#DanKolov2019

Freestyle and Women's Wrestling Entries for Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov

By Eric Olanowski

RUSE, Bulgaria (February 22) - Four Olympic gold medalists and four world champions have entered next week’s Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament, United World Wrestling’s second freestyle and women's wrestling Ranking Series event of the 2019 season.

Two-time defending world champion Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Olympic champions Taha AKGUL (TUR), Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA), and Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) have each signed up to compete in Ruse.

While on the women’s side defending world champions Petra OLLI (FIN), RONG Ningning (CHN), and Taybe Mustafa YUSEIN (BUL) are all scheduled to wrestle.

Winner of the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov will be awarded eight (8) points, with second, third and fifth place grabbing six (6), four (4), and two (2) points respectively.

In addition to the placement points, wrestlers will receive additional points based on the number of participants in their bracket. For weight categories with 10 or fewer entries, an additional six (6) points will be added. For categories with 11-20 wrestlers entered an additional eight (8) points will be added. Ten (10) points will be added to any weight category with more than 20 entries.

The two remaining freestyle and women's wrestling Rankings Series events are the Sassari (May 24), and the Yasar Dogu (July 12).

If you missed the first Ranking Series event, the Ivan Yariguin, click here to view the event hub. 

Freestyle 

57kg 
Salah Eddine KATEB (ALG)
Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG)
Uladzislau ANDREYEU (BLR)
Dzimchyk RYNCHYNAU (BLR)
Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL)
ZOU Wanhao (CHN)
LIU Minghu (CHN)
Zoheir EL OUARRAQE (FRA)
Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO)
Sandeep TOMAR (IND)
Kumar RAVI (IND)
KIM Sunggwon (KOR)
ERDENEBAT Bekhbayar (MGL)
TUMENBILEG Tuvshintulga (MGL)
Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
Andrei DUKOV (ROU)
Egor POTAPOV (RUS)
Mikhail IVANOV (RUS)
Firas KHALIFA (TUN)
Ahmet DUMAN (TUR)
Suleyman ATLI (TUR)|
Taras MARKOVYCH (UKR)
Armen ARAKELIAN (UKR)
Joshua Andrew RODRIGUEZ (USA)
Thomas Patrick GILMAN (USA)
Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV (UZB)
Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

61kg
Stefan Ganchev IVANOV (BUL)
Otari GOGAVA (GEO)
Hassan Sabzali RAHIMI (IRI)
Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL)
Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU)
Aryian TIUTRIN (RUS)
Randy Adrian VOCK (SUI)
Chedli METHLOUTHI (TUN)
Recep TOPAL (TUR)
Munir Recep AKTAS (TUR)
Petro BILEICHUK (UKR)
Yaroslav HURSKYY (UKR)
Volodymyr BURUKOV (UKR)
Joseph Daniel COLON (USA)
Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB)


India's 2018 world finalist Bajrang BAJRANG will make his 2019 Ranking Series debut at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov, where he'll wrestle at 65kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

65kg
Agustin Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG)
George KOLIEV (BLR)
Niurhun SKRABIN (BLR)
Dimitar Lyubomirov IVANOV (BUL)
Vladimir Vladimirov DUBOV (BUL)
LIN Zushen (CHN)
YUAN Shaohua (CHN)
Giorgi REVAZISHVILI (GEO)
Niklas Dietmar DORN (GER)
Bajrang BAJRANG (IND)
Junsik YUN (KOR)
Dmitrii MALENCOV (MDA)
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
Ivan GUIDEA (ROU)
Evghenii VOLCOV (ROU)
George BUCUR (ROU)
Eduard GRIGOREV (RUS)
Iulian GERGENOV (RUS)
Murad Abdusalamovitch NUKHKADIEV (RUS)
Kaireddine BEN TELILI (TUN)
Mehmet Emin OGUT (TUR)
Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)
Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR)
Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)
Gor OGANNESYAN (UKR)
Evan Richard HENDERSON (USA)
Bernard Walter FUTRELL (USA)
Jordan Michael OLIVER (USA)
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)
Sirojiddin KHASANOV (UZB)

70kg 
Fares LAKEL (ALG)
Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)
Kevin Christopher HENKEL (GER)
Mihail SAVA (MDA)
Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU)
Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS)
Haithem DAKHLAOUI (TUN)
Mustafa KAYA (TUR)
Mehmet KARACA(TUR)
Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR)
Semen RADULOV (UKR)
Frank Aniello MOLINARO (USA)
James Malcolm GREEN (USA)
Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB)
Mirzo KHAYITOV (UZB)
Ramazon IBODOV (UZB)


Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) begins his quest to get back to the top of the world stage after a bronze-medal finish in 2018. (Photo: Sachiko HOTAKA)

74kg
Ishak BOUKHORS (ALG)
Jorge Ivan LLANO (ARG)
Simon MARCHL (AUT)
Azamat NURYKAU (BLR)
Andrei KARPACH (BLR)
Mohamed Youssef Dzhalal BAKAR (BUL)
Ali Pasha Ruslanovich UMARPASHAEV (BUL)
Miroslav Stefanov KIROV (BUL)
Juan Pablo PERALTA LANAS (CHI)
Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Johann Christoph STEINFORTH (GER)
Kumar Omprakash VINOD (IND)
Jitender JITENDER (IND)
Mostafa Mohabbali HOSSEINKHANI (IRI)
Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)
LEE Seungchul (KOR)
GONG Byungmin (KOR)
LEE Yunhan (KOR)
Evgheni NEDEALCO (MDA)
BYAMBASUREN Bat-Erdene (MGL)
Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL)
Maher GHANMI (TUN)
Yakup GOR (TUR)
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
Ivan KUSYAK (UKR)
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)
Ali ZAKARIIEV (UKR)
Jordan Ernest BURROUGHS (USA)
Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB)

79kg 
Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG)
Engin Rashid ISMAIL(BUL)
Miroslav Donchev HRISTOV (BUL)
Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA)
Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Unurbat PUREVJAV (MGL)
Andrzej Piotr SOKALSKI (POL)
Vasile Madalin MINZALA (ROU)
Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU)
Khalil AMINOV (RUS)
Ayoub BARRAJ (TUN)
Omar MAGHRAOUI (TUN)
Muhammet Nuri KOTANOGLU (TUR)
Ender COSKUN (TUR)
Oleksii DOMANYTSKYI (UKR)
Alexander David DIERINGER (USA)


Olympic champion Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) will make his first career Ranking Series appearance next wekened in Bulgaria. (Photo: Martin Gábor) 

86kg
Meruzhan NIKOYAN (ARG)
Ali SHABANAU (BLR)
Akhmed Adamovitch MAGAMAEV (BUL)
Eduardo Ivan GAJARDO MENESES (CHI)
Ville Tapani HEINO (FIN)
Akhmed AIBUEV (FRA)
Sandro AMINASHVILI (GEO)
Ahmed Ruslanovic DUDAROV (GER)
Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Hassan Aliazam YAZDANICHARATI (IRI)
KIM Gwanuk (KOR)
LEE Yunseok (KOR)
ORGODOL Uitumen (MGL)
Halil ZUBAIROV (MKD)
Radoslaw MARCINKIEWICZ (POL)
Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL)
Mihai Nicolae PALAGHIA (ROU)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Selim YASAR (TUR)
Mraz DZHAFARIAN(UKR)
Viktor SOLOVIOV(UKR)
Nicholas Joseph HEFLIN(USA)
Abdurasul VAKHOBOV(UZB)

92kg  
Mohammed FARDJ (ALG)
Dominic Klaus PETER (AUT)
Irakli MTSITURI (GEO)
Turtogtokh LUVSANDORJ (MGL)
Michael MANEA (ROU)
Magomed Guseynovitch KURBANOV (RUS)
Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR)
Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR)
Bohdan HRYTSAY (UKR)
Riley Kent LEFEVER (USA)
Michael Justin MACCHIAVELLO (USA)

97kg 
Ricardo Adrian BAEZ (ARG)
Nikolay Simeonov CHTEREV (BUL)
Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO)
Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
Wladimir REMEL (GER)
Reza Mohammad Ali YAZDANI (IRI)
Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA)
LEE Jongku (KOR)
SEO Minwon (KOR)
Nicolai CEBAN (MDA)
ULZIISAIKHAN Batzul (MGL)
Magomedgadji Omardibirovich NUROV (MKD)
Albert SARITOV (ROU)
Igor Alekseevitch OVSIANNIKOV (RUS)
Fatih YASARLI (TUR)
Baki SAHIN (TUR)
Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR)
Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)
Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA)
Ty Ryan Jack WALZ (USA)
Kevin Scott BEAZLEY (USA)


Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) is the lone returning world champion competing at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov. He'll wrestle at 125kg. (Photo: Gábor Martin)

125kg 
Johannes LUDESCHER (AUT)
Ibrahim SAIDAU (BLR)
DENG Zhiwei (CHN)
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
Nick MATUHIN (GER)
Parviz Khodavirdi HADIBASMANJ (IRI)
KIM Donghwan (KOR)
NAM Koungjin (KOR)
NATSAGSUREN Zolboo (MGL)
MUNKHTUR Lkhagvagerel (MGL)
Robert BARAN (POL)
Vasile Vlad CARAS (ROU)
Said Gamidovitch GAMIDOV (RUS)
Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (RUS)
Taha AKGUL (TUR)
Fatih CAKIROGLU (TUR)
Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR)
Michael Joseph KOSOY (USA)
Nicholas Edward GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)
Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)
Ibrokhim ILKHOMJONOV (UZB)


Finland's first women's wrestling world champion Petra Olli is one of three 2018 women's wrestling world champions who will be in action next weekend. (Photo: Gábor Martin)

Women's Wrestling 

50kg
Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG)
Patricia Alejandra BERMUDEZ (ARG)
Ivana Kirilova DIMITROVA (BUL)
Elitsa Atanasova YANKOVA (BUL)
SUN Yanan (CHN)
ZHONG Yuhong (CHN)
Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA)
Miyu NAKAMURA (JPN)
OH Hyunyoung (KOR)
Emilia CIRICU-BUDEANU (MDA)
Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
Iwona Nina MATKOWSKA (POL)
Emilia Alina VUC (ROU)
Fredrika Ida PETERSSON (SWE)
Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR)
Erin Simone GOLSTON (USA)
Whitney CONDER (USA)
Victoria Lacey ANTHONY (USA)
Dauletbike YAKHSHIMURATOVA (UZB)

53kg 
Kheira Chaimaa YAHIAOUI (ALG)
Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR)
Raymyal Dzhihan ZIBEROVA (BUL)
PANG Qianyu (CHN)
DENG Juan (CHN)
Vinesh VINESH (IND)
LEE Shinhye (KOR)
Iulia LEORDA (MDA)
Silje Knutsen KIPPERNES (NOR)
Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL)
Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)
Siwar BOUSETTA (TUN)
Aysun ERGE (TUR)
Lilya HORISHNA (UKR)
Iryna HUSYAK (UKR)
Amy Ann FEARNSIDE (USA)
Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA)
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)


Rio bronze medalist Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) returned to world championships in Budapest after an 18-month layoff, while spending time with her newborn baby. She finished in seventh place at last year's world championships.  (Photo: Gabor Martin)

55kg
Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR)
Evelina Georgieva NIKOLOVA (BUL)
Nina HEMMER (GER)
Maria PREVOLARAKI (GER)
Sofia Magdalena MATTSSON (SWE)
Dorssaf GHARSSI (TUN)
Faten HAMMAMI (TUN)
Eda TEKIN (TUR)
Bediha GUN (TUR)
Jacarra Gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA)

57kg 
Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR)
Katsiaryna HANCHAR YANUSHKEVICH (BLR)
Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL)
Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL)
RONG Ningning (CHN)
PEI Xingru (CHN)
Lenka HOCKOVA MARTINAKOVA (CZE)
Mathilde Hélène RIVIERE (FRA)
Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
Pooja DHANDA (IND)
Sarita SARITA (IND)
Francesca INDELICATO (ITA)
Carola RAINERO (ITA)
UM Jieun (KOR)
Grace Jacob BULLEN (NOR)
Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU)
Sara Johanna LINDBORG (SWE)
Khouloud EL OUNI (TUN)
Tetyana KIT (UKR)
Iryna CHYKHRADZE KHARIV (UKR)
Kelsey Rene CAMPBELL (USA)
Sevara ESHMURATOVA (UZB)

59kg 
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Kornelija ZAICEVAITE (LTU)
Katarzyna MADROWSKA (POL)
Georgiana Narcisa FILIP (ROU)
Brenda Olivia REYNA (USA)


Rio Olympic bronze medalist and 2017 world runner-up Marwa AMRI (TUN) will wrestle at 62kg at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

62kg 
Lina KHELLAL (ALG)
Chaimaa Fouzia AOUISSI (ALG)
Taybe Mustafa YUSEIN (BUL)
KANG Juan (CHN)
LU Na (CHN)
Luisa Helga Gerda NIEMESCH (GER)
Sakshi MALIK (IND)
Aurora CAMPAGNA (ITA)
Elena ESPOSITO (ITA)
Sara DA COL (ITA)
Jiae CHOI (KOR)
Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA)
Jowita Maria WRZESIEN (POL)
Moa Lena Maria NYGREN (SWE)
Malin Johanna MATTSSON (SWE)
Marwa AMRI (TUN)
Derya BAYHAN (TUR)
Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR)
Olena KREMZER (UKR)
Mallory Maxine VELTE (USA)
Kayla Colleen Kiyoko MIRACLE (USA)
Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB)


Petra OLLI (FIN) became Finland's first-ever women's wrestling world champion a year ago when she won the 65kg world title. She'll wrestle at 65kg at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov. (Photo: Gábor Martin) 

65kg 
Dzhanan Filipova MANOLOVA (BUL)
Viktoria Ivanova BOBEVA (BUL)
Petra Maarit OLLI (FIN)
Adina Elena POPESCU (ROU)
Henna Katarina JOHANSSON (SWE)
Nour JELJELI (TUN)
Lilia MEJRI (TUN)
Asli TUGCU (TUR)
Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)
Amanda Elise HENDEY (USA)
Maya Gabriella NELSON (USA)
Forrest Ann MOLINARI (USA)

68kg
Sofiya GEORGIEVA(BUL)
ZHOU Feng (CHN)
HAN Yue (CHN)
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Eun Sun JEONG (KOR)
Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU)
Signe Marie Fidje STORE (NOR)
Agnieszka Jadwiga WIESZCZEK KORDUS (POL)
Rihem AYARI (TUN)
Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR)
Macey Ellen KILTY (USA)
Tamyra Mariama MENSAH (USA)
Alexandria Junis GLAUDE (USA)
Bakhtigul BALTANIYAZOVA (UZB)

72kg
Anna Carmen SCHELL (GER)
Maria SELMAIER (GER)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Buse TOSUN (TUR)
Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR)


Belarus' 2017 world runner-up Vasilisa MARZALIUK is looking to get back on the podium after missing out on a medal at the Budapest World Championships. (Photo: Tony Rotundo) 

76kg 
Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR)
Mariya Gerginova ORYASHKOVA (BUL)
YAN Chuchu (CHN)
PALIHA Paliha (CHN)
WANG Juan (CHN)
Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
HWANG Eunju (KOR)
Greta CEPONYTE (LTU)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Iselin Maria Moen SOLHEIM (NOR)
Daria Urszula OSOCKA (POL)
Denise Sabina MAKOTA STROEM (SWE)
Alla BELINSKA (UKR)
Shakhribonu ELLIEVA (UZB) 

SCHEDULE

February 27 (Wednesday) 
18:00 - Draw - FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg

February 28 (Thursday) 
8:00 - Medical examination and weigh-in 1 - FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR (+2 kg) - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg
10:00 - Elimination rounds - FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg
16:00 - Draw - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR-87 ,97, 130; WW - 62 ,68 ,76kg
16:30 - Opening ceremony
17:00 - Semifinals FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg

March 1 (Friday) 
8:00 - Medical examination and weigh-in 1 - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR (+ 2 kg) - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg
8: 30 - Weigh-in 2 FS - 61,70,79, 92 kg; GR (+ 2 kg) - 55,63,72,82 kg; WW - 55,59,65, 72 kg Referee meeting
10: 00 - Elimination rounds FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76 kg
10: 00 - Repechages FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg
16: 00 - Semi-finals FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg
17: 00 - Draw - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR - 60, 67, 77kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
17: 15 - Final matches and awarding ceremony - FS - 61,70,79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg

March 2 (Satuday) 
8:00 - Medical examination and weigh-in 1 - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR (+ 2 kg) - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg 
8:30: - Weigh-in 2 - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR (+ 2 kg) - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg 
10: 00 - Elimination rounds - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
10:00 - Repechages - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg
16:00 - Semifinals - FS 86, 97, 125kg;GR - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
17: 00 - Final matches and awarding ceremony - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg

March 3 (Sunday) 
8:00 - Weigh-in 2 - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR (+ 2 kg) - 60, 67, 77kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
Repechages - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR (+ 2 kg) - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
Final matches and awarding ceremony - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg

#WrestleAlexandria

Wrestling World's Attention on Dunia after Golden Show

By United World Wrestling Press

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (May 2) -- Dunia SIBOMANA (COD) was six years old when, in an instant, his childhood was shattered.

While playing with his brother and cousin at the Virunga National Park in the Congo, the three boys were attacked by chimpanzees. His brother and cousin did not survive. Dunia did, but just barely. The attack left him with devastating injuries to his lips, face, and right ear. Much of the muscle in his face was destroyed, and he lost the middle finger of his left hand. Yet from that unimaginable tragedy, a story of resilience began to take shape - one that saw rise to claim two golds at the African Championships in Alexandria.

UWW Plus

At just eight years old, Dunia was brought to the United States for a chance at rebuilding what had been taken from him. What followed was a long and gruelling journey through 14 intensive surgeries, where doctors painstakingly grafted tissue and muscle in an effort to reconstruct his lips and restore basic function to his face. Each procedure was another battle, each recovery another test of endurance.

During his time in the United States, Dunia lived with two host families before finding a permanent home with Long Beach assistant wrestling coach Miguel Rodriguez and his wife, Marissa. What began as care turned into something deeper. They adopted him, giving him not just stability but a family. In 2019, Dunia officially became a permanent U.S. resident.

That possibility found its outlet on the wrestling mat. Dunia emerged as a force in middle school and continued to rise through the ranks at Long Beach High School. His determination, forged through years of hardship, translated into a relentless drive. At just 14 years old, he captured the New York State Division 1 wrestling championship title in 2022, a stunning achievement that marked him as one of the sport’s brightest young talents.

On Saturday, Dunia’s journey reached another defining moment. Competing at 57kg for his birth nation, Congo, he claimed the gold medal with commanding authority. He opened with a tense 3-2 victory over Alaa ELSAYED (EGY), then surged past Mouadh CHIBANI (ALG) with a dominant 12-2 semifinal win. In the final, he needed just 51 seconds to overwhelm Roland NFORSONG (CMR), sealing a 10–0 technical superiority victory.

Dunia’s march to the top of the podium was even more remarkable because he was one of the two wrestlers in Freestyle not from Egypt or Algeria to win the gold medal. The other wrestler who put the brakes on Egypt’s dominance was Harrison ONOVWIOMOGBOHWO (NGR), who defeated Mohamed SALAHELDIN (EGY) 10-4 to win the gold medal in the 97kg category.

These two results, however, did not stop Egypt from running away with the team title. The host-nation wrestlers reigned supreme in six out of the 10 categories, winning gold medals in the 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg, 92kg and 125kg weight classes. Algeria were second best, claiming top-of-the-podium finishes at 79kg and 86kg divisions.

Hassan ELSAYED (EGY) started the fireworks for the hosts by defending his title at 61kg. He started with a flawless 12-0 win over Saviour EGOLI (NGR), then beat Rabby KILANDI (COD) on superiority in the second round. He maintained his unbeaten record by defeating Tadeu DE DEUS (ANG) in the third round and entering the semifinals, where he defeated Mustapha BATNINI (TUN) 11-0. In the final, Elsayed beat Abdelghani AID (ALG) 9-1 to win the title.

Shehabeldin MOHAMED (EGY) took just two minutes to pin Stephen AKINTEWE (NGR) in the 65kg final to claim the title. He used a perfect over-under to throw Akintewe and secure the fall. Soon after, Mohamed AHMED (EGY) was even quicker to win the 70kg final against Wotna NDOC (GBS), 12-1, rolling him using the gut-wrench to win in just 1:02 minutes and upgrading his 2025 silver to gold.

Defending champion at 74kg Omar MOURAD (EGY) managed to retain his gold medal after winning the final against Ebierelayefa ANDREW (NGR) in just 1:13. Mourad used a counter front headlock to throw Andrew over and then pinned the Nigerian used a double-arm lock.

Ahmed MOHAMED (EGY) added the fifth gold medal, beating Walid CHEIKH LAHLOU (MAR), 12-0, in the 92kg final. He used an arm-throw to score four points, then a fireman carry to get two more and lead 6-0. He could not pin Lahlou but got two more points for exposure. A second arm-throw gave him four more points and win the final via technical superiority.

In the round-robin bracket at 125kg, Abdelrahman SHEYATAN (EGY) won all four of his bouts in dominant fashion to claim the gold medal. He won his first bout against Joel TOKAI (KEN), 10-0, pinned Issah FUSEINI (GHA), got a forfeit in Round 4 and then pinned Laid KHELIF (ALG), the eventual silver medalist, in Round 5.

At 79kg, Abdelkader IKKAL (ALG) managed to defended his gold medal at the expense of Mohamed ABDELHADY (EGY), winning the final 10-0. A stepout opened the scoring for Ikkal who then scored a takedown using a leg-attack before lacing Abdelhady for a turn to lead 5-0. He tripped the Egyptian for two more points before an easy takedown made it 9-0. He finished the final with a stepout to win just before the break.

Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) reclaimed the 86kg title after three years, beating Gabriel MC DUFFIE (SLE), 12-0 in the final. He used two beautiful arm throws to score eight points and two turns for two points each. Despite the loss to Benferdjallah, McDuffie can be proud that he is the first-ever Freestyle silver medalist for Sierra Leone at the African Championships.

Photo

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Dunia SIBOMANA (COD) df. Roland TAMBI NFORSONG (CMR), 10-0

BRONZE: John LEOPOLD (MRI) df. Makaya KATENDI (ANG), 9-1
BRONZE: Mouadh CHIBANI (ALG) df. Alaa ELSAYED (EGY), 11-7

61kg
GOLD: Hassan ELSAYED (EGY) df. Abdelghani AID (ALG), 9-1

BRONZE: Saviour EGOLI (NGR) df. Mustapha BATNINI (TUN), 5-5

65kg
GOLD: Shehabeldin MOHAMED (EGY) df. Stephen AKINTEWE (NGR), via fall

BRONZE: Raby BAPELEKIA (CGO) df. Gilbert MWAMBA (ZAM), 11-0
BRONZE: Oussama LARIBI (ALG) df. Gabriel YANGA (COD), 10-0

70kg
GOLD: Mohamed AHMED (EGY) df. Wotna NDOC (GBS), 12-1

BRONZE: Khaireddine BEN TLILI (TUN) df. Mourad SAAD (MAR), via forfeit
BRONZE: Dideikemei EREFAGHA (NGR) df. Elie DJEKOUNDAKOM DJERAYOM (CHA), 12-0

74kg
GOLD: Omar MOURAD (EGY) df. Ebierelayefa ANDREW (NGR), via fall

BRONZE: Abderrahmane BENAISSA (ALG) df. Jacques MONTY MBOUGOU (CMR), 5-2
BRONZE: Caetano ANTONIO SA (GBS) df. Omar LAMBARRAA (MAR), 7-5

79kg
GOLD: Abdelkader IKKAL (ALG) df. Mohamed ABDELHADY (EGY), 10-0

BRONZE: Solomon ULABO (NGR) df. Totiana RAZAFINJATO (MAD), via fall
BRONZE: Andy MUKENDI (COD) df. Mohammed BOUAZOUNI (MAR), 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) df. Gabriel MC DUFFIE (SLE), 12-0

BRONZE: Mohamed EL MEKKAOUI (MAR) df. Persy BAMONA (COD), via fall
BRONZE: Matteo MONTEIRO FURTADO TRESSE (CPV) df. Bouba SALEH (CHA), 10-3

92kg
GOLD: Ahmed MOHAMED (EGY) df. Walid CHEIKH LAHLOU (MAR), 12-0

BRONZE: Kevin MOSSE (BUR) df. Tiwisna BAMBA (CHA), via fall

97kg
GOLD: Harrison ONOVWIOMOGBOHWO (NGR) df. Mohamed SALAHELDIN (EGY), 10-4

BRONZE: Wali KEBIR (ALG) df. Cedric ABOSSOLO (CMR), via inj. def.

125kg
GOLD: Abdelrahman SHEYATAN (EGY)
SILVER: Laid KHELIF (ALG)
BRONZE: Issah FUSEINI (GHA)