place at the U23 world championships. 

Ranked Wrestler at 68kg 
No. 1 Alla CHERKASOVA (URK) (72 points) 
No. 19 Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) 

The final women's wrestling returning champions is Turkey’s 2017 world champion Yasemin Adar. Adar is on a quest to win her fourth consecutive European title and is the clear-cut favorite at 76kg.

Stopping her from doing so will be the pair of world runner-ups Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) and Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER). Both wrestlers are looking to bounce back after disappointing finishes at the world championships that left them leaving empty-handed. 

Ranked Wrestler at 76kg 
No. 2 Yasemin ADAR (TUR) (56 points) 
No. 5 Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) (40 points) 
No. 8 Zsanett NEMETH (HUN) (20 points) 
No. 12 Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) (12 points) 
No. 16 Iselin Maria Moen SOLHEIM (NOR) (10 points) 
No. 20 Epp MAE (EST) (20 points) 

The European Championships begin on Monday in Bucharest, Romania, and can be watched live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.  

For news, interviews, and behind the scenes highlights, you can follow United World Wrestling on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

SCHEDULE

Monday (April 8) 
9:30 - Medical examination & Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
15:00 - Draw FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18: 00 - Semi Final FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg

Tuesday (April 9) 
9:30 - Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
9:45 - Medical Examination & Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg Qualification rounds FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
11:30 - Repechage FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
15:00 - Draw WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
16:15 - Opening Ceremony
17:15 - Semi Final FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18:00 - Finals FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg / Award ceremonies 

Wednesday (April 10) 
9:30 - Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Repechage FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
14:00 - Draw WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg 
18: 00 - Finals FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg / Award ceremonies

Thursday (April 11) 
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg page4image2914979424 page4image2914979968
14:00 - Repechage WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg 
14:00 - Draw GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
18:00 - Finals WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg / Award ceremonies 

Friday (April 12) 
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
11:30 - Repechage WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
15:40 - Draw GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
18:00 - Finals WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg / Award ceremonies

Saturday (April 13) 
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
11:30 - Repechage GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
18:00 - Finals GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg / Award ceremonies

Sunday (April 14) 
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
16:00 - Repechage GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
18:00 - Finals GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg / Award ceremonies

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships Day 3 Women's Wrestling Finals Set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 13) -- Women's Wrestling at the Asian Championships with Japan hoping to win all five gold medals. Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), Risako KINJO (JPN), Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) and Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) will be the five Japanese wrestlers in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 REPORT

Here are the finals for tonight

50kg
Yui SUSAKI (JPN) vs. Ziqi FENG (CHN)

55kg
Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) vs. Kyong Ryong OH (PRK)

59kg
Qi ZHANG (CHN) vs. Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL)

68kg
Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) vs. RADHIKA (IND)

76kg
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN)

14:19: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) avenges a loss from last year's final with a 5-1 victory over Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) in the 76kg semifinals in which she got some help from a Kazakhstan challenge. Medet Kyzy was leading 1-1 on criteria from a pair of activity points when she was put on the clock again. She scores a takedown much to the delight of the home crowd, then goes for a gut wrench. Medet Kyzy gets stopped midway through, and the Kazakh side challenges, thinking they should have gotten 2. Instead, Medet Kyzy is awarded 2 for exposure in a challenge "won" by the opponent.

14:16: Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN) with takedowns in each period to see off Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) 4-0 and reach the 76kg final.

14:04: RADHIKA (IND) into the final at 68kg a fall over local star Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KAZ). She gets Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) as her opponent for the gold medal.

14:04: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) is having no trouble with the extra weight at 68kg, storming to a 10-0 victory in 1:28 over world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) to make the final. She will be looking to add to the Asian gold she won at 62kg in 2022.

13:58: While the 14-3 score doesn't show it, Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) and Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) had a wild match in which the Kazakh wrestler kept trying to hit a four-pointer but it was Batkhuyag who got the big throws and points. The Mongolian wins 14-3 and advances to the 59kg final.

13:55: World champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) follows up her victory over Japanese star Risako KAWAI (JPN) with a 10-0 rout of  Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) to advance to the 59kg final. Zhang shrugs by Aimbetova for a takedown, which she follows with two gut wrenches. A snap-down takedown then sets her up for another gut wrench that ends the match after 1:06.

13:51: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) advances to her first senior Asian final with a 10-0 win over Dulguun BOLORMAA (MGL) at 55kg. Kiyooka opens with a low single-leg takedown for the lone score of the first period. She continues to attack at ankle level and chalks up four more takedowns to finish off the match with 23 seconds to spare.

13:44: Into the final at 55kg is Kyong Ryong OH (PRK). She rolls to an 11-0 win over Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ) and will face Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) for the gold medal.

13:36: Ziqi FENG (CHN) sets up a final against Yui SUSAKI (JPN) at 50kg after destroying world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) 11-0 in the semifinal. A strong statement from Feng who lost 8-2 against Susaki in the World Championships semifinal.

13:33: World and Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) will get a shot at her first Asian title since 2017 after cruising to a 10-0 win over Thi NGUYEN at 50kg. Susaki opens with a front headlock roll for 2, then adds a double-leg takedown. From there she applies a lace lock, and three quick rolls and it's all over in just over a minute. 

The semifinals in the women's wrestling will begin at 13:30 local time

13:00: Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN), a 2022 world U23 bronze medalist, scores a takedown with 20 seconds left to defeat Zagardulam NAIGALSUREN (MGL) 4-4 on criteria in their 76kg quarterfinal. Naigalsuren had gone ahead with a takedown just over a minute earlier.

12:51: World silver medalist and three-time Asian medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) wastes little time in disposing of Hyeongyeong PARK (KOR), scoring a takedown and arm-barring her over for a fall in 48 seconds and meeting with Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) in the 68kg semifinals.

12:48: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), the 2023 world U23 champion, takes out the reigning Asian U23 champion Min ZHANG (CHN) 5-1 to make the 55kg semifinals. Kiyooka gets an activity point in the first period. In the second, Zhang gets in deep on a single, but Kiyooka forces a stalemate. The Japanese comes back with a double-leg takedown, and Zhang responds with a stepout with a minute left. Kiyooka spins behind on a poor shot by Zhang to make it 5-1.

12:39: Dulgunn BOLORMAA (MGL), who completed the full set of Asian medals by winning the gold in 2021, posts a 4-0 victory over Madina USMONJONOVA (UZB) to advance to the 55kg semifinals.

12:39: Returning from her injury at the World Championships, Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) with a solid showing in the quarterfinal against Priya MALIK (IND) at 76kg. Malik was put on the activity clock in the first period before Medet Kyzy got the takedown to lead 3-0 at the break. Malik did get close to scoring a takedown thrice but failed to finish the move. Medet Kyzy moves into the semifinal with a 3-1 win.

12:30: World silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) trailed Irina ZHANIBEKOVA BORISSOVA (KAZ) 4-4 on criteria but Dolgorjav hits a four to take an 8-4 lead. Borissova with a reversal but loses her steam in the match to go down 12-5 at 50kg

12:29: Thi NGUYEN (VIE) scores a victory by fall over Miseon KWON (KOR) in their 50kg quarterfinal. Her reward is a clash with Susaki in the semifinals. 

12:25: Another thriller involving a Kyrgyz wrestler revs up the crowd, but ends up going the opposite way. In a back-and-forth match, Tancholpon KYBALBEKOVA (KGZ) scores a stepout against Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) with 10 seconds left for what appears to be a 6-6 win on criteria. But a challenge overturns the call and gives Aimbetova the point.

12:22: Did Yui SUSAKI (JPN) just survive a scare there? The world champion got a 2-0 lead after Yong Ok HWANG (PRK) was called passive in both periods. Hwang got attacking in the last minute but Susaki kept her at bay. With 12 seconds remaining on the clock, Hwang got a stepout and got Susaki in the zone but the Japanese got on her knees and stopped Hwang. A desperate attempt from Hwang for a front roll but Susaki blocks it to win 4-1 at 50kg.

12:21: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) gets the defense of her 76kg title started by using a headlock trip to throw Seoyeon JONG (KOR) onto her back and score a quick fall to advance to the semifinals.

12:17: Returning bronze medalist and world bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) advances to the 50kg semifinals with a victory by fall over Shivani PAWAR (IND). She is in the opposite bracket as Yui SUSAKI (JPN).

12:13: RADHIKA (IND), a silver medalist at 65kg in 2022, rolls into the 68kg semifinals with a 12-2 victory over Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ)

12:12: Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) with a 10-0 win at 55kg against Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ). Next up on Mat C is Yui SUSAKI (JPN) at 50kg against Yong Ok HWANG (PRK)

12:08: In the marquis match of the session, two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN) faces reigning world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) in their opening match at 59kg. Kinjo (formerly KAWAI) gets an activity point for the lone score of the first period as neither takes any risks. In the second period, Zhang gets an activity point and then fends off Kinjo's attacks for a 1-1 victory. It was Kinjo's first international match since winning the 57kg gold at the Tokyo Olympics, after which she got married and gave birth. She moved up to 59kg after failing to make Japan's team to the Paris Olympics.

12:03: Gulnara TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) thrills the home crowd when trailing 6-1 to Po Gyong RI (PRK), she throws her to her back with a whirling back trip and records the fall for a spot in the 68kg semifinals.

12:00: A minute and seven seconds to win her international debut bout at 68kg for Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)! She rolls to a 10-0 win over Zelu LI (CHN).

11:58: Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) with a pin over Pushpa YADAV (IND) at 59kg. Yadav left it too late and broke down in the second period.

11:52: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), the 2022 world U20 and U23 champion at 55kg, gets her campaign started in her first senior Asian Championships with a 9-0 victory over TAMANNA (IND), last year's Asian U23 silver medalist at 53kg. Kiyooka will next face the reigning Asian U23 champion Min ZHANG (CHN).

11:48: Priya MALIK (IND), the U20 world champion and returning bronze medalist, starts her Asian Championships with a 10-0 win over Valentina TORENIYAZOVA (UZB) at 76kg in just two minutes.

11:43: Shivanee PAWAR (IND), a 2021 world U23 silver medalist, falls into a surprising six-point hole against Samnang DIT (CAM) in her opening match at 50kg, but fights back to tie the score, then records a fall to advance to the quarterfinals.

11:40: On her comeback after five years, Yong HWANG (PRK) wins 4-0 against Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) at 50kg. Hwang is looking to better on the bronze medal she won at the 2019 Asian Championships in Xi'an. 

11:30: A late start to the third day of the Asian Championships as the number of matches is less today. Some of the biggest names in wrestling will be on the mat in a short while.