#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Greco-Roman stars headed to #WrestleUlaanbaatar in large numbers

By Eric Olanowski

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 12) -- A year after the Asian Olympic Qualifier and the Asian Championships split the continental talent pool, a full lineup of Asia's most electrifying wrestlers will head to the Mongolian capital looking to gain continental supremacy.

The Greco-Roman portion of the competition will feature nearly 100 wrestlers from 14 different nations – including three Olympic medalists and four returning Asian titleholders who are on a quest to defend their gold from 2021.

Yu SHIOTANI (JPN), Hansu RYU (KOR), Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) and Mehdi Mohammad BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) are the four wrestlers who departed Almaty with gold around their necks and will take their talents to Ulaanbaatar.

Shiotani will replace reigning world champion Ken MATSUI (JPN) in Japan's lineup at 55kg.

Last year, the 20-year-old surpassed all expectations in his debut campaign on the senior level. Shiotani put up 37 total points in his three matches and closed out the competition with a thrilling 17-7 technical superiority win over Uzbekistan's then-reigning Asian champion Ilkhom BAKHROMOV.

Hansu RYUHansu RYU (KOR) will be aiming for his fourth consecutive Asian gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

At 67kg, defending three-time Asian gold medalist Ryu is coming to Mongolia with a 10-match continental winning streak. In total, the former two-time world champion has an impressive 19-2 record at the Asian Championships and has won five medals – four of which are gold. His last loss came at the 2018 Asian Championships, where a large forehead gash forced him to injury default out of his quarterfinals bout against Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN).

He'll compete at 67kg, a weight down from his '21 title-winning weight of 72kg.

Ryu’s Asian Resume
2021 – 3-0 (gold)
2020 – 3-0 (gold)
2019 – 4-0 (gold)
2017 – 1-1 (7th)
2015 – 4-0 (gold)
2014 – 4-1 (bronze)

Naser ALIZADEHNaser ALIZADEH (IRI) is the defending 87kg champion. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

Although Iran is bringing is different look squad from the Olympics and World Championships, their lineup will still feature a pair of returning gold medalists from the last season.

At 87kg, fans will see the return of rising star Naser Alizadeh.

The 24-year-old is 11-2 over the last 12 months, falling only to Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) and U23 world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (RWF) en route to bronze medal finishes at the World Olympic Qualifiers and the U23 World Championships.

Alizadeh pinned Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ), upset two-time world medalist Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), and earned a two-point win over Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) in his senior debut and captured 82kg Asian gold.

Another Iranian looking to win a second consecutive Asian gold medal is Mehdi Balihamzehdeh. He's stepping into Iran's lineup at 97kg for the man who stole his Olympic dreams through their finals battle at the '21 Poland Open, Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI).

Balihamzehdeh is 6-1 on the senior scene, with that lone Tokyo and Oslo spot-determining loss coming to Saravi, who ultimately went on to win Olympic bronze and World gold.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOVOlympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) will be wrestling at the Asian Championships only for the second time. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Meanwhile, Olympic medalists Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) and Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) will also be in action in Ulaataanbar.  

Walihan, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist at 60kg, will be bumping up two weight classes to 67kg, while Makhmudov and Kim are the favorites to clash for gold at 77kg.

Makhmudov will make his second career appearance at the Asian Championships. He won gold in his home debut at the 2018 edition and if the 23-year-old superstar wants to win a second Asian gold, he'll have to knock off the two-time Olympic medalist.

In their last meeting, Makhmudov upset Kim, 7-3, to win gold at the '18 Asian Games.

This may be a continental changing of guard moment, as Makhmudov has been on a meteoric rise to the top of the world stage. In contrast, Kim has tumbled over the last year.

Since winning the London Olympic gold medal, Kim has competed in 30 events. He's finished inside the top five in 23 of those 30 events. Furthermore, he's only fallen outside of top five contentions seven times – with a trio of those finishes coming in his last three outings.

Prior to those uncharacteristic faults, Kim finished on the podium at nine consecutive events – including the World and Asian Championships and six Ranking Series events.

Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOVZholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will be the favorite to win the 60kg title in Mongolia. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Other Greco-Roman heavy hitters to keep an eye on are Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV and Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB).

Sharshenbekov, a world finalist in Oslo, is the frontrunner to win 60kg gold. This will be his third senior Asian appearance. In his first two showings, he won silver medals.

Uzbekistan will look to Bakhramov, Bakhshilloev and Assakalov to carry their hot streaks over from the Yasar Dogu. The trio went a combined 13-0 at the first Ranking Series event of the season, winning titles at 63kg, 67kg and 97kg, respectively.

Bakhramov's run to gold in Istanbul was one of the most impressive of the competition. He picked up a fall over '22 European silver medalist Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) and an unimaginable 9-0 throttling over defending world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA) in the gold-medal match.

Bakhshilloev blew through his four opponents in Turkey, including a convincing 5-2 win over European champion Morten THORESEN (NOR) in the gold medal match.

Assakalov, a long-term 87kg guy, will be wrestling in his second competition up at 97kg. The gray-hair veteran seamlessly transitioned to his new weight in Turkey, scoring big wins over European champion Felix BALDAUF (NOR) and '22 European finalist Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN).

The Asian Championships kick off next Tuesday (April 19) on www.uww.org

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

#WrestleUlaanbaatar Preview: Ozaki eyes Asian title but Tynybekova stands in the way

By Ken Marantz

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 15) -- Having started her second year at academically prestigious Keio University, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) will be bringing her textbooks with her to Mongolia for the Asian Championships to keep from falling behind in her studies. On the mat, the scholar-athlete has shown to be a fast learner.

The 19-year-old Ozaki, a world cadet and Youth Olympic gold medalist, made her international senior debut at last year's World Championships in Oslo and came away with a bronze medal at 62kg.

In Ulaanbaatar, she will likely get a chance to avenge a close, first-round loss in Oslo to world champion and Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ). The two are the top seeds, meaning a clash between them could only come in the final.

But that's not her sole focus. Ozaki knows that, like her school studies, a tournament is a progression in which the earlier steps cannot be overlooked.

"Before, I lost to her, but it's not like I'm always keeping Aisuluu in my mind," Ozaki said in an interview last Sunday when she cruised to the U20 title at the JOC Junior Queens Cup in Tokyo.

"My thinking is that any opponent will be strong. I don't know what type of opponent I will face in the first match. I'll have to be sure to win that match and have a chance to meet her in the final."

Ozaki is one of 12 women's medalists from the 2021 World Championships among the entries for the Asian Championships, with Tynybekova among the five champions -- three are from Japan and the other is also from Kyrgyzstan. There are also two world medalists in each of the men's styles.

Tynybekova also belongs to the small subset of Tokyo Olympic medalists making the trip to Ulaanbaatar, along with compatriot Akzhol MAKMUMDOV (KGZ) at Greco 77kg and the Indian pair of Ravi KUMAR (IND) at freestyle 57kg and Bajrang PUNIA (IND) at freestyle 65kg. None of Japan's four women champions have returned to action since the Tokyo Games.

At last year's Asian Championships in Almaty, the women's competition was thinned out a bit by the absence of the Japanese and Chinese, as well as the fact that the tournament was held the week after the Asian Olympic qualifier. Tynybekova is one of three defending champions, along with India's Anshu MALIK (IND) at 57kg and Sarita MOR (IND) at 59kg.

Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics in two years, Ozaki is aiming to challenge Olympic champion Yukako KAWAI (JPN) for domestic supremacy at 62kg, and a victory at the senior Asian tournament would provide a big boost of confidence. Success on the global stage, however, is no stranger to the Tokyo native.

Against Tynybekova in Oslo, Ozaki jumped out to a 4-0 lead, only to falter and come out on the short end of a 6-4 score. That was her first-ever loss to a non-Japanese opponent, having won two world cadet (U17), one Asian cadet, three Klippan Lady cadets and the Youth Olympic titles between 2018 and 2020. Her last domestic loss came in August 2018, in the final of the Inter-High School tournament to Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN).

Ozaki had no trouble facing opponents her own age at the Junior Queens Cup, winning all three matches by fall in a combined time of 2:17. Why would she enter a tournament that she would assuredly dominate so easily so close to such an important competition as the Asian Championships?

The reason was two-fold: First, the tournament was serving as Japan's qualifier for the World U20 Championships this summer in Bulgaria which she wants to enter. Second, she wanted to regain her competitive edge.

"Mongolia is the tournament I am building up to. But my last tournament was in December," Ozaki said, referring to the All-Japan Championships, where she won a second straight title in the absence of Kawai.

"So I thought this tournament would also be good to get my mat sense back. No matter what match it is, I feel nervous. But I went into it thinking about what I want to do and what will get me in the best condition for Mongolia, so it was good."

Others that Ozaki and Tynybekova will have to contend with in Ulaanbaatar are third-seed Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ) and Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB), both two-time Asian medalists, and Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL), who finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics. Tynybekova, for her part, will be aiming for a fifth Asian gold and ninth medal overall.

Ozaki went against the grain when she opted to pursue the scholar-athlete route to Keio, for which she had to pass an extremely difficult entrance exam, instead of taking the conventional path and going to a wrestling powerhouse.

That's what reigning 53kg world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) did, and this month the 18- year-old started her freshman year at Nippon Sports Science University. Fujinami also warmed up for Ulaanbaatar at the Junior Queens Cup, where she spent only slightly less time on the mat than Ozaki--she needed just 2:14 to complete two falls and a technical fall.

"It was only a matter of course that I won," said Fujinami, who stretched her winning streak dating back to junior high school to 93 matches. "It was my first competition since entering Nippon Sports Science, so it was important for me."

Fujinami will be gunning for her second career continental title after easily winning the 54kg crown at the inaugural Asian U15 Championships in Japan in 2018. Her victory in Oslo, where the 2018 world cadet champion won all four matches by technical fall without conceding a point, came in only her second senior-level tournament and first internationally.

"My aim is to be undefeated [up to the Paris Olympics] and present the image that I win convincingly," Fujinami said. "But I always focus on the tournament in front of me and will take it one step at a time."

Accompanying Fujinami in her move from her Mie Prefecture hometown in central Japan to Tokyo was her father, who was her coach at Inabe Gakuin High School and is now a coach at NSSU. Another coach might be more familiar to world wrestling fans -- four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN), whose presence is pushing Fujinami to even higher levels.

"She also spars with me," Fujinami said. "When I was in high school, I was allowed to join in their practices. I can only learn [from her]. I still have an issue with finishing up my tackles. Kaori-san is really skilled after someone gets in on a tackle, she has good balance and is solid physically. Right now, I can't get points off her, she's still strong. I'm always thinking what can I do."

Fujinami had talked about looking forward to facing a Chinese opponent for the first time, prior to the news that China would not be sending a team to Ulaanbaatar.

That leaves as the main challengers for the top-seeded Fujinami mainly No. 2 seed Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), a bronze medalist in 2019 and 2020 and the 2018 world junior silver medalist, and 34-year-old veteran Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ), a seven-time Asian medalist dating back to 2005 (including a gold in 2007) who was fifth at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a 2011 world bronze medalist.

In addition to Fujinami, two other titlists from Oslo will be making the trip to Mongolia.

Remina YOSHIMOTORemina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) is the world champion at 50kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) heads the field at 50kg as the top seed, while world 55kg champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) has moved up to the Olympic weight of 57kg to begin a bid to knock off two-time Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) in the race to Paris 2024.

Yoshimoto, who has eyes on preventing Olympic gold medalist Yu SUSAKI (JPN) from getting a chance for a repeat in Paris, should have little trouble in her senior Asian debut but could encounter stiff competition from 2020 Yarygin Grand Prix champion Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) and 2021 Asian runner-up Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB).

Sakurai's first venture into her new weight class could get a major test right off the bat with a clash against defending champion and 2021 world silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND). The division also includes 2021 world junior champion Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) and the ageless (actually 37) Hyungjoo KIM (KOR), a 2021 bronze medalist at 55kg who appeared at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

At 65kg, world silver medalist Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) looks to be in a class of her own as the 2019 world junior champion finally gets a shot at a senior Asian title. She was on the women's squad last year that was pulled out of the competition just before departing Japan because of suspected contact with someone infected with the coronavirus.

It will be interesting to see how one of Japan's least heralded team members, Sumire NIIKURA (JPN), fares at 72kg in her first-ever foray overseas. When world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN) moved down to 68kg, Niikura emerged victorious in the All-Japan tournament, beating 2019 world U23 bronze medalist Mei SHINDO (JPN) in the final to become the first-ever national champion from Kanagawa University.

"It's my first overseas competition," the stocky Niikura said after winning the Junior Queens Cup. "I'm in the women's 72kg weight class, but for that division, I'm not tall enough. Other countries' wrestlers are taller than the Japanese, so I want to test how I will fare against those opponents. Regardless of whether I win or not, I will give everything I have in each match."

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) will be looking for second Asian gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The favorite in the weight class is top seed Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), the runner-up to Furuichi at the Oslo world championships. She has a full set of Asian medals, having finished second in 2021, first in 2020 and third in 2019. This year, she triumphed at the Yasar Dogu Ranking tournament.

Kyrgyzstan will be sending only three women, but what a trio it is. In addition to the two-time world champion Tynybekova, reigning world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and world bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) make up the cream of the Kyrgyz crop.

Zhumanazarova, who joined Tynybekova as their nation's first-ever female Olympic medalist in any sport when she took a bronze in Tokyo, will be aiming for her first Asian title after two third-place finishes. She will be challenged by the silver medalists from the past two years, Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) and Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN).

Matsuyuki is familiar with Zhumanazarova; the Japanese beat her 4-2 in the final at the 2019 World Junior Championships. She also has a world U23 silver from 2017 to her credit.

Medet Kyzy, who won a second straight Asian silver last year and placed fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, could also find a young Japanese in her path in Yuka KAGAMI (JPN), who is making her first overseas trip since winning the Klippan Lady in January 2020.

A product of the JOC Elite Academy that produced Susaki, Ozaki and numerous other stars, Kagami shined brightest in 2019 when she won the world junior and senior Asian titles at 72kg and was second in the world U23 at 76kg.

Here are others to watch in Greco and freestyle style:

Akzhol MAKHMUDOVAkzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) is eyeing his second Asian title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman (April 19-20)

Kyrgyzstan's Tokyo Olympic 77kg silver medalist Makhmudov burst onto the global stage at the 2018 Asian Championships with a thrilling victory before the home crowd at 72kg in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. He won the 77kg silver six months later at the Asian Games but has not appeared at a continental competition since.

Makhmudov, who turns 23 on April 15, is the top seed at 77kg, a category in which 2019 world 72kg silver medalist Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) and a pair of wily veterans are among those lying in wait.

Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), 33, an Olympic champion in 2012 and bronze medalist in 2016, will be aiming for his sixth career Asian title and first since 2019, while Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ), who turns 32 on April 23, will look to add to a collection that includes six Asian medals, among them a 2017 gold and most recently a 2019 bronze at 82kg.

Of the five returning champions, at least one will head home without a title as two are entered at 87kg. Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), the gold medalist in Almaty, is unseeded and could clash with 2021 82kg champion and No. 3 seed Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), a 2018 world bronze medalist at 77kg.

Not that this weight class is a two-man field. They will have to contend with former Asian champion and top seed Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ), 2019 Asian silver medalist and No. 2 seed Sumil KUMAR (IND), and 32-year-old Jinhyeok KIM (KOR), a 2018 Asian bronze medalist at 82kg.

Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL)Freestyle veteran Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL) is entered in Greco-Roman 130kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

One of the more intriguing entries is at 130kg, where the home country -- which has never had an Asian medalist in Greco -- will be represented by Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL). If his name is familiar, it's because he is a six-time Asian medalist -- in freestyle. A champion at 97kg in 2014, he made it onto the medal podium last year in Almaty with a third-place finish.

Dorjkhand only adds more depth to a stacked weight class that includes 2019 champion Amir GHASEMIMONJEZI (IRI); three-time Olympian and top seed Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), the 2019 runner-up to Ghasemimonjezi in Xi'an; 2020 silver medalist and 2018 world bronze medalist Minseok KIM (KOR); and 2021 silver medalist and No. 2 seed Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ).

On the other end of the spectrum, the one to watch at 55kg is defending champion Yu SHIOTANI (JPN).

Last year in Almaty, Shiotani became, at 19 years 5 months, Japan’s youngest-ever male Asian champion. Five months later in the same weight class, Ken MATSUI (JPN) became the country's youngest-ever world Greco champion. The two met in the final at last December's national championships, and Shiotani routed his rival with a quick 11-0 technical fall that included two 5-point throws.

"Last year, I went into [the Asian Championships] with only the spirit of being a challenger," Shiotani told the Japan federation website. "This year, my thoughts have been focused on repeating as champion, so I think there is more pressure than last year."

Bajrang PUNIABajrang PUNIA (IND) is the favorite to win the 65kg gold in the absence of Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle (April 23-24)

Not having to deal with nemesis Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) this time, Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Punia is poised to win a third career Asian title and first since 2019 at 65kg. His main barrier may be overcoming problems with his knees that have plagued him in recent months.

Punia brought the situation to light after barely winning a national team playoff over ROHIT (IND) in late March to earn a ticket to Ulaanbaatar. That was his first official action since the Tokyo Games, after which he was forced to skip Ranking Series events in Rome and Istanbul.

"This was my first bout after the Olympics," Punia was quoted as saying on the News 18 website. "It takes time to get that sharpness when you go to the mat after so many months.

"After my injury, I did rehab on my own. I did not have a personal physio with me, otherwise, I could have recovered early," said Punia, who had spent time training overseas. "Overall I am happy with my performance considering that I was competing after eight months."

Punia, who has seven Asian and three world medals to his credit, can expect to be pushed by 2021 world bronze medalist Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) and 2021 world 61kg junior champion Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI).

With powerhouse Iran fielding a mixed squad of established national team members and international newcomers, a deep Indian team has a good chance to make a run at the team title, after finishing second to Iran in each of the past three years.

Expectations are high for Kumar at 57kg and Deepak PUNIA (IND) at 86kg, with 2020 silver medalist Gourav BALIYAN (IND) at 79kg and four-time Asian medalist Satywart KADIAN (IND) at 97kg also capable of making the top step of the podium.

Kumar, a 2019 world bronze medalist, will be aiming for a third straight Asian gold, with his top competition likely to come from Tokyo Olympic quarterfinalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 2022 Yasar Dogu winner Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) and 2017 Asian silver medalist Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL).

Deepak Punia, who was handily defeated in the final last year by world champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), won't have to deal with the absent Iranian superstar as he aims for a fourth career Asian medal and first-ever gold.

The 2019 world silver medalist and world junior champion might have to contend with two-time Asian medalist and top seed Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ). The two met in the quarterfinals at the Matteo Pellicone tournament in 2019, with the Kazakh winning a close 2-0 decision.

Rei HIGUCHIRei HIGUCHI (JPN) will wrestle at 61kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The 61kg class will see the return to the international stage of the 2016 Rio Olympic 57kg silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN). Higuchi finished third at the 2017 Asian Championships at 61kg, then went up to 65kg, where he won the 2019 world U23 title. But after failing to dislodge Otoguro at 65kg for a place at the Tokyo Olympics, he dropped back down to 57kg, where he lost to former world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) in the Olympic team wrestle-off.

Higuchi faces a tough field that includes defending champion Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB), 2020 champion and 2019 world U23 champion Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ), and 2021 world junior bronze medalist Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN).

If the seedings hold true at 70kg, world silver medalist and top seed Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), who lost a close 3-3 decision in the first round of the Tokyo Olympics at 65kg to Punia, would be looking at a clash for the gold with defending champion and No. 2 seed Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ), a 2019 world junior bronze medalist at 65kg.

The other defending champion in action will be Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) at 74kg. The 2019 world silver medalist and Asian champion at 70kg will face a tough field that includes 2019 world 70kg bronze medalist Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI), two-time Asian medalist Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) and 2016 Rio Olympic 65kg bronze medalist Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB).