Astana, 31 October. Kazakhstan’s freestyle wrestler Nurkozha Kaipanov beat reigning world champion Yoshinosuke Aoyagi of Japan 3:1 in the 74 kg semi-final of the world championships in Astana and reached the final, guaranteeing himself at least a silver medal, Kazinform reported.
The deciding bout will take place on 1 November, the last day of the tournament at Barys Arena; Kaipanov’s opponent will be Russia’s Inalbek Sheriev, who beat Slovakia’s Taimuraz Salkazanov in the other semi-final, Sportilinet writes. For Kazakhstan’s team it is the first final at a home world championship, Zakon.kz noted.
On the way to the final Kaipanov won three bouts: against Kosovo’s Egzon Khoni 10:0, against Azerbaijan’s Turan Bayramov 4:0, and in the quarter-final against Tajikistan’s Viktor Rassadin 11:0 by technical superiority. He beat the Kosovo wrestler in 65 seconds, Vesti.kz reported. The same day his compatriot Azamat Dauletbekov, competing at 92 kg, lost in the quarter-final to Georgia’s Miriani Maisuradze, Baq.kz said.
The semi-final brought together two old rivals. Before moving up to the Olympic 74 kg class both competed at 70 kg: Kazakhstan’s wrestler was stronger in the 2024 world final, and a year later Aoyagi won the title; this season the Japanese became Asian champion, already at 74 kg, Airpress recalled.
What it means: Kaipanov has already beaten the reigning world champion and is one bout away from the title; according to Kazinform, it is Kazakhstan’s team’s first final at a home world championship.
Who benefits: Kazakhstan’s team, which is fighting for its first gold in front of a home crowd. Wrestling in the country, which gets a reason for interest in a tournament that ends on 1 November.
Background: Kaipanov is the 2024 world champion and a bronze medallist of the 2025 world championships; in October he won bronze at the Asian Games in Japan, Vesti.kz notes. The wrestling world championships are held in Astana from 24 October to 1 November. In freestyle, finalists are guaranteed at least silver, and bronze is contested by those who lost to the finalists.
We have also reported on Aitakyn wrestling for bronze at the world wrestling championships in Astana.
