#WrestleXian

Iran Hauls in 4 More Golds to Cap Domination of Asian Freestyle

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 - 15:59 By Ken Marantz

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XI’AN, China (April 24) – Iran capped its domination of the freestyle competition at the Asian Championships by hauling in four of the five gold medals at stake on the second day—twice denying host China a title in the process.

And a gritty performance by a teenager making his senior debut assured that every member of the Iranian team will be heading home with a medal.  

China’s bid to stop the Iranian juggernaut fizzled out when world silver medalist DENG Zhiwei (CHN) fell 2-1 in the 125kg final to Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) in the last bout of the night at Xi’an’s Xidian University Gymnasium. 

Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) won his second Asian title with a 2-1 win over China's LIU Minghu in the 61kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

That was the same score by which Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) had edged LIU Minghu (CHN) at 61kg in the first final to regain the Asian title he won two years ago in New Delhi.

Iran’s other gold medals were seized by world U23 champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) at 86kg and world bronze medalist Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) at 92kg, both of whom were hardly challenged during the competition and finished up with technical fall victories in the finals. 

With seven golds and three bronzes, Iran easily won the team competition with 220 points. India, with one gold, three silvers and four bronzes, was second at 155, followed by Kazakhstan, which had 129 after finishing with two golds, a silver and two bronzes.

Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ), the 74kg gold medalist, was the non-Iranian Day 2 champion. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

The lone gold medal that didn’t end around the neck of an Iranian went to Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ), who captured the first major medal of his career when he forged a 5-0 victory over Amit DHANKHAR (IND) in the 74kg final.

“I’m feeling good, I brought some happiness to my family and fans,” said Kaisonov, a bronze medalist in Bishkek last year and the silver medalist at the Asian Games in Jakarta.

Kaisonov’s path to the final got a little smoother when two potential rivals, world silver medalist Adam BATIROV (BRN) and Yuhi FUJINAMI (JPN), a 2017 world bronze medalist at 70kg, both exited the tournament by defaults after suffering injuries during victories.

“We still have time to meet each other,” Kaisanov said. “But anyway, I was ready and really confident in myself.”

Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) scored a bronze medal at 74kg with a 9-8 comeback win over Ilgiz DZHAKYPBEKOV (KGZ). (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Meanwhile, Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) avoided the prospect of being the only Iranian to head home without a medal when he put on a furious comeback to defeat Ilgiz DZHAKYPBEKOV (KGZ), 9-8, in a bronze-medal match at 74kg.

Dzhakypbekov built up a 6-1 lead, and was still ahead on criteria when the 18-year-old Nokhodilarimi, a 2o17 world cadet bronze medalist, stormed back to make it 8-8 in the final minute. The Iranian stayed on the attack and drove out a fatigued Dzhakypbekov for the decisive point with :33 left. 

“If I lost, I would have been depressed,” said Nokhodilarimi, who seemed to be sparked by a dressing down from his coach between periods.

In the 61kg final, China’s Liu, a world U23 bronze medalist, received an activity clock point for the lone score of the first period. But in the second period, Ehsanpoor scored with a single-leg takedown, and that held up for the gold.

At 86kg, Ghasempour totally dominated Aligarizhi GAMIDGADZHIEV (KGZ), building up a 7-0 lead with three takedowns in the first period, then finishing up a 10-0 technical fall at the 4:10 mark.

Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) grabbed the 92kg gold medal with an 11-0 victory over India's Viky VIKY (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Karimimachiani didn’t need that long to put away Viky VIKY (IND) at 92kg, scoring four takedowns before ending the match at 2:28 with a roll that made it 11-0.

In the night’s finale, Deng started out just like compatriot Liu, gaining an activity point to lead 1-0 going into the second period. But Mohebi forced the Chinese out for a point that put him ahead on criteria, then received an activity point himself for the 2-1 victory.

India came away with three bronze medals, while Japan and Kazakhstan had two each.

One of Japan’s was won by world bronze medalist Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN), who denied Azizbek SOLIEV (UZB)a second straight bronze by posting a 9-3 victory. The continental medal was the third of Matsumoto’s career, having previously won silvers in both styles-- freestyle in 2015 and Greco-Roman in 2017.

The six-day tournament in the historic central Chinese city continues Thursday with the start of the women’s competition. 

Day 2 results

Freestyle

61kg (14 entries)
Gold – Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) df. LIU Minghu (CHN), 2-1 
Bronze – Rahul AWARE (IND) df. KIM Jincheol (KOR), 9-2
Bronze – Yudai FUJITA (JPN) df. Dzhamshed SHARIFOV (TJK), 3-1 

74kg (13 entries)
Gold – Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) df. Amit DHANKHAR (IND), 5-0
Bronze – Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) df. Ilgiz DZHAKYPBEKOV (KGZ), 9-8
Bronze – Olgenbayar BATSUURI (MGL) df. Adam BATIROV (BRN) by Default

86kg (15 entries)
Gold – Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Aligarizhi GAMIDGADZHIEV (KGZ) by TF, 10-0, 4:10
Bronze – Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) df. Abdurasul VAKHOBOV (UZB), 4-0
Bronze – Deepak PUNIA (IND) df. Bakhodur KODIROV (TJK), 8-2 

92kg (11 entries)
Gold – Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) df. Viky VIKY (IND) by TF, 11-0, 2:29 
Bronze – Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN) df. Azizbek SOLIEV (UZB), 9-2
Bronze – SUN Xiao (CHN) df. Muhammad INAM (PAK) by Default

125kg (11 entries)
Gold – Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) df. DENG Zhiwei (CHN), 2-1
Bronze – KIM Donghwan (KOR) df. Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) by Fall, 4:41 (4-1) 
Bronze – Sumit SUMIT (IND) df. Farkhod ANAKULOV (TJK), 8-2

Freestyle Team Standings

Gold – Iran, 220 points (7 gold-0 silver-3 bronze)
Silver – India, 155 (1-3-4)
Bronze – Kazakhstan, 129 (2-1-2) 

#WrestleTirana

European Championships 2026 Greco-Roman Preview

Thursday, April 16, 2026 - 09:14 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 15) -- When Aleksandr KARELIN won his 12th European gold in 2000, it seemed like one of the most impregnable records in wrestling. In 2023, Riza KAYAALP (TUR) equaled that accomplishment but his hopes of going past Karelin came to naught after he was pinned in the final at Bucharest in 2024. [Kayaalp’s 12 golds include the 2025 European Games gold medal since no European Championships was held in that year].

Two years later, Kayaalp will take another shot at history when he steps onto the mat in Tirana next week for the European Championships in the 130kg weight class.

DOWNLOAD FULL PREVIEW HERE | European Championships 2026 Schedule | European Championships 2026 Freestyle Preview | European Championships 2026 Women's Wrestling Preview

Kayaalp began this season with a gold medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series to set the stage for an epic European comeback. Apart from breaking the record, a win in Tirana will give Kayaalp much-needed confidence as the 36-year-old continues his comeback after missing two years of action.

The field in Tirana includes Muhamet Malo Ranking Series winner and perhaps Kayaalp's biggest threat Marat KAMPAROV (UWW). 2025 European bronze medalists Jello KRAHMER (GER) and Darius VITEK (HUN) are returning with an aim to change the color of their medals.

Among other contenders are former U23 world champion Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), former U20 world champion Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) and Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) who once pinned Kayaalp in Istanbul.

Turkiye will be hoping to win more golds than just Kayaalp's.

Defending champion at 63kg Kerem KAMAL (TUR) will look to find the same form he did in the first half of 2025, winning three gold medals in a span of four months.
 
Trying to stop Kamal from winning a second straight gold medal will be returning silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) who fell short in a one-sided final last year. Also in the mix are U23 world champion Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) and world bronze medalist Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA). Babashov defeated Eriomenco in the final of the U23 World Championships but both can make a run for gold in Tirana.

Veteran Sergey EMELIN (UWW) enters with hopes of winning his third European gold and first since in 2021.

Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) is a four-time European champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Amoyan's World
There is no Greco-Roman wrestler who can be considered as dominant as Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) among current wrestlers. The defending champion will land in Tirana in a bid to win his fifth straight European title. He last lost at the European Championships in 2021, dropping his 72kg final.

But since then, Amoyan has been untouched at the continental level. He never looked in trouble during his golden run in 2025 and is unlikely to suffer any upsets this year as well.

Lining up to challenge him are returning silver medalist Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) and former champion Robert FRITSCH (HUN). Joining them will be U23 world champion Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) and world bronze medalist Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR).

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) is one of the three defending Greco-Roman champions for Azerbaijan. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Azerbaijan's Defending Champs
Azerbaijan is bringing all three of its 2025 champions as it looks to defend the team title. Olympic bronze medalist and world silver Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) leads the charge at 67kg and is the favorite to win gold.

A possible rematch of last year's final is on the cards as Abu AMAEV (BUL) returns to maintain his 100 percent record of winning a medal at the European Championships. Amaev has two bronze and a silver at the tournament.

Two young stars who can pose a threat are U23 world silver medalist Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) and former U20 world champion Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW). Chkhikvadze began this year with two silver medals at the Zagreb Open and Muhamet Malo Ranking Series events.

Zakriev made his senior debut at the Muhamet Malo in Tirana and finished with a bronze medal.

Returning at 60kg is Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) who began this season with a gold medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series. He would like to forget the medalless campaigns at World Championships and Islamic Solidarity Games and regain the form he was at last year's Europeans, winning three out of four bouts via technical superiority.

The only wrestler who troubled Mammadli was Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) who will be returning with the hope of changing his silver to gold this year. Tibilov's defense can be hard to penetrate but he has not been able to stop Mammadli's par terre offense, from where he lost the final last year.

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) is the third returning champion for Azerbaijan as he looks to defend his 82kg gold medal. Apart from the two technical points he gave up, Gurbanov was unscored upon as he won four bouts to win the gold medal.

He blanked Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO), 4-0, in the semifinals but the Georgian will be keen on avenging that loss. The world silver medalist was not awarded the par terre position in the semifinals last year which could have changed the result of the bout.

Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), silver medalist at 77kg at Zagreb Open, is moving up to 82kg and will be among the medal contenders in Tirana along with Muhamet Malo Ranking Series silver medalist Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW).

Return of Novikov, Milov
After missing the entire 2025 season after the European Championships, Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) and European champion Kiril MILOV (BUL) will be back in action in Tirana with an aim to win gold medals at 87kg and 97kg respectively.

Novikov was stunned in the 87kg final last year by David LOSONCZI (HUN) but he will like to make amends and win his second European gold. At the recent Dan Kolov tournament in Bulgaria, Novikov suffered a 7-3 in the semifinal against Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) who had troubled Novikov at the European Championships last year as well.

Filchakov will be in Tirana to challenge Novikov again along with several other stars including world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) who picked up a bronze medal last year. Paris bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), who skipped the tournament last year, will also be returning to action for the first time this year.

Returning bronze medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE), former world champion Lasha GOBADZE (GEO), former European champion Istvan TAKACS (HUN) and Alan OSTAEV (UWW) are also in the hunt for medals at this weight class.

Kiril MILOV (BUL)Kiril MILOV (BUL) defeated Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) for the first time in his career and went on to win the 97kg gold. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

For Milov, the path to gold should be much simpler than Novikov. Milov stunned Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) last year, handing the Armenian legend his first European loss since 2017, before winning his second European gold medal. In Tirana, he will be joined by the three other medalists from the 2025 edition -- silver medalist Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), and bronze medalists Alex SZOKE (HUN) and Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW).

But Milov's biggest threat will be world silver medalist Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) who suffered a shocking loss to Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED). Sargsian has an explosive offense from par terre and can defend as well as he did during the World Championships, winning four bouts by the score of 1-1 before losing the final.

At 55kg, it can well be the passing of the baton as world champion and returning bronze medalist Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) takes on defending champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW). These are the only two returning medalists but Lolua is primed to upset Sefershaev.

At 72kg, world silver medalist Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA), who had to share the gold medal with Levente LEVAI (HUN), will be the sole favorite this year. He has one of the most effective defenses in the world.

Among the few challengers will be Krisztian VANCZA (HUN), U20 world champion Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) and former U23 European champion Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE).