Kawai Gets Best of Icho, but Faces Quick Rematch with More at Stake

Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 15:04 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO---In a match that left something to be desired considering the hype, Risako KAWAI got the best of fellow Olympic champion Kaori ICHO. She’ll have to show tomorrow she can do it again for much higher stakes.

Kawai defeated Icho in the highly anticipated clash between the titans of women’s wrestling, scoring a dull 2-1 victory in the opening match of their 57kg round-robin group at the All-Japan Championships in Tokyo.

The two both then beat Sae NANJO, the third wrestler in their group, to advance to the semifinals. They both won, setting up an instant rematch on the final day of the four-day tournament that is also serving as the first stage in Japan’s qualifying process for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“This is the first tournament that has Olympic implications, so no matter who you have to face, this is a weight class that has drawn those who want to go to the Olympics,” Kawai said. “I have the title of Olympic gold medalist, but I can think about that. If I don’t win here, it doesn’t mean anything.”

Kawai, coming off winning a second straight world title at Budapest in October and third overall, hardly outwrestled the four-time Olympic gold medalist per se; it’s more like she just did a better job of showing she was trying.

The match had no technical points, as all scoring came with the opponent on the activity clock----Kawai had the fortune of seeing Icho flagged twice, despite the fact that Kawai herself initiated zero attacks.

It’s one thing to play it safe against a four-time Olympic champion. But Kawai repeated that performance against world junior silver medalist Nanjo, winning by the same score, with the same points, and without a takedown attempt. Icho defeated Nanjo 6-2 in a much more active match.

Kawai finally showed some life in the semifinals, where she used a takedown-ankle roll combination for a 4-0 win over world junior champion Hanako SAWA, while Icho advanced with a 3-0 victory over Akie HANAI.

“I’m sure this is drawing a lot of attention, but the fact is, it is Kaori and I who are the ones who have to perform,” Kawai said. “I’d like it to be exciting if possible.”

Yuki IRIE defeated Rio Olympic champion Eri TOSAKA, 4-4, putting her in the 50kg gold-medal bout. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In the other match of global interest, Yuki IRIE repeated her victory from last spring over Rio 2016 champion Eri TOSAKA, winning 4-4 on big-point criteria to advance to the final of the women’s 50kg division, which had lost world champion Yui SUSAKI to an elbow injury.

Irie twice followed giving up a point on the activity clock by scoring a takedown, when Tosaka scored a takedown with :15 left. But it wasn’t enough for the former world champion, who underwent foot surgery after the Rio Olympics.

Tosaka will now need to win the All-Japan Invitational Championships in June to force a playoff with Irie for the ticket to the 2019 world championships, where winning a medal will earn an automatic berth on Japan’s team to the Tokyo 2020.

“The next six months will go fast,” she said. “If I don’t win there, I can’t go to the Tokyo Olympics. First of all, I have to win in June and get into the playoff.”

Yuki TAKAHASHI, 2017 world champion and 2018 world bronze medalist won his third straight Emperor's Cup title. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Meanwhile, Budapest 2018 bronze medalist Yuki TAKAHASHI barely came away with his third straight title at freestyle 57kg.

Takahashi, the Paris 2017 world gold medalist, was trailing 4-4 on criteria when teenaged opponent Kaiki YAMAGUCHI, trying desperately to fend him off, was assessed a 1-point penalty with :02 left. An unsuccessful challenge left Takahashi the winner by a final score of 6-4.

“To have the final finish like that, it makes me wonder how I would do at the worlds,” Takahashi said. “This tournament has links to the Olympics, so I think that brought out some extra nerves and I didn’t move like I wanted, and my matches were sloppy.”

Takahashi was acquainted with Yamaguchi, having beaten him 4-0 in a tough semifinal battle last year when he was still in high school.

“The fact that I could still win even without wrestling at my best gives me a confidence boost,” Takahashi said.

On the heels of Susaki’s shocking withdrawal, the tournament lost another marquee match-up when women’s 53kg world champion Haruna OKUNO pulled out prior to her match due to a stomach virus.

Okuno had been due for a clash with fellow world champion Mayu MUKAIDA, who dropped down from 55kg to the Olympic weight class. Had they met, it would have been only the 11thtime in Japan wrestling history that two reigning world champions faced each other in a domestic tournament.

Mukaida launched her bid for a third straight national title---she won at 53kg in 2016---with a 12-2 technical fall victory over world junior champion Umi IMAI, then overcome a tough challenge from Momoka KADOYA, winning 3-0. In the final, she will face Nanami IRIE, Yuki’s younger sister.

Yuhi FUJINAMI, 2017 world bronze medalist, won back-to-back Emperor's Cup titles with a fall over Ken HOSAKA in the 74kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Yuhi FUJINAMI, a 2017 world bronze medalist who finished out of the medals this year, successfully defended his freestyle 74kg title with a victory by fall over Ken HOSAKA in the final.

Hosaka surprised the defending champion with an early takedown, but Fujinami quickly evened the score. He then clamped a headlock on Hosaka and, while his opponent looked close at one time to escaping the predicament, Fujinami reapplied the pressure and ended the match in 1:44.

The other freestyle title at stake went to world university champion Yudai FUJITA, who defeated last year’s runner-up Shingo ARIMOTO, 6-0, in the 61kg final for his first national crown.

The day’s Greco golds went to Hiromu KATAGIRI (55kg), Shogo TAKAHASHI (67kg) and Naotsugu SHOJI (77kg). It was the first for Katagiri and Shoji, while Takahashi previously won at 66kg in 2016.

Meanwhile, the tournament, also known as the Emperor’s Cup, saw the return of Rio 2018 champion Sara Dosho in her first competition since suffering a shoulder injury at the Women’s World Cup in March.

Dosho, who underwent surgery and had her shoulder heavily taped, won both of her matches on the day in the women’s 68kg class, which has just five entries and is using a round-robin format.

Dosho beat Umi FUKUSHIMA, 6-1, and Chiaki SEKI, 2-1, and will finish up the competition Sunday by facing fellow Rio Olympian Rio WATARI in her final match, which will likely decide the gold medal. Watari also won twice.

Hiroe MINAGAWA, who won a second straight world bronze in Budapest, maintained her dominance of the women’s heaviest weight class by beating Yasuha MATSUYUKI, 3-0, in what was essentially the 76kg gold-medal match.

Minagawa’s victory gave her a 4-0 record in the five-women round-robin group for her third straight national title and fifth overall. Matsuyuki, a world junior bronze medalist, finished as runner-up at 3-1.

Takuto OTOGURO, the reigning world champion, will wrestle Daichi TAKATANI for the 65kg Emperor's Cup title.

Japan’s lone reigning male world champion, Takuto OTOGURO, advanced to the freestyle 65kg final with a solid 8-3 victory in the semifinals over world U23 champion Rei HIGUCHI, the Rio 2016 silver medalist at 57kg.

Standing in OTOGURO’s path to a first national title is defending champion Daichi TAKATANI, who lost to Otoguro in a playoff last July for the place on Japan’s team to Budapest and will be looking for revenge.

Sunday will also see the latest installment of the Great Greco Rivalry at 60kg between Rio 2016 silver medalist Shinobu OTA and Paris 2017 world champion Kenichiro FUMITA, who have split their last eight matches dating back to 2014.

Ota advanced to the final with a pair of technical fall victories, while Fumita scored a technical fall, then came out on top of a wild bout with high schooler Kyotaro SOGABE, emerging as a 13-8 winner when the dust cleared.

Day３Results

Freestyle

57kg (19 entries)
Final: Yuki TAKAHASHI df. Kaiki YAMAGUCHI, 6-4
3rdPlace: Daiki ARAKI df. Kotaro KIYOOKA, 3-1
3rdPlace: Kazuya KOYANAGI df. Toshihiro HASEGAWA, 4-3

61kg (18 entries)
Final: Yudai FUJITA df. Shingo ARIMOTO, 6-0
3rdPlace: Joji NAGATA df. Yushi NAKAMURA, 2-1
3rdPlace: Yo NAKATA df. Takumi YOSHIMURA, 2-1

65kg (27 entries)
Semifinals
Takuto OTOGURO df. Rei HIGUCHI, 8-3
Daichi TAKATANI df. Koki SHIMIZU, 8-7

70kg (14 entries)
Final: Kojiro SHIGA df. Haruki SEINO, 5-2
3rdPlace: Keisuke OTOGURO df. Hidetaka SAKANO, 5-3
3rdPlace: Shin HARAGUCHI df. Ryo YONEZAWA, 4-3
Semifinals
Seino df. Otoguro, 6-4
Shiga df. Yonezawa, 3-2

74kg (19 entries)
Final: Yuhi FUJINAMI df. Ken HOSAKA by Fall, 1:44 (4-2)
3rdPlace: Mao OKUI df. Ryuki YOSHIDA, 3-2
3rdPlace: Yuto MIWA df. Masato MIZUNO, 3-0

Greco-Roman

55kg (14 entries)
Final: Hiromu KATAGIRI df. Ken MATSUI, 5-0
3rdPlace: Shota OGAWA df. Kaito INABA, 4-3
3rdPlace: Ryota SAITO df. Kenta KOSAKA by Fall, 2:16 (6-0)
Semifinals
Katagiri df. Ogawa, 8-1
Matsui df. Kosaka by TF, 8-0, 4:28

6o kg (13 entries)
Semifinals
Shinobu OTA df. Kazuki YABE by TF, 9-0, 5:27
Kenichiro FUMITA df. Kyotaro SOGABE, 13-8

67kg (21 entries)

Final: Shogo TAKAHASHI df. Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA, 4-2
3rdPlace: Takahiro YAMAMOTO df. Yusuke KITAOKA, 6-1
3rdPlace: Masuto KAWANA df. Yuji UEGAKI, 5-1

77kg (16 entries)
Final: Naotsugu SHOJI df. Kodai SAKURABA, 4-0
3rdPlace: Shohei YABIKU df. Amane SHIMOYAMADA by TF, 9-0, 2:08
3rdPlace: Yuya MAETA df. Yudai KOMURO by TF, 11-0, 2:06

Women’s Wrestling

50kg (8 entries)
Semifinals
Yuki IRIE df. Eri TOSAKA, 4-4
Kika KAGATA df. Miho IGARASHI, 5-0

53kg (8 entries)
Semifinals
Nanami IRIE df. Katsura KONISHI by TF, 10-0, 1:02
Mayu MUKAIDA df. Momoka KADOYA, 3-0

57kg (7 entries)
Semifinals
Kaori ICHO df. Akie HANAI, 3-0
Risako KAWAI df. Hanako SAWA, 6-0

65kg (4 entries)
Round-Robin (Final Standings)
1. Naomi RUIKE (3-0, 11 pts)
2. Misuzu ENOMOTO (2-1, 7)
3. Miki KAWAUCHI (1-2, 3)
Key Match: Ruike df. Enomoto, 2-0 in 2ndround

68kg (5 entries)
Round-Robin (through 3 rounds)
1. Rio WATARI (2-0, 6 pts); 2. Sara DOSHO (2-0, 6); 3. Chiaki SEKI (1-2, 5); 4. Umi FUKUSHIMA (1-2, 5); 5. Rin MIYAJI (0-2, 2)

76kg (5 entries)
Round-Robin (Final Standings)
1. Hiroe MINAGAWA (4-0, 16 pts)
2. Yasuha MATSUYUKI (3-1, 10)
3. Masako FURUICHI (2-2, 8)
Key Match: Minagawa df. Matsuyuki, 3-0 in 5thround

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ramazanov Returns to Shake Up 86kg; Strong DPR Korea Squad in Ulaanbaatar

Tuesday, June 2, 2026 - 08:49 By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 1) -- Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) is finally returning to the mat. He has been out of action for more than a year but will be at 86kg for this week's Ulaanbaatar Open, the third Ranking Series in Mongolia from June 4 to 7.

Ramazanov's return is significant for 86kg and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Out of the four 86kg medalists from Paris 2024, none participated in the 2025 World Championships at 86kg. Zahid VALENCIA (USA) became the world champion, Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) won silver, and Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) and Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) winning bronzes. All four were first-time world medalists in this weight class.

This year began with the Ranking Series and Parker KECKEISEN (USA) won in Zagreb and Ibragim KADIEV (RUS) in Tirana. At the continental championships, Kadiev became the European champion, Ghasempour won the Asian Championships and Valencia dominated the Pan-American Championships.

Ramazanov's return, and if he wins gold, will make him the favourite to win the gold medal at the 2026 World Championships that will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan from October 24 to November 1. The Ranking Series will also be a test of how healthy the Olympic champion is after his surgery.

The 32-year-old will in the field along with former world silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) who is moving up from 79kg for the first time. It will be a test for the Iranian as he prepares to claim the 86kg spot on the Iran team.

Asian silver medalist Mukul DAHIYA (IND) is also entered and his relentless pace troubled many at the Asian Championships in Bishkek. However, he still lacks the technicality of being among the top at 86kg.

Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) and Malik SHAVAEV (KGZ) will try to challenge the field along with Abdulmuslim ABULMUSLIMOV (RUS).

In other Freestyle weight classes, a mouth-watering clash awaits at 65kg. World champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) will open his season in Ulaanbaatar with hopes of winning gold.

In all likelihood, a clash against Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) awaits Amouzad. The two met at the 2023 World Championships and Mamedov defeated Amouzad in the bronze-medal bout, 8-6. Mamedov returned to international wrestling in April at the European Championships but did not win medal.

SUJEET (IND), in red-hot form and unbeaten this year, was also entered for the tournament but he confirmed to United World Wrestling that he is unlikely to travel as he competed and won the Asian Games selection trial in India on May 31. India is still likely to send U23 Asian champion Mohit KUMAR (IND) and ROHIT (IND)

Kwang Jin KIM (PRK), a silver medalist at the 2025 Asian Championships, is also in the mix along with Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ), Ossimzhan DASTANBEK (KAZ) and Christopher COMPOSTO (USA).

Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) Khaniev brothers -- Takhir, left, and Ismail -- won the U23 European Championships gold medal at 97kg and 79kg respectively. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Khaniev brothers, Ismail and Takhir, will be in action at 79kg and 97kg respectively for Russia before they challenge the big names domestically for the World Championships spot in July. Takhir made headlines when he defeated Kyle SNYDER (USA) at the Tirana Ranking Series at 97kg and later won a silver medal.

Takhir, who also won gold at the U23 European Championships, should have a straight forward win at 97kg in Mongolia.

Ismail, at 79kg, will have to face U20 world champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) and the two youngsters are likely to give a match to remember if they face each other.

ABHIMANYOU (IND) defeated Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) in the 70kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

For hosts Mongolia, Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) will lead the charge at 70kg and he will have a chance to avenge his loss to ABHIMANYOU (IND) from the Asian Championships final.

Abhimanyou stunned the field in Bishkek, beating favourites Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) and Tumur Ochir to win the 70kg gold. He defeated the Mongolia, 5-3, but the Ranking Series will show if his win in Bishkek was one off or not.

The DPR Korea's world champion Chong Song HAN (PRK) comes to Ulaanbaatar as a firm favourite at 57kg, His electric wrestling and strength has troubled even established names.

A clash against European silver medalist Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS) will be a treat if it happens. Mekhtikhanov, known for some crafty wrestling, will have navigate Han's strength if he hopes to win a gold medal.

A few other names include Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) and Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ) as Kazakhstan continues to select its team for the World Championships and the Asian Games. It has registered at least two wrestlers in maximum weight classes and will hope to return with at least one gold.

It has veteran Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) competing at 92kg, a weight class which has a few tough names including two more names Bekzat AMANGALI (KAZ) and Yelnar SHILDEBAY (KAZ). Former Asian champion Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) and defending Ulaanbaatar Open champion Askhab SAADULAEV (RUS) are among the opponents that will try to stop Dauletbekov.

A big test awaits youngster and U20 world champion and Asian bronze medalist Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) at 125kg. The teenager has made a steady climb and won bronze in Asia on his senior debut. He will face the likes of BUHEEERDUN (CHN), DINESH (IND), Robert BARAN (POL) and Timur KOTAEV (RUS).

At 74kg, with none of the big names entered, Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ), Tamir ESHINIMAEV (RUS) and Tumen BODIEV (RUS) can make it all the way. If Sagar JAGLAN (IND) lands in Ulaanbaatar, he will be getting much-needed experience as he continues to regain form.

Iran has brought Ahora KHATERI (IRI) back to 61kg after a brief stint at 65kg at the U20 World Championships. He will be among the favourites to win gold despite the presence of Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ), Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) and Bair BAIANDUEV (RUS).

World champion Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) will lead a strong DPR Korea squad at the Ulaanbaatar Open. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Women's Wrestling

The DPR Korea sent seven wrestlers in Women's Wrestling for the 2025 World Championships. The country won two golds, two silvers, a bronze medal, a fifth-place finish and one 18th-place finish and finished second overall behind Japan. A strong eight-member DPR Korea women's squad is now headed to Ulaanbaatar for the Ranking Series.

In perhaps its last competition before the Asian Games and the World Championships, DPR Korea will be hoping a strong outing and a rich medal haul at the Ranking Series, its first-ever.

World champion Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) leads the charge along with both the silver medalists from Zagreb, Il Sim SON (PRK) and Ok Ju KIM (PRK).

Oh will be at 53kg, down from 55kg, as she bids for the Asian Games spot. Her move sets up a top-tier clash against Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) who is among the three Japanese wrestlers participating in the Ranking Series. Oh had shown no chinks in her armour last year but Kiyooka may be able to exploit some. However, importantly the wrestlers will have a two-kilogram weight allowance which will give Oh the upper hand.

Apart from Kiyooka and Oh, the 53kg weight class has Asian silver medalist MEENAKSHI (IND), former Asian medalist Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL), 55kg European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) and Natalia MALYSHEVA (RUS), making the weight class among the most competitive.

The regular 53kg wrestler from the DPR Korea, Paris Olympic and world bronze medalist Hyo Gyong CHOE (PRK), is at 55kg and a young Tuba DEMIR (TUR) will look to challenge her in the weight class.

Il Sim SON (PRK) is the world silver medalist at 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

World silver medalist at 57kg Son is undoubtedly the best in the field. Her exploits at the World Championships helped her almost beat Helen MAROULIS (USA) in the final. Son's defence will be difficult to breach for her opponents including former Asian champion MANISHA (IND), former world silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) and European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR).

World and Asian silver medalist Ju Kim has her eyes set on the gold medal at 62kg. In the World Championships final, she was on her way to win gold but fumbled in the dying seconds when Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) tossed her for four points to snatch victory.

Kim's opponents in Ulaanbaatar include European silver medalist Amina TANDELOVA (RUS), European bronze medalist Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), former world champion Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) and world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) among others.

Tandelova has the best chance to upset Ju Kim, who has struggled in the past with conditioning. And Tandelova's style and pace helped her in the European Championships final that she led 9-0 against Grace BULLEN (NOR) before being hit by Bullen classic trip and give up a fall.

The 50kg weight class will see Asian silver medalist Son Hyang KIM (PRK) among the favourites. She will joined by Olympic bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) who finished with a bronze medal at the Asian Championships. Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR) is also in the mix at this weight class.

European champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) will be the favorite at 68kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Paris Olympian Sol Gum PAK (PRK) has a tougher bracket at 68kg with European champion and world silver medalist Nesrin BAS (TUR) and European silver medalist Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU). Bas has won nine medals, including four golds, out of the 10 tournaments she has participated in since the Paris Olympics.

Former world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) will be carrying the hopes of the host nation which has entered its first team for the Ranking Series.

Mongolia is also banking on Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) and Erdenebulgan LKHAGVASUREN (MGL) to win medals at 65kg, a weight class that will see Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK), Asian Championships silver medalist at 62kg, moving up to 65kg.

The 59kg weight class is rather open one with Asian bronze medalist NEHA (IND), European medalist Bediha GUN (TUR), home-favourite Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) among the mix with Pyol HONG (PRK), the only DPR Korea wrestler who did not wrestle for a medal at the World Championships.

The two weight classes that the DPR Korea is not sending any wrestlers are 72kg and 76kg. As is the case around the world, the 76kg category is stacked for Ulaanbaatar Open as well.

Age-group stars from Asia -- Saihan AO (CHN), Wenji LI (CHN), KAJAL (IND) and PRIYA (IND) -- are all expected to descend upon the Mongolian capital along with veteran Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) and Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)

Former European champion Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) and another age-group star Valeriia TRIFONOVA (RUS) are also wrestling as the heaviest weight class continues to be among the most competitive one.

At 72kg, European silver medalist Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) will be the favourite with veteran Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) and HARSHITA (IND), who defeated Bakbergenova at the Asian Championships.

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will return to international competition after close to two years. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

The much-awaited return of Olympic bronze medalist and former world champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will be the talking point of Greco-Roman in Ulaanbaatar. After a near two-year absence, Sharshenbekov will step out the mat for his first competition at 63kg.

Sharshenbekov was at the national camp with the Kyrgyzstan team and trained under Raul TRUJILLO DIAZ (CUB) who is in the country to prepare the wrestlers. Sharshenbekov also attended the Greco camp in Porec in February.

In Ulaanbaatar, he will be facing a field that includes Zagreb Open champion and Asian silver medalist Erfan JARKANI (IRI) and world bronze medalist Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI). Both Jarkani and Keshtkar may well be involved in their own selection trial for the World Championships if they face each other.

Incidentally, Jarkani lost the Asian final to Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ), who is coached by Sharshenbekov. The Ranking Series gives a perfect platform for Sharshenbekov to return and assess his condition before the World Championships if he participates in it.

Iran's selections for World Championships will go through Ulaanbaatar and apart from 63kg, the 72kg weight class will also see a wrestle-off between Javad REZAEI (IRI) and Danial SOHRABI (IRI).

Rezaei won the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series and finished with a silver medal at the Asian Championships. He has been in good form while Sohrabi, a world bronze medalist, has not been to international competition since September. He is, however, the defending 72kg champion in Ulaanbaatar.

Others medal threats at this weight class include former U23 world champion Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) and Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ).

World silver medalist Payam AHMADI (IRI) will be in action at 55kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Iran is also bringing its world silver medalist Payam AHMADI (IRI) at 55kg. He will be challenged by Asian silver medalist LALIT (IND) and Emin CAKIR (TUR), who finished fifth at the World Championships.

At 60kg, former U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) will continue for Iran as the country continues its efforts to find a mainstay at the weight class.

U23 Asian champion SUMIT (IND) will look to stand on the podium and so will Yu Chol RO (PRK), the Asian bronze medalist at 55kg now moving up to 60kg.

Although it seemed that he was injured at the Asian Championships, world silver medalist Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) will return to the mat two months later. He won a silver medal at 63kg last year in Ulaanbaatar but has moved up to 67kg.

He will be joined by European silver medalist Murat FIRAT (TUR) who almost defeated Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) in the final. Firat will be among the favourites to win the gold medal. Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND) and Karajit SINGH (IND), both past Ranking Series medalists, will be hoping to finish among the medalists again.

In other weight classes, Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) and Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL) will compete at 82kg perhaps to earn the first spot on the national team.

At 77kg, Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL) has AMAN (IND), Ankit GULIA (IND) and Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ) while the 87kg has Asian bronze medalist Sunil KUMAR (IND), PRINCE (IND), Rohit BURA (IND) and Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ) among others.

Asian silver medalist NITESH (IND) will be up against Paris Olympian Kevin MEJIA (HON), Nurassyl AMANALY (KAZ) and Juan DIAZ (VEN) at 97kg.

Kawai Gets Best of Icho, but Faces Quick Rematch with More at Stake

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Ramazanov Returns to Shake Up 86kg; Strong DPR Korea Squad in Ulaanbaatar