Susaki regains Asian crown but shows cracks in pre-Paris prep

Saturday, April 13, 2024 - 18:57 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 13) -- Reigning world and Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) finally showed some chinks in her armor. Not enough to suffer a first-ever loss to a non-Japanese opponent, but enough to give her something to think about with four months to go to the Paris Olympics.

Susaki faced the rare situation of trailing in a match in the women's 50kg final at the Asian Championships but managed to right the ship and defeat Ziqi FENG (CHN) 8-4 on Saturday at Bishkek Arena to regain the title she won in her last appearance in 2017.

"To go through such troubling matches before the Olympics is an important experience in order to win the gold in Paris," said Susaki, who earlier overcame a tough challenge from Yong Ok HWANG (PRK). "I want to make use of this feeling of regret so that after I win the gold, I can say it was good I had this experience."

Japan won two of the four other women's golds at stake on the third day of the competition, with two-time world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) triumphing in her first international foray at the Olympic weight of 68kg and 2022 world U23 champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) winning the 55kg title in her senior Asian debut.

World silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) sent the home fans happy by rallying to a thrilling victory in the 76kg final to cap the night, which earlier saw world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) storm to the 59kg gold to follow up her victory over two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN) in the afternoon session.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) attempts an unsuccessful front headlock roll against Ziqi FENG (CHN) in the 50kg final during the Asian Championships (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

For Susaki, the stop in Bishkek is part of her final preparations in the run-up to the Paris Olympics. Instead, it turned into a wake-up call, although she is trying to see it in a positive light.

"To be in a tough situation and still be able to come out with a victory gives me a boost of confidence," said the four-time world champion.

In the final against Feng, Susaki was facing an opponent she had beaten twice in the past seven months -- an 8-2 win in the semifinals at last year's World Championships in Belgrade and a 10-0 rout in the final of the Zagreb Open in January.

But it became obvious that her opponents are doing their homework on the superstar, who has only three losses in her entire career, all to the same Japanese opponent, Yuki IRIE (JPN).

Feng got on the scoreboard first with a counter lift for 2, but Susaki rolled through it and gained 2 of her own. But she lost the criteria advantage when Feng stuffed her on a front headlock roll for a 4-2 lead. It looked like it would stay that way to end the period, but Susaki came back with a driving takedown off a high crotch just seconds before the buzzer.

In the second period, Susaki kept her composure and scored a pair of takedowns to clinch the victory, which runs her current streak to 54 wins in a row.

"I wasn't trying for any specific tackle and I tried to hit a front headlock roll," Susaki said. "But I realize I can improve on the combination and it makes me want to quickly get back to practice."

Susaki's first bump in the road came in her opening match in the quarterfinals against Hwang, a 2019 bronze medalist who, like the rest of her compatriots, had been out of the international wrestling scene for much of the past five years.

Susaki received two activity points before Hwang came to life and scored a stepout late in the second period. She was close to scoring another when Susaki wriggled out of danger, then stopped a desperate front roll attempt to win 4-1.

"She came up with a strategy to keep the score low and put everything into deciding it at the end," Susaki said. "I allowed her to dictate the match. I'm going to go back to Japan and figure out how to deal with an opponent who avoids contact and saves it for the end."

Even with the close calls, Susaki remains among the most popular wrestlers on the circuit, as attested by the cheers for her from the Bishkek crowd.

"It was my first Asian Championships in seven years," Susaki said. "Seven years ago, it was my first challenge at a senior tournament. It was very moving to be back after seven years. The Kyrgyz people supported me and I was very happy to be able to compete with so many cheering for me. I'm very grateful to the fans."

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) completes a takedown against world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in the 68kg semifinals during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Ozaki had her own issues to deal with, mainly handling a move from 62kg to 68kg over one year, with a stop at 65kg in between to win another world title. The extra weight proved to be no problem, at least on the continental level.

"My objective was winning the title, but it didn't matter if I lost as long I took something away from it," Ozaki said. "I wanted it to be a test of what level I am at."

Her level is quite high, to say the least. Ozaki won the gold with a 15-2 victory over 2022 Asian U23 champion RADHIKA (IND), her third consecutive technical fall of the day in which she was on the mat for a combined time of just over seven minutes.

"My transition from standing to the ground position was good and I could get big points," Ozaki said. "I want to continue working on that in practice."

Ozaki, the 2022 world champion at 62kg, suffered a devastating setback when she lost out on the place at the Paris Olympics in that weight class to Sakura MOTOKI (JPN). After moving up to 65kg for another chance to win a world title, which she accomplished, the opportunity to earn a ticket to Paris arose at 68kg, and she grabbed it by beating Ami ISHII (JPN) in a playoff in January.

As a natural 62kg wrestler, Ozaki has a speed advantage over her opponents. Since earning the Olympic spot, she has been spending time filling out into the heavier weight.

"I still have room to get bulkier and put on weight," she said. "I think I'll be much bigger the next time you see me."

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) scores a two-point takedown in her 7-0 win over Kyong OH (PRK) in the 55kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 55kg, Kiyooka pulled away in the second period for a 7-0 victory over Kyong OH (PRK), adding the senior Asian gold to the world U23 and U20 titles she won in 2022.

"Last year, I was supposed to be here, but I got injured and that was tough to take," the 20-year-old Kiyooka said. "This makes up for that."

In the final, Kiyooka received an activity point for the lone score of the first period. In the second period, she scored a pair of takedowns, sandwiched around an exposure for stopping a reverse fireman's carry that the Korean wrestlers use so effectively.

"The Japan team has many top-level wrestlers and I got power from them," Kiyooka said. "I was very nervous, but I was able to move just as I do in practice."

To earn a spot on the team to Bishkek, Kiyooka defeated former world champion Haruna OKUNO (JPN) for the first time at the All-Japan Championships in December. She said her goal now is to secure a ticket to this year's senior World Championships.

While Kiyooka's job is done in Bishkek, she still has a future interest in the city. Her older brother Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) will be coming in an attempt to earn an Olympic quota in freestyle 65kg at the Asian Olympic Qualifier, which follows on April 19-21.

"I wanted to create good momentum to pass off to my brother," Kiyooka said. "I didn't see him before I left, but he messaged me and said, 'If you stay relaxed, you can win.'"

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) celebrates after winning the 76kg final during the Asian Championships in Bishkek on Saturday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

For Medet Kyzy, her 10-7 victory over Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN) in the 76kg final was similar in nature to a match between them 10 months ago in Bishkek, but far more dramatic and with more at stake.

Medet Kyzy, who trailed 4-0 after the first period, bulled her way to a 4-point takedown -- her second of the match -- with 35 seconds left to regain the Asian title she won in 2022 in her fifth straight trip to the final.

"To be honest, the final match was a little hard for me, but you saw that there were lots of our fans in the stands and each of them needed to see my victory, so I did my best to win," Medet Kyzy said.

At the Bishkek Ranking Series tournament last June, Huang led 3-0 after the first period of the final when Medet Kyzy rallied to a 5-3 win, scoring the winning takedown with 23 seconds left.

Qi ZHANG (CHN) celebrates after beating two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN) in the 59kg quarterfinal during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 59kg final, Zhang needed less than a minute to score a takedown, lock up an arm and score four straight rolls to vanquish Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) 10-0. That gave her her first Asian title after a pair of bronzes from 2017 and 2019.

It was Zhang's second straight 10-0 win after her victory over Kinjo. The Chinese beat the two-time Olympic champion by getting the latter of two activity points and win 1-1 on criteria.

Risako KINJO (JPN) won the bronze medal at 59kg at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kinjo rebounds to take bronze

Kinjo, a four-time world and Asian champion, made sure she would not leave Bishkek empty-handed, overwhelming Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) 13-2 in a 59kg bronze-medal match.

"Am I disappointed, or am I happy, I'm not even sure myself," said Kinjo, who capped her victory with a driving 4-point takedown that ended the match with five seconds left in the first period.

Kinjo was appearing in her first international competition since winning the 57kg gold at the Tokyo Olympics. After that, she got married, gave birth, and missed out on a place at the Paris Olympics at 57kg to world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), who will be in action on Sunday.

Still wanting to compete, Kinjo moved up to 59kg and won the national title to earn the ticket to Bishkek.

Asked about the loss to Zhang, Kinjo said, "The opponent is the world champion. I don't know if she even knew I had changed my name. She is not an opponent that I can't beat. But strategically the match went her way. I lost, but it was enjoyable six minutes."

Host Kyrgyzstan picked up two bronze medals, and both in dramatic fashion at the expense of opponents from rival neighbor Kazakhstan.

At 55kg, Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) gave up what should have been a decisive 2-point arm throw to Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ) with four seconds left, only to come away with a 5-3 win by managing to score a reversal with less than one second on the clock. An unsuccessful challenge accounted for the final score.

Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) also gave up early points to Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ) at 68kg, but came back with a counter to the back and scored a fall at 2:09.

Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) took home the other bronze at 59kg with a wild 11-8 victory over Pushpa YADAV (IND). Kayumova was leading 7-7 on criteria when she clinched the win with her second 4-point move of the match -- a Greco-like back suplex.

In a surprise at 76kg, Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) prevented Japan from having a medalist in every weight class when she overcame a four-point deficit to defeat 2022 world U23 bronze medalist Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) 8-6.

Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ), whose defense of her 76kg title ended with a semifinal loss to Medet Kyzy, also worked her way out of a four-point hole, but did it by pancaking PRIYA (IND) and scoring a fall in the second period.

At 50kg, Shivani PAWAR (IND) used her counter style of wrestling to maximum effect, pulling off a last-second victory with a counter lift to stun three-time world medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) 9-7.

In arguably the biggest victory of her career, Pawar, the 2021 world U23 silver medalist, had given up a go-ahead takedown to Dolgorjav with 20 seconds left.

Hwang, who won a bronze medal as a member of the last DPR Korea team to appear at the Asian Championships in 2019, will go home with another after defeating Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE) 4-2 at 50kg.

Min ZHANG (CHN), the 2023 Asian U23 champion, denied Dulguun BOLORMAA (MGL) a fourth senior Asian medal when she notched an entertaining 15-5 victory at 55kg.

Zhang led by a modest 2-1 in the second period when she scored a takedown and two rolls to go up 8-1. Bolormaa caught Zhang with a 4-point headlock throw, but her inability to secure the fall was her undoing, as Zhang came back with a 4-point takedown and gut wrench to finish the technical fall at 5:26.

World silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) earned her fourth senior Asian medal -- still none gold -- when she edged Zelu LI (CHN) 2-1 for the other 68kg bronze, with all of the points coming on the activity clock.

Day 3 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Ziqi FENG (CHN), 8-4

BRONZE: Yong Ok HWANG (PRK) df. Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE), 4-2
BRONZE: Shivani PAWAR (IND) df. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL), 9-7

55kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Kyong OH (PRK), 7-0

BRONZE: Min ZHANG (CHN) df. Dulguun BOLORMAA (MGL) by TF, 15-5, 5:22
BRONZE: Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) df. Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ), 5-3

59kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Qi ZHANG (CHN) df. Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) by TF, 10-0, :50

BRONZE: Risako KINJO (JPN) df. Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) by TF, 13-2, 2:54
BRONZE: Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) df. Pushpa YADAV (IND), 11-8

68kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. RADHIKA (IND) by TF, 15-2, 4:28

BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Zelu LI (CHN), 2-1
BRONZE: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ) by Fall, 2:09 (7-2)

76kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN), 10-7

BRONZE: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. PRIYA (IND) by Fall, 4:25 (2-4)
BRONZE: Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) df. Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN), 8-6

#wrestlebishkek

Six countries win Paris quotas at Asian qualifier

Friday, April 19, 2024 - 04:08 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 19) -- Six countries earned two Paris Olympic spots each in Freestyle on the first day of the Asian Olympic Games Qualifier in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Hosts Kyrgyzstan won at 57kg and 65kg while Iran added quotas at 74kg and 97kg. Japan earned the Paris spots at 65kg and 86kg and Uzbekistan got it at 57kg and 74kg. Kazakhstan pulled off the spots at 97kg and 125kg while Mongolia was successful at 86kg and 125kg.

125kg wrap: Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) earns a ticket to a second straight Olympics at 125kg, while denying Zhiwei DENG (CHN) for now what would be his third trip, by gaining an activity point in each period for a 2-0 win. Munkhtur's victory in the clash between the losers of the bronze-medal matches in Tokyo, gives Mongolia its second Paris quota of the night.

Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) held on to a 7-3 win over Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) to win the second Paris 2024 quota for Kazakhstan and deny Bahrain its second. Batirmurzaev scored a takedown and used his strong gut wrench to deny Sharipov.

97kg: Iran filled its fifth Freestyle quota for the Paris Olympics as Zagreb Open champion Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) defeated Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) 3-0 at 97kg. Azarpira got a point for Ganbaatar's passivity and then scored a takedown in the second period to win. 57kg is the only weight in which Iran has not qualified for the Paris Olympics.

Three-time Asian medalist Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) earns a ticket to Paris and a possible second Olympics for himself at 97kg by edging Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) 3-2 at 97kg. Yergali takes a 2-0 lead in the first period with an activity point and a stepout off a takedown attempt. In the second, Habila was on the activity clock again when he got in on a single leg. But the clock ran out before the Chinese could finish off the takedown, leaving Yergali ahead 3-2. The outcome was a virtual replay of Yergali's 2-1 win over Habila in the first round at last year's World Championships.

86kg wrap: Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) needs just 34 seconds to book his ticket to Paris, gaining a takedown and then reeling off four quick gut wrenches to defeat Gwanuk KIM (KOR) 10-0. Ishiguro, a 2023 Asian bronze medalist and 2018 world junior champion at 79kg, did not have to wrestle in the afternoon session, as he received a victory by default in his lone match. It gives Japan a fourth Paris quota in freestyle.

Mongolia gets on the Paris 2024 quota list as Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) wins a snooze fest against Zushen LIN (CHN). After Lin got one point for Byambasuren's passivity, Lin failed to score in the second period when he was put on the activity clock. Byambasuren held on to that 1-1 criteria win and the quota.

74kg wrap: Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) shows he still has a lot of life left in his 34-year-old body when he earns a shot at a third career Olympics with a well-executed 6-0 victory at 74kg over home favorite Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ). Abdurakhmonov came out firing from the opening whistle, scoring a lightning-quick single-leg takedown that caught his opponent so off guard, that he was able to lift him full up in the air and slam him to the mat, where he then immediately went to a high-chest roll. Toktomambetov gets in a deep single in the second period, but two-time world bronze medalist Abdurakhmonov starts a counter scramble that ends with him on top for a takedown.

Iran now has its fourth Paris 2024 quota in Freestyle as Yones EMAMI (IRI) puts on a takedown show to beat Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) in three minutes and 49 seconds. Emami had failed to win a quota at the World Championships after losing to Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) and later to Hetik CABALOV (SRB) in the repechage. But a dominant performance in Bishkek sees him tick one more spot for Iran.

65kg wrap: Kyrgyzstan picked up its second Freestyle quota for Paris 2024 as Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) posted a controlled 5-3 win over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK). Trailing 2-1 at the break, Akmataliev got a takedown in the second period before being awarded a point for Kim's passivity. The two exchanged stepouts but Akmataliev led 5-3 with little time left for Kim to score a takedown for a win.

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) picked up Japan's third quota in Paris -- and a chance to keep the 65kg Olympic gold in Japanese hands -- with a comprehensive 11-0 victory over Shaohua YUAN (CHN). Kiyooka used a low single to maximum effect to score two takedowns in the first period which, combined with an activity point, gave him a 5-0 lead. In the second, he landed a double-leg takedown, applied the lace lock and rolled twice to end the match in 4:30. Kiyooka knocked off Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) to earn the right to represent Japan in Bishkek. His victory came six days after his younger sister Moe won the women's 55kg gold at the Asian Championships in the same venue.

57kg wrap: Kyrgyzstan won the first Paris 2024 quota of the Asian OG Qualifier as Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ), winner of this year's Yasar Dogu tournament in Turkey and a two-time world U23 bronze medalist, pulled a ticket to Paris out of his hat with a counter takedown with 14 seconds to edge Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) 3-3 on criteria. After each received an activity point that gave the Kyrgyz the lead on criteria, Batkhuyag fought out of a deep double-leg takedown to score a takedown with a minute left to go ahead 3-1. Batkhuyag grabs a single and tries to hang on for dear lift, but Almaz Uulu breaks the hold and gets behind to give Kyrgyzstan its first freestyle quota in Paris.

The second Paris quota at 57kg was won by Uzbekistan as Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) pinned 2023 Asian champion AMAN (IND) in the first period. Abdullaev used a takedown before hitting a duckunder for four. He used a takedown and roll and kept Aman on his back to secure the fall.

Here are the qualification bouts for Paris 2024

57kg
Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) vs. Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) vs. AMAN (IND)

65kg
Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) vs. Shaohua YUAN (CHN)
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) vs. Kwang Jin KIM (PRK)

74kg
Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) vs. Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ)
Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) vs. Yones EMAMI (IRI)

86kg
Gwanuk KIM (KOR) vs. Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN)
Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) vs. Zushen LIN (CHN)

97kg
Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) vs. Awusayiman HABILA (CHN)
Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) vs. Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)

125kg
Zhiwei DENG (CHN) vs. Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) vs. Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ)

12:50: Zagreb Open champion Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) proves too high of a hurdle for rising Japanese star Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) to overcome, pulling away in the second period for a 9-1 win at 97kg. Azarpira extended his lead to 3-1 early in the second period with a third stepout while on the activity clock, then began piling up the points.

12:48: Former world champion Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) turned his match around in a hurry, overcoming a six-point deficit in the second period to chalk up a 12-6 win at Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL). Akmataliev starts the comeback with a takedown and two gut wrenches to go ahead on criteria. But he doesn't stop there, adding a 4-point counter lift, and still having time to add a takedown.

12:45: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) led 2-0 after two passivity points against Kwang Jin KIM (PRK). But Jalolov gets called for fleeing and is docked a caution and one. A stepout for Kim makes it 2-2 criteria lead for him. Jalolov can't match the pace of Kim who gets a stepout and fleeing to win 5-2.

12:38: In the candidate for Match of the Day, Shaohua YUAN (CHN) outlasts Maiis ALIYEV (KAZ) with a wild 16-15 win at 65kg. Yuan is leading 4-2 when in a wild flurry, Aliyev gets 4, Yuan gets 4, then Aliyev gets 3, giving the Kazakh at 9-8 lead going into the second period. The madness doesn't stop there, as Aliyev goes ahead with two takedowns, only for Yuan to storm back with an arm throw for 2 and a chest lift for 4. Yuan gets a stepout that could have gone either way, and Aliyev scores a takedown with :03 left. He tries a lace lock, but it is ruled too late, and an unsuccessful challenge point is tacked on.

12:27: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) with five takedowns to beat Junsik YUN (KOR) 10-0 and enter the semifinals at 65kg. He has to win one more bout to qualify Japan for the Paris Games.

12:22: China and Korea go at it on adjacent mats, and the Chinese take both. Two-time Olympian and two-time world medalist Zhiwei DENG (CHN), who placed fifth in Tokyo, gets a takedown and gut wrench in the first period and beats Yeihyun JUNG (KOR) 5-0 at 125kg. At 97kg, Asian Games bronze medalist Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) scores a takedown and exposure in the last 20 seconds to put away a fatigued Juhwan SEO (KOR) 6-2.

12:22: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), who won a bronze medal in the just completed Asian Championships, gets his points in the first period and makes it hold up in a 2-1 victory over Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) at 125kg.

12:20: Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) with a pin over Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB). He hits two four-pointers for a 12-5 lead before 40-year-old Ibragimov just gave up.

12:11: In a 74kg quarterfinal with non-stop action, two-time world medalist Yones EMAMI (IRI) proves too much for Byungmin GONG (KOR), scoring four takedowns on counters in the second period for a 15-4 win. The two put together an 11-point first period when Emami scored three takedowns against Gong's two.

12:10: Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) gives no chance to Erzo ISAKOV (JOR) and wins his 86kg quarterfinal 7-1 and advances to the semifinal.

12:10: Tokyo Olympian Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) finishes off Andrey ARONOV (KGZ) with a 4-point takedown in a 10-0 victory at 97kg.

12:01: Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) hangs for a thrilling 3-2 win over Wanhao ZOU (CHN) at 57kg. Almaz Uulu gets a stepout to lead 1-1 on criteria at the break. In the second period, he gets a stepout with Zou on the activity clock, which gives him a 3-1 lead when it expires. Zou drives him out, but what could have been a takedown was ruled a stepout, and Almaz Uulu managed the run out the clock the rest of the way.

12::00: Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) with a leg lace to end SUMIT's (IND) Olympic hopes in Bishkek. He advances to the 125kg semifinals and is a win away from the Paris Olympic quota.

11:57: Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) in a high-scoring battle with top seed Feng LU (CHN) but comes out on top with a fall at 74kg. The Uzbek star led 15-9 before he got the fall 23 seconds into the second period.

11:56: Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) hits a textbook-perfect lateral drop to throw Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) onto his back before securing a fall at 2:49 and booking his place in tonight's 125kg Olympic qualifying match.

11:50: Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) gives up a takedown to JAIDEEP (IND), then comes back with one of his own, and that makes the difference as he holds on to win 2-2 on last-point criteria in their 74kg quarterfinal.

11:50: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) shows the perfect strategy against Chongsong HAN (PRK) to advance to the 57kg semifinals. He was put on the activity clock in the first period but hit a cradle to lead 4-1. Han is called for blocking with hands and Abdullaev wins 7-1. He faces AMAN (IND) for a Paris 2024 quota

11:45: Asian Games bronze medalist Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) advances to the 65kg quarterfinals by rolling to a 9-0 victory over Jelaletdin SEYIDOV (TKM).

11:43: AMAN (IND) books his spot in the 57kg semifinals with an 11-1 win over Sunggwon KIM (KOR). Slow off the blocks, Aman ups the charge in the second period and wins 11-1

11:41: Iran dealt with a huge blow! Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) drops his 57kg quarterfinals to Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) 14-3. Two four-pointers, a takedown and two rolls for Batkhuyag.

11:37: Young Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) continues to impress, powering his way to a 10-0 victory over DEEPAK (IND) at 97kg. Yoshida will next face Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) for a spot in the semifinals, a meeting with an opponent from his father's country of origin.

11:30: Gwanuk KIM (KOR, an Olympian in 2016, took a step toward making it to Paris by holding off Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM) for a 6-5 victory at 86kg.

11:29: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN), who beat Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) to represent Japan in Bishkek, wins his first bout over Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) 10-7. A strong leg-lace game from Kiyooka to keep Kudiev at bay. Last week, Kiyooka's sister, Moe won the Asian Championships at 55kg

11:21: Former 70kg world silver medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), looking to make his first Olympics at 65kg, cruises to a 10-0 victory over Mohammed KAREEM (IRQ). Akmataliev gets a takedown and three exposures for an 8-0 lead, then uses a counter lift for 2 to finish the match in 2:29.

11:19: 2022 Asian champion Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) puts Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN) in a power battle and gives no chance to Yamamoto to even attack. A 10-0 technical superiority win for the former world silver medalist.

11:16: Andrey ARONOV (KGZ) avoids becoming the first Kyrgyz wrestler to lose when he rallies to a 10-9 victory over Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM) at 97kg. He will next face top seed Alisher YERGALI (KAZ).

11:14: Byungmin GONG (KOR), the 2021 Asian champion at 79kg, follows his second takedown by applying a lace lock against 2023 Asian bronze medalist Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) at 74kg. Three quick rolls and it's over.

11:10: Big match on Mat C as Yeihyun JUNG (KOR) scores a stepout in the final second to pull off an incredible win over Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM). Jung led 6-4 but Saparov kept coming back and took a 9-9 criteria lead before Jung got a single-leg attack to finish outside the zone. A lost challenge from Turkmenistan made it 11-9

11:06: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI), looking to fill one of the three quotas that Iran still lacks in freestyle, gets off to a slow start but pours it on in the second period for a 10-0 win over Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK) at 57kg.

11:03: Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ), the 2021 Asian champion, with the fall over Zaman ANWAR (PAK) at 125kg. He will face Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) in the quarterfinals.

11:00: Did Bekzod ABDURAKHAMOV (UZB) survive a pin there? Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) had him a cradle but Abdurakhamov made it out of the hold and hung on for a 6-4 lead. He scores two takedowns in the second period to win 10-6 at 74kg.

10:58: Asian Games bronze medalist Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) scores all of his points in the second period to defeat Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) 7-1 at 74kg. A takedown to a gut wrench, then a counter lift for 2 followed by a stepout does the trick for Toktomambetov.

10:50: AMAN (IND), the 2023 Asian champion and Asian Games bronze medalist, makes short work of Yerassyl MUKHTARULY (KAZ) with a 10-0 victory in their opening match 57kg.

10:50: Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) hit a solid arm throw for four over JAIDEEP (IND) but the Indian remains calm and pins Begenjov 30 seconds before the break to advance at 74kg

10:46: Chongsong HAN (PRK) takes a minute and five seconds to see off Gayan KATHURANGANA (PRK) in the 57kg qualification bout. His next opponent is Gulomjon ABDUALLEV (UZB).

10:45: Veteran Junsik YUN (KOR), trailing 5-1 at one point in the second period, storms back and defeats Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) 6-6 on criteria with a stepout with seven seconds left at 65kg.

10:43: Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ), a two-time world U23 bronze medalist, gives the home team a victory to open the proceedings on Mat B, defeating Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE) 9-2 at 57kg.

10:44: A 43-second pin for Tokyo Olympian Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) over Kabe MATJANOV (TKM). A solid arm-bar pin from Abdullaev to advance at 57kg.

10:43: The first match in 57kg and Sunggwon KIM (KOR) holds on for a 1-1 win over Khattab AL ANI (IRQ) after two passivity calls.

10:30: The first day of the Asian Olympic Qualifier with six Freestyle weights classes. Bishkek is ready for it

Susaki regains Asian crown but shows cracks in pre-Paris prep

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Six countries win Paris quotas at Asian qualifier