The wrestling events at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, are heating up on day three, featuring competitions across five weight classes. Here’s a summary of key moments and results.
Highlights:
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Freestyle 65kg Semifinal:
- Kotaro Kiyooka (JPN), the Olympic champion, faced Sujeet (IND), the Asian champion, in a nail-biting match ending in a 3-3 tie on criteria. Kiyooka led initially but couldn’t finish critical takedown attempts. Sujeet capitalized on a late takedown for the win.
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Freestyle 86kg Semifinal:
- Mohammad Nokhodi (IRI) secured a solid victory over Malik Shavaev (KGZ) with a decisive 3-0 score.
- Hayato Ishiguro (JPN) showcased his skills with a dominating 10-0 win against Suldkhuu Olonbayar (MGL), earning him a place in the finals.
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Freestyle 125kg Semifinal:
- Amir Hossein Zare (IRI) narrowly escaped defeat against Yedige Kassimbek (KAZ), winning 3-3 on criteria with a last-second takedown.
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Women’s 50kg Semifinal:
- Two-time world champion Yui Susaki (JPN) quickly overpowered Zeinep Bayanova (KAZ), winning in just 38 seconds with a fall.
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Women’s 76kg Semifinal:
- Yuka Kagami (JPN) continued her glory by securing a thrilling 5-3 win against Aiperi Medet Kyzy (KGZ), returning to competitive action after a break.
Noteworthy Events:
- Kudiev (TJK) won his 65kg semifinal decisively with an 11-0 victory against Kwang Jin Kim (PRK).
- Shamil Sharipov (BRN) was impressive with an 11-0 win in the 125kg preliminaries, highlighting his aspirations for a rematch with Zare.
This intense competition day promises to deliver more thrilling moments as wrestling continues at the Asian Games!
