Fujinami earns shot at world title repeat with 100th straight win

Saturday, June 18, 2022 - 14:47 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO, Japan (June 18) -- Not that she cares about it, but Akari FUJINAMI extended her winning streak dating back to her junior high school days to a nice round 100 in a row on Saturday. Far more important to the super teen was that with the milestone win, she clinched a chance to defend her world 53kg title.

Fujinami hit the century mark in consecutive wins with a 4-0 victory over former world champion Haruna OKUNO in the 53kg final at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships, Japan's second and final domestic qualifier for this year's World Championships.

The 18-year-old, who went into the tournament at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym with 97 straight wins, posted a fall and a technical fall before scoring a takedown in each period to defeat an understandably cautious Okuno for the third time in three career meetings.

"Many in the media talk about it, but for me, the winning streak is all in the past," said Fujinami, to whom a photographer gave a "100"-shaped balloon for a cheesy memorial shot that the Japanese press ate up. "I'm only concerned with myself in the present. From here, there will be more wins, but when I get on the mat, it will have nothing to do with extending the winning streak. I just accept that it's in the past and I only focus on winning.

Fujinami's victory, paired with her title-winning run at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships last December, secured her spot on Japan's team for the World Championships to be held in September in Belgrade, Serbia.

Winners of both national tournaments automatically make the team to Belgrade; in weight classes where the champions are different, a playoff is held at end of the day's action. On Saturday, four playoffs were held, including two involving reigning world champions -- Masako FURUICHI made it, while Ken MATSUI didn't.

Furuichi will get a chance to defend her world title at 72kg after posting two wins over Emperor's Cup champion Sumire NIIKURA, while Matsui, the Greco 55kg gold medalist a year ago in Oslo, lost out in the playoff to two-time Asian champion Yu SHIOTANI after beating him in the Meiji Cup final.

Akari FUJINAMI controls Haruna OKUNO during the women's 53kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Fujinami has not lost since being beaten in the 44kg final at the national junior high school championships in June 2017 (for trivia buffs, her conqueror was Umi ITO). The 100 wins have come over a span of 24 tournaments, including the last three since she started her freshman year in April at Nippon Sports Science University. She has only given up a total of four points since 2020.

As NSSU, which is locally referred to as Nittaidai, she is under the mentorship of four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO as well as her father, who was her coach as a kid and in high school. He took an assistant coaching job at the university in Tokyo, where the two live in an apartment near campus.

"This was my second [national] tournament since entering Nittaidai and many coaches have been teaching me new techniques, and I thought this was a tournament where I could try using them," said Fujinami, who won the gold at the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar in April.

"There are some that I tried and others that still have a way to go. I want to reflect on that and
use it my advantage in the next competition."

Asked what she has been addressing, Fujinami said that instead of her former turbo-charged style of tackling, she wants to take it to new level by working on set-ups, tying up and other aspects that will facilitate scoring.

Despite her amazing success at such a young age, Fujinami knows that it also puts a target on her back, with others looking for any weakness. She has to widen her repertoire to keep the opposition off balance.

"It's only natural that [others] will be studying me," Fujinami said. "That's why in college I've been working on tying up and other aspects beyond actual tackling to brush up ways to lead to points. Being studied is par for the course."

In the final, it was clear that Okuno had done her homework after previously losing to Fujinami by fall and 11-2. Okuno maintained a tight guard, but Fujinami broke through with a neat ankle pick in the first period, then shrugged off a headlock counter for a second takedown in the second period.

The only thing missing in Fujinami's latest performance was the antagonist that everyone wants to see her face, Mayu SHIDOCHI (formerly MUKAIDA), the Olympic champion at 53kg who is entered at 55kg in her first tournament since the Tokyo Games.

"I would be lying if I said she's not on my mind," Fujinami said. "She's the Olympic champion in the same weight class. So I'm thinking about her, and I want to beat her."

Their long-awaited clash will likely come at this year's Emperor's Cup in December, which will be the first qualifier for next year's World Championships, which in turn is the first qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics. That's what makes it so vitally important.

"Looking ahead, the tournaments leading up to the Paris Olympics are about to get going, but I first want to win a second straight title at the World Championships. This year, I'm sure there will be a higher level of opponents, but I want to repeat as champion and get momentum going for the Paris Olympics."

Okuno, who advanced to the final by beating 2020 world 55kg silver medalist Nanami IRIE 4-1, is one of only two wrestlers on the planet (Furuichi is the other) who have completed the world championship Grand Slam with titles at the U17, U20, U23 and senior levels. But her path back to the world stage has been solidly blocked by the emergence of Fujinami.

Had the 23-year-old Okuno moved up to 55kg, the weight class in which she won the first of her two world titles in 2017 and 2018, it's not a sure thing that she would have been any more successful. Okuno has an 0-8 career record against her former Shigakkan University teammate Shidochi.

Masako FURUICHI (blue) scores a last-second takedown in the women's 72kg final to defeat Sumire NIIKURA and set up a world team playoff between the two. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Furuichi in, Matsui out

At 72kg, Furuichi needed the playoff to return to the World Championships because she failed to win at the Emperor's Cup after dropping down to 68kg. In her absence, the unheralded Niikura won the 72kg title, which she followed up with a silver medal at the Asian Championships in her first-ever overseas competition.

Furuichi cut it razor-thin in the Meiji Cup final, scrapping to score a decisive takedown in the dying seconds of an 9-6 victory. The playoff was a staid affair, with Furuichi receiving activity points in both periods for a 2-0 win.

In the final, Niikura was leading 6-6 on criteria when Furuichi made a desperate lunge for a takedown. Niikura clamped down from above, but as the seconds ticked off, Furuichi drove ahead and managed to gain control at the buzzer for 2. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

"If I didn't win in the final, I wouldn't get into the playoff," said Furuichi, who won her second straight Meiji Cup title and third overall. "I was losing and whether I scored points or not, that was my last chance. I gave it all I had and I was happy to come out with the win and get into the playoff."

Yu SHIOTANI works to lift Ken MATSUI during their world team playoff at Greco 55kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

At Greco 55kg, both clashes between Shiotani and Matsui were on a level that could have been the final of a World Championships, with the equally matched collegians each giving their all for the full six minutes in a whirl of action.

Matsui took the opener 6-1 for his second straight Meiji Cup title, but Shiotani came back with a 6-3 win in the playoff. Both are known for the big throws, but both matches hinged on how their actions from the bottom position.

"I really feel like the playoff saved me," Shiotani said. "I should have won in the first place, but I lost. Still I was in the situation where I still had the playoff, and to post a solid victory in that was really good."

Matsui, coming off his gold-medal run in Oslo that made him Japan's youngest-ever Greco world champion, was out for revenge after suffering a humiliating 11-0 loss in the Emperor's Cup final to Shiotani that included two 5-point throws.

And he got it in the Meiji Cup final, reversing Shiotani to his back when he attempted his patented reverse body lift and adding a 2-point exposure for a 6-1 win.

"My opponent came up with a strategy to not fall for the same move," Shiotani said. "I didn't think it would go like last time."

But Matsui wasn't able to repeat that performance in the playoff. Trying to squirm out of the bottom of par terre in the first period, he got hit with 2-point penalty for grabbing below the waist. In the second period with Matsui on top, Shiotani did the reversing to take a 4-1 lead. Matsui cut the gap with a takedown, but gave one back in the final seconds off a desperation
attempt.

"Anyway, I knew it was important to attack from the start in the playoff," Shiotani said. "In the final, I gave up points first. In the end, I didn't get points with my techniques, but to me, it was
worse to give up points first."

Not surprisingly, the win over the reigning world champ gives Shiotani confirms his belief that he can achieve the same feat.

"When I won the Emperor's Cup, I thought there is a chance I could become a world champion," Shiotani said. "At that point, I had only faced Asian opponents, I never faced European opponents. I didn't know how I would do. But Matsui had won thoroughly, so I thought I can win as well."

Taishi NARIKUNI battles Kota TAKAHASHI in the world team playoff at freestyle 70kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

In other playoffs for world team spots, Asian champion Taishi NARIKUNI avenged a loss to teenager Kota TAKAHASHI in the Meiji Cup semifinal, beating the NSSU freshman by fall in the wrestle-off to secure the place at freestyle 70kg.

Narikuni, the Emperor's Cup champion, gave up an early takedown to Takahashi, but clamped down on a front headlock, spun to the side and secured a cradle, which he used to turn his opponent over for a fall in 1:22.

Earlier, Takahashi had a 4-point takedown in beating Narikuni 7-1 in the semifinals, then won the title with a 3-1 victory over NSSU teammate Keitaro ONO.

"He's so strong, I can't believe he's only 18," said Narikuni, who likes to hit the weight room himself. "He'll be a world champion some day."

Takahashi came just short of joining older brother Yudai, who won the 79kg title on the opening day, on the team to Belgrade.

Narikuni will get his first shot at the world title he has been chasing his entire life. His mother was a two-time world champion, and also the coach of the kids club where he started the sport.

"I really hate being compared to my mother, I have a complex about it," said Narikuni. "More than the Olympics, my aim is for the World Championships," adding that should he win the gold come September, he will try to win his next one in Greco-Roman.

At freestyle 86kg, Emperor's Cup champion Shota SHIRAI defeated Mao OKUI 2-1 in the playoff after losing to him by the same score in the Meiji Cup final. All points in both matches were scored on the activity clock.

Okui won his first Meiji title since 2019, when he triumphed at 74kg. He finished fifth at the World Championships that year to secure the Olympic 74kg berth for Japan but failed to fill it himself when he lost a playoff to Keisuke OTOGURO.

Meanwhile, Sohsuke TAKATANI continued to establish himself as one of the most dominant wrestlers in Japan history, winning the 92kg title for his seventh career Meiji Cup crown dating back to 2013 and spanning four weight classes.

Takatani, who moved up to 92kg in a successful run at the Emperor's Cup, won all three of his matches by fall or technical fall, capped with a comprehesive 10-0 whitewash in 2:36 in the final over very overmatched collegian Hikaru ABE.

Takatani, the world 74kg silver medalist in 2014, will be heading to Belgrade with his younger brother Daichi, the champion at 74kg. After that, he plans to go back down to 86kg in a bid to make a fourth Olympics.

At 97kg, 2021 Asian bronze medalist Takashi ISHIGURO secured his second trip to the World Championships with a 4-0 victory over Hibiki ITO in a repeat of last year's final.

Ishiguro received an activity point and had a stepout in the first period, then added a 2-point counter lift to top NSSU's Ito, who is a rarity in Japanese wrestling in that he stands a towering 1.95 meters in height.

Ito's athletic ability and size could be linked to his Olympic pedigree. His father Hiromichi competed at Greco 74kg at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, while his mother Keiko was a member of the Japan women's volleyball team that won a bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She stands 1.78 meters.

In the other Greco weight class in action, Yuya OKAJIMA scored all of his points in the first period and held on for a 6-4 victory over Masao TANAKA in the 82kg final for his second career title.

Okajima, who also made the world team in 2019, had beaten Tanaka by technical fall in the Emperor's Cup final.

Day 3 Results

Freestyle

70kg (10 entries)
Final - Kota TAKAHASHI df. Keitaro ONO, 3-1
3rd Place - Taishi NARIKUNI df. Hiroki AZEGAMI by TF, 12-2, 3:42

World team playoff - Taishi NARIKUNI df. Kota TAKAHASHI by Fall, 1:22 (4-2)

86kg (7 entries)
Final - Mao OKUI df. Shota SHIRAI, 2-1
3rd Place - Tatsuya SHIRAI df. Taisei MATSUYUKI, 2-2

World team playoff - Shota SHIRAI df. Mao OKUI, 2-1

92kg (8 entries)
Final - Sohsuke TAKATANI df. Hikaru ABE by TF, 10-0, 2:36
3rd Place - Satoshi MIURA df. Ryoichi YAMANAKA, 7-1

97kg (6 entries)
Final - Takashi ISHIGURO df. Hibiki ITO, 4-0
3rd Place - Taira SONODA df. Keisuke ITO by TF, 10-0, :41

Greco-Roman

55kg (10 entries)
Final - Ken MATSUI df. Yu SHIOTANI, 6-1
3rd Place - Yasutaka SHIOZAKI df. Taiga ONISHI by TF, 9-1, 5:06

World team playoff - Yu SHIOTANI df. Ken MATSUI, 6-3

82kg (11 entries)
Final - Yuya OKAJIMA df. Masao TANAKA, 6-4
3rd Place - Tatsuya FUJII df. Renta YAMAGUCHI, 8-1

Women's Wrestling

53kg (9 entries)
Final - Akari FUJINAMI df. Haruna OKUNO, 4-0
3rd Place - Nanami IRIE df. Rino KATAOKA, 3-0

72kg (9 entries)
Final - Masako FURUICHI df. Sumire IIKURA, 9-6
3rd Place - Yuka FUJIKURA df. Kyoka MIZUSHIMA, 3-2

World team playoff - Masako FURUICHI df. Sumire IIKURA, 2-0

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships 2026 Preview

Friday, April 3, 2026 - 20:30 By Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 3) -- Soon after Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) became the Olympic champion in 2024, he went missing from the wrestling world. Past injuries and two surgeries kept him out of action for close to two years, skipping the entire 2025 and early 2026 season.

But the Paris Olympic champion at 74kg is returning to action at the Asian Championships in Bishkek, from April 6 to 12 at 79kg, leading a young Uzbekistan team.

"I missed wrestling," Jamalov said. "It was tough watching others win medals while I couldn't. It made me feel more motivated to win."

Jamalov will have a chance to win his first medal at the Asian Championships, which will be his debut continental championships in Asia. At 79kg, Jamalov should not face much trouble but will be checked as he has wrestled only five matches against Asian wrestlers in his career.

The foremost will be Iran's defending Asian champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI), who also won U20 world gold last year. Another challenge will be the weight class itself as Jamalov will be wrestling at his highest weight in his career.

"I have wrestled Asian wrestlers before and I know their style," he said. "I will try to wrestle according to my style and make it challenging for them."

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), red, and Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) during the 70kg final at the 2022 Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Bayrem Ben Mard)

Weight to Watch

The 70kg weight class will be one of the toughest in Bishkek with three world medalists entered along with two returning medalists.

Defending champion and world bronze medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) will lead the challenge against a field that also has world silver medalist Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) and former world and Asian champion Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN).

Returning to the Asian Championships for the first time in four years, Narikuni will also be wrestling 72kg Greco-Roman in a bid to win double titles. In 2022, won Freestyle 70kg gold after beating Akmataliev in a memorable final.

Akmataliev will look to avenge that loss in front of his home fans and also keep the gold medal with himself. He defeated Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) last year but the Tajikistan wrestler is returning with the hopes of upgrading his silver to gold.

U23 world silver medalist and returning bronze medalist Sina KHALILI (IRI) will also be looking for some revenge especially against Rassadin who defeated the Iranian in the opening round last year.

97kg battle

Can Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) return to golden ways or will Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) defend his title? Will Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) come back and sail through the field?

All the questions will be answered in Bishkek as the 97kg battle heats up. World silver medalist Azarpira and world bronze medalists Yoshida and Tazhudinov are among the favorites to win gold. Yoshida is the defending champion but did not wrestle Tazhudinov, who pulled out late from the tournament last year.

Tazhudinov has been off-color for a few tournaments now, losing at the World Championships and later at the Islamic Solidarity Games. Azarpira was the one who handed Tazhudinov the defeat in the semifinals of the World Championships in a very tactical bout. He will be in the race to win gold in Bishkek but a match against Yoshida will be a fan-delight.

Former U20 world champion at 92kg, Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) will also be in the mix but may find the going tough as he is still adjusting to the new weight class.

Zare Leads Iran

Iran is bringing a young team to Bishkek but has world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) lead the pack. He will be the favorite to win the 125kg gold medal despite the presence of Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), perhaps the second-best heavyweight around the world in action.

U20 world and Asian champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) will be making his senior debut at 125kg and will look to at least finish on the podium.

At 86kg, Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) will look to put a disappointing end to last year and start with a gold medal at the Asian Championships, a feat that should not be a hard one to achieve.

Mobin AZIMI (IRI) may face a tougher battle at 92kg with the likes of Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN), Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) and Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) entered in the field. However, Azimi appears to be little ahead in the race to win gold.

Aoyagi Aims 74kg Glory

In the premier weight 74kg, world champion at 70kg Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) will look to add an Asian title to his name. He finished with a bronze medal at 70kg last year. He will face the likes of Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN), Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) and Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), among others in the field.

The 57kg weight remains an open one with returning silver medalist Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) hoping to upgrade his medal. He will be the favorite to be crowned champion. The field also has Zagreb Open bronze medalist Fuga SASAKI (JPN), ANKUSH (IND) and Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ).

Returning bronze medalist Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) and former U23 world silver medalist Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ) are also in the mix to win medals.

Olympic Medalists Collide at 61kg

Paris Olympic bronze medalists Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) and AMAN (IND) are likely to clash at 61kg. Abdullaev, who also won world bronze, has struggled with conditioning in recent times and a bout against Aman will test him. Aman, who won the 61kg gold medal in Zagreb and a former Asian champion at 57kg, will also need to find a way to win a second Asian title.

World silver medalist Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) will challenge them both in the bracket along with former U23 world champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN), who last wrestled when he won gold at the 19th Asian Games in 2023.

Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ), world silver medalist at 57kg, will be at 61kg and wrestling in front of home fans which makes him one of the favorites to win gold.

SUJEET (IND) is unbeaten so far this year, winning golds in Zagreb and Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Will Sujeet Breakthrough?

India's last Asian champion, in a weight class not 57kg, was crowned in 2019 when Bajrang PUNIA (IND) won the 65kg gold in a comeback for ages in Xi'an, China. Now, SUJEET (IND) will look to end that drought and also look to give India an Asian title in three years.

The two gold medals to start the season, in Zagreb and Tirana, put Sujeet in the top position to win gold at 65kg. He will have a familiar foe in Umidjon JALALOV (UZB) in the weight class. When a match between Sujeet and Jalalov has taken place, the Indian has won all four times and the Uzbekistan wrestler will be keen on getting one back to the Indian.

Last year's 61kg Asian champion Takara SUDA (JPN) will be at 65kg in Bishkek and a challenge for Sujeet.

Kaisei TANABE (JPN), Freestyle 65kg champion last year, will try his luck in Greco 63kg this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

GRECO-ROMAN

The Greco-Roman field at the Asian Championships in Bishkek will be highlighted with Olympic and world champions. But a standout story will be that of Kaisei TANABE (JPN). The 65kg Asian champion in Freestyle, is attempting to win the Greco gold at 63kg this year.

Tanabe switching the styles of wrestling was not forced. He tried making the Japan team for both Freestyle and Greco but failed to win the qualifying tournament in the former.

A step ahead of Tanabe is his compatriot Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), a Freestyle world and Asian champion, who is entered in both styles for Bishkek. Narikuni was crowned champion in Freestyle 70kg and Greco 72kg in Japan, making him to first to complete the double in 52 years. He will try to regain his Asian 70kg title and also win gold at Greco 72kg.

A win in Japan at 63kg does make Tanabe a threat but competition in Bishkek will be tough. Erfan JARKANI (IRI), the Zagreb Open champion this year, will be the biggest test for Tanabe as Iran usually brings a style that depends both on strong par terre and conditioning.

Another potential challenger is Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), a former Asian champion in search of another Asian medal since 2021. Despite his lack of form in recent years, Bakhramov brings a tough style.

Narikuni's path at 72kg is similar with Javad REZAEI (IRI), former U23 world silver medalist and Muhamet Malo Ranking Series champion last month, being a favorite to win. Narikuni has an exceptional record in Freestyle but his Greco international debut at the Zagreb World Championships ended in a first-round loss.

Paris Olympic fifth-placer Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) can stop Narikuni in his quest as well. Ismailov will be wrestling in front of his home crowd, giving another advantage. Uzbekistan is going with newbie Shakhzod KUCHKOROV (UZB), who won the bronze medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series.

Olympic and world champion Hadi SARAVI (IRI) will aim to defend his Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran's Champions

Iran still remains the team to beat in Asia and once again the country is bringing a solid squad. Olympic champion Hadi SARAVI (IRI) leads at 97kg along with world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) at 130kg.

Saravi seems to be a notch above the field right now and should have no trouble winning gold. Mirzazadeh too has an upper hand at the highest weight class and will be a clear favorite to win.

Former U20 world champion and Zagreb Open silver medalist Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) has moved up to 97kg with his debut coming in Zagreb. Last year's silver medalist Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) and bronze medalist NITESH (IND) are expected to repeat as medalists.

The breakout star of 2025 Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) will take on the 87kg field. He became the world champion at 82kg in Zagreb, then moved up to 87kg and won the U23 world title a month later.

He starts as the favorite at 87kg but experienced wrestler Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) and world bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) can make his path trickier.

Alisher GANIEV (UZB) will carry Uzbekistan's hopes for the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Uzbekistan with Hopes

This may be the best chance for the ever-improving Uzbekistan team to clear Iran at the Asian level. Despite missing its star Aytjan KHALMANOV (UZB), Uzbekistan is still bringing a good team to Bishkek.

World silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) has a chance to win his first Asian title at 60kg. He lost four of the five finals last year but with lessons from World Championships, in which he put himself under undue pressure, Ganiev is a strong favorite.

Olympic bronze medalist and defending champion Se Ung RI (PRK) will be one of the opponents he needs to get past. Ri has proven to be an extremely strong wrestler, winning bronze at the Asian Games and Paris.

Former U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) will try to establish himself at the senior level, a feat he failed to do at the World Championships. A medal in Bishkek can boost his confidence and make him Iran's first choice at 60kg.

Japan's big-throwing Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) will also hope for a medal. He lost to Ganiev at the Ranking Series in Zagreb but will get a chance to avenge that loss.

Another hopeful for Uzbekistan will be Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), who is now jumping from 77kg to 82kg. Vardanyan won the gold medal last year with a buzzer-beating throw in the final and will hope to use it as motivation.

Former Asian champion and veteran Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) will look to challenge Vardanyan, both being perhaps the most experienced wrestlers in the field.

Then comes Amin HOSSEINI (IRI) who made his international debut in Tirana and won the 82kg gold medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series.

Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) has a good chance to improve on his bronze medal he won last year and claim another historic medal, perhaps gold, for Qatar.

Makhmudov at Home

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) returned to competition at the Islamic Solidarity Games last year and won gold at 77kg. He also wrestled at 82kg in Tirana in February but went home without a medal.

But the Paris bronze medalist returns to the Asian Championships in Bishkek as the favorite at 77kg with fans eager to watch him perform at home.

Last time Makhmudov wrestled in Bishkek, he lost to Nao KUSAKA (JPN) at 77kg but with Kusaka not in the field, Makhmudov should find it smooth sailing to gold.

Iran is betting on Zagreb Open Ranking Series winner Ali OSKOU (IRI). His run in Zagreb was impressive and he will be confident going into the Asian Championships of winning a gold medal.

Chung's Chance

After bringing a long-awaited medal at the World Championships for Korea in Zagreb, Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) can win more silverware for Korea. Chung won silver in Zagreb at 63kg but is moving up to the Olympic weight class of 67kg for the Asian Championships.

Former U20 world champion Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) will be a tough opponent along with returning silver medalist Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ). The change in weight class may hurt Chung's chances rather than improving them.

Others at this weight class include Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN), a world bronze medalist from 2022, U23 Asian champion Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ) and returning bronze medalist Man Gwang SON (PRK).

At 55kg, Zagreb Open finalists Mohammad HOSSEINVAND (IRI) and Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) are likely to reach the final in Bishkek as well. Botirov lost the final in Zagreb to Hosseinvand but will look to avenge that loss if the two meet in Bishkek.

Sara NATAMI (JPN) will look to defend her 57kg Asian title in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

WOMEN'S WRESTLING

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) pulled out of the Asian Championships after an injury. Despite her absence, the favorite at 57kg is still a Japanese, Fujinami's replacement Sara NATAMI (JPN).

The depth of the Japanese team will be on display once again at the Asian Championships as the country looks to dominate. Apart from Natami being the favorite to win as defending champion, world champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), former world and Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN), who is returning to competition for the first time since Paris Olympics, and two former world champions Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) and Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) are also in the squad.

For Natami to defend her title and win her third Asian gold she will have to go past Olympic bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) in her field. Natami had pinned Hong last year on her way to the gold.

Asian champion at 62kg MANISHA (IND) made a drastic step to drop to 57kg and she began the season with gold at the Zagreb Open. Asian Championships, however, will be a different test.

Big-throwing and Sri Lanka's history-maker Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI), former world 53kg silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) and former Asian silver medalist Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) will have a chance to put themselves on the podium.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) will return to the mat for the first since the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki 2.0

Susaki's return will be at 50kg as she prepares for another Olympic cycle after suffering a shock and first international loss at the 2024 Paris Games. The Asian Championships should be a good test for Susaki, who incidentally wrestled her last Asian Championships in Bishkek in 2024 in which she won gold. Susaki will face some familiar foes at the weight class including fellow Paris Olympic bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN).

The Chinese star almost pinned Susaki in the final of the Asian Championships in 2024 before the Japanese managed to comeback and win the gold medal. Feng would look to finally get a win over her.

Son Hyang KIM (PRK), who has wrestled Susaki three times, will look to get one back against the three-time world champion. The two first met at the 2017 Asian Championships and Susaki blanked her en route toher first Asian gold as an 18-year-old.

Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), who has four bronze medals to her name, will have her eyes on reaching the final this time. NEELAM (IND), a returning bronze medalist, can be among the medalists.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) is a two-time Asian champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Morikawa Eyes Hat-Trick

Morikawa has a perfect record at Asian Championships, winning two golds in as many attempts. But Bishkek will be different as those came at 65kg.

Now at 68kg, it presents a tougher challenge with Olympic silver medalist and home favorite Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) as the biggest one. Zhumanazarova has previously shown her mettle on quite a few occasions and with the home fans behind her, Zhumanazarova can upset Morikawa.

Defending champion Zelu LI (CHN) will be another strong contender. Li won bronze at the World Championships at 72kg but is now back to 68kg

Former world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) and young star Mansi LATHER (IND), a 72kg silver medalist at Zagreb Open, also have a chance to stand on the podium.

Ozaki Back at 62kg

After a whirlwind journey from 62kg to 65kg and then to 68kg which saw her win the world title and Olympic bronze, Ozaki is back to 62kg. She won gold at the Zagreb Open and now starts as the favorite for the Asian Championships.

She would also hope to avenge a loss. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Ozaki was leading the final against Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) when the latter used an arm-throw to clinch a 6-6 criteria win. Mun will be in Bishkek, giving an opportunity to Ozaki to avenge that loss.

Two former world champions are also in the fray -- Qi ZHANG (CHN) and Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL). Both will be in line for medals if not the gold along with world bronze medalist Nigina SABIROVA (UZB).

At 53kg, Kiyooka will hope to regain the Asian title she lost last year. In a one-sided final, Hyo Gyong CHOE (PRK) defeated her 12-1 at 53kg. With Choe not in the field, Kiyooka will be keen to win the gold medal.

She will still have to deal with former U20 world champion and senior silver medalist Jin ZHANG (CHN) and MEENAKSHI (IND) among others.

Japan will also hope that two youngsters can win gold medals in Bishkek.

Zagreb Open champion Nana IKEHATA (JPN) at 65kg and Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) have a great chance to add to Japan's gold tally. While Ikehata doesn't have a deep field at 65kg, world fifth-placer Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) will have to face returning silver medalist Yuxuan LI (CHN) at 55kg. Li remains the favorite to win the title, despite not wrestling internationally since.

U23 world champion Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) is also in the mix as she wrestles in her first senior level continental event.

Home Star Medet Kyzy

Kyrgyzstan will witness world silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) wrestling at home when she steps on the mat to defend her 76kg title. Medet Kyzy is a huge favorite to win gold, unless U20 world champion KAJAL (IND) can spring a surprise.

Another young star India can bet on is NEHA (IND) at 59kg. In an impressive performance, she managed to win silver at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in February.

But navigating a bracket with Asian Championships debutant Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), winner at the Zagreb Open, and returning bronze medalist Mengyu XIE (CHN) will be tough for Neha. Xie will also like to change the color of her medal and given the depth (or lack of it) at 59kg, she can certainly hope for gold.

Stars Merge at 72kg

A few stars have merged at 72kg. The weight class has former 65kg world champion Jia LONG (CHN), world silver medalist and Asian champion Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), world bronze medalist Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), former Asian champion Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) and former silver medalist HARSHITA (IND), who defeated Bakbergenova last year in Budapest.

Long won bronze at 68kg at the World Championships but is looking for an Asian title at 72kg. But going through Bakbergenova, a legend at 72kg, will be difficult. U23 world champion Nurtaeva is searching for her first Asian medal and wrestling at home may well be the motivation she needs.

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