Beach wrestling

Brackets Released For 2018 Beach Wrestling World Championships

By United World Wrestling Press

SARIGERME, Turkey (October 5) – Brackets for the 2018 Beach Wrestling World Championships were released on Friday night, with defending champions Turkey set to their defend their title in the coastal city of Sarigerme. 

In all five individual champions will be returning to Turkey to defend their titles. To do so they'll need to navigate a field of seasoned veterans, and first-time beach wrestlers with international experience in other styles.

Defending senior men’s 70kg division champion Semen RADULOV (UKR) will need to work his way past a loaded field of 20 competitors should he want to take the Group A title. Meanwhile, United States' Michael PETERS loooks to improve on his medal performance from a year ago and upgrade to gold. Greco-Roman European medalist Konstantine KHABALASHVILI (GEO) has entered Group C and could be a standout performer. Frank ANDERSEN (NOR) comes back to Turkey looking to capture a podium finish in Group E.

At 90kg Muhammed INAM (PAK) will be starting his day in Group A. He took home gold last year, but to make the medal rounds he will first need to get past the tough Norwegian Bo BERGEN (NOR). Anton CHUIEV (UKR) fell short in last year's quarterfinal last year, but comes into Group D with a lot to prove. Christos SAMARTSIDIS (GRE), who took off last year's championships having medaled in year's previous, will start in the tough Group C.

Francesca INDELICATO (ITA) is the defending champion in the Women’s 60kg division, but will need to get past Rikke BUGGE (NOR) and  Mihaela Denisa BARBULESCU (ROU). Bugge is part of the large Norwegian team that is in the hunt for the team title in the women’s division. Another Norwegian to watch is Charlotte SKAUEN (NOR) at 70kg. If she makes it out of Group A, she is likely to face teammate, Cesilie Hoeivik MAGNUSSEN (NOR) who is a favorite in Group B. Both will need to beat tough opponents from Turkey and Romania.

Click here: https://bit.ly/2OH12Cr for the full brackets.

Watch the matches live on United World Wrestling. The actions begins at 7am (GMT).

#WrestleAlexandria

Nigeria Dominates African Championships with 4 WW Golds

By United World Wrestling Press

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (May 1) -- Barring a close loss at the 68kg weight class, Nigeria put up a near flawless performance at the African Championships. Nigeria won four out of five Women's Wrestling gold medals that were on offer on Saturday while the one went to hosts Egypt.

After the U17 and U20 African Championships, the senior continental began in Alexandria, Egypt with all 10 Greco-Roman and five Women's Wrestling weight classes.

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The golden night for Nigeria began when defending champion Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) maintained her perfect record at the African Championships, winning the 53kg gold for the fourth time. Wrestling Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV) in the final, Ogunsanya led 7-1 when the Ivory Coast wrestler pulled out of the final citing injury. The forfeit gave the U23 world bronze medalist Ogunsanya the victory.

At 57kg, Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR) also became a four time African champion adding to her gold medals from 2022, 2023 and 2025. She defeated Achouak TEKOUK (ALG), 8-4, a final much closer than the score indicates.

The third gold for Nigeria came at 62kg as world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) won all four of her round-robin bouts with ease. She outscored her opponents 40-0, winning all four bouts via technical superiority.

In her first bout against Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY), who finished with a silver medalist, Kolawole used only one minute to gets a takedown and four turns to win the bout, a virtual final in hindsight.

At 76kg, Damola OJO (NGR) defended her gold medal to become a two-time African champion and win the fourth gold medal for Nigeria. She defeated Pelagie WILITA (CMR), 3-1, in the gold medal bout.

Sabah KHAMIS (EGY)Sabah KHAMIS (EGY) celebrates after beating Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) in Round 1 bout at 68kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The only weight class in which Nigeria did not win a medal was 68kg. Local star and U20 African champion on Thursday Sabah KHAMIS (EGY) upset defending champion Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) in their round-robin bout.

In what turned out to be the match of the morning session as they met in Round 1, Khamis held on to a thrilling 8-7 victory over Rueben who now has eight African Championships medals with three golds and five silvers.

Photo

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) df. Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV), via inj. (7-1)

BRONZE: Zineb ECH CHABKI (MAR) df. Latifatu MOHAMMED (GHA), via forfeit
BRONZE: Cheima CHEBILA (ALG) df. Israa SLIMI (TUN), 8-0

57kg
GOLD: Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR) df. Achouak TEKOUK (ALG), 8-4

BRONZE: Chahd JELJELI (TUN) df. Sara ETTAKI (MAR), via fall (4-0)

62kg
GOLD: Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR)
SILVER: Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY)
BRONZE: Esraa JABRI (TUN)

68kg
GOLD: Sabah KHAMIS (EGY)
SILVER: Hannah RUEBEN (NGR)
BRONZE: Joseth MAVUNGU (ANG)

76kg
GOLD: Damola OJO (NGR) df. Pelagie WILITA (CMR), 3-1

BRONZE: Amy YOUIN (CIV) df. Rosine BODJRENOU (BEN), 10-0