#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Live Blog: Asian Championships day three

Thursday, April 21, 2022 - 01:44 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 21) -- Women's wrestling begins at the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with five weight classes.

The wrestlers from 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg will be in action on day three of the championships which saw Greco-Roman on the first two days.

MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE

13:45: That's all from the morning session. Japan has clinched two gold already while two more are in the final. Kyrgyzstan's two superstars Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) are also in the final.

13:43: Namuuntsetseg TSOGTOCHIR (MGL) uses a big four-point move and then secures a fall over MANISHA (IND) at 50kg and she moves into the semifinal against Yoshimoto.

13:37: The 76kg final will be a rematch from the group stage as both Medet Kyzy and Kagami prevailed in their semifinals with one-sided wins. Medet Kyzy notched a 10-0 technical fall in 2:31 over Ganbat, while Kagami finished off an 11-0 win over Yerkebayeva in 4:58. 

13:32: Zhumanazarova starts off with a 4-point tackle to the back and makes her first Asian final with a 7-2 win in the other 68kg semifinal over Enkhsaikhan. 

13:30: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) is giving nothing away. She moves into the 50kg final with another leg lace to a 10-0 win over Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)

13:28: A stunner in the 68kg semifinal, as Bakbergenova scores a takedown off a counter with 28 seconds left to beat Matsuyuki 3-3 on last-point criteria. 

13:14: Kagami concluded the group stage at 76kg with an 11-0 technical fall over Sushma SHOKEEN (IND) to finish second in Group A. She will face Yerkebayeva for a place in the final, while the other semifinal will be a clash between Medet Kyzy and Ganbat. 

13:10: Sarita MOR (IND) gets her second win of the day and is now back in the medal reckoning. She defeats Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) 5-2 at 59kg

12:57: The semifinals at 68kg are set: It will be Zhumanazarova against Enkhsaikhan, and Matsuyuki vs Bakberganova. In the final match of Group B, Matsuyuki scores a takedown early in the second period against Enkhsaikhan and that holds up for a 2-1 victory. 

12:50: Sara NATAMI (JPN) has all but secured the gold medal at 59kg as she wins 4-2 against Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL). All she has to do is win her Round 4 bout against Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB)

12:35: Medet Kyzy wastes no time clinching the top spot in 76kg Group A, gaining a takedown and four consecutive lace locks for a 10-0 technical fall over Sudesh KUMARI (IND) in 56 seconds. A few minutes later, Yerkebayeva wins Group B with an 11-0 technical fall over Valentina TORENIYAZOVA (UZB)

12:25: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) and Matsuyuki both won their second matches in 68kg Group B by technical falls to assure their spots in the semifinals. They will clash in the third match from now on Mat C to see who wins the group.

12:19: Zhumanazarova clinches the top spot in Group A at 68kg and a place in the semifinals with a 10-0 technical fall over Sujin PARK (KOR)

12:18: Umi IMAI (JPN) with another top-class win. It was not as easy as the first but she manages to beat Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL) 12-3 and inch closer to the gold.

12:10: Sara NATAMI (JPN) works her way to a 6-0 lead before pushing Sarita MOR (IND) towards and sticking her to her back for four. She wins 10-0. Not the best start for defending champion Mor.

12:08: In one of the featured matches of the morning session, world bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) scored a takedown and gut wrench in the final 20 seconds to defeat 2019 world junior champion Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) 7-3 in Group A at 76kg. 

12:00: Namuuntsetseg TSOGTOCHIR (MGL) thrills the local crowd with a 10-0 win over Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) at 50kg

11:55: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) fought out of a 0-3 hole to defeat Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) in their Group B match at 76kg.  Yerkebayeva is looking to make the final after winning bronze medals in 2015, 2016 and 2017. 

11:53: World champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) breezes past Miran CHEON (KOR) at 50kg. She uses a leg lace to win 10-0 in 56 seconds.

11:50: World champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) launched her campaign for a first Asian title after previously winning two bronzes with a 5-0 victory at 68kg over Madina BAKBERGERNOVA (KAZ), a two-time Asian bronze medalist herself. The two are in Group A of the weight class. 

11:45: Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN), a silver medalist in 2020 and a 2019 world junior champion had her hands full in notching a 3-1 win over Sonika HOODA (IND) in Group B at 68kg. With 7 entries, the weight class is divided into two groups.

11:42: Sarita MOR (IND) and Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) battle out a close one at 59kg. Mor got a point for passivity before Baatarjav scored one for stepout. Mor was passive and that gave the Mongolian a 2-1 lead and the win in the first round

11:40: Two contrasting first-round bouts at 55kg. Umi IMAI (JPN) comes out all guns blazing and leg laces her way to a 10-0 win over Sushma SHOKEEN (IND). On Mat B, Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL) takes longer but ultimately beats Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) 11-1 using the same move.  

11:35: Good morning, another crisp, chilly day in Ulaanbaatar for Day 3 of the Asian Championships. Today the women take the mat with competition in three weight classes, 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg

#WrestleSamokov

Iliasov levels up to win 130kg gold; Iran Greco champ again

Sunday, August 24, 2025 - 19:38 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 24) -- Ali ILIASOV (UWW) made his international wrestling debut at the European U20 Championships in July and won a silver medal. Two months later, the 18-year-old is a world champion.

Wrestling at his career first World U20 Championships on Sunday, Iliasov emerged at the champion in the 130kg weight with victories over rivals more experienced and heavier, literally, than him.

Weighing only 115kg for the 130kg final, Iliasov defeated returning silver medalist Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI) in the semifinals and on Sunday, he managed to humble two-time world U17 champion Yusuf BAKIR (TUR) in the final and win the gold medal.

"I’m underweight for the class but I feel a kind of relief," Iliasov said. "I’ve fulfilled a small dream of mine. I still haven’t fully realized that I’ve become a world champion."

Overall, Iran became the team champions with 117 points. Armenia managed second-place finish with 98 points and Azerbaijan was third with 90 points. This was Iran's fourth straight team win in Greco at the World U20 Championships.

Ali ILIASOV (UWW)Ali ILIASOV (UWW) turns Yusuf BAKIR (TUR) for two points during the 130kg final at the World U20 Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Iliasov was only 10 seconds into the final against Bakir when he used an arm-drag and had Bakir in trouble. Bakir managed to stop the takedown but he stepped out and was cautioned for fleeing as well. Iliasov led 2-0 after this sequence.

A similar arm drag brought down Bakir to the mat and Iliasov scored his first takedown. A stepout made the score 5-0. Iliasov remained relesntless in his attacks and a snapdown helped him score another takedown on Bakir. He then turned Bakir for the match-winning gut-wrench.

"I managed to beat my opponent so decisively was because I was extremely confident in myself, even more confident than he was," he said.

While he blanked Bakir in the final, Iliasov did have his share of close bout in Samokov. In his opening bout, Iliasov had a close 7-6 victory over Viachaslau FEDARYNA (UWW). He scored a technical superiority win over Leonhard JUNGER (AUT) in the second match before facing Fathitanzangi in the semifinals.

"I would say I was warming up, a little nervous [in the first bout]," he said. "After that first match I completely opened up."

In the semifinals, Iliasov led 3-0 when Fathitanzangi went for a pushout. Iliasov tried to stop it by throwing Fathitanzangi but he landed on his back and the Iranian wrestler was given two points.

As Fathitanzangi was awarded par terre position in the second period, he also got the 3-3 criteria lead over Iliasov. The Iranian tried defending his lead for the win but Iliasov managed to circle around and bring him down for two points. Fathitanzangi pulled one back with a stepout but that was all as Iliasov entered the gold-medal bout with a 5-4 win.

"My performance can be rated 9 out of 10," he said. "Because in the semifinal I strayed a bit from my tactics, lost focus, and almost gave away points."

With experience from this World U20 Championships, Iliasov now wants to switch to senior level as early as next year.

"I’ll try at the senior level," he said. "Of course, that’s another level, wrestler with much more experience. But I’ll do my best to test myself."

Georgia double

Georgia earned two gold medals on the final day of the World U20 Championships, a feat the country has not achieved since 2016.

Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) and Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO) came out with dominant performances in the 77kg and 87kg finals respectively to bring home two golds for Georgia.

Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO)Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) hits a counter attack against Ahoura BOUVEIRI (IRI) during the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 77kg, Putkaradze was up against Ahoura BOUVEIRI (IRI) in the final and got the par terre position. He managed to turn Bouveiri two times for a 5-0 lead. In the second period Bouveiri had the chance to turn it around when he the top position in par terre.

Things, however, did not go that way. As Bouveiri was trying lift Putkaradze, the Georgian countered with a bodylock and then slammed him for two-point takedown. He then turned the Iranian for two more points and won the gold medal, 9-1. Iran challenged for a foul but there was none and one more point was added to his score to make it 10-1.

Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO)Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO) celebrates with his coach after winning the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The second gold came from Kochalidze as he pinned Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (UWW) in the 87kg final. In a rematch of the European U20 Championships final at 87kg, Abdulkadyrov was hoping to avenge his loss from Carole, Italy.

He was given the par terre advantage in the first period and he tried turning Kochalidze, who blocked the turn but lost his grip as well and the turns were called neutral. As Abdulkadyrov was back on top, he again tried to turn Kochalidze who managed stop Abdulkadyrov and kept him on the mat till the fall was called.

Georgia was the only country to win two gold medals in this competition in Greco-Roman.

At 63kg, senior Asian champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) proved why he will be medal threat in Zagreb with a dominant run to gold-medal. He defeated Aleks MARGARYAN (ARM), 12-2, with two big four-point throws.

Khalmakhanov began with a underhook throw for a takedown in the first 20 seconds. He tried the same move again but Margaryan blocked and scored a takedown for a 2-2 criteria lead. Late in the first period, Khalmakhanov was awarded the par terre position for one point but he failed to score and led 3-2 at the break.

If Margaryan hoped for a better second period, Khalmakhanov had no such idea. He slammed Margaryan from standing using the underhook for four points. He continued the sequence and lifted Margaryan and slammed him forward for four more points.

The two big throws for Khalmakhanov were enough for him for the win despite a challenge from Armenia. The lost challenged made his score 12-2.

RESULTS

63kg
GOLD: Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) df. Aleks MARGARYAN (ARM), 12-2

BRONZE: Mohammad ABOUTALEBI (IRI) df. Kristiyan MILENKOV (BUL), 9-0
BRONZE: Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) df. Damir IBRASHOV (KAZ), 5-1

77kg
GOLD: Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) df. Ahoura BOUVEIRI (IRI), 10-1

BRONZE: Zaur BESLEKOEV (UWW) df. Raatbek PAIAZBEKOV (KGZ), 8-0
BRONZE: Kiryl VALEUSKI (UWW) df. Leister BOWLING (USA), 9-0

87kg
GOLD: Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO) df. Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (UWW), via fall

BRONZE: Erik TER MATEVOSYAN ( ARM) df. Elias LYYSKI (FIN), 1-1
BRONZE: Temirlan TURDAKYN (KAZ) df. Orkhan HAJIYEV (AZE), 4-4

130kg
GOLD: Ali ILIASOV (UWW) df. Yusuf BAKIR (TUR), 9-0

BRONZE: Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR) df. Mazaim MARDANOV (AZE), 8-0
BRONZE: Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI) df. Viachaslau FEDARYNA (UWW), 5-1