#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Live Blog: Asian Championship day six

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 24) -- The final of the Asian Championships is here. After 10 champions in Greco-Roman and women's wrestling each, the freestyle will get the 10 champions as well.

Five of the 10 were decided Saturday and the remaining five will be on Sunday. Rio Olympics silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) is wrestling at 61kg and is the favorite to win the gold.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

13:40: The morning session is over. The 10 finalists in 5 weight classes are set and the medal bouts will begin 1800 hours local time.

13:36: Yergali did give up a takedown but did not let Jung get a turn. He wins 9-6 by countering Jung's final attack. Yergali will face Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) in the 125kg final. Mohebi had to stepouts and a takedown against Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL) in the first period before Ekhtuvshin scored a takedown of his own in the second. But all his other attacks were easily countered by Mohebi as he secured a 12-2 win. 

13:33: Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), the Asian champion at 97kg, leads Yeihyun JUNG (KOR) 7-0 in the 125kg semifinal. Yergali lost his concentration for a moment and now Jung has scored a four-pointer. Can Jung score 4 more with 40 seconds remaining?

13:27: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) once again leads a series of leg laces to lead 5-0 against Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ) at the break in the 74kg semifinal. Orozbekov gets a takedown in the second period but gives up one as well. He then gets a duck under and gut to make it 9-6. Kaipanov counters with a single leg and leads 11-6. Orozbekov's attack is countered with a double to four-pointer exposure from Kaipanov as he wins 15-8.

13:22: Higuchi starts out the second period with a low single-leg attack, and stops Zholdoshbekov's attempt to counter to gain a takedown for an 8-4 lead. He repeats it and how he's up 10-4. With 1:24 left, it's the same move for another takedown, and this time he pops a gut wrench for a 14-4 technical fall at 4:50. A short time earlier,  Darioush HAZRATCGHOLIZADEH (IRI) fought back from a 5-0 deficit against Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ) in the other semifinal, scoring the winning takedown with :12 left to win 6-5. 

13:21: Deepak PUNIA (IND) hits a four with a whizzer in the second period to lead 5-0 against Gwanuk KIM (KOR). The underhook defense of Punia keeps giving him the advantage over his opponents.

13:19: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) with a strong performance as he stuns Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ) with a series of gut wrenches to make it to the 86kg final in which he will face the winner of Deepak PUNIA (IND) vs Gwanuk KIM (KOR)

13:16: In the featured match of the session in the 61kg semifinals, Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) comes out with a takedown, but Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) responds with a 4-point counter lift. Higuchi ties the score with a roll from an attack, but he's trailing on criteria. With :04 left in the first period, the Rio Olympic silver medalist bulls his way to a takedown and a 6-4 lead. 

13:10: 2021 world junior champion Amirhossein FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) easily puts away Takuma OTSU (JPN) with a 10-0 technical fall to make the final at 92kg. The other semifinal was equally one-sided, as Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL) gains a spin-behind takedown to top Viky CHAHAR (IND) 11-0.

13:03: Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) has Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) in the semifinal and he begins with a takedown and roll to lead 4-0. A series of takedowns and he wins 10-0 to reach the 74kg final

12:57: Two 125kg quarterfinals and Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) beats Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM) 14-4 while home favorite Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL) beats Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN) 5-1

12:50: In another 86kg quarterfinal, Muhammad INAM (PAK) trailed 5-0 against Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ) but then scored a takedown before getting a point for passivity. He got an exposure to lead 5-5 with 6 seconds remaining but Usupov scores the reversal to win 6-5

12:45: Anirudh KUMAR (IND) had made it 4-4 after Yeihyun JUNG (KOR) had hit an early four-point throw. But Jung scored a takedown with 30 seconds remaining and adds another as he counters an attack to make it 8-4 and win the bout.

12:42: At 86kg, world silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) is wrestling against Mohsen MOSTAFAVI (IRI). He gets the first point for Mostafavi's inactivity before giving a takedown on edge. Punia leads 3-0. A lost challenge gives him 4-0 in the second period. None of Mostafavi's attacked worked and Punia wins 6-0

12:40: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) is in real form at 74kg. He gets a takedown and then locks Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) in lace to win 11-0 inside the first minute.

12:35: The semifinal in the bottom half of the bracket at 61kg has been set. It will be Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ), who ousted 2021 world U23 bronze medalist Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL) by a 10-0 technical fall, and Darioush HAZRATCGHOLIZADEH (IRI), who took advantage of a clearly winded 2021 world junior bronze medalist Alibeg ALIBEKOV (BRN) to rally from an 11-4 deficit with 2 minutes to a 14-11 win. 

12:30: A thrilling quarterfinal at 74kg. Byambadorj BAT-ERDENE (MGL) was leading 5-2 with 20 seconds remaining and a scramble resulted in Seungbong LEE (KOR) scoring a takedown. He tried to get a roll but could not. Baterdene wins 5-4

12:22: Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) sets up a semifinal clash at 61kg with Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) after breaking open a close match late in the second period and defeating defending champion Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB ) 6-2. 

12:17: Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) has countered Diachi TAKATANI (JPN) every time the Japanese has tried to attack. Emamichoghaei now leads 6-2 as they battle it out in the 74kg quarterfinal. Takatani with a leg attack and converts that into a takedown. The final 20 seconds had Emamichoghaei being passive which the Japanese corner challenges, asking for a caution and passivity point. However, the jury rules it out. Emamichogaei wins 7-5

12:15: Viky CHAHAR (IND) pulled a rabbit off his hat to defeat Mirian CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ) and advance to the semifinals at 82kg. Just seconds after giving up an exposure that put the Kyrgyz ahead 3-2, Charhar somehow reversed the situation with :05 left for a 4-3 win. The 92kg semifinals are now set: Takuma OTSU (JPN) vs Amirhossein FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI), and Charhar vs Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)

12:08: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), perhaps still smarting from missing out on the Tokyo Olympics and the chance to get the gold he was denied in Rio, looked like a man on a mission in handily putting away Mangal KADYAN (IND) by 10-0 technical fall. Higuchi started with a pair of takedown-gut wrench combinations, then ended the match with an exposure off a tackle attempt.

12:07: Shota SHIRAI (JPN) works hard to beat Temuujin MENDBILEG (MGL) 6-0 at 86kg. Shirai with a strong counter game and puts Mendbileg's conditioning to test

12:03: Yeihyun JUNG (KOR) exposes Rustam ISKANDARI (TJK) and then holds him to the back to secure the fall in the second period at 125kg.

12:02: Orgilokh DAVADORJ (MGL) gets the home crowd charged up with a 10-0 technical fall over Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB ) to advance to the semifinals at 92kg. 

11:59: 2020 silver medalist and top seed Takuma OTSU (JPN) turns Jinmyeong KIM (KOR) over on a takedown counter for a 5-0 lead, and looks to be content with just running out the last 80 seconds in their quarterfinal clash at 92kg. But he manages to lever the Korean over enough to record a fall with :13 left. 

11:55: Navruzov takes a stepout and leads 11-4. He is cautioned for headbutting Tushir who adds three takedwons to make it 11-10 but the time runs out. Navuroz moves into the quarterfinals.

11:50: Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) begins his 74kg qualification with two big arm throws to be up 8-0 against Yash TUSHIR (IND). He then gets countered for a takedown before Navruzov adds two stepouts to lead 10-2. Tushir gets a takedown to make it 10-4 at the break.

11:45: At 74kg, Atamyrat CHARLYYEV (TKM) with a clinical 11-0 win over HONG YEOW LOU (SGP) and Seungbong LEE (KOR) beats Lakmal Wijesooriya (SRI) via technical superiority as well

11:41: Diachi TAKATANI (JPN) is up at 74kg and he has a quick fall over Abdullah ABDALKAREEM (TKM) in the opening round.

11:39: Defending 61kg champion Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB ) easily handles Sampath WATHTHE GEDARA (SRI) in a 12-0 technical fall. He will next face 2020 champion Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) in the quarterfinals, with the winner likely getting a semifinal clash with Higuchi who has Mangal KADYAN (IND) in the quarterfinals. Kadyan began with an 11-0 technical fall over Mekan MUHAMMEDOV (TKM).  

11:34: Rio Olympic silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) begins his campaign for the first Asian gold medal by overwhelming Ali ALHOHAINI (KUW) in their qualification match at 61kg. A takedown and four straight lace locks and that was all for the Kuwaiti in 26 seconds.

11:30: All ready for the start of the final day at Buyant Ukhaa Sports Palace, with the final five weight classes in freestyle, 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg. Let the action begin.

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

#WrestleUlaanbaatar Preview: Ozaki eyes Asian title but Tynybekova stands in the way

By Ken Marantz

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 15) -- Having started her second year at academically prestigious Keio University, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) will be bringing her textbooks with her to Mongolia for the Asian Championships to keep from falling behind in her studies. On the mat, the scholar-athlete has shown to be a fast learner.

The 19-year-old Ozaki, a world cadet and Youth Olympic gold medalist, made her international senior debut at last year's World Championships in Oslo and came away with a bronze medal at 62kg.

In Ulaanbaatar, she will likely get a chance to avenge a close, first-round loss in Oslo to world champion and Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ). The two are the top seeds, meaning a clash between them could only come in the final.

But that's not her sole focus. Ozaki knows that, like her school studies, a tournament is a progression in which the earlier steps cannot be overlooked.

"Before, I lost to her, but it's not like I'm always keeping Aisuluu in my mind," Ozaki said in an interview last Sunday when she cruised to the U20 title at the JOC Junior Queens Cup in Tokyo.

"My thinking is that any opponent will be strong. I don't know what type of opponent I will face in the first match. I'll have to be sure to win that match and have a chance to meet her in the final."

Ozaki is one of 12 women's medalists from the 2021 World Championships among the entries for the Asian Championships, with Tynybekova among the five champions -- three are from Japan and the other is also from Kyrgyzstan. There are also two world medalists in each of the men's styles.

Tynybekova also belongs to the small subset of Tokyo Olympic medalists making the trip to Ulaanbaatar, along with compatriot Akzhol MAKMUMDOV (KGZ) at Greco 77kg and the Indian pair of Ravi KUMAR (IND) at freestyle 57kg and Bajrang PUNIA (IND) at freestyle 65kg. None of Japan's four women champions have returned to action since the Tokyo Games.

At last year's Asian Championships in Almaty, the women's competition was thinned out a bit by the absence of the Japanese and Chinese, as well as the fact that the tournament was held the week after the Asian Olympic qualifier. Tynybekova is one of three defending champions, along with India's Anshu MALIK (IND) at 57kg and Sarita MOR (IND) at 59kg.

Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics in two years, Ozaki is aiming to challenge Olympic champion Yukako KAWAI (JPN) for domestic supremacy at 62kg, and a victory at the senior Asian tournament would provide a big boost of confidence. Success on the global stage, however, is no stranger to the Tokyo native.

Against Tynybekova in Oslo, Ozaki jumped out to a 4-0 lead, only to falter and come out on the short end of a 6-4 score. That was her first-ever loss to a non-Japanese opponent, having won two world cadet (U17), one Asian cadet, three Klippan Lady cadets and the Youth Olympic titles between 2018 and 2020. Her last domestic loss came in August 2018, in the final of the Inter-High School tournament to Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN).

Ozaki had no trouble facing opponents her own age at the Junior Queens Cup, winning all three matches by fall in a combined time of 2:17. Why would she enter a tournament that she would assuredly dominate so easily so close to such an important competition as the Asian Championships?

The reason was two-fold: First, the tournament was serving as Japan's qualifier for the World U20 Championships this summer in Bulgaria which she wants to enter. Second, she wanted to regain her competitive edge.

"Mongolia is the tournament I am building up to. But my last tournament was in December," Ozaki said, referring to the All-Japan Championships, where she won a second straight title in the absence of Kawai.

"So I thought this tournament would also be good to get my mat sense back. No matter what match it is, I feel nervous. But I went into it thinking about what I want to do and what will get me in the best condition for Mongolia, so it was good."

Others that Ozaki and Tynybekova will have to contend with in Ulaanbaatar are third-seed Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ) and Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB), both two-time Asian medalists, and Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL), who finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics. Tynybekova, for her part, will be aiming for a fifth Asian gold and ninth medal overall.

Ozaki went against the grain when she opted to pursue the scholar-athlete route to Keio, for which she had to pass an extremely difficult entrance exam, instead of taking the conventional path and going to a wrestling powerhouse.

That's what reigning 53kg world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) did, and this month the 18- year-old started her freshman year at Nippon Sports Science University. Fujinami also warmed up for Ulaanbaatar at the Junior Queens Cup, where she spent only slightly less time on the mat than Ozaki--she needed just 2:14 to complete two falls and a technical fall.

"It was only a matter of course that I won," said Fujinami, who stretched her winning streak dating back to junior high school to 93 matches. "It was my first competition since entering Nippon Sports Science, so it was important for me."

Fujinami will be gunning for her second career continental title after easily winning the 54kg crown at the inaugural Asian U15 Championships in Japan in 2018. Her victory in Oslo, where the 2018 world cadet champion won all four matches by technical fall without conceding a point, came in only her second senior-level tournament and first internationally.

"My aim is to be undefeated [up to the Paris Olympics] and present the image that I win convincingly," Fujinami said. "But I always focus on the tournament in front of me and will take it one step at a time."

Accompanying Fujinami in her move from her Mie Prefecture hometown in central Japan to Tokyo was her father, who was her coach at Inabe Gakuin High School and is now a coach at NSSU. Another coach might be more familiar to world wrestling fans -- four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN), whose presence is pushing Fujinami to even higher levels.

"She also spars with me," Fujinami said. "When I was in high school, I was allowed to join in their practices. I can only learn [from her]. I still have an issue with finishing up my tackles. Kaori-san is really skilled after someone gets in on a tackle, she has good balance and is solid physically. Right now, I can't get points off her, she's still strong. I'm always thinking what can I do."

Fujinami had talked about looking forward to facing a Chinese opponent for the first time, prior to the news that China would not be sending a team to Ulaanbaatar.

That leaves as the main challengers for the top-seeded Fujinami mainly No. 2 seed Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), a bronze medalist in 2019 and 2020 and the 2018 world junior silver medalist, and 34-year-old veteran Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ), a seven-time Asian medalist dating back to 2005 (including a gold in 2007) who was fifth at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a 2011 world bronze medalist.

In addition to Fujinami, two other titlists from Oslo will be making the trip to Mongolia.

Remina YOSHIMOTORemina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) is the world champion at 50kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) heads the field at 50kg as the top seed, while world 55kg champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) has moved up to the Olympic weight of 57kg to begin a bid to knock off two-time Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) in the race to Paris 2024.

Yoshimoto, who has eyes on preventing Olympic gold medalist Yu SUSAKI (JPN) from getting a chance for a repeat in Paris, should have little trouble in her senior Asian debut but could encounter stiff competition from 2020 Yarygin Grand Prix champion Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) and 2021 Asian runner-up Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB).

Sakurai's first venture into her new weight class could get a major test right off the bat with a clash against defending champion and 2021 world silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND). The division also includes 2021 world junior champion Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) and the ageless (actually 37) Hyungjoo KIM (KOR), a 2021 bronze medalist at 55kg who appeared at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

At 65kg, world silver medalist Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) looks to be in a class of her own as the 2019 world junior champion finally gets a shot at a senior Asian title. She was on the women's squad last year that was pulled out of the competition just before departing Japan because of suspected contact with someone infected with the coronavirus.

It will be interesting to see how one of Japan's least heralded team members, Sumire NIIKURA (JPN), fares at 72kg in her first-ever foray overseas. When world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN) moved down to 68kg, Niikura emerged victorious in the All-Japan tournament, beating 2019 world U23 bronze medalist Mei SHINDO (JPN) in the final to become the first-ever national champion from Kanagawa University.

"It's my first overseas competition," the stocky Niikura said after winning the Junior Queens Cup. "I'm in the women's 72kg weight class, but for that division, I'm not tall enough. Other countries' wrestlers are taller than the Japanese, so I want to test how I will fare against those opponents. Regardless of whether I win or not, I will give everything I have in each match."

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) will be looking for second Asian gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The favorite in the weight class is top seed Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), the runner-up to Furuichi at the Oslo world championships. She has a full set of Asian medals, having finished second in 2021, first in 2020 and third in 2019. This year, she triumphed at the Yasar Dogu Ranking tournament.

Kyrgyzstan will be sending only three women, but what a trio it is. In addition to the two-time world champion Tynybekova, reigning world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and world bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) make up the cream of the Kyrgyz crop.

Zhumanazarova, who joined Tynybekova as their nation's first-ever female Olympic medalist in any sport when she took a bronze in Tokyo, will be aiming for her first Asian title after two third-place finishes. She will be challenged by the silver medalists from the past two years, Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) and Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN).

Matsuyuki is familiar with Zhumanazarova; the Japanese beat her 4-2 in the final at the 2019 World Junior Championships. She also has a world U23 silver from 2017 to her credit.

Medet Kyzy, who won a second straight Asian silver last year and placed fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, could also find a young Japanese in her path in Yuka KAGAMI (JPN), who is making her first overseas trip since winning the Klippan Lady in January 2020.

A product of the JOC Elite Academy that produced Susaki, Ozaki and numerous other stars, Kagami shined brightest in 2019 when she won the world junior and senior Asian titles at 72kg and was second in the world U23 at 76kg.

Here are others to watch in Greco and freestyle style:

Akzhol MAKHMUDOVAkzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) is eyeing his second Asian title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman (April 19-20)

Kyrgyzstan's Tokyo Olympic 77kg silver medalist Makhmudov burst onto the global stage at the 2018 Asian Championships with a thrilling victory before the home crowd at 72kg in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. He won the 77kg silver six months later at the Asian Games but has not appeared at a continental competition since.

Makhmudov, who turns 23 on April 15, is the top seed at 77kg, a category in which 2019 world 72kg silver medalist Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) and a pair of wily veterans are among those lying in wait.

Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), 33, an Olympic champion in 2012 and bronze medalist in 2016, will be aiming for his sixth career Asian title and first since 2019, while Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ), who turns 32 on April 23, will look to add to a collection that includes six Asian medals, among them a 2017 gold and most recently a 2019 bronze at 82kg.

Of the five returning champions, at least one will head home without a title as two are entered at 87kg. Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), the gold medalist in Almaty, is unseeded and could clash with 2021 82kg champion and No. 3 seed Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), a 2018 world bronze medalist at 77kg.

Not that this weight class is a two-man field. They will have to contend with former Asian champion and top seed Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ), 2019 Asian silver medalist and No. 2 seed Sumil KUMAR (IND), and 32-year-old Jinhyeok KIM (KOR), a 2018 Asian bronze medalist at 82kg.

Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL)Freestyle veteran Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL) is entered in Greco-Roman 130kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

One of the more intriguing entries is at 130kg, where the home country -- which has never had an Asian medalist in Greco -- will be represented by Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL). If his name is familiar, it's because he is a six-time Asian medalist -- in freestyle. A champion at 97kg in 2014, he made it onto the medal podium last year in Almaty with a third-place finish.

Dorjkhand only adds more depth to a stacked weight class that includes 2019 champion Amir GHASEMIMONJEZI (IRI); three-time Olympian and top seed Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), the 2019 runner-up to Ghasemimonjezi in Xi'an; 2020 silver medalist and 2018 world bronze medalist Minseok KIM (KOR); and 2021 silver medalist and No. 2 seed Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ).

On the other end of the spectrum, the one to watch at 55kg is defending champion Yu SHIOTANI (JPN).

Last year in Almaty, Shiotani became, at 19 years 5 months, Japan’s youngest-ever male Asian champion. Five months later in the same weight class, Ken MATSUI (JPN) became the country's youngest-ever world Greco champion. The two met in the final at last December's national championships, and Shiotani routed his rival with a quick 11-0 technical fall that included two 5-point throws.

"Last year, I went into [the Asian Championships] with only the spirit of being a challenger," Shiotani told the Japan federation website. "This year, my thoughts have been focused on repeating as champion, so I think there is more pressure than last year."

Bajrang PUNIABajrang PUNIA (IND) is the favorite to win the 65kg gold in the absence of Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle (April 23-24)

Not having to deal with nemesis Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) this time, Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Punia is poised to win a third career Asian title and first since 2019 at 65kg. His main barrier may be overcoming problems with his knees that have plagued him in recent months.

Punia brought the situation to light after barely winning a national team playoff over ROHIT (IND) in late March to earn a ticket to Ulaanbaatar. That was his first official action since the Tokyo Games, after which he was forced to skip Ranking Series events in Rome and Istanbul.

"This was my first bout after the Olympics," Punia was quoted as saying on the News 18 website. "It takes time to get that sharpness when you go to the mat after so many months.

"After my injury, I did rehab on my own. I did not have a personal physio with me, otherwise, I could have recovered early," said Punia, who had spent time training overseas. "Overall I am happy with my performance considering that I was competing after eight months."

Punia, who has seven Asian and three world medals to his credit, can expect to be pushed by 2021 world bronze medalist Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) and 2021 world 61kg junior champion Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI).

With powerhouse Iran fielding a mixed squad of established national team members and international newcomers, a deep Indian team has a good chance to make a run at the team title, after finishing second to Iran in each of the past three years.

Expectations are high for Kumar at 57kg and Deepak PUNIA (IND) at 86kg, with 2020 silver medalist Gourav BALIYAN (IND) at 79kg and four-time Asian medalist Satywart KADIAN (IND) at 97kg also capable of making the top step of the podium.

Kumar, a 2019 world bronze medalist, will be aiming for a third straight Asian gold, with his top competition likely to come from Tokyo Olympic quarterfinalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 2022 Yasar Dogu winner Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) and 2017 Asian silver medalist Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL).

Deepak Punia, who was handily defeated in the final last year by world champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), won't have to deal with the absent Iranian superstar as he aims for a fourth career Asian medal and first-ever gold.

The 2019 world silver medalist and world junior champion might have to contend with two-time Asian medalist and top seed Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ). The two met in the quarterfinals at the Matteo Pellicone tournament in 2019, with the Kazakh winning a close 2-0 decision.

Rei HIGUCHIRei HIGUCHI (JPN) will wrestle at 61kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The 61kg class will see the return to the international stage of the 2016 Rio Olympic 57kg silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN). Higuchi finished third at the 2017 Asian Championships at 61kg, then went up to 65kg, where he won the 2019 world U23 title. But after failing to dislodge Otoguro at 65kg for a place at the Tokyo Olympics, he dropped back down to 57kg, where he lost to former world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) in the Olympic team wrestle-off.

Higuchi faces a tough field that includes defending champion Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB), 2020 champion and 2019 world U23 champion Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ), and 2021 world junior bronze medalist Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN).

If the seedings hold true at 70kg, world silver medalist and top seed Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), who lost a close 3-3 decision in the first round of the Tokyo Olympics at 65kg to Punia, would be looking at a clash for the gold with defending champion and No. 2 seed Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ), a 2019 world junior bronze medalist at 65kg.

The other defending champion in action will be Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) at 74kg. The 2019 world silver medalist and Asian champion at 70kg will face a tough field that includes 2019 world 70kg bronze medalist Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI), two-time Asian medalist Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) and 2016 Rio Olympic 65kg bronze medalist Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB).