#Budapest2018

Andreu Ortega and Goleij Claim Second U23 World Titles at #WrestleBudapest

Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 22:04 By Taylor Miller

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Photo of Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) by Kadir Caliskan.

BUDAPEST, Hungary – 2017 U23 World champions Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) and Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) picked up their second U23 World gold medals with impressive performances in Budapest, Hungary, on Tuesday.

Andreu Ortega topped the podium once again after taking seventh in 2018.

Wrestling at 57 kg, Andreu Ortega rolled past 2017 Cadet World bronze medalist and 2019 Junior World bronze winner Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) in the gold match, thanks to a takedown and multiple leg laces for a quick 10-0 technical fall.

Goleij, who did not compete at the 2018 U23 World Championships, put up seven points in the second period of the 97 kg title match against 2017 Junior World champion Shamil MUSAEV (RUS) for an 8-2 victory and the gold medal.

Photo of Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) by Kadir Caliskan. 

Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) earned his second-career World title with a comeback win in the 65 kg gold-medal match.

Trailing the majority of the bout to Takuma TANIYAMA (JPN), Bayramov scored two points on a chest lock in the last minute of the bout to lead 2-2 on criteria. A failed challenge from Taniyama’s corner resulted in another point for Bayramov and a 3-2 win.

With the win, Bayramov adds to an impressive resumes, which includes a 2018 Cadet World gold, 2018 Youth Olympic Games gold, 2017 Cadet World silver and 2019 Junior World bronze.

Also storming back to win a gold medal on Tuesday night was U23 World bronze medalist Mirza SKHULUKHIA (GEO), who trailed most of the match to Cherman VALIEV (RUS) at 70 kg. Skhulukhia scored a late takedown for 7-5 lead, and moments later, the Georgian secured a pin at 5:58.

Photo Mirza SKHULUKHIA (GEO) by Kadir Caliskan. 

 

The gold-medal bout at 79 kg lasted only one minute as 2016 Junior World bronze medalist Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO) pinned Cadet World champion and two-time Junior World medalist Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE).

Abakarov scored quickly on a takedown and gut wrench to go up 4-0. As Abakarov attempted another turn, Gaphrindashvili stepped over, putting the Azeri to his back for a fall.

It was the second gold medal of the night for Georgia.

Competition continues Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. local time live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Finals matchups
57 kg
GOLD - Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) df. Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ), 10-0
BRONZE - Afgan KHASHALOV (AZE) df. Ramiz GAMZATOV (RUS), 5-2
BRONZE - Alireza Nosratolah SARLAK (IRI) df. Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL), 7-4

65 kg
GOLD - Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) df. Takuma TANIYAMA (JPN), 3-2
BRONZE - Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) df. Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA), 7-3
BRONZE - Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR) df. Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), 8-8

70 kg
GOLD - Mirza SKHULUKHIA (GEO) df. Cherman VALIEV (RUS), fall
BRONZE - Haruki SENO (JPN) df. Oleksii BORUTA (UKR), 3-0
BRONZE - Daud IBRAGIMOV (AZE) df. Amirhossein Ali HOSSEINI (IRI), fall

79 kg
GOLD - Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO) df. Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), fall
BRONZE - Ramazan Ishak SARI (TUR) df. Muhamed Mustafa MCBRYDE (USA), 8-3
BRONZE - Radik VALIEV (RUS) df. Veer Dev GULIA (IND), 5-4

97 kg
GOLD - Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) df. Shamil MUSAEV (RUS), 8-2
BRONZE - Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR) df. Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO), 8-5
BRONZE - Danylo STASIUK (UKR) df. Serik BAKYTKHANOV (KAZ), 4-1

Olympic silver medalist Oborududu announces retirement

Saturday, June 7, 2025 - 07:10 By Vinay Siwach

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NIGERIA (June 6) -- Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) announced her retirement last week, ending a memorable career in wrestling.

The 36-year-old called it quits at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, a tournament she made her first appearance as a young wrestler in 2006.

In a career spanning 19 years, Oborududu won the African Championships 13 times, became the first African wrestler to win Olympic silver medal in Women's Wrestling and finished fifth at the Paris Olympics.

Oborududu participated won her first gold at the African Championships in 2010 and maintained her winning streak at the tournament for 15 years. 

“I want to thank everyone who has been part of my journey: the Nigeria Wrestling Federation led by Daniel IGALI, the board members, my teammates, and my family,” Oborududu was quoted as saying by the Nigeria media. "I created a lot of memories, but my most memorable one was the Tokyo Olympics, which ignited hope across Africa. It was the first-ever medal by an African woman in wrestling at the Olympics, and I hope more will come for future wrestlers."

At the sports festival, Oborududu helped Team Bayelsa clinch gold medal in her final bout at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival. He later received a farewell from teammates, officials and fans.