#WrestleXian

Karimimachiani Leads Quartet of Iranians into Finals on Day 2 in Xi’an

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 - 11:43 By Ken Marantz

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XI’AN, China (April 24)— Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) won his clash of world bronze medalists, then became part of an Iranian quartet that advanced to the finals in five freestyle weight classes on the second day of the Asian Championships in Xi’an.

Iran, which won three golds and two bronzes on the Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) v Amit DHANKHAR (IND) opening day, has a chance to secure medals in all 10 weight classes, as the West Asian power will also contest a bronze-medal match in the evening session.

Host China will have two chances to give the home crowd a gold medal at the expense of Iran, as world U23 bronze medalist LIU Minghu will face Behnam EHSANPOUR in the 61kg final, and world silver medalist DENG Zhiwei (CHN) will clash with Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) for the 125kg crown.

India also has two finalists, while Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have one each.


Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI), the reigning Asian Games champion, will wrestle India's Viky VIKY in the 92kg gold-medal bout. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Karimimachiani, the Asian Games champion last summer in Jakarta, advanced to the 92kg final against Viky VIKY (IND) by chalking up three consecutive 10-0 technical fall victories.

His second match, in the quarterfinals, pitted him against Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN), a fellow bronze medalist at the Budapest 2018 world championships. 

But Karimimachiani made short work of the Japanese, scoring with a 4-point move that he followed up with three straight rolls to end the match in 59 seconds.

“Before I could break the hold, I was being rolled,” said Matsumoto, who made it through the repechage and will compete for a bronze medal.


Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) was one of four Iranian wrestlers who made the Day 2 freestyle finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

World U23 champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) is the other Iranian who gave himself a shot at gold, which he will hope to secure at the expense of Aligarizhi GAMIDGADZHIEV (KGZ) in the 86kg final.   

“We are very happy to have four in the finals,” Iran head coach Gholamreza MOHAMMADI said. “That was our target, to get five medals.”

Mohammadi said the team was dedicating its victories to their compatriots who perished in or are suffering from devastating floods that hit Iran a month ago.


Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) is set to face Amit DHANKHAR (IND) for the 74kg title. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In the other final on tap, Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ), a bronze medalist in 2018 and the Asian Games silver medalist, will face Amit DHANKHAR (IND) for the 74kg title.

The 74kg class lost two of its favorites to injury. Kaisanov advanced to the final when world silver medalist Adam BATIROV (BRN) defaulted their semifinal match due to an unspecified injury.

Earlier, Yuhi FUJINAMI, the 2017 world bronze medalist at 70kg, reinjured his right knee while holding on to defeat LUO Yin (CHN), 11-7, in their first-round match. 

Fujinami, upon the doctor’s advice and taking into consideration a vital upcoming national tournament, decided to default his quarterfinal match to Dhankhar. 

“I was looking at this tournament as one I could win,” said Fujinami, who originally injured his knee in February. “But after talking to the doctor and thinking ahead, it was best to stop.”

Dhankhar handed Iran its only loss of the qualifying session when he edged Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI, 2-1, in the first round.

Other than that match, no bout involving an Iranian went the distance, as all were won by either fall or technical fall.

Day 2 results

Freestyle

61kg (14 entries)
Gold – LIU Minghu (CHN) v Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI)
Bronze – Dzhamshed SHARIFOV (TJK) v Yudai FUJITA (JPN)
Bronze – Rahul AWARE (IND) v KIM Jincheol (KOR)

Semifinals
LIU Minghu (CHN) df. Yudai FUJITA (JPN), 9-2
Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) df. KIM Jingcheol (KOR) by TF, 12-1, 4:46

74kg (13 entries)
Gold – Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) v Amit DHANKHAR (IND)
Bronze – Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) v Ilgiz DZHAKYUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Bronze – Olgenbayar BATSUURI (MGL) v Adam BATIROV (BRN)

Semifinals
Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) df. Adam BATISOV (BRN) by Default
Amit DHANKHAR (IND) df. Ilgiz DZHAKYUPBEKOV (KGZ), 5-0

86kg (15 entries)
Gold – Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) v Aligarizhi GAMIDGADZHIEV (KGZ)
Bronze – Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) v Abdurasul VAKHOBOV (UZB)
Bronze – Bakhodur KODIROV (TJK) v Deepak PUNIA (IND)

Semifinals
Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Deepak PUNIA (IND) by TF, 10-0, :40
Aligarizhi GAMIDGADZHIEV (KGZ) df. Abdurasul VAKHOBOV (UZB), 10-7

92kg (11 entries)
Gold – Viky VIKY (IND) v Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI)
Bronze – Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN) v Azizbek SOLIEV (UZB)
Bronze – Muhammad INAM (PAK) v SUN Xiao (CHN)

Semifinals
Viky VIKY (IND) df. SUN Xiao (CHN), 3-2
Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) df. Azizbek SOLIEV (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 2:46

125kg (11 entries)
Gold – DENG Zhiwei (CHN) v Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI)
Bronze – KIM Donghwan (KOR) v Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) 
Bronze – Sumit SUMIT (IND) v Farkhod ANAKULOV (TJK)

Semifinals
DENG Zhiwei (CHN) df. Farkhod ANAKULOV (TJK) by TF, 10-0, :42
Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) df. Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) by TF, 11-0, 2:50 

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

From 8-0 to 17-10: Amouzad Stuns Mamedov to Win 65kg Gold

Sunday, June 7, 2026 - 19:51 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 7) -- Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) rarely falls behind in a bout. The last time was at the Paris Olympics final in 2024 when Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) stormed to a 10-1 lead and Amouzad failed to cover the deficit and lost 10-3.

The 23-year-old has since went on to win gold medals at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series, the World Championships and the Islamic Solidarity Games, all in 2025. In the 14 matches last year, he did not let his opponent take the lead.

But on Sunday, Amouzad was staring at his first loss in two years and an uphill task of overcoming an 8-0 lead by Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) in the 65kg final at the Ulaanbaatar Open.

Both Mamedov and Amouzad made their way to the 65kg final in the Mongolian capital and set up a top-tier clash, three years after they first clashed at the 2023 World Championships bronze-medal bout which the former won.

While Mamedov had began his 2026 season at the European Championships, Amouzad was wrestling for the first time this year.

Amouzad opened the bout aggressively as is the norm. But it was Mamedov who struck first.

Mamedov lifted the Iranian on his shoulders and then brought him down for four points. He did not let Amouzad settle on the mat for defense and rolled him twice using a gut-wrench to lead 8-0 before Amouzad defended the next turn, that would have ended the final.

Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL)Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) loads to throw Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) at the start of their 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

As the referee asked the wrestlers to return to neutral with 4:10 left, it was Iran's coach Pejman DOROSTKAR who signaled Amouzad to remain calm. Perhaps he knew that Amouzad can still win. May be even Amouzad believed.

Amouzad began his comeback with a stepout two seconds later. He snapped hard and pressured Mamedov who was slowly showing signs of weak conditioning. The 30-second break came just in time for Mamedov, who led 8-1.

But a monstrous second period awaited both wrestlers. Amouzad scored two stepouts in a minute to make it 8-3 but Mamedov scored a takedown just when it looked it he had nothing left. With a 10-3 lead, it seemed that Mamedov will be able to defend that with 1:22 left.

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) scored 14 unanswered points on Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Amouzad scored a takedown five seconds later: 10-5. Mamedov was still fighting and defending but the pressure from Amouzad was unstoppable as the Iranian scored another stepout: 10-6. He made it 10-7 with 50 seconds left with another stepout.

Then came the double-leg attack that changed the bout. Amouzad quickly swept on Mamedov's left leg and the Bulgarian, struggling with conditioning, was slow to defend it as Amouzad wrapped the other leg as well and jumped with Mamedov landing on the mat in danger for four points. Amouzad scored a two-point exposure and then a complete turn to lead 15-10. It all changed all of a sudden.

Mamedov kept helpless as he legs became heavier to move and Amouzad found new spring in his steps. The Iranian scored one more takedown before the final whistle to complete a remarkable comeback and win 17-10, having scored 14 unanswered points in 82 seconds.

Amouzad is not unbeaten in his last 17 bouts and has lost only two matches out of his last 30 internationally.

Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS)Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS) hits a fireman's carry on Chong Song HAN (PRK) during the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The other world champion in action on Sunday at the Ulaanbaatar Open, Chong Song HAN (PRK) failed to complete a comeback like Amouzad. Han suffered a heartbreaking 6-6 criteria loss to European silver medalist Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS) in the 57kg final.

Mekhtikhanov hit a mesmerizing fireman's carry for four points while he was on the 30-second activity clock. Han responded with a two-point exposure using a front headlock in the same sequence to make it 4-2. As Han tried the headlock again, Mekhtikhanov blocked him and held his back on the mat for two points to extend his lead to 6-2 at the break.

Han closed the gap with a stepout and hit a leg-attack to score two points via exposure and make it 6-5. As the sequence continued, Han and Mekhtikhanov went neutral and then Han scored a go-behind which was surprisingly scored only one point which made it 6-6.

Mekhtikhanov, with his criteria lead due to the bigger move, defended his lead for the remaining 50 seconds to upset the world champion and claim the gold medal.  

Russia won two more golds as the Khaniev brothers captured their first-ever gold medals at a United World Wrestling senior tournaments. Ismail at 79kg completed a 10-0 technical superiority over U20 world champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) in the final to win gold. This was his fourth victory via superiority in Ulaanbaatar.

His brother Takhir began slowly but he also won the 97kg final with technical superiority, 10-0, against Demchigdorj TUMURBAATAR (MGL).

India Wins 2 Golds

India won two golds both at the expense of Kazakhstan, a welcome result for the country. At 61kg, unheralded DEEPAK (IND) defeated Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ), 6-0, in the final to capture the first gold.

Asian bronze medalist DINESH (IND) then held off U20 world champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ), 2-0, with both points coming from Kassimbek's passivity.

Host Mongolia won gold through Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) at 70kg after his opponent in the final, Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ), injury defaulted. Tumur Ochir also avenged his Asian Championships final loss to ABHIMANYOU (IND), 9-0, earlier in the day.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS) df. Chongsong HAN (PRK), 6-6

BRONZE: SUMIT (IND) df. Abzal OKENOV (KAZ), 6-3
BRONZE: Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) df. Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK), 8-0

61kg
GOLD: DEEPAK (IND) df. Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ), 6-0

BRONZE: Adilet ALMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ) df. Bair BAIANDUEV (RUS), 4-0
BRONZE: Ahora KHATERI (IRI) df. Batnasan GANKHULEG (MGL), 7-0

65kg
GOLD: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) df. Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL), 17-10

BRONZE: Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) df. Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ), 7-6
BRONZE: Mohit KUMAR (IND) df. Ossimzhan DASTANBEK (KAZ), 17-6

70kg
GOLD: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) df. Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) df. ABHIMANYOU (IND), 10-0
BRONZE: Aden SAKYBAEV (KGZ) df. Usukhbayar BAATARKHUU (MGL), 4-3

79kg
GOLD: Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) df. Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI), 10-0

BRONZE: Shamsat TAIR (KAZ) df. Nurdaulet KUANYSHBAY (KAZ), 5-4
BRONZE: Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) df. Sandeep MANN (IND), 10-0

97kg
GOLD: Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) df. Demchigdorj TUMURBAATAR (MGL), 10-0

BRONZE: VICKY (IND) df. Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), 4-0
BRONZE: TUXIGE (CHN) df. Nurdaulet BEKENOV (KAZ), 11-0

125kg
GOLD: DINESH (IND) df. Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ), 2-0

BRONZE: Robert BARAN (POL) df. Timur KOTAEV (RUS), 13-2
BRONZE: Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) df. Jose DIAZ (VEN), 4-2