Sujeet Stuns Olympic Champion Kiyooka to Make Asian Games 65kg Final

NAGOYA, Japan (October 2) -- Asian champion SUJEET (IND) pulled off a shock win over Olympic champion Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) in the 65kg semifinals of the Asian Games in Nagoya on Friday.

Kiyooka, a world silver medalist, and Sujeet waited a while at the start of the bout but Kiyooka was the first to get on Sujeet's leg. Despite trying for a few seconds, Kiyooka failed to finish the takedown and scored a point for a stepout.

Kiyooka's lead doubled when Sujeet was put on the 30-second activity clock but the Indian wrestler failed to score.

Sujeet took the criteria lead first time when he scored a go-behind over Kiyooka. He then went into a shell to defend but Kiyooka managed to hit his legs twice in that period. However, the takedown still remained elusive.

On Kiyooka's first attempt near the edge, Sujeet hit a last-moment counter as both wrestler fell out of bounds. It was initially scored two points for Sujeet but upon challenge, it was ruled that Kiyooka's elbow touched first, giving Sujeet the stepout.

Kiyooka went for the scrap in the final 30 seconds but he got only a stepout and Sujeet still had the 3-3 criteria lead for his takedown against Kiyooka's three one-point moves.

Sujeet held on to it to make the 65kg final against Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK), a wrestler the Indian defeated 7-2 in the Asian Championships semifinal. Sujeet went on to win gold medal at the Asian Championships.