#WrestleUlaanbaatar

#WrestleUlaanbaatar Asian Championships entries

Monday, April 11, 2022 - 16:46 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 11) -- For most participating nations, the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia will be the first opportunity to return to the mat after a long break. The Continental Championships will be held from April 19-24. More than 270 wrestlers will aim to become Asian champions.

In freestyle, India and Iran are bringing strong teams with Tokyo medalists Ravi KUMAR (IND) and Bajrang PUNIA (IND) leading the charge for the former, while the latter will have Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI), Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI), Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) and Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI).

Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan can surprise in a few weight classes. For Kyrgyzstan, Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) and Uluukbek ZHODOSHBEKOV (KGZ) are the big names. Uzbekistan will bank upon Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), veteran Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) and Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB).

Rio silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), 2019 Asian silver medalist Minghu LIU (CHN), Deepak PUNIA (IND) and Zhiwei DENG (CHN) are other names to keep an eye on.

The women's wrestling will see the return of Japan and China teams after six months. The two nations last competed at the Oslo World Championships. Both teams had missed last year's edition due to travel issues.

Japan is the favorite to win the team title as they are bringing five wrestlers, including three gold medalists, who were in Oslo. World champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) will be the star attraction of the competition as the 18-year-old wrestles at her second senior tournament.

Kyrgyzstan's world champions Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) will try to defend their titles from Almaty. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be hoping to upgrade her Almaty silver to gold at 76kg.

Tokyo silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN), Ningning RONG (CHN), Jia LONG (CHN), World silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND), two-time Asian champion Sarita MOR (IND) and Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) are other storylines to follow.

The Greco-Roman will be headlined by Tokyo silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and former World and Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) at 77kg. 

Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI), Ayata SUZUKI (JPN), Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) and Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) are all entered at 60kg to make it one of the most stacked weight class.

Hansu RYU (KOR) will wrestle at 67kg. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) has moved up to 97kg and will wrestle in Ulaanbaatar after winning the Ranking Series title in Istanbul.

Wrestling begins with Greco-Roman Tuesday followed by women's wrestling Thursday and freestyle will finish the competition.

All the action and recaps will be live on uww.org.

Mohammadian

Freestyle

57kg

Seeds
1. Ravi KUMAR (IND)
2. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)
3. Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)
4. Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)

Ravi KUMAR (IND)
Reza MOMENIJOUJADEH (IRI)
Rikuto ARAI (JPN)
Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ)
Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)
Sunggwon KIM (KOR)
Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Muhammad BILAL (PAK)
Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE)
Gayan KATHURANGANA (SRI)
Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

61kg

Seeds:
1. Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
2. Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
3. Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ)
4. Mangal KADYAN (IND)

Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
Mangal KADYAN (IND)
Darioush HAZRATGHOLIZADEH (IRI)
Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)
Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ)
Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
Insang CHOI (KOR)
Ali ALMOHAINI (KUW)
Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL)
Sampath BANDARA (SRI)
Muhamad IKROMOV (TJK)
Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB)

65kg

Seeds:
1. Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
2. Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
3. Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN)
3. Haji ALI (BRN)

Haji ALI (BRN)
Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI)
Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN)
Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ)
Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
Seonho YOO (KOR)
Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL)
Inayat ULLAH (PAK)
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)

70kg

Seeds:
1. Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
2. Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)

Naveen NAVEEN (IND)
Mohammadmehdi YEGANEHJAFARI (IRI)
Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN)
Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
Yongseok JEONG (KOR)
Mohammed ABDULKAREEM (KUW)
Temuulen ENKHTUYA (MGL)
Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB)

74kg

Seeds:
1. Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
2. Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
3. Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
4. Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)

Yash TUSHIR (IND)
Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
Daichi TAKATANI (JPN)
Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
Seungbong LEE (KOR)
Abdullah ABDALKAREEM (KUW)
Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Hong LOU (SGP)
Lakmal WIJESOORIYA (SRI)
Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB)

79kg

Seeds:
1. Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ)
2. Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI)
3. Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ)
4. Gourav BALIYAN (IND)

Gourav BALIYAN (IND)
Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI)
Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN)
Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ)
Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ)
Bumgue SEO (KOR)
Abdullah HAIDAR (KUW)
Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL)
Shuhrat BOZOROV (TJK)
Jasurbek USMONOXUNOV (UZB)

86kg

Seeds
1. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
2. Deepak PUNIA (IND)
3. Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
4. Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ)

Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Mohsen MOSTAFAVI (IRI)
Shota SHIRAI (JPN)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ)
Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
Temuujin MENDBILEG (MGL)
Muhammad INAM (PAK)
Weng CHOW (SGP)
Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB)

92kg

Seeds:
1. Takuma OTSU (JPN)
2. Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)
3. Viky CHAHAR (IND)
4. Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)

Viky CHAHAR (IND)
Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)
Takuma OTSU (JPN)
Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)
Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ)
Jinmyeong KIM (KOR)
Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)
Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB)

97kg

Seeds:
1. Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
2. Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
3. Satywart KADIAN (IND)
4. Minwon SEO (KOR)

Satywart KADIAN (IND)
Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN)
Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ)
Minwon SEO (KOR)
Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB)

125kg

Seeds:
1. Anirudh KUMAR (IND)
2. Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
3. Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)
4. Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)

Anirudh KUMAR (IND)
Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI)
Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)
Yeihyun JUNG (KGZ)
Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL)
Rustam ISKANDARI (TJK)
Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)

Anshu

Women's Wrestling

50kg

Seeds:
1. Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)
2. Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL)
3. Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)
4. Miran CHEON (KOR)

MANISHA (IND)
Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)
Aigul NURALIM (KAZ)
Miran CHEON (KOR)
Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL)
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)

53kg

Seeds:
1. Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
2. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

Swati SHINDE (IND)
Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ)
Hyunyoung OH (KOR)
Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

55kg

Seeds:
1. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ)

Sushma SHOKEEN (IND)
Umi IMAI (JPN)
Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ)
Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL)
Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB)

57kg

Seeds:
1. Anshu MALIK (IND)
2. Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
3. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
4. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)

Anshu MALIK (IND)
Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)
Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
Hyungjoo KIM (KOR)
Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
Danielle LIM (SGP)
Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)

59kg

Seeds:
1. Sarita MOR (IND)
2. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)
3. Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)

Sarita MOR (IND)
Sara NATAMI (JPN)
Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)
Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)
Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB)

62kg

Seeds:
1. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
2. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
3. Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ)

MANISHA (IND)
Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ)
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Hanbit LEE (KOR)
Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL)
Sachini SILVA (SRI)
Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB)

65kg

Seeds:
1. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)
2. Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB)
3. Dariga ABEN (KAZ)

RADHIKA (IND)
Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)
Dariga ABEN (KAZ)
Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB)

68kg

Seeds:
1. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
2. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
3. Azoda ESBERGENOVA (UZB)

Sonika HOODA (IND)
Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN)
Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Sujin PARK (KOR)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Azoda ESBERGENOVA (UZB)

72kg

Seeds:
1. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
2. Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)

NIKKI (IND)
Sumire NIIKURA (JPN)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)
Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB)

76kg

Seeds:
1. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)

Sudesh KUMARI (IND)
Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)
Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Seoyeon JEONG (KOR)
Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL)
Valentina TORENIYAZOVA (UZB)

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV

Greco-Roman

55kg

Seeds:
1. Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)
2. Hyeokjin JEON (KOR)

Arjun HALAKURKI (IND)
Ali NOURBAKHSH (IRI)
Mostafa ALQADE (JOR)
Yu SHIOTANI (JPN)
Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)
Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ)
Hyeokjin JEON (KOR)
Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL)
Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB)

60kg

Seeds:
1. Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
2. Gyanender DAHIYA (IND)
3. Ayata SUZUKI (JPN)
4. Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ)

Gyanender DAHIYA (IND)
Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI)
Ayata SUZUKI (JPN)
Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ)
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Hanjae CHUNG (KOR)
Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL)
Firuz TUKHTAEV (UZB)

63kg

Seeds:
1. Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN)
2. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

NEERAJ (IND)
Iman KHOONMOHAMMADI (IRI)
Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN)
Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ)
Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Jinseub SONG (KOR)
Baljinnyam DAMJIN (MGL)
Ahmad AL NAKDALI (SYR)
Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

67kg

Seeds:
1. Hansu RYU (KOR)
2. Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)
3. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)

Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND)
Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (IRI)
Katsuaki ENDO (JPN)
Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)
Eldiiar SATAROV (KGZ)
Hansu RYU (KOR)
Nyamdorj BATTULGA (MGL)
Mohamad FAWAZ (SYR)
Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)

72kg

Seeds:
1. Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI)
2. Jiyeon LEE (KOR)
3. Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ)
4. VIKAS (IND)

VIKAS (IND)
Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI)
Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN)
Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ)
Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ)
Jiyeon LEE (KOR)
Khanburged GANKHUYAG (MGL)
Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB)

77kg

Seeds:
1. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
2. Kodai SAKURABA (JPN)
3. Sajan BHANWALA (IND)
4. Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)

Sajan BHANWALA (IND)
Aref HABIBOLLAHI (IRI)
Kodai SAKURABA (JPN)
Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ)
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)

82kg

Seeds:
1. Dias KALEN (KAZ)
2. Harpreet SINGH (IND)

Harpreet SINGH (IND)
Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI)
Sultan EID (JOR)
Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN)
Dias KALEN (KAZ)
Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ)
Sejin YANG (KOR)
Batzul DAMJIN (MGL)
Jafar KHAN (QAT)
Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB)

87kg

Seeds:
1. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
2. Sunil KUMAR (IND)
3. Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Naser ALIZADEH (IRI)
Masato SUMI (JPN)
Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ)
Jinhyeok KIM (KOR)
Batbayar LUTBAYAR (MGL)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

97kg

Seeds:
1. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)
2. Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
3. Jewoo PARK (KOR)
4. Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ)

RAVI (IND)
Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI)
Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN)
Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ)
Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Jewoo PARK (KOR)
Munkhbayar TSOGTBAYAR (MGL)
Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)

130kg

Seeds:
1. Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)
2. Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
3. Arata SONODA (JPN)
4. Minseok KIM (KOR)

PREM (IND)
Amir GHASEMIMONJEZI (IRI)
Arata SONODA (JPN)
Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
Roman KIM (KGZ)
Minseok KIM (KOR)
Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL)
Timothy LOH (SGP)
Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

Wrestling 2026 Season Preview: Freestyle, Women's Wrestling, Greco-Roman

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - 11:11 By Vinay Siwach

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 2) -- The 2025 World Championships in Zagreb marked a turning point in international wrestling as 18 first-time world champions were crowned, signaling the arrival of a new generation well before the qualification cycle for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games begins.

A few scenes in Zagreb showed what the titles meant. A women’s champion hugging anyone she could find, a Freestyle winner delivering revenge, and a Greco-Roman champion lifting a nation’s pride. Now, 2026 will determine whether those champions can turn a breakthrough into sustained dominance, or if the veterans will reclaim control.

For traditional powers like the United States, Iran, and Japan, maintaining dominance will be harder than ever as more countries close the gap.

In Women’s Wrestling, Japan is being challenged by the DPR Korea, while in Freestyle the U.S. and Iran remain the central rivalry. In Greco-Roman, Iran is undoubtedly the best team in the world but Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are closing the gap as another strong season approaches.

As wrestling moves toward LA 2028, 2026 becomes the year where storylines start to stick. The UWW Pro Series is part of that shift, taking its final shape before launch. Wrestlers will be rewarded for their ranks for the year and will stand a chance to win a grand prize.

The fans can follow wrestling with United World Wrestling through UWW+ on uww.org, Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube.

Freestyle

A Sadulaev vs Yazdani final at the World Championships. A match-up like no other can happen in 2026.

The 2026 season begins with a question: when will Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) return? A dream match against Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) is now firmly on the cards. Yazdani, the 2016 Olympic champion at 74kg, is now competing at 97kg, ten years later. Sadulaev, who won Olympic gold at 86kg in Rio, moved to 97kg soon after that gold.

The Iranian may compete at the Zagreb Open or at the Tirana Ranking Series. If the return is delayed, world silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) will likely carry the weight for Iran early in the season.

At the same time, several major stars are preparing comebacks. Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) is expected to return after recovering from shoulder surgery, while Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) is also set to resume competition, most likely around May.

READ THE FULL FREESTYLE PREVIEW HERE

Women’s Wrestling

Japan captured five of the 10 medals on offer at the World Championships and nothing less is expected from its wrestlers. But out of the first four weight classes, it managed to win only one gold and missed out on medals in two of them.

Missing a medal at 50kg is rare for Japan. It happened in 2009, then in 2019 and in 2025. So what can be expected from the best country in Women's Wrestling or perhaps wrestling?

The DPR Korea, China, India, Ukraine and the United States keep challenging Japan at various competitions but it has managed to hold its own. With the gap closing, 2026 will be a similar story.

Continental Championships will be the first test for countries building towards the year-ending World Championships. But these tournaments can also witness the returns of a few wrestlers. Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), Amit ELOR (USA), Maria YEFREMOVA (UKR), and possibly VINESH (IND).

Additionally, several medal contenders are shifting weight classes in 2026, opening their paths to medals at the World Championships and later at the Olympics.

READ THE FULL WOMEN'S WRESTLING PREVIEW HERE

Greco-Roman

Iran ruled Greco-Roman in 2025 with dominant performances at all levels, and it was not even close. Barring that one battle with Uzbekistan at the U17 World Championships, Iran remained untouched. In 2022 and 2023, it showed signs of long-term dominance and in 2024, it won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Then in 2025, it won team titles at all age-group levels.

At the World Championships in Zagreb, it won four gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Out of the 10 wrestlers, eight won medals, missing only at 77kg and 60kg. Will 2026 be Iran's year again?

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) make the core team. World champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) has been the latest sensation, going unbeaten in 2025 and winning the U23 world gold at 87kg. Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI) is also a proven wrestler at 87kg having won an Olympic and world silver.

Iran has a second team which can challenge any established star in the world. U20 and U23 world champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) is a wrestler waiting for his turn at 130kg. Hedayati is getting closer to beating Mirzazadeh in selection for the Iran team.

Payam AHMADI (IRI), Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) and Ahmadi VAFA (IRI) are already part of the team while younger stars wait for their turns.

But there has been an influx of talent in Greco-Roman in the new cycle especially with Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Japan, Armenia and UWW wrestlers stepping up.

READ THE FULL GRECO-ROMAN PREVIEW HERE