TEHRAN, Apr. 12 (MNA) – Iranian freestylers Rahman Amouzad, Amir Mohammad Yazdani, and Mohammad Nokhodi claimed three gold medals in the 2024 Asian Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

At 65kg, Amouzad repeated his victory from last year's final over Tulga Tumur Ochir from Mongolia, while also avenging a loss to the Mongolian for the gold at the Asian Games last October.

Amouzad scored a first-period takedown off an underhook, then gave up an activity point in the second period to account for all of the scoring in a 2-1 victory. The combatants spent the majority of the match locked up in a mutual over-underhook position.

Yazdani, a two-time world silver medalist, followed by rallying to a wild 13-9 victory in the 70kg final over world U23 silver medalist Yoshinosuke Aoyagi from Japan, who added the silver to the bronze he won a year ago.

Both wrestlers had 4-point moves in the first period, with Yazdani scoring his late to take a 6-5 lead into the second. Aoyagi went ahead 9-6 with a backdoor takedown and a head-between-the-thighs roll, only to see the Iranian take the lead on criteria with 20 seconds left with a step out and takedown. Yazdani countered a last-ditch, body lock lift attempt by Aoyagi for a final 4-pointer.

Nokhodi, winner of the Zagreb Open in January, defeated Mongolia’s Byambadorj Enkhbayar 12-2 in the final match of the 79kg.

It all ended 27 seconds into the second period when Nokhodi caught the Mongolian in a cradle for a takedown and exposure.

SD/TT