#Bishkek2018

Makhmudov Sends Home Crowd into Frenzy with Victory over Zhadrayev in 72kg Greco Thriller

Wednesday, February 28, 2018 - 17:58 By Ken Marantz

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With the crowd at fever pitch as the seconds ticked down, Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) managed to preserve his slim lead and give the host country its much-awaited first gold medal of the Asian Championships.

One volunteer said it sparked "a national celebration."

Makhmudov, a world junior silver medalist a year ago, introduced himself to the senior level by forging an 8-6 win over Paris 2017 world silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) in the 72kg final of Greco-Roman on the second day at the Kozhomkul Sports Palace.

"The biggest help for me was that the Kyrgyz people screamed for me to be strong and also to do better," Makhmudov told the Kyrgyz media of the thunderous roar from the crowd.

"When I heard it, I thought, 'I can die here on the floor but I will still win. This win will be for them.'"

The other head-to-head clash in a final between the hosts and Kazakhstan was a more staid affair and ultimately went the latter's way, as Askhat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ) edged Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) 5-2 for the 82kg gold.

Kazakhstan earlier picked up the gold at 67kg when veteran Almat KEBISPAYEV, a three-time world medalist, captured his first Asian title since 2010 by outclassing Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN) 5-1.

Even so, in the end, it was Kyrgyzstan's day to shine as the hosts claimed the team by title by a single point over neighbor Kazakhstan with 157. Uzbekistan finished third with 146, seven points ahead of Japan. Traditional powerhouse Iran won three golds but had little else to show for its efforts and placed fifth with 129.

Kyrgyzstan picked up two bronze medals on the night to one for Kazakhstan, but much of the credit for the team championship will surely go to Makhmudov.

In the final, Makhmudov bounced back after giving up an early 4-point throw by ripping off a spectacular 5-point hip throw of his own. He added a takedown just before the first-period buzzer to take a 7-4 lead into the break.

Zhadrayev bravely fought on as the decibel level of the crowd steadily rose. He scored two points from step-outs but then gave up a passivity point.

From the par terre position, Makhmudov had a chance to put the match away but failed to turn the Kazakh over, keeping the lead at 2 with a minute to go. In an intense finish, Makhmudov held on for a victory that drove the crowd into a frenzy.

"I couldn't make use of my chances," Zhadrayev said. "I made mistakes in tactics."

For Shinobu OTA (JPN), there was no way he was going to let the chance to win the only Asian medal missing from his collection get away--particularly since he had to beat the world champion just to get the opportunity.

Ota, a Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist, captured the 60kg gold with a victory by technical fall over teen RI Se Ung (PRK). Ota ended the match 20 seconds into the second period with a highlight-reel---at least he wants it to be---4-point throw from a front head lock that made the score 11-2.

Ota added the gold in Bishkek to the silver he won in 2014 and bronze in 2015. He missed last year's tournament in New Delhi after losing out to Kenichiro FUMITA for the place on Japan's team. Fumita went on to win the world title.

"I beat last year's world champion Kenichiro Fumita to make the Japan team to these Asian Championships, so I came with the mindset that I couldn't lose," Ota said.

o"Also, if I wrestled solidly, I was confident I wouldn't lose. I prepared well in training. If I get to the world championships and can continue like this, I can win the title."

After receiving a point for passivity and starting from the par terre position, Ota used his favored front head lock, only to be stopped midway through a roll to give Ri two points. But Ota continued to press on, and reeled off three rolls to take a 7-2 lead into the second period.

"I wanted to end it there but the opponent was strong," Ota said. "Even though I didn't put him away, it was good that I could use a move I worked on in practice. It's the move I have the most confidence in."

He used it once more, this time from a standing position. Latching on from the front again, Ota bridged backward to flip the North Korean over him and conclude the match.

"I was aiming to make it onto the 'Big Move'," Ota said half-jokingly, referring to UWW site's highlighted move. "I wanted to do it so the UWW would show it (around the world)."

Meanwhile, Sayedmostafa SALEHIZADEH (IRI) salvaged some Iranian pride when he grinded out a 4-0 victory in the 97kg final over Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), giving him a second straight Asian gold.

Iran's only other shot at a medal on the day ended with Shirzad Ali BEHESHTITALA (IRI) losing by fall to Kanybek ZHOLCHUBEKOV (KGZ) in their 60kg bronze-medal match.

Uzbekistan came away with three bronze medals, while China, Japan, South Korea and India had one each.

Greco-Roman
60kg (11 entries)
Gold - Shinobu OTA (JPN) df. RI Se Ung (PRK) by TF, 11-2, 2:40

Bronze –  Kanybek ZHOLCHUBEKOV (KGZ) df. Shirzad Ali BEHESHTITALA (IRI) by Fall, 0:33 (10-3)
Bronze – Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) df. LIN Yu Hung (TPE) by TF, 8-0, 4:54

67kg (12 entries)
Gold - Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) df. Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN), 5-1

Bronze –  Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB) df. Manish MANISH (IND), 6-4
Bronze – ZHANG Gaoquan (CHN) df. Seydylla TAZAYEV (TKM), 6-0

72kg (12 entries)
Gold - Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), 8-6

Bronze –  Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) df. JIANG Yuan (CHN) by TF, 9-0, 3:27.
Bronze – Tomohiro INOUE (JPN) df. Kuldeep MALIK (IND) by Fall, 0:59 (11-0)

82kg (10 entries)
Gold - Askhat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ) df. Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ), 5-2

Bronze –  KIM Jinhyeok (KOR) df. Yuya MAETA (JPN), 5-1
Bronze – Singh HARPEET (IND) df. Nurbek KHASHIMBEKOV (UZB), by TF, 11-3, 1:48

97kg (10 entries)
Gold - Sayedmostafa SALEHIZADEH (IRI) df. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), 4-0

Bronze –  Yerulan ISKAKOV (KAZ) df. Ali Majeed AL KAABI (IRQ), 6-0
Bronze – Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) df. GU Hakbon (KOR), 6-4

#WrestleUlaanbaatar, #OffTheMat

Purevdorj reignites Olympic quest with Ulaanbaatar Open gold

Friday, June 20, 2025 - 09:31 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 18) -- The last time Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) wrestled in front of home crowd in Ulaanbaatar, she was one of the top wrestlers in the world at 62kg.

She was the 2017 world champion and a year before that, she had ended Kaori ICHO's (JPN) 13-year long unbeaten streak at the Ivan Yaryguin Grand Prix. Then in 2018, she won the Asian Championships in Bishkek and the Mongolian Open gold medal in Ulaanbaatar.

Few months later, she failed a dope test at the Asian Games, where she had won the gold medal in 62kg. Her rise turned into a fatal fall and Purevdorj was left to serve the four-year ban. During her long hiatus, Purevdorj focused on personal life.

“I was very sad but I decided to just live and raised my son. I kept myself busy with him,” Purevdorj says. “The most important thing is my mind. It's important to be strong.”

Purevdorj, who still remains Mongolia last world champion in wrestling, made her comeback in 2022 and was part of the Mongolian team to the World Cup. She won silver medal at the Asian Championships in 2023 and qualified for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Seven years since the ban and now in the twilight of her wrestling career, Purevdorj is hoping to reignite the fire to wrestle. She took the first step by winning a gold medal at hte Ulaanbaatar Open. The 31-year-old won in 62kg in front of her family and local fans to once again stamp herself as the best wrestler in Mongolia and even Asia.

"I am wrestling for the second time [first time internationally] this year but it's hard," she says after her gold-medal bout against compatriot and rival Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) who she defeated 11-2 to win the gold medal.

At the Buyant Ukhaa Sport Palace in Ulaanbaatar, Purevdorj is joined by her husband, son and even parents as they watch her wrestle live after a long time. It's not an ideal start for her as she gets hammered 10-0 by Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), a wrestler she has defeated multiple times in her career before.

That's not what Purevdorj or her family expected in the first bout itself. But she runs back to the warm-up hall and prepares for the second bout, this time against Asian champion MANISHA (IND). And Purevdorj looked in form against the Indian, winning via fall. [The 62kg bracket at the Ulaanbaatar Open was a round-robin bracket, hence giving Purevdorj the second chance].

The fall helps Purevdorj get five classification points and a place in the semifinal over Manisha. She will wrestle Ekaterina KOSHKINA (UWW) for a spot in the final. Her son, six years old, keeps cheering every time he sees his mother on the mat.

Koshkina takes Purevdorj to the limits scoring via counters. Still, Purevdorj led 9-7 at the break and both resumed their dynamic wrestling. Purevdorj managed to defend some of the attacks from Koshkina and ultimately won 15-11.

In a high-affair all-Mongolian final at 62kg, Purevdorj put on a defensive masterclass to beat Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL), 11-2, and capture the gold medal.

"I was able to win because I played calmly," she said after the final. "In the first match, I was not good mental state and was not ready. But next match I was better."

Purevdorj celebrated with a few photos with her family and coaches. She looked visibly tired after the four bouts and could use some rest days.

"As I said, it's hard. I am not sure about anything," said Purevdorj, who was wrestling a UWW tournament for the first time since the Paris Games.

Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) celebrating after becoming a world champion in 2017. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

When she began wrestling 17 years ago in Ulaanbaatar after her cousins introduced her to the sport, Purevdorj did not think she will reach this level. So being a world champion makes her feel happy and she is proud that she choose this sport.

“I'm seventh child in my family and only I am a wrestler. My cousins were wrestlers but they stopped soon but I never stopped. I really loved it."

But she regrets not having an Olympic medal. She has been on that stage twice but fell short. In Rio 2016, she lost in the repechage while in Paris, she lost to her long-time rival Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) in the bronze-medal bout.

Now, the only motivation to be at the 2028 Los Angeles is to get an Olympic medal which may complete her journey. A medal will make her the third Mongolian wrestler to win a medal in Women's Wresting.

“I'm not sure about wrestling till Los Angeles. But I'm just trying,” she said. “The last Olympics were so hard for me in my career. I'm trying again, and I've started this year. There are many wrestlers in 62kg who are better but I have to train more.”