Takatani stretches streak of national titles; Kanazawa wins historic GR crown

Thursday, December 22, 2022 - 17:22 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (December 22) -- As veteran Sohsuke TAKATANI balances a number of off-the-mat pursuits, he still managed to extend his streak of national titles to the second-longest ever, while a Tokyo high schooler nearly half his age also etched his name in the history books.

Takatani held on for a 12-8 victory in the freestyle 92kg final over teen collegian Arashi YOSHIDA to notch his 12th straight title on the opening day of the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships on Thursday in Tokyo.

A short time earlier, Kohaku KANAZAWA became the first-ever high schooler to win a national crown in Greco-Roman when he scraped out an 8-7 victory over world U20 bronze medalist Taiga ONISHI at 55kg in the tournament serving as the first of two domestic qualifiers for next year's World Championships in Belgrade.

And in the first of what will be a succession of battles between current Olympic and/or world champions and medalists over the four-day event at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym, world silver medalist Ami ISHII and world 65kg champion Miwa MORIKAWA advanced to a highly anticipated final in the women's 68kg division.

The clashes of the titans on tap are all due to the tournament's link with the 2024 Paris Olympics. As the Japan federation has decreed that a wrestler who wins a medal in Belgrade in an Olympic weight will automatically fill the spot in Paris that they have secured, that has added urgency to qualify for Belgrade, particularly among the women, where a world medal is accessible. It has also funneled the top wrestlers into the six Olympic divisions in each style.

All wrestlers who lose here will get another shot in June at the second qualifier, the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships. Winners of both tournaments will automatically earn a ticket to Belgrade, with a playoff determining the spot if the winners are different.

For this year's Emperor's Cup, the federation tweaked the format by running the Olympic weight classes over two days, the same as is done at the Olympics and the worlds. Non-Olympic weights are being started and ended on the same day.

Sohsuke TAKATANI (JPN) Sohsuke TAKATANI rolls Arashi YOSHIDA early in the freestyle 92kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Takatani, the 2014 world silver medalist at 74kg who plans to move down to 86kg at the Meiji Cup in a bid to make his fourth Olympics, advanced to the 92kg final with a pair of technical falls, but met some unexpected resistance there from national collegiate champion Yoshida of Nihon University.

The 33-year-old Takatani stormed to an 8-0 lead with a driving takedown and three rolls off a lace lock. But Yoshida, whose Iranian father runs the kids' wrestling club in nearby Chiba Prefecture where he got his start, came back with a takedown to cut it to 8-2 at the break.

In the second period, Yoshida scored three more takedowns to offset a takedown and two stepouts by Takatani, but it wasn't enough to dethrone the champion, whose run of titles has come over four different weights. The 12 crowns overall also put him in fifth place on Japan's all-time list of total titles, one behind both Kaori ICHO and Saori YOSHIDA.

"I've been working hard every year and I've kept it going well for 12 years," Takatani said. "Many young wrestlers have put up a challenge and it's my mission to keep from losing."

As he keeps his career going, the outgoing Takatani also stays busy as the head coach at his alma mater, Takushoku University, by preparing for a doctoral course at Tsukuba University, and as a new father after his wife gave birth to their first child, a son, in September.

"I thought about entering at 86kg here, but I thought that if I put out energy too early, I would peter out in the second half," he said. "So I decided I will build up a little more [mentally and physically] and then go for it. If I get a chance, I might give 97kg a try. But I think that would irritate some people."

Kohaku KANAZAWA (JPN) High schooler Kohaku KANAZAWA and Taiga ONISHI grapple for position in the Greco 55kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

In the Greco 55kg final, Kanazawa trailed 2-4 going into the second period against Waseda University's Onishi, but went ahead 5-4 with a gut wrench from par terre. Onishi came back to take the lead with a takedown to the back, but it was only temporary, as Kanazawa quickly reversed to go ahead 6-6 on criteria. He then added a takedown, and allowed only a late stepout for the win.

"I didn't feel any pressure and just went all out," said Kanazawa, who finished fifth at this year's world U17 in his international debut. "I'm surprised."

Kanazawa is a second-year student at Jiyugaoka Gakuen High School, the alma mater of 2021 champion Yu SHIOTANI, the world bronze medalist who has moved up to the Olympic weight of 60kg and a possible clash with Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Kenichiro FUMITA.

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) Moe KIYOOKA, left, and Rino KATAOKA, teammates at the recent World Cup, square off during the women's 55kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

Meanwhile, Moe KIYOOKA, who pulled off an age-group double this year with titles at both the world U20 and world U23, defeated two of her World Cup teammates en route to her first senior national title at women's 55kg.

Kiyooka scored a first-period takedown and made that hold up for a 2-0 victory over Rino KATAOKA, who wrestled at 53kg on the young Japanese team that lost two close matches at the World Cup two weeks ago in the U.S. The top Japanese wrestlers skipped the World Cup because of its proximity to the Emperor's Cup.

In her opening match in the quarterfinals, Kiyooka chalked up an 11-0 technical fall over Ruka NATAMI, the Japan team's 57kg entry in Coralville.

"We didn't talk about this All-Japan tournament in particular," said Kiyooka, a freshman at Ikuei University. "But for me, while we were warming up, I kind of got an idea of how I could do and I felt that if there was something lacking, I had a week until the All-Japan and could make adjustments."

It was at the World Cup that Kiyooka was dealt her first career loss by a non-Japanese wrestler when she fell 3-0 to the world bronze medalist at 57kg Alina HRUSHNYA (UKR).

"The match I lost at the World Cup was one that I have to reflect on because it showed how weak-hearted I can be," Kiyooka said. "The opponent faced [Ikuei teammate] Tsugumi SAKURAI at the World Championships and I was there for that match, so I have an image of her as being strong. That made me feel weak. But because of that, I made sure to brace myself for this All-Japan."

Kiyooka said her goal remains a gold medal in Paris and at this point, she plans to drop to 53kg for the Meiji Cup, which would mean getting on a collision course with Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI and 2021 world champion Akari FUJINAMI. Kiyooka faced Shidochi in this year's Meiji Cup final at 55kg and lost by technical fall.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) Miwa MORIKAWA clamps down on Miyu IMAI in holding on for a 3-0 victory in the women's 68kg semifinals. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

Morikawa's striking means of motivation

When the dust settled at women's 68kg, Morikawa and Ishii were the last left standing in a field that included four current or past world gold or silver medalists, not to mention a pair of former world junior champions.

Morikawa advanced to Friday's final with a 3-0 victory over 2018 world junior champion Miyu IMAI in a rematch of last June's Meiji Cup final, also won by Morikawa. Imai, who went to the World Cup and split her two matches at 65kg, had set up the clash by edging 2021 world 72kg champion Masako FURUICHI, 2-1.

"Unlike recent competitions, I didn't have to cut any weight, so my condition was a little flat going into the tournament," Morikawa said. "I wondered if I would be alright."

Morikawa said that she moved up to 68kg -- her natural weight -- because her previous experience of dropping to 62kg left her too drained and she missed out on the Tokyo Olympics.

"Up to now, I've built up experience in the non-Olympic weight of 65kg, but I still have regrets to this day of not making it to the Tokyo Olympics," Morikawa said. "I thought that I don't want to have that feeling ever again.

"It's not like I want to win this tournament so much that I'll die for it, but I want to take the mat feeling that will definitely win it. I hope I can win it and get off to a good start [heading to the Olympics]."

Before each match, Morikawa showed what was providing her with extra motivation. As she waited at matside for the previous match to end, she wore a Japan national soccer team T-shirt with the No. 8 of striker Ritsu DOAN.

Japan's run into the knockout round of the recent World Cup in Qatar, where the Samurai Blue stunned powerhouses Germany and Spain in the group stage, thrilled and inspired the nation, none more so than Morikawa and her soccer-loving family.

"I watched more than half of the World Cup matches," Morikawa said. "I saw the final this week. On the Japan team, I really like Doan. I think there are parts of me that are similar to Doan's boldness. So when I wear his t-shirt or use his towel, it raises my motivation and gets me ready for what's ahead."

Ishii advanced to the final with a 12-2 technical fall over 2019 world U20 champion Naruha MATSUYUKI, but that came after surviving a scare against 2021 world silver medalist Rin MIYAJI in which she overcame a four-point deficit to post a 6-4 victory.

The 2022 world silver medalist looked flat in giving up a pair of first-period takedowns to Miyaji. But she used her counterattack to get back into the match and went ahead 4-4 on criteria with a takedown with 25 seconds left.

Ishii scored a last-second takedown when Miyaji stopped fighting after the back of her head collided with Ishii's front teeth. That opened up a cut that caused Miyaji to be taken to the hospital.

It was another physically painful ending for Miyaji. At the 2021 World Championships, her shocking victory by fall over Olympic champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) in the semifinals was tempered by a serious knee injury she suffered in a loss in the final to Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ).

Ayano MORO (JPN) Teenager Ayano MORO prepares for battle ahead of her semifinal match with Nanaha TAKASU at women's 76kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

One anticipated match-up that didn't come off Thursday was at women's 76kg, where world bronze medalist Yuka KAGAMI pulled out of the competition with a torn right pectoralis major muscle after winning the opening match of her round-robin group.

That kept Kagami from a potential first meeting with 17-year-old world U20 champion Ayano MORO, who won all three of her matches by technical fall to make Saturday's final against Nodoka YAMAMOTO.

Moro, who is making her first appearance in a senior-level tournament, has not lost since being beaten by Ishii in the final of the national junior high school invitational in 2017. That run includes a 4-2 victory in the final of the Junior Queen's Cup in April over Yamamoto, who notched two impressive victories at the World Cup.

"This was my first Emperor's Cup, but I'm aiming to make the 2024 Paris Olympics, so it doesn't matter if it's the first," Moro said. "It's only natural to think of winning. That's what I practiced for. Since I started high school, I think this is the best I've ever wrestled."

Kagami said she suffered the injury 10 days ago in practice, and after being unable to launch any form of attack in her 2-1 victory over Yamamoto -- all points were scored on the activity clock -- she decided to withdraw.

Had there been one more entry in the seven-women field, she said she might have stuck it out, as it would have meant a straight knockout format and a maximum of three matches. But she said the prospect of four more matches would be too much to bear.

"During the match, I could hear it popping," Kagami said. "At the time, I could withstand the pain, but after the match, I couldn't move and had no power.

"Two and a half years ago I injured my ankle, and because it was my leg, I couldn't move. This time, I could use my left arm, so I tried to think of a way I could win. Still, this doesn't mean the Paris Olympics is completely gone. I can still reach [No. 1] at the next World Championships, so at least my goal has become clearer."

Day 1 Results

Freestyle

74kg (14 entries)
Semifinal - Daichi TAKATANI df. Jintaro MOTOYAMA by TF, 10-0, 3:oo
Semifinal - Kirin KINOSHITA df. Kota TAKAHASHI, 4-4

92kg (14 entries)
Gold - Sohsuke TAKATANI df. Arashi YOSHIDA, 12-8

Bronze - Takeshi YAMAGUCHI df. Akinobu TAKEUCHI by Fall, :20 (2-0)
Bronze - Ryoichi YAMANAKA df. Hikaru ABE by Fall, 4:51 (4-2)

Semifinal - Sohsuke TAKATANI df. Takeshi YAMAGUCHI by TF, 11-0, 3:21
Semifinal - Arashi YOSHIDA df. Hikaru ABE by TF, 11-0, 3:44

97kg (10 entries)
Semifinal - Takashi ISHIGURO df. Toyoki HAMADA by TF, 11-0, 3:45
Semifinal - Hibiki ITO df. Hiroto NINOMIYA, 4-2

125kg (10 entries)
Semifinal - Daiki YAMAMOTO df. Takuya HIGUCHI by Def.
Semifinal - Ryusei FUJITA df. Yuji FUKUI, 7-3

Greco-Roman

55kg (15 entries)
Gold - Kohaku KANAZAWA df. Taiga ONISHI, 8-7

Bronze - Shoya ITO df. Shu HIRATA by TF, 10-1, 1:54
Bronze - Mizuki ARAKI df. Kagetora OKAMOTO by Def.

Semifinal - Kohaku KANAZAWA df. Shoya ITO, 10-6
Semifinal - Taiga ONISHI df. Kagetora OKAMOTO by TF, 8-0, 2:21

87kg (10 entries)
Semifinal - Masato SUMI df. Daisei ISOE by TF, 8-0, :32
Semifinal - So SAKABE df. Kaito MIYAMOTO by TF, 9-0, 1:58

97kg (11 entries)
Semifinal - Yuta NARA df. Yuri NAKAZATO, 5-0
Semifinal - Masayuki AMANO df. Kyo KITAWAKI by Fall, 1:15 (8-0)

130kg (10 entries)
Semifinal - Shion OBATA df. Daigo NISHI by TF, 9-1, 3:57
Semifinal - Sota OKUMURA df. Ryuta KONO by TF, 11-2, 4:52

Women

55kg (14 entries)
Gold - Moe KIYOOKA df. Rino KATAOKA, 2-0

Bronze - Kanon YAMASHITA df. Ruka NATAMI, 9-4
Bronze - Neon GOMI df. Misaki YOSHIBA, 2-1

Semifinal - Moe KIYOOKA df. Kanon YAMASHITA, 12-6
Semifinal - Rino KATAOKA df Neon GOMI, 4-2

65kg (10 entries)
Gold - Mahiro YOSHITAKE df. Rin TERAMOTO, 5-3

Bronze - Misuzu ENOMOTO df. Nagisa ITO by TF, 10-0, 2:09
Bronze - Momoko KITADE df. Kaede HIRAI, 5-1

Semifinal - Mahiro YOSHITAKE df. Misuzu ENOMOTO, 12-10
Semifinal - Rin TERAMOTO df. Momoko KITADE, 2-2

68kg (9 entries)
Semifinal - Ami ISHII df. Naruha MATSUYUKI by TF, 12-2, 5:55
Semifinal - Miwa MORIKAWA df. Miyu IMAI, 3-0

76kg (7 entries)
Semifinal - Nodoka YAMAMOTO df. Mizuki NAGASHIMA, 4-0
Semifinal - Ayano MORO df. Nanaha TAKASU by TF, 10-0, 1:10

#wrestlebishkek

Makhmudov Repeats Triumph in Bishkek as Kyrgyzstan Strikes Three Gold

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 - 19:08 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 7) -- The decibel level was just as deafening, and the outcome the same. The only thing different was the venue, although it was only about 50 meters across the street.

Local hero Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) gave the host country the victory it most wanted to see, winning the 77kg gold in Greco-Roman at the Asian Championships on Tuesday in Bishkek to repeat his breakout victory of 2018 in the same city.

Makhmudov held off a fierce challenge from Ali OSKOU (IRI) for a 3-3 victory in the final to secure his fourth career Asian gold and fifth medal overall, much to delight of the thunderous partisan crowd packed into Zhastyk Arena.

“It’s a huge, huge joy,” Makhmudov said. “Of course, it’s hard to put into words, but at the same time, I’m not going to stop here or dwell on it. Yes, I became the Asian champion, the anthem was played, the flag was raised. Now it’s time to move forward.”

While the spotlight shined brightest on Makhmudov, he had to share it a bit with compatriots Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) and Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), who also defeated Iranian opponents in striking gold at 63kg and 87kg, respectively, on the first night of medal matches in the seven-day tournament.

The night wasn’t a total wash for Iran, however, as reigning world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) showed he was still the preeminent power at 130kg by snatching his fourth career Asian gold, while Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) won the other gold at stake at 55kg.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) after winning his first Asian title in Bishkek in 2018. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fyne)

It was eight years ago that a then-teenaged Makhmudov burst onto the international stage at Bishkek’s Soviet-era Kojomkul Sports Palace on the other side of Togolok Moldo Street, sending the home crowd into a cacophonous frenzy by winning the 72kg gold.

“I still remember 2018 the most, because I was younger then and the wrestling was much more spectacular,” Makhmudov said. “Right now, I’m not in my best shape, but I still managed to win my fourth gold medal. At the moment, I’m only at about 25–30 percent of my form.”

That 2018 win served as the launching pad for one of Asia’s top Greco wrestlers in history, although his ascent was delayed for some time due to a severe knee injury.

After taking a silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he reached the pinnacle in 2022 with victories at 77kg at both the World and Asian Championships, a feat he repeated in 2023. He added a second Olympic medal the next year with a bronze in Paris.

He took his time returning to the sport from a break after Paris, winning the title at the 2025 Islam Solidarity Games in his lone competition that year. This year, his only action ahead of Bishkek came at the Zagreb Ranking Series in February, where he failed to medal at 82kg.

If there were any concerns whether Makhmudov, who will turn 27 next week, has lost his edge, he put the matter to rest with his solid performance before the home fans.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) sets up a throw against Ali OSKOU (IRI) during the 77kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the final against Oskou, the winner of the Zagreb tournament, Makhmudov got the first chance in par terre and muscled the Iranian over with a reverse body lock, although Oskou rolled through for a reversal. The Kyrgyzstan side challenged for a leg foul, but it was denied, leaving Makhmudov with a slim 3-2 lead.

In the second period, Oskou received a passivity point but could not turn Makhmudov, leaving the latter ahead 3-3 on criteria. Makhmudov got a second chance at par terre, but after failing to pad his lead, he successfully fended off Oskou for the final minute to clinch the win.

“Without a doubt, the toughest match for me was the final, as you saw yourselves,” Makhmudov said. “It was very hard and intense. I prepared for it like any other match, there was responsibility, and of course, I wanted to win, as always.”

Making the moment more special was that his family was among the throng packed into the arena.

“This victory was very important to me,” he said. “My family was here, my father was in the stands, supporting me, praying for my victory. To win in front of him and to justify his hopes means a lot.”

Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) scored a 7-2 victory over Erfan JARKANI (IRI) in the 63kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Prior to Makhmudov’s triumph, Taalaibek Uulu fired up the crowd with a stunning 7-2 victory in the 63kg final over Zagreb Ranking Series champion Erfan JARKANI (IRI) for his first major medal of any kind.

Taalaibek Uulu scored an opening takedown, then hit a 4-point throw from par terre, off of which Jarkani scored a reversal to make it 7-1 after the first period. Jarkani got his chance at par terre in the second, but couldn’t budge Taalaibek Uulu, whose only previous senior international medal was a bronze in Antalya in 2024.

Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) celebrates after beating world champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) in the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Not to be outdone, world bronze medalist Zhanyshov completed Kyrgyzstan’s triple crown of titles with a masterful 11-4 victory at 87kg over a very tough Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), the 82kg champion at last year’s World Championships in Zagreb.

Zhanyshov, no doubt inspired by his compatriots’ success and the crowd’s fervor, stunned Farokhi with a spectacular 4-point lateral drop for a quick lead, which grew to 7-0 with an activity point, stepout and unsuccessful challenge.

Farokhi, also the 2025 world U23 champion in this weight class, surged back with a barrel roll for 2 and a 2-point exposure. But when he tried a roll, Zhanyshov stepped over for a 2-point exposure, and another 2 was tacked on after Farokhi bridged out of the ring, making it 11-4.

That was how it ended, as neither wrestler could generate any more points. A despondent Farokhi abandoned the fight with a full seven seconds still on the clock.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) captured his fourth Asian title at 130kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 130kg, Mirzazadeh proved too much for Russian-born Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB), as he was never threatened in a 9-0 victory to add to his previous Asian golds from 2020, 2023 and 2024.

Mirzazadeh, who won his second world title in Zagreb last September, rolled Tsitsuashvili twice from par terre in the first period for a 5-0 lead, then ended the match at 27 seconds into the second with a takedown-gut wrench combination.

“After the World Championships in 2025, my first competition in 2026 started with the Asian Championships and I was able to achieve the gold medal with a brilliant performance,” Mirzazadeh said. “This is the first step of my path this year in 2026 and I hope that I can achieve succes one after the other.”

For Mirzazadeh, getting to Bishkek was half the battle, given the limits on air travel out of his country.

“Emotionally, it was definitely different,” he said. “We were probably on the road for fifty hours, on the ground, because our country is in a difficult situation right now, but I thank God that I was able to win the gold medal despite these issues and the difficulty of the route.

“I hope that I was able to bring a smile to the faces of the people of my country for a moment."

Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) celebrates after winning his first Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 55kg, two-time bronze medalist Botirov struck gold at last with an impressive 9-0 win in 1:47 over LALIT (IND).

Botirov got the first chance in par terre, and that was all he needed, as he reeled off four gut wrenches despite some tough resistance from Lalit, who had been looking to become India’s first Asian champion in Greco since 2020.

“This is the result of all our efforts, my first gold medal at the senior Asian Championships,” Botirov said. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my coaches who supported me closely throughout this journey. We prepared very ntensively for this competition. Before coming here, my coach told me, ‘You will become a champion,’ and sent me here with that belief.”

Botirov, who added to the bronze medals he took home in 2023 and 2025, had avenged a loss in this year’s Zagreb Ranking Series final to Mohammad HOSSEINVAND (IRI) in the quarterfinals.

“I lost that match by two points,” Botirov said of the defeat in Zagreb. “But this time, I changed my tactics. I started attacking from the very beginning, took the first period, and studied his movements. That’s how I managed to win.”

Kaisei TANABE (JPN), Freestyle 65kg Asian champion last year, won a Greco bronze this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Ex-Freestyle champ Tanabe joins exclusive club with Greco bronze

In the bronze-medal matches, Kaisei TANABE (JPN) joined an exclusive club of wrestlers in Asian Championships history who have won medals in both Freestyle and Greco when he took home a bronze at 63kg.

Tanabe, the champion last year at Freestyle 65kg, secured his place in history when he forged out a 9-0 victory over Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM), securing the winning point with a stepout at the first-period buzzer.

“My feeling is that I’m relieved, but I also have a strong regret that I didn’t put out in yesterday’s match what I did today,” Tanabe said, referring to his loss on Monday in the semifinals to Taalaibek Uluu.

Tanabe pulled away with a 4-point back drop from par terre, then reeled off three consecutive stepouts. An unsuccessful challenge that the final one was scored in time added the final point.

Regarding the flashy 4-pointer, Tanabe said, “A lot of people said they wanted me to put on an exciting match for the people watching. Whether I win or lose, I want to liven things up.”

Tanabe, who father and coach Chikara TANABE (JPN) was an Olympic bronze medalist, was unable to defend his Freestyle crown after losing in the semifinals at the All-Japan Championships in December, but earned his ticket to Bishkek by winning at Greco 63kg.

Tanabe, a product of powerhouse Nippon Sports Science University, said he will continue competing in both styles “as long as it continues to be fun for me. I want to be a wrestler who people find incredibly entertaining, whether or not they wrestle or whether or not that know about wrestling.”

On Wednesday, Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), the Freestyle 70kg champion in 2022, will get a chance to join Tanabe in becoming a double-style medalist when he competes in the bronze-medal match at Greco 72kg.

The other 63kg bronze on Tuesday went to Hyunwoong CHOI (KOR), who jumped out to a 7-0 lead after a 4-point headlock throw, then held on to deny former champion Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) a fourth career Asian medal.

Korea also picked up a bronze in the wildest match of the tournament so far, with Yeonghun NOH (KOR) chalking up three 4-point throws while also nearly being pinned in coming away with a crazy 15-14 win at 77kg over AMAN (IND).

Noh used a back trip, headlock and hip throw for his 4-pointers, the last of which should have ended the match at 12-3, but Aman rolled through to continue the movement and came up with a 2-point exposure that kept him alive.

Behind 14-7 heading into the second period, Aman countered for 2-point takedown, then stopped a throw attempt to send Noh straight to his back for 4 – and what the mat referee indicated was a fall. But it was not confirmed, and Noh survived the final 23 seconds, albeit there were the obligatory challenges that added to the drama but did not change the outcome.

In the other 77kg match, Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) got three gut wrenches from par terre in the first period, then finished up a 10-1 victory in the second over Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ) for his second career Asian bronze.

At 55kg, Hosseinvand, the lone Iranian to fail to make the final on the first day, assured he would not return empty-handed, silencing the home crowd with a 7-1 victory over Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ).

Hosseinvand, put on top in par terre for a second time in the first period after a foul, used the opportunity to score a 4-point throw to go up 7-0, then held out when he was on the bottom in the second period to deny Muratbek Uulu a second career Asian bronze.

Huoying SHI (CHN), who had his breakout year in 2025 with a bronze medal at the World Championships, added a continental bronze in his senior Asian debut with a 9-0 pasting of Mizuki ARAKI (JPN).

Shi, who had failed to medal on the U20 and U23 levels at either of the Asian or World Championships, scored 2 with a counter to the back, then pancaked Asian debutante Araki for 4. From there, he went to a gut wrench to finish the match in 1:17.

At 87kg, former champions Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) and Sunil KUMAR (IND) both added to hefty Asian medal collections, one with an one-sided win and other having to come from behind for a close victory.

Tursynov, who won the Asian title back in 2014 and won two silvers in the ensuing years, had little trouble demolishing Dovletmyrat BAYRAMOV (TKM), scoring a roll, 4-point back suplex and another roll from par terre for a 9-0 win in 1:41.

Kumar, the 2020 Asian champion, trailed by four points going into the second period when he used the par terre advantage to score two gut wrenches and walk off with a 5-4 victory over Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) – a two-time past bronze medalist himself – and boost his medal tally to six overall.

At 130kg, Korea made it 3 for 3 in bronze-medal matches by winning the battle of the Kims, as Minseok KIM (KOR) defeated namesake Roman KIM (KGZ) 4-0, scoring all of his points with slick first-period arm throw that emulated wrestlers half his size.

It was the Korean Kim’s fifth career Asian medal, adding to two bronzes from the Asian Games and another from the 2018 World Championships.

Three-time Asian U23 champion Wenhao JIANG (CHN) earned his first senior Asian medal with a 9-2 win over returning bronze medalist Yuta NARA (JPN) in the other 130kg match.

Day 2 Results

55kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) df. LALIT (IND) by TS, 9-0, 1:47

BRONZE: Huoying SHI (CHN) df. Mizuki ARAKI (JPN) by TS, 9-0, 1:17
BRONZE: Mohammad HOSSEINVAND (IRI) df. Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ), 7-1

60kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) by TS, 10-0, 2:00
SF2: Se Ung RI (PRK) df. Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ) by TS, 8-0, :27

63kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Erfan JARKANI (IRI), 7-2

BRONZE: Kaisei TANABE (JPN) df. Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM) by TS, 9-0, 3:00
BRONZE: Hyunwoong CHOI (KOR) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 9-6

67kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) by TS, 9-0, 1:58
SF2: Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN) df. Abdumalik AMINOV (UZB), 5-2

72kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ) df. Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ), 3-1
SF2: Javad REZAEI (IRI) df. Shakhzod KUCHKOROV (UZB) by TS, 9-0, 1:55

77kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Ali OSKOU (IRI), 3-3

BRONZE: Yeonghun NOH (KOR) df. AMAN (IND), 15-14
BRONZE: Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) df. Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ) by TS, 10-1, 4:59

82kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) df. Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), 9-8
SF2: Amin HOSSEINI (IRI) df. PRINCE (IND) by TS, 10-0, 2:25

87kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), 11-4

BRONZE: Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) df. Dovletmyrat BAYRAMOV (TKM) by TS, 9-0, 1:41
BRONZE: Sunil KUMAR (IND) df. Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB), 5-4

97kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Hadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), 3-1
SF2: NITESH (IND) df. Zegang WANG (CHN), 7-2

130kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB) by TS, 9-0, 3:27

BRONZE: Minseok KIM (KOR) df. Roman KIM (KGZ), 4-0
BRONZE: Wenhao JIANG (CHN) df. Yuta NARA (JPN), 9-2

Takatani stretches streak of national titles; Kanazawa wins historic GR crown

Comments

Makhmudov Repeats Triumph in Bishkek as Kyrgyzstan Strikes Three Gold