European Games

Marzaliuk Tops Vorobeva at European Games, Day 3 Semifinals Set

Thursday, June 27, 2019 - 11:28 By United World Wrestling Press

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MINSK, Belarus (June 27) - For Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR), the road to a second straight European Games gold medal started with an Olympic champion. 

The 31-year-old Belarusian defeated two-time Olympic medalist Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) 2-1 at 76kg in her first match Thursday in Minsk, Belarus. Vorobeva scored first and led 1-0 at the break, but Marzaliuk battled back to win. 

She was then pushed in her quarterfinal match against returning world bronze medalist Martina KUENZ (AUT), but prevailed 3-2. Marzaliuk will face 2015 world bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST) in the semifinals. The other semifinal match at 76kg will pit Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE) against Francy RAEDELT (GER).

Three-time Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE) also remained on track for a second European Games gold medal. She picked up a 10-0 technical superiority in under a minute against Anna LUKASIAK (POL) in the quarterfinals at 50kg. Stadnik will meet world No.7 Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), a 2017 world bronze medalist and two-time European medalist. 

World No.2 Oksana LIVACH (UKR) advanced to the semifinals at 50kg after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Miglena SELISHKA (BUL). She will face Viyaleta CHYRYK (BLR) in the semifinals.

Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) came from behind to stun world No.2 Grace BULLEN (NOR) 9-8 in the quarterfinals at 57kg. Bullen led 6-4 after the first period, but Kurachkina came out strong in the second period and pulled out the win. She will battle Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) in the semifinals. Also at 57kg, Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) shut out world No.8 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) 6-0 to reach the semifinals, where she will face Bediha GUN (TUR). 

World No.1 Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) moved into the semifinals with a 4-0 victory over world No. 7 Johanna MATTSSON (SWE) at 62kg. Her semifinal opponent will be world No.5 Yuliia TKACH (UKR), a 2014 world champion and 2015 European Games silver medalist. Elmira GAMBAROVA (AZE) and Kriszta INCZE (ROU) will square off in the other semifinal match at 62kg.

Thursday's semifinal matches are scheduled to begin at 18:00 local time.

SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS

Women's Wrestling

50kg
SEMIFINAL - Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) vs. Mariya STADNIK (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) vs. Viyaleta CHYRYK (BLR)

57kg
SEMIFINAL - Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) vs. Bediha GUN (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) vs. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR)

62kg
SEMIFINAL - Yuliia TKACH (UKR) vs. Taybe YUSEIN (BUL)
SEMIFINAL - Elmira GAMBAROVA (AZE) vs. Kriszta INCZE (ROU)

76kg
Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE) vs. Francy RAEDELT (GER)
Epp MAE (EST) vs. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR)
 

#WrestleAlexandria

Nigeria Dominates African Championships with 4 WW Golds

Friday, May 1, 2026 - 17:21 By United World Wrestling Press

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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.

UWW Plus

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