#WrestleBelgrade

#WrestleBelgrade Weight-to-Watch: Freestyle 70kg

By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (October 28) -- Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) is returning to the Belexpocentar in Belgrade, Serbia. It was here that he made heads roll with a title-winning performance at the Individual World Cup in December last year.

Now, he is seeking a U23 world title.

Entered in the 70kg weight class that is full of wrestlers of equal pedigree, Tevanyan will take the mat next week, a month after participating in the Senior World Championships in Oslo at 65kg.

Not only the Armenian but a host of other stars are eyeing the gold medal. Oslo World Championships silver medalist at 70kg Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) is one of the favorites and so is 65kg '19 U23 world champion Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE).

All three were in Oslo, and in Tokyo before that, but only Akmataliev was able to win a medal as he reached the final of the 70kg against Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL). He lost a close bout 1-2 and had to be content with a silver medal.

Bayramov lost Gadzhiev after an impressive run to the semifinals but later lost the bronze medal bout as well against Zurabi IAKOBASHVILI (GEO). He returned empty-handed from the tournament, his fifth this year.

Other big names entered in the bracket are U23 Russian champion and Ali Aliev tournament winner Rezuan KAZHAROV (RWF), U23 European silver Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA) and former cadet world medalist Aliakbar FAZLIKHALILI (IRI).

Tevanyan will have fond memories of Belgrade. The World Cup made him a rising star at 65kg as he defeated world medalist Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) 9-1 in the final. His run included victories over Haji ALI (BHN), Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU) and Hor OHANNESIAN (UKR) in the semifinal.

He also has wins over three world champions -- Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO), Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) and Haji ALIYEV (AZE) -- from the European Olympic Qualifiers.

Ernazar AKMATALIEVErnazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) is a silver medalist from Oslo World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

But it won't be easy this time. Akmataliev was also part of the Individual World Cup but lost to Haji ALIYEV (AZE) in the quarterfinal. But since then, he has won the Asian Olympic Qualifiers, defeating Ilyas BEKBULATOV (UZB) and Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) in the process. He later participated in the Tokyo Olympics but lost to Bajrang PUNIA (IND) in the first round. In Oslo, he became the first freestyle wrestler from his country to reach a senior world final.

The 23-year-old's antics of attacking constantly and countering when on the defensive saw him notch up wins from behind in Oslo and even at the Asian event. He also has some unfinished business after finishing fifth at the Budapest edition in 2019.

But one wrestler who can keep him quiet is Bayramov. A late replacement for the injured Khadzhimurad Gadzhiyev (AZE) in Azerbaijan's Tokyo Olympic lineup, Bayramov makes his opponents work hard for their points even from an advantageous position.

Turan BAYRAMOVTuran BAYRAMOV (AZE) is a U23 world champion at 65kg from 2019. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Bayramov has a 13-5 record this season, but all five of his losses came against wrestlers who have World or European titles to their names. His losses came against Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO), Keegan OTOOLE (USA) and Israil KASUMOV (RUS).

Russia's Kazharov may not have international experience but his performance at the Ali Aliev was one to watch as he defeated Azamat NURYKAU (BLR) in the final. Kazharov was trailing 3-2 and Nurykau held on to his own defense in the second period until the final 10 seconds.

Kazharov got a single-leg attack and Nurykau tried to throw the Russian over but it was Kazharov who scored four and won 6-3.

Grahmez only makes the field more interesting as he won the silver at '21 U23 Euros and can pull off an upset on the given day.

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships 2024 Entry List

By United World Wrestling Press

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 3) -- The Asian Championships will return to Bishkek after six years with 366 wrestlers scheduled to compete at the April 11-16 event in the Kyrgyzstan capital.

Across the 30 weight classes, 13 returning champions are entered with only one -- Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) -- moving from 72kg to 77kg in Greco-Roman. Freestyle has four returning championships, Women's Wrestling has two and Greco-Roman has seven.

Japan will send a strong team to the Asian Championships led by Yui SUSAKI (JPN). Four of the six wrestlers for Japan's Paris Olympics team are set to compete in women's wrestling.

For the hosts, world champions Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) will look to win gold medals in front of the home crowd. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) is also entered at 76kg.

World champion and defending Asian champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) will be wrestling at 97kg and will look to earn his second gold medal at the Asian Championships.

This tournament will also mark the first competition with Indian wrestlers competing under the country's name and flag after United World Wrestling lifted the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India last month.

Freestyle

57kg
Weiyu LI (CHN)
UDIT (IND)
Ebrahim KHARI (IRI)
Khattab AL ANI (IRQ)
Kento YUMIYA (JPN)
Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ)
Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)
Changjun PARK (KOR)
Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Muhammad BILAL (PAK)
Kum Hyok KIM (PRK)
Gayan KATHURANGANA (SRI)
Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK)
Kabe MATJANOV (TKM)
Nodirbek JUMANAZAROV (UZB)

61kg
Zhipeng JIANG (CHN)
Akash DAHIYA (IND)
Reza ATRI (IRI)
Kaisei TANABE (JPN)
Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ)
Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ)
Sanghyeon SON (KOR)
Enkhbold ENKHBAT (MGL)
Alvin LOBREGUITO (PHI)
Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE)
Kum Chol RI (PRK)
Tharindu CHANDRASEKARA (SRI)
Dzhamshed SHARIFOV (TJK)
Amir HAMAYUN (TKM)
Sardor RUZIMOV (UZB)
Ibrahim GUZAN (YEM)

65kg
Baowen WEI (CHN)
ROHIT (IND)
Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)
Mohammed KAREEM (IRQ)
Masanosuke ONO (JPN)
Sanzhar MUKHTAR (KAZ)
Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
Seonho YOO (KOR)
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK)
Abdullah ASSAF (PLE)
Hyon Song HAN (PRK)
Divoshan CHARLES FERNANDO (SRI)
Kamol BEGAKOV (TJK)
Jelaletdin SEYIDOV (TKM)
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)

70kg
Shijian ZHOU (CHN)
ABHIMANYOU (IND)
Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI)
Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN)
Meirzhan ASHIROV (KAZ)
Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
Seungchul LEE (KOR)
Chinzorig TSERMAA (MGL)
Fierre AFAN (PHI)
Yan LEE (SGP)
Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK)
Perman HOMMADOV (TKM)
Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB)

74kg
Yi LI (CHN)
YASH (IND)
Hossein ABOUZARIPASHKOLAEI (IRI)
Ali AL OBAIDI (IRQ)
Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN)
Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
Kanat KERIMBEKOV (KGZ)
Sangho HAN (KOR)
Batbayar BATSUKH (MGL)
Muhammad ULLAH (PAK)
Yong Nam SO (PRK)
Mark PETER (SGP)
Madushanka LAKMAL (SRI)
Viktor RASSADIN (TJK)
Alp BEGENJOV (TKM)
Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB)

79kg
Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN)
Nan CAO (CHN)
Parvinder SINGH (IND)
Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI)
Erzo ISAKOV (JOR)
Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN)
Azamat OMURZHANOV (KAZ)
Adilet MARATBAEV (KGZ)
Bumgue SEO (KOR)
Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL)
Muhammad TAHIR (PAK)
Magomet EVLOEV (TJK)
Gurbanmyrat OVEZBERDIYEV (TKM)
Asomiddin HASANOV (UZB)

86kg
Vuthy HENG (CAM)
Peilong LI (CHN)
Sandeep MANN (IND)
Hadi VAFAEIPOUR (IRI)
Mustafa AL OBAIDI (IRQ)
Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Atai IZABEKOV (KGZ)
Gyeongyeon LEE (KOR)
Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL)
Haider BUTT (PAK)
Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM)
Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB)

92kg
Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN)
Suhe GANG (CHN)
VINAY (IND)
Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)
Issa AL OBAIDI (IRQ)
Satoshi MIURA (JPN)
Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)
Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ)
Jinmyeong KIM (KOR)
Batzul DAMJIN (MGL)
Orazmuhammet HOJALYYEV (TKM)
Sherzod POYONOV (UZB)

97kg
Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)
Tuerxunbieke MUHEITE (CHN)
VICKY (IND)
Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
Hibiki ITO (JPN)
Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ)
Andrey ARONOV (KGZ)
Jeongwoo PARK (KOR)
Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Muhammad INAM (PAK)
Badzha KHUTABA (SYR)
Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM)
Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB)

125kg
Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN)
BUHEEERDUN (CHN)
Anirudh KUMAR (IND)
Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)
Koki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
Abylay SOVET (KAZ)
Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ)
Hyunsu HAN (KOR)
Odgerel BATKHISHIG (MGL)
Zaman ANWAR (PAK)
Omar SAREM (SYR)
Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM)
Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) will clash for the third time with the Kyrgyz leading the head-to-head 2-0. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Samnang DIT (CAM)
Ziqi FENG (CHN)
Shivani PAWAR (IND)
Yui SUSAKI (JPN)
Irina ZHANIBEKOVA BORISSOVA (KAZ)
Miseon KWON (KOR)
Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL)
Munkhgerel MUNKHBAT (MGL)
Jiah PINGOT (PHI)
Yong Ok HWANG (PRK)
Nipuni WASANA (SRI)
Ciao Yun LI (TPE)
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)
Thi NGUYEN (VIE)

53kg
Chun LEI (CHN)
ANJU (IND)
Nagisa HARADA (JPN)
Ayazhan MARKASHEVA (KAZ)
Aizhan SABYRBEK KYZY (KGZ)
Yeji MIN (KOR)
Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL)
Aliah GAVALEZ (PHI)
Ji Hyang KIM (PRK)
Nethmi AHINSA (SRI)
Vatansulton SHAKARSHOEVA (TJK)
Lachyn ANNAMURADOVA (TKM)
Yi Jing CHEN (TPE)
Dilshoda MATNAZAROVA (UZB)
Thi NGUYEN (VIE)

55kg
Min ZHANG (CHN)
TAMANNA (IND)
Moe KIYOOKA (JPN)
Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ)
Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ)
Jungeun LEE (KOR)
Dulguun MUNKHBOLD BOLORMAA (MGL)
Kyong OH (PRK)
Madina ARIPOVA (TKM)
Madina USMONJONOVA (UZB)

57kg
Yongxin FENG (CHN)
SARITA (IND)
Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)
Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ)
Kalmira BILIMBEKOVA (KGZ)
Bogyeong KIM (KOR)
Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL)
Hyon Ju YUN (PRK)
Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB)

59kg
Qi ZHANG (CHN)
Pushpa YADAV (IND)
Risako KINJO (JPN)
Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)
Tancholpon KYBALBEKOVA (KGZ)
Eunsu JEONG (KOR)
Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB)

62kg
LILI (CHN)
MANISHA (IND)
Sakura MOTOKI (JPN)
Tynys DUBEK (KAZ)
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Subeen JO (KOR)
Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL)
Arian CARPIO (PHI)
Su Gyong CHOE (PRK)
Miyasar KUSHMURATOVA (UZB)

65kg
Yaru WU (CHN)
ANTIM (IND)
Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN)
Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ)
Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ)
Soobin KIM (KOR)
Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL)
Naziya JORAYEVA (TKM)
Dinora RUSTAMOVA (UZB)

68kg
Zelu LI (CHN)
RADHIKA (IND)
Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ)
Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ)
Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Po Gyong RI (PRK)
Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB)

72kg
Qian JIANG (CHN)
HARSHITA (IND)
Sumire NIIKURA (JPN)
Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ)
Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ)
Jiseon LEE (KOR)
Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL)
Oguljan EGEMBERDIYEVA (TKM)
Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB)

76kg
Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN)
PRIYA (IND)
Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN)
Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Seoyeon JEONG (KOR)
Zagardulam NAIGALSUREN (MGL)
Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE)
Valentina TORENIYAZOVA (UZB)

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)World champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) will look to defend his 130kg Greco-Roman title. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

Greco-Roman

55kg
HUSIYUETU (CHN)
Arjun HALAKURKI (IND)
Poya DAD MARZ (IRI)
Sajjad ALBIDHAN (IRQ)
Kagetora OKAMOTO (JPN)
Nurzat KABDYRAKHIMOV (KAZ)
Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ)
Taemin KIM (KOR)
Yu Chol RO (PRK)
Alexander CUEVAS (SGP)
Abduvali RAHIMBAYEV (TKM)
Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB)

60kg
Liguo CAO (CHN)
SUPARMANTO (INA)
PRAVESH (IND)
Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI)
Ali ALBIDHAN (IRQ)
Kaito INABA (JPN)
Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ)
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Seunghak KIM (KOR)
Hassan ALHARTHI (KSA)
Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL)
Mark OLIVEROS (PHI)
Hyok SONG (PRK)
Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK)
Umit DURDYYEV (TKM)
Jui Chi HUANG (TPE)
Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB)

63kg
Haodong TAN (CHN)
UMESH (IND)
Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI)
Karrar ALBIDHAN (IRQ)
Ayata SUZUKI (JPN)
Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ)
Dastan KADYROV (KGZ)
Dokyung JUNG (KOR)
Rayan B HAWSAWI (KSA)
Chan KIM (PRK)
Walid HINDI (QAT)
Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

67kg
Lei LI (CHN)
Muhammad ALIANSYAH (INA)
Vinayak PATIL (IND)
Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI)
HARUTO YABE (JPN)
Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ)
Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ)
Hanjae CHUNG (KOR)
Saud ALSUBAIE (KSA)
Ganbayar NAMSRAI (MGL)
Jason BAUCAS (PHI)
Man Gwang SON (PRK)
Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK)
Rovshen ATDAYEV (TKM)
Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB)

72kg
Ji LENG (CHN)
Ankit GULIA (IND)
Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI)
Shingo HARADA (JPN)
Nikolay KHAPKO (KAZ)
Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ)
Jiyeon LEE (KOR)
Ahmed BARAHMAH (KSA)
Mohamad ALOBEID (SYR)
Begmyrat NOBATOV (TKM)
Abdullo ALIEV (UZB)

77kg
Tongyu CHEN (CHN)
SAJAN (IND)
Amir Ali ABDI (IRI)
Ali ALABODA (IRQ)
Nao KUSAKA (JPN)
Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ)
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Yeonghun NOH (KOR)
Temuulen ENKHTUYA (MGL)
Gadiel MISSO (SGP)
Bazargeldi EZIMOV (TKM)
Lai Hsing YAO (TPE)
Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB)

82kg
Rohit DAHIYA (IND)
Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI)
Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN)
Yevgeniy POLIVADOV (KAZ)
Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ)
Sejin YANG (KOR)
Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB)

87kg
Chengwu WANG (CHN)
AJAY (IND)
Naser ALIZADEH (IRI)
Sultan EID (JOR)
Masato SUMI (JPN)
Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ)
Seunghwan LEE (KOR)
Turbold GANBOLD (MGL)
Aryan BIN AZMAN (SGP)
Sukhrob ABDULKHAEV (TJK)
Yhlas ABDURAZAKOV (TKM)
Rahimjon UZOKOV (UZB)

97kg
Houzhi HAO (CHN)
Narinder CHEEMA (IND)
Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI)
Masayuki AMANO (JPN)
Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ)
Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Jeongyul KWON (KOR)
Badamdorj BALTMUNKH (MGL)
Mirzoamin SAFAROV (TJK)
Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM)
Abdikodir JALILOV (UZB)

130kg
Lingzhe MENG (CHN)
Mehar SINGH (IND
Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)
Ali AL SHARUEE (IRQ)
Keita KOBAYASHI (JPN)
Mansur SHADUKAYEV (KAZ)
Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ)
Minseok KIM (KOR)
Ganzolboo BUYANTOGTOKH (MGL)
Eduard BABENOSHEV (TJK)
Aybegshazada KURRAYEV (TKM)
Islomjon RAKHMATOV (UZB)