Abounader Strikes Silver at Asian Games

Domenic Abounader, the All-American Michigan graduate, started his international career with a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games. Abounader is making a run at the Olympics in this quad representing Lebanon through family heritage. He delivered a medal as a result of this opportunity powering his way to the finals before falling to Olympic Gold medalist Yazdani (Iran). 

He needed three wins to make the finals which included high point totals pointing well to the future including an 8-7 and 10-9 wins. Abounader is known for his top work in collegiate wrestling, but other Americans have translated that into freestyle success. 

The Asian Games have been wild so far. Three defending World Champs have fallen from Japan in Takahashi (57 kg Men) and the women Okuno and Kawai. 

Is Helen Maroulis' biggest rival a North Korean? In a forgotten match from the 2016 Olympics, Jong Myong-Suk was leading Helen before an amazing comeback. She is now up at 57 kg as well and claimed the crown in what could be considered a terrible draw. 

Another American connection was Uzbekistan's Bekzod Abdurakhmonov. He claimed his second Asian Games gold (every four years and only the Olympic weights). His semi-final 11-1 tech of Fujinami (Japan) is brow-raising.