Youth Olympic Games

Argentina Celebrate as Machuca Makes YOG Gold Medal Finals

By Tim Foley

BUENOS AIRES (October 13) – After a length early session that saw 56 matches per mat, Argentinian fans were treated to the news that after a 4-0 start Linda Marilina MACHUCA (ARG) would be in tonight’s gold medal finale.

The 73kg grappler made easy work of all four opponents, capping her perfect morning session with a decisive victory over Khadija JLASSI (TUN), 5-2.

Wrestlers from 9 nations will be represented in the finals, with Uzbekistan position two athletes for gold.
 

Women’s Wrestling, 43kg

Simran SIMRAN (IND) v. Emily King SHILSON (USA)
Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE) v. Enkhzul BATBAATAR (MGL)
Justine Fanny VIGOUROUX (FRA) v. Maria LEORDA (MDA)
Heloisa Elena MARTINEZ (BRA) v. Sara Gouda Farouk MAHMOUD (EGY)
Christianah Tolulope OGUNSANYA (NGR) v. Ella Mae DERRY (NZL)

Women’s Freestyle, 49kg

Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) v. Emma Jonna Denise MALMGREN (SWE)
Tiare Lynn Masako Dizon IKEI (USA) v. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN)
Natallia VARAKINA (BLR) v. Zineb ECH CHABKI (MAR)

Maria Jose MOSQUERA ROJAS (VEN) v. Paulina Jean DUENAS (GUM)
Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) v. Sopealai SIM (CAM)

Women’s Freestyle, 57kg

Anna Hella SZEL (HUN) v. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
Irina RINGACI (MDA) v. Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)
Mayra Alejandra PARRA ALVAREZ (VEN) v. Andrea Monserrat LOPEZ MARTINEZ (MEX)
Hala Wael Imbabi AHMED (EGY) v. Mansi MANSI (IND)
Lydia TOIDA (CMR) v. Kaetlyn Rae Okada QUINTANILLA (GUM)

Women’s Freestyle, 65kg

Xinru ZHOU (CHN) v. Oksana CHUDYK (UKR)
Oyun Erdene TAMIR (MGL) v. Sunmisola Idowu BALOGUN (NGR)
Amina Roxana CAPEZAN (ROU) v. Viktoria VESSO (EST)

Yetzis Camila RAMIREZ MARQUEZ (CUB) v. Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN)
Sandra Elena ESCAMILLA MENCHACA (MEX) v. Natacha Véronique NABAINA (CMR)

Women’s Freestyle, 73kg

Linda Marilina MACHUCA (ARG) v. Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR) v. Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)
Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) v. Julia Hanna Ellinor FRIDLUND (SWE)
Khadija JLASSI (TUN) v. Anika Elizabeth WHITE (CAN)
Vahide Nur GOK (TUR) v. Ioana Penina Nicole Uputaua LUDGATE (ASA)

Obituary

Habibi, Iran's first Olympic champion, dies aged 94

By United World Wrestling Press

TEHRAN, Iran (August 24) -- Emamali HABIBI (IRI), Iran's first-ever Olympic gold medalist and United World Wrestling Hall of Fame member, passed away Sunday aged 94.

Habibi was born Babol in 1931 and won the first Olympic gold medal for Iran in 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Facing Alimbeg BESTAEV in the final round to decide the gold medalist, Habibi secured a fall in the 67kg final and etched his name in history, became first Olympic champion for Iran.

It was a rare feat in those times as he had never wrestled at an international event before the Olympics. He would make his World Championships debut in 1959, winning gold medal at 73kg. He defended his title in 1961 and added a third gold medal in 1962 at 78kg.

Emamali HABIBI (IRI)Emamali HABIBI (IRI) with his World Championships gold medal.

He participated in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome at 73kg and finished fourth. Habibi also has a gold medal at the 1958 Asian Games, held in Tokyo, Japan.

Habibi's legacy also includes his diverse wrestling techniques and speed on the mat which allowed him to win bouts with domination. He is widely considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of his times. He was included in the UWW Hall of Fame in 2007 for his contribution to wrestling.

UWW offers its condolences to Iran Wrestling Federation and the Habibi family.