The Asian Wrestling Championships took place in Amman, the capital of Jordan, starting on March 25, featuring competitions in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. The event also marked a significant moment for the sport’s development in Asia, with the election of Mohammed Al-Awamleh as the president of Asian wrestling.
Wrestling is gaining popularity among women, producing highly entertaining matches. Central and East Asian women have emerged as dominant forces in freestyle wrestling, with Japan leading the way as a global powerhouse.
However, in Iran, women are not allowed to participate in official competitions due to political and ideological reasons, and in some Middle Eastern countries, women have a limited presence in wrestling due to social, cultural, and structural factors
Despite Japan’s women’s team finishing atop the podium, North Korean wrestlers delivered remarkable performances. One of the biggest upsets came in the 53kg final, where North Korea’s Hyogyong Choe dominated reigning world champion Moe Kiooka of Japan with a commanding 12-1 victory to claim the gold medal.
Hyogyong Choe (PRK) – Moe Kiyooka (JPN) – PIC:UWW
WOMEN WHO WON GOLD
In the 55kg category, Kyong Ryong Ho of North Korea also secured gold after defeating 18-year-old Chinese wrestler Yuxuan Li in the final. Earlier, in the semifinals, Ho had overcome Uzbekistan’s Dilshoda Matnazarova with a 6-3 victory.
In the 62kg category, India’s 28-year-old Manisha delivered an outstanding performance. She claimed gold after defeating North Korea’s Ok Ju Kim in a fiercely contested final, winning by just one point. Her path to victory included a semifinal win over Kyrgyzstan’s Bilimbekova, following earlier victories against Hanbit Lee and Tynys Dubek.
Japan continued its dominance in multiple weight categories, with Remina Yoshimoto (50kg), Sara Natami (57kg), Sakura Onishi (59kg), and Miwa Morikawa (65kg) all securing gold medals.
Other champions included Zelu Li (68kg) for China, Zhamila Bakbergenova (72kg) for Kazakhstan, and Aiperi Medet Kyzy (76kg) for Kyrgyzstan, who all delivered impressive performances to claim gold in their respective divisions.
