#WrestleParis

Wrestling at Paris 2024: Fujinami dominates, Orta stunned

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

PARIS (August 7) -- Third day of wrestling at the Paris 2024 Olympics and we are finishing with the final two weights of Greco-Roman -- 67kg and 87kg. Women's Wrestling is continuing with 53kg.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS DAY 2

13:46: Saeid ESMAELI (IRI) looks impressive in ending the bid of Luis ORTA (CUB) to win consecutive Olympic golds, scoring two stepouts and a takedown in the second period to finish up a 9-0 victory. Esmaeli opens the first period with a shrug-by takedown, then adds a passivity point. Although he can't turn Orta, he shows he is the more dominant on his feet when he nearly gets a takedown that, on a challenge, results in a 2-point penalty against Orta to make it 5-0 at the break.

13:35: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) withstands the attack of Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) and a boisterous partisan crowd to advance to the Greco 67kg semifinals with a 3-2 win. Galstyan scores a first-period takedown, which gives him the criteria lead when Sylla ties the match with a stepout and a passivity point. Sylla had his chance but couldn't budge Galstyan from par terre, and a somewhat frivolous challenge at the end gives the Armenian his third point.

13:21: What a comeback for Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) in his Greco 67kg quarterfinal. The Tokyo silver medalist trails 6-2 going into the second period against Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ), who had a 4-point takedown to maintain any criteria advantage. But Nasibov scores a takedown, then three consecutive stepouts to win 7-6.

13:12: Qianyu PANG (CHN) gets a 4-point takedown early on and rolls to a 10-0 victory over Jonna MALGREN (SWE) and a spot in the women's 53kg semifinals against Fujinami. Pang and Fujinami faced each other at the 2023 Asian Games, with Fujinami winning 10-0. 

13:07: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) gets a stepout that is upheld on an unsuccessful challenge, giving him a 3-1 win over Valentin PETIC (MDA) and a spot in the Greco 67kg semifinals.

13:02: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) falls behind in her women's 53kg quarterfinal against Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL), but it's only momentarily. The Japanese star quickly retakes the lead, then bulls Batkhuyag over and gains a fall. Fujinami spends most of the match fighting off Batkhuyag's whizzer, which the Mongolian used to set up a trip for a takedown that put her ahead 2-2 on criteria early in the second period. But Fujinami quickly comes back with a pair of takedowns, scoring the fall after the second one.

12:54: Luis ORTA (CUB), the Tokyo champion at Greco 60kg, gets her quest to add the gold at 67kg with an 8-0 victory over Asian silver medalist Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN). Orta finishes the match with his third stepout of the first period.  

12:53: It ain't over til it's over. Annika WENDLE (GER) had just given up a takedown and gut wrench to fall behind 5-0 against Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) in their women's 53kg quarterfinal. Wendle, however, bulls Yetgil over on a counter and slams her onto her back for a fall.

12:48: Asian champion Saeid ESMAELI (IRI) hits a 4-point throw from par terre en route to a 10-0 victory over Ishak GHAIOU (ALG) and a place in the Greco 67kg quarterfinals.

12:45: European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) shows why he is the favorite to win gold here in Paris. He rolls over Payton JACOBSON (USA) 10-0 in two minutes and 10 seconds.

12:44: Lucia YEPEZ (VEN) powers into the women's 53kg semifinals with a victory by fall over Andreea ANA (ROU). The world bronze medalist goes ahead 5-0 in the first period with an activity point, takedown, fleeing point and lost challenge. In the second period, she takes Ana down to her back and secures the fall.

12:40: Not much scoring, but a welcome victory for the home team nonetheless. Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) gets the second of the passivity points and he advances to the Greco 67kg quarterfinals with a 1-1 win on last-point criteria over Souleyman NASR (TUN).  

12:33: Two-time former European champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE), looking to preserve her 3-3 lead on criteria, gets in on a double against Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN) in the final minute. As Arguello reaches over for a counter lift, Malmgren presses ahead and ends up with a victory by fall.  

12:30: Not the most action-packed bout Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) manages to beat Bachir SID AZARA (ALG) 2-1 and move to the quarterfinals at 87kg. He will take on Novikov.

12:29: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) is made to work hard for his 3-2 victory over a gutsy Andres MONTANO (ECU) at Greco 67kg, scoring a creative 2-point exposure in the second period to secure a place in the quarterfinals.

12:24: Tokyo silver medalist PANG Qianyu (CHN) makes short work of Mia AQUINO (GUM) at women's 53kg, getting a quick takedown and reeling off four gut wrenches for a 10-0 win in 27 seconds.

12:21: 2022 world silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) gets a takedown straight to the back and records the fall over Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR), earning her a clash with Fujinami in the women's 53kg quarterfinals. 

12:15: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) scores a takedown with :05 left to pull off a 3-2 victory over former world champion Mate NEMES (SRB) at Greco 77kg.

12:15: Two-time world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) avoids the upset bug that has hit her compatriots, launching her Olympic debut with a victory by fall over Dominique PARRISH (USA) at women's 53kg. It was the match that never was at the 2022 World Championships, where Parrish won the gold after Fujinami withdrew due to injury. With the win, Fujinami stretched her current winning streak to 133 in a row dating back to junior high school.

12:10: Defending champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) has no problem seeing off Haitao QIAN (CHN) at 87kg. Followed by Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) defends from par terre and clinches a 5-1 win over Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)

12:09: Two-time European bronze medalist Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) overwhelms 2022 world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) for a 10-0 victory at women's 53kg. Staked to a 4-0 lead, Yetgil scores a 4-point takedown, then adds a gut wrench to end the match in 1:41.

12:05: Annika WENDLE (GER) scores a takedown with 52 seconds left, then survives a late surge by eight-time European medalist Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) to hold on for a 3-2 at women's 53kg. The 32-year-old Prevolaraki, who is looking for her first medal in three Olympic appearances, nearly gets a last-second takedown, but it ends up as a stepout on the challenge.

12:03: In a battle of former world bronze medalists, Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) gets a 4-point throw and 2-point roll from par terre, then stuffs a back roll attempt by Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) for 4 more in a 12-1 win at Greco 77kg.

11:53: Three-time reigning European 55kg champion Andreea ANA (ROU), a first-round loser three years ago in Tokyo, scores two takedowns in the second period and ousts world bronze medalist Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) 5-0 at women's 53kg.

11:53: Valentin PETIC (MDA) gets a pair of passivity points and another 2 for an illegal hold penalty to defeat Nestor ALMANZA (CHI) 4-0 to advance to the Greco 77kg quarterfinals.

11:47: How do you start your Olympics? Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) begins with a huge five-pointer and wins his first bout at 87kg 9-0 against Carlos MUNOZ (COL)

11:42: World bronze medalist and top seed Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) dodges a bullet in edging Asian Games bronze medalist Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) 7-4 at women's 53kg. Yepez leads 4-2 when Choe scores a takedown off a single with :18 left. But Yepez takes the lead right back with a takedown five seconds later, gets a penalty point for stalling by the exhausted Choe, then holds on for the win.

11:41: European champion and two-time world medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) knocks off Tokyo bronze medalist Mohamed ELSAYAD (EGY) 9-0 in the opening match at Greco 67kg. Jafarov can't score from par terre in the first period, but gets a 4-point throw off an underhook to go ahead 5-0. He takes advantage of a second chance in par terre in the second period, getting a 2-point throw to end the match.

11:40: The first world champion wrestling today falls! Ali CENGIZ (TUR) has no answer to Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL) defense and drops his opening bout at 87kg 5-3.

11:18: After a stunning loss in yesterday's quarterfinals derailed his gold-medal hopes, Tokyo silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) earns a chance for a bronze medal with a 9-0 rout of Jair CUERO (COL). Makhmudov opens with a 4-point throw, then gets a pair of gut wrenches from par terre in the second period. He will face Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) later tonight in a bid to become a two-time Olympic medalist.

11:08: In a Greco 77kg repechage match to start the action on Mat A, European champion Aram VARDANYAN (ARM) gets three rolls from par terre in the first period, then scores a takedown in the second to close out a 9-0 victory over Abd OUAKALI (ALG).

11:05: With the women's 50kg program reshuffled by the shocking Vinesh disqualification, there is only one repechage match. World bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) builds up a six-point lead against Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG), then ends the match at 1:53 with a 4-point throw to advance to the bronze-medal match.

11:02: A big update for tonight's 50kg final of women's wrestling

Vinesh VINESH, from NOC of India in 50kg, failed the weigh-in on day two of her competition which has forced United World Wrestling to promote Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB) to the final of 50kg at the Paris Olympics. She will take on Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) in the final.

11:00: Welcome to day three at the Champs de Mars Arena.

#WrestleHangzhou

Hangzhou Asian Games 2022 Entry List

By Vinay Siwach

HANGZHOU, China (September 26) -- The 19th Asian Games kicked off in Hangzhou, China on September 23 with wrestling scheduled to take place from October 4 to 7 at the Lin'an Sports Culture & Exhibition Centre.

Wrestling will be attended by 29 countries in Freestyle, Women’s Wrestling and Greco-Roman. All three styles will compete in the six Olympic weight classes and award 72 medals — gold, silver and two bronze — in each weight class.

The Freestyle weight classes for the Asian Games are 57kg, 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg. Greco-Roman will be competed in 60kg, 67kg, 77kg, 87kg, 97kg and 130kg. Women’s Wrestling will see wrestlers in 50kg, 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 68kg and 76kg.

Here are the entries for the Asian Games in all styles:

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) is the defending champion at 86kg at the Asian Games. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

57kg
Sophors SOEUN (CAM)
Minghu LIU (CHN)
Chongsong HAN (KOR)
AMAN (IND)
Ebrahim KHARI (IRI)
Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN)
Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ)
Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ)
Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Muhammad BILAL (PAK)
Alvin LOBREGUITO (PHI)
Sunggwon KIM (KOR)
Hikmatullo VOHIDOV (TJK)
Nattawut KAEWKHUANCHUM (THA)
Nodirjon SAFAROV (UZB)

65kg
Mashal SADEQI (AFG)
Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
Bunna YON (CAM)
Baowen WEI (CHN)
Kwangjin KIM (KOR)
Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI)
Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN)
Sanzhar MUKHTAR (KAZ)
Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL)
Abdullah ASSAF (PLE)
Ronil TUBOG (PHI)
Changsu KIM (KOR)
Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK)
Siripong JUMPAKAM (THA)
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)
Ibrahim GUZAN (YEM)

74kg
Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN)
Chheang CHHOEUN (CAM)
Feng LU (CHN)
Yash TUSHIR (IND)
Yones EMAMI (IRI)
Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN)
Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ)
Mohammed ABDULKAREEM (KUW)
Orozbek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ)
Dawson SIHAVONG (LAO)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Suresh CHUNARA (NEP)
Inayat ULLAH (PAK)
Byungmin GONG (KOR)
Magomet EVLOEV (TJK)
Parinya CHAMNANJAN (THA)
Perman HOMMADOV (TKM)
Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB)
Tat du CAN (VIE)

86kg
Farhad MALIKZADA (AFG)
Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN)
Vuthy HENG (CAM)
Xiao SUN (CHN)
Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Randa RIANDESTA (INA)
Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)
Shota SHIRAI (JPN)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Mukhammad ABDULLAEV (KGZ)
Bat-Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Haider BUTT (PAK)
Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
Weng CHOW (SGP)
Yanaal BARAZE (SYR)
Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM)
Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB)

97kg
Sardar Wali NADERI (AFG)
Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)
Sari MO (CAM)
Awusayiman HABILA (CHN)
VICKY (IND)
Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI)
Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN)
Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)
Kanybek ABDULKHAIROV (KGZ)
Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL)
Juhwan SEO (KOR)
Rahmonjon MAHMADBEKOV (TJK)
Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM)
Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB)
Lam NGO (VIE)

125kg
Bali SOU (CAM)
BUHEEERDUN (CHN)
Sumit MALIK (IND)
Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)
Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ)
Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ)
Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
Raj YADAV (NEP)
Zaman ANWAR (PAK)
Yeihyun JUNG (KOR)
Omar SAREM (SYR)
Farkhod ANAKULOV (TJK)
Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM)
Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB)

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) will wrestle at the her first Asian Games and look to extend the 127-match winning streak. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Samnang DIT (CAM)
Jiang ZHU (CHN)
Yi Jing CHEN (TPE)
Sonhyang KIM (PRK)
Pooja GEHLOT (IND)
Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)
Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ)
Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL)
Jiah PINGOT (PHI)
Miran CHEON (KOR)
Manlika ESATI (THA)
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)
Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE)

53kg
Vannak SAMBAT (CAM)
Qianyu PANG (CHN)
Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE)
Hyogyong CHOE (PRK)
ANTIM (IND)
Candra MARIMAR (INA)
Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ)
Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL)
Hyunyoung OH (KOR)
Ahinsa FERNANDO (SRI)
Vatansulton SHAKARSHOEVA (TJK)
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)
Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE)

57kg
Sreylen CHHOEUN (CAM)
Kexin HONG (CHN)
Insun JONG (PRK)
Mansi AHLAWAT (IND)
Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)
Emma TISSINA (KAZ)
Erdene-Suvd BAT-ERDENE (MGL)
Siwangi DUBE (NEP)
Jeongae BARK (KOR)
Danielle LIM (SGP)
Sriprapa THO KAEW (THA)
Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB)
Thi Anh TRAN (VIE)

62kg
Noeurn SOEURN (CAM)
Jia LONG (CHN)
Hsin Ping PAI (TPE)
Hyongyong MUN (KOR)
Sonam MALIK (IND)
Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ)
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)
Sushila CHAND (NEP)
Hanbit LEE (KOR)
Salinee SRISOMBAT (THA)
Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB)
Thi My Hanh NGUYEN (VIE)

68kg
Kanha CHEA (CAM)
Feng ZHOU (CHN)
RADHIKA (IND)
Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN)
Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ)
Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR)
Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB)
Dieu Thuong LAI (VIE)

76kg
Juan WANG (CHN)
Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE)
KIRAN (IND)
Varadisa HIDAYAT (INA)
Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Zagardulam NAIGALSUREN (MGL)
Seoyeon JEONG (KOR)
Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB)
Thi Linh DANG (VIE)

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)World champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) will be in Hangzhou to wrestle in Greco-Roman 77kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari) 

Greco-Roman

60kg
Pros CHRAY (CAM)
Liguo CAO (CHN)
Jui Chi HUANG (TPE)
Seung RI (PRK)
Gyanender DAHIYA (IND)
Suparmanto SUPARMANTO (INA)
Meysam DALKHANI (IRI)
Ayata SUZUKI (JPN)
Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ)
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Hanjae CHUNG (KOR)
Aslamjon AZIZOV (TJK)
Thanwa SUTDI (THA)
Arslanbek ZAKIRBAYEV (TKM)
Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)
Tien Hai BUI (VIE)

67kg
Lei LI (CHN)
Yongjin RO (PRK)
NEERAJ (IND)
Muhammad ALIANSYAH (INA)
Danial SOHRABI (IRI)
Katsuaki ENDO (JPN)
Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)
Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ)
Hansu RYU (KOR)
Nuttapong HINMEE (THA)
Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK)
Mansur NURBERDIYEV (TKM)
Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)

77kg
Sophak KEO (CAM)
Rui LIU (CHN)
VIKAS (IND)
Andika SULAEMAN (INA)
Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI)
Kodai SAKURABA (JPN)
Azat SADYKOV (KAZ)
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Bakhit BADR (QAT)
Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR)
Wisit THAMWIRAT (THA)
Dilshod OMONGELDIYEV (UZB)

87kg
Veasna CHHOEUNG (CAM)
Fei PENG (CHN)
Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Naser ALIZADEH (IRI)
Masato SUMI (JPN)
Maksat SAILAU (KAZ)
Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ)
Jafar KHAN (QAT)
Byeongcheol SHIN (KOR)
Sukhrob ABDULKHAEV (TJK)
Azym ANNAMAMMEDOV (TKM)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURTOV (UZB)
Dinh Hieu NGHIEM (VIE)

97kg
Yiming LI (CHN)
Narinder CHEEMA (IND)
Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI)
Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN)
Islam UMAYEV (KAZ)
Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Seyeol LEE (KOR)
Atthaphol SIRITHAHAN (THA)
Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM)
Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)

130kg
Lingzhe MENG (CHN)
NAVEEN (IND)
Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)
Sota OKUMURA (JPN)
Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
Roman KIM (KGZ)
Minseok KIM (KOR)
Timothy Yu LOH (SGP)
Nanthawat PANPHUEK (THA)
Aybegshazada KURRAYEV (TKM)
Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB)