#Grappling

Hansen breaks new ground with Grappling gold

Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 14:49 By Vinay Siwach

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PONTEVEDRA, Spain (October 18) -- Over the years, John HANSEN (USA) has been to United World Wrestling's Grappling World Championships with an aim to win the gold. But until 2022, he failed to achieve that.

But in Pontevedra, Spain, Hansen became the Grappling world champion in 130kg with a dominant run at the World Championships. Out of his four wins, two were by submission and the others were a testimony of how dominant Hansen is in Grappling.

Like Ivan SNIHUR (UKR) realized in the final when Hansen scored two points by bringing him down before adding three points for his control. Even as Snihur tried to escape out of the control, Hansen kept the offense going, adding two four-point movements before ultimately winning by submission with 1:42 remaining on the clock.

In the semifinal against Ioannis KARGIOTAKIS (GRE), he allowed his opponent to be on top before reversing the position and taking control for a 5-2 lead. He won that bout 5-3.

Overall, Hansen expressed his satisfaction by not just winning the tournament but also how his team was able to win the team title.

"I am very satisfied," Hansen said. "The USA won the Grappling team title for the first time and I am very proud of that. Such an incredible experience to be part of like the gold-winning team. I wanted to win the gold but ran into a good opponent in 2019 and could not get it done last year either. This is a huge accomplishment. I have wanted this for a long time."

Out of the six finals, the USA reached finals with Richard ALARCON (USA) and Kevin CRANE (USA) joining Hansen as the world champion while Brady WICKLUND (USA) and Paul ARDILA (USA) finished with silver medals.

"The group has been coming together over the last couple of years," Hansen said. "We have been recruiting collegiate wrestlers and a lot of guys in their 20s."

The major reason Hansen believes in the success of the USA at the UWW World Championships is the advantage it gives to wrestlers and the various countries it brings together.

"The UWW rule set prioritizes wrestling as it should be," he said. "Like if I pull guard, I should be penalized two. That's great for wrestling and records it fairly. I don't think wrestlers should be allowed to sit down. That's why I love UWW. There are more countries [at these World Championships]. How many other events draw that much talent from other countries? It's really cool. To let our guys know in the USA, this is the real World Championships."

Hansen has been one of the biggest names in Grappling and even at the age of 40 years, he participates around the world. With more understanding of the sport than he first began at the UWW tournaments, Hansen said it is one of the biggest competitions out there.

"If you take a UWW grappler with a high-pace rule set, he will wrestle 10 minutes easily. Other grapplers coming to UWW will be called for stalling. UWW grappler will go challenging anywhere."

While Pontevedra saw grapplers from Japan, India and Angola apart from the dominant grappling countries, Hansen hopes the variety continues at future tournaments, an important step to growing the sport.

"Australia is there [to grow]," he said. "Their style is very action-oriented and very aggressive which is perfect for UWW. When I saw it first, I was like why is someone called passive when you are mounted?

"But Australia and Japan are the teams. The grapplers from eastern Europe are also top. They are good on top, good at the bottom, and good in wrestling. UWW rule set is what people in eastern Europe play and that sets them apart. If they come to other rule sets competition, they will not take much time to adapt. Another country is Canada. They won't take to come up. Argentina will be out as well."

Though he has not his calendar set for next year, Hansen believes that the World Championships will always be on his schedule.

"As long as I can keep my spot in the USA, I will be at every UWW Worlds until somebody takes it from me," he said. "There is a legit commodity with 30 countries showing up. This is a completely different experience."

RESULTS

Grappling

62kg
GOLD: Amit BURSHTEIN (ISR) df. Mayis NERSESYAN (ARM), 7-4

BRONZE: Shervani ABDULAYEV (KAZ) df. Eric MEDINA (USA), 2-2
BRONZE: Arulan KURMANALIYEV (KAZ) df. Daniele CALDARERA (ITA), 6-3

66kg
GOLD: Richard ALARCON (USA) df. Yurii CHERKALIUK (UKR), 1-1

BRONZE: Anthony DE OLIVEIRA (FRA) df. Bekzat KAPASHOV (KAZ), 7-1
BRONZE: Wojciech PAJAK (POL) df. Sergio CALDERON (ESP), via submission

71kg
GOLD: Nurbek TALBUDIN (KAZ) df. Nico PULVERMUELLER (GER), 4-1

BRONZE: Alessio SACCHETTI (ITA) df. Nadav BAR GIL (ISR), 7-2
BRONZE: Magomed DJABRAILOV (FRA) df. Sarsen ZHETIBAYEV (KAZ), via submission (1-5)

77kg
GOLD: Fernando MEDINA (ESP) df. Brady WICKLUND (USA), 9-0

BRONZE: Nadir IMAMALIYEV (AZE) df. Pierre MANZO (FRA), 2-2
BRONZE: Djabrail DJABRAILOV (FRA) df. Nahman BITON (ISR), 13-1

84kg
GOLD: Kevin CRANE (USA) df. Muhammet BAYRAKTAR (FRA), 8-0

BRONZE: Matteo VERMIGLIO (ITA) df. Artur ZAKARYAN (ARM), via submission (0-2)
BRONZE: Mateusz MAZUR (POL) df. Zaireden MUKHAMBETZHANOV (KAZ), via submission (0-2)

92kg
GOLD: Roman KIZIUK (UKR) df. Paul ARDILA (USA), 2-1

BRONZE: Manuel PILATO (ITA) df. Pedro GARCIA (ESP), 3-2
BRONZE: Pawel NEDZI (POL) df. Mykhailo MUZYCHENKO (UKR), 6-2

100kg
GOLD: Andrzej IWAT (POL) df. Aleksandre TEVZADZE (GEO), 10-0

BRONZE: Ivan MALIN (UKR) df. Dominik OLSZEWSKI (POL), 2-1
BRONZE: Eduardo RIEGO (ESP) df. Eliot KELLY (USA), 3-2

130kg
GOLD: John HANSEN (USA) df. Ivan SNIHUR (UKR), via submission (13-0)

BRONZE: Tobin CAHILL (USA) df. MARCOS GONZALEZ (ESP), via submission (11-2)
BRONZE: Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA) df. Ioannis KARGIOTAKIS (GRE), 12-2

U20 men's results

58kg
GOLD: Karshyga ABDRAKHIM (KAZ) df. Zhyldyzbek ABYLBEKOV (KGZ), 3-2

BRONZE: Alejandro REYES (ESP) df. Alikhan ALSHINBAY (KAZ), via submission (6-0)

62kg
GOLD: Vadym SKRYNYTSIA (UKR) df. Chingis IDRISSOV (KAZ), via submission (0-2)

BRONZE: Ori WEISMAN (ISR) df. Guillermo GUTIERREZ (ESP), via overtime (2-2)

66kg
GOLD: Zhanuzak AITBAYEV (KAZ) df. Ali BEKISH (KAZ), 3-3

BRONZE: Nursultan KUSHTARBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Avelino SANTOS (ESP), via submission (6-6)
BRONZE: Ethan FORREZ (FRA) df. Giovanni SUAREZ (ESP), via submission, (2-0)

71kg
GOLD: Aldiyar SERIK (KAZ) df. Aron HERNANDEZ MONTERO (ESP), via submission (2-0)

BRONZE: Vincenzo BUSSOLOTTI (ESP) df. Syimyk SADYRBEK UULU (KGZ), via submission (2-0)
BRONZE: Milan NIKOLENKO (UKR) df. Noam KOREN (ISR), 5-2 

77kg
Round 5: Miguel NAVARRO (ESP) df. Yizhaq AMAR (ISR), via submission
Round 5: Amirzhan SIKHIMBAYEV (KAZ) df. Ramon PLACER (ESP), via default

GOLD: Miguel NAVARRO (ESP)
SILVER: Yizhaq AMAR (ISR)
BRONZE: Amirzhan SIKHIMBAYEV (KAZ)

84kg
GOLD: Levente LAKY (HUN) df. Alikhan KHABIBULLA (KAZ), 4-1

BRONZE: Hugo DESCHEEMAKER (FRA) df. Kutkeldi ZHOROKUL UULU (KGZ), via forfeit
BRONZE: Yarin DABOOL (ISR) df. Saul CHAYA (ESP), 7-2

92kg (3 entries)
GOLD: Jhonatan ORELLANA ALIAGA (ESP) df. Yerlan MUKHIT (KAZ), via submission

130kg (3 entries)
GOLD: Ramazan ABDRAKHIMOV (KAZ) df. Ismael CASTILLO JIMENEZ (ESP) 

U17 men's results

50kg
GOLD: Heorhii HUDZ (UKR) df. Ibraim ISKANDAROV (KGZ), 7-1

BRONZE: Emanuel SEGADO (ESP) df. Alex PINTER (HUN), via forfeit

54kg
Round 5: Ismail KUNAYEV (KAZ) df. Nurbol ZHYRGALBEKOV (KGZ), 7-6
Round 5: Guy BURSHTEIN (ISR) df. Rakhymzhan TURGANBEK (KAZ), 4-3

GOLD: Ismail KUNAYEV (KAZ)
SILVER: Nurbol ZHYRGALBEKOV (KGZ)
BRONZE: Guy BURSHTEIN (ISR)

58kg
GOLD: Bekzat KAZTAYEV (KAZ) df. Illia SVIATUN (UKR), 15-9

BRONZE: Tigran GHAZAKHYAN (ARM) df. Daniel GONZALEZ FERRER (ESP), via submission (0-2)

63kg
GOLD: Wassim CHAINE (FRA) df. Sergey ZELENKEVICH (KAZ), 2-1

BRONZE: Nurassyl TURUSPEKOV (KAZ) df. Ilay PELTZ (ISR), 2-1

69kg
GOLD: Ethan FORREZ (FRA) df. Danil VAKHTINOV (KAZ), 8-4

BRONZE: Nahapet EKIZYAN (ARM) df. Emilijus KAGANOVICIUS (LTU), via submission (0-2)
BRONZE: Gafur UZHAKHOV (KAZ) df. Amit AVIV (ISR), via submission (0-2)

76kg
GOLD: Sungat SANSYZBAYEV (KAZ) df. Tamir BARHAM (ISR), 6-4

BRONZE: Kalys SOODALIEV (KGZ) df. Jorge FERNANDEZ (ESP), 12-0

85kg
GOLD: Stefan LOBODA (ROU)
SILVER: Dorian FARKAS (HUN)
BRONZE: Karim ADEM (FRA) 

Key bout: Stefan LOBODA (ROU) df. Dorian FARKAS (HUN), 11-3 (Round 3)

110kg
GOLD: Dinmukhamed KUANGALIYEV (KAZ)
SILVER: Ibrahim MANARBEK (KAZ)
BRONZE: Antonio HERRERA (ESP)

Key bout: Dinmukhamed KUANGALIYEV (KAZ) df. Ibrahim MANARBEK (KAZ), via submission (5-0 in Round 2)

Grappling Gi

62kg
GOLD: Daiki YONEKURA (JPN) df. Dmytro BARANOV (UKR), via submission (0-2)

BRONZE: Mayis NERSESYAN (ARM) df. Ander SANCHEZ (ESP), 13-0
BRONZE: Raimbek TAZHIBAEV (KGZ) df. Daulet ZHUMADULLAYEV (KAZ), 6-5

66kg
GOLD: Anthony DE OLIVEIRA (FRA) df. Yurii CHERKALIUK (UKR), 5-1

BRONZE: Wojciech PAJAK (POL) df. Sergio CALDERON (ESP), via walkover
BRONZE: Mykyta DUSHKO (UKR) df. Galymzhan OMAR (KAZ), 7-0

71kg
GOLD: Haniel SCHUCMAN (ISR) df. Sarsen ZHETIBAYEV (KAZ), 9-1

BRONZE: Magomed DJABRAILOV (FRA) df. Alessio SACCHETTI (ITA), 2-2
BRONZE: Ivan RASIUK (UKR) df. Zoltan TOTH (HUN), 2-1

77kg
GOLD: Fernando MEDINA (ESP) df. Djabrail DJABRAILOV (FRA), 2-1

BRONZE: Dumitru CEBAN (MDA) df. Nahman BITON (ISR), 7-2
BRONZE: Adlan MADAYEV (KAZ) df. Jakub NAJDEK (POL), 2-2

84kg
GOLD: Arturo SALAS (ESP) df. Inelton BOMBO (ANG), 4-2

BRONZE: Alberto GONZALEZ (ESP) df. Mateusz MAZUR (POL), 6-4
BRONZE: Aurel PIRTEA (ROU) df. Samy MEZACHE (FRA), 11-2

92kg
GOLD: Roman KIZIUK (UKR) df. Ravshan URAZOV (KAZ), 8-8

BRONZE: Pablo ESTEPA (ESP) df. Martin BARTHEL (GER), via submission (5-2)
BRONZE: Eldar RAFIGAEV (MDA) df. Vasile CUBLESAN (ROU), via submission (0-3)

100kg
GOLD: Ivan MALIN (UKR) df. Bakdaulet ABYZOV (KAZ), 2-2

BRONZE: Serhii HAVRYSH (UKR) df. Wendy KOHILI (FRA), 9-6
BRONZE: Martin NUSSMANN (GER) df. Ilias BOUKIS (GRE), 6-1

130kg
GOLD: Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA) df. Ioannis KARGIOTAKIS (GRE), via submission (9-0)

BRONZE: Guglielmo CECCA (ITA) df. Juan HEREDIA (ESP), 4-2
BRONZE: Talgat ZHIYENTAYEV (KAZ) df. Ivan SNIHUR (UKR), via submission (6-0)

U20 men's results

58kg
GOLD: Karshyga ABDRAKHIM (KAZ) df. Zhyldyzbek ABYLBEKOV (KGZ), 3-2

BRONZE: Alejandro REYES (ESP) df. Alikhan ALSHINBAY (KAZ), via submission (6-1)

62kg
GOLD: Kostiantyn MIZUN (UKR) df. Vadym SKRYNYTSIA (UKR), 3-1

BRONZE: Ori WEISMAN (ISR) df. Acoidan ARBELO (ESP), via submission (2-2) 

66kg
GOLD: Giovanni SUAREZ (ESP) df. Alikhan AKHMETZHANOV (KAZ), 7-3

BRONZE: Ethan FORREZ (FRA) df. Nursultan KUSHTARBEK UULU (KGZ), via submission (2-0)
BRONZE: Ali BEKISH (KAZ) df. Volodymyr DYMED (UKR), overtime (2-2)

71kg
GOLD: Aldiyar SERIK (KAZ) df. Vincenzo BUSSOLOTTI (ESP), via submission (7-2)

BRONZE: Mani GRIMAUDO (FRA) df. Syimyk SADYRBEK UULU (KGZ), via submission (6-0)
BRONZE: Aron HERNANDEZ (ESP) df. Artem KHVAN (KAZ), 14-4

77kg
GOLD: Yizhaq AMAR (ISR)
SILVER: Amirzhan SIKHIMBAYEV (KAZ) 
BRONZE: Bilal SAFI (FRA)

Key bout: Yizhaq AMAR (ISR) df. Amirzhan SIKHIMBAYEV (KAZ), 3-2 (Round 2)

84kg
GOLD: Alikhan KHABIBULLA (KAZ) df. Kutkeldi ZHOROKUL UULU (KGZ), via submission (9-2)

BRONZE: Yarin DABOOL (ISR) df. Akmaldin KUSHANLO (KGZ), via submission (2-4)
BRONZE: Saul CHAYA LOPEZ (ESP) df. Hugo DESCHEEMAKER (FRA), via submission

92kg (3 entries)
Round 1: Nurdaulet KARBOZOV (KAZ) df. Pablo TORRES JIMENEZ (ESP), 6-1

130kg
GOLD: Arystan AITMOLDIN (KAZ)
SIVER: Ramazan ABDRAKHIMOV (KAZ), 6-1
BRONZE: Ismael CASTILLO JIMENEZ (ESP)

Key bout:  Arystan AITMOLDIN (KAZ) df. Ramazan ABDRAKHIMOV (KAZ), 6-1 (Round 3)

U17 men's results

42kg (2 entries)
GOLD: Azamat MENGAIR (KAZ) df. Yersultan KAIYRZHAN (KAZ), 8-0

50kg
GOLD: Imran MAGZUM (KAZ)
SILVER: Leo CLIMENT (ESP)
BRONZE: Ibraim ISKANDAROV (KGZ)

Key bout: Imran MAGZUM (KAZ) df. Leo CLIMENT WODEY (ESP), 6-2 (Round 2)

54kg
GOLD: Heorhii HUDZ (UKR)
SILVER: Guy BURSHTEIN (ISR)
BRONZE: Rakhymzhan TURGANBEK (KAZ)

Key bout: Heorhii HUDZ (UKR) df. Guy BURSHTEIN (ISR), 4-4 (Round 2)

58kg
GOLD: Bekzat KAZTAYEV (KAZ) df. Nurbol ZHYRGALBEKOV (KGZ), via submission (2-2)

BRONZE: Akdoolot ABYLBEKOV (KGZ) df. Daniel GONZALEZ (ESP), 12-3

63kg
GOLD: Sergey ZELENKEVICH (KAZ) df. Matei BRIE (ROU), via submission (10-1)

BRONZE: Wassim CHAINE (FRA) df. Nurassyl TURUSPEKOV (KAZ), 5-1
BRONZE: Tytus MACINSKI (POL) df. Eduard ROSIQUE (ESP), via submission (10-0)

69kg
GOLD: Gafur UZHAKHOV (KAZ) df. Ethan FORREZ (FRA), via submission (0-2) 

BRONZE: Ron FRIEDMAN (ISR) df. Alvaro GOMEZ (ESP), 14-8
BRONZE: Emilijus KAGANOVICIUS (LTU) df. Amit AVIV (ISR), via forfeit

76kg
GOLD: Sungat SANSYZBAYEV (KAZ) df. Tamir BARHAM (ISR), 5-4

BRONZE: Kalys SOODALIEV (KGZ) df. Islam SAGDANBEKOV (KGZ), 11-10

85kg
GOLD: Karim ADEM (FRA)
SILVER: Dorian FARKAS (HUN)
BRONZE: Stefan LOBODA (ROU)

Key bout: Karim ADEM (FRA) df. Dorian FARKAS (HUN), 4-2 (Round 3)

110kg
GOLD: Ibrahim MANARBEK (KAZ)
SILVER: Juan GOMEZ (ESP)
BRONZE: Dinmukhamed KUANGALIYEV (KAZ)

Key bout: Ibrahim MANARBEK (KAZ) df. Juan GOMEZ (ESP), 9-2 (Round 2)

#wrestlebishkek

Ozaki Avoids Carnage that Hits Japan in Bishkek Semifinals

Thursday, April 9, 2026 - 05:34 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 9) -- In what was turning out to be a miserable semifinal session for Japan, two-time Asian champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) restored normal order as she reached the 62kg final at the Asian Championships in Bishkek.

Japan saw two of its returning medalists -- Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) and Sara NATAMI (JPN) -- get pinned in their respective semifinals at 53kg and 57kg before Ozaki stepped on the mat for her own 62kg semifinal.

She left no room for error in securing a fall over Nigina SABIROVA (UZB) in just under two minutes. After grabbing a single-leg takedown, Ozaki spun behind for a 4-0 lead. She stayed on the offensive, getting an exposure before securing a cradle, by which she ended the match. Ozaki, who was dealt an upset loss herself last year when she had to settle for a bronze, will be look to add to the Asian titles she won in 2022 and 2024.

"[My condition] is not bad]," Ozaki said. "I didn't want to let up and was determined to keep fighting to the end. That's how I could have matches like my first one and this one. It went well."

If Ozaki wants to win the gold medal on Friday, Ozaki will have to beat one of the few wrestlers who have dealt her an international loss -- Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK).

The two had clashed in the final of the Asian Games in 2023 when Mun secured a 6-6 criteria win over Ozaki for the gold medal On Thursday, Mun reached the final with a dominant 11-0 victory over Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) using her strong gut-wrench sequences.

Ozaki is looking to the challenge of facing Mun again, especially a month before the Meiji Cup.

"This time, the [DPR] Korea team was entered in few weight classes," she said. "But looking ahead to the Meiji Cup, I came to this competition expecting to face opponents who are as strong as the top-class wrestlers in Japan."

Soon after Ozaki, two more Japanese wrestler made it to the finals. Nana IKEHATA (JPN) and Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) will look to add golds to Japan's tally at 65kg and 72kg, respectively.

In the 65kg semifinals, a takedown in each period was enough for Ikehata to secure a 4-0 win over Hanbit LEE (KOR) and reach her first Asian Championships final. She will face LILI (CHN) for the gold medal.

Lili, a world bronze medalist in 2023, earned a shot at an Asian gold by muscling her way to a victory by fall over Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB). Lili opened the scoring by shrugging by and getting behind for a takedown. After being put back on their feet, the two were on their knees when Esenbaeva suddenly found herself on her back, courtesy of a powerful pancake. The fall came at 2:09.

At 72kg, Yoshitake pinned HARSHITA (IND) in the semifinals. Harshita opened the scoring in the match with a takedown and she was working on a second one, when Yoshitake escaped and caught Harshita in a quad-pod. The Japanese then threw Harshita directly to danger to get four points. India challenged the call but lost it to give one more point to Yoshitake who led 5-2 at the break.

There was no more scoring sequence in the match until the last 15 seconds when Harshita tried to throw Yoshitake for a four-pointer. She almost succeeded but the Japanese did not land in danger and used a headlock to secure the fall just as the time expired.

Yoshitake will have to beat former 65kg world champion Jia LONG (CHN) to win the gold medal. Long defied the vocal home crowd and took out Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) with an 11-1 win.

Long, who moved up from 68kg, struck first with a single-leg takedown and gut wrench, but gave up a reversal point when Nurtaeva stepped over on a second roll attempt, making it 4-1 at the break. In the second period, Long added a stepout, then whizzered Nurtaeva to her back in countering a takedown shot to make it 7-1. A scramble resulted in her getting behind for 2 more, from which she used her high gut wrench to end the match in 4:32. Long will get a chance at a second Asian gold, having won the 65kg title in 2023.

The two upsets for Japan came at 53kg and 57kg. In a rematch of the 2024 world final at 55kg, Jin ZHANG (CHN) avenged that loss in Tirana in devastating fashion by catching Kiyooka in a momentary lapse and securing a victory by fall in their 53kg semifinal in Bishkek.

Kiyooka, the silver medalist last year, opened with a low single for a takedown and a 2-0 lead. But when she shot in again later, Zhang put in double underhooks and pancaked the Japanese onto her back, ending the match at 2:32. Kiyooka, the 2024 champion at 55kg, will find little comfort in completing her collection of Asian medals with a bronze in Bishkek.

Jang will face MEENAKSHI (IND) in the gold medal bout on Friday. Meenakshi, who defeated two-time world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) to make the team for the Asian Championships, booked her spot in the final after a 4-2 win over Seoyoung PARK (KOR). Down 2-0 till the last 30 seconds of the semifinals, Meenakshi used a slick pick to throw Park in danger for four points.

At 57kg, Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) was too much to handle for defending champion Sara NATAMI (JPN). She opened the scoring with a takedown and almost got a fall. However, the Japanese survived but not before giving up two points. A stepout for Natami cuts Batkhuyag's lead to 4-1 at the break.

Both wrestlers got into a bear hug in the second period but it is the Mongolian who managed to trip Natami and held the Japanese down for the fall.

Olympic bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) will challenge Batkhuyag in the final. Hong overwhelmed Youngjin KWON (KOR) with a 10-0 win in 31 seconds.

Hong got a quick takedown and, as Kwon clinged to a leg, Hong reached back for the head and turned the Korean over. From there, she got an arm between the legs, lifted and chalked up three more exposures to end the match.

Hong's Bronze Age included taking home medals of that color at the 2023 Asian Games, 2024 Paris Olympics, 2025 Asian Championships and 2025 World Championships.

Qualification Session Higlights

12:46: LILI (CHN), a 2023 world bronze medalist, charges into the 65kg semifinals with a solid 10-0 win over former Asian bronze medalist Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) that she completes with a takedown with two seconds left in the first period. Lili started the rout with a slick backwards trip for a 4-point takedown.

12:46: Nana IKEHATA (JPN), winner at the Zagreb Ranking Series and the 2024 world U20 champion, breaks open a close match with two-time world U23 bronze medalist MONIKA (IND) in the final minute of their 65kg quarterfinal, scoring a takedown, arm-bar exposure and two lace-lock rolls for a 10-1 victory.

12:41: Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB) opens with a 4-point takedown, and that will prove crucial when Narkhajid NYAMSUREN (MGL) continually chipped away at the lead in their 65kg quarterfinal.

12:40: Defending champion at 57kg Sara NATAMI (JPN) muscles her way into the semifinals with a 13-2 technical superiority over Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ). She scored a stepout before blocking an arm-spin from Raimova to score a takedown during the Kazakhstan wrestler's activity time, making her lead 4-0. Raimova began the second period completing the arm-spin and getting two points. Natami regroups and pancakes Raimova for four points before turning her for two more. She finishes the match 12-2 with a takedown and one more point for a lost challenge.

12:37: Asian Games champion Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) spins behind for a takedown early in the second period and holds on for a 3-0 victory over former world bronze medalist MANSI (IND) to advance to the 62kg quarterfinals. 

12:27: MANISHA (IND), the 62kg champion last year who has dropped all the way down to 57kg, falls at the first hurdle, sent to an 8-2 defeat by Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) in their quarterfinal clash. 

12:21: Two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) looks like a woman on a mission as she aims to make up for a bronze-medal finish last year. In what could have been regarded as the marquee matchup of the session, Ozaki puts on a takedown clinic in forging out a 10-0 victory over former world and Asian champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) to advance to the 62kg semifinals. Ozaki gains her fifth takedown of the match at the 2:37 mark.

12:20: Former Asian champion Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) drops her 72kg bout against HARSHITA (IND) despite on a scoring spree in the final minute. Down 6-2, Bakbergenova scored a stepout and a takedown to make it 6-5. She tried got another stepout just as the clock expired which made the score 6-6 but Harshita kept the criteria. Kazakhstan challenged for a foul but on review, even the last stepout point was removed as Harshita was still inside when the time expired. That made Harshita a 6-5 winner.

12:17: World, Asian and Olympic bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) quickly secures her spot in the 57kg semifinals, gaining a takedown against Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE), securing a lace lock and getting the requisite four spins for a 10-0 win :35.

12:06: Former world and Asian champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), aiming to improve on her silver medal from last year, faces stiff resistance from 2025 bronze medalist Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ)  in their 53kg quarterfinal, but grinds out a 10-0 win that she finishes with a takedown at 3:58.

12:05: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), the 2024 Asian champion at 65kg, is into the 72kg semifinals with victory by fall over Sevinchoy POLVONOVA (UZB). Yoshitake gets a 2-point exposure countering a takedown attempt, then turns Polvonova to secure the fall in 1:50.

12:01: Jia LONG (CHN), owner of a full collection of world medals and an Asian champion in 2023, finishes off a 10-0 win over Odgerel ERDENE OCHIR (MGL) just inside the first-period buzzer to book her place in the 72kg semifinals. 

12:00: Asian Games champion Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) and former world champion Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) don't give any chance but Sukhee is called passive in the second period and Mun gets a 2-1 lead. She holds on to that lead to win the 62kg bout.

11:59: World bronze medalist Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) breaks through the defense of Soobin KIM (KOR) for a single-leg takedown, then applies the lace lock and that's all she wrote in their 72kg qualification round match. Four quick spins and Nurtaeva is a 10-0 winner and into the semifinals.

11:55: It was a repechage bout but Paris bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) and Asian bronze medalist NEELAM (IND) put on one of the most exciting bouts of the tournament. Feng had a comfortable 8-2 lead but Neelam found a way to score a takedown and two turns to take an 8-8 criteria lead with just about a minute remaining. But Feng stepped over in a scramble to get a two points and lead 10-8. However, Neelam also exposed Feng and she was awarded two points making her a 10-10 winner. China challenged the call as it may have been after the time expired. On review, it was called no points as the clock did it zero before the Feng was in danger. Neelam is distraught while Feng will wrestle for a bronze medal later

11:41: Defending Asian champion Sara NATAMI (JPN) fell behind against Laylokhon SABIROVA (UZB), 2-2, on criteria with more than a minute remaining but Natami with an exposure and then holds Sabirova's back on the mat to claim a fall and advance to the 57kg quarterfinals.

11:39: Blink and you missed the 10-0 whitewashing by returning bronze medalist and former champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) of Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ) at 62kg. Zhang gets a quick takedown and uses a trap arm to turn her opponent four times.

11:37: Former world and Asian silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) gets her campaign at 57kg off to a strong start with a 10-0 over Tancholpon KYBALBEKOVA (KGZ), needing just 1:10 to complete the rout.

11:35: Aziza KELDIBEKOVA (KGZ) gets the ball rolling for the home team with a 12-1 win at 53kg over Pabasara GAMAGE (SRI). After a takedown and two exposures, Keldibekova is close to scoring another tilt when Gamage goes over the back and gets a reversal. But Keldibekova repeats her initial sequence and she's into the quarterfinals.  

11:34: Sakibjamal ESBOSYNOVA (UZB) gets the action started on Mat A with a 30-seconc fall of Ya Hsin CHEN (TPE) in their 53kg qualification-round bout.

11:30: Asian Championships third day and we have five more Women's Wrestling weight classes in action. Japan had four finalists on Wednesday. Will it continue it's hot streak?