Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! December 10, 2019

By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing the three Olympic champions who had winning weekends and Chamizo announcing that he'll compete at January's Matteo Pellicone in Rome. Also looking next week's All Japan Championships and U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier. 

1. Wiebe Outduels Di Stasio in Battle of Olympic vs. World Champion 
Erica WIEBE outdueled Justina DI STASIO in two straight matches at the Canadian Wrestling Trials, as two other Olympians cemented their spots on Canada’s Pan-American Qualifier team.

Wiebe, the 2016 Rio Olympic champion, scored back-to-back victories over 2018 world champion Justina Di Stasio in a best-of-three series and punched her ticket to the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifier. The Olympic Qualifier is set to take place in her hometown of Ottawa on March 13-15. In her post-match interview, the Rio Olympic champion said, “It’s going to be different. I’ve never wrestled in my hometown of Ottawa, and a lot is on the line, and I’ll just do a lot of what I do every day – that is get one percent better.” 

In the first match, Wiebe scored an inactivity point and held the 1-0 advantage, but Di Stasio scored a takedown and grabbed the 2-1 lead. Wiebe responded in a champion way, scoring four unanswered points and took match one, 5-2. Then, in the second match, Weibe grabbed a pair of one-point exchanges and locked up her spot on Canada’s Pan-American Qualifier team with the 2-0 victory. 

Michelle FAZZARI and Danielle LAPPAGE, who represented Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, also punched their ticket to the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifier in Ottawa. 

Fazzari, who was returning from a horrific knee injury she suffered while wrestling Adeniyi OLUWAFUNMILAYO (NGR) in the 2018 Commonwealth Games finals, downed Jessica BROUILLETTE in two straight matches. She scored the 3-0 shutout win in the first match, then edged Brouillette, 3-2, in the second match. 

Lappage, the 2018 world runner-up, dropped her first match against three-time Pan-American medalist Olivia DI BACCO, but earned her spot to the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifier after winning back-to-back matches. She won the second match, 9-0, and the third match, 4-2. 

Meanwhile, Linda MORAIS, the 59kg world champion, dropped down to the Olympic weight of 57kg and easily punched her ticket to Ottawa with a pair of falls over Hannah TAYLOR. 

RESULTS
Women’s Wrestling
50kg - Jessie MACDONALD df. Madison PARKS, two matches to none (7-2, 12-1)
53kg - Samantha STEWART df. Jade PARSONS, two matches to none (11-0, 2-2)
57kg - Linda MORAIS df. Hannah TAYLOR, two matches to none (via fall, via fall)
 62kg - Michelle FAZZARI df. Jessica BROUILLETTE, two matches to none (3-0, 3-2) 
68kg - Danielle LAPPAGE df. Olivia DI BACCO, two matches to one (5-8, 9-0, 4-2) 
76kg - Erica WIEBE df. Justina DI STASIO, two matches to none (5-2, 2-1)
 

Freestyle 
57kg - Ligrit SADIUKU df. Aso PALANI, two matches to one (3-4, 12-2, 4-1)
65kg - Dillon WILLIAMS df. Chris MCISAAC, two matches to none (5-2, 5-1)
74kg - Jasmit PHULKA df. Tyler ROWE, two matches to none (6-2, 6-5)
86kg - Clayton PYE df. Alex BROWN-THERIAULT, two matches to one (15-4, 2-9, 13-2)
97kg - Jordan STEEN df. Nishan RANDHAWA, two matches to none (13-2, 12-2)
125kg - Amar DHESI df. Korey JARVIS, two matches to none (11-0, 10-0)

2. Olympic Champs Ramonov and Snyder Win Alans International Tournament
Olympic champions Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) finished atop the podium at the Alans International Tournament in Vladikavkaz, Russia, as nine Russians claimed gold medals.

Ramonov, who has been wrestling at 70kg since 2017, returned to 65kg for the first time since his magical run to Olympic gold in Rio, and defeated Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS), 3-0, in the finals at 65kg. 

The Alans was Ramonov’s third tournament back since undergoing back surgery over a year ago. The Olympic champion finished in second place at the Akhmed Kadyrov Cup and third place at the Vladimir Semenov Tournament. 

Last November, Ramonov told United World Wrestling, “It’s true that I had an operation on my back last week, but I’ve already got back to work and started physical therapy.” Ramonov went on to say, “I expect to return to the mat in January, and hopefully enter a tournament at 65kg closer to the fall.” 

America’s Kyle Snyder was the second Olympic champion who won an Alans gold medal. To win his gold, “Captain America” used a takedown and three one-point maneuvers to move past 2018 European champion Vladislav BAITSAEV (RUS), 5-2, in the 97kg finals.

Meanwhile, Ahmed IDRISOV (RUS) and Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) were also apart of Russia’s gold-medal winning cast. 

Idrisov, the younger brother of reigning world silver medalist Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS), scored a three-point win (5-2) over the two-time world bronze medalist ERDENEBAT Behbayar (MGL) in the 57kg finals.

Tsabolov, the 2014 world champion, defeated two-time world medalist James GREEN (USA), 7-4, in the 74kg finals. Up until the Alans, Tsabolov's finals opponent had competed down at 70kg for 20 consecutive tournaments and was making his first career appearance up at the Olympic weight class of 74kg.

In the finals, the Russian gave up an early takedown and trailed 2-0, but scored an inactivity point that was followed by a takedown and a pair of laces to win the match by three points. 

Freestyle
57kg - Ahmed IDRISOV (RUS) df. ERDENEBAT Behbayar (MGL), 5-2
61kg - Ramazan FERZALIEV (RUS) df. Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS), 10-7
65kg - Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) df. Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS), 3-0
70kg - Chermen VALIEV (RUS) df. Ramazan RAMAZANOV (RUS), 4-2
74kg - Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) df. James GREEN (USA), 7-4
79kg - Khalil AMINOV (RUS) df. Kakhaber KHUBEZHTY (RUS), 8-6
86kg - Soslan KTSOEV (RUS) df. Georgy RUBAEV (MDA), 11-1
92kg - Magomed KURBANOV (RUS) df. Mohammad EBRAHIMI (IRI), 4-2
97kg - Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Vladislav BAITSAEV (RUS), 5-2
125kg - Batraz GAZZAYEV (RUS) df. Baldan TSYZHIPOV (RUS), 10-0

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) will try to get back on Japan's women's wrestling team by winning next weekend's All Japan Championships. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

3. All Japan Championships Begin Next Week in Tokyo 
Yui SUSAKI will join Rio Olympic silver medalists Shinobu OTA and Rei HIGUCHI next week on their quest to claim All Japan Championship gold and lock up their spots on Japan’s Asian Olympic Games Qualifier team. 

The winners of the All Japan Championships, which will take place at Tokyo’s Komazawa Gymnasium on December 19-22, and will travel to China in March with hopes of doing what their fellow Japanese teammates couldn’t do at the 2019 World Championships -- qualify their respective weight for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. 

Susaki, a two-time world champion, will be joined by career rival Yuki IRIE and Rio Olympic champion Erie TOSAKA in the 50kg bracket. Earlier this year, Susaki was stunned by Irie, which kept her from defending her world titles from 2017 and ’18. 

Meanwhile, Rio Olympic runner-ups Ota and Higuchi will be moving weight classes in preparations to improve their silver medals from 2016. 

Ota, this year’s 63kg world champion, will be moving up to 67kg. He planned on dropping down to 60kg, but Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) not only won the world title, but he also locked up his seat on Japan’s Olympic team at the weight. So that left Ota with no choice but to go up to 67kg.

Next weekend, Ota will challenge defending national champion Shogo TAKAHASHI, defending national runner-up Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA and last year’s U23 world champion Katsuaki ENDO, for the 67kg spot.

Rei HIGUCHI, who is dropping down to 57kg from 65kg, will have to get through Yuki TAKAHASHI if he has hopes of representing Japan in a second straight Olympics. The task won't be easy, as Takahashi has been one of the best wresters at the weight over the past three years. Higuchi's potential opponent was the world champion in 2017 and world bronze medalist in 2018. But after a disappointing 10th-place finish in Nur-Sultan, Takahashi left the door open for others to challenge, which is why Higuchi is making the change. 

For more information about the All Japan Championships, visit http://www.japan-wrestling.org.

4. Chamizo Announces Plans to Compete at January’s Matteo Pellicone
In an interview with United World Wrestling, Italian superstar Frank CHAMIZO announced that he’ll wrestle at the first Ranking Series event of 2020, the Matteo Pellicone. “I’m going to Rome for the Ranking Series tournament. Right now, I’m training for there in New York,” said the two-time world champion. Chamizo went further, saying, “It will be good. It’s home!”

Chamizo has been one of the biggest supporters of UWW’s Ranking Series events. After winning a gold medal at the third Ranking Series tournament of the year, the Sassari City Tournament, Chamizo said, “I need the training and I need the matches. But the reason for competing so much is I need the Ranking Series points. That’s important.”

Chamizo has competed in four of the eight Ranking Series events since its inception in 2018 and has medaled in each of those four appearances. This year, Chamizo used the Ranking Series events to climb to the top of the world ranking, and ultimately the No. 1 seed at the World Championships, after collecting points at the European Championships, Dan Kolov, Sassari City Tournament and Yasar Dogu.   

With the Olympics seeding the top-four wrestlers at each weight for the first time ever, you can bet that Chamizo will again have his eye on the top seed, and his quest to grab that top seed kicks off at the Matteo Pellicone, which takes place January 15-18. 

Chamizo’s Ranking Series Resume
2018 
Yasar Dogu – gold 

2019 
Sassari – gold 
Yasar Dogu – silver 

Dan Kolov – bronze 

5. Fort Worth to Host U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier Next Week
The road to State College, Pennsylvania, for the Olympic Trials made its first stop in New York for the Bill Farrell Memorial and will make its second stop next weekend in Fort Worth, Texas, for the U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier. The Fort Worth Convention Center will host the two-day tournament from December 20-22.

According to USA Wrestling, “The Senior Freestyle top-5 finishers per weight category at the 2019 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier will earn a spot in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials,” which will take place in State College, Pennsylvania, on April 4-5.

Our friends at www.flowrestling.org have the streaming rights to the U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier. Wrestling kicks off at 11:00 (local time) on December 20. 

Selection Process for 2020 Toyko Olympic Games

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media

1. Big Move Monday -- El Sayed M. (EGY)
2. Top-10 Throws from 2019
3. Top-Five Scrambles from 2019
4. Who scored on this exchange?
5. #TBT - Semenov Smashes Coon, Giving Russia Sixth GR World Gold

#WrestleAmman

Asian Championships 2025 GR Day 2 Finals Set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (March 24) -- Asian Championships 2025 enters day two with Greco-Roman weights 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 130kg wrestlers on the mat. Uzbekistan won three gold medals on day one with Iran and Japan winning one each. 

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

97kg gold medal bout: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN)

14:32: Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) earns a shot at the Olympic champion in the 97kg final by edging Youfang ZHANG (CHN) 3-2. The two traded stepouts with a fleeing point added on, with Nakazato's coming second to put him ahead on criteria 2-2. Nakazato gets the passivity point in the second period and opts to remain the standing position. It doesn't result in any more points for him, but neither is Zhang able to break through the Japanese wrestler's defenses. 

14:25: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) storms into the 97kg final with a technical superiority win over NITESH (IND). He scores a takedown and then gets the par terre advantage. Nitesh defends the first attempt for gut but Saravi persists and turns, which breaks Nitesh and Saravi adds two suplexes, both for two points each.

82kg gold medal bout: Omar SATAYEV (KAZ) vs. Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI)

14:20: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) gets a stepout and a fortunate call on a challenge to defeat former compatriot Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) 4-3 and advance to the 82kg final. Badaghimofrad gets the first chance at par terre, but Naghousi reverses, then receives a second point when the Qatari unsuccessfully challenges for a foul. With Naghousi up 2-1 in the second period, Badaghimofrad retakes the lead with a nice go-behind takedown. In the final seconds, Naghousi uses a slick duck under to a body lock, but has to settle for a stepout. Iran challenges for a fleeing point, and they get it! With eight seconds left, a stunned Badaghimofrad lets the time run out with no effort. 

14:11: Unheralded Omar SATAYEV (KAZ) rocks defending champion Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) in the 82kg semifinal with two big throws and a fall. Satayev, leading 2-0, hit a big counter throw for four and then headlock for four. He held Yoshida on the mat and secured a first-period fall.

72kg gold medal bout: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) vs Abdullo ALIEV (UZB)

14:07: Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) assures he will improve on his bronze medal from a year ago when he defeats Issei HONNA (JPN) 6-1 to advance to the 72kg final. Aliev starts fast and hard with a takedown followed by a roll and a 2-point throw for a quick 6-0 lead. Honna picks up a point when Uzbekistan unsuccessfully challenges a possible takedown that would have ended the match. In the second period, there are no scoring chances nor passivity calls.

13:59: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) gets the par terre and then turns Ji LENG (CHN), gets the suplex for four before adding another roll to win 9-0 and enter the final at 72kg.

67kg gold medal bout: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) vs Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ)

13:55: There was no second miracle comeback for 2023 Asian Games champion Katsuaki ENDO (JPN), who falls 5-1 to Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) in the 67kg semifinals. Beishekeev, looking to avenge a quarterfinal loss to Endo at the Asian Games, starts strong with a 4-point throw from par terre. Endo gets his chance in the second period and, although he lifts Beishekeev off the mat, he can't get the leverage for a turn. Beishekeev manages to run out the clock and earn a chance to add an Asian gold to his silver from last year and bronze in 2023. 

13:50: In the Iran-Uzbekistan battle which Uzbekistan won yesterday, Iran seems to dominate it today. The 67kg semifinal between Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) and Nozimjon BOYKUZIEV (UZB) ends in Esmaeili winning 8-0. Esmaeili scored a takedown, added another before rolling Boykuziev for the win.

60kg gold medal bout: Se Ung RI (IRI) vs Alisher GANIEV (UZB)

13:40: Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI) defended the par terre position in the first period against Se Ung RI (PRK) in the 60kg semifinal but Ri isn't waiting for par terre advantages in the second period. He scores a takedown and then blocks a arm-throw attempt from Nasepour for another two points and leads 5-0. However, after a review among the referees, the arm-throw is scored four points for Naserpour and then a takedown for Ri who now leads 6-4. Naserpour with a deperate attempt to score but Ri circles for go-behind and wins 8-4. He will face Alisher GANIEV (UZB) in the final.

13:34: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) starts his 60kg semifinal against Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ) in good form, using a duck under for a takedown and immediately going to a gut wrench for a 4-0 lead. Ganiev gets the passivity call, and he wastes no time hitting a 2-point throw, then repeats the move. Sulaimanov, knowing it's over, doesn't resist and officially the match ends in a fall at 2:04.

Semifinals at 13:30 local time

13:18: Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) puts in the strides and works for an 8-0 win against Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ) to enter 97kg semifinal

13:18: Omar SATAYEV (KAZ) hits a pair of 4-point rolling flip throws to knock off Boseong KANG (KOR) 11-0 in the 82kg quarterfinals. That earns Satayev a final-four clash with defending champion Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN).

13:14: Two-time Asian U23 medalist and 2022 world U23 bronze medalist NITESH (IND), looking for his first senior medal, gets off to a good start, rolling Ilyas GUCHIGOV (KAZ) four times from par terre for a 9-0 victory in 1:58 and place in the 97kg semifinals.

13:12: Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ) chalks up a quick 4 points against Aslamjon AZIZOV (TJK) in their 60kg quarterfinal, then holds on for a 4-3 victory.  

13:10: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) gets a second chance at par terre and manages to turn Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ), with another point tacked on for an unsuccessful challenge, for a 4-1 win and a place in the 82kg semifinals. At best, Orunkul Uulu can only aim for a second straight bronze medal

13:10: Olympic champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), in his first competition after Paris, opens with an 8-0 technical superiority win over Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM) and enters the semifinals at 97kg

13:04: Youfang ZHANG (CHN) blocks an attempted turn from Bekhruz BARNOEV (UZB) in par terre and wins the 97kg bout 5-1. Zhang had built a 3-1 lead from par terre in the first period.

13:03: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ), looking to improve on his silver medal from a year ago,  proves too much for NEERAJ (IND), storming to a 9-0 victory in less than two minutes in their 67kg quarterfinal.

13:00: Paris Olympic gold medalist and defending Asian champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) gets his campaign started at 67kg with a 10-4 win in the quarterfinals over Man Gwang SON (PRK). Esmaeili gives up an early takedown, but gets down to work, scoring a stepout and a takedown to take the lead, then adds a takedown-roll combination to go into the break leading 7-2. Esmaeili starts the second period with a stepout, before Son fights back with a takedown to cut the lead to 8-4. But Esmaeili gains another takedown before running out the clock. 

12:58: World U23 champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB) breaks open a close match in the second period before securing a victory by fall over Ziyue XI (CHN) to advance to the semifinals at 60kg. 

12:55: Shahin BADAGHI (QAT) gets four gut-wrenches after put in par terre to win 8-0 against RAHUL (IND) and advance at 82kg.

12:50: Likui SHI (CHN) kept defending champion Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) quiet in the first period of their 82kg bout with Yoshida getting only one point for par terre. However, Shi tried a bodylock but Yoshida put him on the back for two points, a turn added two more as Yoshida won 5-0.

12:48: Issei HONNA (JPN) spots Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ) to start their 72kg quarterfinal, but hits a dazzling back suplex that sends Khazaev sailing into the air and onto his back, where Honna secures the fall. 

12:47: A classic high-octane matchup is up on Mat C between Paris Olympic bronze medalist Se Ung RI (PRK) and Kaito INABA (JPN) for a place in the 60kg semifinals. Ri takes the lead by getting behind for a takedown, then gets the top in par terre. Ri adds a roll to go up 5-0. Inaba gets a pair of stepouts on each side of the break, but Ri comes roaring back with a pair of arm throws, one for 2 points and the second for 4 that is upheld on challenge. In the end, a 12-2 win for Ri. 

12:42: In the final qualification-round match, Bekhruz BARNOEV (UZB) overwhelms Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA) for a 9-0 victory to earn a spot in the 97kg quarterfinals. 

12:42: Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI) builds a 6-2 lead over SUMIT (IND) in the 60kg quarterfinal and there is no more action in the second period and Naserpour is the winner as he advances to the semifinal.

12:37: The tournament gets an early Iran-Uzbekistan match-up as world U23 champion Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) takes on 2024 Asian bronze medalist Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) in the qualification round at 82kg. Rasulov gets the passivity point in the first period, but can't add to his tally. In the second period, Naghousi gets his chance, and he also fails to turn his opponent. Neither can break the other's defenses the rest of the way and Naghousi advances with a 1-1 win on criteria. 

12:30: Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) needs to thank his coach and the challenge as he mounts an incredible comeback from 7-0 down to stun Lei LI (CHN) in their 67kg quarterfinal and win 9-7. Li scored a stepout and then got par terre . He scored a turn to lead 4-0. A suplex was awarded four points and Endo was docked two points for foul with Li declared 10-0 winner. Japan challenged the call and on review, Li's last throw was only a two-pointer with no foul. Endo, down 6-0, got par terre in the second period, went for the grand amplitude throw to make it 7-6 and added two turns to win 9-7. Incredible bout!

12:29: Abdullo ALIEV (UZB), the other returning bronze medalist at 72kg, opens with a 2-point throw from par terre against Begmyrat NOBATOV (TKM) for a 3-0 lead. Nobotov gets his chance in the second period, but can't budge Aliev. Aliev adds a stepout and he's into the semifinals with a 4-1 win.

12:23: Returning bronze medalist Ji LENG (CHN) gets a 4-point throw from par terre in the second period and advances at 72kg with a 5-1 win over Loiqi AMIRKHONZODA (TJK).

12:21: Two-time former bronze medalist NEERAJ (IND) hangs on for a 3-1 win over Ali ALBIDHAN (IRQ) to secure a place in the last eight at 67kg.

12:15: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) had to wait on the sidelines of the mat for his 72kg quarterfinals against Kuldeep MALIK (IND) but doesn't take his time on the mat and finishes the bout 8-0. Takedown, exposure and two rolls are enough for the win.

12:14: Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN), a 2023 world U23 bronze medalist, storms to a 12-1 win over Jewoo PARK (KOR) to advance to the 97kg quarterfinals.  

12:10: The 97kg bout between Eduard BABENOSHEV (TJK) and Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM) goes to the second period but 49 seconds in, Agamammedov wins 9-0 and enters the quarterfinals at 97kg.

12:07: Meirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), the 2022 champion at 67kg and a former world bronze medalist, starts his campaign with an 11-5 to Minseong KWON (KOR). Shermakhanbet gets a 4-point lift-and-dump throw from par terre, but then has to spend nearly 20 seconds fighting off his back after Kwon slams him to the mat with a 4-point bear hug. Kwon is given an additional 2 points for a leg foul to lead 6-5.  Kwon gets the passivity call in the second period and all but ends any chance for a comeback by adding a 4-point throw.

12:05: RAHUL (IND) battles out of a 7-point hole to defeat Habibjon ZUHUROV (TJK) 10-7 and advance at 82kg.

12:00: Another bout over in first period. Likui SHI (CHN) gets the par terre and then rolls to a 9-0 win over Toyly ORAZOV (TKM) in just over a minute at 82kg.

11:57: In a wild match at 72kg, Adilkhan SATAYEV (KAZ) trails on criteria 2-2 in the second period when he hits Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ) with a 4-point front headlock. Khazaev fights out of near fall and reverses for 2. Kyrgyzstan challenges for a foul, but is unsuccessful, giving Satayev a 7-4 lead, only to see Khazaev bull him to the mat for a takedown, a move upheld on challenge, leaving Satayev ahead 7-7 on criteria. The instant the match resumes, Khamzaev charges Satayev straight to his back for 4 and he holds on for an 11-7 win.

11:55: SUMIT (IND) could not turn Minwoo KIM (KOR) from par terre in the first period but manages to roll to a 9-0 win and advance at 60kg.

11:49: Mat A is moving quickly! Man Gwang SON (PRK) rolls to a 9-0 win over Mcclaren Ravin MARREN (SGP) at 67kg and then former world U23 champion Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) needs only four minutes to beat Sunat ABDULLOEV (TJK) 9-0 at 67kg.

11:47: Kaito INABA (JPN), the silver medalist at 60kg a year ago in Bishkek, gets a 2-point exposure from par terre for a 3-0 lead over Bakytzhan KABDYL (KAZ), then counters an arm spin for a 2-point takedown. In the second period, he shrugs behind for 2, then ends the match by twisting Kabdyl over from the standing position for a 9-0 win.

11:45: Begmyrat NOBATOV (TKM) builds up to a 9-0 win over Ahmed M BARAHMAH (KSA) in the 72kg bout and wins via technical superiority in two minutes and five seconds.

11:40: Loiqi AMIRKHONZODA (TJK) with a headlock throw against JASON BAUCAS (PHI) and then holds Baucas in the danger position till the break as the referees calls them to return to their corners. The score is 8-0 and Amirkhonzoda is the winner.

11:38: Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) gets Iran started with an 8-0 victory over Omar AL DARAGHMEH (JOR) at 72kg that he ends just before the end of the first period.

11:36: Will we see another young Japanese with little international experience take home a gold? Issei HONNA (JPN) hits a 4-point throw and goes on to quickly defeat Yeonghun NOH (KOR) 8-0 at 72kig.