Hasegawa Repeats, Iran Wins Two in Greco-Roman at Asian Games

INCHEON, Korea (September 30) – Kohei HASEGAWA (JPN) rallied past world champion YUN Won-Chol for the gold medal at 59kg Tuesday as Greco-Roman wrestling got under way at the Asian Games.

Hasegawa spotted Yun four points in the first gold medal final at Dowon Gymanasium, then wrapped up three straight bodylock takedowns – the last for four points – for an 8-4 win and a repeat of the gold medal run at the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010.

Meanwhile, Athens Olympic Games champion JUNG Ji-Hyun (KOR) won only his second major international title since 2004 at 71kg while London Olympian Habbibollah AKHLAGI (IRI) and Mahdi ALIYARI FEIZABADI (IRI) claimed the final two gold medals of the evening for Iran.

Jung’s victory, however, was not without controversy as Jung bounced back from an apparent loss in the semifinals to 2011 world champion Saeid Mourad ABDVALI (IRI) for a 9-4 win after action resumed.

Officials explained later that Abdvali’s front headlock prior to “pinning” Jung was illegal and not to be allowed. When action resumed, Abdvali led 6-4 but Jung was able to secure a body drop on his way to a 9-6 win.

It was only the second major international title won by Jung since taking the Athens Olympic Games gold medal in 2004. Jung won the Asian championships crown in April.

Wrestling concludes with the final four Greco-Roman events – 66kg, 75kg, 85kg and 130kg – featuring 2013 world champions RYU Han-Su (KOR) and KIM Hyeon-Woo (KOR).

Summaries of the medal finals:

59kg -- Greco-Roman (15 entries)

Defending champion Kosei HASEGAWA (JPN) gave up four points on a midair gut wrench to YUN Won-Chol (PRK), but answered back with three straight bodylock takedowns and an 8-4 win over the 2013 world champion.

In the bronze medal finals, TIAN Qiye (CHN) scored with a four-point takedown in the first period and made it stand through the second period for a 4-0 win over Olympia tourney winner KIM Young-Jun (KOR).

London Olympian Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) landed on top of an attempted back-arching throw by Ahmadjon MAHMUDOV (UZB) and held for the fall at 4:18, while trailing 8-9.

Gold: Kosei HASEGAWA (JPN) df. YUN Won-Chol (PRK), 8-4
Bronze: TIAN Qiye (CHN) df. KIM Young-Jun (KOR), 4-0
Bronze: Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) df. Ahmadjon MAHMUDOV (UZB) by FALL (4:18)

Semifinals: Kosei HASEGAWA (JPN) df. KIM Young-Jun (KOR) by FALL, 5:51 (8-4)
Semifinals: YUN Won-Chol (PRK) df. Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) by TF, 10-2 (0:45)

71kg -- Greco-Roman (9 entries)

JUNG Ji-Hyun (KOR) went for a bodylock takedown right off the whistle for four points against Dilshodjon TURDIEV (UZB) and then capped a technical fall at 1:22 with arm throw and drop.

In the bronze medal bouts, Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) dropped Krishankant YADAV (IND) to his back from an over-under tie in the first period and added a bodylock takedown in the second for a 6-4 win.

Shermet PERMANOV (TKM) caught 2010 bronze medalist Tsutomu FUJIMURA (JPN) in a side-roll from a reverse waistlock position and held for the fall at 2:51, while trailing 4-6.

Gold: JUNG Ji-Hyun (KOR) df. Dilshodjon TURDIEV (UZB) by TF, 9-0 (1:22)
Bronze: Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) df. Krishankant YADAV (IND), 4-0
Bronze: Shermet PERMANOV (TKM) df. Tsutomu FUJIMURA (JPN) by FALL, 2:51 (4-6)

Semifinals: JUNG Ji-Hyun (KOR) df. Saeid ABDVALI (IRI), 9-6
Semifinals: Dilshodjon TURDIEV (UZB) df. Tsutomu FUJIMURA (JPN) by TF, 8-0 (2:58)

80kg -- Greco-Roman (8 entries)

Habbibollah AKHLAGHI (IRI) shoved 2010 silver medalist Tsukasa TSURUMAKI (JPN) all around the mat for six minutes for a 5-1 win.

Besiki SALDADZE (UZB) hit a series of gut wrenches to roll up an 8-0 technical fall over Jafar KHAN (QAT) at 1:42 for one bronze medal while Mohammed ALQUHALI (YEM) was forced to default at 1:48 with an injured right elbow giving Yanarbek KENYEEV (KGZ) the other bronze medal.

Gold: Habbibollah AKHLAGHI (IRI) df. Tsukasa TSURUMAKI (JPN), 5-1
Bronze: Besiki SALDADZE (UZB) df. Jafar KHAN (QAT) by TF, 8-0 (1:42)
Bronze: Janarbek KENJEEV (KGZ) df. Mohammed ALQUHALI (YEM) by inj. def. (1:48)

Semifinals: Habbibollah AKHLAGHI (IRI) df. Besiki SALDADZE (UZB) by TF, 9-0 (3:47)
Semifinals: Tsukasa TSURUMAKI (JPN) df. Janarbek KENJEEV (KGZ), 4-2

98kg -- Greco-Roman (9 entries)

Mahdi ALIYARI FEIZABADI (IRI) converted on this first par terre with four gut wrenches in a row for an 8-0 technical fall over Asian championships bronze medalist XIAO Di (CHN) at 1:54.

For the bronze medals, Yerulan ISKAKOV (KAZ) scored a lift and throw from par terre for a technical fall over Naouzat SALEH (SYR) and Norikatsu SAIKAWA (JPN) closed with a pair of gut wrenches for a 10-1 technical fall over Arslan SAPARMAMMEDOV (TKM).

Gold: Mahdi ALIYARI FEIZABADI (IRI) df. XIAO Di (CHN) by TF, 8-0 (1:54)
Bronze: Yerulan ISKAKOV (KAZ) df. Naouzat SALEH (SYR) by TF, 8-0 (1:15)
Bronze: Norikatsu SAIKAWA (JPN) df. Arslan SAPARMAMMEDOV (TKM) by TF, 8-0 (1:24) 

Semifinals: Mahdi ALIYARI FEIZABADI (IRI) df. Yerulan ISKAKOV (KAZ), 3-1
Semifinals: XIAO Di (CHN) df. Arslan SAPARMAMMEDOV (TKM), 2-0