Asian Games

Yazdani Captures 86kg Asiad Gold with Victory Over Breakout Lebanese

Monday, August 20, 2018 - 03:45 By United World Wrestling Press

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The way that world and Olympic champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) stormed to the gold medal at the Asian Games was hardly a surprise. But what might have turned some heads was the opponent on the wrong end of his fourth technical fall of the day.

Yazdani added the Asian Games title to his growing collection with a one-sided victory in the freestyle 86kg final over American-born Domenic ABOUNADER (LBN), who gave Lebanon its first-ever continental medal.

Yazdani was one of two Iranian winners of the five gold medals at stake on the opening day of four-day competition in the quadrennial event at the Jakarta Convention Center. Mongolia, Uzbekistan and India also came away with golds as 10 countries in total earned medals. 


Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Yazdani, who earned his first career title at the Asian Championships in Bishkek earlier this year, completely overwhelmed the 23-year-old Abounader, taking just 1:29 to score a 10-0 technical fall. 

In contrast to the world-renowned Yazdani, Abounader's name recognition may be limited to U.S. college wrestling fans. A four-time qualifier for the NCAA tournament at Michigan University who placed fifth this year, he was competing in his first major international tournament. 

Abounader showed he could handle the added pressure as two of his victories came by one point---an 8-7 decision over Aligadzhi GAMIDGADZHIEV (KGZ) in the quarterfinals and a 10-9 thriller over Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ). 

Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ) and Uitumen ORGODOL (MGL),  earned the bronze medals. Both won silvers in Bishke, Orgodol at 86kg and Davlumbaev at 92kg, which is not on the Asia Games program because only the Olympic weights are in use.

Prior to Abounader's arrival in the final, the best previous finish by a Lebanese wrestler at an Asian tournament was Khodr BCHARA's sixth place in Greco-Roman 130kg in the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing.


Ali KARIMI (IRI) (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Iran picked up its second gold when Ali KARIMI (IRI) scored with a 4-point move in the first period and cruised to a 6-0 victory in the 97kg final over five-time Asian medalist Magomed MUSAEV (KGZ). 

Karimi, the 2017 Asian champion in New Delhi, has returned from a six-month suspension meted out after he purposely lost a match at the Under-23 World Championships last November to avoid facing an Israeli opponent in the next round. 

In the semifinals, Karimi scored a first-period fall over Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and two-time Asian champion Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB). 

Ibragimov came back to take the bronze medal by injury default over Takeshi YAMAGUCHI (JPN). The other bronze was won by KIM Jaegang (KOR).

In other action, Asian champion KANG Kum Song (PRK) pulled off the shock of the day when he knocked off Paris 2017 world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) in the first round at 57kg---only to fall short of the gold medal himself. 

Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) scored a 5-point throw in the first period of the final before dealing Kang an 8-2 defeat to make his first continental medal a gold one.  

Erdenebat, winner of the Mongolian Open in June, was a world bronze medalist at both Paris 2017 and Las Vegas 2015. In Paris, he lost a nail-biting 4-4 decision on big point in the third round to Takahashi. 

Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Takahashi, the 2017 Asian champion, shook off his 9-5 loss to Kang and came back to take home a bronze with a tough 3-3 victory over LIU Minghu (CHN), scoring the decisive and lone point of the second period for the win.

The match against Kang was marred by a scoreboard malfunction that caused a 15-minute delay between the periods. Takahashi told the Japanese press that he felt that allowed Kang to regain his stamina.

Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI), third at the 2017 Asian Championships, captured the other bronze, scoring eight second-period points in a 9-4 win over KIM Sunggwon (KOR). 

Bajrang BAJRANG (IND), a silver medalist at 61kg four years ago in Incheon, made it to the top step of the podium this time with an action-packed 11-8 victory over Bishkek 2018 silver medalist Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) in the 65kg final.

Bajrang avenged a second-round loss to Takatani in Bishkek, where he went in as the defending champion but had to settle for a bronze medal. 

Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Bajrang, who became a national hero when he won the gold at the 2017 Asian Championships in New Delhi, caught Takatani off guard early to take a 6-0 lead, but the Japanese came back with a pair of takedowns to make it 6-4 going into the second period. 

There was more exchanges of points in the second period, but the Indian was able to maintain his lead and hold on for the victory that gave India its 10th wrestling gold medal in the 34-year history of the Asian Games. It follows the victory by Yogeshwar DUTT---Bajrang's mentor---in the same weight class in 2014, which ended a 28-year gold medal drought.

“I have taken revenge of my Asian Championship loss,” Bajrang told the Indian press. “My next aim is the World Championships.”

Taking home the bronzes were Sirojiddin KHASANOV (UZB) and Sayatbek OKASSOV (KAZ).

Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

At 74kg, Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) won a second straight Asia Games gold and made amends for failing to defend his Asian Championships title when he eked out a 3-2 victory in the final over Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ). 

Abdurakhmonov, who won at 70kg four years ago, scored all of his points in the second period to edge Kaisanov, who finished third at Bishkek 2018. Abdurakhmonov advanced to the final with a comprehensive technical fall victory in the semifinals over Paris 2017 bronze medalist Yuhi FUJINAMI. 

Fujinami bounced back to take a bronze medal, building up a 7-0 lead then holding off 2016 world bronze medalist Mostafa HOSSEINKHANI (IRI), 10-8, in the third-place playoff. That was a near repeat of Fujinami's 7-6 nail-biter over the Iranian in the third round at the world championships. 

The other bronze went to GONG Byungmin (KOR), who rolled to a 10-0 technical fall victory over 37-year-old Abdullrahman IBRAHIM (QAT). 

Earlier, veteran Sushil KUMAR (IND), the two-time Olympic medalist looking for Asian glory at 35, lost 5-3 in the first round to Adam BATIROV (BRN), then saw his day end when Batirov fell to Fujinami in the quarterfinals. 

“I was also not expecting this result,” Kumar told the Indian press. “I had prepared, but wins and losses are all part and parcel of sport.”

The competition continues Monday with the final freestyle weight class, 130kg, and the first four in women's wrestling, 50kg, 53kg, 57kg and 62kg. 

Freestyle

57kg (19 entries)
Gold - Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) df. KANG Kum Song (PRK), 8-2 
Bronze - Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. LIU Minghu (CHN), 3-3
Bronze - Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI) df. KIM Sunggwon (KOR), 9-4

SF - Kang df. Liu by TF, 10-0, 4:18
SF - Erdenebat df. Atrinagharchi, 8-2

65kg (21 entries)
Gold - Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) df. Daichi TAKATANI (JPN), 11-8
Bronze - Sirojiddin KHASANOV (UZB) df. Batmagnai BATCHULUUN (MGL), 10-6
Bronze - Sayatbek OKASSOV (KAZ) df. Batyr BORJAKOV (TKM), 5-2

SF - Bajrang df. Batchuluun by TF, 10-0, 3:56
SF - Takatani df. Okassov, 4-4

74kg (21 entries)
Gold - Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) df. Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ), 3-2
Bronze - GONG Byungmin (KOR) df. Abdullrahman IBRAHIM (QAT) by TF, 10-0, 3:24 
Bronze - Yuhi FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Mostafa HOSSEINKHANI (IRI), 10-8 

SF - Kaisanov df. Gong, 12-8
SF - Abdurakhmonov df. Fujinami by TF, 11-1, 3:53

86kg (19 entries)
Gold - Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) df. Domenic ABOUNADER (LBN) by TF, 10-0, 1:29 
Bronze - Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ) df. Aligadzhi GAMIDGADZHIEV (KGZ), 3-0
Bronze - Uitumen ORGODOL (MGL) df. Pawan KUMAR (IND), 8-1

SF - Abou Nader df. Davlumbayev, 10-9
SF - Yazdani df. Orgodol by TF, 12-2, 4:57

97kg (13 entries)
Gold - Alireza KARIMI (IRI) df. Magomed MUSAEV (KGZ), 6-0
Bronze - Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) df. Takeshi YAMAGUCHI (JPN) by Injury Default, 3:28 (6-0) 
Bronze - KIM Jaegang (KOR) df. Noor Ahmad AHMADI (AFG), 3-0

SF - Karimi df. Ibragimov by Fall, 1:27 (4-2)
SF - Musaev df. Kim, 1-1

#WrestleZagreb

Uguev ends six-year world title drought with 61kg gold

Sunday, September 14, 2025 - 22:03 By Ken Marantz

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 13) -- With a spectacular display of his old form over two days, Zavur UGUEV (UWW) went from an afterthought back to one of the sport's most dominant wrestlers.

Uguev finessed his way to a third world title and first in six years when he captured the freestyle 61kg gold at the World Championships in Zagreb on Sunday, on the first night of finals in four Freestyle weight classes.

Uguev, the Tokyo Olympic champion at 57kg, rolled to the gold with a comprehensive 11-2 victory in the final over Asian bronze medalist Ahmad JAVAN (IRI), adding to the world titles he won in 2018 and 2019, also at 57kg.

"This is a very joyful event in my life -- I am once again on the top of the podium," Uguev said. "I am very happy and grateful to my team, my coach, my sparring partners, our national team -- thanks to everyone who played a part in my victory."

In other finals, Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) also became a three-time world champion with his third victory in five years at 125kg, while the two other golds at stake went to first-time winners who had previously made the podium, Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) at 70kg and Zahid VALENCIA (USA) at 86kg.

Uguev had been the dominant lightweight for the span from his first world title in 2018 to his Olympic triumph in 2021. But then he hit a slump with a fifth-place finish in 2023, a result he repeated in 2024, even after moving up to the non-Olympic weight class of 61kg.

This year, he gave an indication of what might lie ahead when he won his first-ever European title, having previously won a bronze in 2017 and a silver in 2018.

"I didn’t change much," Uguev said. "I just worked on our mistakes, that’s all. We didn’t invent anything new. There were mistakes, we thought them through, corrected them, and this time made only minimal ones."

Zavur UGUEV (UWW)Zavur UGUEV (UWW) tries to score against Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) in the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Uguev said he welcomes new challengers coming along to try to knock him off the throne again.

"The more new names that appear, the better," he said. "They don’t let us relax. The young wrestlers are improving a lot, and it also makes me want to work harder — to compete with the younger generation."

Regarding a possible return to 57kg, Uguev replied, "I think it’s already clear that I’ve settled into this weight and built up my physique well. I feel comfortable here now, in this weight.

"There’s still time before the [2028] Olympic Games -- we’re not thinking about that yet. For now, there’s a goal for next year. I will work, move only forward. And later we’ll see how things go."

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) wrestles Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) in the 125kg final at the World Championships. (Photo: United World Championships / Kostadin Andonov)

At 125kg, Zare reconfirmed himself as the preeminent heavyweight with a 5-0 victory in the final over European champion and Olympic bronze medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), with all of the points coming in the first period.

"I’m thankful that this [winning the title] has happened for the third time now," Zare said. "My hope is that as long as I wrestle, I can keep winning gold medals. This third one feels just as good as the others, and I dedicate it to the people of Iran."

The victory helps alleviate some of the sting of a defeat in the final at the Paris Olympics, where he was dealt a heartbreaking 10-9 loss by Geno PETRASHVILI (GEO).

"That tough experience at the Olympics was really painful, and I’ll never forget it," said Zare, who previously won world titles in 2021 and 2023. "I made mistakes myself. For the last 13 months, I’ve only been focused on training -- so that my next medal would be gold and to make up for those mistakes. I’ll keep grinding, keep pushing, until I get better and finally win that Olympic gold."

Zare also has bronze medals from the 2021 Olympics and 2022 World Championships, as well as a gold from his debut at the Asian Championships last year.

At 70kg, Aoyagi wasn't as dominating as he had been in storming into the final, but he took advantage of the opportunities presented and forged a 5-1 victory over Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL).

"The opponent completely had a strategy to counter my movement, so it made it tough," Aoyagi said. "But I also had a plan for the opponent, so I never thought I would lose."

Aoyagi's victory made up for losing in last year's final, a defeat that caused him to make changes in his approach to training and competition.

"After I lost, I dedicated myself to practice and to expanding my horizons in terms of going different places to train, and going overseas," Aoyagi said.

His overseas ventures resulted in victories at the Ranking Series events in Tirana and Budapest, along with a bronze medal at the Asian Championships, where he lost a close semifinal match to Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) -- a loss he avenged in spades in his opening match in Zagreb en route to outscoring four opponents 34-1.

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN)Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) celebrates after winning the 70kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Aoyagi also suffered a setback domestically in June, when he was beaten in the semifinals of the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships, the second of two qualifiers for the World Championships. But he came back to earn his ticket to Zagreb by winning a playoff with the eventual champion.

"A little while ago, I lost at a Japan tournament, so right now I'm No. 3 in Japan," he said. "But I never give up in trying to win. I always fight only believing that I can win."

In Sunday's final, Aoyagi gave up an activity point -- the first and only point he surrendered all tournament -- but stuffed a half-hearted arm throw attempt by Tumur Ochir for a 2-point exposure.

In the second period, he was on the verge of giving up a stepout when he suddenly rose up, reversed their positions and gained the stepout himself, which was upheld on challenge to increase his lead to 4-1.

"I knew I had my knee down and it would be no point," said Aoyagi, who would add another stepout in the final seconds. "I was aware of going out, and the opponent pushed me up a bit.

"I didn't want to let the chance get away and I reversed our positions and scored a point. Even if it had been no points, it wouldn't have changed the flow of the match."

Zahid VALENCIA (USA)Zahid VALENCIA (USA) scores a takedown against Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) in the 86kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 86kg, Valencia denied Japan a second gold on the night when he overwhelmed 2023 Asian bronze medalist Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) 12-0 to cap a successful drop from 92kg.

"I felt like I was always the best in the world," Valencia said. "I was confident in myself."

The 28-year-old Valencia, a 2023 world bronze medalist at 92kg, changed his own fortunes when, about a year ago, he decided to train with the Oklahoma State University group under the leadership of former star David TAYLOR (USA) -- a one-time nemesis of his.

"Being able to learn from someone like him, it's been amazing," Valencia said. "That's ultimately why I made the move. He's beat me so many times. I wanted to learn from him and get into his mindset of what it takes to become a world champion. I was able to do it and replicate it and bring home another one for our Team USA."

Zahid VALENCIA (USA)Zahid VALENCIA (USA), right, with coach David TAYLOR, after winning the 86kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Just to make Team USA was a challenge in itself. Valencia had to beat four-time world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) twice at the U.S. trials to earn his ticket to Zagreb. That in itself can be quite a confidence booster.

"If you make the team in the U.S., you're prepared to go be a world champ," he said. "So just go out there and let go of your fears and be courageous and let fly, go up there and score points and enjoy every moment and have fun with it."

Robert BARAN (POL)Robert BARAN (POL) celebrates after winning his bronze-medal bout at 125kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Poland's Baran earns elusive world medal

Making his seventh trip to the World Championships, Robert BARAN (POL) finally made it onto the medal podium at age 34. And he says he wants to get come back for more.

Baran won a bronze at 125kg with a solid 5-0 victory over Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN), ending a run of futility that started in 2017.

"I feel very good, it is my long-awaited first [world] medal," Baran said. "I'm very happy, very pleased, and I hope that it is not the last medal."

Baran's previous best finish was a seventh place in Belgrade in 2023. He came close at last year's Paris Olympics, but lost in the bronze-medal match to Meshvildishvili.

On Sunday, he received an activity point in each period before scoring a stepout in the second to go ahead 3-0. He capped his win with a last-second 2-point exposure.

"During the match, I was feeling great," Baran said. "We worked on a plan with the coaches and I made it work 100 percent."

The other bronze at 125kg went to Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), who caught Jonovan SMITH (PUR) with a 4-point counter that sent him to his back, then secured a fall in 4:08.

Meanwhile, Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ), a world medalist on the U23 and U20 levels, picked up his first one as a senior, but it didn't come easy nor without a bit of drama.

Yessengeldi emerged from a wild encounter with high school phenom Jax FORREST (USA) with a 10-8 victory in a bronze-medal match at 61kg that, for an agonizing moment, he had thought he had lost.

Yessengeli came back from a 8-3 deficit to go ahead 9-8 following a scramble that earned him four points. But with the seconds ticking away, he was suddenly flagged for grabbing the singlet, giving Forrest a point -- and the lead on criteria -- with :03 left. But on challenge, his despondence turned to joy when the penalty was overturned.

The other 61kg bronze went to Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE), who put on a master class of counter wrestling to defeat Kum Hyok KIM (PRK) by fall with the last of three scoring moves.

After chalking up a pair of 2-point exposures off Kim's attacks, Novruzov countered him right to his back to secure the fall in 2:19 and gain the bronze medal that evaded him last year.

Akmataliev and Nurkosha KAIPANOV (KAZ) both added to burgeoning world medal collections by taking home the 70kg bronze medals.

Akmataliev went on a six-point run in the second period to finish up an 8-2 victory over Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) and add to his world silver from 2021 and bronze from 2022.

Kaipanov, who came into Zagreb as the defending champion, also went on a second-period blitz, with his culminating in a 13-2 victory over Vasile DIACON (MDA) in 4:48. Kaipanov also has a silver from 2019.

At 86kg, Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), a two-time world champion at 92kg, bounced back from a disappointing loss to Valencia in the semifinals by manhandling Mukul DAHIYA (IND) with a 10-0 technical fall in 3:33.

Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) gave Azerbaijan its second bronze of the night by handily defeating Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) 7-0 in the other 86kg match.

READ THE DAY 2 SEMIFINALS REPORT HERE

RESULTS

Freestyle

57kg (31 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Chongsong HAN (PRK) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) by Fall, 3:47 (4-1)
SEMIFINAL: Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) df. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 8-0

61kg (26 entries)
GOLD: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Ahmad JAVAN (IRI), 11-2

BRONZE: Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ) df. Jax FORREST (USA), 10-8
BRONZE: Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Kum Hyok KIM (PRK) by Fall, 2:18 (6-0)

70kg (29 entries)
GOLD: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) df. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), 5-1

BRONZE: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), 8-2
BRONZE: Nurkosha KAIPANOV (KAZ) df. Vasile DIACON (MDA) by TF, 13-2, 4:47

74kg (35 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW), 6-4
SEMIFINAL: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 6-4

79kg (27 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), 8-3
SEMIFINAL: Levi HAINES (USA) df. Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL), 4-1

86kg (29 entries)
GOLD: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) by TF, 12-0, 4:22

BRONZE: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Mukul DAHIYA (IND) by TF, 10-0, 3:32
BRONZE: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) df. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), 7-0

92kg (26 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Trent HIDLAY (USA) df. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) by TF, 15-4, 6:00
SEMIFINAL: Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), 11-6

125kg (27 entries)
GOLD: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), 5-0

BRONZE: Robert BARAN (POL) df. Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN), 5-0
BRONZE: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Jonovan SMITH (PUR) by Fall, 4:07 (5-0)