#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Live Blog: Asian Championships day three

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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

Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 Day 1 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 18) -- The Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 are the sixth edition of the Games and are being held in Riyadh. The first day of wrestling saw four Greco-Roman weight class -- 60kg, 67kg, 77kg and 87kg.

Olympic and world champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) needed an insane comeback to beat Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) in the 67kg final while Alisher GANIEV (UZB), Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) won golds at 60kg, 77kg and 87kg with rather ease.

READ FULL REPORT HERE

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

12:35: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) finds a way to score a takedown with a 30 seconds remaining and beat Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), 7-6, in the 87kg semifinal. Zhanyshov was leading 6-5 at the break. Farokhi, struggling slightly with his conditioning, wrapped his arm around Zhanyshov's waist before slamming him on the mat for two points.

12:30: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) takes out Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY) in the 67kg semifinals and sets up a mouth-watering final against Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI)

12:25: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) bounces back from 2-0 down to beat Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) 5-3 in the 87kg semifinal and reach final.

12:20: Olympic champion Saied ESMAEILI (IRI) lifts Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) against gravity and completes the suplex for four points. He once again hits the four-pointers and wins his 67kg semifinal 9-0.

12:10: Alisher GANIEV (AZE) makes it to the final at 60kg after an 8-0 win over Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI). Big four-pointer in that match from Ganiev. He will face Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) for the gold medal.

11:51: Former world U20 champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) starts off with a Sukhrob ABDULKHAEV (TJK) and moves into the semifinals at 87kg. Too easy for him.

11:50: World 82kg champion Gholamreza FAROKHISENJANI     (IRI), who moved up to 87kg and won U23 World Championships gold as well, begins with a 3-0 win over Islam ABBASOV (AZE) at 87kg in Riyadh

11:45: Olympic champion Saied ESMAEILI (IRI), placed directly in the quarterfinals, starts with a big 8-0 win over Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) at 67kg. He is expected to face Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) in the final, a rematch of the final at World Championships.

11:24: World 63kg champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB), who had move up to 67kg for the Games, beats Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR), 5-2, and moves into the semifinals

11:10: Quarterfinal at 67kg between Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) and Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ). The first par terre advantage goes to Beishekeev who scores two points using a front headlock. Jafarov gets the par terre in second period and scores two turns and leads 5-3, which will be his winning score as well.

10:52: World bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) hangs on for 1-1 Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) victory having got the first criteria.

10:45: Big match at 60kg as Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) faces U23 world champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB). Ganiev with a over-under control and hits a throw for two points to lead 2-0. Mammadli tries to find some attacks going but fails to get Ganiev down. Ganiev goes into the break leading 2-0. Mammadli is put in par terre in the second period, giving Ganiev 3-0 lead. Mammadli goes down in the quarterfinals as Ganiev defends his 3-0 lead and wins at 60kg.

10:30: Olympic bronze medalist and world silver medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) gets going with a 9-0 victory over Ashraf ASLAM ZADA (AFG) at 67kg.

10:25: Amir ABDI (IRI) hits a front headlock throw for four and then a turn for two to win 8-0 against 72kg world champion Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) in their 77kg bout. Just one minute and 35 seconds needed for him to win 9-0.

10:21: World champion and Olympic bronze medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), who has not wrestled in international competition since the Paris 2024, returns to mat in Riyadh. In his first bout at 77kg, he warms up with an 9-0 technical superiority over Sami SLAMA (TUN).

10:10: European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) gets the first par terre position and then scores the four gut-wrenches to win 9-0 against Latuf MADI (COM) in the first bout at 60kg.

10:00: Hello from Riyadh! The first day of wrestling at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 and there will four Greco-Roman weight classes in action.