Host India Takes 3 Golds on Opening Day of Women’s Wrestling

Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 18:09 By Ken Marantz

NEW DELHI (Feb. 20)—Going into this year’s Asian Championships, host India had had only one champion in women’s wrestling in the history of the tournament. In the space of one glorious day, they suddenly now have four.

Pinki PINKI (IND) and Sarita SARITA (IND) joined Divya KAKRAN (IND), who clinched her title in the afternoon session, as gold medalists with victories in the finals on the day three of the tournament Thursday in New Delhi.

Pinki won her first senior Asian title on the third try with a tense 2-1 victory over Dulguun BOLORMAA (MGL) in the 55kg final. A short time later, Sarita walked off with the 59kg crown with an equally close 3-2 win over Battsetseng ALTANTSETSEG (MGL), who was relegated to the silver medal for a second straight year.

“I feel fantastic,” Pinki said of the host nation’s success, albeit it came with powerhouses China and the DPR Korea absent due to circumstances related to the new coronavirus outbreak.

Earlier, Kakran clinched the 68kg gold by winning all four of her matches—all by fall—in the five-woman round-robin during the afternoon session, making her India’s first female Asian champion since Navjout KAUR (IND) won the 65kg title two years in Bishkek.

Japan won the other two golds at stake, as Miho IGARASHI (JPN) prevented India from gaining another title when she held on for a 3-2 victory over Devi NIRMALA (IND) in the 50kg final.

World silver medalist Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) capped the night with a 4-1 victory in the 76kg final over world U-23 bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) to pick up her third Asian gold and first since 2015.

Sarita SARITA (IND) edged Battsetseng ALTANTSETSEG (MGL), 3-2, and claimed her first Asian title. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Sarita had joined the long list of Indians with Asian silver medals when she finished second at the 2017 tournament in New Delhi.

“In 2017, I had a silver, so I knew the silver was not important,” said Sarita, who has also been on the Indian team to the senior World Championships five times, with a career-high finish of seventh in 2018.

“From the first bout, I considered each one the final, because I can’t win if I don’t win every bout. There was no motivation for a silver, I just wanted to win the gold.”

Sarita said she didn’t feel pressure of performing in front of the home crowd at K.D. Jadrav Wrestling Stadium. “I just had to do what I have always learned on the mat, and this is what I did today and won the gold medal.”

In the final, Altantsetseg took the lead with a stepout, but Sarita came back with a takedown to take a 2-1 lead into the third period. With :21 left, Altantsetseg gained another stepout, meaning one more would give her the one.

But Sarita was ready. As soon as Altantsetseg stepped forward, the Indian dipped down and shot for her legs. She ended up behind and gained a stepout herself with :11 to make it 3-2.

“I had watched some of her bouts before, I was just hoping to not give up a point,” Sarita said. “The moment she jumped, I thought I should flip her over, but I couldn’t get the hold and so it was like, let’s finish this with a one and win the match.”

In the 55kg final, all of the points came on the activity clock, with Pinki going ahead 2-1 with :47 left. A late flurry of action at the end yielded no points, giving Pinki her first major senior title.

“I wasn’t feeling any kind of pressure, I was confident was I was going to win the match in the end,” she said.

Miho IGARASHI (JPN) stopped Indian from winning a fourth gold medal with a 3-2 win over Devi NIRMALA (IND) in the 50kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Igarashi, a two-time world champion at both the U-23 and junior levels, capped her senior national team debut by matching the exploit of her younger sister Saki, the 2018 Asian champion at 55kg.

In the final, Igarashi scored with a double-leg takedown in the first period, to which a penalty point was added. In the second period, she continued to attack, but Nirmala was able to fend her off, nearly turning her over with a three-quarter nelson.

With the seconds ticking down, Nirmala grabbed a foot and reeled in Igarashi for a 2-point takedown, but it was too little, too late.

“She was really strong,” Igarashi said. “I didn’t really think about a strategy, but I thought to go on the attack first. It was good that I got points off that.

“After that I got a bit scared and I didn’t stay aggressive. But I really wanted to win the championship, I was obsessed, so I think I took the title by emotions.”

Igarashi came to New Delhi coming off a disappointing showing at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in January, where she lost in the quarterfinals.

“I was really disappointed by my performance at last month’s tournament,” she said. “With only one month before a big tournament, I had to regroup. But my desire to win was so strong,”

Igarashi felt a sense of responsibility after being handed the place on the national team in a weight class in which Japan has so much depth. She placed third at the Japan Championships, but with winner Yui SUSAKI (JPN) heading to the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament and runner-up Yuki IRIE (JPN) opting out, she was next in line for the assignment.

“I thought, I can’t wrestle poorly or lose easily,” she said. “There was some pressure, but in the end, I had a good result.”

Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) downed Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and won her third Asian gold medal, but first since 2015. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Minagawa’s win over Medet Kyzy was her second of the day. The two had met in their preliminary group, with the Japanese winning 3-0 before both won their semifinal matches to advance to a rematch in the final.

As she did earlier, Minagawa scored with stepouts, although this time she added in a 2-point title off a counter, from which Medet Kyzy gained a reversal to account for her point.

Minagawa said she was helped by recently training with sumo wrestlers on working in the arms to more effectively lock up in the standing position, a technique which is vital in Japan’s national sport.

“I think what I learned there was effective,” she said.

In the final round of matches at 68kg, world junior champion Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) defeated Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) by 11-0 technical fall in a bout that decided the silver and bronze medals. Both had lost to Kakran in the afternoon session and went into their clash with 2-1 records.

Kazakhstan, shut out of the finals, came away with four bronze medals from Valentina ISLAMOVA BRIK (KAZ) at 50kg, Marina ZUYEVA (KAZ) at 55kg, Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) at 59kg and Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) at 76kg.

Syzdykova, a 2016 Rio Olympic bronze medalist, won her fifth career Asian medal. She qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by placing fifth at last year’s World Championships.

Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) will square off with Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) in an opening-round top-three matchup. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

4th day to renew 2 major rivalries
The fireworks will start early on the fourth day of action Friday, as high-profile rivals in two weight classes were drawn to face each other in their opening bouts as women’s wrestling finishes up. In both cases, it will be the third time the foes will face each other at a major tournament.

At 53kg, world silver medalist Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) was drawn to face local star Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) as they begin their quest for gold at the quarterfinal stage.

Last May at the Asian Championships in Xi’an, China, Mukaida also faced Phogat in the round of 8, winning by 10-0 technical fall before going on to take the silver medal. Then, at the World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Mukaida ousted Phogat in the second round with a 7-0 win.

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) will wrestle Yukako KAWAI (JPN) on Friday morning in a rematch of last year's Asian finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

The quarterfinals at 62kg will see the latest clash between world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and world bronze medalist Yukako KAWAI (JPN). Like the other two, they also met at both the World and Asian Championships, with Tynybekova winning both.

Tynybekova took the Asian gold with an 8-6 win over Kawai in the final, then beat her again by fall in the second round at Nur-Sultan.

Day 3 Results

Women’s Wrestling

50kg (8 entries)
GOLD – Miho IGARASHI (JPN) df. Devi NIRMALA (IND), 3-2
BRONZE - Valentina ISLAMOVA BRIK (KAZ) df. Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE) by TF, 10-0, :39
BRONZE - Dauletbike YAKHSHIMURATOVA (UZB) df. Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 8-3

55kg (6 entries)
GOLD – Pinki PINKI (IND) df. Dulguun BOLORMAA (MGL), 2-1
BRONZE - Marina ZUYEVA (KAZ) df. Kana Higashikawa (JPN) by Fall, :52 (8-0)

59kg (7 entries)
GOLD – Sarita SARITA (IND) df. Battsetseng ALTANTSETSEG (MGL), 3-2
BRONZE - Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Yuumi KON (JPN) by Fall, 1:58 (2-0)

68kg (5 entries)
Final Group Standings
GOLD – Divya KAKRAN (IND), 4-0
SILVER - Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN), 3-1
BRONZE - Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL), 2-2
Key Match: Divya KAKRAN (IND) df. Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) by Fall, 4:21 (6-4) in Round 4

76kg (7 entries)
GOLD – Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), 4-1
BRONZE - Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Arlunjargal GANBAT (MGL) by Fall, 1:58 (7-0)

#wrestlebishkek

Unheralded Gharehdaghi Stuns Olympic Champ Jamalov

Friday, April 10, 2026 - 05:12 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 10) -- Unheralded Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN) weighed 76kg in the morning on Friday. But in the semifinal of the Asian Championships, he punched well above his weight, beating 74kg Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) at 79kg.

Making his international senior debut, Gharehdaghi upset Jamalov 4-3 to advance to the 79kg final. He used an effective shrug to set up two second-period takedowns in a turbo-charged match that featured a number of wild scrambles.

In the final one, Jamalov scored a stepout to pull within one point with :33 left. But the third-year student at Tokyo's Waseda University, whose father is Iranian, held off a final surge from Jamalov, with his legs sailing in the air during a sprawl.

"I didn't really think about a strategy," Gharehdaghi said. "I just wanted the opponent to feel that I was tough. I stayed aggressive and on the attack. In the second period, it was so hard I could hardly stand up."

Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN) battles it out witb Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) during the 79kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

While he defeated Jamalov, Gharehdaghi said he always admired the Olympic champion and he was glad that he could wrestle the Uzbekistan wrestler.

"I have admired him for a long time," he said. "More than winning or losing, I'm glad I could face him."

For the gold medal, the Japanese will face another unexpected finalist Sandeep MANN (IND) who completed a dominant 10-0 win over Somonjon IKROMOV (TJK) using three takedowns and two turns.

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) scores on Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) during the 97kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Another Japan wrestler who denied an Olympic champion was Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) as he defeated Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) in the 97kg semifinals.

Defending champion Yoshida, who also has an Iranian father, broke Tazhudinov down with his relentless pressure and scored takedowns at will in the final minute. He built a 4-4 criteria lead at the break but Tazhudinov fired a takedown at the start of the second period to lead 6-4.

However, Yoshida scored two points for exposure in the next exchange. Bahrain challenged the call but lost it, giving one more point to Yoshida and extend his lead to 7-6. He added two quick stepouts to make it 9-6 before making it 11-0 with a go-behind takedown.

The two got in a scramble towards the end of the bout but it was Yoshida who managed to score a takedown and then turned Tazhudinov to make it 15-6, his winning score.

Yoshida will face world silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) in the final after the Iranian posted a danger-free 2-0 win over VICKY (IND). Azarpira, who is making his senior Asian debut, got an activity point in the first period, then, while on the activity clock himself, added a stepout point in the second period.

SUJEET (IND) reached his first-ever Asian Championships final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In other semifinals, U23 world champion SUJEET (IND) set up final against world bronze medalist Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) at 65kg. The two met in the U23 World Championships final last year in which Sujeet won 10-0.

65kg semifinals - SUJEET (IND) continues his hot start to the season by scoring three takedowns in the second period and defeating Russian-born Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) 7-2. Sujeet, winner of two Ranking Series events earlier this year, strikes first by scoring a stepout, but Kudiev comes back with a takedown while on the activity clock to take a 2-1 lead into the break. Sujeet then puts on an exhibition of how to perfectly set up and execute takedowns, scoring three in a row from the midway point of the second period. First, he gets in deep on a double-leg, then scores with a sweeping single, then goes back with the double-leg.

A rematch of the U23 World Championships final as Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) enters the Asian Championships final after Sujeet does the same from other side. Jalolov beats Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) 5-3 using a late takedown.

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) presents his case to referee after the semifinal against ABHIMANYOU (IND). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 70kg, Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) will face ABHIMANYOU (IND) after he defeated Sina KHALILI (IRI), 5-1. Abhimanyou stunned local hero and defending champion Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), 6-3.

70kg semifinals - Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) reached the final after a controlled 5-1 victory over U23 world silver medalist Sina KHALILI (IRI). Apart from the one point he got for Khalili's passivity, Tumur Ochir scored four stepouts in the second period to claim the victory and a shot at the gold medal.

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) saw his title defense at 70kg end in confusion and tears when he fell 6-3 to ABHIMANYOU (IND). Abhimanyou was leading 3-3 on criteria in the second period when he got deep on a double-leg takedown. Akmataliev attempted a counter lift at the edge, and the referee originally awarded him a 4-point throw with 1:08 left. But upon discussion and without an official challenge, the score was changed to give the Indian a two-point takedown, which Akmataliev apparently did not realize. He never tried to attack in the final seconds, and was taken aback when he saw the scoreboard and dropped to the mat in despair. A challenge from Kyrgyzstan went nowhere and Abhimanyou, a 2024 bronze medalist, gave a sly grin over his unusual win.

Iran got a finalist at 57kg as Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) destroyed Fuga SASAKI (JPN), 11-0 and set up a final against Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) who defeated Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ), 4-1.

57kg semifinals - Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) became the first finalist of the Asian Championships in Bishkek for Iran. He countered Fuga SASAKI (JPN) multiple times to score two-point moves and completed an 11-0 victory. A lost challenge for Japan also added a point to his score.

Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) assured that he will improve on his bronze medal from last year, scoring three stepouts in a 4-1 victory over Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ). Batkhuyag took a 2-0 lead in the first period by scoring a stepout while Karachov was on the activity clock. In the second period, Karachov got an activity point to cut the gap to 1. But it was Batkhuyag who goes on the attack, and he chalked up two stepouts off driving single-leg takedown attempts. The 2023 world U23 bronze medalist then fended off Karachov's late attacks to finish up the victory.

Qualification Highlights

13:14: In the final match of the session, returning bronze medalist Sina KHALILI (IRI) books his place in the 70kg semifinals with a solid 10-3 victory over 2023 champion Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ). Khalili gains a takedown, then adds a "wishbone" roll, in which he locks his head between opponent's legs, then repeats the combination for an 8-0 lead. Doszhanov secures a stepout in the final seconds of the first period. In the second, the two trade takedowns and, beside temporary timeouts to stop a bloody nose, the Iranian goes through unscathed.

12:50: Razambek JAMALOV (UZB), competing for the first time since winning the 74kg gold at the Paris Olympics and undergoing two surgeries on his shoulder, is at his slippery best in besting defending champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) 5-2 in their 79kg quarterfinal. The Russian-born Jamalov constantly wiggles out of solid takedown attempts by Yousefi, limiting him to a pair of stepouts. Jamalov gets an activity point and stepout in the first period for a 2-1 lead. After cartwheeling out of a certain double-leg takedown by Yousefi, Jamalov connects with a single-leg shot while on the activity clock to go ahead, and an unsuccessful Iranian challenge puts him up 5-1. With time running out, Yousefi grabs a single leg and lifts it high in the air, but again he is forced to settle for a stepout.

12:37: World U23 champion SUJEET (IND), winner of two Ranking Series events this year, uses an ankle pick to great effect in cruising to a 10-0 victory over Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) in 3:22 to advance to the 65kg semifinals.

12:32: In the marquee match-up of the morning, Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) and Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) did not disappoint. Narikuni blocked a front headlock from Akmataliev for two points and then turned him using a gut-wrench to lead 4-0. As he was trying to turn him again, Akmataliev blocks him and gets two points. A reversal from Narikuni makes it 5-2. He tries another gut-wrench to extend the lead to 7-2 but Akmataliev once again blocks him for two points and holds Narikuni for a pin. Narikuni flees out of bounds and is docked two points and asked to return in par terre. He escapes and gets a reversal point to lead 8-6. Akmataliev scores a takedown to make it 8-8 and take the criteria lead. Narikui with a desperate flying squirrel but Akmataliev slams him on the mat for four points. A stepout for Narikuni at the end but Akmataliev wins 12-9 at 70kg

12:31: World bronze medalist Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) gets a takedown and two stepouts in the first period of his 97kg quarterfinal against Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ), then needs less than a half-minute to get a snapdown takedown and two gut wrenches in the second for a 10-0 victory. Next up for him is a clash with Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN).

12:26: Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN) fights out of a six-point hole against returning bronze medalist Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) with a pair of late first-period takedowns, then goes on a 10-point rampage in the second period against his visibly winded opponent to grind out a 14-9 victory and advance to the 79kg semifinals.

12:23: World silver medalist and Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) powers to five stepouts against Sherzod POYONOV (UZB), but ends their 97kg with a takedown with six seconds remaining for a 10-0 win.

12:15: Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) with a 25-second 10-0 victory over ANKUSH (IND) at 57kg! What an anti-climatic finish to the match. He reaches the semifinal

12:00: World bronze medalist Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) catches Zeneemeder BYAMBASUREN (MGL) by the leg and slams him on the mat. He holds him long enough to secure the fall and advance at 65kg.

11:57: Olympic and two-time Asian champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN), aiming to break out of recent slump, begins his campaign at 97kg by taking a 5-0 lead over Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) then plodding to a 6-2 win that included giving up two late stepouts.

11:56: Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN), another Japanese wrestler with Iranian roots who is making his first appearance on the senior national team, looks impressive in scoring four takedowns in a 9-1 victory over Daulet YERGESH (KAZ) to gain a place in the 79kg quarterfinals.

11:55: Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) ends Takara SUDA (JPN) attempt of winning a second straight Asian gold with a 9-0 victory. Kudiev scored two stepouts and one point for Suda's activity clock to lead 3-0 at the break. Three different takedowns helped him to clinch an important victory at 65kg.

11:51: A marquee matchup on Mat A between past and reigning champions at 70kg — with an intriguing twist. Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), the 2022 world and Asian champion, scores two takedowns in the final minute for a come-from-behind 7-4 win over defending champion Viktor RASSADIN (TJK). Narikuni leads 1-0 off an activity point in the first period when Rassidin opens the second by twice coming out the back door for takedowns to lead 4-1. Narikuni strikes back with a single-leg takedown, and barely misses an exposure with an arm bar, leaving him still trailing. But he fights off whizzer to get behind for the go-ahead takedown with :19 left, then adds a gut wrench for good measure. Narikuni, who is also doing the Freestyle-Greco double here, will be back on the mat tonight for his Greco 72kg bronze-medal match.

11:37: U20 world champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) scored a takedown in the last minute to take a 6-5 lead against Feng LU (CHN) and win the bout at 79kg. Lu had a 5-4 lead after a reversal but Yousefi showed no signs of panicking, picking up a single-leg, head-outside takedown for the win. He gets to face 74kg Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB)

11:35: A wild one on Mat B! Asian U23 bronze medalist Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) gets the home crowd going by opening his 65kg match with Zagreb Open silver medalist Peyman NEMATI (IRI) with a stepout, then gets behind and throws the Iranian to the mat for a takedown and a 3-0 lead. Nemati responds with a stepout off an attempted back trip, and then another to cut the lead to one at the break. Nemati goes ahead 4-3 with a single-leg takedown to start the second period, but Kakharov fights off a whizzer for a stepout to regain the lead 4-4 on criteria. In a wild scramble in the final seconds, Kakharov picks up a 2-point exposure to come away with a 6-4 win.

11:26: Reigning Asian U23 champion and 2024 world U23 bronze medalist VICKY (IND) manages just a stepout and activity clock in the first period of his 97kg bout with Triloki YADAV (NEP), but breaks down his opponent's defenses in the second to gain his first takedown, then gains two exposures after a second for a 10-0 win.

11:25: Takara SUDA (JPN), who is moving up from 61kg, is saved up the buzzer in his opening bout at 65kg against Adi SERIKULY (KAZ). Suda scored a stepout before a scramble gave two points to each wrestler. With a 3-2 lead, Suda managed an easy takedown to extend it to 5-2. Serikuly managed to get his first takedown in the final 10 seconds to make it 5-4 but the time expired before he could score any more points. Kazakhstan challenged hoping the last turn was in time but that was not the case and Suda won 6-4

11:19: Sherzod POYONOV (UZB), the 92kg Asian silver medalist and world U20 champion in 2024, hands the home team an early defeat with an 8-2 win over Kanybek ABDULKHAIROV (KGZ) to advance to the 97kg quarterfinals.

11:14: Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), who is doing the rare Freestyle-Greco double in Bishkek (he lost in the Greco 97kg quarterfinals), begins with a 3-0 win over Juhwan SEO (KOR) in their 97kg qualification-round match. Ganbaatar has a better shot at Freestyle, as he is a two-time past Asian bronze medalist who finished second at this year's Ranking Series tournament in Mongolia.

Host India Takes 3 Golds on Opening Day of Women’s Wrestling

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Unheralded Gharehdaghi Stuns Olympic Champ Jamalov