India dominates Commonwealth Games with 3 golds

Friday, August 5, 2022 - 21:02 By Vinay Siwach

COVENTRY, England (August 8) -- When Bajrang PUNIA (IND) lost to David TREMBLAY (CAN) in the 2014 Commonwealth Games final, a 13-year-old Lachlan McNEIL (CAN) was in the crowd at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow.

While Tremblay managed to beat Punia, McNeil's attempt to repeat the feat eight years later in the Coventry Arena on Friday fell short as Punia, now a veteran of three Commonwealth Games, defended his 65kg gold medal with little trouble.

Punia and McNeil reached the 65kg gold medal bout by beating George RAMM (ENG) and Inayat ULLAH (PAK) with ease. With gold on the line, McNeil did put up a fight, scoring the only takedown against Punia in the competition, but it wasn't enough as the Tokyo bronze medalist won the bout 10-2.

That was one of the three gold medals India won on day one of wrestling at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Deepak PUNIA (IND) and Sakshi MALIK (IND) were also crowned first-time Commonwealth champions.

But it was Punia's gold that delighted the huge contingent of Indian fans at the arena.

"When you are wrestling at any tournament, you don't think about the difficulty of it," Punia said. "I wrestled thinking everyone is important and I want to be back to the level I was in 2018 and 2019."

Since winning the bronze in Tokyo, Punia has suffered two losses -- against Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in the Asian Championships final and Abbos RAKHMANOV (UZB) at the Ranking Series in Almaty.

But with the World Championships just a month away, he would like to put behind the two losses and take confidence from the win in Birmingham.

"World Championships is the main goal," he said. "I have been preparing for that and now it's very close."

For McNeil, the Commonwealth Games were a learning experience as he tries to win a berth for Canada for the Paris Olympics.

"The sole purpose of coming here was to wrestle Bajrang," McNeil said. "He is a world-class wrestler and he proved it. But it's a great experience and I will carry it forward to the Olympics in Paris."

Deepak PUNIA (IND), gold medalist, with the three other medalists at 86kg in Coventry. (Photo: UWW / Helena Curtis)

Another Punia had a higher stake in the final. Not only was Deepak wrestling for gold, but he also had to beat Muhammad INAM (PAK), a wrestler who has never lost to an Indian at the Commonwealth Games.

The two-time champion kept Deepak quiet for a long time but was called passive in the first period. Deepak scored a stepout during the activity period to lead 2-0 at the break. A tiring Inam kept going for half-hearted attacks and Deepak managed to get another stepout.

He managed to keep Inam away until the clock expired, winning the gold at 86kg, 3-0.

Amarveer DHESI (CAN) won his first Commonwealth Games gold on Friday. (Photo: UWW / Helena Curtis)

The final freestyle gold medal went to Pan-Am champion Amarveer DHESI (CAN) who defeated another Pakistan wrestler in Zaman ANWAR in the final.

Anwar did score two points but Dhesi was class apart, winning the gold medal with a fall after leading 9-2.

In the semifinal, Dhesi was up against Mohit GREWAL (IND) and managed to get an easy 12-2 win and keep his promise of winning against India at the Commonwealth Games.

"An Indo-Canadian and Indian wrestling always makes things complex back home," Dhesi said. "But great to get the win and be on the top of the podium."

Dhesi will now try to repeat the feat at the World Championships in Belgrade.

"The weight class has some solid guys but my aim remains the same -- to reach the podium," he said.

Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR), red, defeated Linda MORAIS (CAN) to win the 68kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Helena Curtis)

Repeat for Oborududu, Adekuoroye

Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) became a two-time Commonwealth Games champion after winning the 68kg gold medal in Coventry.

Wrestling former world champion at 59kg Linda MORAIS (CAN), Oborududu controlled the bout till the end and gave no chance to Morais to attack.

At one point the score was 3-1 and Morais fancied her chance of winning the gold with a takedown but Oborududu managed to score a go-behind in the final moments and win 5-1.

Blessing, who became the first-ever wrestler from Africa to reach an Olympic final in Tokyo, won gold in 2018 but has a silver from the 2010 edition and a bronze from 2014.

"For me, I was calm in the final," Oborududu said. "I wanted to control the final and not attack too much. I knew the match would be tough if I don't wrestle smart. I didn't need to panic and that's why I wrestled how I did."

Morais will also be at the World Championships at 68kg and will be hoping to avenge the loss.

"We thought it's a good opportunity to jump to 68kg and be part of the team," Morais said.

Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) defended her 57kg gold after beating Anshu MALIK (IND) in the final. (Photo: UWW / Helena Curtis)

Adekuoroye, who wrestled Pooja DHANDA (IND) in the 57kg final in Gold Coast, defeated world silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND) in the final to defend her gold.

In their only meeting before Birmingham, Adekuoroye won via technical superiority over Malik. While the score was close on Friday, the result was Adekuoroye won the gold.

She got a double leg for a takedown to lead 2-0 and kept Malik off the hooks for the remaining time. As the break approached, Adekuoroye once again blasted a double and made the lead 4-0.

Malik continued her attacks and did get a takedown after Adekuoroye was penalized for a passivity point. But the takedown was a little too late as the Nigerian won 7-3 before breaking to her dance to celebrate the gold.

Sakshi MALIK (IND) Sakshi MALIK's (IND) move that helped her secure the fall over Ana GONZALEZ (CAN). (Photo: UWW / Helena Curtis)

The gold at 62kg was captured by Sakshi MALIK (IND) as she came from behind to beat U23 world champion Ana GONZALEZ (CAN) in the final.

Gonzalez jumped to a 4-0 lead at the break with two takedowns and Malik was struggling to find openings.

"I thought I could win and I was really confident," Gonzalez said. "But I had to be a little proactive in the second period and not let her wrestle her way."

Malik, trying to get her favorite double-leg attack, kept Gonzalez close to her and snapped which allowed Malik to grab Gonzalez leg. She turned it into an underhook and got the double. With Gonzalez falling on her back, Malik kept the pressure and secured the fall.

"I have a bronze medal at Commonwealth and silver so this time I just thought that I have to get the gold and I am happy to get it," Malik said.

RESULTS

Freestyle

65kg
GOLD: Bajrang PUNIA (IND) df. Lachlan McNEIL (CAN), 9-2

BRONZE: George RAMM (ENG) df. Lowe BINGHAM (NRU), 11-0
BRZONE: Inayat ULLAH (PAK) df. Ross CONNELLY (SCO), 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Deepak PUNIA (IND) df. Muhammad INAM (PAK), 3-0

BRONZE: Alexander MOORE (CAN) df. Matthew OXENHAM (NZL), 10-0
BRONZE: Jayden LAWRENCE (AUS) df. Edward LESSING (RSA), 12-11

125kg
GOLD: Amarveer DHESI (CAN) df. Zaman ANWAR (PAK), via fall

BRONZE: Mohit GREWAL (IND) df. Aaron JOHNSON (JAM), via fall
BRONZE: Mandhir KOONER (ENG) df. Kensley MARIE (MAU), via fall

Women's wrestling

57kg
GOLD: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Anshu MALIK (IND), 7-4

BRONZE: Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) df. Sophia AYIETA (KEN), via fall
BRONZE: Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI) df. Irene SYMEONIDIS (AUS), 10-0

62kg
GOLD: Sakshi MALIK (IND) df. Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN), via fall

BRONZE:: Berthe ETANE (CMR) df. Kelsey BARNES (ENG), 9-4
BRONZE: Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) df. Abbie FOUNTAIN (SCO), 10-0

68kg
GOLD: Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) df. Linda MORAIS (CAN), 5-1

BRONZE: Tayla FORD (NZL) df. Amylee AZA (MAU), via fall
BRONZE: Divya KAKRAN (IND) df. Tiger COCKER (TGA), via fall

#wrestlebishkek

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

Saturday, April 11, 2026 - 18:46 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), 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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Olympic Wrestling (@unitedworldwrestling)

“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) 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) 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.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Olympic Wrestling (@unitedworldwrestling)

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) 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) 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) 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).

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)

India dominates Commonwealth Games with 3 golds

Comments

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