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

Unheralded Gharehdaghi Stuns Olympic Champ Jamalov

Friday, April 10, 2026 - 05:12 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 10) -- Unheralded Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN) weighed 76kg in the morning on Friday. But in the semifinal of the Asian Championships, he punched well above his weight, beating 74kg Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) at 79kg.

Making his international senior debut, Gharehdaghi upset Jamalov 4-3 to advance to the 79kg final. He used an effective shrug to set up two second-period takedowns in a turbo-charged match that featured a number of wild scrambles.

In the final one, Jamalov scored a stepout to pull within one point with :33 left. But the third-year student at Tokyo's Waseda University, whose father is Iranian, held off a final surge from Jamalov, with his legs sailing in the air during a sprawl.

"I didn't really think about a strategy," Gharehdaghi said. "I just wanted the opponent to feel that I was tough. I stayed aggressive and on the attack. In the second period, it was so hard I could hardly stand up."

Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN) battles it out witb Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) during the 79kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

While he defeated Jamalov, Gharehdaghi said he always admired the Olympic champion and he was glad that he could wrestle the Uzbekistan wrestler.

"I have admired him for a long time," he said. "More than winning or losing, I'm glad I could face him."

For the gold medal, the Japanese will face another unexpected finalist Sandeep MANN (IND) who completed a dominant 10-0 win over Somonjon IKROMOV (TJK) using three takedowns and two turns.

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) scores on Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) during the 97kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Another Japan wrestler who denied an Olympic champion was Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) as he defeated Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) in the 97kg semifinals.

Defending champion Yoshida, who also has an Iranian father, broke Tazhudinov down with his relentless pressure and scored takedowns at will in the final minute. He built a 4-4 criteria lead at the break but Tazhudinov fired a takedown at the start of the second period to lead 6-4.

However, Yoshida scored two points for exposure in the next exchange. Bahrain challenged the call but lost it, giving one more point to Yoshida and extend his lead to 7-6. He added two quick stepouts to make it 9-6 before making it 11-0 with a go-behind takedown.

The two got in a scramble towards the end of the bout but it was Yoshida who managed to score a takedown and then turned Tazhudinov to make it 15-6, his winning score.

Yoshida will face world silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) in the final after the Iranian posted a danger-free 2-0 win over VICKY (IND). Azarpira, who is making his senior Asian debut, got an activity point in the first period, then, while on the activity clock himself, added a stepout point in the second period.

SUJEET (IND) reached his first-ever Asian Championships final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In other semifinals, U23 world champion SUJEET (IND) set up final against world bronze medalist Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) at 65kg. The two met in the U23 World Championships final last year in which Sujeet won 10-0.

65kg semifinals - SUJEET (IND) continues his hot start to the season by scoring three takedowns in the second period and defeating Russian-born Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) 7-2. Sujeet, winner of two Ranking Series events earlier this year, strikes first by scoring a stepout, but Kudiev comes back with a takedown while on the activity clock to take a 2-1 lead into the break. Sujeet then puts on an exhibition of how to perfectly set up and execute takedowns, scoring three in a row from the midway point of the second period. First, he gets in deep on a double-leg, then scores with a sweeping single, then goes back with the double-leg.

A rematch of the U23 World Championships final as Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) enters the Asian Championships final after Sujeet does the same from other side. Jalolov beats Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) 5-3 using a late takedown.

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) presents his case to referee after the semifinal against ABHIMANYOU (IND). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 70kg, Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) will face ABHIMANYOU (IND) after he defeated Sina KHALILI (IRI), 5-1. Abhimanyou stunned local hero and defending champion Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), 6-3.

70kg semifinals - Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) reached the final after a controlled 5-1 victory over U23 world silver medalist Sina KHALILI (IRI). Apart from the one point he got for Khalili's passivity, Tumur Ochir scored four stepouts in the second period to claim the victory and a shot at the gold medal.

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) saw his title defense at 70kg end in confusion and tears when he fell 6-3 to ABHIMANYOU (IND). Abhimanyou was leading 3-3 on criteria in the second period when he got deep on a double-leg takedown. Akmataliev attempted a counter lift at the edge, and the referee originally awarded him a 4-point throw with 1:08 left. But upon discussion and without an official challenge, the score was changed to give the Indian a two-point takedown, which Akmataliev apparently did not realize. He never tried to attack in the final seconds, and was taken aback when he saw the scoreboard and dropped to the mat in despair. A challenge from Kyrgyzstan went nowhere and Abhimanyou, a 2024 bronze medalist, gave a sly grin over his unusual win.

Iran got a finalist at 57kg as Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) destroyed Fuga SASAKI (JPN), 11-0 and set up a final against Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) who defeated Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ), 4-1.

57kg semifinals - Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) became the first finalist of the Asian Championships in Bishkek for Iran. He countered Fuga SASAKI (JPN) multiple times to score two-point moves and completed an 11-0 victory. A lost challenge for Japan also added a point to his score.

Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) assured that he will improve on his bronze medal from last year, scoring three stepouts in a 4-1 victory over Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ). Batkhuyag took a 2-0 lead in the first period by scoring a stepout while Karachov was on the activity clock. In the second period, Karachov got an activity point to cut the gap to 1. But it was Batkhuyag who goes on the attack, and he chalked up two stepouts off driving single-leg takedown attempts. The 2023 world U23 bronze medalist then fended off Karachov's late attacks to finish up the victory.

Qualification Highlights

13:14: In the final match of the session, returning bronze medalist Sina KHALILI (IRI) books his place in the 70kg semifinals with a solid 10-3 victory over 2023 champion Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ). Khalili gains a takedown, then adds a "wishbone" roll, in which he locks his head between opponent's legs, then repeats the combination for an 8-0 lead. Doszhanov secures a stepout in the final seconds of the first period. In the second, the two trade takedowns and, beside temporary timeouts to stop a bloody nose, the Iranian goes through unscathed.

12:50: Razambek JAMALOV (UZB), competing for the first time since winning the 74kg gold at the Paris Olympics and undergoing two surgeries on his shoulder, is at his slippery best in besting defending champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) 5-2 in their 79kg quarterfinal. The Russian-born Jamalov constantly wiggles out of solid takedown attempts by Yousefi, limiting him to a pair of stepouts. Jamalov gets an activity point and stepout in the first period for a 2-1 lead. After cartwheeling out of a certain double-leg takedown by Yousefi, Jamalov connects with a single-leg shot while on the activity clock to go ahead, and an unsuccessful Iranian challenge puts him up 5-1. With time running out, Yousefi grabs a single leg and lifts it high in the air, but again he is forced to settle for a stepout.

12:37: World U23 champion SUJEET (IND), winner of two Ranking Series events this year, uses an ankle pick to great effect in cruising to a 10-0 victory over Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) in 3:22 to advance to the 65kg semifinals.

12:32: In the marquee match-up of the morning, Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) and Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) did not disappoint. Narikuni blocked a front headlock from Akmataliev for two points and then turned him using a gut-wrench to lead 4-0. As he was trying to turn him again, Akmataliev blocks him and gets two points. A reversal from Narikuni makes it 5-2. He tries another gut-wrench to extend the lead to 7-2 but Akmataliev once again blocks him for two points and holds Narikuni for a pin. Narikuni flees out of bounds and is docked two points and asked to return in par terre. He escapes and gets a reversal point to lead 8-6. Akmataliev scores a takedown to make it 8-8 and take the criteria lead. Narikui with a desperate flying squirrel but Akmataliev slams him on the mat for four points. A stepout for Narikuni at the end but Akmataliev wins 12-9 at 70kg

12:31: World bronze medalist Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) gets a takedown and two stepouts in the first period of his 97kg quarterfinal against Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ), then needs less than a half-minute to get a snapdown takedown and two gut wrenches in the second for a 10-0 victory. Next up for him is a clash with Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN).

12:26: Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN) fights out of a six-point hole against returning bronze medalist Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) with a pair of late first-period takedowns, then goes on a 10-point rampage in the second period against his visibly winded opponent to grind out a 14-9 victory and advance to the 79kg semifinals.

12:23: World silver medalist and Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) powers to five stepouts against Sherzod POYONOV (UZB), but ends their 97kg with a takedown with six seconds remaining for a 10-0 win.

12:15: Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) with a 25-second 10-0 victory over ANKUSH (IND) at 57kg! What an anti-climatic finish to the match. He reaches the semifinal

12:00: World bronze medalist Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) catches Zeneemeder BYAMBASUREN (MGL) by the leg and slams him on the mat. He holds him long enough to secure the fall and advance at 65kg.

11:57: Olympic and two-time Asian champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN), aiming to break out of recent slump, begins his campaign at 97kg by taking a 5-0 lead over Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) then plodding to a 6-2 win that included giving up two late stepouts.

11:56: Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN), another Japanese wrestler with Iranian roots who is making his first appearance on the senior national team, looks impressive in scoring four takedowns in a 9-1 victory over Daulet YERGESH (KAZ) to gain a place in the 79kg quarterfinals.

11:55: Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) ends Takara SUDA (JPN) attempt of winning a second straight Asian gold with a 9-0 victory. Kudiev scored two stepouts and one point for Suda's activity clock to lead 3-0 at the break. Three different takedowns helped him to clinch an important victory at 65kg.

11:51: A marquee matchup on Mat A between past and reigning champions at 70kg — with an intriguing twist. Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), the 2022 world and Asian champion, scores two takedowns in the final minute for a come-from-behind 7-4 win over defending champion Viktor RASSADIN (TJK). Narikuni leads 1-0 off an activity point in the first period when Rassidin opens the second by twice coming out the back door for takedowns to lead 4-1. Narikuni strikes back with a single-leg takedown, and barely misses an exposure with an arm bar, leaving him still trailing. But he fights off whizzer to get behind for the go-ahead takedown with :19 left, then adds a gut wrench for good measure. Narikuni, who is also doing the Freestyle-Greco double here, will be back on the mat tonight for his Greco 72kg bronze-medal match.

11:37: U20 world champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) scored a takedown in the last minute to take a 6-5 lead against Feng LU (CHN) and win the bout at 79kg. Lu had a 5-4 lead after a reversal but Yousefi showed no signs of panicking, picking up a single-leg, head-outside takedown for the win. He gets to face 74kg Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB)

11:35: A wild one on Mat B! Asian U23 bronze medalist Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) gets the home crowd going by opening his 65kg match with Zagreb Open silver medalist Peyman NEMATI (IRI) with a stepout, then gets behind and throws the Iranian to the mat for a takedown and a 3-0 lead. Nemati responds with a stepout off an attempted back trip, and then another to cut the lead to one at the break. Nemati goes ahead 4-3 with a single-leg takedown to start the second period, but Kakharov fights off a whizzer for a stepout to regain the lead 4-4 on criteria. In a wild scramble in the final seconds, Kakharov picks up a 2-point exposure to come away with a 6-4 win.

11:26: Reigning Asian U23 champion and 2024 world U23 bronze medalist VICKY (IND) manages just a stepout and activity clock in the first period of his 97kg bout with Triloki YADAV (NEP), but breaks down his opponent's defenses in the second to gain his first takedown, then gains two exposures after a second for a 10-0 win.

11:25: Takara SUDA (JPN), who is moving up from 61kg, is saved up the buzzer in his opening bout at 65kg against Adi SERIKULY (KAZ). Suda scored a stepout before a scramble gave two points to each wrestler. With a 3-2 lead, Suda managed an easy takedown to extend it to 5-2. Serikuly managed to get his first takedown in the final 10 seconds to make it 5-4 but the time expired before he could score any more points. Kazakhstan challenged hoping the last turn was in time but that was not the case and Suda won 6-4

11:19: Sherzod POYONOV (UZB), the 92kg Asian silver medalist and world U20 champion in 2024, hands the home team an early defeat with an 8-2 win over Kanybek ABDULKHAIROV (KGZ) to advance to the 97kg quarterfinals.

11:14: Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), who is doing the rare Freestyle-Greco double in Bishkek (he lost in the Greco 97kg quarterfinals), begins with a 3-0 win over Juhwan SEO (KOR) in their 97kg qualification-round match. Ganbaatar has a better shot at Freestyle, as he is a two-time past Asian bronze medalist who finished second at this year's Ranking Series tournament in Mongolia.

Syzdykova stuns Medet Kyzy to regain Asian gold

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Unheralded Gharehdaghi Stuns Olympic Champ Jamalov