#CanadaWrestling

Wrestling.Ca: Where are they now? – Bob Molle

Tuesday, January 18, 2022 - 02:34 By Wrestling Canada

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Bob Molle has lived an incredible life, although he says he is “just getting going.” His accomplishments include a silver medal in wrestling at the 1984 Olympics, two Grey Cup championships as a player for Winnipeg Blue Bombers, national championships as a wrestler and coach, an author, a public speaker and now a successful business coach. Molle explains that when he looks back at his life, what means the most to him are the relationships he developed along the way.

Born and raised in Saskatoon, Molle remembers that it was his high school coach that introduced him to the sport of wrestling. While he had always wrestled in the backyard as a kid, he had not considered formally participating in the sport until he was asked to try out. He loved the sport from the word “go”.

Wrestling became Bob’s third competitive sport, alongside football and hockey. It was not long before Molle’s affection for wrestling grew and his passion and abilities began to shine when the coach of the University of Saskatchewan team invited him to join their practices.

In 1980, Molle lost in the final of the national championship to his now lifelong friend, Nick Kiniski.  After the match, Kiniski suggested he come out to Simon Fraser University (SFU) so they could train together. Molle wanted to play football too, so he saw SFU as a “double opportunity.”

Molle continued to compete in both sports at SFU and was the first student to receive full scholarships in two sports. After capturing his first two (of four) national championships, World Cup and Pan-American Games bronze medals, Molle went on to win a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics – all by the age of 21. The following year, he made the transition to professional football after being drafted in the first round of the 1985 CFL draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Three short years later, Molle and the Bombers won the Grey Cup. He had an Olympic medal and a Grey Cup championship by the age of 26. While he had found success in both individual and team sports, it was the lessons from his wrestling career that propelled him to his next challenge. “In wrestling, you are on your own. When you win or lose you are by yourself. You can’t say it was someone’s fault or we could have played better as a team. In wrestling, you have to look in the mirror. There is beauty in that because you have to ask yourself how can I do better?”

Pursuing goals is something Molle takes to heart. His next challenge was taking over the wrestling program at the University of Manitoba. Molle explains that while he did know if he would be a good coach, the more he did it, the more naturally it came to him. When he traveled with the football team, he took the opportunity to recruit top talent to the university. This led to two national championships.

After his football career, Molle took the lessons of strong relationships and finding good talent to the corporate world as a business coach. He knew that mutual trust was key to teambuilding and success. These were the keys to helping his clients and building his own business through referrals.

Today, as a business coach, Molle helps companies build solid internal relationships and strong connections with stakeholders to whom they are responsible. He recruits talent and helps build teams that work. He works with a number of companies across the country and no matter what the business, the key is finding the right people to work together. Like any team, Bob starts with an assessment of the roster, the talent level and looks for gaps in communication or execution. With the right people in place and an understanding of how they can complement each other, he helps take his clients to the next level.

When Molle looks back on all his accomplishments, it is the relationships he formed that stand out as his biggest highlight. “I am nearly 60 and still have many of the relationships I made during my time in wrestling. I always say once you are part of the wrestling family, you are always part of the family.” He continues to support those in the wrestling community in any way that he can.

Molle has taken the lessons he first learned in the wrestling room and added to them each step of his life journey and no plans of ever retiring. He makes time for the things he enjoys in life like his family and exercise, but remains focused on his continued personal growth. He is always asking himself, “What can I do better?”

For more information on Canadian wrestling, visit https://wrestling.ca or follow them on Instagram and Twitter!

#wrestlebishkek

Makhmudov Repeats Triumph in Bishkek as Kyrgyzstan Strikes Three Gold

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 - 19:08 By Ken Marantz

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 7) -- The decibel level was just as deafening, and the outcome the same. The only thing different was the venue, although it was only about 50 meters across the street.

Local hero Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) gave the host country the victory it most wanted to see, winning the 77kg gold in Greco-Roman at the Asian Championships on Tuesday in Bishkek to repeat his breakout victory of 2018 in the same city.

Makhmudov held off a fierce challenge from Ali OSKOU (IRI) for a 3-3 victory in the final to secure his fourth career Asian gold and fifth medal overall, much to delight of the thunderous partisan crowd packed into Zhastyk Arena.

“It’s a huge, huge joy,” Makhmudov said. “Of course, it’s hard to put into words, but at the same time, I’m not going to stop here or dwell on it. Yes, I became the Asian champion, the anthem was played, the flag was raised. Now it’s time to move forward.”

While the spotlight shined brightest on Makhmudov, he had to share it a bit with compatriots Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) and Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), who also defeated Iranian opponents in striking gold at 63kg and 87kg, respectively, on the first night of medal matches in the seven-day tournament.

The night wasn’t a total wash for Iran, however, as reigning world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) showed he was still the preeminent power at 130kg by snatching his fourth career Asian gold, while Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) won the other gold at stake at 55kg.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) after winning his first Asian title in Bishkek in 2018. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Max Rose-Fyne)

It was eight years ago that a then-teenaged Makhmudov burst onto the international stage at Bishkek’s Soviet-era Kojomkul Sports Palace on the other side of Togolok Moldo Street, sending the home crowd into a cacophonous frenzy by winning the 72kg gold.

“I still remember 2018 the most, because I was younger then and the wrestling was much more spectacular,” Makhmudov said. “Right now, I’m not in my best shape, but I still managed to win my fourth gold medal. At the moment, I’m only at about 25–30 percent of my form.”

That 2018 win served as the launching pad for one of Asia’s top Greco wrestlers in history, although his ascent was delayed for some time due to a severe knee injury.

After taking a silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he reached the pinnacle in 2022 with victories at 77kg at both the World and Asian Championships, a feat he repeated in 2023. He added a second Olympic medal the next year with a bronze in Paris.

He took his time returning to the sport from a break after Paris, winning the title at the 2025 Islam Solidarity Games in his lone competition that year. This year, his only action ahead of Bishkek came at the Zagreb Ranking Series in February, where he failed to medal at 82kg.

If there were any concerns whether Makhmudov, who will turn 27 next week, has lost his edge, he put the matter to rest with his solid performance before the home fans.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) sets up a throw against Ali OSKOU (IRI) during the 77kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the final against Oskou, the winner of the Zagreb tournament, Makhmudov got the first chance in par terre and muscled the Iranian over with a reverse body lock, although Oskou rolled through for a reversal. The Kyrgyzstan side challenged for a leg foul, but it was denied, leaving Makhmudov with a slim 3-2 lead.

In the second period, Oskou received a passivity point but could not turn Makhmudov, leaving the latter ahead 3-3 on criteria. Makhmudov got a second chance at par terre, but after failing to pad his lead, he successfully fended off Oskou for the final minute to clinch the win.

“Without a doubt, the toughest match for me was the final, as you saw yourselves,” Makhmudov said. “It was very hard and intense. I prepared for it like any other match, there was responsibility, and of course, I wanted to win, as always.”

Making the moment more special was that his family was among the throng packed into the arena.

“This victory was very important to me,” he said. “My family was here, my father was in the stands, supporting me, praying for my victory. To win in front of him and to justify his hopes means a lot.”

Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ)Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) scored a 7-2 victory over Erfan JARKANI (IRI) in the 63kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Prior to Makhmudov’s triumph, Taalaibek Uulu fired up the crowd with a stunning 7-2 victory in the 63kg final over Zagreb Ranking Series champion Erfan JARKANI (IRI) for his first major medal of any kind.

Taalaibek Uulu scored an opening takedown, then hit a 4-point throw from par terre, off of which Jarkani scored a reversal to make it 7-1 after the first period. Jarkani got his chance at par terre in the second, but couldn’t budge Taalaibek Uulu, whose only previous senior international medal was a bronze in Antalya in 2024.

Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ)Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) celebrates after beating world champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) in the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Not to be outdone, world bronze medalist Zhanyshov completed Kyrgyzstan’s triple crown of titles with a masterful 11-4 victory at 87kg over a very tough Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), the 82kg champion at last year’s World Championships in Zagreb.

Zhanyshov, no doubt inspired by his compatriots’ success and the crowd’s fervor, stunned Farokhi with a spectacular 4-point lateral drop for a quick lead, which grew to 7-0 with an activity point, stepout and unsuccessful challenge.

Farokhi, also the 2025 world U23 champion in this weight class, surged back with a barrel roll for 2 and a 2-point exposure. But when he tried a roll, Zhanyshov stepped over for a 2-point exposure, and another 2 was tacked on after Farokhi bridged out of the ring, making it 11-4.

That was how it ended, as neither wrestler could generate any more points. A despondent Farokhi abandoned the fight with a full seven seconds still on the clock.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) captured his fourth Asian title at 130kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 130kg, Mirzazadeh proved too much for Russian-born Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB), as he was never threatened in a 9-0 victory to add to his previous Asian golds from 2020, 2023 and 2024.

Mirzazadeh, who won his second world title in Zagreb last September, rolled Tsitsuashvili twice from par terre in the first period for a 5-0 lead, then ended the match at 27 seconds into the second with a takedown-gut wrench combination.

“After the World Championships in 2025, my first competition in 2026 started with the Asian Championships and I was able to achieve the gold medal with a brilliant performance,” Mirzazadeh said. “This is the first step of my path this year in 2026 and I hope that I can achieve succes one after the other.”

For Mirzazadeh, getting to Bishkek was half the battle, given the limits on air travel out of his country.

“Emotionally, it was definitely different,” he said. “We were probably on the road for fifty hours, on the ground, because our country is in a difficult situation right now, but I thank God that I was able to win the gold medal despite these issues and the difficulty of the route.

“I hope that I was able to bring a smile to the faces of the people of my country for a moment."

Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB)Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) celebrates after winning his first Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 55kg, two-time bronze medalist Botirov struck gold at last with an impressive 9-0 win in 1:47 over LALIT (IND).

Botirov got the first chance in par terre, and that was all he needed, as he reeled off four gut wrenches despite some tough resistance from Lalit, who had been looking to become India’s first Asian champion in Greco since 2020.

“This is the result of all our efforts, my first gold medal at the senior Asian Championships,” Botirov said. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my coaches who supported me closely throughout this journey. We prepared very ntensively for this competition. Before coming here, my coach told me, ‘You will become a champion,’ and sent me here with that belief.”

Botirov, who added to the bronze medals he took home in 2023 and 2025, had avenged a loss in this year’s Zagreb Ranking Series final to Mohammad HOSSEINVAND (IRI) in the quarterfinals.

“I lost that match by two points,” Botirov said of the defeat in Zagreb. “But this time, I changed my tactics. I started attacking from the very beginning, took the first period, and studied his movements. That’s how I managed to win.”

Kaisei TANABE (JPN)Kaisei TANABE (JPN), Freestyle 65kg Asian champion last year, won a Greco bronze this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Ex-Freestyle champ Tanabe joins exclusive club with Greco bronze

In the bronze-medal matches, Kaisei TANABE (JPN) joined an exclusive club of wrestlers in Asian Championships history who have won medals in both Freestyle and Greco when he took home a bronze at 63kg.

Tanabe, the champion last year at Freestyle 65kg, secured his place in history when he forged out a 9-0 victory over Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM), securing the winning point with a stepout at the first-period buzzer.

“My feeling is that I’m relieved, but I also have a strong regret that I didn’t put out in yesterday’s match what I did today,” Tanabe said, referring to his loss on Monday in the semifinals to Taalaibek Uluu.

Tanabe pulled away with a 4-point back drop from par terre, then reeled off three consecutive stepouts. An unsuccessful challenge that the final one was scored in time added the final point.

Regarding the flashy 4-pointer, Tanabe said, “A lot of people said they wanted me to put on an exciting match for the people watching. Whether I win or lose, I want to liven things up.”

Tanabe, who father and coach Chikara TANABE (JPN) was an Olympic bronze medalist, was unable to defend his Freestyle crown after losing in the semifinals at the All-Japan Championships in December, but earned his ticket to Bishkek by winning at Greco 63kg.

Tanabe, a product of powerhouse Nippon Sports Science University, said he will continue competing in both styles “as long as it continues to be fun for me. I want to be a wrestler who people find incredibly entertaining, whether or not they wrestle or whether or not that know about wrestling.”

On Wednesday, Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), the Freestyle 70kg champion in 2022, will get a chance to join Tanabe in becoming a double-style medalist when he competes in the bronze-medal match at Greco 72kg.

The other 63kg bronze on Tuesday went to Hyunwoong CHOI (KOR), who jumped out to a 7-0 lead after a 4-point headlock throw, then held on to deny former champion Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) a fourth career Asian medal.

Korea also picked up a bronze in the wildest match of the tournament so far, with Yeonghun NOH (KOR) chalking up three 4-point throws while also nearly being pinned in coming away with a crazy 15-14 win at 77kg over AMAN (IND).

Noh used a back trip, headlock and hip throw for his 4-pointers, the last of which should have ended the match at 12-3, but Aman rolled through to continue the movement and came up with a 2-point exposure that kept him alive.

Behind 14-7 heading into the second period, Aman countered for 2-point takedown, then stopped a throw attempt to send Noh straight to his back for 4 – and what the mat referee indicated was a fall. But it was not confirmed, and Noh survived the final 23 seconds, albeit there were the obligatory challenges that added to the drama but did not change the outcome.

In the other 77kg match, Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) got three gut wrenches from par terre in the first period, then finished up a 10-1 victory in the second over Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ) for his second career Asian bronze. 

At 55kg, Hosseinvand, the lone Iranian to fail to make the final on the first day, assured he would not return empty-handed, silencing the home crowd with a 7-1 victory over Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ).

Hosseinvand, put on top in par terre for a second time in the first period after a foul, used the opportunity to score a 4-point throw to go up 7-0, then held out when he was on the bottom in the second period to deny Muratbek Uulu a second career Asian bronze.

Huoying SHI (CHN), who had his breakout year in 2025 with a bronze medal at the World Championships, added a continental bronze in his senior Asian debut with a 9-0 pasting of Mizuki ARAKI (JPN).

Shi, who had failed to medal on the U20 and U23 levels at either of the Asian or World Championships, scored 2 with a counter to the back, then pancaked Asian debutante Araki for 4. From there, he went to a gut wrench to finish the match in 1:17.

At 87kg, former champions Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) and Sunil KUMAR (IND) both added to hefty Asian medal collections, one with an one-sided win and other having to come from behind for a close victory.

Tursynov, who won the Asian title back in 2014 and won two silvers in the ensuing years, had little trouble demolishing Dovletmyrat BAYRAMOV (TKM), scoring a roll, 4-point back suplex and another roll from par terre for a 9-0 win in 1:41.

Kumar, the 2020 Asian champion, trailed by four points going into the second period when he used the par terre advantage to score two gut wrenches and walk off with a 5-4 victory over Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) – a two-time past bronze medalist himself – and boost his medal tally to six overall.

At 130kg, Korea made it 3 for 3 in bronze-medal matches by winning the battle of the Kims, as Minseok KIM (KOR) defeated namesake Roman KIM (KGZ) 4-0, scoring all of his points with slick first-period arm throw that emulated wrestlers half his size.

It was the Korean Kim’s fifth career Asian medal, adding to two bronzes from the Asian Games and another from the 2018 World Championships.

Three-time Asian U23 champion Wenhao JIANG (CHN) earned his first senior Asian medal with a 9-2 win over returning bronze medalist Yuta NARA (JPN) in the other 130kg match.

Photo

Day 2 Results

55kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) df. LALIT (IND) by TS, 9-0, 1:47

BRONZE: Huoying SHI (CHN) df. Mizuki ARAKI (JPN) by TS, 9-0, 1:17
BRONZE: Mohammad HOSSEINVAND (IRI) df. Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ), 7-1

60kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) by TS, 10-0, 2:00
SF2: Se Ung RI (PRK) df. Yerbol KAMALIYEV (KAZ) by TS, 8-0, :27

63kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Erfan JARKANI (IRI), 7-2

BRONZE: Kaisei TANABE (JPN) df. Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM) by TS, 9-0, 3:00
BRONZE: Hyunwoong CHOI (KOR) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 9-6

67kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) by TS, 9-0, 1:58
SF2: Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN) df. Abdumalik AMINOV (UZB), 5-2

72kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ) df. Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ), 3-1
SF2: Javad REZAEI (IRI) df. Shakhzod KUCHKOROV (UZB) by TS, 9-0, 1:55

77kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Ali OSKOU (IRI), 3-3

BRONZE: Yeonghun NOH (KOR) df. AMAN (IND), 15-14
BRONZE: Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) df. Kaharman KISSYMETOV (KAZ) by TS, 10-1, 4:59

82kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) df. Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), 9-8
SF2: Amin HOSSEINI (IRI) df. PRINCE (IND) by TS, 10-0, 2:25

87kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), 11-4

BRONZE: Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) df. Dovletmyrat BAYRAMOV (TKM) by TS, 9-0, 1:41
BRONZE: Sunil KUMAR (IND) df. Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB), 5-4

97kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Hadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), 3-1
SF2: NITESH (IND) df. Zegang WANG (CHN), 7-2

130kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB) by TS, 9-0, 3:27

BRONZE: Minseok KIM (KOR) df. Roman KIM (KGZ), 4-0
BRONZE: Wenhao JIANG (CHN) df. Yuta NARA (JPN), 9-2