Tanabe joins Olympic medalist dad as national champion

Thursday, December 21, 2023 - 17:16 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (December 21)--Almost 27 years to the day after his father won his first national championship in the same arena, Kaisei TANABE made his first trip to the top of the podium. Next up will be trying to equal, or better, that Olympic medal.

Tanabe scored a pair of second-period takedowns to defeat Nippon Sport Science University teammate Yuto NISHIUCHI 6-2 in the final of freestyle 61kg on the opening day of the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships on Thursday in Tokyo.

With the victory, Tanabe and his father and coach Chikara, a bronze medalist at 55kg at the 2004 Athens Olympics, became the sixth father-son tandem of national champions in the tournament's 90-year history .

"My father has a bronze medal from the Athens Olympics, I want to do better than that," the 21-year-old Tanabe said.

Naturally, it was a proud moment for dad, too. "I'm more happy than if I won," Chikara said. "When I was also in my third year of college, I won my first All-Japan title. My son now won in his third year of college, so he has caught up to me. Next it will be great if he can get an Olympic medal."

While Kaisei will have to wait for the 2028 Los Angeles Games at the earliest to realize his Olympic dream, for others the tournament is also a qualifier for the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in April in Bishkek in weight classes in which Japan has not already secured a berth at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In the non-Olympic weights, a title earns a ticket to the Asian Championships to be held a week earlier in the Kyrgyzstan capital. As in recent years, the competition in non-Olympic weights is being completed in a single day, while the Olympic divisions are over two days.

JPN1 Kaisei TANABE scores a late takedown in the freestyle 61kg final against Yuto NISHIUCHI. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

In the 61kg final at Yoyogi Gym No. 2, Tanabe sandwiched a pair of stepouts around a takedown by Nishiuchi to trail 2-2 on criteria going into the second period. But he gained a go-behind takedown to go ahead, then added another in the final seconds to secure the title in his third appearance.

"In the final the opponent was strong, so I wasn't so concerned with how I did it, I just wanted to win," Tanabe said. "But I want to fix those points for my next competition. We practice every day so we both know each other well. I think the difference between us is I have more power, and I wanted to take advantage of that."

Although two years Tanabe's junior, Nishiuchi has already had more international success. This year he dropped down to 57kg and won his second straight world U20 gold and finished second at the Zagreb Open. Tanabe was a world cadet (U17) bronze medalist in 2017, but did little else until this year, when he took third at the Dan Kolov-Nikolai Petrov Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, which included a win over Olympic bronze medalist and former world champion Thomas GILMAN (USA).

"In the lighter weights, Japan has many strong wrestlers and there are good ones overseas as well," Tanabe said. "I want to get to their level and, if possible, pass them."

Japan has already qualified for the Paris Olympics in freestyle at 57kg, which meant Tanabe could have made a challenge for the open spot at 65kg, where Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO is favored. That's what his main college rival Masanosuke ONO of Yamanashi Gakuin University opted to do, but Tanabe thought the timing was wrong.

"Up to now I've never really done anything at the All-Japan, and I was determined to win a championship so I entered at 61kg," he said.

To get to an Olympics, he knows he will eventually either have to go up or down a weight class. Asked which way he was leaning, "I'm not very good at controlling my weight, so I want to bulk up and become a competitive wrestler at 65kg," he said, adding he has not decided when he will make such a move.

The Tokyo-born Tanabe started wrestling at age 4, and he described his father as "a nice father and a tough coach." Growing up, Tanabe did not gain inspiration from Chikara's Olympic medal--in fact, he never really saw it. "He didn't win [the gold], so the medal was never on display," he said.

Tanabe's older sister, Yumeka, is also an accomplished wrestler who was a two-time world cadet champion. But four third-place finishes at the All-Japan kept the home from having a father-daughter pairing of national champions, like that of the great Saori YOSHIDA and her late father Eikatsu.

Chikara, who won the last of his five national titles in 2003, sees potential in Kaisei. "I wrestle with him and I can feel his power," he said. "From here, he'll keep improving going toward the Olympics. I want him to set a high goal."

JPN3 Shingo HARADA flips over Tomohiro INOUE to finish up a title-winning victory at Greco 72kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Harada follows up strong showing in Belgrade

In other finals, Shogo HARADA followed up his eye-catching performance at the World Championships with a title at Greco 72kg in his All-Japan debut, thumping veteran Tomohiro INOUE 9-0 in the final.

After scoring a takedown and 2-point tilt to go ahead 4-0, Harada slammed down Inoue to finish off the match with six seconds left in the first period.

The 23-year-old Harada, who switched from judo to wrestling in high school, made his international debut at last year's worlds in Belgrade and turned heads by placing fifth. While still an amazing feat, it left him rueing that he could have done more.

"At the World Championships, I didn't put out all of my power and I lost in the semifinals," Harada said. "I took that back home and reflected on what happened. I found I was too impatient. I think I've improved on that little by little."

At the moment, Harada says he is not yet at the level of domestic competition in the Olympic weight classes both above and below him. "I won this title, but deep down, I'm not yet at the top level in Japan looking at the weight classes around me." he said.

The 36-year-old Inoue said the loss likely marks the end of a career that featured five national titles dating back to 2012, with the most recent in 2021. It also included a silver medal at this year's World Veterans Championships.

While the loss was one-sided, it only makes a difficult decision a little easier. "If it was a closer match, it might have been tougher to take," he said.

JPN5 Ayano MORO gets behind in the women's 72kg final against Sumire NIIKURA. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

In a battle of a pair of 2022 women's champions, teenager Ayano MORO dropped down to 72kg and dethroned two-time reigning titlist Sumire NIIKURA 6-0.

The 18-year-old Moro twice gained 2-point exposures on counters to add to the title she won at 76kg last year. "I wasn't able to get in on my tackle, which is my strong point, so honestly speaking I'm not so happy," she said.

Moro's chances of making the Paris Olympics ended when the 2020 world U20 champion lost a world team playoff to Yuka KAGAMI, who then clinched her ticket to Paris by winning the gold at the World Championships.

"In December last year at the Emperor's Cup, I entered at 76kg with the goal of the Olympics," she said. "At that time I won the title which was good, but I hurt my shoulder. But I had won, so I had no choice but to keep aiming for the Olympics, although I later lost.

"Now the Olympics is no longer an objective. I had a lot of time to think. Looking at my height and other things, I thought it would be best to drop down, which would allow me to do my tackles. I thought I would give going down a weight class a try."

Moro said that neck problems followed her shoulder injury, keeping her from being in top condition for the tournament. She said she will work to get ready for her senior Asian debut.

"The wrestlers from other countries are strong and I've been to enough international tournaments to know I can't take it lightly," Moro said. "My first priority will be getting healthy. You can't win if you don't practice, but first I need to get my body back in shape."

In the other final, Kagetora OKAMOTO became a first-time champion by beating Kohei YAMAGIWA 6-4 at Greco 55kg. Okamoto made the final by knocking off 2022 world U20 bronze medalist and 2023 world team member Taiga ONISHI.

JPN4 Takahiro TSURUTA works to turn Yuta NARA in the Greco 97kg semifinals. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

The three upper Olympic weights in Greco got the process started to see who will be going to the Asian Olympic qualifier, with the lone surprise coming at 97kg when Takahiro TSURUTA knocked off six-time champion Yuta NARA 3-1 in the semifinals.

"Since I moved up to this weight class, I've been in three tournaments with him, but we never faced each other," Tsuruta said. "Even if I win the title, if I didn't face him I would have felt like something was missing."

Tsuruta, an Asian Games bronze medalist this year, will take on world U23 bronze medalist Yuri NAKAZATO on Friday for the gold and a chance to make the Olympics.

Tsuruta and Nakazato are familiar with each other. When Tsuruta moved up from 87kg in 2021, he promptly won his first and only title with a victory in the final over Nakazato, who knocked off Nara in the semifinals. Nakazato avenged the loss in the final at the Meiji Cup in June 2022, only to see Tsuruta come back and beat him in a playoff for the world team that year.

Meanwhile, world U23 champion Yuzuku INAGAKI, who lost out to Paris-bound Sakura MOTOKI for a place on the Japan team to the World Championships at women's 62kg, will have to get by another Motoki to add to the lone title she won in 2018.

Inagaki overwhelmed Suzu SASAKI by 10-0 technical fall to set up a clash in the final with Motoki's younger sister Hiyori, who is still looking for her first career title at any level. The two met in the first round at the national collegiate championships in August, with Inagaki scoring a first-period fall en route to a third straight title.

It could be said that the de facto final came in the quarterfinals, when Inagaki was trailing on criteria when she scored two late takedowns to defeat 2020 Asian champion Naomi RUIKE 6-2.

Day 1 Results

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD--Kaisei TANABE df. Yuto NISHIUCHI, 6-2

BRONZE--Kodai OGAWA df. Takumi YOSHIMURA, 3-0
BRONZE--Kosei IDE df. Takara SUDA, 6-5

Semifinal--Yuto NISHIUCHI df. Kodai OGAWA, 6-1
Semifinal--Kaisei TANABE df. Takara SUDA by TF, 11-1. 5:24

74kg
Semifinal--Kojiro SHIGA df. Daiju SUZUKI, 14-6
Semifinal--Kota TAKAHASHI df. Shoto KANEKO by TF, 10-0, 2:56

125kg
Semifinal--Taiki YAMAMOTO df. Ryusei FUJITA by TF, 10-0, :46
Semifinal--Koki YAMAMOTO df. Yuji FUKUI, 5-0

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD--Kagetora OKAMOTO df. Kohei YAMAGIWA,. 6-4

BRONZE--Taiga ONISHI df. Kenta OGUSU, 9-4
BRONZE--Soken MASUDA df. Seima TOKUHARA, 7-3

Semifinal--Kagetora OKAMOTO df. Taiga ONISHI, 5-2
Semifinal--Kohei YAMAGIWA df. Soken MASUDA, 11-9

72kg
GOLD--Shingo HARADA df. Tomohiro INOUE by TF, 9-0, 1:54

BRONZE--Daigo KOBAYASHI df. Sanshiro ISHIHARA by Fall, 2:34 (5-0)
BRONZE--Akira MITAMI df. Ryoma TOYOTA, 3-2

Semifinal--Shingo HARADA df. Sanshiro ISHIHARA by TF, 11-0, 2:45
Semifinal--Tomohiro INOUE df. Akira MITAMI, 5-3

87kg
Semifinal--So SAKUBE df. Minto MAEDA, 3-1
Semifinal--Masato SUMI df. Tatsuya FUJII, 5-1

97kg
Semifinal--Takahiro TSURUTA df. Yuta NARA, 3-1
Semifinal--Yuri NAKAZATO df. Masayuki AMANO by TF, 11-0, 1:34

130kg
Semifinal--Sota OKAMURA df. Kyo KITAWAKI by TF, 9-0, 1:55
Semifinal--Shion OBATA df. Yuma MIYAUCHI, 7-1

Women's Wrestling

53kg
Semifinal--Rino KATAOKA df. Mako ONO, 1-1
Semifinal--Mihoko TAKEUCHI df. Chiaki KAWAI, 6-4

62kg
Semifinal--Yuzuka INAGAKI df. Suzu SASAKI by TF, 10-0, 1:57
Semifinal--Hiyori MOTOKI df. Kiwa IWASAWA by Fall, 1:37 (4-0)

72kg
GOLD--Ayano MORO df. Sumire NIIKURA, 6-0

BRONZE--Chisato YOSHIDA df. Kokona TAKADA by Fall, 6:00 (9-2)
BRONZE--Yuka FUJIKURA df. Asahi NAKAMURA, 6-2

Semifinal--Sumire NIIKURA df. Kokona TAKADA by TF, 11-0, 5:57
Semifinal--Ayano MORO df. Yuka FUJIKURA by Fall, 2:37 (8-0)

#wrestlebishkek

Sharshenbekov cruises to 3rd straight Asian gold; Japanese pair stuns Iranians

Tuesday, April 16, 2024 - 17:35 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 16) -- Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) also had to contend with a Japanese opponent in the final but never came close to suffering the same fate as his famous compatriot. A pair of Iranians were not so fortunate.

Sharshenbekov achieved a three-peat of Asian Championships titles with an 11-0 victory over Kaito INABA (JPN) in the Greco 60kg final on Tuesday in Bishkek, as the host nation ended a well-attended and organized tournament with four golds overall.

"First of all, I dedicate this victory to all the fans, coaches, and family," Sharshenbekov said. "This is not just my victory, it belongs to everyone. I really wanted to give the joy of victory to my country wrestling at home."

Shingo HARADA (JPN) at 72kg and teenager Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) at 82kg won over the hearts of the crowd with stunning victories over Iranian opponents, which they capped by donning traditional Kyrgyz caps as part of their victory celebrations.

Iran, which put four wrestlers into the final, won the other golds at stake, with former world champion and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) completely dominating at 97kg, and young Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) winning his first Asian title at 67kg.

Iran won four golds overall and easily won the team title for the third straight year with 200 points. Kyrgyzstan, with one champion, finished second with 144, just two points ahead of third-place Japan and its three gold medalists.

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) celebrates after winning the 60kg gold medal in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Sharshebekov thrilled a home crowd still buzzing from the loss the previous night in the 77kg final by national hero Akzhol MAKHMODOV (KGZ) as both wrestlers begin their final preparations for a run at elusive gold medals at the Paris Olympics.

The defending champion was taken into the second period for the first time in four matches on the day, but the outcome was still the same as he fended off a determined but overmatched Inaba.

Sharshenbekov got the scoring started by limp-arming out of a whizzer for a takedown, to which a fleeing point was tacked on. That became significant, as it put Sharshenbekov on top of par terre, from which he scored a 2-point throw. He added a driving takedown to take a 7-0 lead into the second period.

Inaba, desperate for points as the clock winded down, secured a front headlock from standing, but Sharshenbekov showed what separates the best from the rest when he quickly squirmed out and secured a bear hug himself, then slammed Inaba down for 4 to end the match with 32 seconds left.

It was a testament to Sharshenbekov's high-tempo style that he was not assessed a passivity point in the second period, as would typically be the case for a wrestler nursing a lead.

"He built up a lead, but I thought in terms of response that it was still within a range in which I could catch up," Inaba said. "In the end, I lost by technical [superiority]. There are still many areas where I am lacking and need to improve on."

Inaba, who was seventh at the 2023 world U23, earned the trip to Bishkek by winning his first national title last December in the absence of Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), one of his training partners in the group of current and past Nippon Sports Science University wrestlers.

Fumita, the losing finalist to Sharshenbekov at last year's World Championships, opted to skip the Asian Championships as he preps for a potential rematch in Paris.

Sharshenbekov also earned his fifth Asian medal overall, having lost in the 2018 final to Shota TANOKURA (JPN) and again in 2020 to Fumita. Shashenbekov also has world silver medals from 2019 and 2021.

"It’s been my fourth time wrestling with a Japanese wrestler, they’re very strong," Sharshenbekov said. "There are no weak wrestlers there, everyone is world-level strong."

Asked about competing in the wake of Makhmudov's shocking loss in the 77kg final the day before to Nao KUSAKA (JPN), Sharshenbekov said it is just part of the sport.

"I think maybe Akzhol was sick or something, only God knows the reason," he said. "This is a big sport, it is impossible to never lose. Sometimes you win, another day you lose. I believe fans shall support him at these kinds of moments. Sometimes athletes can lose. With God’s help, I think he will show his best at the Olympics."

Shingo HARADA (JPN) donned a traditional Kyrgyz hat during his celebration after winning the 72kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 72kg, the unheralded Harada rallied from a five-point deficit to defeat 2019 world U20 bronze medalist Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) 9-5 for an unlikely gold.

Rostami, getting the first chance at par terre, used a front headlock for a pair of rolls to go up 5- 0, although Harada delivered a psychological hit when he rolled Rostami with a whizzer for 2 with two seconds left in the first period.

Harada then went ahead on criteria 5-5 when, on top in par terre, he missed a reverse body lift, but was successful with a second attempt. A second exposure was waved off on challenge because his hands went to the legs.

But Rostami had little in the tank and it was Harada who picked up points, padding his lead with a takedown and a tilt.

"I didn't expect it, but it seemed that he was running out of steam," Harada said. "I thought I had probably put in more time training."

Harada was not a totally unknown quantity, having opened eyes by making the semifinals at last year's World Championships in Belgrade and eventually finishing a commendable fifth. He said he takes something away with each overseas outing.

"I always train with Japanese, so there are actions and dynamic movements that I can't anticipate from people from overseas," Harada said. "You don't see them very much in Japan, so it is a learning experience."

After his victory, Harada was handed a Japanese flag as well as an "ak-kalpak," the elongated wool Kyrgyz hat, which he put on for his victory lap to the delight of the crowd.

"I also fought against a Kyrgyz wrestler [in the quarterfinals], but I was happy because in the end they still supported me," Harada said.

Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) scores upon Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) in the 82kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The 17-year-old Yoshida's remarkable accomplishment at 82kg came as he was making his international senior debut as the first male high schooler to represent Japan at the Asian Championships since 1989, and the first-ever in Greco.

The reigning world U17 champion, Yoshida looked like a seasoned pro by combining power, technique and composure in toppling Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) 9-0 in the final, blissfully unaware his opponent was the 2022 champion.

"Last year I won the U17, so I had the experience of being in a final and the atmosphere of the venue," Yoshida said. "I wasn't very nervous and I was able to stay relaxed."

Yoshida got a bit of a break in the first period when he was reversed while in par terre, but Garmsiri was instead tagged with a 2-point leg-blocking penalty. Leading 3-0 in the second period, it was Yoshida who was the aggressor, and he scored 4 with a reverse body lock throw. He then stopped a front headlock roll attempt for 2 to end the match at 5:31.

"I was the challenger and I didn't know anything about my opponent," Yoshida said. "When I heard he was the champion from two years ago, I was surprised."

Yoshida, who won the national high school title at freestyle 80kg in his most recent tournament before coming to Bishkek, said Kusaka's momentous victory over Makhmudov inspired him.

The two share a special relationship beyond being teammates in Bishkek -- Yoshida is currently a student at Kusaka's alma mater of Takamatsu Kita High School in western Japan.

"Yesterday, my 'senpai' Kusaka won the title by beating Makhmudov, and I thought he was so cool," Yoshida said. He added that roommates Harada and Inaba encouraged him. "Even though I am a high school student, my elder teammates were saying 'you're gonna win it.' That made me determined to win the championship."

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In restoring some pride for Iran after the two defeats, Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) showed the might of the top tier of wrestlers from the Middle East powerhouse when he overwhelmed Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) 9-0 in the 97kg final.

Saravi, a world bronze medalist the past two years after winning the gold in 2021, put together a pair of gut wrenches from par terre, then executed a takedown-roll combination to put away 2022 world U20 silver medalist Matsiyev in just under two minutes.

Saravi has now medaled in 16 consecutive international tournaments dating back to 2019, all of which ended with victories -- 11 golds and five bronzes. His most recent triumphs include last October's Asian Games and the Yasar Dogu tournament in Turkiye in March.

Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) defeated Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) in the 67kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Earlier, 2022 world U20 champion Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) denied the host country a gold when he edged Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) 3-1 in the 67kg final.

The 21-year-old Esmaeili Leivesi held out while on the bottom of par terre in the first period, then scored 2 in the second period with a good second effort when he was on top.

With the silver, Beishekeev improved on the bronze he won last year. He was also a bronze medalist at the Asian Games.

World bronze medalist Liguo CAO (CHN) earned a bronze medal at 60kg at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

China chalks up 4 bronze medals

China came away with four bronze medals, including one captured by Houzhi HAO (CHN) at 97kg when he defeated Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) 5-3 and prevented him from joining his more famous younger brother Akzhol as a medalist in their home tournament.

Hao gave up a passivity point and roll in the first period, but went ahead with a roll of his own when put on top in par terre. He added a late counter takedown to win 5-3.

Liguo CAO (CHN) got the ball rolling for China when he added to his expansive collection of bronze medals with a 7-3 victory over Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ) at 60kg. Cao, a world bronze medalist, scored six points in the second period to secure his second straight Asian bronze.

At 67kg, Lei LI (CHN) spoiled Turkmenistan's hopes of a first Asian medal since 2018, scoring a stepout and takedown in the second period for a 4-2 victory over a fatigued Rovshen ATDAYEV (TKM).

Ji LENG (CHN) earned the first major medal of his career when he got a roll from par terre and a stepout in the second period for a 4-2 victory over Adilkhan SATAYEV (KAZ) for a 72kg bronze.

Hanjae CHUNG (KOR), the silver medalist at 60kg last year, moved up to two divisions and took the other bronze at 67kg by edging Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ) 1-1 on last-point criteria after both wrestlers received a passivity point.

Chung had to endure a second turn on the bottom of par terre a second time, but Amanbek was unable to take advantage.

Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI), the lone Iranian to fail to make the final, assured he would not leave empty-handed when he stormed to a 9-0 victory at 60kg over former champion Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB).

Dehbozorgi, the world U20 bronze medalist, put the Uzbek away in his first chance at par terre, scoring a roll, a 4-point throw and a second roll to end it in just under two minutes.

At 72kg, Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) struck with a slick 2-point throw soon after the opening whistle and made that hold up in a 2-2 criteria victory over Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ), who was denied a third straight Asian bronze. Nurlanbekov had a chance in the second period, but his throw from par terre yielded only a stepout point.

Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ) added a bronze medal to the home team's tally that made the difference in the team race with a 3-1 victory over Sejin YANG (KOR) at 82kg, scoring with a somewhat unorthodox front roll off par terre in the first period.

Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) posted a nearly identical victory over Rohit DAHIYA (IND) for the other 82kg bronze, getting a more conventional gut wrench to also win 3-1.

Jeongyul KWON (KOR) won the other bronze at 97kg, scoring a 2-point exposure in the first period and holding on for a 2-2 victory on big-point criteria over Badamdorj BALTMUNKH (MGL). Mongolia has yet to win an Asian medal in Greco.

Day 5 Results

Greco-Roman

60kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Kaito INABA (JPN) by TF, 11-0, 5:28

BRONZE: Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) df. Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB) by TF, 9-0, 1:57
BRONZE: Liguo CAO (CHN) df. Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ), 7-3

67kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) df. Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ), 3-1

BRONZE: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) df. Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ) 1-1
BRONZE: Lei LI (CHN) df. Rovshen ATDAYEV (TKM), 4-2

72kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Shingo HARADA (JPN) df. Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI), 9-5

BRONZE: Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) df. Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) 2-2
BRONZE: Ji LENG (CHN) df. Adilkhan SATAYEV (KAZ), 4-2

82kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) by TF, 9-0, 5:31

BRONZE: Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) df. Rohit DAHIYA (IND), 3-1
BRONZE: Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ) df. Sejin YANG (KOR), 3-1

97kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) by TF, 9-0, 1:59

BRONZE: Jeongyul KWON (KOR) df. Badamdorj BALTMUNKH (MGL), 2-2
BRONZE: Houzhi HAO (CHN) df. Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) 5-3

Tanabe joins Olympic medalist dad as national champion

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Sharshenbekov cruises to 3rd straight Asian gold; Japanese pair stuns Iranians