Yazdani Captures 86kg Asiad Gold with Victory Over Breakout Lebanese

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

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

World Championships 2025 Greco-Roman Preview

Tuesday, September 9, 2025 - 14:16 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 9) -- The last time the Azerbaijan Greco-Roman team did not finish on the podium in the team rankings was back in 2019. Since then, it has remained in the top three for four consecutive editions of the World Championships, including two first-place finishes in 2023 and 2024.

The country will once again be one of the toughest to beat at the World Championships, bringing some of the strongest wrestlers to Zagreb to defend its team title.

Five world medalists, including three champions, and four former European medalists, including two champions, make up Azerbaijan's lineup, led by Olympic and world medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). World champions Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) at 55kg, Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) at 60kg, and Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) at 72kg will be key to the team's success.

Supporting them are former European champion Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) at 63kg, world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) at 77kg, European champion Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) at 82kg, European medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE) at 87kg, former European U23 champion Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) at 97kg, and former European medalist Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) at 130kg.

The biggest rival for Azerbaijan will be Iran which is also bringing a strong team to Zagreb. With Olympic champions Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) at 97kg, Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) at 67kg, and Olympic silver medalist Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI) at 87kg, Iran also has world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) who is looking to defend his 130kg gold.

Other names include world U20 champions Payam AHMADI (IRI) at 55kg, Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) at 60kg, world U23 champion Danial SOHRABI (IRI) at 72kg, and Zagreb Open champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) at 82kg.

Azerbaijan's Golden Trio

Azerbaijan's three world champions from 2024 -- Azizli, Mammadli, and Ganizade -- will face a stronger field than last year.

Azizli, a four-time world champion at 55kg, is the favorite. However, his loss to Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) in the European Championships final puts an asterisk on that tag.

Iran will send world U20 champion Payam AHMADI (IRI) over Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) after the former won a selection bout. It will be interesting to see how the young wrestler adjusts to the senior level. Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) and Taiga ONISHI (JPN) are also potential podium finishers at 55kg.

At 60kg, Mammadli aims for back-to-back world titles. After winning at 63kg last year, he has returned to his preferred 60kg, where he claimed European gold earlier this year. Mammadli is known for his dominant par terre wrestling, making it tough for opponents to turn him from that position.

Despite his advantage, Mammadli will face challenges in Zagreb. A European final rematch against Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) is likely, as Tibilov has troubled him in the past but never defeated him. Both could meet in the semifinals.

Paris Olympic bronze medalist Se Ung RI (PRK) will also be in contention for a medal, a feat DPR Korea has not achieved in Greco-Roman since 2015.

Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) is aiming for success at the senior level after winning gold at the 2024 U20 World Championships. He has the potential to challenge the top wrestlers. Former world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA) will also be looking to regain his momentum, while Asian silver medalist Kaito INABA (JPN) will make his World Championships debut.

Ganizade, the third world champion from Azerbaijan, faces a tough road at 72kg, with two other world champions and an Olympic silver medalist in the mix. Experienced wrestlers like Selcuk CAN (TUR) and Danial SOHRABI (IRI) also add to the competition.

Ganizade narrowly defeated former world champion Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) 3-2 in last year’s final, and they are likely to meet again. Ghanem, who won gold at the European Championships, has been a consistent contender.

Ali ARSALAN (SRB), another world champion in this weight class, has been inconsistent. He earned a bronze last year after losing to Ghanem in the semifinals.

Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), a two-time Olympic silver medalist, still seeks his first world medal and will look to change that in Zagreb.

An incredible storyline is unfolding at 67kg as Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) attempts to win gold. Narikuni, who won gold at 70kg in Freestyle in 2023, now hopes to add a Greco-Roman world title to his list of achievements.

Three-Way Battle at 67kg

Esmaeili, the biggest gold-medal favorite, won gold at the Asian Championships. He has never wrestled at a senior Worlds but is a former world U20 champion. He won gold at the Asian Championships with a 3-0 win over Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ). He will now look to win his first world medal.

Like Esmaeili, Jafarov has also never won gold at the World Championships. He missed his chance in 2023 after losing to Tokyo Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) in the final. Jafarov went on to win bronze at the Paris Olympics and will be a favorite in Zagreb.

Orta has defeated both Esmaeili and Jafarov but lost to the Iranian in Paris. He will be looking to add a second world gold to his name despite winning bronze in Paris.

Saravi: From Challenger to Leader

For years, Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) has been a challenger to Artur ALEKANYAN (ARM) in the 97kg weight class. But after defeating Aleksanyan at the Paris Olympics and seeing the Armenian lose at the European Championships, Saravi has emerged as the new leader in the 97kg class. Now, Aleksanyan, a four-time world champion, will try to reclaim his place at the top of the podium.

Both Saravi and Aleksanyan lost to Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) at the 2023 World Championships -- Saravi in the semifinals and Aleksanyan in the final. While Rosillo's surprise victory in 2023 shocked many, it's unlikely he'll repeat that, meaning Saravi vs Aleksanyan might be the final showdown in Zagreb.

The 97kg field also features Paris Olympic bronze medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ), Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW) [who moved up from 87kg this season], European silver medalist Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), and former world U23 champions Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) and Alex SZOKE (HUN).

Kusaka's Return

Nao KUSAKA (JPN), Olympic champion, returns for the first time since winning gold at the Paris Games, aiming to claim his first world title after falling short in 2023 to Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ). Kusaka is the favorite for gold but will face tough competition from Olympic silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), who is seeded fifth. Both Kusaka and Zhadrayev could meet in the quarterfinals.

World champion and Paris bronze medalist Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) will try to avenge his loss to Kusaka, while Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), who has been having a career resurgence, aims to add a world medal.

Other potential challengers include Robert FRITSCH (HUN), Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ), Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW), and Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), all of whom are capable of causing upsets.

Mohmadi’s Chance at 87kg

Though missing Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL), the 87kg weight class remains highly competitive. Paris silver medalist Alireza MOHMADI (IRI), a favorite, is known for his excellent conditioning and ability to score from par terre.

Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), the Paris bronze medalist, will also be in the mix for gold, capable of defeating anyone on his best day with his high-paced style and big throws.

Other threats include European champion David LOSONCZI (HUN), Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), Asan ZHANYSHOV (KAZ), and Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB).

At 130kg, Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) will aim to defend his 2023 world title after stunning Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the final. Mirzazadeh is the favorite but faces competition from former world silver medalist Oscar PINO (CUB), European champion Sergei SEMENOV (UWW), age-group world champion Hamza BAKIR (TUR), and Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW).

63kg: Abuladze vs Kamal

The battle for 63kg gold could come down to Leri ABULADZE (GEO) and Kerem KAMAL (TUR). Kamal, the most improved wrestler of the year, has won Ranking Series golds and European gold after moving up from 60kg to 63kg.

Abuladze, the 2023 world gold medalist, will return to 63kg, aiming to defend his title after struggling at 67kg. His defense is at par with the best, but scoring from par terre will be key to his success.

Challengers include Asian and world U20 champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB), Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI), Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), and Sergey EMELIN (UWW), a bronze medalist from Tokyo.

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE), the European champion, has gold medals from all age-group World Championships and will now aim for senior-level success. GURBANOV’s confidence will be high after winning the European Championships in dominating fashion at 82kg.

However, facing off against the Asian wrestlers, Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), will pose significant challenges.

Turkiye's 2024 European champion Alperen BERBER (TUR) will debut at the World Championships and is considered a strong medal contender.

Yazdani Captures 86kg Asiad Gold with Victory Over Breakout Lebanese

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World Championships 2025 Greco-Roman Preview