ASTANA (March 16) – A trio of London 2012 gold medalists lead the field arriving in the Kazakhstani capital this week to battle for berths at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the Asian continental qualifying tournament.

Hamid SORYAN (IRI) and KIM Hyeon-Woo (KOR) will compete in the Greco-Roman tourney at Daulet Sports Complex after early exits from the 2015 world championships in Las Vegas.

Omid NOROOZI (IRI) is also entered in the classic style after being runner-up at the 2014 world meet in Tashkent as is world bronze medalist Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB).

Meanwhile, 2014 world silver medalists Sosuke TAKATANI (JPN) and Komeil GHASEMI (IRI) will try to qualify in freestyle as Gouzel MANYUROVA (KAZ) renews her bid for a medal in women’s wrestling at her third Olympic Games.

The tourney will be contested over three days, March 18-20, with competition in two weight categories of each of the three Olympic Games disciplines on display each day.

The top two wrestlers in each weight category will win berths for their national Olympic committees for the wrestling competition in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, August 14-21.

Thumbnail sketches of each weight category to be contested (In parentheses, countries already qualified at each category through the 2015 world championships):

Friday, March 18: FS 57kg & 74kg; GR 59kg & 85kg; FW 53kg & 69kg

FS 57kg (Iran, Mongolia, DPR Korea, Kazakhstan) – Tomar SANDEEP (IND) won the Asian championships title in February and Samat NADYRBEK UULU (KGZ) was the runner-up in 2015 behind world bronze medalist ERDENEBAT Bekhbayar (MGL).

FS 74kg (Mongolia, India, Iran) – Asian Games gold medalist Rashid KURBANOV (UZB) leads here after finishing 10th at the 2015 world meet, while 2014 world runner-up Sosuke TAKATANI (JPN) seeks to rebound from a second-round exit in Las Vegas.

GR 59kg (DPR Korea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) – London 2012 gold medalist Hamid SORYAN (IRI) tries undo a disqualification from Las Vegas to join his third Olympic Games. Two-time Asia champion Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) and KIM Seung-Hak (KOR), No.7 in Las Vegas, will challenge.

GR 85kg (Uzbekistan, Iran) – Three-time Asian Games bronze medalist Yanarbek KENYEEV (KGZ) won the continental crown in Bangkok and LEE Se-Yeol (KOR) took the silver medal at Incheon 2014. Kazakhstan has entered 2012 Asia junior champion Azamat KUSTUBAEV (KAZ).

FW 53kg (Japan, DPR Korea, China) – DAVAASUKH Otgontsetseg (MGL), 2011 world silver medalist, won the Asia crown at 55kg in February and NGUYEN Thi Lua (VIE) was runner-up at 53kg as both wrestlers seek a second chance at the Olympic Games.

FW 69kg (China, Japan, Mongolia) – Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) finished seventh in Las Vegas but has rebounded by winning the Yarygin Grand Prix and finishing second to Sara DOSHO (JPN) at the Asian championships.

Saturday, March 19: FS 65kg & 97kg; GR 75kg & 130kg; FW 58kg & 75kg

FS 65kg (Uzbekistan, Iran, Mongolia) – Former Russian world and European team member Adam BATIROV (BRN) is the “old” new kid on the block, winning the Asian title at 31 in February. Asian runner-up Nurlan BEKZHANOV (KAZ) looks good at home and Asian Games silver medalist Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) will challenge.

FS 97kg (Iran) – Asian Games silver medalist Magomed MUSAEV (KGZ) and 2014 Asia champion DORJKHAND Khuderbulga (MGL) top the list of entries. KIM Jae-Gang (KOR) was 10th in Las Vegas, right behind Musaev. 

GR 75kg (Kazakhstan, Iran) – World and Olympic Games champion KIM Hyeon-Woo (KOR) lost in the round of 16 in Las Vegas to finish in 10th place. YANG Bin (CHN) won the prestigious Hungarian Open in February and stands out in a crowded field.

GR 130kg (No Asian Qualifier) – Two-time Asian Games champion Nurmakhan TINALIEV (KAZ) stands out, but Incheon 2014 bronze medalist Bashir BABAJANZADEH (IRI) will challenge along with Murat RAMONOV (KGZ), who finished seventh in Las Vegas.

FW 58kg (Japan) – Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and Aiym ABDILDINA (KAZ) dueled for the crown in Bangkok, with Tynybekova winning 2-1. All eyes, however, will be on PUREVDORJ Orkhon (MGL) after a victory over world and Olympic Games champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) in January.

FW 75kg (China) – Asian Games silver medalist Gouzel MANYUROVA (KAZ) will seek her third trip to the Olympic Games while Asian Games champion at 63kg Rio WATARI (JPN) will try to fill out Japan’s Rio 2016 dance card in women’s wrestling by snaring the 75kg berth.

Sunday, March 20: FS 86kg & 125kg; GR 66kg & 98kg; FW 48kg & 63kg

FS 86kg (Iran) – Asian runner-up ORGODOL Uitumen (MGL) and Asian Games bronze medalist Umidjon ISMANOV (UZB) appear to be the top contenders. Russian transplant Aligadshi GAMIDGADSHIEV (KGZ), 2013 Ali Aliev tourney winner, will make his international debut for Kyrgyzstan.

FS 125kg (Mongolia) – 2014 world silver medalist Komeil GHASEMI (IRI) is listed as Iran’s entry for the Asian qualifier while Asia champion Parviz HADI (IRI) is the alternate. Daulet SHABANBAY (KAZ) and Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) will challenge for one of the berths.

GR 66kg (Korea) – Iran has listed 2014 world runner-up Omid NOROOZI (IRI) and Golden Grand Prix winner Mehdi ZEIDVAND (IRI) on its entry list.  Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ) is 2015 Asia runner-up and ZHENG Pan (CHN) 2012 champion.

GR 98kg (Iran) – Asian Games silver medalist XIAO Di (CHN) finished in seventh place at Las Vegas and won the Hungarian Grand Prix in February. Veteran Margulan ASSEMBEKOV (KAZ) took a bronze medal at the 2015 Asian meet along with Norikatsu SAIKAWA (JPN).

FW 48kg (Japan, China) – Vinesh VINESH (IND) hangs around the medals podium at nearly every Asia event and narrowly missed winning the title in 2015. Medved Prizes winner Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) has spent 2014-2015 at 53kg and ERDENESUKH Narangerel (MGL) was runner-up in 2014.

FW 63kg (Mongolia, Japan) – Ekaterina LARIONOVA (KAZ) was a bronze medalist at the 2013 world meet and, most recently, a silver medal winner at the Medved Prizes in February. WANG Xiaoqian (CHN) took a silver medal at the Rio 2016 test event in January.

-- Schedule -- 

Thursday, March 17
17:00-18:30 – Medical examination & Weigh-in
FS 57kg & 74kg; GR 59kg & 85kg; FW 53kg & 69kg

Friday, March 18
10:00-16:00 – Qualification rounds and Repechage
FS 57kg & 74kg; GR 59kg & 85kg; FW 53kg & 69kg

17:00-18:30 – Medical examination & Weigh-in
FS 65kg & 97kg; GR 75kg & 130kg; FW 58kg & 75kg

17:30-18:00 – Opening Ceremony

18:00-20:00 – Finals & Awards ceremonies
FS 57kg & 74kg; GR 59kg & 85kg; FW 53kg & 69kg

Saturday, March 19

10:00-16:00 – Qualification rounds and Repechage
FS 65kg & 97kg; GR 75kg & 130kg; FW 58kg & 75kg

16:00-17:45 – Medical examination & Weigh-in
FS 86kg & 125kg; GR 66kg & 98kg; FW 48kg & 63kg

18:00-20:00 – Finals & Awards ceremonies
FS 65kg & 97kg; GR 75kg & 130kg; FW 58kg & 75kg

Sunday, March 20

10:00-15:00 – Qualification rounds and Repechage
FS 86kg & 125kg; GR 66kg & 98kg; FW 48kg & 63kg

18:00-20:00 – Finals & Awards ceremonies
FS 86kg & 125kg; GR 66kg & 98kg; FW 48kg & 63kg