All Japan Championships

Left Behind in the Run to Tokyo 2020, Okuno Plods into 53kg Final at All Japan

Friday, December 20, 2019 - 16:00 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO (Dec. 20) — Throughout her career on the global stage, Haruna OKUNO has blown away all in her path, a trend she continued this year by winning both the world junior and U-23 titles over a two-month span. 

Back home in Japan, however, missing out on the senior World Championships and subsequently a place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics seemed to take the wind out of her sails.

Okuno put together two underwhelming victories to advance to the final of the women’s 53kg class on the second day of the All Japan Championships in Tokyo, setting up a rematch of a recent disappointing loss to world silver medalist Nanami IRIE.

Okuno could manage only two activity-clock points in fending off Asian junior champion Umi IMAI 2-0 in the quarterfinals, then rode a lone first-period takedown to beat unheralded Yuka YAGO 3-1 in the semifinals.

“After the World Cup [in November], I didn’t get in enough practice,” said Okuno, who won two matches in helping host Japan win a fifth straight World Cup. “Without practice, this is what happens. As I wanted focus on tying up, I think overall that went well. I’m not injured, but I’m not in good condition.”

Okuno, whose only international losses came at the world cadet in 2014 and Asian Games in 2018 (she finished third at both), picked up a second senior world gold in 2018 when she won the 53kg title in Budapest. 

But both she and Irie lost out for the place in that weight class for the team to the World Championships in Nur-Sultan to Mayu MUKAIDA, the 55kg world champion who dropped down to the Olympic weight. 

Okuno and Irie both entered the wrestle-off for the 55kg spot, and Irie pulled off a surprising 3-1 win to earn the ticket to Nur-Sultan, where she captured the silver medal in her senior world debut. Okuno, who had won two previous meetings between the two, never seemed to have her heart in the match.

“In the playoff for the World Championships, 55kg was the only weight class open [for us],” Okuno said. “Before the playoff, I hardly practiced for two months. I only trained for two days. This year was the least I’ve practiced in my life.”

There was speculation that Okuno might drop down to 50kg—the only women’s weight class in which Japan did not clinch an Olympic berth at Nur-Sultan—and enter the fray for the coveted ticket to the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament with Yui SUSAKI, Yuki IRIE (Nanami’s older sister) and Eri TOSAKA.   

But she said Friday she never thought of going down to 50kg, citing the example of gold medalist Hitomi Obara’s struggle to get down to 48kg for the London 2012 Olympics. 

“Obara cut weight for London, when the weigh-in was held the day before, and she spent two years to get down to the weight,” Okuno said. “Now, with the same-day weigh-in, it’s not so easy to just go out and win.”

Nanami Irie made the final with a 10-0 technical fall in the semifinals over Yumi SHIMONO. 

Mukaida and the other world medalists in Olympic weights at Nur-Sultan automatically clinched Tokyo 2020 spots, and are sitting out the All-Japan tournament, also referred to as the Emperor’s Cup. 

In the few weight classes in which Japan clinched an Olympic spot but did not medal, the winner at Komazawa Olympic Park Gym will fill the berth. In the remaining divisions, the winners will represent Japan at the Asian qualifier in Xi’an, China, in March. 

Of the three wrestlers who failed to secure Olympic spots in Nur-Sultan and were involved in finals contested on Friday, two earned tickets to Xi’an and another shot. 

Naoya AKAGUMA gained a point in each period with Takeshi YAMAGUCHI on the activity clock for a 2-0 victory to capture his second straight national freestyle 97kg title and third overall.  

At Greco 97kg, Yuta NARA made it four national titles in a row with a 2-2 win over Yuri NAKAZATO. In Nur-Sultan, outside of the three medalists in the lightest weight classes, Nara was Japan’s only Greco wrestler to post a victory.

Nobuyoshi ARAKIDA’s two-year reign at freestyle 125kg ended when he had to default during the final to Tetsuya TANAKA due to a right elbow tendon injury that he originally suffered in Nur-Sultan.

“It’s disappointing to lose, but I knew going into the final I would put priority on the injury,” he said. “I knew that defaulting would be the best option.”

Meanwhile, there was high anticipation that the Emperor’s Cup would get its first-ever high school Greco champion and first in freestyle in 30 years—a direct result of all the maneuvering into Olympic weight classes that thinned out the non-Olympic divisions.

But all three high schoolers in men’s finals on Friday were taught a harsh lesson by collegiate opponents on just how intense the senior level can be. 

Hikaru TAKADA came closest, falling 5-3 to Shin HARAGUCHI at freestyle 70kg. But the two Greco finals turned into routs, as Asian silver medalist Hiromu KATAGIRI needed just over a minute to crush Yu SHIOTANI with a 12-0 technical fall that he ended with a 5-point throw, and Ayata SUZUKI followed suit with a 9-0 technical fall of Kosei TAKESHITA.

“The opponent was a high school student, so I thought there is no way I’m going to lose,” Katagiri declared. 

Sara NATAMI upset Yuzuka INAGAKI, 2-2, in the 59kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

One of Japan’s top female high schoolers, Yuzuka INAGAKI, was not immune from the carnage. She was stunned by collegian Sara NATAMI, who pancaked her for 2 points in the second period of the 59kg final for a 2-2 win on big-point criteria. 

Inagaki, the world junior and U-23 champion at 62kg, had beaten Natami 5-0 in their Nordic group the day before. 

“Yesterday was under the Nordic system, so I knew I would have another chance,” said Natami, a 2018 Asian silver medalist. “I just had to build off [the loss].”

While the high schoolers came up short, Nao KUSAKA became the youngest-ever national Greco champion when, at 19 years and 22 days, he defeated Takuya TOMIZUKA 5-4 for the 72kg title.

Satoki MUKAI joined his father as a national champion with a 2-1 victory over Yoji KAWAMURA in the Greco 82kg final. His father Takahiro, a two-time Olympian, won eight straight titles at 74-82kg from 1982 to 1988.

In weight classes that ran through the semifinals on Friday, former world silver medalist Sosuke TAKATANI advanced to the final at freestyle 86kg as he pursues a berth in a third career Olympics.

Fellow world team member Yudai TAKAHASHI could give the tournament a male high school champion just yet after securing a spot in the freestyle 79kg final. 

Former two-time world champion Yui SUSAKI and Rio 2016 Olympic champion Eri TOSAKA could square off in the 50kg semifinals on Satruday. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Susaki, Tosaka drawn in same bracket
Former two-time world champion Yui SUSAKI and Rio 2016 Olympic champion Eri TOSAKA could meet in the women’s 50kg semifinals following the draw for Saturday, when the action starts for the marquee weight classes. 

Yuki IRIE, who defeated Susaki in a playoff for a place on the team to Nur-Sultan, is the top seed in the other bracket of the high-profile division.

Susaki defeated Tosaka by technical fall in the final at the All-Japan Invitational Championships last June, which put her in the playoff with Irie.

In the women’s 68kg class, Rio champion Sara DOSHO, who finished fifth at Nur-Sultan, was handed a tough test to start out with, as she was drawn with highly touted high schooler Yuka KAGAMI.

Kagami, the world 72kg junior champion, had tried to make Tokyo 2020 at 76kg, but could not unseat world silver medalist Hiroe MINAGAWA. Now she has gone the other way, dropping down to 68kg.  

At Greco 67kg, world 63kg champion Shinobu OTA could face defending national champion Shogo TAKAHASHI in the quarterfinals, which would be the second match for both.

Ota was the Rio 2016 silver medalist at 59kg, but failed to beat eventual world champion Kenichiro FUMITA for the place on the team to Nur-Sultan at 60kg. He moved up to 63kg and came away with his first world title, and has now jumped another division in a bid to return to the Olympics.

At freestyle 57kg, former world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI and Rio 2016 silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI were drawn in separate brackets, meaning they would not meet until Sunday’s final. 

Day 2 results

Freestyle

61kg (19 entries)
Final - Ryuto SAKAGI df. Keita SHIMIZU, 5-3
3rd Place - Kodai OGAWA df. Raimu MAEDA by TF, 10-0, 3:22 
3rd Place - Ryutaro HAYAMA df. Takumi YOSHIMURA, 7-1

70kg (16 entries)
Final - Shin HARAGUCHI df. Hikaru TAKADA, 5-3
3rd Place - Ryo YONEZAWA df. Tsuyoshi NAKAMURA, 10-8 
3rd Place - Hidetaka SAKANO df. Shinnosuke SUWAMA by Def. 

79kg (11 entries)
Semifinals
Yudai TAKAHASHI df. Taro UMEBAYASHI, 9-2
Shinkichi OKUI df. Yuta ABE, 5-2

86kg (11 entries)
Semifinals
Sosuke TAKATANI df. Shutaro YAMADA, 8-0
Hayato ISHIGURO df. Shota SHIRAI, 2-1

92kg (9 entries)
Semifinals
Takuma OTSU df. Yudai YOKOTA by TF, 12-1, 4:33
Ryoichi YAMANAKA df. Takumi TANIZAKI, 4-1

97kg (14 entries)
Final - Naoya AKAGUMA df. Takeshi YAMAGUCHI, 2-0 
3rd Place - Taira SONODA df. Keiwan YOSHIDA, 6-2 
3rd Place - Takashi ISHIGURO df. Atsushi MATSUMOTO by TF, 10-0, 3:42

125kg (14 entries)
Final - Tetsuya TANAKA df. Nobuyoshi ARAKIDA by Inj. Def., 3:00 (2-0) 
3rd Place - Yasuhiro YAMAMOTO df. Takuto YASUDA by TF, 14-3, 4:55
3rd Place - Katsutoshi KANAZAWA df. Taiki YAMAMOTO, 5-4

Greco-Roman

55kg (23 entries)
Final - Hiromu KATAGIRI df. Yu SHIOTANI by TF, 12-0, 1:07 
3rd Place - Takumi HOSHINO df. Kagetora OKAMOTO by TF, 8-0, 2:07 
3rd Place - Hirokazu ONO df. Mizuki ARAKI, 9-3

60kg (12 entries)
Final - Ayata SUZUKI df. Kosei TAKESHITA by TF, 9-0, 3:16 
3rd Place - Kaito INABA df. Tatsuto OSHIRO by TF, 9-0, 2:17 
3rd Place - Kensuke SHIMIZU df. Maito KAWANA, 8-3 

63kg (15 entries)
Semifinals
Yoshiki YAMADA df. Harushi SHIMAYA, 7-1
Masaki ISHIKAWA df. Ichito TOKUHIGA by TF, 10-0, 1:44

72kg (22 entries)
Final - Nao KUSAKA df. Takuya TOMIZUKA, 5-4
3rd Place - Minto MAEDA df. Ibuki KATSUURA by TF, 9-1, 5:13
3rd Place - Takahiro YAMAMOTO df. Masaki KONDO by Fall, 1:53 (4-0)

82kg (15 entries)
Final - Satoki MUKAI df. Yoji KAWAMURA, 2-1 
3rd Place - Yuto MATSUZAKI df. Masao TANAKA, 5-3
3rd Place - Rai HAYASHI df. Shoma YAMASAKI by Fall, 4:44 (7-0) 

87kg (12 entries)
Semifinals
Masato SUMI df. Kanta SHIOKAWA, 5-1
Takahiro TSURUDA df. Kaito MIYAMOTO, 7-0 

97kg (14 entries)
Final - Yuta NARA df. Yuri NAKAZATO, 2-2
3rd Place - Suguru KINOSHITA df. Masayuki AMANO, 2-1
3rd Place - Masaaki SHIKIYA df. Sanjuro TAKAHASHI by TF, 10-0, 2:06

130kg (10 entries)
Semifinals
Arata SONODA df. Shoma SUZUKI by TF, 8-0, 1:12
Ryota KONO df. Keita BANCHI by Fall, 1:58 (5-0)

Women’s Wrestling

53kg (14 entries)
Semifinals
Haruna OKUNO df. Yuka YAGO, 3-1
Nanami IRIE df. Yumi SHIMONO by TF, 10-0, 3:26 

55kg (10 entries)
Final - Kana HIGASHIKAWA df. Tsugumi SAKURAI by Fall, 1:02 (2-0)
3rd Place - Tomoha UCHIJO df. Saki IGARASHI by Def.
3rd Place - Michika OHASHI df. Hikari HIGUCHI, 6-3 

57kg (8 entries)
Semifinals
Akie HANAI df. Chiho HAMADA, 3-1
Sae NANJO df. Hanako SAWA by TF, 10-0, 2:06

59kg (6 entries)
Final - Sara NATAMI df. Yuzuka INAGAKI, 2-2 
3rd Place - Yumi KON df. Ayami SUGIMOTO, 5-2 

62kg (11 entries)
Semifinals
Atena KODAMA df. Suzu YABIKU, 7-0
Ami ISHII df. Kumi IRIE, 4-3 

65kg (7 entries)
Final - Naomi RUIKE df. Miyu IMAI, 7-2
3rd Place - Miki KAWAUCHI df. Rin TERAMOTO, 6-6

72kg (3 entries)
Round-Robin
(Standings after 2 rounds)
1. Mei SHINDO (2-0), 2. Kanon KOBAYASHI (0-1), Mai HAYAKAWA (0-1).

76kg (5 entries)
Round-Robin, Final Standings
1. Yasuha MATSUYUKI (4-0)
2. Rino ABE (3-1)
3. Mizuki NAGASHIMA (1-2)
Key match: Yasuha MATSUYUKI df. Rino ABE, 10-1

#wrestlebishkek

Iran Caps Asian Championships with Three Golds, Team Title

Sunday, April 12, 2026 - 18:22 By Ken Marantz

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 12) -- World champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) capped a trifecta of victories for Iran in the last three finals of the Asian Championships, regaining the Freestyle 125kg gold after a one-year absence.

Zare followed Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) and Mobin AZIMI (IRI) onto the top of the medal podium by defeating Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) 4-0 – his fifth win in five meetings in a two-year span over the Russian-born foe – as the competition wrapped up with the last five Freestyle weight classes.

“Representing Iran despite the hard situation in my country made this gold medal even more meaningful,” Zare said.

World bronze medalist Ghasempour started the Iranian gold rush with a victory by fall in the 86kg final for his third Asian title and first since 2021, and Azimi followed suit by cruising to the 92kg gold to become a first-time champion.

The match of the day came at 61kg, in which Kwang Myong KIM (PRK) came out on top of a 23-point free-for-all over Olympic bronze medalist AMAN (IND), while world 70kg champion Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) made a successful move up to 74kg by making his fourth Asian medal golden for the first time.

Iran, which also took home two bronzes on the final day at Zhastyk Arena and had five champions overall, finished with 178 points to capture the team title for the third straight year and seventh time in eight years. India, with three golds and three silvers, finished second with 162, while Japan placed third with 127 behind two golds.

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) scores a takedown on Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) during the 125kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Zare, who missed last year’s tournament in lieu of eventual champion Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) when Iran dispatched a young team to Amman, defeated Sharipov in a final devoid of high drama, which the Iranian said was due to his still recovering from a recent cold.

After receiving an activity point in the first period, Zare sandwiched a pair of stepouts around a second activity point for a 4-0 victory that never saw him in danger.

“Fighting through a severe cold infection, I lost seven kilograms three weeks before this competition,” Zare said. “I struggled to even finish an hour of training three days before this competition.

“Yet, with the help of my coaches, the prayers of the people, and God's grace, I’ve become a three-time Asian champion,” he added, counting his 2023 Asian Games gold into the total.

While Zare has seen limited action on the continental level, he has certainly made his mark on the global stage. In addition to a 2021 Tokyo Olympic bronze to go with his Paris silver, he has world golds from 2021, 2023 and 2025, as well as a 2022 bronze.

Zare, who was competing for the first time in 2026, has only three losses dating back to 2019 – to Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics, to Taha AKGUL (TUR) in the semifinals at the 2022 World Championships, and to Petriashvili again in the Paris Olympic final.

Ghasempour, competing for the first time this year, was leading Mukul DAHIYA (IND) 3-0 in the 86kg final when he stuck the Indian for a 4-pointer that he turned into a fall at 2:43.

Ghasempour had just received an activity point when he scored with a single-leg takedown. In the next action, Dahiya shot for a takedown, but Ghasempour got the underhooks in and suddenly pancaked the Indian over to his back.

“This is my first international stage of 2026, and I’m so thankful I could start it all with a gold medal,” Ghasempour said. “I hope to keep this streak going through the next competition.”

Ghasempour won his first Asian gold at 86kg in 2019, then moved up to 92kg and won the Asian title in 2021 and back-to-back world golds in 2021 and 2022. He was absent from the global scene until reappearing at last year’s World Championships, where he took a bronze.

“My aim is to keep this path strong through the 2026 World Championships and finish the year on top, setting the stage for the 2028 Olympics,” he said.

Mobin AZIMI (IRI)Mobin AZIMI (IRI) blanked Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN), 11-0, in the 92kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

World U23 champion Azimi, who moved down to 92kg after taking a bronze at 97kg last year, finished up an 11-0 victory over Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) with just under a minute to go – and 10 seconds after scoring his first takedown of the match.

Azimi built up a 7-0 lead with a flurry of stepouts – five in all – before combining a takedown and gut wrench to conclude the match at 5:01.

Sharipov, a world U23 bronze medalist, added the Asian silver to his bronzes from 2023 and 2024.

For those who like their championship matches freewheeling, the 61kg final could hardly have been more entertaining.

Kwang Myong KIM (PRK)Kwang Myong KIM (PRK) celebrates after defeating AMAN (IND), 13-10, in an electric 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

India’s Aman, a Paris bronze medalist and 2023 Asian champion at 57kg, was the main instigator of the action, shooting for takedowns at will that Kim, a 2025 Asian U23 bronze medalist, did his best to counter – successfully, enough times.

Kim jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a counter arm throw and a roll with his head between Aman’s thighs, before Aman connected on a single for a takedown. Kim gained a stepout fighting off another attempt, then got 2 more with a whizzer counter, only for Aman to get a late double-leg takedown that left Kim up 7-4 at the break.

Aman charged back and went ahead 9-7 in the second period with a stepout and two takedowns. Kim used his lethal whizzer again for the stepout, then got behind countering a shot to move ahead 10-9 with 1:10 left.

With Aman wildly pressing for the winning takedown, Kim appeared to clinch the win with a stepout with :05 left. But the scoring wasn’t finished, as Kim was hit with a 1-point fleeing penalty in the final seconds to make it 11-10.

A last-second shot by Aman fell short and Kim spun behind just before the buzzer to account for the final margin of victory.

“I'm very happy that I won today, but I'm not going to think about this gold medal, instead I will move forward preparing for the World Championships,” said Kim, who won the lone gold for the DPR Korea in Bishkek.

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN)Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) celebrates after winning the 74kg gold with fellow Yamanashi Gakuin University alumnus, former Olympic champion, and now Freestyle coach of Japan Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), left. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Japan’s Aoyagi, whose matches often have their fair share of fireworks, captured his first Asian gold with a staid 2-0 victory over two-time bronze medalist Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) in the 74kg final.

The gold ended a run of bronze, silver, bronze over the past three years at 70kg. “I was continually unable to win the title at 70kg, which was really disappointing, so to move up to 74kg and win the gold medal for the first time, and also my first gold medal [at this weight] overseas, I’m really happy,” Aoyagi said.

Aoyagi scored a takedown with a low single in the first period, then left no openings for an opponent who seemed reticent to go on the offensive.

“With victory within reach, I think my movement became a little stiff,” Aoyagi said of the lack of spark in the match. “I consider myself to be a wrestler who is particularly good at defense.”

Just getting to Bishkek was an accomplishment in itself for Aoyagi. As a sign of the depth in Japan, Aoyagi had to defeat reigning world 74kg champion Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) at last December’s All-Japan Championships, winning a close 4-4 decision in the final.

To make the team to this year’s World Championships and Asian Games, Aoyagi will likely have to go through Takahashi again at next month’s Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships.

“Of course, [the win in December] gave me confidence,” Aoyagi said. “But I think he is still stronger than me. I still have a month to prepare. I want to beat him again.”

Since making the move up to the Olympic weight, Aoyagi placed third at the 2025 World U23 Championships and second at Zagreb Ranking Series event earlier this year. He said he is still making the physical adjustment.

“I still feel the difference [of opponents] being taller, having longer legs and longer reach,” Aoyagi said. “But there is nothing I can do to increase those in me. I can just add bulk to my body size and little by little be able to respond.”

Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM)Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM) became Turkmenistan's first-ever Asian medalist in Freestyle. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Begenjov claims first-ever Freestyle medal for Turkmenistan

Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM) became Turkmenistan’s first-ever Asian medalist in Freestyle, taking home an 86kg bronze with a stunning victory by fall over Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN).

Begenjov, the 2024 world U20 champion and 2025 Asian U23 silver medalist at 79kg, had scored his second 4-point move when Takahashi reversed to cut Begenjov’s lead to 8-5. But Begenjov stuffed an attempted roll and secured the fall at 5:09.

Begenjov had started the match with a back trip for 4, before the brawny Takahashi, a 2022 bronze medalist at 79kg and the older brother of Kota, came back with takedowns to end the first period and start the second.

Trailing 4-4 on criteria, Takahashi got in on a tackle, only to be pancaked to his back. The Japanese then reversed, only to be stopped midway through and then held down for the fall.

It was also Turkmenistan’s first medal overall since 2018, and just the ninth in the nation’s history.

Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN), a world 79kg bronze medalist, claimed the other 86kg bronze and his third straight with a 2-1 win over returning silver medalist Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ), with all of the points scored on the activity clock.

At 92kg, veteran Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) added to his vast collection of Asian medals, scoring all of his points in the first period to defeat Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) 6-0 and make the podium for the fifth straight year.

Dauletbekov, who also has a pair of world bronzes to his credit, now has seven Asian medals, including three straight golds from 2022 to 2024 at 86kg. Ishiguro was denied a second straight bronze and what would have been his third overall.

Asian U20 bronze medalist Iakov CHAPLIN (KGZ) claimed the lone medal of the final night for the host country, outlasting Hade AYIDUSI (CHN) 6-4 for the other 92kg bronze.

While Ayidusi was piling up single points, Chaplin went ahead in the second period with a takedown and roll for a 4-3 lead with 1:20 left. Ayidusi picked up his third stepout to tie the score, but still trailed on criteria, and a desperation shot allowed Chaplin to get behind in the last second.

At 57kg, world medalists Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) and Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) both assured they would not be leaving Bishkek empty-handed by grabbing the bronzes with one-sided victories.

Javan, the world silver medalist, secured his second straight Asian bronze by overwhelming Changsu KIM (KOR) 12-0, scoring a takedown and three back-and-forth rolls, then finishing the match with a 4-point takedown at 1:30.

Abdullaev, who won bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics and last year’s World Championships at 57kg, was taken into the second period, but came up with a similar 11-0 victory over Azatberdi ASHYRGULYYEV (TKM).

He followed an initial takedown by using a grapevine for an exposure, then grabbed another exposure off a counter. In the second period, he ended it at 3:40 with a takedown-gut wrench combination.

At 74kg, former Asian champion and two-time world medalist Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) added another bronze to the Iranian tally, notching three takedowns in a 9-3 victory over last year’s silver medalist, Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ).

Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK), a four-time Asian U23 medalist, earned his first senior medal by taking the other 74kg bronze with an entertaining 7-6 win over Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB).

The match saw six lead changes, with Akhmedov scoring a takedown with :27 left for the decisive points.

The 125kg bronze-medal matches also saw an engaging encounter, in which world and Asian U20 champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) reversed BUHEEERDUN (CHN) twice in the first period before holding on for an 8-7 win.

Buheeerdun, a two-time bronze medalist, started the proceedings with a takedown, but Kassimbek reversed, then scored a takedown and gut wrench to lead 5-2. Buheeerdun replied with a takedown-roll combination of his own, but again Kassimbek reversed, then added a roll to make it 8-6. Kassimbek limited the Chinese to a stepout in the second period to secure the win.

DINESH (IND) won his second straight bronze at 125kg, storming to a 12-1 win over Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ) that he completed as time ran out.

Photo

Day 7 Results

Freestyle

61kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Kwang Myong KIM (PRK) df. AMAN (IND) 13-10

BRONZE: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) df. Changsu KIM (KOR) by TS, 12-0, 1:30
BRONZE: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df. Azatberdi ASHYRGULYYEV (TKM) by TF, 11-0, 3:40

74kg (14 entries)
GOLD: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) df. Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN), 2-0

BRONZE: Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK) df. Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB), 7-6
BRONZE: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) df. Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), 9-3

86kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Mukul DAHIYA (IND) by Fall, 2:43 (7-0)

BRONZE: Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM) df. Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN) by Fall, 5:09 (10-5)
BRONZE: Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN) df. Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ), 2-1

92kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Mobin AZIMI (IRI) def. Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) by TS, 11-0, 5:01

BRONZE: Iakov CHAPLIN (KGZ) df. Hade AYIDUSI (CHN), 6-4
BRONZE: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN), 6-0

125kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), 4-0

BRONZE: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) df. BUHEEERDUN (CHN), 8-7
BRONZE: DINESH (IND) df. Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ) by TS, 12-1, 6:00