#NFRoundup

NF Roundup Blog, March 1 - March 7

By United World Wrestling Press

The XXIV Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers and Coaches Memorial wrapped up over the weekend in Kyiv and a pair of champions will travel directly to Italy to compete at the first Ranking Series event of the year, the Matteo Pellicone (March 4-7).

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), who won golds over the weekend at 62kg and 68kg, respectively, and will try to keep their winning streaks alive in Ostia.

Tynybekova, a '19 world champion, is one of ten returning champions looking to repeat their titile-winning efforts from the '20 Matteo Pellcione. She'll compete at 62kg.

Her fellow Kyrgyzstani teammate and '20 Individual World Cup champion, Zhumanazarova will try to win her third consecutive competition. The '19 junior world runner-up won the '20 Poland Open and Individaul World Cup.

RESULTS
Freestyle

57kg: G. ABDULLAEV (UZB) df. N. SAFAROV (UZB), 7-1
61kg: A. GVARZATILOV (AZE) df. A. DZHELEP (UKR), 7-2
65kg: A. RAHIMZADE (AZE) df. E. AKMATALIEV (KGZ), 5-4
70kg: I. BEKBULATOV (UZB) df. D. GADZHIEV (AZE), 5-0
74kg: M. FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) df. S. DEMIRTAS (TUR), 2-1
79kg: N. KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. R. SARI (TUR), 6-5
86kg: S. JEZIERZANSKI (POL) df. A. MAGAMAEV (BUL), via inj.
92kg: I. MTSITURI (GEO) df. D. PIDLYPINETS (UKR), 2—0
97kg: S. KARADENİZ (TUR) df. ANDRIITSEV (UKR), 1-1

Greco-Roman
55kg: N. TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. S. ABBASPOURRAGANI (IRI), 3-3
60kg: A. NEJATI (IRI) df. Z. SHARSHENBEKOV(KGZ), 5-1
63kg: L. ABULADZE (GEO) df. K. KAMAL (TUR), 4-3 
67kg: R. ZOIDZE (GEO) df. J. KHETSURIANI (GEO), 2-1
72kg: M. AMOYAN (ARM) df. S. BOLKVADZE (GEO), 9-1
77kg: M. GERAEI (IRI)  df. A. KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI), 4-2
82kg: A. RIKADZE (GEO) df. K. CHALYAN (ARM), 5-3
87kg: S. NOVIKOV (UKR) df. L. GOBADZE (GEO), 5-0
97kg: U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) df. G. MELIA (GEO), via inj.

Women’s Wrestling
50kg: O. LIVACH (UKR) df. A. ŁUKASIAK (POL) , 10-0
53kg: V. PHOGAT (IND) df. V. KALADZINSKAYA (BUL), via fall
55kg: A. HRUSHYNA (UKR) df. K. DEMKO (UKR), 10-0
57kg: A. NICHITA (MDA) df. I. KHARIV (UKR), 8-3
59kg: K. ZELENYKH (UKR) df. N. MARSBEK KYZY (KGZ), via fall
62kg: A. TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. I. PROKOPEVN, (UKR), 9-7
68kg: M. ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. O. DI BACCO (CAN), 1-1
72kg: A. BELINSKA (UKR) df. R. VOVCHAK (UKR), 2-0
76kg: E. MAE (EST) df. A. MEDET KYZY (KGZ), 2-0

Olympic silver medalist Oborududu announces retirement

By Vinay Siwach

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.