Six countries won Olympic licences in freestyle wrestling. GETTY IMAGES

Six countries have won two spots each for the Paris Olympics in freestyle wrestling on the first day of the Asian Olympic Games Qualifiers in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Bekzat Almaz Uulu (57 kg) and Ernazar Akmataliev (65 kg), the 2021 world runner-up in the 70kg category, won Olympic licences for the host country. Gulomjon Abdullaev (57 kg) and Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (74 kg) qualified for Uzbekistan. Abdullaev defeated 2023 Asian champion Aman in the deciding bout. 

Japan qualified in the 65 kg and 86 kg categories. Kotaro Kiyooka, who had stunned Tokyo 2020 champion Takuto Otoguro at the national trials, defeated China's Shaohua Yuan in the semi-finals of the 65 kg category. Hayato Ishiguro qualified in the 86 kg category.

Mongolia's Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur (125kg) is preparing for his second Olympic Games. GETTY IMAGES
Mongolia's Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur (125kg) is preparing for his second Olympic Games. GETTY IMAGES

Iran secured their fourth and fifth Olympic berths in freestyle wrestling. Yones Emami failed to win a quota at the World Championships after losing to Zaurbek Sidakov (individual neutral) and Hetig Cabolov (Serbia), but shone in Bishkek with a confident victory over Nurkozha Kaipanov (Kazakhstan) in the semi-finals. Amirali Azarpira reached the final of the -97 kg category.

Bat Erdene Byambasuren and Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur secured Mongolia's place at Paris 2024 in the 86 kg and 125 kg categories respectively. Two more quotas went to Kazakhstan with the help of Alisher Yergali (97 kg) and Yusup Batirmurzaev (125 kg).