Asian Games 2026 Wrestling Day 2 Highlights: Kusaka Pins Makhmudov

NAGOYA, Japan (October 1) -- The second day of wrestling competition at the Asian Games 2026 will see three Greco-Roman weight classes -- 60kg, 77kg, and 97kg -- and one in Women's Wrestling -- 62kg. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Olympic champion Nao KUSAKA (JPN) are set for an opening round bout at 77kg

12:35: Two monster four-point throws from par terre for NITESH (IND) and he moves into the final at 97kg, first Greco wrestler from India to achieve the feat since 1962. He defeated Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), 9-0

12:31: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) with a technical superiority win and moves into the 60kg final in which he will face Alisher GANIEV (UZB). The two faced each other at the Budapest Ranking Series in July, a match Sharshenbekov won

12:25: Asian champion at 82kg, Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT), now down at 77kg, cannot stand against the pressure of Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) and gives up stepouts. Badaghimofrad is also cautioned for fleeing and Abdevali wins 9-0

12:23: Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) brings out a stepout clinic in the 97kg quarterfinal against former U20 world champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) and beats him 8-0. He scored a takedown on the edge for a 6-0 lead before Yevloyev committed a leg foul to hand Nakazato an 8-0 technical superiority win

12:20: Uzbekistan with another finalist as world silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) beats Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI), 8-4, in the 60kg semifinals. Ganiev led 7-0 after par terre but challenged for a foul but lost which gave Abbaspour a point. He then got par terre in the second period and a turn which made it 7-4, but Iran challenged for two points. However, it was a foul from Abbaspour and the score remained the same. Another foul by Abbaspour made it 8-4

12:12: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), returning silver medalist, begins with a 12-0 technical superiority win over Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) at 62kg. Sweep singles to takedowns used by Ozaki to score her points

12:00: Asian silver medalist NITESH (IND) gets the par terre and then turns Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM) three times for a 7-0 lead before defending his par terre position to win 7-1 and enter the semifinal at 97kg. He will be the favorite to enter the final

11:45: In a very long rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympic final between Nao KUSAKA (JPN) and Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), the Olympic champion prevails 11-9 after a scare. A match filled with challenges, Zhadrayev took a 5-4 lead at one point. Kusaka kept pushing for stepout but the Kazakhstan wrestler was smart enough to score counters and led 9-4. Kusaka then managed two stepouts and two exposure to lead 10-9 with less than 10 seconds remaining. Zhadrayev challenged the last call for exposure but lost it which gave one more point to Kusaka

11:30: MANSI (IND), who finished fifth at last Asian Games at 57kg, begins with a win at 62kg this edition. She beats Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals

11:22: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) pins KANHA CHEA (CAM) in her first bout at 62kg. Kim will most likely run into Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) who finished with a silver medal at the last edition after dropping the final to Hyon-gyong MUN (PRK).

11:15: Women's 62kg bouts and former 59kg world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) begins with a 10-0 win over Mukhayyo NARZILLOEVA (UZB), thanks to the gut-wrench.

11:02: In a previous bout at 60kg, Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) enthralls the local crowd with two big four-point throws and a 9-0 win against Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) at 60kg.

11:00: Top match of the day between Olympic champion Nao KUSAKA (JPN) and world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) at 77kg. Kusaka pushes the pace from first minute and manages to have Makhmudov in trouble. However, he fails top score from par terre after Makhmudov challenges a two-point call. Leading 1-0, Kusaka pushes Makhmudov towards the zone when the Kyrgyzstan wrestler tries a counter headlock throw but falls on the mat and Kusaka pins him which is called just at the stroke of break. Makhmudov challenges but there is no foul and pin stands as the defending champion Makhmudov waits for his repechage fate. Kusaka will be up against Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) in a rematch of the Paris Olympic final which Kusaka won

10:50: World silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) has no trouble seeing off Joe CALLADO (PHI) in his opening bout at 60kg. East takedown and turns for Ganiev for a 9-0 win.