#WrestleAlger

African Championship Preview

Tuesday, February 4, 2020 - 21:45 By Eric Olanowski

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ALGER, Algeria (February 6) --- African stars Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY), Ahmed MOHAMED (EGY) and Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) enter the African Championships poised to improve their top-five rankings.

Adekuoroye jumped RONG Ningning (CHN) and is ranked second in the world at 57kg. The Nigerian superstar trails three-time world champion and 2016 Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) by 17 points. 

But Adekuoroye, a three-time world medalist, can overthrow Kawai for the world’s top-ranking if she’s able to claim her fifth consecutive crown. A gold in Alger will be worth 18 points, which would catapult Adekuoroye into the No. 1 spot, one point ahead of the Japanese wrestler before the Asian Championships.

Adekuoroye is favored to win the five-woman 57kg bracket. But, undoubtedly, Adekuoroye’s biggest threat is Eman EBRAHIM (EGY), who she defeated in last year's All African Games finals.

Ebrahim, the defending African champion at 59kg, is ranked 12th in the world and will make her descent down to 57kg for a run at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Mohamed El Sayed enters the African Championships ranked fifth in the world at 67kg and is five points from leaping into the top-three of the rankings. He’s on a quest to win his fourth African championship crown in his last five tries. 

The two-time U23 world champion will earn 18 Ranking Series points if he caps off the 2020 African Championships with another title. He'd move into the third spot of the rankings before the European Championships kick-off. 

According to the 67kg early entries for the European Championships, fourth-ranked Mate NEMES (SRB) is the only European wrestler that’s ranked higher than El Sayed that’ll wrestle at the continental championships. Nazir ABDULLAEV (RUS) will replace No. 2 Artem SURKOV (RUS) and Witalis LAZOVSKI (GER) will take No. 3 Frank STAEBLER’S (GER) starting spot.

The absence of Surkov and Staebler presents El Sayed with an opportunity to be ranked no lower than fourth heading into the final Ranking Series event, the Poland Open. But first, he’ll have to get through his most dangerous opponent, Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN), who was last year’s 63kg African runner-up.

Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) could pass Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) for the No. 2 spot if she wins the 68kg title in Alger. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

At 68kg, Blessing Oborududu is ranked third in the world and sits ten points away from surpassing Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) for the No. 2 spot in the women’s wrestling rankings. A tenth African title will be worth 18 points and will boost Oborududu into the second spot, eight points ahead of Fransson. 

Mona AHMED (EGY) and Anta SAMBOU (SEN) are in charge of stopping Oborududu in her quest to reach double-digit African titles. But that’ll be easier said than done. Oborududu hasn’t lost at the African Championships since her first continental appearance in 2009.

Ahmed won a silver medal at last year’s African Championships, but that was at 76kg. She’s dropping down two weight classes to try to improve on that silver-medal finish. 

Sambou fell to Obordudu in their last three meetings. Sambou dropped her finals matches against the Nigerian at last year’s All African Championships and also fell to Obordudu in the previous two African Championship finals.

At 130kg, Abdellatif Mohamed enters the African Championships ranked third in the world with 30 Ranking Series points. He’s positioned eight points behind Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) but will gain the ten-point lead over the Cuban world runner-up if he claims gold in the five-person bracket in Alger. 

Hichem KOUCHIT (ALG) and Amine GUENNICHI (TUN) are the top-two candidates who have a shot at stopping Mohamed from winning a fifth African title. Mohamed downed Kouchit, 8-0, in their fifth-round meeting at last year’s African Championships, and bested Guennichi in last year’s All African Games finals. 

Samar HAMZA (EGY) is bumping up to 76kg after splitting time in 2019 at 68kg and 72kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Three Weights to Feature Two Returning Champs
57kg (WW), 74kg (FS) and 76kg (WW) feature a pair of reigning African champions entered into the same weight -- with one winner switching weight classes to challenge the defending 2019 champion. 

As previously mentioned, reigning 59kg champion Eman Ebrahim is dropping down to 57kg to challenge Adekuoroye. 

Samar HAMZA (EGY) is returning to the Olympic weight of 76kg to try to halt Blessing ONYEBUCHI (NGR) from winning a second consecutive 76kg title. Hamza split time in 2019 between 68kg and 72kg.  Hamza's cut down to 68kg proved to be too much to handle, so she was left with no other option but to move back up to 76kg.

Hamza’s move to 76kg reinvigorates her rivalry with Onyebuchi that dates back to 2016. The Egyptian scored the come-from-behind fall against Onyebuchi in their 2016 African Championship semifinals match, which ultimately led to her winning one of her three continental titles. Hamza won their latest meeting, too.  She grabbed a one-point victory in the pair’s 9-8 shootout match at the 2018 African Championships.

On a side note, Hamza’s African record remains unblemished in her five trips to the African Championships. She’s a two-time junior African champion and three-time senior African gold medalist.

In freestyle, Amr HUSSEN (EGY) will make his ascent up to 74kg and try to avenge multiple losses suffered at the hands of three-time African champion Ogbonna Emmanuel JOHN (NGR). 

Most recently, Hussen fell to John 2-2 on criteria in the 2018 African finals. The Egyptian wrestler also fell to the Nigerian in the 2017 African Championships. That 9-8 quarterfinals loss in 2017 led to Hussen finishing with a bronze medal, while John reached the top of the podium.

Adama DIATTA (SEN) is in search of his tenth African title. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Diatta Chasing African Title Number Ten 
Adama DIATTA (SEN) is on a quest to claim his tenth African Championship title. He won his first of nine titles 13 years ago, at the 2007 African Championships. He captured three consecutive African gold medals from 2007-’09, before dropping to a silver and a bronze-medal finish at the 2010 and ’11 African Championships, respectively. Diatta added six African crowns to his resume since that loss in 2011 and is awaiting title number ten. 

But for Diatta to reach double digits will be extremely tough. He’s bumping up to 65kg for the second time in his career. He appeared at 65kg at last year’s All African Games and finished in eighth place. 

The favorite at the weight is returning 65kg African champion, Mbunde CUMBA MBALI (GBS).

Marwa AMRI (TUN), a Rio Olympic bronze medalist, is one of nine returning women's wrestling African champions. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

23 of 30 Gold Medalists Returning 
There are 23 of last year’s 30 champions that are returning to the African Championships looking to defend their 2019 crowns. Women’s wrestling has nine returning winners; freestyle has eight and Greco-Roman is set to feature six wrestlers looking to win a second consecutive title.

Women’s Wrestling: 
50kg - Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR)
55kg - Faten HAMMAMI (TUN)
57kg - No. 2 Odunayo Folasade ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
57kg - No. 12 Eman Essam Guda EBRAHIM (Ranked at 59kg) (EGY)
62kg - Marwa AMRI (TUN)
68kg - No. 3 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
72kg - Sunmisola Idowu BALOGUN (NGR)
76kg - Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA (EGY)
76kg - Blessing Joy ONYEBUCHI (NGR)

Freestyle: 
57kg - Abdelhak KHERBACHE    (ALG)
65kg - Mbunde CUMBA MBALI (GBS)
74kg - Amr Reda HUSSEN (EGY)
74kg - Ogbonna JOHN (NGR)
79kg - Ayoub BARRAJ    (TUN)
86kg - Sabri MNASRIYA (TUN)
92kg - Mohamed ABDALLA (EGY)
97kg - Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN)

Greco-Roman: 
55kg - Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG)
60kg - Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY)
67kg - No. 5 Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY)
72kg - Tarek Aziz BENAISSA (ALG)
97kg - Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG)
130kg - Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY)

SENIOR AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Friday (February 7)
14:00 - Technical conference – all SENIOR teams

Saturday (February 8)
8:30 - Medical examination and Weigh-in WW – GR / SENIOR
10:30 - Qualification rounds and repechage WW – GR / SENIOR
17: 00 - Finals WW – GR / SENIOR

Sunday (February 9)
8:30 - Medical examination and Weigh-in FS / SENIOR
10:30 - Qualification rounds FS / SENIOR
17:00 - Finals FS / SENIOR

#WrestleAmman

Asian Championships 2025 Day 3 Blog: China, DPR Korea shine

Thursday, March 27, 2025 - 08:33 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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AMMAN, Jordan (March 27) -- Asian Championships enters day three with Women's Wrestling in 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 RESULTS

76kg gold medal bout: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs REETIKA (IND)

14:11: REETIKA (IND) gives India a presence in the finals with a victory by fall over Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) at 76kg, giving her a chance to avenge a quarterfinal loss at the Paris Olympics to Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ). Reetika, the 2023 world U23 champion, had an answer for everything Yamamoto attempted. The Indian opened the scoring with a double-leg takedown, getting the points by going over the edge as Yamamoto attempted a counter lift, then added a takedown to go ahead 4-0 at the break. In the second period, Reetika got 2 more with a counter-lift of her own off a scramble, then ended the match when she slammed Yamamoto to the mat for 4 and secured the fall at 4:13.

14:07: Quick movement from Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and she cradles Mi Hyang KIM (PRK) for a fall in the 76kg semifinals! Kim escaped Medet Kyzy's cradle but the Kyrgyz managed to still pin Kim on her back.

68kg gold medal bout: Zelu LI (CHN) vs Sol Gum PAK (PRK)

14:02: In a clash of Paris Olympians, Sol Gum PAK (PRK) gets a pair of stepouts, the second coming with Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) on the activity clock, to take a 3-0 lead in their 68kg semifinal. In the second period, Pak gets 2 when she counters a takedown attempt with a Greco-like back throw. Pak adds another stepout, then scores 2 when she stops a headlock attempt and, despite giving up a late takedown, she's through to the final in her senior Asian debut with an 8-2 win. Enkhsaikhan, a 2023 world silver medalist, will have to be content battling for a fourth career Asian bronze and fifth medal overall.

14:00: Zelu LI (CHN) will clash with Paris fifth-placer Sol Gum PAK (PRK) for the 68kg gold medal after she takes down world U17 champion Mansi LATHER (IND) 10-1 in the semifinal with some brute strength and counters. Li was pretty defensive in the first period and got put on the activity clock. Lather led 1-0 and tried getting a stepout but Li defended and circled to score a takedown. She laced with a bent knee to make it 4-1 at the break. Lather was on the attack in the second period as well but Li's strength was little too much as she fails to finish after a single-leg attack. Li manages to get out of the hold and scores a takedown for a 6-1 lead. A double leg throw for four to make it 10-1 which she defends for the final minute and win.

59kg gold medal bout: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) vs. Pyol HONG (PRK)

13:51: Pyol HONG (PRK), a newcomer onto the international scene, takes it directly to veteran Mengyu XIE (CHN), a former world bronze medalist and Asian champion, in their 59kg semifinal. Hong scores a single-leg takedown in the first period, then adds another in the second. Hong defends against a pair of tackle attempts and she's through to the final with a 4-0 victory. 

13:46: World U20 champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) needs only 42 seconds to beat Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) in the 59kg semifinal. Onishi with a head-outside single and gut-wrenches for a 4-0 lead. She transitions into a lace and gets the 10-0 win to enter the final.

55kg gold medal bout: Yuxuan LI (CHN) vs Kyong Ryong LI (PRK)

13:42: Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) will get a chance to improve on her silver medal from last year at 55kg after overwhelming Dilshoda MATNAZAROVA (UZB). Oh starts out with a single-leg takedown and adds a lace lock. Matnazarova squirms out of the lock and attempts a switch, but Oh presses forward and stuffs Matnazarova onto her back, then secures a fall at 1:58.

13:42: Yuxuan LI (CHN), who made her international debut at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series 2025, is into the final at 55kg of Asian Championships. A meek surrender by Otgontuya BAYANMUNKH (MGL) as Li gut-wrenches her way to the final.

50kg gold medal bout: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) vs. Yu ZHANG (CHN)

13:39: Two-time Asian champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) with a strategic win over Myonggyong WON (PRK) in the 50kg semifinal. Won got a 1-0 lead after Yoshimoto was put on the activity clock. But Yoshimoto scores a takedown in the second period when Won is on the clock to lead 3-1. Won tries a arm-throw which is blocked by Yoshimoto and she countries with a go-behind and gets a takedown. She defends her 5-1 lead, never allowing Won to reach her legs.

13:36: World U20 champion Yu ZHANG (CHN) will battle for her first senior-level gold after sweeping to a 10-0 victory over Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ) in the 50kg semifinals. Zhang starts off with a single-leg takedown, then adds 2 with a high-thigh lock and roll. She spins behind for another takedown to make it 6-0. Ankicheva attempts an inside trip, but Zhang thwarts the effort and spins behind for 2, then hits a regular lace lock to finish her off in 2:43. 

The semifinals will begin at 13:30 local time in Amman

12:47: In the final bout of the session, world U23 bronze medalist Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) scores an opportunistic takedown with :23 left to defeat Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) 4-2 and advance to the 76kg semifinals. Yamamoto opened the scoring with a takedown, but Enkh Amar, the 2023 world silver medalist at 72kg, came back with a takedown at the first-period buzzer. It looked like the Mongolian's defenses would hold in the second period when Yamamoto appeared to stumble. Enkh Amar made a charge at her, but Yamamoto deftly shrugged her aside and spun behind for the winning takedown.

12:38: REETIKA (IND), the 2023 world U23 champion, books her place in the 76kg semifinals with a one-sided 10-0 win over Seoyeon JEONG (KOR). 

12:40: Aiperi MEDEY KYZY (KGZ) passes the Chinese test with ease. She got a point for YANGLA (CHN) passivity and then scored a nice double-leg attack for two points. With a 3-0 lead, Medet Kyzy defends it and wins to enter the 76kg semifinals

12:37: Sol Gum PAK (PRK), fifth at the Paris Olympics, secures her spot in the 68kg semifinals with an 11-4 victory over returning bronze medalist Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ).

12:36: In an unexpected twist, Mansi LATHER (IND) is awarded a victory by forfeit in her 68kg quarterfinal when world 72kg champion and tournament favorite Ami ISHII (JPN) becomes a late withdrawal due to injury. 

12:34: Mi Hyang KIM (PRK) ends 33-year-old Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ)'s bid for a third Asian gold at 76kg when she wears down the eight-time Asian medalist and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist before securing a 12-0 victory at 5:16. 

12:30: World silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) keeps hitting double-leg attacks and scores two takedowns and a stepout for a 5-0 lead against Miju KIM (KOR). Another takedown and turn for a 9-0 lead before Enkhsaikhan holds Kim on the mat and secures the fall inside first period and reach the 68kg semifinals.

12:25: China puts another wrestler into the semifinals when Mengyu XIE (CHN), a 2022 world bronze medalist at 55kg and former Asian champion, storms to a 10-0 victory over Hyeonju KWON (KOR) at 59kg. 

12:25: Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) led 2-1 at the break against Tancholpon KYBALBEKOVA (KGZ) but she changes levels in the second period and adds takedowns on counter to win 8-2 and advance to the semifinals.

12:22: It's simultaneous wins for China wrestlers named Li on Mats B and C. On Mat B, Zelu LI I(CHN) secures a quick fall over Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) to advance to the 68kg semifinals, and seconds later, Yuxuan LI (CHN) completes a 2-0 victory in the 55kg quarterfinals over Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE).

12:19: In one of the feature matches of the afternoon session, it's multi-world champion Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO (JPN) up against Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) for a place in the 55kg semifinals. Murayama Okuno gets an activity point, but Oh responds with a single-leg takedown to lead 2-1 at the break. In the second period, Murayama Okuno scores a takedown after she finally gets behind Oh, who looks like a U.S. collegiate wrestler doing sit-outs. Then things get real interesting, as Oh scores a takedown, but Murayama Okuno responds with one of her own with :35 to go for a 5-4 lead. But with :10 left, Oh gets behind for a takedown for a dramatic 6-5 win. Whew!

12:15: World U20 champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN), making her Asian Championships debut, is tested by MUSKAN (IND). Onishi scores two takedowns but cannot finishes her lace. Muskan fakes a couple of attempts and scores a go-behind to make it 4-2. Onishi keeps her calm, comes back for another takedown to lead 6-2. No more trouble for Onishi as she laces her way to a 12-2 win at 59kg.

12:13: Otgontuya BAYANMUNKH (MGL) is into the 55kg semifinals with an 11-0 win over Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ). Leading 3-0 in the second period, Bayanmunkh twice scores a double-leg takedown and adds a 2-point exposure.

12:12: Myonggyong WON (KOR) makes it two wins out of two and enters the 50kg semifinals! She needs 19 seconds in the second period against Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) to finish the bout 11-0.

12:08: Yu ZHANG (CHN) gets a takedown, uses a grapevine and cross-face to put Nipuni WASANA (SRI) on her back, then secures a fall in 1:02 to secure a spot in the 50kg semifinals.

12:05: YANGLA (CHN) too unleashes the strong gut-wrench before pinning Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB) at 76kg. Yangla had a 10-0 lead but decided to secure the fall.

12:04: Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ) gets creative in her 50kg quarterfinal with Yi Hui LIN (TPE), locking up an arm and a leg with her back to Lin to score a takedown and gain two 2-point exposures. In the second period, Ankicheva uses an inside trip to slam Lin to back and secures the fall.

12:00: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) gets another technical superiority win at 50kg. Miran CHEON (KOR) tried a few tricks but Yoshimoto has the arm-bar which gets her a 4-0 lead before she finishes 11-0, including a lost challenge from Korea.

11:57: Layal SUKKAR (JOR) makes history when she takes the mat against Dilshoda MATNAZAROVA (UZB) for her 55kg quarterfinal match, becoming the first-ever Jordanian woman to compete at the senior Asian Championships. Matnazarova works a 2-on-1 and Sukkar is put on the activity clock, during which Matnazarova scores a takedown for a 3-0 lead. She adds another takedown before the break. In the second period, Matnazarova gets a quick takedown and ends the match by fall.  

11:55: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) shows why you never give up, coming back to defeat Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB) by fall while trailing 8-0 at 68kg. 

11:51: Another big win for the DPR Korea as Pyol HONG (PRK) cruises to a 10-0 victory over Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB) at 59kg. 

11:47: Yuxuan LI (CHN) adds to India's loss column. She gets the takedown on NISHU (IND) and then enforces the lethal gut-wrench that Chinese wrestlers have mastered to win 10-0 at 55kg.

11:46: Two-time Asian U23 champion Otgontuya BAYANMUNKH (MGL) has no trouble putting away Hyerim LEE (KOR) 10-0 to advance to the 55kg quarterfinals. 

11:44: Two-time Asian champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) got the arm-bar to pin ANKUSH (IND), who managed to roll over and survive. But she failed to defend Yoshimoto's lace. Yoshimoto wins 10-0 at 50kg

11:42: Kyong Ryong OH (PRK), last year's losing finalist at 55kg, gives up a 2-point counter against Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) in their 50kg match, but comes back with a pair of deep double-leg takedowns, then turns her opponent over enough times for a 13-2 win. She will next face three-time world champion and top seed Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO (JPN). 

11:40: Yi Hui LIN (TPE) was made to work hard for her 8-1 win over Thi Nga DUONG (VIE) in the opening bout at 50kg. Duong kept going for attacks while Lin countered them perfectly to score four different takedowns.

11:37: Myonggyong WON (PRK), an Asian U20 bronze medalist back in 2019, needs some time to get Gozel KURBANOVA (TKM) to hit her knees to the mat in their 50kg opener. But once she does, Won goes immediately to a lace lock, rolls four times and the match is over 10-0 in 45 seconds. 

11:35: World U20 champion Yu ZHANG (CHN), competing in her second senior international tournament, gets off to a strong start with a 10-0 victory over Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) at 50kg.