European Championships entry list

Tuesday, March 28, 2023 - 11:06 By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (March 28) -- The 2023 European Championships will see the return of 27 defending champions as we enter the Paris Olympics cycle.

Zagreb, Croatia will play host to the tournament from April 17 to 24 with all 10 Greco-Roman returning champions, nine freestyle champions and eight women's wrestling gold medalists. The three who are not entered are Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) at 70kg, Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) at women's 62kg and Anna SCHELL (GER) at 72kg.

The number of countries participating in the tournament will be eligible to participate in the World Championships, the first event which will offer quotas for Paril Olympics.

Once again, Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Georgia will be the biggest threat to the team title in freestyle with Azerbaijan begin led by Olympic silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) at 65kg.

Turkiye has Taha AKGUL (TUR) at 125kg while Suleyman ATLI (TUR) and Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) are also part of the team.

It is expected to come down to 125kg final between Akgul and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), another chapter in their storied career. Akgul won the final over Petriashvili last year.

A similar story is expected in Greco-Roman as the three countries are bringing top squads. Last year, Azerbaijan won both the team title with Turkiye finishing second and Georgia finishing third.

Greco-Roman will see a few rivalries also be resumed as both Eldaniz AZIZLI (GEO) and Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) are entered at 55kg. So are the finalists at 60kg -- Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL). The finalists from 63kg, 77kg, 82kg, 87kg, 97kg and 130kg are also entered.

World champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) is returning to European Championships after three years. He is a six-time European champion -- five continental and one Games title.

In women's wrestling, Turkiye and Ukraine will once again be fighting for the team title like last year.

Ukraine has a stronger team than last year with the return of the Olympic bronze medalist at 62kg Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) and former world champion Yuliia TKACH (UKR) at 59kg. However, the absence of world silver medalist Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) may hurt the nation.

Turkiye will be led by the world and European champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) with Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), Nesrin BAS (TUR) and Bose TOSUN (TUR) also part of the team.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE) will be returning for yet another European Championships in her career and for the first time since 2021. She is a nine-time European champion which includes two Games titles.

Taha AKGUL (TUR) defeated Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the 125kg final last year. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

57kg
Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM)
Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE)
Ivaylo TISOV (BUL)
Levan METREVELI (ESP)
Valentin DAMOUR (FRA)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)
Horst LEHR (GER)
Simone PIRODDU (ITA)
Amir MAGOMEDSULTANOV (MDA)
Besir ALILI (MKD)
Razvan KOVACS (ROU)
Thomas EPP (SUI)
Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
Andrii YATSENKO (UKR)

61kg
Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB)
Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
Intigam VALIZADA (AZE)
Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)
Arman ELOYAN (FRA)
Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO)
Niklas STECHELE (GER)
Gamzatgadzsi HALIDOV (HUN)
Daniel POPOV (ISR)
Andrei VITAN (MDA)
Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU)
Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR)
Valentyn BLIASETSKYI (UKR)

65kg
Islam DUDAEV (ALB)
Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)
Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
Mikyay NAIM (BUL)
Carlos ALVAREZ (ESP)
Marwane YEZZA (FRA)
Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO)
Andre CLARKE (GER)
Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
Joshua FINESILVER (ISR)
Colin REALBUTO (ITA)
Maxim SACULTAN (MDA)
Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
Stefan COMAN (ROU)
Stevan MICIC (SRB)
Nino LEUTERT (SUI)
Hamza ALACA (TUR)
Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)

70kg
Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)
Magomed KHANIEV (AZE)
Muhammad ABDURACHMANOV (BEL)
Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL)
Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO)
Kevin HENKEL (GER)
Daniel ANTAL (HUN)
Gianluca TALAMO (ITA)
Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA)
Fati VEJSELI (MKD)
Patryk OLENCZYN (POL)
Marc DIETSCHE (SUI)
Daniel CHOMANIC (SVK)
Servet COSKUN (TUR)
Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR)

74kg
Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM)
Simon MARCHL (AUT)
Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)
Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL)
Erik REINBOK (EST)
Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN)
Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR)
Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)
Vasile DIACON (MDA)
Rasul SHAPIEV (MKD)
Szymon WOJTKOWSKI (POL)
Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU)
Malik AMINE (SMR)
Hetik CABOLOV (SRB)
Tobias PORTMANN (SUI)
Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
Semen RADULOV (UKR)

79kg
Arman AVAGYAN (ARM)
Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE)
Mihail GEORGIEV (BUL)
Kreso SKUGOR (CRO)
Gabriel IGLESIAS (ESP)
Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
Csaba VIDA (HUN)
Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA)
Ahmad MAGOMEDOV (MKD)
Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU)
Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR)
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)
Iman MAHDAVI (UWW)

86kg
Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM)
Benjamin GREIL (AUT)
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
Ilia HRISTOV (BUL)
Taimuraz FRIEV (ESP)
Aimar ANDRUSE (EST)
Ruslan VALIEV (FRA)
Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO)
Lars SCHAEFLE (GER)
Angelos KOUKLARIS (GRE)
Patrik PUESPOEKI (HUN)
Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR)
Akhmedkhan TEMBOTOV (ITA)
Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT)
Domantas PAULIUSCENKO (LTU)
Ivan ICHIZLI (MDA)
Uvejs FEJZULAHU (MKD)
Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL)
Andrei FRANT (ROU)
Myles AMINE (SMR)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Fatih ERDIN (TUR)
Vladyslav PRUS (UKR)

92kg
Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Ahmed BATAEV (BUL)
Akhmed AIBUEV (FRA)
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)
Joshua MORODION (GER)
Matthew FINESILVER (ISR)
Ion DEMIAN (MDA)
Redjep HAJDARI (MKD)
Radoslaw MARCINKIEWICZ (POL)
Strahinja DESPIC (SRB)
Ermak KARDANOV (SVK)
Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR)
Illia ARCHAIA (UKR)

97kg
Sergey SARGSYAN (ARM)
Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Georgi DIMITROV (BUL)
Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO)
Erik THIELE (GER)
Vladislav BAITSAEV (HUN)
Benjamin HONIS (ITA)
Egzon SHALA (KOS)
Lukas KRASAUSKAS (LTU)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD)
Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL)
Samuel SCHERRER (SUI)
Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK)
Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR)
Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)

125kg
Paris KAREPI (ALB)
Johannes LUDESCHER (AUT)
Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE)
Georgi IVANOV (BUL)
Jose CUBA VAZQUEZ (ESP)
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE)
Daniel LIGETI (HUN)
Abraham CONYEDO (ITA)
Ivan NEDEALCO (MDA)
Robert BARAN (POL)
Magomedgadzhi NURASULOV (SRB)
Taha AKGUL (TUR)
Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR)

Kiril MILOV (BUL) is the defending champion at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM)
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)
Stefan GRIGOROV (BUL)
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)
Fabian SCHMITT (GER)
Artiom DELEANU (MDA)
Denis MIHAI (ROU)
Muhammet CAKIR (TUR)
Viacheslav BAIRAKTAR (UKR)

60kg
Bajram SINA (ALB)
Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM)
Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE)
Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL)
Nikolai MOHAMMADI (DEN)
Daniel BOBILLO (ESP)
Helary MAEGISALU (EST)
Leo TUDEZCA (FRA)
Pridon ABULADZE (GEO)
Christopher KRAEMER (GER)
Erik TORBA (HUN)
Melkamu FETENE (ISR)
Justas PETRAVICIUS (LTU)
Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA)
Michal TRACZ (POL)
Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)
Georgii TIBILOV (SRB)
Ardit FAZLJIJA (SWE)
Kerem KAMAL (TUR)
Viktor PETRYK (UKR)

63kg
Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM)
Aker SCHMID AL OBAIDI (AUT)
Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE)
Abu AMAEV (BUL)
Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO)
Leri ABULADZE (GEO)
Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN)
Jacopo SANDRON (ITA)
Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT)
Victor CIOBANU (MDA)
Perica DIMITRIJEVIC (SRB)
Virgil BICA (SWE)
Ismail CULFA (TUR)
Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR)

67kg
Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM)
Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)
Ivo ILIEV (BUL)
Luka IVANCIC (CRO)
Elmer MATTILA (FIN)
Tigran GALUSTYAN (FRA)
Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO)
Witalis LAZOVSKI (GER)
Krisztian VANCZA (HUN)
Shon NADORGIN (ISR)
Zaur KABALOEV (ITA)
Alexei HAHLOVSCHI (MDA)
Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR)
Mateusz BERNATEK (POL)
Pedro DE MATOS (POR)
Mihai MIHUT (ROU)
Sebastian NAD (SRB)
Mate NEMES (SRB)
Andreas VETSCH (SUI)
Niklas OEHLEN (SWE)
Murat FIRAT (TUR)
Parviz NASIBOV (UKR)

72kg
Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM)
Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE)
Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL)
Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO)
Jakub BIELESZ (CZE)
Matias LIPASTI (FIN)
Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA)
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)
Michael WIDMAYER (GER)
Robert FRITSCH (HUN)
Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU)
Valentin PETIC (MDA)
Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL)
Ali ARSALAN (SRB)
Michael PORTMANN (SUI)
Selcuk CAN (TUR)
Andrii KULYK (UKR)

77kg
Kevin KUPI (ALB)
Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)
Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)
Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL)
Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO)
Oliver KRUEGER (DEN)
Marcos SANCHEZ (ESP)
Mikko PELTOKANGAS (FIN)
Johnny BUR (FRA)
Iuri LOMADZE (GEO)
Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER)
Christos KOUTSOURIDIS (GRE)
Zoltan LEVAI (HUN)
Luca DARIOZZI (ITA)
Paulius GALKINAS (LTU)
Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)
Juan AAK (NOR)
Patryk BEDNARZ (POL)
Aleksa ILIC (SRB)
Viktor NEMES (SRB)
Denis HORVATH (SVK)
Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE)
Yunus BASAR (TUR)
Serhii KOZUB (UKR)

82kg
Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM)
Michael WAGNER (AUT)
Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)
Rosian DERMANSKI (BUL)
Filip SACIC (CRO)
Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO)
Ranet KALJOLA (EST)
Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)
Roland SCHWARZ (GER)
Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE)
Erik SZILVASSY (HUN)
Mihail BRADU (MDA)
Exauce MUKUBU (NOR)
Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB)
Marc WEBER (SUI)
Kristoffer BERG (SWE)
Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)
Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR)

87kg
Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM)
Lukas STAUDACHER (AUT)
Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
Semen NOVIKOV (BUL)
Ivan HUKLEK (CRO)
Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)
Andreas VAELIS (EST)
Lasha GOBADZE (GEO)
Hannes WAGNER (GER)
Nikolaos VARKAS (GRE)
David LOSONCZI (HUN)
Mirco MINGUZZI (ITA)
Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU)
Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)
Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL)
Nicu OJOG (ROU)
Zarko DICKOV (SRB)
Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB)
Damian VON EUW (SUI)
Alex KESSIDIS (SWE)
Ali CENGIZ (TUR)
Artem MATIASH (UKR)

97kg
Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)
Markus RAGGINGER (AUT)
Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE)
Kiril MILOV (BUL)
Filip SMETKO (CRO)
Artur OMAROV (CZE)
Richard KARELSON (EST)
Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
Loic SAMEN (FRA)
Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO)
Peter OEHLER (GER)
Laokratis KESIDIS (GRE)
Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN)
Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA)
Vilius LAURINAITIS (LTU)
Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED)
Felix BALDAUF (NOR)
Gerard KURNICZAK (POL)
Mario VUKOVIC (SRB)
Mihail KAJAIA (SRB)
Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE)
Metehan BASAR (TUR)
Vladlen KOZLIUK (UKR)

130kg
David OVASAPYAN (ARM)
Sabah SHARIATI (AZE)
Marcel ALBINI (CZE)
Eerik PANK (EST)
Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN)
Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO)
Jello KRAHMER (GER)
Dariusz VITEK (HUN)
Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA)
Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU)
Oskar MARVIK (NOR)
Rafal KRAJEWSKI (POL)
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU)
Boris PETRUSIC (SRB)
Delian ALISHAHI (SUI)
Riza KAYAALP (TUR)
Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR)

Mariya STADNIK (AZE) is eyeing her 10th European title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Mariya STADNIK (AZE)
Miglena SELISHKA (BUL)
Aintzane GORRIA GONI (ESP)
Julie SABATIE (FRA)
Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN)
Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA)
Gabija DILYTE (LTU)
Veronika RYABOVOLOVA (MKD)
Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
Emilia VUC (ROU)
Svenja JUNGO (SUI)
Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR)
Oksana LIVACH (UKR)

53kg
Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE)
Marina RUEDA FLORES (ESP)
Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)
Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)
Stalvira ORSHUSH (HUN)
Vestina DANISEVICIUTE (LTU)
Iulia LEORDA (MDA)
Marija SPIRKOVSKA (MKD)
Roksana ZASINA (POL)
Marija IGNJATOVIC (SRB)
Jonna MALMGREN (SWE)
Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR)

55kg
Ilona DYDIAK SEMKIV (AZE)
Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA)
Annika WENDLE (GER)
Erika BOGNAR (HUN)
Laura STANELYTE (LTU)
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)
Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)
Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU)
Bediha GUN (TUR)
Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)

57kg
Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)
Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)
Lana NOGIC (CRO)
Graciela SANCHEZ (ESP)
Jenna HEMIAE (FIN)
Mathilde RIVIERE (FRA)
Elena BRUGGER (GER)
Anna SZEL (HUN)
Jowita WRZESIEN (POL)
Evelina HULTHEN (SWE)
Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)
Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR)

59kg
Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
Kelsey BARNES (GBR)
Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
Nikolett SZABO (HUN)
Morena DE VITA (ITA)
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)
Othelie HOEIE (NOR)
Anhelina LYSAK (POL)
JOVANA RADIVOJEVIC (SRB)
Eda TEKIN (TUR)
Yuliia TKACH (UKR)

62kg
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL)
Lydia PEREZ TOURINO (ESP)
Viktoria VESSO (EST)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)
Elena ESPOSITO (ITA)
Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA)
Grace BULLEN (NOR)
Magdalena GLODEK (POL)
Amina CAPEZAN (ROU)
Sara LINDBORG (SWE)
Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR)
Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR)

65kg
Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE)
Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL)
Iva GERIC (CRO)
Nerea PAMPIN BLANCO (ESP)
Kendra DACHER (FRA)
Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT)
Natalia KUBATY (POL)
Kriszta INCZE (ROU)
Masa PEROVIC (SRB)
Busra EFE (TUR)
Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)

68kg
Albina DRAZHI (ALB)
Nigar MIRZAZADA (AZE)
Yuliana YANEVA (BUL)
Gia KASTELAN (CRO)
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Koumba LARROQUE (FRA)
Eyleen SEWINA (GER)
Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)
Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU)
Irina RINGACI (MDA)
Natalia STRZALKA (POL)
Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK)
Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE)
Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Alla BELINSKA (UKR)

72kg
Sofiya GEORGIEVA (BUL)
Milla ANDELIC (CRO)
Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA)
Lilly SCHNEIDER (GER)
Ilana KRATYSH (ISR)
Dalma CANEVA (ITA)
Patrycja SPERKA (POL)
Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)
Emilija JAKOVLJEVIC (SRB)
Buse TOSUN (TUR)
Liudmyla PAVLOVETS TYCHYNA (UKR)

76kg
Martina KUENZ (AUT)
Marta BESEK (CRO)
Epp MAE (EST)
Cynthia VESCAN (FRA)
Francy RAEDELT (GER)
Christina PAPADOPOULOU (GRE)
Enrica RINALDI (ITA)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Marion BYE (NOR)
Catalina AXENTE (ROU)
Fanni NAGY NAD (SRB)
Yasemin ADAR (TUR)
Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR)

#WrestleHangzhou

Makhmudov, Sharshenbekov continue Kyrgyzstan's meteoric rise with Asian Games golds

Wednesday, October 4, 2023 - 17:56 By Vinay Siwach

LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 4) -- At the 2018 Asian Games, Kyrgyzstan was expected to open its gold medal account from wrestling. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), the then Asian champion, was the hero of the wrestling-mad nation and in the 77kg final. However, he fell to Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) in the 77kg final.

At the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Wednesday, Makhmudov did not disappoint. Although it was not Kyrgyzstan's first gold medal of the game, world champs Makhmudov and Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) ended the nation's long wait for a second gold medal in this edition of the Asian Games in which it won the first gold on September 24.

Both the Kyrgyzstan superstars were in action Wednesday in Lin'an Sports and Culture Exhibition Center in Hangzhou, China as wrestling got underway at the 19th Asian Games with four Greco-Roman weights.

Apart from Makhmudov and Sharshenbekov, Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) captured the remaining two gold medals. Berdimuratov's gold was Uzbekistan's fourth in the history of Asian Games history.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) defeated Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) in the 77kg final to win the gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

Wrestling against an Iranian wrestler in the final again, Makhmudov took a cautious approach and controlled the bout for six minutes against Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI).

The two-time world champion from Kyrgyzstan, who won his second world title just 10 days ago in Belgrade, struggled with some fatigue and discomfort in his knee during the day. But he managed to navigate his quarterfinal against Sophak KEO (CAM) with a fall and defeated Azat SADYKOV (KAZ) 9-0 in the semifinal.

Kaviyaninejad took out former Asian Games champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) in his opening bout before winning his quarterfinal against Dilshod OMONGELDIYEV (UZB). A tough semifinal against Rui LIU (CHN) saw him hang on to a 1-1 win.

In the final Makhmudov, like the World Championships, did not try any flamboyant actions and was happy to give up par terre in the first period. Kaviyaninejad failed to turn his Kyrgyz opponent. When Makhmudov got the par terre advantage and the 1-1 criteria lead, Kaviyaninejad managed to defend as well.

Makhmudov defended his 1-1 criteria lead as the clock expired and he won his first-ever Asian Games gold medal. He had won the World Championships final with a 1-1 scoreline as well.

As usual, Makhmudov did not celebrate his gold medal beyond acknowledging the few Kyrgyzstan fans in the crowd. He would later say that he is not feeling any joy.

“Honestly, I have no emotions now,” Makhmudov said. “The only thing I really want is the gold medal in Paris. For now, I don't feel any happiness.”

Makhmudov suffered a 2-1 loss in the Tokyo Olympics final, finishing with a silver medal and falling short of becoming Kyrgyzstan's first-ever Olympic champion in any sport. Yet, Kyrgyzstan fell in love with the shark-singlet-wearing wrestler. Having already won the 2024 Paris Olympic quota for Kyrgyzstan, and being the first choice to go, Makhmudov is in no mood to finish second this time.

“I think I will do my best [till Paris],” he said. “We will discuss with the coaches and I will do ten out of ten.”

The 24-year-old also played down his knee injury, saying that the pain has reduced, but did express the difficulties of wrestling at two big events in two weeks.

“Definitely it was very difficult [to wrestle back-to-back events],” he said. “The hardest part was the weight cut and after the World Championships, it was difficult for me to recover.”

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), red, pins Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) in the 60kg final. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

Sharshenbekov expressed similar views but that was after he also won the gold medal like Makhmudov which was perhaps the reason for the 60kg world champion struggling in his opening bout against Aslamjon AZIZOV (TJK). He gave up five points to the Tajik but won 8-5. He then moved past Asian silver medalist Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) 9-0 in a rematch of this year's Asian Championships final.

Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) was pinned by Sharshenbekov, 10 days after winning 9-0 in the World Championships quarterfinals.

From the other side of the bracket, Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) made it to the final with wins over Thanwa SUTDI (THA), Seung RI (PRK) and Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ).

Both came out flying and Sharshenbekov got the first big lift. He failed to make the most of it but scored two points. Suzuki landed on Sharsenbekov's chest to earn two points as well. He then showed intent and launched a four-pointer to lead 6-2.

Sharshenbekov replied with an underhook and held Suzuki's back to the mat, securing the fall. Suzuki challenged for a leg four but it was declared clean. The pin ended the bout in two minutes and 34 seconds.

“I the Japanese wrestler is very strong but he is a very comfortable opponent for me,” Sharshenbekov said.

Incidentally, Sharshenbekov defeated Olympic silver medalist Kenichito FUMITA (JPN) in the World Championships final in Belgrade after an equally stunning first period.

The turnaround from the World Championships to the Asian Games was a challenge for Sharshenbekov but he said he was prepared to win.

“I cut around eight kilograms for each competition,” Sharshenbekov said. “Every sport has its own difficulties and wrestling also. The process of cutting weight was incredibly challenging. However, right after the World Championships, I shifted my focus to the Asian Games. Despite all the hardships, I'm thrilled to have won the gold medal here. This is not the end of my journey. With God's guidance, I am planning to prepare for the Olympics and aim to bring home the gold medal for Kyrgyzstan."

Wrestling Fumita and Suzuki in the space of 10 days did break different sets of challenges for Sharshenbekov who said that he was up for both the Japanese wrestlers.

"Fumita is a great athlete who consistently ranks in the top five of the world," he said. "He is an exceptionally strong wrestler, which is why our coaches devised an effective strategy. I believe we showed good wrestling. Suzuki is also a talented wrestler. The match against him was far from easy, particularly considering that I had just competed in the World Championships."

Suzuki reflected on the final saying that he needs to work on the areas which made his lose even after leading 6-2.

“At the end, I made a misjudgment,” he said. “I knew the opponent [Sharshenbekov] is good in attacking from the side and I did well till 6-2. But I let him close the gap and win.”

Katsuaki ENDO (JPN), second from left, won the 67kg gold medal for Japan. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

His Japan teammate Endo made sure he didn't slip up in the 67kg final, winning 4-3 against Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ).

“Since I was chosen for these Games, I was going to win,” Endo said. “To be honest, when I saw the draw, I thought I could win this.”

And the former U23 world champion began his confident run with a 9-0 win over Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK) in the opening bout, won 5-1 against Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) in the quarterfinals and defeated Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB), 6-1, to reach the final against Shermakhanbet who was on song as well, marking his return to a major competition in more than one year with a silver medal.

After opening with a 10-0 win over Nuttapong HINMEE (THA), Shermakhanbet was involved in a thriller against home favorite Lei LI (CHN). Taking a 10-7 lead with two four-point throws, Shermakhanbet gave up a stepout and Li scored a takedown to lead 10-10 on criteria but Kazakhstan challenged the call and it was called a slip and the score was reversed to 10-8 which gave Kazakhstan the win.

If that close bout was not enough, Shermakhanbet pinned Danial SOHRABI (IRI) after trailing 9-2 in the semifinals. While Sohrabi was trying to defend a turn from par terre by standing up, Shermakhanbet locked Sohrabi's right hand and strangled him for space, putting the Iranian back on the mat for the pin.

However, there was no such comeback in the final against Endo after trailing 4-1. Endo scored a correct throw from par terre to lead 3-0. Japan challenged, asking for four points but lost, giving one point to Shermakhanbet.

In the second period, Endo gave up a stepout and passivity point but still held a 4-3 lead, the final score of the gold-medal bout.

“I trained with very strong opponents in my club back home, I didn't feel he [Shermakhanbet] has the same power,” Endo said about the Kazakhstan wrestler.

Endo's immediate goal is to win the Emperor's Cup in December which will give him the opportunity to wrestle at the Asian Olympic Qualifier in April 2024 in Bishkek and earn a 2024 Paris Olympic quota for Japan at 67kg.

Shermakhanbet will also look to secure the Olympic quota for Kazakhstan but like Endo, he will have to win the right to compete in Bishkek.

"I only returned to the training process three months ago," Shermakhanbet said. "It is indeed very challenging to compete after a long pause. I need more time to get back in shape. At the beginning of the next year, we have our national championships, and we'll see how that goes."

Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), blue, throws Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) during the 87kg final. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

The first day of wrestling closed out as Berdimuratov avenged his 2022 Asian Championships loss to Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) with a 7-4 win. Berdimuratov led 7-0 at the break, thanks to penalty points against Alizadeh but gave up four including caution points. But he held on to win his first Asian Games gold and the fourth for Uzbekistan in Greco-Roman Asian Games history.

The gold has also kept Uzbekistan in the top five of the overall medals tally in Hangzhou as it has 16 gold medals on Wednesday.

Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), second from left, along with the other medalist in 87kg, Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), left, Masato SUMI (JPN), right, and Sunil KUMAR, second from right. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

60kg
GOLD: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Ayata SUZUKI (JPN), via fall (7-6)

BRONZE: Se ung RI (PRK) df. Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), 2-1
BRONZE: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 5-4

67kg
GOLD: Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) df. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), 4-3

BRONZE: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB), 1-1
BRONZE: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) df. Lei LI (CHN), 3-2

77kg
GOLD: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI), 1-1

BRONZE: Rui LIU (CHN) df. Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), 5-3
BRONZE: Azat SADYKOV (KAZ) df. SOPHAK KEO (CAM), via inj. def.

87kg
GOLD: Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) df. Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), 7-4

BRONZE: Masato SUMI (JPN) df. Maksat SAILAU (KAZ), 9-1
BRONZE: Sunil KUMAR df. A. AZISBEKOV (KGZ), 2-1

European Championships entry list

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Makhmudov, Sharshenbekov continue Kyrgyzstan's meteoric rise with Asian Games golds