#AsianGames2018

World and Olympic Champs Yazdani, Kawai Aim to Add Asiad Golds

Friday, August 17, 2018 - 19:23 By Ken Marantz

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JAKARTA, Indonesia (August 17) - Six months after the Asian Championships in Bishkek, the continent's elite wrestlers are back together again, but with fewer prizes at stake. That aspect only enhances the competition. 

The wrestling program at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta runs from Aug. 19 to 22, but the fields in this edition of the quadrennial event are limited to the 18 Olympic weight classes---six each in the three styles. A number of Bishkek medalists, including three champions, from the four missing divisions have either gone up or down in a bid to get in on the action.

Heading the list of entries are two wrestlers currently holding both the world and Olympic titles, Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) and Risako KAWAI (JPN). Both will be aiming to add a first Asiad gold to their extensive medal collections.

Yazdani, who won the Rio 2016 Olympic gold in the freestyle 74kg class, has successfully made the jump up two divisions to the next Olympic weight class of 86kg, capturing the world title at Paris 2017. He followed that up by cruising to his first career Asian gold in Bishkek. 

The 23-year-old Yazdani is the prohibitive favorite at 86kg, where the runner-up in Bishkek, Uitumen ORGODOL (MGL), will try to get another shot at beating the Iranian star. Also entered is Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), who was third in Bishkek and, for what it's worth, the only opponent to score a point on Yazdani among his three technical fall victories. Rashid KURBANOV (UZB), the 2014 Asiad champion at 74kg, will have to deal with moving up a weight class, after winning the 79kg gold in Bishkek.

World and Olympic champion, Risako KAWAI (JPN). Photo by Martin Gabor 

Kawai, one of the four Japanese women's champions in Rio, is entered at 62kg, although she will drop down to 59kg in a bid for a second straight world title in Budapest in October. Because of the early deadline for entries, Japan's team to Jakarta was based on the results from the national championships back in December, in which Kawai won at 62kg. 

Kawai, who has not lost since being defeated in the final of the 2015 world championships by Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL), could clash with another Mongolian world champion in Jakarta. 

Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), the gold medalist at 63kg at Paris 2017, has won nine consecutive international tournaments, including a victory in Bishkek. Another wrestler who can't be overlooked is Sakshi MALIK (IND), whose bronze medal at Rio 2016 made her India's first female Olympic medalist. She was second in Asia in 2017 and third this year. 

In addition to Yazdani, Kawai and Purevdorj, there are three other reigning world champions making the trip to Jakarta. Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) will be the favorite in freestyle 57kg, while Haruna OKUNO (JPN), the women's 55kg champion in Paris, has dropped down to 53kg. RYU Han-Soo (KOR), one of eight defending Asian Games champions in the tournament, heads the field at Greco-Roman 67kg.

In total, there will be 15 medalists from Paris 2017 and eight from Rio 2016 (including Yazdani and Kawai in both groups) taking the mat in Jakarta. There are 17 champions from Bishkek 2018, and 10 weight classes could see rematches between the finalists.

In terms of depth, two weight classes in particular stand out. The brackets in Greco-Roman 77kg will not only include the gold and silver medalists from Bishkek 2018, but the champions from the weight classes immediately above and below it. 

YANG Bin (CHN) by Martin Gabor. 

Champion YANG Bin (CHN) will contend in a division that also features teenager Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), who thrilled the home crowd in Bishkek when he won the 72kg gold, as well as Ashkat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ), who captured the 82kg title. 

Added to that trio is KIM Hyeong-Woo (KOR), who won the 75kg title at the last Asian Games in Incheon in 2014 and the world title the previous year, and Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI), the runner-up to Yang in Bishkek and a world bronze medalist.

Fireworks can also be expected at freestyle 74kg, in which Bekzod ABDURAKHMANOV (UZB) will aim to win a second straight Asian Games gold and make up for a disappointing showing at Bishkek, where, as defending Asian champion, he finished out of the medals. Standing in his way will be Mostafa HOSSEINKHANI (IRI), veteran Susil KUMAR (IND) and Yuhi FUJINAMI (JPN). 

Hosseinkhani, a two-time Asian champion and former world bronze medalist, had to settle for the bronze in Bishkek. Kumar, the 35-year-old two-time Olympic medalist, had to skip Bishkek due to injury, but prepped for Jakarta by taking the gold at the Commonwealth Games. Fujinami, who has fully recovered from a cheek fracture suffered in May, won a bronze medal at Paris 2017, where he defeated Hosseinkhani in the third round.

Here's a look at other weight classes of interest:

Yui TAKAHASHI (JPN) by Tony Rotundo. 

Freestyle, Aug. 19-20
World champion Takahashi skipped the Asian Championships, and in his absence, unheralded KANG Kum-song (PRK) impressively scraped his way to the 57kg gold. At Paris 2017, Takahashi had his hands full in a third-round clash with Bekhbayar ERDENET (MGL), scoring a 4-4 win by big point. Those three, along with 2017 Asian bronze medalist Reza ATRINAGHARCHI and Sandeep TOMAR (IND), should battle for the medals.

At 96kg, Russian-born Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) will look to add the Asiad gold to the Asian titles he won in 2017 and 2018 and his Olympic bronze in Rio. While a heavy favorite, he could be challenged by Magomed MUSAEV (KAZ), another Russian native who won a silver medal at the 2014 Asian Games, and Alizreza KARAMIMACHIANI, the 2017 Asian champion at 86kg who is returning from a six-month ban for purposely losing a match at the U-23 World Championships in November to avoid facing an Israeli opponent in the next round. 

Georgian-born David MODZMANASHVILI (UZB), a London 2012 silver medalist, will look for more Asian success at 125kg to go with his gold in Bishkek, while Parvis HADI BASMANJ (IRI) aims to defend his Asiad title.

Yuki IRIE (JPN) by Max Rose-Fyne

Women's Wrestling, Aug. 20-21
Yuki IRIE (JPN) earned her ticket to Jakarta at 50kg by beating world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) at the national championships. That also put her on the team to Bishkek, but she suffered a close loss to Vinesh VINESH (IND) and had to settle for a bronze. Irie has since lost twice to Susaki to miss out on the world championships, giving her even more incentive to take the Asian Games gold. 

Vinesh will try to improve on her runner-up finish from Bishkek, while also in the mix will be Rio 2016 bronze medalist SUN Yanan (CHN) and KIM Son-Hyang (PRK), a bronze medalist at Paris 2017. Of note is that Irie defeated Sun by fall at the Women's World Cup in March, but just edged Kim 8-7 at the Yarygin Grand Prix in January. 

At 53kg, world champion Okuno, like most top Japanese, skipped the Asian Championships to focus on the World Cup hosted by Japan. In her absence, PAK Yong-Mi (PRK) and Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) took the gold and silver medals, respectively, and should be her main competition in Jakarta.

China can be expected to dominate the two heaviest weight classes, with Bishkek 2018 champions FENG Zhou (68kg) and ZHOU Qian (76kg) well established as the favorites. Feng is a defending Asiad champion, while Zhou was the 2015 world silver medalist.

Shinobu OTA (JPN) by Sachiko Hotaka

Greco-Roman, Aug. 21-22
Now that Rio 2016 silver medalist Shinobu OTA (JPN) has finally gotten the best of Paris 2017 champion and top domestic rival Kenichiro FUJITA (JPN), he can start concentrating on bringing home more international hardware at 60kg. Coming off his victory in Bishkek, Ota could face a rematch with teenager RI Se-Ung. 

The division also includes Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ), who was second at both the Asian and World Championships in 2017, losing both finals to Fumita. He was third in Bishkek at 63kg.

At 67kg, world champion Ryu will face a challenge from a pair of Asian champions. Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) won the 63kg gold in Bishkek, but has moved up to join 67kg champion Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ). And for good measure, Bishkek silver medalist Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN) joins the fray. 

The heavier weights are currently the domain of Iran. Hossein NOURI (87kg) and Behnam MEHDIZADEH (130kg) both successfully defended their Asian titles in Bishkek and are the hot favorites, while Aliakbar HEIDARI (97kg), third at the World Military Championships, heads what is arguably the most open weight class. 

Schedule 
Saturday,  Aug. 18
11:00 - 12:00 - Draw for all weight classes

Sunday,  Aug. 19
11:00-12:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: FS 57, 65, 74, 86 & 97kg 
13:00-17:00 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FS 57, 65, 74, 86 & 97kg 
19:00-21:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: FS 57, 65, 74, 86 & 97kg 

Monday,  Aug. 20
11:00-12:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: FS 125kg; WW 50, 53, 57, 62kg 
13:00-17:00 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: FS 125kg; WW 50, 53, 57, 62kg 
19:00-21:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: FS 125kg; WW 50, 53, 57, 62kg 

Tuesday,  Aug. 21
11:00-12:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: WW 68, 76kg; GR 60, 67 kg
13:00-17:00 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: WW 68, 76kg; GR 60, 67 kg
19:00-21:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: WW 68, 76kg; GR 60, 67 kg

Wednesday,  Aug. 22
11:00-12:00 - Medical Examination and Weigh-In: GR 77, 87, 97, 130kg
13:00-17:00 - Qualification Rounds & Repechage: GR 77, 87, 97, 130kg
19:00-21:00 - Finals and Award Ceremonies: GR 77, 87, 97, 130kg

#WrestleParis

Wrestling at Paris 2024: Susaki, Makhmudov stunned; Aleksanyan vs Rosillo rematch

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 - 08:35 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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PARIS -- The Olympic Games enter day two of wrestling at the Champs de Mars arena with Greco-Roman 77kg and 97kg and Women's Wrestling 50kg. Yui SUSAKI (JPN) is hoping to defend her title from Tokyo which she won without conceding a point. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) is looking for his second title as well with the first coming in Rio.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS 2024 DAY 1

13:30: That is the end of the morning session! Mohamed GABR (EGY) is into the semifinal by beating Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) 4-1. On a day of upset, count that one as well.

13:19: The shocks continue as Mariya STADNIK (AZE) sees her bid for an elusive Olympic gold end when two-time world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) scores a pair of takedowns in the final minute for a stunning 4-4 victory on big-point criteria. Dolgorjav went into the match a bit fresher after receiving a first-round forfeit from Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA), and she used her reserves to secure what proved to be the winning takedown with 28 seconds left. Stadnik challenged for eye poke which was confirmed on challenge but Dolgorjav still had criteria

13:18: Returning bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) with a technical superiority win over Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) and he is moving into the semifinal at 97kg.

13:15: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) is into the Greco 77kg semifinals after beating Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) 1-1 on last-point criteria. Levai was put in par terre first, then held out when on the bottom in the second.

13:08: Tokyo bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) scrapes out a well-earned 7-4 victory over Ziqi FENG (CHN) to advance to the women's 50kg semifinals. Feng opens with a double-leg takedown that Hildebrandt reverses for 1, then goes ahead with shrug-by takedown. The two trade takedowns as the American goes into the break with a slim 5-4 lead. In the second period, she clinches the win with a takedown with :40 left.

13:05: Another star has fallen! World champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) saw his bid to become his country's first-ever gold medalist end with a 3-1 loss to Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ). Makhmudov got the chance in par terre first, but a series of rolls were nullified on challenge for leg use. In the second period, Zhadrayev applied a vicious front headlock from par terre and threw the Tokyo silver medalist for 2.

13:08: World champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) was in some trouble against Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) but managed to hold his lead and scored a takedown on the counter in the dying seconds of the bout to win 5-2. He moves into the semifinal at 97kg

12:58: Never count out Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)! He was down 5-5 on criteria after Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) used two front headlocks to score exposure. But Aleksanyan got behind and threw Assakalov for four to win 9-5

12:57: Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB) storms into the women's 50kg semifinals with a 10-0 win over Gabija DILYTE (LTU). Guzman arm drags behind for a takedown, then reels off three rolls for an 8-0 lead. Another takedown ends the match with nine seconds left in the first period.

12:49: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) follows up her monumental win over Yui SUSAKI (JPN) by holding off Oksana LIVACH (UKR) 7-5 in a scrappy women's 50kg quarterfinal. Phogat gets two takedowns and leads 5-2 when Livach puts on a late surge, cutting the gap to 1 with a stepout and a lost challenge. With the clock winding down, Phogat shrugs off a throw attempt for 2, and Livach adds a late stepout.

12:48: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) gets a 2-point throw from par terre in the first period and that holds up for a 3-0 victory over Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) and a spot in the Greco 77kg semifinals.

12:45: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) gets the par terre the second time and turns Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO), adds a four-pointer and finishes the bout 9-1 at 97kg

12:38: Top seed Nao KUSAKA (JPN) finishes off a 12-2 victory over Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) with a 4-point pancake to snatch his place in tonight's Greco 77kg semifinals.

12:34: Veteran Mariya STADNIK (AZE) begins her quest for a fifth Olympic medal -- hopefully a first gold -- with a 6-2 victory over world bronze medalist Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER). The 35-year-old mother of two gets a takedown-roll combination for a 4-0 lead in the first period, then gets 2 more when she rolls through a headlock attempt in the second.

12:30: Mohamed GABR (EGY) gave no chance to Mihail KAJAIA (SRB). Gabr took a 6-0 lead and then defended the par terre position to win 6-1 and advance at 97kg.

12:25: 2021 world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) gets the passivity points and fights off Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) and an apparent left hamstring injury for a 2-0 victory at Greco 77kg.

12:23: Tokyo bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA)  goes out the backdoor for a takedown against Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG), then transitions to the lace lock and reels off four rolls for a 10-0 win in 1:34 for a place in the women's 50kg quarterfinals.

12:18: World bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) uses an effective barrel roll for two takedowns of Nada MOHAMED (EGY), scoring a fall after the second one to advance to the women's 50kg quarterfinals.

12:19: Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) with a big four-pointer as he moves past Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU) 5-1 and enters the 97kg quarterfinals.

12:14: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), the world silver medalist in 2022, gets a second-period stepout and that's enough for a 2-1 victory at Greco 77kg over Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), the 2022 world champ at 82kg.

12:08: Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB) pulls off a thrilling 7-6 victory over Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) at women's 50kg with an exposure during a scramble in the final seconds that took the mat chairman a long time to sort out on challenge. Both wrestlers scored takedowns, only to give up 2-point counters down the stretch.

12:00 Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) with a controlled 4-0 win over Fadi ROUABAH (ALG) and moves into the quarterfinal. He will take on world champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) who was not the best off the block but managed to beat Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER) 7-5.

11:56: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), aiming to improve on his silver medal in Tokyo three years ago at Greco 77kg, can't get the turn in par terre, but rides a series of second-period stepouts to a 4-1 victory over Kamal BEY (USA)

11:53: Gabija DILYTE (LTU) uses a 2-on-1 to slam Alisson CARDOZO (COL) to her back and secures the fall at 4:14 to advance at women's 50kg.

11:45: Four-time world medalist Maklhas AMOYAN (ARM) tosses his way to an 8-0 victory at Greco 77kg over Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN). The winning point comes on a lost challenge by the Finnish side.

11:44: Oksana LIVACH (UKR), fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, scores a pair of 4-point takedowns and she advances at women's 50kg with a 10-0 victory over Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB).

11:37: Asian silver medalist Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) gets the second of the passivity points and that's enough to defeat Yosvanys PENA (CUB) 1-1 at Greco 77kg.

11:33: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Olympic wrestling history, scoring a takedown in the final seconds to stun defending women's 50kg champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) 3-2. It is Susaki's first loss ever in 95 matches against non-Japanese opponents. Phogat stays completely on the defensive throughout the match, giving Susaki both of her points from the activity clock. With the clock running down, Phogat goes on the offensive and knocks Susaki off balance and onto her bottom, then charges ahead for a takedown with :05 left. Japan challenges, but the takedown stands and Susaki is out. 

11:26: Former world silver medalist Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) storms into the quarterfinals at Greco 77kg with a workmanlike 9-0 victory over  Mahmoud ABDELRAHMAN (EGY).

11:24: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) bounces back from her quarterfinal loss to Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) to earn a chance for a bronze medal by defeating Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) 6-0 in their women's 68kg repechage match. Ozaki scores two takedowns and a 2-point exposure, but the former 62kg world champion still seems to be struggling with the extra weight.

11:22: A minute and 44 seconds is all Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) needed to get over Seungjun KIM (KOR) at 97kg opening round. He gets four gut wrenches from par terre to win 9-0.

11:20: Top seed Nao KUSAKA (JPN) begins his campaign at Greco 77kg with an impressive 9-0 win over Abd Elrim OUAKALI (ALG). After an early takedown, Kusaka gets a 4-point lift and throw from par terre. Ouakali comes near to scrambling for a takedown, but Kusaka reverses the momentum to score a match-ending takedown.

11:16: Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) uses a four-point throw in his 6-4 win over Kiril MILOV (BUL) at 130kg. He will wrestle for bronze later tonight against Lingzhe DENG (CHN).

11:15: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) makes short work of Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) in the other Greco 60kg repechage, rolling to a 10-0 victory. He will take on world champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) for the bronze.

 

11:14: World champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) wins a battle of stepouts in the women's 68kg repechage against Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), earning a place in the bronze-medal match with a 4-3 win. Both wrestlers had three stepouts, with the deciding point coming when Poland unsuccessfully challenged Tosun's third stepout.

11:10: The action on Mat A gets underway with the first of the two Greco 60kg repechage matches. Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) will get a chance to give Venezuela its first-ever Olympic wrestling medal after scoring two 4-point takedowns in a 12-1 victory over Moamen MOHAMED (EGY). Rodriguez will face Se Ung RI (PRK) for the bronze later tonight. 

11:00:The day two will begin with repechage in GR 60kg and 130kg and WW 68kg. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is on the mat to wrestle Seungchan LEE (KOR). He wins via technical superiority 9-0 and moves into the bronze medal bout for the evening.