#WrestleAlger

Adekuoroye Climbs to World No. 1 After Winning Sixth African Title

By Eric Olanowski

ALGER, Algeria (February 7) --- Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) and Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) improved on their top-three world rankings, as Nigerian women nabbed six African gold medals on Saturday night. 

Adekuoroye won her sixth consecutive African championship crown and overthrew Risako KAWAI (JPN) for the world’s top-ranking at 57kg. Kawai will have an opportunity to regain the top spot later this month at the Asian Championships.

Adekuoroye started the year ranked third in the world at 57kg. She jumped then-second-ranked RONG Ningning (CHN) in last month’s rankings with a gold-medal finish at the Matteo Pellicone. She brought 43 points and a second ranking to Algeria and used her 18-point gold medal to move one-point ahead of Kawai, the reigning three-time world champion and 2016 Olympic champion. (Kawai will compete in the Asian Championships with an opportunity to regain her top rankings).

Adekuoroye went 4-0 on Saturday and outscored her opponents 31-0. She picked up her most notable wins against No. 12 (@ 59kg) Eman EBRAHIM (EGY). She pinned Ebrahim in the opening round and defeated her 10-0 in the Nordic bracket finals.

Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) passed Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) for the No. 2 ranking at 68kg after winning African gold on Saturday night. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Fellow Nigerian Blessing Oborududu won gold on Saturday and moved ahead of Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) in the 68kg world rankings.

Oborududu brought her African gold-medal tally to ten and surpassed Fransson for the No. 2 spot in the 68kg women’s wrestling rankings. Oborududu’s title on Saturday was worth 18 points, moving her eight points ahead of the Swedish wrestler, who won’t compete at next week’s European Championships.

Oborududu tallied four blowout wins on Saturday. She ended each match early, scoring four technical superiority victories while outscoring her opponents 40-0.

Nigeria overpowered the women’s wrestling portion of the competition and won the team title with their ten finalists and six champions. Nigeria finished with 230 points, which was 64 points ahead of second-place Tunisia (166 points), and 66 points ahead of third-place Egypt (164 points). 

Nigeria’s Women’s Wrestling Champions: 
50kg - Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) 
55kg - Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) 
57kg - Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
59kg - Bisola MAKANJUOLA (NGR)
65kg - Hannah Amuchechi RUEBEN (NGR)
68kg - Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)

Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) is ranked third in the world at 67kg after his gold-medal performance in Algeria. (Photo: United World Wretling)

Greco-Roman 

El Sayed and Mohamed Improve Top-Five Rankings with African Golds 
Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) and Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) improved on their top-five rankings with African golds and head into the final Ranking Series event eyeing a top-four seed at the Olympic Games. 

El Sayed won the 67kg gold medal and earned 18 Ranking Series points, moving into the third spot of the rankings before the European Championships kick-off. He has 33 points and trails top-ranked Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) by nine points.

El Sayed, who qualified Egypt for the Olympic Games with a fifth-place finish in Nur-Sultan, entered the African Championships ranked fifth in the world at 67kg and was five points from leaping into the top-three of the rankings. His summit to the top of the African podium for the fourth time in his last five tries pushed him into the top-three of the rankings with one Ranking Series event left before the Olympic Games. 

The two-time U23 world champion won all four of his matches on Saturday. He outscored his opponents 27-0 en route to the 67kg gold medal. 

Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) snuck past Oscar PINO HINDES (CUB) for the No. 2 spot at 130kg with his African title-winning effort on Saturday.  (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Abdellatif Mohamed was the second Egyptian who improved his top-five ranking with a gold-medal performance in Algeria. 

Mohamed, who still needs to qualify Egypt for the Olympic Games at 130kg, entered the African Championships ranked third in the world with 30 Ranking Series points. He climbed to the second-ranking and gained a ten-point lead over Cuba's Oscar PINO HINDES (CUB). 

Mohamed collected three wins on his road to gold on Saturday. He demolished his trio of opponents, scoring a fall and two technical superiority victories.

Host Nation Algeria Claims Six Golds 
The host nation, Algeria, claimed six Greco-Roman gold medals at the African Championships and won the team title with 220 points. They finished 15 points ahead of second-place Egypt (205 points), and 73 points ahead of third-place Tunisia (147 points). 

Algeria’s Greco-Roman Champions:
55kg - Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG)
63kg - Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG)
77kg - Abd OUAKALI (ALG)
82kg - Chawki DOULACHE (ALG) 
87kg - Bachir SID AZARA (ALG)
97kg - Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG)

RESULTS 

Women’s Wrestling

50kg 
GOLD - Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) df. Nada MOHAMED (EGY), via fall 
BRONZE - Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG) df. Debora Valeria TURE (GBS), via fall 
BRONZE - Sarra HAMDI (TUN) df. Fatiha SAHMANI (MAR), 10-0 

53kg 
GOLD - Joseph ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR) df. Bose SAMUEL (NGR), 4-1
BRONZE - Kholod AHMED (EGY) df. Kheira YAHIAOUI (ALG), via injury default

55kg
GOLD - Esther Omolayo KOLAWOLE (NGR)
SILVER - Dorssaf GHARSSI (TUN)
BRONZE - Faten AHMED (EGY)

57kg 
GOLD - Odunayo Folasade ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Eman Essam Guda EBRAHIM (EGY), 10-0 
BRONZE - Siwar BOUSETTA (TUN) df. Cheima CHEBILA (ALG), 11-4

59kg
GOLD - Bisola MAKANJUOLA (NGR) 
SILVER - Fatma Ramadan Gomaa Ahmed ELKELINY (EGY) 
BRONZE - Khouloud EL OUNI (TUN)

62kg
GOLD - Marwa AMRI (TUN) df. Aminat Oluwafunmilayo ADENIYI (NGR), via fall
BRONZE - Berthe Emilienne ETANE NGOLLE (CMR) df. Wissal EL GNAOUI (MAR), via fall

65kg 
GOLD - Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) 
SILVER - Amel HAMMICHE (ALG) 
BRONZE - Lilia MEJRI (TUN)

68kg 
GOLD - Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) 
SILVER - Anta SAMBOU (SEN) 
BRONZE - Rihem AYARI (TUN) 

72kg
GOLD - Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN)
SILVER - Sunmisola Idowu BALOGUN (NGR) 
BRONZE - Sunmisola Idowu BALOGUN (EGY) 

76kg
GOLD - Samar HAMZA (EGY) df. Blessing Joy ONYEBUCHI (NGR), via fall 
BRONZE - Yvette ZIE (BUR) vs. Nour JELJELI (TUN), via fall 

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD - Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG) 
SILVER -  Romio Ricardo GOLIATH (NAM)
BRONZE - Youssef Mohamed Harbi THABET (EGY) 

60kg
GOLD - Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY)
SILVER - Abdennour LAOUNI (ALG)
BRONZE - Abderrazak ROUINBI (MAR)

63kg 
GOLD - Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG) 
SILVER - Mostafa MOHAMED (EGY) 
BRONZE - Hamed Moustapha TCHOUFON (RSA) 

67kg
GOLD - Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) 
SILVER - Ishak GHAIOU (ALG)
BRONZE - Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN)

72kg 
GOLD - Lamjed MAAFI (TUN) 
SILVER - Abouhalima Mohamed Elsaid ABOUHALIMA (EGY) 
BRONZE - Tarek Aziz BENAISSA (ALG) 

77kg 
GOLD - Abd Elkrim OUAKALI (ALG) df. Wael Hamdy Mohamed ABDELRAHMAN (EGY), 11-5 
BRONZE - Mohamed Aziz LANDOLSI (TUN) df. 2-1 Aziz BOUALEM (MAR), 2-1 

82kg 
GOLD - Chawki DOULACHE (ALG) 
SILVER - Ghaith HANNACHI (TUN)
BRONZE - Mohamed SELIM (EGY) 

87kg 
GOLD - Bachir SID AZARA (ALG) df. Mohamed Moustafa Ahmed Abdall METWALLY (EGY), 9-0
BRONZE - Mohamed FAIQ (MAR) df. Mohamed Skander MISSAOUI (TUN), via fall

97kg
GOLD - Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG) df. Haikel ACHOURI (TUN), 9-0 
BRONZE - Noureldin HASSAN (EGY) df. Choucri ATAFI (MAR), via injury default 

130kg
GOLD - Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) 
SILVER - Amine GUENNICHI (TUN)
BRONZE - Hichem KOUCHIT (ALG)

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025 Day 8: GR 63kg, 67kg, 87kg Highlights

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 20) -- The World Championships are close to its end with the final full day of action on Saturday. Three packed weight classes -- 63kg, 67kg and 87kg -- go on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 7 RESULTS

67kg semifinals
SF 1: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) vs Daniial AGAEV (UWW)
SF 2: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) vs. Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ)

14:28: Daniial AGAEV (UWW) ends the bid of former Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) for a second world title when he gets a 2-point lift and dump from par terre -- after being given more than ample time to complete the move -- in the second period for a 4-2 win at 67kg. Agaev will face Esmaeili for a place in the final.

14:27: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) completes a correct throw from par terre which gives him a 4-3 lead and ultimately the victory over Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) in the 67kg quarterfinals. Galstyan threaten to upset the world silver and Olympic bronze medalist as he turned him when he got the par terre. However, Jafarov scored a stepout to make it 3-1 at the break.

14:23: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) remains on fire, chalking up his third straight victory by technical superiority without giving up a point as he annihilates Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR) 8-0 at 67kg. Esmaeili comes out of the blocks with quick 4-point arm throw. Set up in par terre, he then executes a roll, then charges Joergensen out for a stepout. The final point was awarded on challenge, ending the match at 1:54.

14:21: Host Croatia's quest for a world finalist ends as Dominik ETLINGER (CRO) drops his quarterfinal at 67kg 10-0 to Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) who absolutely manhandled Etlinger. A reverse lift throw for four and suplex for four in his win.

63kg semifinals
SF 1: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) vs. Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI)
SF 2: Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) vs. Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA)

14:15: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) puts Moldova in the semifinals with a 3-1 victory over Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM) at 63kg. A two-point turn from par terre is difference between the two wrestlers.

14:14: Seven years after winning his lone world title, Sergey EMELIN (UWW) sees his quest end in Zagreb due to the newest rule change in the sport, as three-time Asian medalist Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) gains the first of two passivity points to win 1-1 on "first-point" criteria and advance to the 63kg semifinals.

14:13: Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB), the world U20 and senior Asian champion, reaches the semifinals at 63kg with an 8-0 technical superiority win over Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ). Unreal forward pressure from Khalmakhanov.

14:10: Asian silver medalist Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) continued his quest for a world gold with a comprehensive 8-0 win over Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) to make the 63kg semifinals. Keshtkar powers Mammadov down for a takedown, then unleashes a 2-point throw, which gets a 2-point foul attached. That puts Keshtkar on top of par terre, and he takes advantage with another 2-point throw to end the match at 2:07.

87kg Semifinals
SF 1: David LOSONCZI (HUN) vs. Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI)
SF 2: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) vs. Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW)

14:02: Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) somehow manages to defend against a throw from par terre by Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) even after being lifted in the air, landing on top for two points, which are awarded on challenge. Alirzaev then puts the match away when he goes on top in par terre in the second period, scoring two rolls for a 7-1 victory and a place in the 87kg semifinals.

14:02: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) got the first priority Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) but he fails to score any points from par terre and leads 1-0 at the break. Mohmadi gets the two points from par terre and a stepout to lead 4-1. Zhanyshov cannot break the defense of Mohamadi who wins with that scoreline.

1401: Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) gets the par terre and a stepout to lead David LOSONCZI (HUN) 2-0 at the break. In the second period, Losonczi trips to grip Filchakov who is cautioned for fleeing and the bouts restarts in par terre. Losonczi with a four-pointer to lead 6-2. He defends that lead to enter the semifinals at 87kg.

14:00: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) gets the first of the two passivity points awarded, and that makes the difference in a 1-1 victory over Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) that puts him into the 87kg semifinals later today.

Quarterfinals begin at the same time.

13:34: Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA) turns Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) from par terre to take a 3-0 lead in the first period but the Armenian unleashes a strong gut-wrench in the second period and scores four turns for eight points to lead 9-3 and win the bout at 67kg.

13:30: Former European champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) manages to turn Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) just enough to get the two points from par terre to lead 3-1. Qatar challenges against the scoring but that is lost and Eriomenco wins 4-1 at 63kg.

13:28: Host Croatia's long-shot hopes of winning a gold medal remained alive when Dominik ETLINGER (CRO) scored all of his points in the second period to knock off No. 2 seed Valentin PETIC (MDA) 7-4 at 67kg. Etlinger reeled of two rolls from par terre, then twice stopped throw attempts for 2-point counters. Of concern is that Etlinger was holding his left arm after the match, indicating a possible injury.

13:22: Luis ORTA (CUB) into the 67kg quarterfinals with a 1-1 victory over Murat FIRAT (TUR) as he gets the criteria according to the new Greco-Roman rules which gives the victory to the first scorer if the bout ends 1-1. As has become the norm, Turkiye challenge after the match which changes the score to 2-1 but Orta remains the winner.

13:13: A clutch takedown from Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) in the final 8 seconds as he upsets European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 5-3. Kamal was leading 3-3 on criteria after both score two-point turns from their par terre position. However, Mammadov managed to find an opening in the final moments to hand Kamal his first loss of this year when he would have least liked it.

13:12: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) finishes off a victory over Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (AUS) with a spectacular 5-point throw to earn a spot in the 67kg quarterfinals. Put on top in par terre, Jafarov gets two points for a penalty when Shimoyamada blocks his throat while in the air. Australia challenges, but is unsuccessful, putting Jafarov up 4-0. It also puts Shimoyamada, the former Japan national champ, on bottom again, and he is helpless to stop Jafarov's big throw.

13:08: Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) was sailing to  victory with a 5-0 lead over Damian VON EUW (SUI) but the Swiss wrestler slammed him for four to make it interesting in the last minute but Alirzaev with a reversal and he wins 6-4 at 87kg.

13:05: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) continues his devastating form, easily putting away Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB) 8-0 to advance to the 67kg quarterfinals. Esmaeli gets a roll from par terre, then picks up a takedown to go ahead 5-0 at the break. Another takedown followed by a stepout ends the match at 4:05.

13:01: Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) keeps the winning streak of Iran going after beating Baosheng HUANG (CHN), 2-1, at 63kg.

12:57: Veteran Sergey EMELIN (UWW) uses a reverse head lock from standing to slam Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) to mat for 4 in the second period, paving the way for a 7-3 victory at 63kg that ends testily. Emelin's final points came on a 2-point penalty, and Aslanyan had some words for Emelin, although they ended up with a final hug as they exited the mat.

12:56: World U20 and Asian senior champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) gets a roll and exposure from par terre in the first period and he's through to the 63kg quarterfinals with a 5-1 victory over two-time European medalist Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR).

12:50: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), Paris Olympic bronze medalist, gets both par terre positions in his match against Szymon SZYMONOWICZ (POL) and he adds a stepout plus a correct throw to win 5-0 and advance to the 87kg quarterfinals.

12:42: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) gives up the first passivity point to Payton JACOBSON (USA) at 87kg, but does not allow a turn in par terre. When his chance comes in the second period, Komarov takes advantage and gut wrenches Jacobson over. An unsuccessful challenge for who-knows-what gives Komarov another point, and he gains a late stepout to win 5-1.

12:40: European champion David LOSONCZI (HUN) uses his early 4-0 lead as a cushion to beat local favorite Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) 4-3 at 87kg. He scored a turn from par terre and stepout to get the 4-0 lead before defending that in the second period.

12:34: Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) gets the roll in par terre against Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) in the first period of their 87kg clash, then holds steady in the bottom in the second period. That puts last year's world U20 champion into the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win.

12:25: Paris Olympic and 2023 world silver medalist Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) trails 3-1 going into the second period against Daniel ALEKSANDROV (BUL). But he rectifies the situation quickly, getting behind and then launching a beautiful 4-point throw. Mohmadi gets a chance at par terre and repeats the 4-pointer. Another throw is not executed as well, but gives him a 1-point stepout and an 11-3 win and a spot in the 87kg quarterfinals.

12:15: Asian silver medalist Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) sticks Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) to his back off the whistle for a 4-point takedown at 67kg. As he works for a fall, Beishekeev stands up and slams Sogabe down for a 4-point throw, ending the match 8-0 in 1:30. That avenged a loss by fall to Sogabe in the first round at the 2023 Asian Championships, where Sogabe took the silver.

12:14: Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (AUS), a former Asian champion who has made the rare move for a Japanese of changing his national affiliation to Australia, shows he's still got it. The 30-year-old takes Gjete PRENGA (ALB) down to his back for 4, then sends him flying for a 4-point throw to win their 67kg clash 8-0 in 39 seconds.

12:10: European champion and Olympic bronze medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) is taken into the second period by Neiser MARIMON HIDALGO (VEN) at 67kg, albeit with a 3-0 lead, but ducks under for a takedown, then launches a slick 4- point throw for a 9-0 win in 3:52.

12:07: Luis ORTA (CUB), after a four-pointer, gets the par terre and two turns to win Maksym LIU (UKR) to win 9-0. Ukraine corner challenges asking for the last turn to be cancelled but it is valid and the challenge is lost, giving another point to Orta.

12:03: Daniial AGAEV (UWW), a 2024 world U23 bronze medalist,  has a 2-point throw after a takedown annulled on challenge, but comes back in par terre with a trap-arm roll for a 5-0 lead over European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) at 67kg. In the second period, Khetsuriani charges to a stepout. then gets a chance at par terre. but Agaev resists, and he walks off a 5-2 winner.

11:51: Paris Olympic 67kg champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI), who added a second straight Asian title earlier this year and is aiming for his first senior world title, has a challenging opening match in former world champion Sebastian NAD (SRB). Esmaeili scores first by successfully challenging for a singlet-grabbing foul, then muscles Nad down for a takedown. A passivity point gives him a 5-0 lead at the break. In the second period, Esmaeili spins behind for a takedown, then quickly gut wrenches for a 9-0 win.

11:35: Former world champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) drops his opening bout to Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Sergey EMELIN (UWW), 1-1, on the basis of first-point criteria.

11:27: Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) with a controlled 4-0 victory over Jianwen LUO (CHN) at 87kg. A position in par terre, a turn for two points and a stepout in his win.

11:21: Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), world U20 champion in 2024, lifts Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) from par terre for a fine suplex for four points. Gobadze is cautioned for two points for a leg foul and the bout restarts in par terre. Yevloyev with a correct throw to finish the bout 9-1

11:17: Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) held off an aggressive Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) in the final minute to win 1-1 at 87kg. Nazaryan got the first-point criteria

11:11: Paris Olympic silver medalist Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) needed a correct throw and a bodylock to takedown for a 5-1 victory over Hannes WAGNER (GER) at 87kg

11:07: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED), a world U23 silver medalist, starts his senior World Championships with a 4-1 victory over Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB). He scored a stepout to make it 1-1 before getting the par terre and leading 2-1. A turn from par terre extended his lead to 4-1, also the winning score.

11:05: Former European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) gets a bloody lip early in his 87kg match with Soh SAKABE (JPN), but is otherwise untroubled in rolling to a 5-2 win. Two rolls from par terre gives him a 5-0 lead at the break. Sakabe gets a chance at par terre in the second period but hardly budges Komarov, although he gets a stepout in the final seconds.

11:00: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) comes from 5-1 down to beat Hasan KILINC (TUR), 6-5, at 87kg. Kilic got a reverse lift throw for four points from par terre in the second period to lead 5-1 but Zhanyshov with setpouts and cautions against Kilinc to win.

10:55: Two-time world bronze medalist Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) has little trouble disposing of Erion RAMLJAK (AUS) with an 8-0 victory at 87kg. Filchakov starts with a stepout, then reels off three exposures from par terre to end the proceedings in 1:46.

10:50: After Karlo KODRIC (CRO) ended the 11-year wait for a world medal for hosts Croatia, Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) is looking to add to that bronze medal. He wins with a 9-0 win over Patrik GORDAN (ROU) at 87kg

10:30: The 63kg, 67kg and 87kg wrestlers are set to take the mat on day eight of the World Championships in Zagreb.