Iran, USA share top honors at Zagreb Open

Wednesday, February 1, 2023 - 22:06 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 1) -- For those who watched Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) wrestle on Wednesday, the most difficult task would be to find a chink in his armor. Sure, Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) managed to score a takedown on Yazdani using a powerful single leg to go behind. Barring that moment in which he was caught off-guard, Yazdani opened his season with a 44-2 routing of his opponents to win the gold medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series event.

In his first tournament since the loss to David TAYLOR (USA) in the World Championships final last year, Yazdani was at his usual calm on the mat and managed to run through the 86kg field in Zagreb.

The season-opening Ranking Series event is the first under the new rule of a two-kilogram allowance for wrestlers and offers prize money to the medal winners.

Yazdani, along with five other gold medalists, pocketed 1500 Swiss Francs while the silver medalists got 750 Swiss Francs. The two bronze medalists in each of the six weight classes got 500 Swiss Francs each.

Ishiguro, who surprised many by reaching the final at 86kg, opened the score in the final against Yazdani but as the Iranian continued his high-pressure, underhook dominated game, Ishiguro had no answers.

Yazdani scored via pushouts combined with two takedowns for a 7-2 lead. Ishiguro tried a bodylock, but Yazdani managed to counter it with a four before a double leg to win 13-2.

After the final, Ishiguro said that he tried saving his stamina against Yazdani which stopped him from giving his 100 percent in the final.

Reza ATRI (IRI) won the 61kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

This was Iran's second gold of the night as Reza ATRI (IRI) won the 61kg gold over Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL). While he only led 5-3 at the break, Atri dominated the second period and gave no chance to Narmandakh. He used an underhook to four to secure the fall in the final.

The USA also won two gold medals as Alec PANTALEO (USA) scored his second career win over Haji ALIYEV (AZE) and Jason NOLF (USA) impressed in his 3-3 win over World Championships bronze medalist Yones EMAMI (IRI).

At 70kg, Pantaleo faced Aliyev and rode high on confidence as he defeated Aliyev at the Polan Open Ranking Series event in 2021. Taking lessons from that bout, Pantaleo did not let Aliyev use the snapdown from the wrist and came out on top 5-2.

Alec PANTALEO (USA) secured his second career win over Haji ALIYEV (AZE). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

While Pantaleo acknowledged the size and strength difference between him and Aliyev, who usually wrestles at 65kg, he said his skill set of Aliyev makes him very dangerous.

Pantaleo scored a takedown before an activity point gave him a 3-0 lead at the break. Aliyev managed to score a takedown early in the second period but his attempts to snap Pantaleo did not work. The American got two more points when Aliyev made a desperate attempt in the final few seconds.

Nolf's final against Emami at 74kg was much closer as his takedown in the second period proved to be the difference in the bout. He also made sure to not give up a takedown when Emami was pressuring him. Emami scored three stepouts which were not enough.

In the post-match interview, Nolf explained that in the past, he missed closing out tight matches so a win in such a bout was a confidence booster.

Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) won the gold medal at 57kg over Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

The first gold medal of the day went to Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE), who ended the dream run of U20 world champion Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) by winning the final 2-0. Rzazade looked like the wrestler to beat in the weight class despite some hiccups on the way to the final.

He began with Wanhao ZOU (CHN) and came out of it with a 14-8 before beating compatriot Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) 10-0 in the quarterfinal. He did survive a scare against Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals but managed to win 4-2.

Nishiuchi entered the final from the other side of the bracket with impressive wins over Darian CRUZ (PUR), Zane RICHARDS (USA) and U23 world champion AMAN (IND). He gave up points in all three bouts but scored a lot of his own as well.

But when the 18-year-old met Rzazade in the final, he failed to break the defense of the former U23 world champion. Rzazade got a passivity point in the first period and when Nishiuchi up the ante in the second, Rzazade scrapped out a stepout to win 2-0 in a tight final.

Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL) defeated Joseph MCKENNA (USA) in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Tumur Ochir wins 65kg

Not much weight is put on Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)'s name but he showed that he is yet another contender in the ever-strong 65kg as he won the gold in Zagreb.

He came out with some nasty finishes using his underhooks, defeating Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN) in the semifinal and later scoring a 4-1 win over Joseph MCKENNA (USA) in the final.

The underhook was the lethal weapon that his opponents had no counter to. McKenna was toe-to-toe with Tumur Ochir but could not stop him from scoring takedowns on either side of the break. McKenna scored a stepout late in the bout but it was not enough.

ALL PHOTOS: DAY 1 Zagreb Open

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df. Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN), 2-0

BRONZE: AMAN (IND) df. Zane RICHARDS (USA), 10-4
BRONZE: Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 4-4

61kg
GOLD: Reza ATRI (IRI) df. Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL), via fall

BRONZE: Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR) df. Adam BIBOULATOV (FRA), 10-0
BRONZE: Gamzatgadzhi KHALIDOV (HUN) df. Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO), 8-2

65kg
GOLD: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) df. Joseph MC KENNA (USA), 4-1

BRONZE: Evan HENDERSON (USA) df. Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN), via fall (10-14)
BRONZE: Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) df. Ryoma ANRAKU (JPN), 12-1

70kg
GOLD: Alec PANTALEO (USA) df. Haji ALIYEV (AZE), 5-2

BRONZE: Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) df. Temuulen ENKHTUYA (MGL), 8-2
BRONZE: Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) df. Vishal KALIRAMANA (IND), 10-0

74kg
GOLD: Jason NOLF (USA) df. Yones EMAMI (IRI), 3-3

BRONZE: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 5-0
BRONZE: Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR) df. Joseph LAVALLEE (USA), 6-4

86kg
GOLD: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) df. Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), 13-2

BRONZE: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Myles AMINE (SMR), 6-0
BRONZE: Mark HALL (USA) df. Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), 7-3

#WrestleAmman

Asian Championships 2025 Preview

Thursday, March 20, 2025 - 15:58 By United World Wrestling Press

AMMAN, Jordan (March 20) -- The 2025 Asian Championships will be held in Amman, Jordan from March 25 to 30. More than 370 wrestlers from across the continent will compete in Amman, a city which is hosting the Asian Championships for the first time in its history.

The Asian Championships will be live on uww.org and UWW+. Follow United World Wrestling on Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook and TikTok.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PREVIEW HERE | Asian Championships 2025 Entries

Text version:

While Iran has dominated the Asian scene for a long time in wrestling, Japan has emerged as the new challenger to its dominance. The Asian Championships in Amman will provide more insight into Japan's ever-improving wrestling program which helped it win eight gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Undoubtedly, Japan is the supreme power in Women's Wrestling. But for the 2025 Asian Championships, it is bringing strong teams in Freestyle and Greco-Roman as well. Iran, on the other hand, is banking on young stars in Freestyle and mixing youth and experience in Greco-Roman.

Another big talking point of the tournament is the return of Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) after his shoulder surgery. He has won the Asian, World and Asian Games and Olympic gold medals over the last two years.

Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) is is the defending 67kg champion at Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Greco-Roman

With two Olympic champions and several age-group and senior world champs, Iran's juggernaut in Greco-Roman is set to continue at the Asian Championships. Led by Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) and Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) at 67kg and 97kg respectively, Iran will be hoping to win at least five gold medals.

Add to the list the phenom Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) at 130kg, who is quickly rising to be the best Greco-Roman in the super heavyweight class.

Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) at 55kg, Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI) at 60kg, Danial SOHRABI (IRI) at 72kg, Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) at 77kg, Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) at 82kg and Yasin YAZDI (IRI) at 87kg complete the line-up expected to dominate at the Asian Championships.

Kaito INABA (JPN) is the returning 60kg silver medalist. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The big question is -- can Japan, or any other country, challenge Iran?

Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) at 67kg, Kaito INABA (JPN) at 60kg, and Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) at 82kg are among the favorites to win the gold medals. Yoshida is the returning champion at 82kg and one of the biggest prospects of the Nippon Sports Science University (NSSU) that produced five out of eight Japanese gold medalists in Paris. Endo and Inaba, both from NSSU, have past experience and can go all the way on their day.

In total, six of the 10 Japanese Greco-Roman wrestlers train at NSSU. [High-school student Yoshida will formally join NSSU on April 1].

A few other challengers to these two countries include returning champion Yu Chol RO (PRK) and bronze medalist Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ) at 55kg, Paris bronze medalist Se Ung RI (PRK), and U23 world champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB) will be the key names at 60kg.

Kyrgyzstan is without its three Paris medalists Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Uzur DZHUZUPBEOKV (KGZ) but the likes of Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ), Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ), Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ), Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ), Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) will be hoping to climb the podium as a few of them did at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series 2025.

Kazakhstan is clearly trying to rebuild its team as it has Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ) and Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) and also veterans Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) and Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) among others.

Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) is looking for his first Asian Championships gold medal at 125kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Freestyle

Another style which Iran dominates at the Asian level. While it is not bringing its first team to Amman, Iran still has its young stars in Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI), Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), Sina KHALILI (IRI) and a few others.

Masoumi at 125kg is looking to win his first Asian medal that he missed in 2023, losing to world silver medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) and later to BUHEEERDUN (CHN). For Firouzpour, the road to gold should not have many hurdles.

Iran's bench strength will be tested in the other weight classes as it hopes to win medals with Khalili at 70kg, Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) at 61kg, Abbas EBRAHIMZADEH (IRI) at 65kg, Mohammad Reza SHAKERI (IRI) at 74kg, Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) at 79kg, Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) at 86kh and Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI) at 97kg.

Despite a relatively depleted squad, Japan still boasts of Rin SAKAMOTO (JPN) at 57kg, 2025 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series winner Takara SUDA (JPN) at 61kg, returning silver medalist at 70kg Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), former world U20 silver Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN) at 79kg, former world U23 champion at 86kg Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN), Paris Olympian Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) at 92kg and former champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), who recently defeated Kyle SNYDER (USA) in Tirana, at 97kg.

Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) will look to upgrade his silver medal at 97kg this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kazakhstan's two world champs in Freestyle -- Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) and Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) -- will be in action. Aitmukhan, an Asian silver medalist, will once again challenge Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) who he lost to.

Kaipnov will be challenging the 74kg field, a category one weight up. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) will be moving to 92kg for the Asian Championships.

World U23 champion CHIRAG (IND) will lead India's challenge at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

India has won the 57kg gold medal four times out of the last five but the weight class is stacked for this year. Paris bronze medalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) entered will be the favorite to win the gold medal. He will be challenged by Milad VALIZADEH (IRI), Rin SAKAMOTO (JPN), Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ), Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ), Chong Song HAN (PRK) and Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK) among others.

While India's Paris medalist AMAN (IND) has skipped the tournament, world U23 champion CHIRAG (IND) will be leading the charge at 57kg. 2024 57kg silver medalist UDIT (IND) will be at 61kg while world U20 medalist SUJEET (IND) at 65kg. At 92kg, Deepak PUNIA (IND) is returning to action after missing the Paris berth.

Other than aforementioned stars, other big names include Tuvshintulga TUMENBILEG (MGL) and Kum Chol RI (PRK) at 61kg, Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) and Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) at 65kg, and Feng LU (CHN) and Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) at 79kg.

Battle at 70kg

While defending champion Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) is not entered at 70kg, returning silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) will have his hands full.

Former world U23 champion Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ) will hope to put aside a forgetful Muhamet Malo Ranking Series and start afresh in Amman. Another world medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) is long due for a rocking performance and Asian Championships offers the perfect platform to announce his return to the podium.

Add to the mix Asian Games champion and Asian silver medalist Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) who is not reducing his weight to fit into 65kg this edition. Then there is returning 74kg silver medalist Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) who is at 70kg as well, making this weight class the deepest in Freestyle.

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) is the 2022 and 2023 Asian champion at 50kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling

As the Women's Wrestling powerhouse, Japan has entered seven world champions in 10 weight classes. In the remaining weight categories, it has two age-group world champs.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) at 62kg, the lone Paris medalist from Japan entered, will lead the charge along with 2024 world champs Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) at 55kg and Ami ISHII (JPN) at 68kg. Former world champion at 50kg Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN), three-time world champion Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) at 55kg, world U23 champion Sara NATAMI (JPN) at 57kg, world U20 champion at 59kg Sakura ONISHI (JPN), former world champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) at 65kg, former world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN) at 72kg, and Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) at 76kg complete the line-up.

The possibility of all 10 returning with a medal is extremely high. China is likely to offer some resistance to this line-up and DPR Korea may surprise in some weight classes like it did at the 2022 Asian Games.

China is banking on world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) who is now at 65kg, Paris bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) at 57kg, world silver medalist Jin ZHANG (CHN) and U20 world champ Yu ZHANG (CHN). Former Asian champion Mengyu XIE (CHN) is wrestling at 59kg.

DPR Korea will spice up Asian Championships in Women's Wrestling as it is likely to cause some disruptions. Its first medalist in Olympics, Hyo Gyong CHOE (PRK) is making her Asian Championships debut and will lead a team that consists of Myong Gyong WON (PRK) at 50kg, returning silver medalist at 55kg Kyong Ryong OH (PRK), World Military Championships gold medalist Il Sim SON (PRK) and Paris 5th placer Sol Gum PAK (PRK) among others.

World bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) is wrestling for the first time after a disappointing Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

India, however, will have a young line-up to challenge Japan and China led by Paris Olympian world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND). Former world U23 champion REETIKA (IND) will be at 76kg and world U17 champion Mansi LATHER (IND) made it to her first senior team at 68kg.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), Elmira SYDYZKOVA (KAZ), Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB), Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) and Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) are a few other stars entered for the women's competition.

Iran, USA share top honors at Zagreb Open

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Asian Championships 2025 Preview