UWW

Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) earned spot at Tokyo Olympics by winning Asian Olympic qualifying tournament, beating Asian champion Sunil KUMAR (IND) 9-5 in all-important semifinal. Gained 1st tournament title since 2015 when Fei PENG (CHN) defaulted final due to injury...Finished 5th at this year's Asian Championships, losing 3-1 to Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) in semifinals and 2-2 in bronze-medal match to Rustan ASSAKALOV (UZB) on 2-point penalty for grabbing leg in 2nd period....Served 4-year suspension for doping and did not compete for about 5 1/2 years between 2015 and 2021. Prepared for the Asian Olympic qualifier by entering the Matteo Pellicone tournament, but lost 3-0 in 1st round to Josef RAU (USA)....Clashed with Assakalov in final at both 2014 and 2015 Asian Championships, winning first 8-0, but falling 4-4 in second on 2-point penalty for grabbing the singlet...Brother Muhit is champion in traditional Kazakh style of wrestling called qazaq kuresi. Father is former competitor and now top coach.