#WrestleTokyo

Al Obaidi of IOC Refugee Team Makes Winning Olympic Debut at Tokyo 2020

Tuesday, August 3, 2021 - 04:37 By Tim Foley

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CHIBA, Japan (August 3) --- Aker AL OBAIDI (EOR) of the IOC's Refugee team earned the first victory in his Olympic career Tuesday morning at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba.

Al Obaidi, an Iraqi refugee now living and training in Austria, looked superb in his first round 67kg weight class match besting Souleymen NASIR (TUN) by technical fall, 8-0.

"I felt really good in the bout," said Al Obaidi. "My wrestling was good and my mind and body were working perfectly together."

In his second match, Al Obaidi dropped the quarterfinal against Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO), 10-0. Should Zoidze win his semifinal match on Tuesday night, Al Obaidi will compete in the repechage.

"I am disappointed, but I will go step-by-step. I don't have enough words to thank UWW and the IOC. I am really happy to compete and that was because of them. I am very young and I look forward to competing for a long time."

#UWWAwards

Muszukajev, Rosillo, Tosun tabbed Breakout Performers for 2023

Friday, December 15, 2023 - 15:19 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 15) — Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), Bose TOSUN (TUR) and Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) stunned the world with their performances in 2023 and have been named United World Wrestling’s Breakout Performances of the Year in Freestyle, Women’s Wrestling and Greco-Roman respectively.

Muszukajev was a two-time world bronze medalist before 2023 but orchestrated a stunning career turnaround with his performance in Belgrade. The 65kg weight saw Musukajev triumphantly seize the world title, overcoming defending champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and reigning Olympic gold medalist Takuto OTOGURO (JPN). In a defining moment in Belgrade, Muszukajev became Hungary’s second-ever world champion, bringing an end to a 44-year freestyle world title drought dating back to 1979.

Perhaps the most shocking run to the world title in Belgrade was that of Bose TOSUN (TUR) who captured the 68kg gold in the field that had Irina RINGACI (MDA), Ami ISHII (JPN), Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL), Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), Feng ZHOU (CHN), Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), among others. 

Tosun dominated her competition with five resounding victories, including three falls, solidifying her status alongside Yasemin ADAR (TUR) as Turkiye’s only women’s wrestling world champions.

Another top performance in Belgrade was by Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) who defeated two world champions, Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) and Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), in semifinal and final, transforming his 2019 ninth-place finish at the World Championships into a glorious 97kg gold medal.

A U20 world champion in 2019, Rosillo finished 13th at the Tokyo Olympics but has now made himself the top contender for the 97kg title in the Paris Olympics.