Syzdykova stuns Medet Kyzy to regain Asian gold

Tuesday, April 11, 2023 - 15:47 By Ken Marantz

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (April 11) -- Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) picked the right place and the right time to avenge a recent spate of losses to a long-time rival while earning the second Asian gold and seventh medal overall of her storied career.

Syzdykova used a wicked throw to send defending champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) to the mat before securing a fall in the 76kg final as the women's competition got underway at the Asian Championships on Tuesday in Astana.

"This is my fifth match against Aiperi," said Syzdykova, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist who had lost to Medet Kyzy in their past three meetings. "Last time she defeated me at the Tokyo Olympics. We also wrestled in the [2021] Asian Championships in Almaty.

"This is wrestling. This is women’s wrestling, which is very unpredictable. Today you win, tomorrow you lose. It’s very unpredictable, there are no words to describe it."

Powerhouse Japan got off to a solid start, winning three of the five titles at stake. Former world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) repeated as 50kg champion, while Yui SAKANO at 59kg and world silver medalist Ami ISHII at 68kg earned golds in the senior Asian debuts.

The remaining gold went to Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN), as China medaled in all five weight classes in an impressive return to the Asian Championships after a three-year hiatus induced by the pandemic and other factors.

Syzdykova, host Kazakhstan's lone finalist of the night, sent the crowd at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace home happy with her thrilling win over Medet Kyzy, a 2021 world bronze medalist and world U23 champion.

After a staid first period in which Syzdykova received an activity point, the joint got jumping when she suddenly locked up Medet Kyzy's arm and, dropping backward, flung her to the mat before clamping down for the fall in 4:25.

For the 31-year-old Syzdykova, Medet Kyzy had been a thorn in her side in recent years. After Syzdykova won 2-0 in the first encounter in Rome in 2019, she lost to Medet Kyzy by fall in the semifinals at the 2020 Asian Championships, 6-1 in the first round at the 2021 Asian Championships, and then 8-1 in the first round at the Tokyo Olympics.

The victory on Tuesday adds to her Asian gold from 2021 and is her seventh medal overall dating back to 2014, but Syzdykova said winning it at home was not particularly special.

"Honestly, It didn’t really change anything for me," she said. "I think there is no difference in which country you wrestle. It’s my personal opinion."

After taking much of 2022 off, Syzdykova returned this year with a victory at the French Grand Prix in January and a bronze at the Ranking Series tournament in Egypt in February.

"I just went out there [today] to wrestle," she said. "There wasn’t any strong will to win, because I had a one-year break from wrestling. I can say now I am learning my opponents from the very beginning because one year away from wrestling is too much."

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) defended her 50kg title at the Asian Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Yoshimoto captured her second straight title at 50kg with a victory in the final by fall over Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB), a virtual repeat of her 10-0 win over the Uzbek in the semifinals last year in Mongolia.

"It was the second [title], but I didn't think about winning it as a second one," Yoshimoto said. "I just took it as normal, going one match at a time."

Yoshimoto was gaining an activity point when she finished up a low single for a takedown and a 3-0 lead. Yoshimoto then shot in on a double-leg takedown which Immaeva tried to counter with a hip throw, but instead ended up on her own back when Yoshimoto rolled through.

It gave Yoshimoto four points that she didn't need as she clamped down for the fall at 2:50. Yoshimoto, the 2021 world champion, is currently in the uneviable position of being one of the top wrestlers in the world in her weight class, but only second best in her own country. Sitting between her and her dream of a berth at the 2024 Paris Olympics is Tokyo Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN).

Susaki defeated Yoshimoto at the All-Japan Championships in December, the first of two domestic qualifying tournaments for the World Championships in Belgrade, where the first spots in Paris will be up for grabs.

For Yoshimoto to make it, she needs to beat Susaki (or have someone else do it) and win the title at the All-Japan Invitational Championships in June, then defeat Susaki in a playoff -- a tall order, to say the least. "I will use and reflect on what I gained here as a plus, and prepare to win in June," Yoshimoto said.

Asked if the victory boosted her confidence, she replied, "More than confidence, my true feeling is that it shows I have room for growth. I really feel that it was good that I entered this tournament. That's the way I will regard it as I head to June."

Like Yoshimoto, Ishii is both facing stiff domestic competition in the race for Paris and won her title on Tuesday via a fall, after Nisha DAHIYA (IND) abandoned the fight in the 68kg final when the score hit 10-0.

"I'm relieved," Ishii said. "As for how I felt I did, I can't say that everything was good, but I think that much of it was worth noting."

Ishii, who also won a world U20 gold last year, used a low single to score two takedowns in the first period. Dahiya, a world U23 bronze medalist, attempted but was stopped on two arm throws in the second period, and Ishii got behind after the second one to make it 6-0.

Another single-leg takedown upped the lead to 8-0, and when Ishii levered Dahiya over, she flopped onto her back where the referee called the fall at 5:37, giving the Japanese the title in her senior Asian debut.

"I hadn't really thought about the 'first appearance, first title ' aspect of it," she said. "But the result, becoming Asian champion, that emotion has set in and I'm happy about that."

Ishii will now begin preparations for making Japan's team to the World Championships in a weight class that includes world 65kg champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) and Tokyo Olympic champion Yukako KAWAI (JPN). Ishii defeated both in winning the title at the All-Japan Championships.

"Taking in what I did here and the result, I will do what needs to be done over the next two months to prepare for the second qualifier," Ishii said.

Sakano, making her senior Asian debut at age 28, gave Japan its second gold of the night with a 5-1 victory in the 59kg final over ZHUOMALAGA (CHN).

Sakano, who received an activity point in the first period, scored her lone technical point when Zhuoumalaga shot in on a single and the Japanese counter-lifted her for a 2-point exposure. The Chinese scrambled out and behind for a reversal, but was unable to gain exposure points of her own.

Sakano's victory was tougher than the one between the two earlier in the day, a 13-2 technical fall in the round-robin competition of the seven-women weight class. She said her opponent had learned well from their first encounter and made it much harder the second time around.

"Actually, both matches were tough. Even though I was a bit tired, I was able to exert all of my energy," Sakano said. "She had figured out what I was going to do, so it made it harder, but all I thought about was fighting hard to win."

For Sakano, the trip to Astana marked a rare chance to represent Japan on the senior level. She finished fifth at the 2016 World Championships at 60kg, and was the world U23 champion in 2017, but has not recently been able to break into the lineup given the country's depth.

Asked how she felt about the opportunity, Sakano replied, "Both nervous and excited. I'm grateful to all those who have supported me and helped me get to this point."

At 55kg, Pang added to the Asian gold she won in 2016 by forging out a 6-2 victory in the final over Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL).

Starting with an activity point, Pang built a 5-0 lead with a combination duck-under takedown and gut wrench. In the second period, Chinbold got on the scoreboard with a reverse arm throw, but Pang scrambled behind for a reversal that capped the scoring.

"I am not satisfied with the process of my wrestling here, but the gold medal is some relief for me," said Pang, a two-time world bronze medalist.

Pang did derive some satisfaction in defeating a Japanese wrestler en route to the gold, having knocked off unheralded Rino KATAOKA (JPN) in the semifinals. For years, Japan has haunted Pang, mainly in the form of Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN), among whose wins over Pang includes one in the 53kg final at the Tokyo Olympics.

"For a long time, I have struggled against Japan and don't beat them usually," Pang said. "But today I managed to do that. It is good to do these things on the mat and achieve the results."

Shalygina bags bronze after decade-long hiatus

Local star Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ), who returned to the mat last year after taking a decade off to start a family, earned her sixth Asian medal -- and first since gold in 2012 -- by taking bronze at 68kg, although not under the best of circumstances.

Shalygina was awarded the victory by injury default when 2021 world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) was unable to continue due to an unstoppable bloody nose less than a minute into the bout.

No points had been scored when the match was halted. The tournament doctors did what they could to stop the bleeding, even resorting to wrapping a bandage around Zhumanazarova's head and over her nose, but to no avail. The decision left Zhumanazarova in tears.

It still counts as a win for the 34-year-old Shalygina, adding to a long list of honors from long ago that includes two Asian golds, three world medals, and a bronze from the Beijing Olympics -- for the young ones, that was in 2008.

Kazakstan also got a bronze at 55kg from Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ), who used a double arm lock from standing to put NGUYEN Thi My Trang (VIE) onto her back, recording a fall at 5:45 with a 9-6 lead. Sedneva used the same move twice earlier, and Nguyen stopped the second for 2.

China came away with three bronzes, from Ziqi FENG (CHN) at 50kg, veteran Feng ZHOU (CHN) at 68kg and Juan WANG (CHN) at 76kg.

Feng, the 2019 world U23 silver medalist, made short work of NEELAM (IND), scoring a takedown and spinning off four straight lace-lock rolls for a 10-0 technical fall in :55.

Zhou, a two-time world medalist and two-time Asian champion, captured her sixth career Asian medal with a 9-2 victory over 2021 Asian silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL).

Zhou had a 4-point takedown off a single leg tackle in the first period and never looked back in winning her first major medal since an Asian silver in 2019.

Not to be outdone, Wang emulated Feng and used a takedown and four lace-lock rolls for a 10-0 technical fall in 1:26 over Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB).

In the other 76kg match, teenager PRIYA (IND) assured that Japan would not medal in every weight class when she scraped out a 2-1 win over Mizuki NAGASHIMA (JPN), who was making her national senior team debut.

Priya gained an activity point in each period while limiting Nagashima to a stepout in the final seconds of the match.

At 55kg, Kataoka rebounded from her semifinal loss by beating Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB), 10-4. Kataoka had earned some notice by winning both of her matches at the World Cup in December.

Miran CHEON (KOR) picked up her first senior Asian medal in three tries with a 4-2 victory over Yi Jing CHEN (TPE) at 50kg. Chen got the opening takedown, but Cheon responded with one of her own to lead 2-2 on criteria going into the second period. She then used a driving tackle to pad her lead and secure the victory.

Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) won the lone bronze up for grabs at 59kg when she built up a 7-point lead in the first period and held on for an 11-6 victory over Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ).

Day 3 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) df. Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) by Fall, 2:50 (7-0)

BRONZE: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. NEELAM (IND) by TF, 10-0 (:55)
BRONZE: Miran CHEON (KOR) df. Yi Jing CHEN (TPE), 4-2

Semifinal: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) df. NEELAM (IND) by Fall, 2:43 (8-0)
Semifinal: Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) df. Miran CHEON (KOR), 8-1

55kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Qianyu PANG (CHN) df. Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL), 6-2

BRONZE: Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) df. NGUYEN Thi My Trang (VIE) by Fall, 5:40 (9-6)
BRONZE: Rino KATAOKA (JPN) df. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB), 10-4

Semifinal: Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) df. Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) by TF, 10-0 (:47)
Semifinal: Qianyu PANG (CHN) df. Rino KATAOKA (JPN), 6-1

59kg (7 entries)
GOLD: Yui SAKANO (JPN) df. ZHUOMALAGA (CHN), 5-1

BRONZE: Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) df. Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ), 11-6

Semifinal: Yui SAKANO (JPN) df. Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) by TF, 10-0 (3:26)
Semifinal: ZHUOMALAGA (CHN) df. Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ), 6-2

68kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Nisha DAHIYA (IND) by Fall, 5:37 (10-0)

BRONZE: Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) df. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) by Inj. Def., :58 (0-0)
BRONZE: Feng ZHOU (CHN) df. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL), 9-2

Semifinal: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 6-2
Semifinal: Nisha DAHIYA (IND) df. Feng ZHOU (CHN), 7-6

76kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) by Fall, 4:25 (5-0)

BRONZE: Juan WANG (CHN) df. Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB) by TF, 10-0 (1:26)
BRONZE: PRIYA (IND) df. Mizuki NAGASHIMA (JPN), 2-1

Semifinal: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Juan WANG (CHN), 6-4
Semifinal: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Mizuki NAGASHIMA (JPN), 3-2

#wrestlebishkek

Iran Caps Asian Championships with Three Golds, Team Title

Sunday, April 12, 2026 - 18:22 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 12) -- World champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) capped a trifecta of victories for Iran in the last three finals of the Asian Championships, regaining the Freestyle 125kg gold after a one-year absence.

Zare followed Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) and Mobin AZIMI (IRI) onto the top of the medal podium by defeating Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) 4-0 – his fifth win in five meetings in a two-year span over the Russian-born foe – as the competition wrapped up with the last five Freestyle weight classes.

“Representing Iran despite the hard situation in my country made this gold medal even more meaningful,” Zare said.

World bronze medalist Ghasempour started the Iranian gold rush with a victory by fall in the 86kg final for his third Asian title and first since 2021, and Azimi followed suit by cruising to the 92kg gold to become a first-time champion.

The match of the day came at 61kg, in which Kwang Myong KIM (PRK) came out on top of a 23-point free-for-all over Olympic bronze medalist AMAN (IND), while world 70kg champion Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) made a successful move up to 74kg by making his fourth Asian medal golden for the first time.

Iran, which also took home two bronzes on the final day at Zhastyk Arena and had five champions overall, finished with 178 points to capture the team title for the third straight year and seventh time in eight years. India, with three golds and three silvers, finished second with 162, while Japan placed third with 127 behind two golds.

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) scores a takedown on Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) during the 125kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Zare, who missed last year’s tournament in lieu of eventual champion Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) when Iran dispatched a young team to Amman, defeated Sharipov in a final devoid of high drama, which the Iranian said was due to his still recovering from a recent cold.

After receiving an activity point in the first period, Zare sandwiched a pair of stepouts around a second activity point for a 4-0 victory that never saw him in danger.

“Fighting through a severe cold infection, I lost seven kilograms three weeks before this competition,” Zare said. “I struggled to even finish an hour of training three days before this competition.

“Yet, with the help of my coaches, the prayers of the people, and God's grace, I’ve become a three-time Asian champion,” he added, counting his 2023 Asian Games gold into the total.

While Zare has seen limited action on the continental level, he has certainly made his mark on the global stage. In addition to a 2021 Tokyo Olympic bronze to go with his Paris silver, he has world golds from 2021, 2023 and 2025, as well as a 2022 bronze.

Zare, who was competing for the first time in 2026, has only three losses dating back to 2019 – to Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics, to Taha AKGUL (TUR) in the semifinals at the 2022 World Championships, and to Petriashvili again in the Paris Olympic final.

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Ghasempour, competing for the first time this year, was leading Mukul DAHIYA (IND) 3-0 in the 86kg final when he stuck the Indian for a 4-pointer that he turned into a fall at 2:43.

Ghasempour had just received an activity point when he scored with a single-leg takedown. In the next action, Dahiya shot for a takedown, but Ghasempour got the underhooks in and suddenly pancaked the Indian over to his back.

“This is my first international stage of 2026, and I’m so thankful I could start it all with a gold medal,” Ghasempour said. “I hope to keep this streak going through the next competition.”

Ghasempour won his first Asian gold at 86kg in 2019, then moved up to 92kg and won the Asian title in 2021 and back-to-back world golds in 2021 and 2022. He was absent from the global scene until reappearing at last year’s World Championships, where he took a bronze.

“My aim is to keep this path strong through the 2026 World Championships and finish the year on top, setting the stage for the 2028 Olympics,” he said.

Mobin AZIMI (IRI) blanked Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN), 11-0, in the 92kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

World U23 champion Azimi, who moved down to 92kg after taking a bronze at 97kg last year, finished up an 11-0 victory over Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) with just under a minute to go – and 10 seconds after scoring his first takedown of the match.

Azimi built up a 7-0 lead with a flurry of stepouts – five in all – before combining a takedown and gut wrench to conclude the match at 5:01.

Sharipov, a world U23 bronze medalist, added the Asian silver to his bronzes from 2023 and 2024.

For those who like their championship matches freewheeling, the 61kg final could hardly have been more entertaining.

Kwang Myong KIM (PRK) celebrates after defeating AMAN (IND), 13-10, in an electric 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

India’s Aman, a Paris bronze medalist and 2023 Asian champion at 57kg, was the main instigator of the action, shooting for takedowns at will that Kim, a 2025 Asian U23 bronze medalist, did his best to counter – successfully, enough times.

Kim jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a counter arm throw and a roll with his head between Aman’s thighs, before Aman connected on a single for a takedown. Kim gained a stepout fighting off another attempt, then got 2 more with a whizzer counter, only for Aman to get a late double-leg takedown that left Kim up 7-4 at the break.

Aman charged back and went ahead 9-7 in the second period with a stepout and two takedowns. Kim used his lethal whizzer again for the stepout, then got behind countering a shot to move ahead 10-9 with 1:10 left.

With Aman wildly pressing for the winning takedown, Kim appeared to clinch the win with a stepout with :05 left. But the scoring wasn’t finished, as Kim was hit with a 1-point fleeing penalty in the final seconds to make it 11-10.

A last-second shot by Aman fell short and Kim spun behind just before the buzzer to account for the final margin of victory.

“I'm very happy that I won today, but I'm not going to think about this gold medal, instead I will move forward preparing for the World Championships,” said Kim, who won the lone gold for the DPR Korea in Bishkek.

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) celebrates after winning the 74kg gold with fellow Yamanashi Gakuin University alumnus, former Olympic champion, and now Freestyle coach of Japan Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), left. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Japan’s Aoyagi, whose matches often have their fair share of fireworks, captured his first Asian gold with a staid 2-0 victory over two-time bronze medalist Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) in the 74kg final.

The gold ended a run of bronze, silver, bronze over the past three years at 70kg. “I was continually unable to win the title at 70kg, which was really disappointing, so to move up to 74kg and win the gold medal for the first time, and also my first gold medal [at this weight] overseas, I’m really happy,” Aoyagi said.

Aoyagi scored a takedown with a low single in the first period, then left no openings for an opponent who seemed reticent to go on the offensive.

“With victory within reach, I think my movement became a little stiff,” Aoyagi said of the lack of spark in the match. “I consider myself to be a wrestler who is particularly good at defense.”

Just getting to Bishkek was an accomplishment in itself for Aoyagi. As a sign of the depth in Japan, Aoyagi had to defeat reigning world 74kg champion Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) at last December’s All-Japan Championships, winning a close 4-4 decision in the final.

To make the team to this year’s World Championships and Asian Games, Aoyagi will likely have to go through Takahashi again at next month’s Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships.

“Of course, [the win in December] gave me confidence,” Aoyagi said. “But I think he is still stronger than me. I still have a month to prepare. I want to beat him again.”

Since making the move up to the Olympic weight, Aoyagi placed third at the 2025 World U23 Championships and second at Zagreb Ranking Series event earlier this year. He said he is still making the physical adjustment.

“I still feel the difference [of opponents] being taller, having longer legs and longer reach,” Aoyagi said. “But there is nothing I can do to increase those in me. I can just add bulk to my body size and little by little be able to respond.”

Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM) became Turkmenistan's first-ever Asian medalist in Freestyle. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Begenjov claims first-ever Freestyle medal for Turkmenistan

Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM) became Turkmenistan’s first-ever Asian medalist in Freestyle, taking home an 86kg bronze with a stunning victory by fall over Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN).

Begenjov, the 2024 world U20 champion and 2025 Asian U23 silver medalist at 79kg, had scored his second 4-point move when Takahashi reversed to cut Begenjov’s lead to 8-5. But Begenjov stuffed an attempted roll and secured the fall at 5:09.

Begenjov had started the match with a back trip for 4, before the brawny Takahashi, a 2022 bronze medalist at 79kg and the older brother of Kota, came back with takedowns to end the first period and start the second.

Trailing 4-4 on criteria, Takahashi got in on a tackle, only to be pancaked to his back. The Japanese then reversed, only to be stopped midway through and then held down for the fall.

It was also Turkmenistan’s first medal overall since 2018, and just the ninth in the nation’s history.

Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN), a world 79kg bronze medalist, claimed the other 86kg bronze and his third straight with a 2-1 win over returning silver medalist Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ), with all of the points scored on the activity clock.

At 92kg, veteran Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) added to his vast collection of Asian medals, scoring all of his points in the first period to defeat Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) 6-0 and make the podium for the fifth straight year.

Dauletbekov, who also has a pair of world bronzes to his credit, now has seven Asian medals, including three straight golds from 2022 to 2024 at 86kg. Ishiguro was denied a second straight bronze and what would have been his third overall.

Asian U20 bronze medalist Iakov CHAPLIN (KGZ) claimed the lone medal of the final night for the host country, outlasting Hade AYIDUSI (CHN) 6-4 for the other 92kg bronze.

While Ayidusi was piling up single points, Chaplin went ahead in the second period with a takedown and roll for a 4-3 lead with 1:20 left. Ayidusi picked up his third stepout to tie the score, but still trailed on criteria, and a desperation shot allowed Chaplin to get behind in the last second.

At 57kg, world medalists Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) and Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) both assured they would not be leaving Bishkek empty-handed by grabbing the bronzes with one-sided victories.

Javan, the world silver medalist, secured his second straight Asian bronze by overwhelming Changsu KIM (KOR) 12-0, scoring a takedown and three back-and-forth rolls, then finishing the match with a 4-point takedown at 1:30.

Abdullaev, who won bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics and last year’s World Championships at 57kg, was taken into the second period, but came up with a similar 11-0 victory over Azatberdi ASHYRGULYYEV (TKM).

He followed an initial takedown by using a grapevine for an exposure, then grabbed another exposure off a counter. In the second period, he ended it at 3:40 with a takedown-gut wrench combination.

At 74kg, former Asian champion and two-time world medalist Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) added another bronze to the Iranian tally, notching three takedowns in a 9-3 victory over last year’s silver medalist, Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ).

Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK), a four-time Asian U23 medalist, earned his first senior medal by taking the other 74kg bronze with an entertaining 7-6 win over Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB).

The match saw six lead changes, with Akhmedov scoring a takedown with :27 left for the decisive points.

The 125kg bronze-medal matches also saw an engaging encounter, in which world and Asian U20 champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) reversed BUHEEERDUN (CHN) twice in the first period before holding on for an 8-7 win.

Buheeerdun, a two-time bronze medalist, started the proceedings with a takedown, but Kassimbek reversed, then scored a takedown and gut wrench to lead 5-2. Buheeerdun replied with a takedown-roll combination of his own, but again Kassimbek reversed, then added a roll to make it 8-6. Kassimbek limited the Chinese to a stepout in the second period to secure the win.

DINESH (IND) won his second straight bronze at 125kg, storming to a 12-1 win over Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ) that he completed as time ran out.

Day 7 Results

Freestyle

61kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Kwang Myong KIM (PRK) df. AMAN (IND) 13-10

BRONZE: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) df. Changsu KIM (KOR) by TS, 12-0, 1:30
BRONZE: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df. Azatberdi ASHYRGULYYEV (TKM) by TF, 11-0, 3:40

74kg (14 entries)
GOLD: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) df. Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN), 2-0

BRONZE: Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK) df. Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB), 7-6
BRONZE: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) df. Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), 9-3

86kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Mukul DAHIYA (IND) by Fall, 2:43 (7-0)

BRONZE: Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM) df. Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN) by Fall, 5:09 (10-5)
BRONZE: Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN) df. Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ), 2-1

92kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Mobin AZIMI (IRI) def. Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) by TS, 11-0, 5:01

BRONZE: Iakov CHAPLIN (KGZ) df. Hade AYIDUSI (CHN), 6-4
BRONZE: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN), 6-0

125kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), 4-0

BRONZE: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) df. BUHEEERDUN (CHN), 8-7
BRONZE: DINESH (IND) df. Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ) by TS, 12-1, 6:00

Syzdykova stuns Medet Kyzy to regain Asian gold

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Iran Caps Asian Championships with Three Golds, Team Title