Uzbek Athletes Secure Additional Medals at Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games

During the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, Uzbek athletes secured three medals in various competitions. The day featured events in karate, slalom rowing, and jiu-jitsu, with Uzbekistan excelling in boxing and wrestling.

In Greco-Roman wrestling, Uzbekistan's 39-year-old Rustam Assakalov clinched the first medal of the day. Competing in the -97 kg weight category, he initially faced a tough opponent from Iran, Saravi Mohammadi, in the first round, ultimately losing 3:6. However, Assakalov's fortune turned when Mohammadi reached the final and secured a gold medal. This allowed Assakalov to contend for the bronze. He secured victory by defeating Kyrgyz Uzur Juzupbekov with a score of 8:1 on his way to the bronze medal match, where he also triumphed over Kazakhstan's Islam Umayev.

Assakalov's achievement marked his third medal at the Asian Games, having previously won gold at the Inchon-2014 Games and silver at the Jakarta-2018 tournament.

In the +130 kg weight class of Greco-Roman wrestling, Temurbek Nasimov had a successful start, winning 9:0 against Japan's Sota Okumara. However, he faced a setback in the quarterfinals, where he lost to Kazakhstan's Alimkhan Sizdikov with a score of 1:9.

In the realm of boxing, Uzbekistan had a remarkable day with three representatives reaching the finals and all of them securing gold medals.

Hasanboy Dusmatov, the Rio Olympics champion and three-time Asian Championship winner, finally achieved the coveted title of Asian Games champion. In the final, defeating Thitisan Panmot from Thailand with a score of 5:0, bringing yet another gold medal to Uzbekistan.

Bakhodir Jalolov, another boxing sensation, boasting three-time Asian championship wins, two-time world championship victories, and a previous Olympic gold medal, emerged victorious in the +92 kg weight category final. He triumphed over his familiar rival, Kazakhstan's Kamshibek Konkabaev, with a score of 4:0, adding another gold medal to Uzbekistan's tally.

As a result of these performances, the Uzbekistan boxing team concluded the tournament with a total of three gold and two bronze medals, securing a second-place finish overall, trailing only behind the Chinese team.