Greco-Roman Rankings

Greco-Roman Rankings: Fumita, Borrero, Kayaalp Secure Top Billing for Olympic Games

Thursday, April 2, 2020 - 12:15 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 2) – Reigning world champions Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), Ismael BORRERO (CUB) and Riza KAYAALP (TUR) constructed insurmountable leads (greater than 18 points) over the rest of the field in their respective weight classes and assured themselves the top seed at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.

In addition to Fumita, Borrero and Kayaalp, reigning world champs Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) and Musa EVLOEV (RUS) are also ranked first in one of the six Olympic weight categories. 

Nur-Sultan silver medalist Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) is the lone non-returning world champion who is ranked first at an Olympic weight. He won his sixth Ranking Series title and a silver medal at the European Championships and earned the top billing at 87kg.

In the four non-Olympic weight classes, Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), Shinobu OTA (JPN), Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) and Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) sit in the No. 1 spot heading into the final Ranking Series event.

Fumita Locks up Top-Seed at 60kg 
Kenichiro Fumita compiled a commanding 38-point lead over Sergey EMELIN (RUS) and locked up the top seed for the Olympic Games at 60kg. 

Fumita, who is looking to become the first Japanese Greco-Roman wrestler to win Olympic gold since 1984, led Emelin by 20 points after he scored the 10-5 win over the Russian in 60kg world finals. The two-time world champion extended his lead to 38 points after he claimed the Asian title in New Delhi. He beat No.15 Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) in New Delhi and assured himself the top seed for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.

“It’s an honor,” Fumita said of the top seed. “It’s a rare thing, as there has hardly been any Japanese No. 1 going into the Olympics. For me, with No. 1 seed comes responsibility, but I will work hard to be worthy of it.”

Emelin sat out of the European Championships in Rome, which allowed the Turkish youngster Kerem KAMAL (TUR) to move within 12 points of the second-ranking.

Kamal began the year ranked 15th after his 21st place at the World Championships. He finished in fifth at the Matteo Pellicone, then captured a silver medal at the European Championships and leaped 12 spots to No.3 in the latest rankings. He’s tied with Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) with 28 points but holds criteria over the Uzbek wrestler because Bakhramov competed up at 63kg at the World Championships.

The top-20 wrestlers at 60kg all have at least 14 Ranking Series points, which means an 18-point Ranking Series gold medal could potentially catapult them into the top-four of the rankings. 

Top-Ten at 60kg
1. Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) - 78
2. Sergey EMELIN (RUS) - 40
3. Kerem KAMAL (TUR) - 28 
4. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) - 28
5. Ali Reza Ayat Ollah NEJATI (IRI) - 25
6. Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ) - 25  
7. Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) - 20
8. Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) - 20
9. Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM) - 20  
10. Ivo Serafimov ANGELOV (BUL) - 18 

Borrero Blows Open Top Seed Race at 67kg
Defending Olympic champion Ismael Borrero blew the top off the race to the top seed and will begin his quest to win back-to-back gold medals perched atop the 67kg bracket at the Olympic Games.

The two-time world champion came into the season with a 20-point lead over Artem SURKOV (RUS). He added 20 points to his previous total with his gold-medal performance at the Pan-American Championships. 

Borrero has 80 points and owns the staggering 40-point lead over Surkov. 

Surkov sat out of the European Championships and is in jeopardy of losing his second seed. He has a slight one and two-point advantage over Mate NEMES (SRB) and Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY), respectively.  

Nemes, a world bronze medalist, started the year ranked fourth. He rose to No.3 with a seventh-place finish at the European Championships, which was worth 14-points. Nemes is one point ahead of Egypt’s Nur-Sultan fifth-place finisher, El Sayed. 

Although it was only one spot, El Sayed made the critical leap from fifth to fourth and is in prime position to earn a seed at the Olympic Games. But he's only 16 points ahead of the tenth-ranked wrestler, which means there are still at least six guys who can catch him. 

Two of those guys who are looking to add their name to the seeding consideration are Hansu RYU (KOR) and Frank STAEBLER (GER). The pair who combine for five world titles are both coming off winning continental golds and have their sights on an Olympic seed.

Ryu, a ’17 and ’13 world champion, went 4-0 in New Delhi and captured his third Asian title. He’s ranked fifth and is only two points behind El Sayed.

Staebler, on the other hand, began the year ranked third, but has since dropped to No. 8. The three-time world champion bumped up to 72kg, where he cruised past Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) in the finals and grabbed his second European title. 

After his finals match in Rome, Staebler announced that this was his last time he'd compete at the continental championships. "This was the last European Championships of my career. I am very happy to end the European cycle with a gold medal. The next stop is the Tokyo Olympic Games for an Olympic medal." 

Top-Ten at 67kg
1. Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) - 80 
2. Artem SURKOV (RUS) - 40 
3. Mate NEMES (SRB) - 39
4. Mohamed Ibrahim Elsayed Ibrahi ELSAYED (EGY) 38
5. Hansu RYU (KOR) - 36
6. Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) - 34 
7. Ashu ASHU (IND) - 26
8. Frank STAEBLER (GER) - 25 
9. Morten THORESEN (NOR) - 22 
10. Anthony Javier PALENCIA PUENTES (VEN) - 22

Pair of Hungarians Ranked Inside Top Four at 77kg
The Hungarian duo of Tamas Lorincz and Zotlan LEVAI (HUN) are both ranked inside the top four of the lastest rankings at 77kg. 

But, reigning world champion Lorincz received the nod to represent his nation at the Olympic Games – which will ultimately remove fourth-ranked Levai from top-four seeding contention.

Pavel LIAKH (BLR), who is ranked fifth right now, will receive the one spot bump once Levai departs the rankings. Without Levai, Liakh has the potential to be the fourth-seeded wrestler at 77kg when Tokyo rolls around. 

Top-ranked Lorincz commanded a 20-point lead over Sweden’s Alex KESSIDIS to start the season. But the Hungarian has been absent all season, which allowed his world finals opponent to move to within two points of stealing the No.1 ranking. 

Kessidis, who became Sweden’s first GR world finalist since 2011 (Jimmy LIDBERG), fell to Levai in the opening round of the European Championships. He clawed his way back to a bronze-medal finish, which was worth 18 points. Kessidis moved to within two points of earning the top seed at the Olympic Games. 

Third-ranked Karapet CHALYAN (ARM) scored wins over former world champion Viktor NEMES (SRB) and fifth-ranked Liakh at the European Championships. Although he fell to eventual champion Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), Chalyan still finished with a bronze medal. 

The top 11 athletes at the weight are still within striking distance of Liakh and have a shot at earning an Olympic seed with an 18-point gold-medal finish at the final Ranking Series event. 

Top-Ten at 77kg
1. Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) - 60
2. Alex Michel BJURBERG KESSIDIS (SWE) - 58
3. Karapet CHALYAN (ARM) - 38
4. Zotlan LEVAI (HUN) - 36
5. Pavel LIAKH (BLR) - 26
6. Wuileixis de Jesus RIVAS ESPINOZA (VEN) - 26
7. Mohammadali Abdolhamid GERAEI (IRI) - 25
8. JALGASBAY BERDIMURATOV (UZB) - 25
9. Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) - 22
10. Askhat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ) - 20

Lorincz Moves Past Beleniuk for No. 1 Spot at 87kg
Viktor Lorincz entered the European Championships four points shy of overthrowing reigning world champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) for the No.1 spot at 87kg. Despite losing to Ukrainian youngster Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) in the gold-medal match of the European Championships, Lorincz earned the 18-point silver medal and moved 14-points ahead of Beleniuk.  

Lorincz, who has a perfect 23-0 record in Ranking Series events, only needs to finish top-five at the final Ranking Series event to assure himself the No. 1 seed that he's so desperately chasing. "I want to win the [European Championships and Poland Open] because it will help my seed for the Olympic Games," said Lorincz, the defending world silver medalist at 87kg. “I will also be in the lead for the Ranking Series again.”

Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), a world bronze medalist, is ranked third. He’s 23 points behind second-ranked Beleniuk after finishing in fifth place at the Asian Championships.

Kumar SUNIL (IND) rounds out the top four at 87kg. He started the year ranked 33rd in the world but leaped 29 spots after winning gold at the Asian Championships and silver at the Matteo Pellicone. He sits five points from overthrowing Assakalov for the No. 3 spot. 

Top-Ten at 87kg
1. Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) - 74
2. Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) - 60
3. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) - 37
4. Kumar SUNIL (IND) - 32
5. Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) - 30
6. Azamat KUSTUBAYEV (KAZ) - 28
7. Josef Patrick RAU (USA) - 28
8. Denis Maksymilian KUDLA (GER) - 25
9. Luis Eduardo AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) - 24
10. Mikalai STADUB (BLR) - 20

Evloev and Aleksanyan Tied Atop 97kg Rankings
Musa EVLOEV (RUS) and Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) are tied atop the rankings at 97kg heading into the final Ranking Series event. The two are only separated by the Russian’s criteria-breaking higher finish at the World Championships. 

Evloev secured his second consecutive 97kg world title after Aleksanyan pulled out of the gold-medal match at the World Championships due to an injury. The Russian sat out of the Matteo Pellicone and European Championships, but still owns the No. 1 spot with his 60 points.

Aleksanyan has competed twice this year and won each tournament he's entered. He returned to the mat in early January, where he won gold at the Grand Prix de France HenriDeglane. He made his second appearance of the year at the European Championships, where he earned his fifth European title. 

Aleksanyan forged a rock-solid 7-1 finals victory over tenth-ranked Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) and claimed his fifth career European championship title. 

But Aleksanyan said he isn't worried too much about his rankings. "I am not interested in what number I am in the rankings. The most important is that I got the license for the Olympics. There will be 16 athletes, and I will be one of them wrestling for the Olympic gold."

The Rio Olympic champion had two goals coming into the year, and he checked one of those off with his European championship gold-medal performance. "My first goal was to become a five-time European champion. The Olympics are ahead and I want to become a two-time Olympic champion in Tokyo." 

Turkey’s Rio Olympic bronze medalist Cenk ILDEM is ranked third at the weight. He finished in third place at the World and European Championships and 19 points behind Evloev and Aleksanyan. 

Asian champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) is ranked fourth at 97kg. The Iranian is five points behind Ildem but has less than an 18-point over the next nine wrestlers. 

Top-Ten at 97kg
1. Musa EVLOEV (RUS) - 60
2. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) - 60
3. Cenk ILDEM (TUR) - 41
4. Mohammadhadi Abdollah SARAVI (IRI) - 36
5. Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) - 36
6. Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL) - 32
7. Tracy Gangelo HANCOCK (USA) -32
8. Artur OMAROV (CZE) - 30
9. Gabriel Alejandro ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB) - 30
10. Mélonin NOUMONVI (FRA) - 26

Kayaalp Seals No. 1 Seed at 130kg
Despite failing in his quest to win a tenth European title, Turkey’s Riza Kayaalp amassed a 22-point lead over second-ranked Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) and sealed up the No. 1 seed at 130kg at the Olympic Games. 

Kayaalp downed Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) in the 130kg finals at the World Championships and won his fourth world title belt. Thanks to his winning efforts in Nur-Sultan, the Turkish big man started the year with 60 points. He tacked on 12 points after a disappointing seventh-place finish at the European Championships. But, through it all, Kayaalp somehow constructed a 22-point lead over second-ranked Mohamed and now has the luxury of sitting out of the final Ranking Series event and still keeping his top seed. 

Egypt’s Mohamed made arguably the most significant leap in the rankings since the year started. He went from unranked to No. 2 heading into the final Ranking Series event after winning the Matteo Pellicone and the African Championships. Mohamed is ten points ahead of Pino Hinds, but with the reemergence of the Cuban giant Mijian LOPEZ (CUB), Pino Hinds will be removed from the rankings as Lopez attempts to win an unprecedented fourth Greco-Roman Olympic gold medal. 

Moises Salvador PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN) and Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) will each receive bumps from Pino Hinds’ absence and will be ranked third and fourth, respectively.

Perez Hellburg jumped from 18th to fourth with top-three finishes at the Matteo Pellicone and Pan-American Championships. The Venezuelan fell to second-ranked Mohamed in the finals of the first Ranking Series event, then went 2-1 at the continental championships and finished with a bronze medal. 

Abdullaev will ultimately move into the No. 5 slot once Pino Hinds is removed from the rankings. The Uzbek wrestler started the year ranked fourth and slipped one spot after a bronze-medal finish at the Matteo Pellicone. 

Every wrestler in the top-20 is still within distance of catching Abdullaev for the No. 4 spot. 

Top-Ten at 130kg
1. Riza KAYAALP (TUR) - 72
2. Abdellatif mohamed ahmed MOHAMED (EGY) - 50
3. Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) - 40
4. Moises Salvador PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN) - 28
5. Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) - 26
6. Adam Jacob COON (USA) - 26 
7. Heiki NABI (EST) - 25
8. Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) - 25
9. Eduard POPP (GER) - 20
10. Amir Mohammadali GHASEMIMONJEZI (IRI) - 20

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Yoshida Repeats as Asian Champ as Japan, India Grab 2 Golds

Saturday, April 11, 2026 - 18:46 By Ken Marantz

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 11) – Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) brought further glory to a country with little prior success in the upper weights, while also standing out for his Iranian heritage.

And now he has company in that dynamic combination.

Yoshida successfully defended his 97kg title at the Asian Championships on Saturday, one of two golds captured by Japan on the first night of finals in Freestyle – both by wrestlers born and raised in Japan with Iranian fathers.

WATCH ARASH YOSHIDA (JPN) vs AMIRALI AZARPIRA (IRI) FINAL: CLICK HERE

Yoshida outlasted Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) in a battle of world medalists, notching a second-period takedown for the key score in a 4-0 victory.

“I'm glad I was able to beat an opponent I had been aiming to defeat, and to win the Asian championship,” said Yoshida, who also won the Asian gold at 92kg in 2023.

His victory came a short time after unheralded compatriot Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN) – who also has an Iranian father and Japanese mother – won the 79kg gold in his first major senior tournament.

It was also a big night for India, which claimed golds from SUJEET (IND) at 65kg and ABHIMANYOU (IND) at 70kg, while Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) won the other title at stake with a somewhat distasteful triumph at 57kg.

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), blue, and Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) battle it out in the 97kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

For Yoshida, his facing – and beating – an Iranian in a major international tournament final had long been the dream of his father, who runs the kids wrestling club outside of Tokyo where Arash and his siblings started the sport.

“It's a bit [special],” Yoshida said of beating Azarpira. “It's not so good that my father is so happy about it, but at the same time, I'm glad. I am my own self, and I came here as a Japanese to represent Japan.”

In the final at Bishkek’s Zhastyk Arena, neither wrestler could make inroads early on as Yoshida received an activity point for the lone score of the first period.

In the second period, Azarpira launched an attack, but Yoshida sprawled and started to work his way behind. When Azarpira tried to get to his feet, Yoshida deftly lunged for an ankle and sent the Iranian to the mat for a takedown and a 3-0 lead. A penalty for hands to the face accounted for Yoshida’s final point.

“I wasn’t able to attack much, so I ended up focusing solely on finding a way to win,” Yoshida said. “The match itself wasn’t very interesting. The Iranian was strong, and I thought it would come down to a battle of power. I thought it was good that I kept the pressure on when we tied up.”

As for achieving a golden repeat, Yoshida said, “That wasn't really an issue for me. It’s more to just do each and everything I needed to do as it comes up. When it comes to repeating, it’s like I’m thankful because it’s something that becomes mine.”

At last year’s World Championships in Zagreb, Yoshida took a bronze medal after losing in the semifinals to Kyle SNYDER (USA), who then beat Paris Olympic bronze medalist Azarpira for the gold.

Yoshida can secure a trip to this year’s World Championships with a victory at next month’s Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships, or in a playoff in the unlikely event that he loses. The winner will also earn a ticket to the Asian Games that Japan will host in October.

“The top wrestlers will come up with a strategy against me, so I think the world is going to get tougher for me,” Yoshida said. “I will have to put my whole heart into training.”

Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN)Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN) celebrates after winning the 79kg gold medal at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

As Yoshida continue to establish himself among the world elite, collegian Gharehdaghi took a big first step when he forged out a 2-1 victory over Sandeep MANN (IND) for the 79kg, with activity points accounting for all of the scoring.

Gharehdaghi, a 20-year-old third-year student at Tokyo’s Waseda University, spent the match trying to break through Mann’s defensive shell, while his opponent would not launch a legitimate attack until the final seconds.

It was a far cry from the Gharehdaghi’s action-packed semifinal win over Olympic bronze medalist Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) that suddenly cast him into the spotlight.

“I wanted to be aggressive and do my style of wrestling,” Gharehdaghi said. “But it was a final. The feeling of not wanting to make a mistake comes to the forefront, and there were times I couldn't do the wrestling that I wanted to.

“I''m happy that I won the title, but above that, I wanted it to be more my type of wrestling.”

WATCH: KEYVAN GHREHDAGHI (JPN) BEATS OLYMPIC CHAMPION RAZAMBEK JAMALOV (UZB)

Gharehdaghi’s win ended a run of victories by India in the two previous finals.

“The Indians were really on a roll, starting from 65kg,” Gharehdaghi said. “I wasn't trying to stop the streak. I was just thinking about myself.”

Gharehdaghi said he will eventually move down to 74kg when the Olympic qualifying process begins, and remains unsure at this time what weight class he will enter at the Meiji Cup.

For now, he can bask in the glory of a well-earned triumph without letting it go to his head.

“It gives me confidence, but I am telling myself to not be satisfied with this and to work to get to a higher level,” he said.

SUJEET (IND)SUJEET (IND) claimed the 65kg gold medal in Bishkek after an 8-1 victory over Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

India’s mini gold rush began with Sujeet’s 8-1 win over world bronze medalist Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) at 65kg, which he secured with three second-period takedowns.

Sujeet, the 2025 world u23 champion and winner of two Ranking Series events this year, gained an activity point and stepout to go ahead in the first period. In the second, the run of takedowns started, disturbed only by a stepout by Jalolov and ending with a nice duck under.

“He is a very good competitor,” Sujeet said of Jalolov, “but I want to give my best. I don’t want to consider any opponent weak or strong.”

It was Sujeet’s fourth win in four meetings with Jalalov, most recently in the final at the last year’s World U23 Championships.

Sujeet still has an axe to grind about his disappointing showing at last year’s senior worlds, where he fell in the quarterfinals, then was eliminated in the repechage to finish out of the medals.

“Last year, there were a lot of shortcomings at the World Championships,” Sujeet said. “I was under a lot of pressure. But this year, I have started to improve. There is a difference between this year and last. I am improving day by day.”

ABHIMANYOU (IND)ABHIMANYOU (IND) scores a takedown on Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) in the 70kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Abhimanyou, a bronze medalist in 2024, followed Sujeet’s victory by rallying for a 5-3 victory in the 70kg final over world silver medalist Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL).

“I just wanted to give 100 percent in the final,” said Abhimanyou, who became the first Indian to win an Asian gold in a weight class above 66kg since 2010.

“I focused on a few things in the final. The Mongolian wrestler has a great underhook on his right side. And my defense on my left side is very good so I could cancel him.”

Tumur Ochir scored first when he spun out of a near takedown for a stepout, then received an activity point to take a 2-0 lead at the break.

Abhimanyou started the second period with a double-leg takedown, with an unsuccessful challenge giving the Indian a 4-2 lead. After limiting Tumur Ochir to a stepout despite getting in deep on a single, Abhimanyou gained a stepout with :54 left to cap the scoring.

“I was not worried even when he scored the first two points,” Abhimanyou said. “I could feel that I will catch him for a takedown whenever I want.”

Milad VALIZADEH (IRI)Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) won the 57kg gold, the only champion for Iran on Saturday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 57kg, what started as an exciting match between two dynamos ended with returning silver medalist Valizadeh being booed after completing an easy victory over an injured Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL).

Batkhuyag suffered an apparent rib injury while scoring a stepout midway through the first period that cut Valizadeh’s lead to 4-3. After the restart, Valizadeh shot in for a takedown, at which time Batkhuyag seemed to have was stopped fighting.

But Valizadeh didn’t, and flip-flopped the lifeless Batkhuyag back and forth until he piled up enough points for a 14-3 victory that ended the match at 1:47.

To be fair, the referee never blew the whistle, and Valizadeh was under no obligation to stop. And after the initial boos, the crowd actually applauded when he celebrated his victory with a gymnastics back flip.

Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) returned with a bronze medal at 97kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Tazhudinov takes home 97kg bronze

In the bronze-medal matches, Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) assured he would not leave Bishkek empty-handed, emphatically beating Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ) 14-0 at 97kg.

Tazhudinov, a two-time former gold medalist, jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first period, then poured it on after tackling Urkimbay, turning him over again and again to end the match in 3:53.

In the other 97kg match, Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) scored a defensive takedown and gut wrench combination in the second period that made the difference in a 7-5 win over VICKY (IND) in a match that was otherwise filled mainly with stepouts.

Poyonov, the world U20 champion at 92kg, added the bronze to the silver he won at 92kg in 2024.

At 70kg, local star Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) completed his collection of Asian medals with a vintage performance of his counter wrestling as he won one of three bronze medals claimed by the host nation.

Akmataliev, rebounding from a devastating loss in the semifinals when he was unaware of the score, rode his counters to a 14-7 win over Shuang CHEN (CHN).

The three-time world medalist, pulled away in the second period with a pair of takedowns off counters, adding a counter lift for his final points for good measure to add to the gold he won last year and a silver from 2022.

Even when Chen scored four earlier by somersaulting forward with Akmataliev on his back, Akmataliev managed to fenagle a 2-point exposure.

In the other 70kg match, Sina KHALILI (IRI) took home his second straight bronze with a one-sided 11-0 win over Shakhzodbek YARASHEV (UZB) that included a 4-point takedown in the second period.

Zhakshylyk BAITASHOV (KGZ) followed Akmataliev by taking a bronze at 79kg with a 6-0 win over Somonjon IKROMOV (TJK) for his first major medal.

After opening with a stepout and activity point in the first period, Baitashov padded the lead with a takedown in the second period, then scored another blocking a desperate throw attempt by Ikromov.

Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) received his second straight Asian bronze and third overall when Jamalov forfeited their match.

At 57kg, Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ) also won a bronze without a fight after Sunggwon KIM (KOR) defaulted due to injury. It is the first senior medal for Karachov, the 2024 world U23 silver medalist and Asian U23 champion.

In the other 57kg match, Asian U20 champion ANKUSH (IND) earned his first senior Asian medal when he hit a 4-point hip throw in the second period, leading to an 8-2 victory over Fuga SASAKI (JPN).

Sasaki had gone ahead 2-1 with a takedown to open the second period when Ankush slammed him to the mat. An unsuccessful challenge and a late takedown sewed up the victory for the Indian.

At 65kg, Russian-born Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) survived a wild battle with Asian U23 bronze medalist Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ), gaining an early 4-point takedown and getting 4 during a second period scramble to prevail 10-7.

Kudiev, the 2024 world bronze medalist at 70kg, led 5-2 in the second period when Kakharov tried to secure a cradle as he tried to take Kudiev to the mat. In the ensuing chaos, Kakharov got 2, only for Kudiev to reverse for 2 then add a 2-point exposure.

A late 2-point throw and unsuccessful challenge pulled Kakharov to within two points, but Kudiev sewed up the win with a stepout.

In the other 65kg match, Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) was leading 1-1 on criteria when he secured a second-period takedown for a 3-1 victory over Zeneemeder BYAMBASUREN (MGL).

Photo

Day 6 Results

Freestyle

57kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) df. Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) by TS, 14-3, 1:47

BRONZE: Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ) df. Sunggwon KIM (KOR) by Inj. Def.
BRONZE: ANKUSH (IND) df. Fuga SASAKI (JPN), 8-2

61kg (11 entries)
SF 1: AMAN (IND) df. Ahmad JAVAN (IRI), 11-9
SF 2: Kwang Myong KIM (PRK) df. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) by Fall, 2:30 (3-0)

65kg (12 entries)
GOLD: SUJEET (IND) df. Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB), 8-1

BRONZE: Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) df. Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ), 10-7
BRONZE: Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) df. Zeneemeder BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 3-1

70kg (10 entries)
GOLD: ABHIMANYOU (IND) df. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), 5-3

BRONZE: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Shuang CHEN (CHN), 14-7
BRONZE: Sina KHALILI (IRI) df. Shakhzodbek YARASHEV (UZB) by TS, 11-0, 5:06

74kg (14 entries)
SF 1: Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) df. Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB), 4-3
SF 2: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) df. Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) by TS, 10-0, 3:36

79kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN) df. Sandeep Singh MANN (IND), 2-1

BRONZE: Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) df. Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) by Forf.
BRONZE: Zhakshylyk BAITASHOV (KGZ) df. Somonjon IKROMOV (TJK), 6-0

86kg (15 entries)
SF 1: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM) by TS, 11-0, 3:30
SF 2: Mukul DAHIYA (IND) df. Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ), 12-6

92kg (12 entries)
SF 1: Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Iakov CHAPLIN (KGZ), 8-0
SF 2: Mobin AZIMI (IRI) df. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), 6-0

97kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), 4-0

BRONZE: Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) df. VICKY (IND), 7-5
BRONZE: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) df. Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ) by TS, 12-0, 3:53

125kg (11 entries)

SF 1: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. BUHEEERDUN (CHN), 5-0
SF 2: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) df. DINESH (IND) by Fall, :41 (2-0)