#GC2018

Nigerians Nab Two Golds On Second Day of Commonwealth Games

Friday, April 13, 2018 - 13:38 By Eric Olanowski

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GOLD COAST, Australia (April 13) - World finalist Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) and two-time Olympian Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) captured 2018 Commonwealth Games gold for Nigeria on the second day of competition at the Carrara Sports Arena 1. 

Adekuoroye, the 2018 African champion sang and danced her way to the tune of a second consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal. 

After an unnecessary hands to the face call to start the bout, Adekuoroye trailed 1-0 in the opening period. The long and lengthy defending champion used her hand pressure to set up her offense and pick up six consecutive points. The three-time medalist took a 6-1 lead over Pooja DHANDA (IND) into the final period. 

Dhanda, the Youth Olympic Judo silver medalist struggled noticeably to close the distance and get through the hand defense of the Nigerian. With under a minute to go, Pooja desperately looked for an opening and found a feet to back takedown for four points off a double leg which closed the gap in the score to 6-5.  Adekuoroye came out in the top position and secured the final point of the match, ultimately winning her second crown in as many tries, 7-5. 

At 68kg, Blessing Oborududu, the 29-year-old eight-time African champion won the battle of Olympians, as she defeated Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN), 4-3 to win her first Commonwealth Games championship. 

After a very limited first period, Oborududu escaped trailing 1-0 as she failed to score on the activity clock.

Trailing 3-0 after a second period Lappage takedown, the Nigerian remained patient and scored her first points of the bout off a failed Canadian offensive attack. With 13 seconds remaining, Lappage looked to close out the match with a final takedown, but the hips of Oborududu proved to be too heavy, as she spun around for the match-winning defensive takedown. 

Overcome with raw emotion after the final whistle, the first time champion barrel rolled from the center of the mat to the coaches corner where she had to be carried back to have her hand raised. 

In the 97kg freestyle finals, Martin ERASMUS (RSA), the 22-year-old African champion nullified Mausam KHATRI’s (IND) two inside trip attempts with two four-point throws and took the commanding 8-0 lead. Erasmus tacked on another takedown to secure South Africa's first Commonwealth Games wrestling gold medal since 1958.

Bajrang BAJRANG (IND), the silver medalist from the 2014 Games showed his transition wrestling skills in the 65kg finals by picking up a takedown and immediately jumping to a left side gut wrench. 

Bajrang would repeat the sequence before capping off his gold medal performance with a duck under at the 2:20 mark to take the technical superiority victory over Kane CHARIG (WAL), 10-0.

Also of note, Kane Charig, the 26-year-old silver medalist made Commonwealth Games history, becoming Wales’ highest finisher ever! 

RESULTS
65kg
GOLD - Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) df. Kane Daniel CHARIG (WAL) , 10-0. 

BRONZE  - Amas DANIEL (NGR) df. Vincent DE MARINIS (CAN), 4-4. 
BRONZE - Charlie James BOWLING (ENG) df. Jean Guyliane Joris BANDOU (MRI),10-0. 

97kg
GOLD - Martin ERASMUS (RSA) df. Mausam KHATRI (IND), 12-2

BRONZE - Jordan STEEN (CAN) df. Samuel Stephen BELKIN (NZL), 10-0. 
BRONZE - Alexios KAOUSLIDIS (CYP) df. Soso TAMARAU (NGR), 2-1.

57kg 
GOLD -  Odunayo Folasade ADEKUOROYE (NGR)  df. Pooja DHANDA (IND), 7-5. 

BRONZE - Emily Suzanne SCHAEFER (CAN) df. Joseph Emilienne ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR),13-3.

68kg 
GOLD - Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) df. Danielle Suzanne LAPPAGE (CAN), 4-3. 

BRONZE -  Divya KAKRAN (IND) df. Sherin SULTANA (BAN), via fall. 

#WrestleBratislava

Sidakov vs Valiev set for European gold at 74kg

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 - 15:03 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 8) -- Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) will wrestle for the European gold medal for the first time in his career.

The four-time world champion, who last and only time wrestled at the European Championships in 2016, entered the 74kg final in Bratislava, Slovakia on Tuesday. He will take on Paris Olympic bronze medalist Chermen VALIEV (ALB) for the gold medal.

Sidakov defeated Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 2-0, in the 74kg semifinal after he took out four-time European champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 4-2, in a close quarterfinal.

Valiev defeated Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) 6-0 in the other semifinal as he countered in style while keeping his attacks. He scored from leg-attack when Novruzov was on the activity clock and countered an attempted attack from Novruzov for another takedown.

A stepout made it 6-0 as Valiev booked his spot in the final against Sidakov, who won their last meeting 3-2 three years ago.

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) battles Zelimkhan HARUTYUNYAN (ALB) in the 61kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 61kg, Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) moved to the final after beating Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) 5-2 in a thrilling semifinal. Harutyunyan scored a takedown and lace to lead 4-0 in the first period and maintained the lead for a long time before Abakarov hit a arm-throw for two points. Harutyunyan kept the 4-2 lead despite Abakarov's desperate attempts to score.

The four-time European champion will face Zavur UGUEV (UWW) for the gold medal after the Tokyo Olympic champion rocked Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW) 10-0 in a one-sided semifinal. Mixing his attacks, Uguev hit a double-leg for four to finish the bout.

Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW)Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) hits a cradle throw on Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) in their 86kg semifinal during the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The 86kg final will between Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) and Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW), a rematch of the 2020 European final at 79kg which Kadzimahamedau won.

Kadzimahamedau had to pull out his iconic cradle for four to pull off a win over Artur NAIFONOV (GRE). He was trailing 3-2 when he hit the move and secured a 6-3 win.

Ramazanov entered the final after he had a field day in Bratislava. He secured a fall over over Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) in the semifinal. He was ahead 5-0 before a big double-leg attack for two points and figure-four turn made it 9-0. He held Jezierzanski on the back and secured the fall.

Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) returned to the European final, although in a new weight class. The Paris Olympic bronze medalist at 86kg was wrestling at 92kg and survived a scare against former European champion Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR), winning 3-3 on criteria.

Akturk fell behind 2-1 and scored a stepout with 10 seconds left on the clock to make it 2-2 but Kurugliev led on criteria for his takedown in the first period. Turkiye challenged the call asking for a takedown but lost the challenge to make 3-2 for Kurugliev.

Akturk scored another stepout but that was all he could do in the final 10 seconds and Kurugliev won 3-3.

He will take on Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) for the gold medal after the Azerbaijan wrestler defeated world silver medalist Mirani MAISURADZE (GEO) 5-2 in the other semifinal.

At 125kg, Paris Olympic bronze medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) will clash with Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) for the gold medal after the two had to dug deep in the semifinals.

Meshvildishvili hung on for a 8-5 win over Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) after the latter made it 6-5.

Manashvili scored a four-pointer to beat Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 8-3 and enter the gold medal bout.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Zavur UGUEV (UWW)

SF 1: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), 5-2
SF 2: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW), 10-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW)

SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE), 6-0
SF 2: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 2-0

86kg
GOLD: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) vs. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW)

SF 1: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), via fall (9-0)
SF 2: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) df. Artur NAIFONOV (UWW), 6-3

92kg
GOLD: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE)

SF 1: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 5-2
SF 2: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) df. Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR), 3-3

125kg
GOLD: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) vs. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW), 8-5
SF 2: Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 8-3