Junior Asian Championships

Zhumanazarova Captures Third Straight Gold at Junior Asian C'ships

Thursday, July 11, 2019 - 14:11 By United World Wrestling Press

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CHON BURI, Thailand (July 11) - Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) made it three gold medals in three attempts at the Junior Asian Championships.

Zhumanazarova, a returning junior world bronze medalist, topped cadet Asian champion Rin MIYAJI (JPN) 8-6 in the finals at 68kg to win her third straight title on the first day of the women's wrestling competition at the Junior Asian Championships in Chon Buri, Thailand. 

In the finals, Zhumanazarova found herself down early in the match. Miyaji, a past cadet Asian champion, picked up a takedown 40 seconds into the match. A short time later, Miyaji fired off an attack, which Zhumanazarova countered for a takedown and exposure before the Japanese woman reversed the action and scored two points, giving her a 4-4 criteria lead. Zhumanazarova then retook the lead with an exposure to go ahead 6-4 at the break. She added to her lead in the second period with a takedown to go up 8-4, but Miyaji turned the tables by stepping over and earning two points of her own, which cut the deficit to 8-6. The two wrestlers continued to battle. A late flurry at the end of the match resulted in no points as Zhumanazarova held on to win.

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) claimed the gold medal at 50kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Remina YOSHIMOTO, a 2017 cadet world champion, was the lone gold medalist for returning team champion Japan on Thursday. She claimed a 13-6 victory over Yuhong ZHONG (CHN) in the gold-medal match at 50kg. Yoshimoto led by two points with just over 30 seconds remaining before scoring five points late from two takedowns and a step out to win by seven. 

Qian JIANG (CHN) celebrates after winning gold at 76kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Cadet world silver medalist Qian JIANG (CHN) made quick work of Shakhribonu ELLIEVA (UZB) in the finals at 76kg. Jiang secured a takedown early in the match off a single leg before transitioning to her leg lace, which she used to turn Ellieva four consecutive times to pick up a 10-0 technical superiority. 

Hyon Ju YUN (PRK) embraces her coach after a 14-4 finals victory. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Hyon Ju YUN (PRK) earned the gold medal at 55kg by defeating Enkhtsetseg BATBAATAR (MGL) 14-4 in the finals. Yun raced out to an early 8-0 lead and appeared to be on her way to a first-period technical superiority, but the Mongolian fought hard and stayed in the match, scoring four points in the final minute of the first period. Yun closed out the match just over a minute into the second period with a takedown and exposure.  

Anshu ANSHU (IND) dominated in the finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Anshu ANSHU (IND) won the gold medal in dominant fashion at 59kg, beating Nazira MARSBEK KYZY (KGZ) by 10-0 technical superiority in the finals. Anshu scored her first takedown just 20 seconds into the match. A short time later she used a feet-to-back takedown to build her lead to 6-0. She added two more takedowns to end the match in the first period. 

The five remaining women's wrestling weight categories, 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg and 72kg, will be contested Friday at the Junior Asian Championships, with action set to begin at 10 a.m. local time.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD - Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) df. Yuhong ZHONG (CHN), 13-6
BRONZE - Myonggyong WON (PRK) df. Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL), 11-0
BRONZE - Thi Hong CAN (VIE) df. Miran CHEON (KOR), 6-1

55kg
GOLD - Hyon Ju YUN (PRK) df. Enkhtsetseg BATBAATAR (MGL), 14-4
BRONZE - Anju ANJU (IND) df. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), 3-2
BRONZE - Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Sandugash DYUSSENGALIYEVA (KAZ), 10-0

59kg
GOLD - Anshu ANSHU (IND) df. Nazira MARSBEK KYZY (KGZ), 10-0
BRONZE - Zhuomalaga ZHUOMALAGA (CHN) df. Anh Tuyet TRAN (VIE), 9-0
BRONZE - Ayami SUGIYAMA (JPN) df. Khodicha NAJIMOVA (UZB), 10-0

68kg
GOLD - Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Rin MIYAJI (JPN), 8-6
BRONZE - Kim Ngan PHẠM (VIE) df. Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ), 6-4
BRONZE - Xin LI (CHN) df. Yarinda AIRLANG (THA), 12-2

76kg
GOLD - Qian JIANG (CHN) df. Shakhribonu ELLIEVA (UZB), 10-0
BRONZE - Mizuki NAGASHIMA (JPN) df. Karuna KARUNA (IND), INJURY
 

#WrestleZagreb

Valiev outsmarts Sidakov again to reach Worlds final

Sunday, September 14, 2025 - 16:24 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 14) -- For five minutes and 50 seconds in both the 74kg semifinals, there was little indication that the results will change. But 10 seconds were enough for Chermen VALIEV (ALB) and Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) to change the outcome.

Valiev was down 4-2 against Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) but managed to elevate the latter's leg from an attack before tripping him on the edge for a two-point takedown, taking a 4-4 criteria lead with three seconds remaining.

Sidakov tried a desperate attack but gave up another takedown even in that short time as Valiev reached his first-ever World Championships final on debut in Zagreb, Croatia.

Takahashi was down 4-1 against Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) but the Japanese scored a takedown and turned Salkazanov through a gut-wrench to lead 5-4. He still had 6 seconds to defend and he managed to do it with ease. Slovakia challenged for fleeing from Takahashi but that was lost which added an additional point to make it 6-4.

Valiev and Takahashi, both with clutch wins, will now clash in the 74kg final for the world title on Monday.

Three other weight classes were also in action on Sunday and the United States was the only country to put two wrestlers in the finals -- Levi HAINES (USA) at 79kg and Trent HIDLAY (USA) at 92kg.

Haines, who stunned world champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) in the quarterfinals, scored a controlled 4-1 victory over Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) in the semifinals. Olonbayar got the first point via passivity of Haines but the U.S. wrestler scored a counter exposure for two points and take a 2-1 lead.

He scored a ankle pick for another two-point takedown and defended his 4-1 lead for the win and reach the final, a surprise in a tough 79kg bracket.

On Monday, he will try to stop Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) from becoming Greece's first-ever wrestling world champion in history. The European champion from Greece showed some of the most high-paced wrestling in the semifinal against world silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) to win 8-3.

Nokhodi, was often stood squared-up, had no answered to Kougioumtsidis' constant attacks as the Greece wrestlers led 6-3 at the break. He scored a single-leg takedown in the second period and won 8-3.

Hidlay, who has switched levels in his career this year, reached the final at 92kg after destroying world silver medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-4, in the semifinals.

Nurmagomedov was in the match when the score was 5-4 with 2:23 left but Hidlay switch gears since, scoring a go-behind, a feet-to-back four-pointer and a takedown to finish with a technical superiority win.

He will face Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) for the gold medal after Gadzhimagomedov managed to hold off Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) for an 11-6. Firouzpour, who had multiple age-group world titles, kept shooting for Gadzhimagomedov's legs but the UWW wrestler kept countering those attack with lift exposures.

Gadzhimagomedov then sealed the win with stepout, handing him a 9-6 lead and a takedown finishing the match 11-6.

Harutyunyan pinned after Lee heroics

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) undoubtedly had the most impressive win of the morning session when he defeated Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA) 14-3 in the quarterfinals.

The win put Harutyunyan as the favorite to advance to the final at 57kg. However, Asian champion Chongsong HAN (PRK) had different ideas. He hit a lateral drop on Harutyunyan in the semifinals and secured a fall to enter the final. Han is the first Freestyle wrestler from the DPR Korea to enter the final in 11 years.

Han will now try to become a world champion when he takes on Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) in the 57kg final after the Kyrgyz wrestler took it to Paris Olympic bronze medalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), winning 8-0.

Abdullaev seemed to have burnt out from the earlier matches and had little fight left in him as Almaz Uulu scored points at his will in the semifinals including four stepouts.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Chongsong HAN (PRK) vs. Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ)

SF 1: Chongsong HAN (PRK) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), via fall
SF 2: Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) df. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 8-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN)

SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW), 6-4
SF 2: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 6-4

79kg
GOLD: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) vs. Levi HAINES (USA)

SF 1: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), 8-3
SF 2: Levi HAINES (USA) df. Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL), 4-1

92kg
GOLD: Trent HIDLAY (USA) vs. Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW)

SF 1: Trent HIDLAY (USA) df. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-4
SF 2:  Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), 9-6