#RankingSeries

Greco-Roman rankings see drastic changes

By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (March 24) -- Wrestlers from nine different countries highlight the Greco-Roman rankings after the two Ranking Series events that were held in February. The only country with two wrestlers at the top spot is Serbia which had four world champions at the World Championships in Belgrade last year. But with Zagreb Open and Ibrahim Moustafa events, a few of the world champions were displaced from their top ranks.

The rankings will now determine the seeds for the continental championships, which also give rankings points. With two more Ranking Series events scheduled before the World Championships, wrestlers will have more chances to get points and improve their seeds for the World Championships.

55kg
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) continues to lead the 55kg rankings with the world title he won last year. A few wrestlers have improved their ranks but no new wrestler has been able to break into the top 10 even after two events.

Azizli has 45000 points, 4000 points more than Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) who won a silver in Belgrade for 37000 points. He then finished fifth at the Zagreb Open to earn 4000 points.

Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) was sixth at the start of the year but has improved his rank to third with a gold medal in Alexandria which was worth 8000 points and took his total to 33000 points. He overtook the two world bronze medalists, Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) and Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB), as both have 31000 points. Max NOWRY (USA) has also slipped one rank to sixth.

Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) has moved one place up to seventh with 25000 points. He was seventh at the start of the year but won the Zagreb Open for 8000 points. Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM) is now eighth while Fabian SCHMITT (GER) and Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) remain ninth and 10th respectively.

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) remains the leader at 60kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

60kg
While world champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) leads the rankings with 45000 points and silver medalist Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) remains second with 37000 points, the 60kg rankings have seen a lot of changes in the lower half.

Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN) has moved from fifth to third with 34000 points as he finished fifth at the Zagreb Open which was worth 9000 points. That has pushed Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) and Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) to the fourth and fifth spots respectively.

Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) increased his points from 25000 points to 30075 points but still got pushed to the seventh spot as Liguo CAO (CHN) gathered 14000 points over two tournaments. Mammadov finished 13th in Zagreb but Cao finished ninth and then went to Alexandria and finished eighth. He won 7800 points for Zagreb and 6200 points in Alexandria to go past Mammadov. Kerem KAMAL (TUR), who was seventh at the start of the year with 18200 points, slipped to eighth despite winning gold in Alexandria and increasing his points to 29200 points due to Cao-inflicted damage.

Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY) remains ninth with 23700 points, an improvement from 15500 points he had at the start of the year. Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) was 11th at the start of the year with 9000 points, moved to eighth after winning the Zagreb Open for 13000 points but has slipped to 10th with 22000 points as others continue to collect more points.

Leri ABULADZE (GEO)Leri ABULADZE (GEO) is the new top ranked wrestler at 63kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

63kg
An ensuing battle for the top place was on at 63kg as Sebastian NAD (SRB) skipped the two events in February. That gave second-placed Leri ABULADZE (GEO) a chance to take that spot. However, it was Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) who came in touching distance of going to the top.

After winning the Zagreb Open, Mammadov had 42000 points to be placed second, two places up from his original rank -- fourth. But he skipped the Ibrahim Moustafa event which allowed Leri ABULADZE (GEO) to jump to the top spot, thanks to his silver medal in Alexandria. Abuladze got 9400 points in Alexandria which were enough to help him overtake Nad and Mammadov. World bronze medalist Erbatu TUO (CHN) is now fourth with 31000 points while Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) and Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI) are fifth and sixth respectively with 25000 points.

Luis ORTA (CUB) was seventh with 18200 points at the start of the year but has not contested in this weight class since and lost that place to Victor CIOBANU (MDA) who has 23520 points as he got 6520 points for his sixth place finish in Alexandria.

Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT) broke into the top 10 after Zagreb and has now improved to eighth with 21400 points. Aker SCHMID (AUT) has 19080 points to be placed ninth and Orta is 10th with 18200 points.

Mate NEMES (SRB)World champion Mate NEMES (SRB) is the top ranked wrestler at 67kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

67kg
World champion Mate NEMES (SRB) and silver medalist Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) continue to occupy the number one and two spots at 67kg with 45000 points and 37000 points respectively.

After Zagreb Open, the top four were the same but after the Ibrahim Moustafa event, HUSIYUETU (CHN) occupied the third spot with 36700 points. He was ninth at the start of the year but won the gold medal in Zagreb for 13000 points to jump to fifth and is now third with 8200 points more as he finished third in Alexandria.

The fourth spot is taken by Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) who was fifth at the start of the year and slipped to seventh after Zagreb as he did not participate in it but improved as he won a silver medal in Alexandria worth 9400 points.

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) has slipped from third to fifth with 31000 points. He did participate in Zagreb Open but finished out of the top 16 to not receive any points. Amantur ISMAILOV (KAZ) is sixth, also with 31000 points.

Murat FIRAT (TUR) is now seventh with 25000 points while Mihai MIHUT (ROU), who was not in the top 10 at the start is now eighth with 20360 points. He was 13th in the first rankings, improved to 10th with 14880 points as he finished 10th in Zagreb and finished 10th in Alexandria to move to eighth.

Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) has slipped to ninth from seventh with 18200 points while ASHU (IND) is the new entrant in the top 10 with the 17200 points he collected over the two tournaments. He got 10200 points for his bronze in Zagreb and 7000 points for finishing fifth in Alexandria.

Ali ARSALAN (SRB)Ali ARSALAN (SRB) is the number one ranked wrestler at 72kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

72kg
In yet another weight class, the world champion continues to take the top spot. Ali ARSALAN (SRB) is number one at 72kg with 45000 points. The second spot is occupied by Selcuk CAN (TUR) who won the gold medal in Zagreb for 13000 points. He replaced Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) who has 37000 points and is now third. Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) was fifth at the start of the year but has now moved to fourth, thanks to his bronze medal in Zagreb which gave him 10200 points.

The fifth spot is taken by Andrii KULYK (UKR) who has 31000 points followed by Robert FRITSCH (HUN) who finished fifth in Zagreb for 9000 points. He moved from 17000 points to 26000 points and remains undisturbed after Alexandria.

Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) is seventh with 25000 points and Valentin PETIC (MDA) is eighth with 20100 points, an improvement from his 10th at the start of the year. The ninth spot goes to Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) with 18200 points Jose VARELA (GUA) finishes the list at 10th with 15500 points.

Zoltan LEVAI (HUN)Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) has replaced world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), blue, as the top ranked wrestler at 77kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

77kg
It took two tournaments for world silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) to replace world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) from the top at 77kg with 46175 points. He finished 12th in Zagreb to get 5100 points and then collected 3075 points for his 13th rank in Alexandria. Makhmudov is now second with 45000 points.

Yunus BASAR (TUR) is third with 39200 points as he won a bronze medal in Alexandria. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) is fourth with 31000 points. Rui LIU (CHN) has jumped from the ninth spot at the start of the year to fifth with 29980 points. He won 7480 points for his 10th-place finish in Zagreb and 7000 points for his fifth-place finish in Alexandria.

Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) is sixth with 26000 points which he collected for finishing ninth in Zagreb. Viktor NEMES (SRB) sits seventh with 25000 points followed by Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) who also has 25000 points.

Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) has broken into the top 10 with 21200 points. He began the rankings at 13th with 10200 points for his bronze in Zagreb and added 11000 points more by winning the gold in Alexandria. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) is 10th with 19600 points as he won silver in Zagreb for 11400 points and bronze in Alexandria for 8200 points.

Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), red, is the number one wrestler at 82kg while Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) is number two. (Photo: UWW / Dogukan Karadag)

82kg
Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) has jumped from sixth to third at 82kg with 33000 points, thanks to his gold in Alexandria. Barring that, the 82kg top half remains the same with world champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) leading the rankings with 45000 points and silver medalist Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) in second spot with 37000 points.

Tamas LEVAI (HUN) is fourth with 31000 points and Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) is fifth with the same points. Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) is sixth with 25000 points followed by Roland SCHWARZ (GER) with 21000 points, 4000 points more than at the start of the year as he finished fifth in Alexandria.

Dias KALEN (KAZ) is eighth with 18700 points while Chengwu WANG (CHN) is ninth with 18200 points. Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN) remains 10th with 14300 points.

Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN)Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), 22, is the top ranked wrestler at 87kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem ben Mrad)

87kg
Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) overtook world champion Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) for the top spot after winning the bronze medal in Zagreb. He got 10200 points for the bronze which took his total to 47200 points, 2200 points more than Datunashvili's.

Ali CENGIZ (TUR) sits third with 40400 points, 400 points more than fourth-placed David LOSONCZI (HUN). Cengiz had slipped to fifth after Zagreb but won a silver medal in Alexandria to move to third. Losonczi was fifth in Zagreb to get 9000 points.

Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) is fifth with 36400 points while Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) is sixth with 33200 points. The former had moved to the fourth spot after Zagreb but has slipped again as he did not participate in Alexandria.

Damian VON EUW (SUI) has slipped to ninth spot with 18200 points as Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) with 23520 points and A. AZISBEKOV (KGZ) with 22500 points move up to seventh and eighth spot respectively. Barthelemy TSHOSHA (COD) remains 10th with 14300 points.

Kiril MILOV (BUL)Kiril MILOV (BUL) replaced world champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) at the top at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

97kg
Kiril MILOV (BUL) won the gold medal in Zagreb to replace world champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) from the top spot at 97kg. With 13000 points from Zagreb, Milov moved his tally from 37000 points to 50000 points, 5000 points more than Aleksanyan.

World bronze medalists Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) and Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) were third and fourth respectively at the start of the year and even after Zagreb but Saravi exchanged spots by winning the gold in Alexandria for 13000 points. He now has 44000 points compared to 38800 points of Niftullayev.

Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) is fifth with 30800 points as he finished 11th in Zagreb for 5800 points. He is followed by Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) who has 26720 points, up from the 18200 points he had at the beginning of the year. He increased the points by finishing seventh in Zagreb. Giorgi MELIA (GEO) is seventh with 26000 points.

The three have overtaken Metehan BASAR (TUR) who is now eighth with 25000 points followed by a surprise entrant Tamas LEVAI (HUN) who has 19920 points. He got his first points in Zagreb, 11400 points for winning silver, and added 8520 for finishing seventh in Alexandria. Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) is 10th with 16400 points as he got 9000 points for finishing fifth in Zagreb.

Alin ALEXUC (ROU)Alin ALEXUC (ROU) rose to the top at 130kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

130kg
Since both Riza KAYAALP (TUR) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) have not competed since the World Championships, Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) has overtaken them and occupied the top spot at 130kg with 46400 points. Alexuc has 1400 points more than Kayaalp and 9400 points more than Mirzazadeh. Alexuc's rise included a fifth-place finish in Zagreb for 9000 points and a silver medal in Alexandria which got him 6400 points.

Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) is fourth with 36075 points followed by Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) with 25000 points and Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) is sixth with the same points. Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA) and Dariusz VITEK (HUN) have moved to seventh and eighth place respectively.

Oskar MARVIK (NOR) is the new name in the top 10 with 19600 points while Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) is 10th with 18200 points.

#wrestlebishkek

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

By Ken Marantz

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)