Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan : The Asian Wrestling Championships 2026 witnessed a commanding display of men’s freestyle wrestling as Japan and India captured two gold medals each on the opening night of finals. The spotlight belonged to Arash Yoshida, who successfully defended his continental crown in the 97 kg category with a composed performance against a world-class opponent.
Yoshida’s Title Defence at 97 kg
Yoshida retained his Asian title with a disciplined 4–0 victory over Amirali Azarpira of Iran. A crucial second-period takedown followed by a step-out point proved decisive in a tactical contest. The victory adds to Yoshida’s growing legacy, which includes a previous Asian gold at 92 kg, and reinforces his standing as one of Asia’s most reliable upper-weight performers.
“I’m glad I was able to beat an opponent I had been aiming to defeat and win the Asian championship,” Yoshida said after the bout.
Japan’s Second Gold Through Gharehdaghi
Japan’s golden evening continued when Keyvan Gharehdaghi edged past India’s Sandeep Mann 2–1 in the 79 kg final. The closely fought contest was decided on tactical awareness and defensive sharpness, marking a breakthrough senior performance for Gharehdaghi on the continental stage.
India’s Golden Double in Freestyle
India responded emphatically with two gold medals that highlighted depth and composure across weight categories.
Sujeet Dominates the 65 kg Final
At 65 kg, Sujeet delivered one of the most dominant performances of the evening, registering an 8–1 win over Uzbekistan’s Umidjon Jalolov. Sujeet controlled the pace from the outset with aggressive attacks and superior mat control.
“I don’t see any opponent as weak or strong. I just want to give my best,” Sujeet remarked.
Abhimanyou’s Tactical Comeback at 70 kg
In the 70 kg final, Abhimanyou displayed resilience to defeat Mongolia’s Tulga Tumur Ochir 5–3 after trailing early. His defensive discipline and late scoring surge secured a historic victory, making him the first Indian in over a decade to claim an Asian title above the traditional lower-weight categories.
“I trusted my defence and focused on scoring at the right moments,” Abhimanyou said.
Other Notable Result
Iran’s Milad Valizadeh produced a high-scoring 14–3 win in the 57 kg final, showcasing technical superiority and speed to claim his nation’s lone gold of the session.
The results from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, underline shifting strengths in Asian men’s freestyle wrestling, with Japan asserting authority in higher weights and India demonstrating balanced excellence across categories. These performances carry strong implications for upcoming world-level competitions and Olympic qualification pathways.
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