Otoguro, Susaki avoid carnage to secure tickets to Belgrade

Sunday, June 18, 2023 - 16:31 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 18) -- Japanese stars Takuto OTOGURO and Yui SUSAKI managed to avoid the carnage that all but knocked their fellow Tokyo Olympic champions out of the running for a repeat in Paris.

Otoguro overcame a severe right foot injury to take the freestyle 65kg title, and Susaki withstood a late flurry to triumph at women's 50kg at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships on Sunday, the final day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym.

With their victories, both Otoguro and Susaki clinched places on Japan's team to this year's World Championships in Belgrade, where they will have their first chance to secure a place at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning a medal.

"I knew that leading up to the Olympics the matches would be tough, so I'm happy that I was able to win them one by one," said Otoguro, who defeated Ryoma ANRAKU 9-0 in a match that was far closer than the score indicates.

The Meiji Cup was the second of Japan's domestic qualifiers for the Belgrade worlds, combined with the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships held last December. A victory at both in an Olympic weight class assures a ticket to Belgrade; if the champions are different, the two will face each other in a playoff on July 1.

Both Otoguro and Susaki repeated victories in the Emperor's Cup finals against the same opponents on Sunday.

Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) Takuto OTOGURO defeated Ryoma ANRAKU 9-0 in the 65kg final. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Otoguro, who had been unable to walk off the mat under his own power after his semifinal win on Saturday, had considered defaulting to Anraku and letting the world team spot come down to a playoff but opted to go for it upon consultation with his coaches.

"Talking it over with my coaches, they said it would be a good experience to win amid such adversity, and instead of a playoff, we should get it done now," said Otoguro, who would not reveal details of the injury, only to say it was "serious."

Otoguro, seemingly hesitant to attack, scored the bulk of his points with defensive counter moves in the final minute of the match, in which he had been given a 2-0 lead with a pair of activity points.

Otoguro was himself on the clock when Anraku got in deep on a single leg, but Otoguro perfectly timed a counter-lift for 2, then went back the other way for 2 more. An unsuccessful challenge added a point, then Otoguro got a takedown in the final seconds off a desperation shot by Anraku.

"There wasn't anything particularly bad, but I'm not really satisfied," Otoguro said of his performance. "The good things were few."

Since winning the gold at Makuhari Messe in 2021, Otoguro's lone competition was at the Emperor's Cup, which he won with a 4-0 victory over Anraku.

A 2022 world U23 bronze medalist, Anraku won a bronze at this year's Asian Championships in Astana that Otoguro had planned to enter, but pulled out after suffering his foot injury at a training camp in January.

Otoguro's main focus over the next three months is to prepare for Belgrade, where he will aim to secure his ticket to Paris by regaining the title he won in 2018, which made him at 19 years 10 months Japan's youngest-ever male world champion.

The Japan Wrestling Federation has decreed that any wrestler winning a medal in an Olympic weight class in Belgrade will automatically fill the spot themselves at the Paris Olympics, without going through any further qualifying process.

"First of all, I have to get healthy, then at the World Championships gain the Olympic spot, then aim for the gold in Paris," said the 26-year-old Otoguro.

Yui SUSAKI managed to roll over Remina YOSHIMOTO from here to score the winning points in the 50kg final. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Susaki secured her ticket back to Belgrade, where she won a third career world title last year, with a 4-3 victory over rival Remina YOSHIMOTO that wasn't decided until a challenge sorted out the points from a flurry in the final seconds.

"This was a tournament for contending for [places at] the World Championships and subsequently Paris, and I came into it determined to win," Susaki said. "The final did not go very well, but I was able to win and get to the World Championships, so it was good that I cleared that task."

Like Otoguro, Susaki had received an activity point in each period before being put on the activity clock, although the time ran out on her, leaving her with a 2-1 lead.

With 20 seconds left, Yoshimoto got in on a single leg, which Susaki defended by slipping the side and reaching over for the far leg, attempting a counter lift. Yoshimoto went with the lift and charged over the top, putting Susaki onto her back with :06 on the clock. But in the final one second, Susaki managed to finish off the roll.

The original call was 2 for Susaki; the challenge awarded 2 to each wrestler, still leaving Yoshimoto on the short end and giving Susaki her sixth win in six career meetings between the two.

"I knew she would do her homework on me," Susaki said of Yoshimoto, who won the 2021 world gold while Susaki was on a post-Olympic hiatus. "In the final, she got in on a tackle and my response was not enough and made things difficult for me.

"I have to practice to be able to take advantage of opportunities that come my way."

Like Otoguro, Susaki had a health issue on Saturday, when she suddenly cut short her post-match press conference after one question without disclosing the reason. "I'm sorry, I wasn't feeling well," she said, adding that it had no effect on her performance on Sunday.

The Japanese women in particular realize the importance of getting to this year's World Championships, as there is a high likelihood that those who go to Belgrade in the Olympic weights will win a medal, meaning there will be no future chances for others.

At the 2019 World Championships, Japan's women medaled in four of the six Olympic divisions, and Susaki knows personally the anxiety of leaving one's fate in other hands.

Susaki ended up at the Tokyo Olympics only because Yuki IRIE shockingly failed to medal at 50kg in Nur-Sultan, and Susaki took full advantage of the second chance. She doesn't plan to let her chance slip away in Belgrade.

"I didn't get to the Tokyo Olympics solely on my own power," Susaki said. "For Paris, I want to control my own fate and get there and win the gold."

Waiting in the wings for another chance -- however slim -- will be Tokyo Olympic gold medalists Mayu SHIDOCHI (formerly MUKAIDA), Risako KINJO (formerly KAWAI) and Yukako KAWAI.

All three suffered losses over the four-day tournament to eliminate them from contention for places on the world team, meaning their only hopes for Paris lie in the representative in Belgrade failing to make the podium.

And even after that, they would have to earn a place on Japan's team for the Asian or world Olympic qualifiers in 2024, most likely with victories at this year's Emperor's Cup, no small task in itself.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) Tsugumi SAKURAI scores a takedown against Sae NANJO in the 57kg final. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Sakurai upends Nanjo

For the third time in four matches between the two, world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI pulled off a last-second victory over world U23 champion Sae NANJO, giving her the women's 57kg title and setting up another clash in the July 1 playoff.

"The result was a victory, but I was nervous and I wasn't able to put into practice what I've done in training," said Sakurai, who ousted Kinjo in the semifinals on Saturday. "If I go on like this, two weeks from now, I will lose again. First, I have to reflect on today's match."

Sakurai was awarded a takedown with less than a second left on the clock, and the call was upheld on a challenge for a 5-2 victory over the Emperor's Cup champion.

Sakurai had opened the match with a go-behind takedown, to which Nanjo responded with a single-leg takedown to lead 2-2 on criteria going into the second period.

With a half-minute left, Sakurai got in on a single leg, and fought to get behind as Nanjo kept a firm clamp on Sakurai's right arm as the seconds ticked off. With the clock at 0.48, the referee was finally convinced and gave Sakurai the 2, and the challenge confirmed the points.

"I was running out of steam," Sakurai said. "There was a time when I was injured and couldn't train. But I knew that if I didn't do something, I would lose. I knew if I lost here, I wouldn't go to the Olympics. It would be a loss that I would always regret."

At the Emperor's Cup, Nanjo had finally gotten the best of Sakurai by taking a five-point lead and holding on for a 5-4 win in the semifinals. That had avenged last-second losses to Sakurai at both the 2021 Emperor’s Cup and last year's Meiji Cup.

Maito KAWANA scored thrilling 5-4 win to win the Grec-Roman 60kg gold medal at the Meiji Cup. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

In the other Olympic weight class up for grabs, Asian bronze medalist Maito KAWANA won a 5-4 thriller in the Greco 60kg final over Kaito INABA, earning him a place in a playoff against Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Kenichiro FUMITA.

Kawana, who was trailing 4-4 on criteria, forced a stepout with :36 left to secure the victory and set up a rematch of his 6-0 loss to Fumita in the Emperor's Cup final.

Fumita, the 2017 and 2019 world champion, withdrew from the tournament due to a torn hamstring suffered in practice. He wrote on Twitter that he would do his utmost to recover in time for the playoff.

At freestyle 61kg, Rin SAKAMOTO of Tokyo's Jiyugaoka Gakuen High School defeated collegian Hayato FUJITA 6-2 in the final, making him just the second high schooler in the history of the Meiji Cup to win a freestyle title since the tournament was started in 1997.

Day 3 Results

Freestyle

61kg (14 entries)
GOLD - Rin SAKAMOTO df. Hayato FUJITA, 6-2

BRONZE - Kaito MORITA df. Takumi YOSHIMURA, 7-2
BRONZE - Kosei IDE df. Fuga SASAKI, 5-2

Semifinal - Rin SAKAMOTO df. Kaito MORITA, 9-4
Semifinal - Hayato FUJITA df. Fuga SASAKI by TF, 14-4, 3:19

65kg (9 entries)
GOLD - Takuto OTOGURO df. Ryoma ANRAKU, 9-0

BRONZE - Kaiki YAMAGUCHI df. Kaiji OGINO, 6-0
BRONZE - Kaito MORIKAWA df. Makoto HOSOKAWA, 10-2

Greco-Roman

60kg (11 entries)
GOLD - Maito KAWANA df. Kaito INABA, 5-4

BRONZE - Yu SHIOTANI df. Ayata SUZUKI by Def.
BRONZE - Kosei TAKESHITA df. Koto GOMI by TF, 9-0, 2:12

72kg (11 entries)
GOLD - Shingo HARADA df. Yuga KASUGAI by TF, 10-0, 2:00

BRONZE - Hajime KIKUTA df. Seiya TERADA by TF, 11-0, :55
BRONZE - Tomohiro INOUE df. Takahiro YAMAMOTO, 5-1

Semifinal - Yuga KASUGAI df. Hajime KIKUTA, 10-6
Semifinal - Shingo HARADA df. Tomohiro INOUE, 5-3

Women

50kg (13 entries)
GOLD - Yui SUSAKI df. Remina YOSHIMOTO, 4-3

BRONZE - Umi ITO df. Riko KASAI by TF, 10-0, 4:53
BRONZE - Miyu NAKAMURA df. Miu OBATA, 8-3

57kg (13 entries)
GOLD - Tsugumi SAKURAI df. Sae NANJO, 5-2

BRONZE - Umi IMAI df. Hana KIKUTA by TF, 11-0, 3:57
BRONZE - Sara NATAMI df. Risako KINJO by Def.

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships 2026 Preview

Friday, April 3, 2026 - 20:30 By Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 3) -- Soon after Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) became the Olympic champion in 2024, he went missing from the wrestling world. Past injuries and two surgeries kept him out of action for close to two years, skipping the entire 2025 and early 2026 season.

But the Paris Olympic champion at 74kg is returning to action at the Asian Championships in Bishkek, from April 6 to 12 at 79kg, leading a young Uzbekistan team.

"I missed wrestling," Jamalov said. "It was tough watching others win medals while I couldn't. It made me feel more motivated to win."

Jamalov will have a chance to win his first medal at the Asian Championships, which will be his debut continental championships in Asia. At 79kg, Jamalov should not face much trouble but will be checked as he has wrestled only five matches against Asian wrestlers in his career.

The foremost will be Iran's defending Asian champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI), who also won U20 world gold last year. Another challenge will be the weight class itself as Jamalov will be wrestling at his highest weight in his career.

"I have wrestled Asian wrestlers before and I know their style," he said. "I will try to wrestle according to my style and make it challenging for them."

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), red, and Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) during the 70kg final at the 2022 Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Bayrem Ben Mard)

Weight to Watch

The 70kg weight class will be one of the toughest in Bishkek with three world medalists entered along with two returning medalists.

Defending champion and world bronze medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) will lead the challenge against a field that also has world silver medalist Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) and former world and Asian champion Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN).

Returning to the Asian Championships for the first time in four years, Narikuni will also be wrestling 72kg Greco-Roman in a bid to win double titles. In 2022, won Freestyle 70kg gold after beating Akmataliev in a memorable final.

Akmataliev will look to avenge that loss in front of his home fans and also keep the gold medal with himself. He defeated Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) last year but the Tajikistan wrestler is returning with the hopes of upgrading his silver to gold.

U23 world silver medalist and returning bronze medalist Sina KHALILI (IRI) will also be looking for some revenge especially against Rassadin who defeated the Iranian in the opening round last year.

97kg battle

Can Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) return to golden ways or will Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) defend his title? Will Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) come back and sail through the field?

All the questions will be answered in Bishkek as the 97kg battle heats up. World silver medalist Azarpira and world bronze medalists Yoshida and Tazhudinov are among the favorites to win gold. Yoshida is the defending champion but did not wrestle Tazhudinov, who pulled out late from the tournament last year.

Tazhudinov has been off-color for a few tournaments now, losing at the World Championships and later at the Islamic Solidarity Games. Azarpira was the one who handed Tazhudinov the defeat in the semifinals of the World Championships in a very tactical bout. He will be in the race to win gold in Bishkek but a match against Yoshida will be a fan-delight.

Former U20 world champion at 92kg, Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) will also be in the mix but may find the going tough as he is still adjusting to the new weight class.

Zare Leads Iran

Iran is bringing a young team to Bishkek but has world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) lead the pack. He will be the favorite to win the 125kg gold medal despite the presence of Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), perhaps the second-best heavyweight around the world in action.

U20 world and Asian champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) will be making his senior debut at 125kg and will look to at least finish on the podium.

At 86kg, Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) will look to put a disappointing end to last year and start with a gold medal at the Asian Championships, a feat that should not be a hard one to achieve.

Mobin AZIMI (IRI) may face a tougher battle at 92kg with the likes of Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN), Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) and Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) entered in the field. However, Azimi appears to be little ahead in the race to win gold.

Aoyagi Aims 74kg Glory

In the premier weight 74kg, world champion at 70kg Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) will look to add an Asian title to his name. He finished with a bronze medal at 70kg last year. He will face the likes of Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN), Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) and Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), among others in the field.

The 57kg weight remains an open one with returning silver medalist Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) hoping to upgrade his medal. He will be the favorite to be crowned champion. The field also has Zagreb Open bronze medalist Fuga SASAKI (JPN), ANKUSH (IND) and Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ).

Returning bronze medalist Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) and former U23 world silver medalist Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ) are also in the mix to win medals.

Olympic Medalists Collide at 61kg

Paris Olympic bronze medalists Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) and AMAN (IND) are likely to clash at 61kg. Abdullaev, who also won world bronze, has struggled with conditioning in recent times and a bout against Aman will test him. Aman, who won the 61kg gold medal in Zagreb and a former Asian champion at 57kg, will also need to find a way to win a second Asian title.

World silver medalist Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) will challenge them both in the bracket along with former U23 world champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN), who last wrestled when he won gold at the 19th Asian Games in 2023.

Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ), world silver medalist at 57kg, will be at 61kg and wrestling in front of home fans which makes him one of the favorites to win gold.

SUJEET (IND) is unbeaten so far this year, winning golds in Zagreb and Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Will Sujeet Breakthrough?

India's last Asian champion, in a weight class not 57kg, was crowned in 2019 when Bajrang PUNIA (IND) won the 65kg gold in a comeback for ages in Xi'an, China. Now, SUJEET (IND) will look to end that drought and also look to give India an Asian title in three years.

The two gold medals to start the season, in Zagreb and Tirana, put Sujeet in the top position to win gold at 65kg. He will have a familiar foe in Umidjon JALALOV (UZB) in the weight class. When a match between Sujeet and Jalalov has taken place, the Indian has won all four times and the Uzbekistan wrestler will be keen on getting one back to the Indian.

Last year's 61kg Asian champion Takara SUDA (JPN) will be at 65kg in Bishkek and a challenge for Sujeet.

Kaisei TANABE (JPN), Freestyle 65kg champion last year, will try his luck in Greco 63kg this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

GRECO-ROMAN

The Greco-Roman field at the Asian Championships in Bishkek will be highlighted with Olympic and world champions. But a standout story will be that of Kaisei TANABE (JPN). The 65kg Asian champion in Freestyle, is attempting to win the Greco gold at 63kg this year.

Tanabe switching the styles of wrestling was not forced. He tried making the Japan team for both Freestyle and Greco but failed to win the qualifying tournament in the former.

A step ahead of Tanabe is his compatriot Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), a Freestyle world and Asian champion, who is entered in both styles for Bishkek. Narikuni was crowned champion in Freestyle 70kg and Greco 72kg in Japan, making him to first to complete the double in 52 years. He will try to regain his Asian 70kg title and also win gold at Greco 72kg.

A win in Japan at 63kg does make Tanabe a threat but competition in Bishkek will be tough. Erfan JARKANI (IRI), the Zagreb Open champion this year, will be the biggest test for Tanabe as Iran usually brings a style that depends both on strong par terre and conditioning.

Another potential challenger is Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), a former Asian champion in search of another Asian medal since 2021. Despite his lack of form in recent years, Bakhramov brings a tough style.

Narikuni's path at 72kg is similar with Javad REZAEI (IRI), former U23 world silver medalist and Muhamet Malo Ranking Series champion last month, being a favorite to win. Narikuni has an exceptional record in Freestyle but his Greco international debut at the Zagreb World Championships ended in a first-round loss.

Paris Olympic fifth-placer Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) can stop Narikuni in his quest as well. Ismailov will be wrestling in front of his home crowd, giving another advantage. Uzbekistan is going with newbie Shakhzod KUCHKOROV (UZB), who won the bronze medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series.

Olympic and world champion Hadi SARAVI (IRI) will aim to defend his Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran's Champions

Iran still remains the team to beat in Asia and once again the country is bringing a solid squad. Olympic champion Hadi SARAVI (IRI) leads at 97kg along with world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) at 130kg.

Saravi seems to be a notch above the field right now and should have no trouble winning gold. Mirzazadeh too has an upper hand at the highest weight class and will be a clear favorite to win.

Former U20 world champion and Zagreb Open silver medalist Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) has moved up to 97kg with his debut coming in Zagreb. Last year's silver medalist Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) and bronze medalist NITESH (IND) are expected to repeat as medalists.

The breakout star of 2025 Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) will take on the 87kg field. He became the world champion at 82kg in Zagreb, then moved up to 87kg and won the U23 world title a month later.

He starts as the favorite at 87kg but experienced wrestler Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) and world bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) can make his path trickier.

Alisher GANIEV (UZB) will carry Uzbekistan's hopes for the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Uzbekistan with Hopes

This may be the best chance for the ever-improving Uzbekistan team to clear Iran at the Asian level. Despite missing its star Aytjan KHALMANOV (UZB), Uzbekistan is still bringing a good team to Bishkek.

World silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) has a chance to win his first Asian title at 60kg. He lost four of the five finals last year but with lessons from World Championships, in which he put himself under undue pressure, Ganiev is a strong favorite.

Olympic bronze medalist and defending champion Se Ung RI (PRK) will be one of the opponents he needs to get past. Ri has proven to be an extremely strong wrestler, winning bronze at the Asian Games and Paris.

Former U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) will try to establish himself at the senior level, a feat he failed to do at the World Championships. A medal in Bishkek can boost his confidence and make him Iran's first choice at 60kg.

Japan's big-throwing Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) will also hope for a medal. He lost to Ganiev at the Ranking Series in Zagreb but will get a chance to avenge that loss.

Another hopeful for Uzbekistan will be Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), who is now jumping from 77kg to 82kg. Vardanyan won the gold medal last year with a buzzer-beating throw in the final and will hope to use it as motivation.

Former Asian champion and veteran Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) will look to challenge Vardanyan, both being perhaps the most experienced wrestlers in the field.

Then comes Amin HOSSEINI (IRI) who made his international debut in Tirana and won the 82kg gold medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series.

Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) has a good chance to improve on his bronze medal he won last year and claim another historic medal, perhaps gold, for Qatar.

Makhmudov at Home

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) returned to competition at the Islamic Solidarity Games last year and won gold at 77kg. He also wrestled at 82kg in Tirana in February but went home without a medal.

But the Paris bronze medalist returns to the Asian Championships in Bishkek as the favorite at 77kg with fans eager to watch him perform at home.

Last time Makhmudov wrestled in Bishkek, he lost to Nao KUSAKA (JPN) at 77kg but with Kusaka not in the field, Makhmudov should find it smooth sailing to gold.

Iran is betting on Zagreb Open Ranking Series winner Ali OSKOU (IRI). His run in Zagreb was impressive and he will be confident going into the Asian Championships of winning a gold medal.

Chung's Chance

After bringing a long-awaited medal at the World Championships for Korea in Zagreb, Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) can win more silverware for Korea. Chung won silver in Zagreb at 63kg but is moving up to the Olympic weight class of 67kg for the Asian Championships.

Former U20 world champion Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) will be a tough opponent along with returning silver medalist Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ). The change in weight class may hurt Chung's chances rather than improving them.

Others at this weight class include Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN), a world bronze medalist from 2022, U23 Asian champion Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ) and returning bronze medalist Man Gwang SON (PRK).

At 55kg, Zagreb Open finalists Mohammad HOSSEINVAND (IRI) and Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) are likely to reach the final in Bishkek as well. Botirov lost the final in Zagreb to Hosseinvand but will look to avenge that loss if the two meet in Bishkek.

Sara NATAMI (JPN) will look to defend her 57kg Asian title in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

WOMEN'S WRESTLING

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) pulled out of the Asian Championships after an injury. Despite her absence, the favorite at 57kg is still a Japanese, Fujinami's replacement Sara NATAMI (JPN).

The depth of the Japanese team will be on display once again at the Asian Championships as the country looks to dominate. Apart from Natami being the favorite to win as defending champion, world champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), former world and Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN), who is returning to competition for the first time since Paris Olympics, and two former world champions Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) and Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) are also in the squad.

For Natami to defend her title and win her third Asian gold she will have to go past Olympic bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) in her field. Natami had pinned Hong last year on her way to the gold.

Asian champion at 62kg MANISHA (IND) made a drastic step to drop to 57kg and she began the season with gold at the Zagreb Open. Asian Championships, however, will be a different test.

Big-throwing and Sri Lanka's history-maker Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI), former world 53kg silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) and former Asian silver medalist Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) will have a chance to put themselves on the podium.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) will return to the mat for the first since the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki 2.0

Susaki's return will be at 50kg as she prepares for another Olympic cycle after suffering a shock and first international loss at the 2024 Paris Games. The Asian Championships should be a good test for Susaki, who incidentally wrestled her last Asian Championships in Bishkek in 2024 in which she won gold. Susaki will face some familiar foes at the weight class including fellow Paris Olympic bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN).

The Chinese star almost pinned Susaki in the final of the Asian Championships in 2024 before the Japanese managed to comeback and win the gold medal. Feng would look to finally get a win over her.

Son Hyang KIM (PRK), who has wrestled Susaki three times, will look to get one back against the three-time world champion. The two first met at the 2017 Asian Championships and Susaki blanked her en route toher first Asian gold as an 18-year-old.

Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), who has four bronze medals to her name, will have her eyes on reaching the final this time. NEELAM (IND), a returning bronze medalist, can be among the medalists.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) is a two-time Asian champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Morikawa Eyes Hat-Trick

Morikawa has a perfect record at Asian Championships, winning two golds in as many attempts. But Bishkek will be different as those came at 65kg.

Now at 68kg, it presents a tougher challenge with Olympic silver medalist and home favorite Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) as the biggest one. Zhumanazarova has previously shown her mettle on quite a few occasions and with the home fans behind her, Zhumanazarova can upset Morikawa.

Defending champion Zelu LI (CHN) will be another strong contender. Li won bronze at the World Championships at 72kg but is now back to 68kg

Former world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) and young star Mansi LATHER (IND), a 72kg silver medalist at Zagreb Open, also have a chance to stand on the podium.

Ozaki Back at 62kg

After a whirlwind journey from 62kg to 65kg and then to 68kg which saw her win the world title and Olympic bronze, Ozaki is back to 62kg. She won gold at the Zagreb Open and now starts as the favorite for the Asian Championships.

She would also hope to avenge a loss. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Ozaki was leading the final against Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) when the latter used an arm-throw to clinch a 6-6 criteria win. Mun will be in Bishkek, giving an opportunity to Ozaki to avenge that loss.

Two former world champions are also in the fray -- Qi ZHANG (CHN) and Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL). Both will be in line for medals if not the gold along with world bronze medalist Nigina SABIROVA (UZB).

At 53kg, Kiyooka will hope to regain the Asian title she lost last year. In a one-sided final, Hyo Gyong CHOE (PRK) defeated her 12-1 at 53kg. With Choe not in the field, Kiyooka will be keen to win the gold medal.

She will still have to deal with former U20 world champion and senior silver medalist Jin ZHANG (CHN) and MEENAKSHI (IND) among others.

Japan will also hope that two youngsters can win gold medals in Bishkek.

Zagreb Open champion Nana IKEHATA (JPN) at 65kg and Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) have a great chance to add to Japan's gold tally. While Ikehata doesn't have a deep field at 65kg, world fifth-placer Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) will have to face returning silver medalist Yuxuan LI (CHN) at 55kg. Li remains the favorite to win the title, despite not wrestling internationally since.

U23 world champion Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) is also in the mix as she wrestles in her first senior level continental event.

Home Star Medet Kyzy

Kyrgyzstan will witness world silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) wrestling at home when she steps on the mat to defend her 76kg title. Medet Kyzy is a huge favorite to win gold, unless U20 world champion KAJAL (IND) can spring a surprise.

Another young star India can bet on is NEHA (IND) at 59kg. In an impressive performance, she managed to win silver at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in February.

But navigating a bracket with Asian Championships debutant Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), winner at the Zagreb Open, and returning bronze medalist Mengyu XIE (CHN) will be tough for Neha. Xie will also like to change the color of her medal and given the depth (or lack of it) at 59kg, she can certainly hope for gold.

Stars Merge at 72kg

A few stars have merged at 72kg. The weight class has former 65kg world champion Jia LONG (CHN), world silver medalist and Asian champion Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), world bronze medalist Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), former Asian champion Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) and former silver medalist HARSHITA (IND), who defeated Bakbergenova last year in Budapest.

Long won bronze at 68kg at the World Championships but is looking for an Asian title at 72kg. But going through Bakbergenova, a legend at 72kg, will be difficult. U23 world champion Nurtaeva is searching for her first Asian medal and wrestling at home may well be the motivation she needs.

Otoguro, Susaki avoid carnage to secure tickets to Belgrade

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