India wrestling, china, india, china wrestling, Women's Wrestling

China Finds Double Gold on First Day of Women's Wrestling, Japan Boxed Out

Friday, June 16, 2017 - 13:16 By Tim Foley

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China Strikes Double Gold

China’s Yumei CHEN kicked off the women’s gold medal finals with a commanding 14-4 technical fall victory over Sonu SONU of India. The Chinese grappler ceded a four-point takedown early in the 44kg finals, but returned fire with a takedown of her own and three gut wrenches to make it a 10-4 match into the break.

Chen closed out the match early in the second period winning by technical fall, 14-4

At 59kg Jing JIANG made Chian’s second final appearance making quick work of Thi My Hanh NGUYEN (VIE). The stout Chinese competitor shot a head inside single, lifted and converted a takedown early in the first before finding four gut wrenches to win the match by technical fall, 12-1.

India and Kyrgyzstan Golden as Japanese Falter

Japan is the most dominant force in women’s wrestling, but with their top athletes competing at the Meiji Cup in Tokyo the team was not up to their usual golden ways.

Chisaki HORI did manage to find her way into the 51kg finals where she faced India’s Pooja GEHLOT (IND). The duo excited the crowd with a flurry of attacks and crafty defense, but it was all Gehlot as time expired with the Indian winning a narrow 6-5 victory.

In the 67kg finals Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) took almost a dozen low leg singles but was continually thwarted by the trick knee of the ultra-flexible Bakhtigul BALTANIYAZOVA (UZB). Despite the tough defense Zhumanazarova found two takedowns in the first period before cracking the match wide open in the second with a powerful double leg and crotch lift made it 8-0. A final hi crotch gave the Uzbek a 10-0 technical fall victory and gold medal.

Iran Caps Team Title in Greco-Roman with Pair of Titles

They weren’t beautiful matches, but Poya Soulat DAD MARZ and Amirmohammad HAJIPOURGANJI (IRI) pushed and pulled their way to a pair of gold medals Thursday night in Taichung, Taiwan.

For his part, Poya Soulat DAD MARZ (IRI) took out Alpamys DASTANBEK (KAZ) in the 50kg with an anti-climactic 2-1 decision. Iranian big man Amirmohammad HAJIPOURGANJI (IRI) then followed with a chippy 6-3 decision against Satish SATISH (IND).

The final team scores for Greco-Roman were Iran 71, Kazakhstan 58 and India 55.

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.