Sharshenbekov makes it two 1st-time Asian champions in family

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 - 15:37 By Ken Marantz

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 20) -- After watching his cousin become a first-time Asian champion the day before, world silver medalist Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) was determined to do the same.

The 22-year-old did just that, matching kinsman Tynar by winning the Greco-Roman 60kg title when Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) defaulted in the second period of the final due to injury on Wednesday, the second day of the six-day Asian Championships at the Buyant Ukhaa Sports Palace.

“Thanks to God this Asian Championships has been successful for us,” a jubilant Sharshenbekov said. “We have been preparing for this tournament with the whole team for quite a long time. With God's help, we will win the Olympics many times in the future as well.”

Sharshenbekov had built up a 4-0 lead and was in control when Mohsen Nejad was forced to stop due to a painful left side injury with 1:40 left in the match, making him settle for a silver medal for the second straight year.

Even with Iran coming away with the three other gold at stake, it was Kazakhstan that walked off with the team title with 190 points thanks to five silver medals to go with its two gold. Iran was second with 176 points, followed by Kyrgyzstan in third with 148.

In the 60kg final, Sharshenbekov gained a passivity point in the first period but was unable to turn Mohsen Nejad. In the second period, Sharshenbekov again gained the par terre position and this time he was able to roll his opponent for a 4-0 lead.

Mohsen Nejad came up holding his side and received treatment from the tournament doctor. He continued the match, but soon after the pain became too unbearable and he conceded with 1:38 left.

“All the opponents are very tough,” said Sharshenbekov, who finished seventh at the Tokyo Olympics. “I was getting ready to wrestle against each of them as if he was the strongest one."

His victory, which ended a run of second-place finishes over the past four years -- two each at both the World and Asian Championships -- completed a remarkable two days for the Sharshenbekov clan. On Tuesday, Tynar Sharshenbekov won the 63kg gold.

“Thanks a lot to my brother,” Zholaman, referring to Tynar, who is three years his senior. “He is the reason for all my results and achievements.”

Sharshenbekov said he draws inspiration from Kyrgyzstan’s other gold medalist in Ulaanbaatar, Olympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) at 77kg.

“Akzhol is my close friend forever,” he said. “I take him as an example. We both participated in the Olympics and many other tournaments. I learn a lot from him.”

Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) celebrates with his coaches after winning gold at 67kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mard)

In other action, Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) notched arguably the biggest win of his career, chalking up an 11-3 technical fall over four-time champion Hansu RYU (KOR) in the 67kg final to avenge a loss to the Korean star in 2019 final.

Shermakhanbet, a world bronze medalist in 2018, took a slim 4-3 lead over the former world champion into the second period, before scoring a takedown off a counter.

From there, he latched on and executed a dazzling throw that was originally awarded four points but was changed to a match-ending five on the challenge.

“I wasn't surprised,” Shermakhanbet said of bringing the match to an early end. “I had to do so. I'm very happy. It's my second time meeting this guy [Ryu]. The first time I lost, so I paid off my debt.”

Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI) won gold on his Asian Championships debut at 72kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mard)

Triple play for Iran

Iran monopolized the last three finals of the night, with Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI) at 72kg and Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) at 82kg taking titles in their senior Asian debuts, and Medhi BALIHAMZEDEH (IRI) capping the Greco competition by successfully defending his 97kg crown.

Mokhtari scored a takedown and gut wrench late in the first period and held on for a 4-1 victory in the 72kg final over Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ).

In an earlier sequence, Amzeyev scored a four-point counter to the back that Mokhtari reversed before adding a two-point roll. But Amzeyev’s initial move was ruled a tackle below the waist, and all of those points were wiped off the board.

Mokhtari, a 2016 world cadet silver medalist, placed fifth at the 2021 World Championships, and now is aiming for a chance to return to the world stage in Belgrade later this year.

“I am glad to win the gold, it’s my first time at Asians,” Mokhtari said. “I began wrestling 12 years ago. My father was a wrestler and watching him wrestle got me excited to train in wrestling.

“I will now rest for one week and, if I qualify for the World Championships in Iran, I will train to win there.”

Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) eked out a close 4-3 win over Dias KALEN (KAZ). (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mard)

At 82kg, Garmsiri scored a stepout point with 1:08 left to clinch a 4-3 victory over Dias KALEN (KAZ) in the final of his first individual competition as a member of Iran national team.

Kalen gained the par terre position first and got two points with a throw that was otherwise well defended, but Garmsiri reversed him to his back to cut the lead to 3-2. In the second period, Garmiri gained a passivity point to go ahead on criteria, then secured the win with the stepout.

Balihamzehdeh’s final hurdle to a second straight 97kg gold came in the form of one of Asia’s most decorated active wrestlers in Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), but the Iranian was up to the task in forging a 5-1 victory.

“I fought with an expert who won a world medal and he was also in the Olympic Games,” Balihamzehdeh said. “Thank God I won.”

Balihamzehdeh took a 4-0 lead in the first period after receiving a passivity point, then scoring with a stepout and a two-point counter to a takedown. He added a stepout early in the second period, gave up a point on a lost challenge, then fended off all attempts in finishing off the win.

For Assakalov, who was third last year at 87kg, it was the eighth Asian medal of his career that includes three gold. The Russian-born 37-year-old is also a two-time world medalist and two-time Olympian.

In the bronze medal matches, host Mongolia’s last chance for a first-ever Asian medal in Greco ended with a valiant but unsuccessful effort by Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL), who dropped a 12-6 decision to Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ).

Fidakhmetov scored seven points from the par terre position in the first period, but Tsveenravdan ended the run with defensive two points and went into the break trailing 8-2. The Mongolian countered a back-drop attempt with a bear hug for four points, but Fidakhmetov reversed to the back, then added a roll to make it 12-6.

Japan, which failed to advance any of its wrestlers to the finals on the second day, went 4-for-5 in third-place matches, with Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) winning his second straight Asian bronze at 60kg.

Suzuki finished off an 11-0 technical fall over Gyanender DAHIYA (IND) with a four-point bear hug counter.

Katsuaki ENDO (JPN), the 2018 world U23 champion at 63kg, took home a 67kg bronze with a 7-1 victory over Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (IRI), a 2019 world junior bronze medalist at 63kg.

For Endo, it was a small consolation for his 6-2 loss in the semifinals to Korea’s Ryu.

“Looking at the tournament, I thought I could beat him [Ryu], who has been on top for a long time,” Endo said. “But I lost. He was able to stop what I do best. More than strong, he’s really good. The Asian Games are ahead, and I hope to get revenge there.”

At 72kg, Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN) added to the bronze he won in 2019 with an 11-3 technical fall over Jiyeon LEE (KOR). Takahashi trailed 0-3 early on, but regrouped with a four-point throw, then pulled away in the second period. The match ended on a two-point penalty for finger-grabbing.

Unheralded Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN) had a tougher time securing his first-ever international medal, taking advantage of a winded Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ) to rally to a 6-6 victory on criteria.

Kyrgyzstan added a pair of bronze to its tally, with Adlikhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) edging Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB) 3-3 at 72kg, and Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) overwhelming Jewoo PARK (KOR) by 11-1 technical fall at 97kg.

Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND) took the other bronze at 67kg when he used a slick arm throw to send Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) to his back and secure a fall with :11 left in a match he had been trailing 2-3.

The 82kg bronze went to Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB), who defeated Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN) 5-1, and Harpreet SINGH (IND), who picked up his fourth Asian bronze and fifth medal overall with a victory by default.

Correction: An earlier version of the story referred to Tynar as Zholaman's brother. We have updated it to correct the fact that the two are cousins

Day 2 Results

Greco-Roman

60kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) by inj. def., 4:20 (4-0)

BRONZE: Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) df. Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL), 12-6
BRONZE: Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) df. Gyanender DAHIYA (IND) by TF, 11-0, 5:34

67kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) df. Hansu RYU (KOR) by TF, 11-3, 3:14

BRONZE: Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) df. Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (IRI), 7-1
BRONZE: Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND) df. Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) by Fall, 5:48 (7-3)

72kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI) df. Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ), 4-1

BRONZE: Adlikhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) df. Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB), 3-3
BRONZE: Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Jiyeon LEE (KOR) by TF, 11-3, 4:33

82kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) df. Dias KALEN (KAZ), 4-3

BRONZE: Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) df. Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN), 5-1
BRONZE: Harpreet SINGH (IND) by Jafar KHAN (QAT) by inj. def.

97kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Medhi BALIHAMZEDEH (IRI) df. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), 5-1

BRONZE: Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN) df. Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ), 6-6
BRONZE: Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) df. Jewoo PARK (KOR) by TF, 11-1, 3:00

#WrestleParis

Paris 2024: Ramazanov denies Yazdani, Higuchi completes 57kg turnaround

Saturday, August 10, 2024 - 00:42 By Ken Marantz

PARIS (August 9) -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) and his aching shoulder missed out on a second Olympic gold medal and was relegated to a second silver instead, and David TAYLOR (USA) was nowhere in sight. Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) is the new king of the freestyle 86kg class.

Russian-born Ramazanov outdueled a less-than-100 percent Yazdani in notching a 7-1 victory in the final on Friday at the Paris Olympics, giving Bulgaria its second gold in two nights.

"It was really something for me," said Ramazanov, the 2020 European 79kg silver medalist who began competing for Bulgaria this year. "I come from a little town, and my family worked really hard for me to get here. It is really an honor. I got the gold medal for them."

Japan grabbed the two other gold medals up for grabs at the Champs de Mars Arena, with Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) completing an arduous eight-year journey to an elusive freestyle 57kg gold and two-time reigning world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) winning the women's 57kg title in her Olympic debut.

Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) and Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) at the podium of 86kg in Paris. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Yazdani, one of the biggest stars of the sport whose many laurels include the 74kg gold from Rio 2016 and a silver at 86kg three years ago in Tokyo, was in obvious discomfort from the get-go of his clash with the 31-year-old Ramazanov.

Almost immediately after the start, the Iranian signaled for a timeout, clutching his upper right arm. While managing to keep the score close, and even tentatively leading at one point, he stopped the match five times for treatment on his shoulder.

"It was hard for him, but he was a great fighter with his other arm," Ramazanov said. "In the Olympics, you don’t get to choose the conditions, you just have to compete, and that’s what makes this sport so hard."

Yazdani gave up an activity point in the first period -- just barely failing to complete a takedown in the process -- but got one himself in the second to lead 1-1 on criteria.

Ramazanov put the pressure on and tripped Yazdani for a takedown while trapping the Iranian's foot underneath him at an odd angle, keeping him in a sitting position. That allowed the Bulgarian to use a crossface to tilt Yazdani backward for two exposures and a 7-1 lead.

With 30 seconds left, Yazdani conceded that it was over. He put his hands on his knees as the seconds ticked down to the inevitable. He gave Ramazanov a hug of respect.

Ramazanov dedicated the gold medal to his father who died when he was still a child.

"It was really hard, I had to fight elite wrestlers, but today it was destiny, and I want to thank god and dedicate this medal to my father, who died a few years ago," Ramazanov said. "I think he would be very proud of me."

He also paid tribute to his adopted country. "Bulgaria is my second home," he said. "This country gave me this amazing opportunity to compete in the Olympics with the best athletes around the world. It’s really hard psychologically because you don’t know if you’ll get to the next Olympics, and it’s so hard to qualify."

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) kisses his gold medal at the 57kg medal ceremony. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At freestyle 57kg, Higuchi won a showdown with an equally determined Spencer LEE (USA) 4-2 to capture the gold medal that eluded him at the 2016 Rio Olympics and for which he spent the ensuing years on a path of trials and tribulations.

"I was able to have fun wrestling," Higuchi said. "I think that in my career, this was my highest level performance. It was a great tournament."

Higuchi was able to limit Lee's attacks to a pair of stepouts in the first period, the first one while Lee was on the activity clock. In the second period, Higuchi managed to stay grounded so that there would be no points as he went over the edge.

Meanwhile, Higuchi took the initiative himself in the second period, launching a double-leg takedown attempt that Lee tried to counter by rolling over the top. But Higuchi rolled through it and Lee landed on his back, giving Higuchi 2 points and a momentary chance for a fall.

That gave Higuchi the lead 2-2 on criteria, and he managed to hold on, adding a takedown with two seconds left off a desperation throw attempt.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) tackles Spencer LEE (USA) in the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

After Rio, Higuchi moved up to 61kg, winning an Asian title, with an eye on making the Tokyo Olympics at 65kg. He won the world U23 gold at 65kg in 2018, and defeated Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) at one point, but in the end lost out to the eventual Tokyo gold medalist.

The only option for going to his home Olympics was to drop down to 57kg, but he famously failed to make weight at the Asian Olympic Qualifier, a shock only made worse when he later lost a playoff for Japan's Olympic spot to Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN).

Still in his prime, he spent the next two years at 61kg, winning his first senior world crown in 2022, then made the drop back to 57kg with the aim of being on the mat in Paris.

This time he became more attentive to his nutrition and diet, which got a boost when he got married in May last year. It paid off with a world silver in Belgrade that clinched his ticket to Paris.

"The road to getting the gold medal was not easy at all," said Higuchi, who became a father in February. "I suffered many losses and I had the failure to make weight. I had many setbacks and moments of despair.

"But I was absolutely confident I could win the gold medal. My coaches and teammates supported me and this is a medal I could get because of so many people. I will never think this is
a gold medal that I won by myself."

With Higuchi's win, current students or alumni of his alma mater Nippon Sports Science University now account for four wrestling golds in Paris. He was preceded by Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) and Nao KUSAKA (JPN) in Greco and Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) in women's wrestling.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) celebrates after winning the 57kg final at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Sakurai later added Japan's fifth gold overall through five days of competition in Paris with a 6-0 victory over Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) in a repeat of the women's 57kg final at last year's World Championships in Belgrade.

"I practiced just for this moment, and I was able to be here because of the support of many people," said Sakurai, who defeated two-time Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (now KINJO) (JPN) in the process of qualifying for Paris. "I'm really glad I won the title."

Sakurai, employing a 2-on-1 while standing that pretty much neutralized Nichita's offense, opened the scoring by shooting for a single-leg takedown, then stepping over for an exposure when Nichita attempted a counter-lift.

Sakurai had the 2-on-1 when the two went to the mat and Nichita tried to go over and hook the far leg. But Sakurai bucked her to the mat and went behind to make it 4-0 at the break. In the second period, Sakurai added a single-leg takedown while conceding nothing to clinch the gold.

After her victory lap, Sakurai went to the stands for a group hug with her father and her coach at Ikuei University, Yoshimaro YANAGAWA, who could have another Olympic champion after Ikuei's Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) made the women's 62kg final earlier in the session.

"He said, 'You did great,'" Sakurai said of Yanagawa. "For this Olympics, he sacrificed so much time for us. He made us train hard and kept pushing us. I'm glad I could get it done. I was able to put out on the mat what I had done up to now."

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) wrestles Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) in the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Sakurai suffered a setback in her Olympic preparations when she lost in the final at the Asian Championships in April to Yongxin FENG (CHN), but managed to right the ship in time for Paris. It was her first international loss since the 2019 Asian Junior (U20) Championships.

Despite missing out on the gold, Nichita earned a place in Moldovan history by becoming just its second Olympic wrestling medalist ever and the first woman.

"So many people came today to support me, and I'm really grateful for that," Nichita said. "I'm really sorry that I didn't win the gold medal, but next time I will try my best to win the gold.

"All of my life I dreamed about this, and I went through a lot of pain and trauma, and here I am today, with a medal."

Helen MAROULIS (USA) celebrates after winning her bronze-medal bout at 57kg in Paris. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Maroulis quickly bags bronze for 3rd Olympic medal

Helen MAROULIS (USA) needed just 24 seconds to win a third Olympic medal, taking a second straight women's 57kg bronze with victory by fall over Hannah TAYLOR (CAN).

Maroulis hit a textbook-perfect fireman's carry to send Taylor to her back, then clamped down to secure the fall less than a half-minute after the start.

The three-time former world champion added the Paris bronze to the gold she won at Rio 2016 with a historic win over legend Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) and her bronze from Tokyo three years ago.

Kexin HONG (CHN) needed a bit more time to secure the other women's 57kg bronze, rolling to a 10-0 victory over Giullia PENALBER (BRA) in 1:57.

The two bronze medalists at 86kg -- Aaron BROOKS (USA) and Daruen KURUGLIEV (GRE). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

World U23 champion Aaron BROOKS (USA), who needed to beat Tokyo Olympic champion David TAYLOR (USA) just to earn his ticket to Paris, defeated Asian silver medalist Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) 5-0 to take home a freestyle 86kg bronze medal.

Brooks received an activity point in the first period, then added a stepout early in the second. Put on the clock himself, Brooks scored a double-leg takedown to make it 4-0, then added a late stepout to relegate Shapiev to a second straight fifth-place finish at the Olympics.

Asked if the competition in his first major senior event was tougher than he had expected, Brooks replied, "I never try to expect anything. When you are going on the mat with expectations and they are not met, it's where you can have those climaxes and drop-offs.

"It's the Olympics. They are what they are. It's a tough competition."

The other 86kg bronze went to Russian-born Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE), who survived a valiant late surge by Tokyo bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR) in a 5-4 victory that gave Greece its first Olympic wrestling medal since Athens 2000.

Kurugliev appeared to be cruising to a victory on the back of a first-period takedown and 2-point exposure off a second-period scramble. With the clock ticking down, Amine completed a takedown with :07 on the clock, but wasn't done there.

He got behind again, but Kurugliev somehow managed to keep his knees off the mat as they went out of the ring, limiting Amine to a stepout and fleeing point that made it 4-4 but left him on the short end on criteria. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

"I would like to thank Greece, this country that gave me this opportunity," Kurugliev said. "Thank you very much to all of you. I'm very happy to have won this medal. Of course, I tried to win gold, but bronze is fine, and I'm quite happy."

AMAN (IND) became India's youngest Olympic medalist in individual sports. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Asian champion Aman SEHRAWAT (IND), the lone Indian male wrestler to qualify for Paris, assured that the country would win a medal for the fifth straight Olympics, winning a takedown-a-thon over Darian CRUZ (PUR) 13-5 to take a bronze at freestyle 57kg.

Sehrawat scored three takedowns in each period, adding a late stepout with a fleeing point tacked on, to deny the U.S.-raised Cruz's bid to become just the second Olympic wrestling medalist for Puerto Rico. Cruz, an NCAA champion at Lehigh University in the U.S., chalked up two takedowns of his own.

Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), who also did some collegiate wrestling in the U.S., picked up the other 57kg bronze with a 5-1 win over Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) that was closer than the score indicates.

Abdullaev got an activity point and stepout in the first period, and led 2-1 in the second after giving up a point on the activity clock. Fighting off everything Almaz Uulu threw at him down the stretch, he got a last-second 2 by stopping a desperation throw attempt, with an unsuccessful challenge point added on.

Day 5 Results

Freestyle

57kg
GOLD: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) df. Spencer LEE (USA), 4-2

BRONZE: Aman SEHRAWAT (IND) df. Darian CRUZ (PUR), 13-5
BRONZE: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df. Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ), 5-1

74kg
SF1: Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) df. Kyle DAKE (USA), 20-12
SF2: Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) df. Viktor RASSADIN (TJK), 8-2

86kg
GOLD: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), 7-1

BRONZE: Aaron BROOKS (USA) df. Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB), 5-0
BRONZE: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) df. Myles AMINE (SMR), 5-4

125kg
SF1: Amir ZARE (IRI) df. Taha AKGUL (TUR), 2-1
SF2: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), 7-0

Women's Wrestling

57kg
GOLD: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), 6-0

BRONZE: Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) by Fall, :24 (4-0)
BRONZE: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Giullia PENALBER (BRA) by TF, 10-0, 1:57

62kg
SF1: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), 9-2
SF2: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) df. Grace BULLEN (NOR) by Fall, 4:26 (7-7)

Sharshenbekov makes it two 1st-time Asian champions in family

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Paris 2024: Ramazanov denies Yazdani, Higuchi completes 57kg turnaround