#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. 

Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 Day 1 Highlights

Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - 06:57 By Vinay Siwach

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 18) -- The Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 are the sixth edition of the Games and are being held in Riyadh. The first day of wrestling saw four Greco-Roman weight class -- 60kg, 67kg, 77kg and 87kg.

Olympic and world champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) needed an insane comeback to beat Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) in the 67kg final while Alisher GANIEV (UZB), Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) won golds at 60kg, 77kg and 87kg with rather ease.

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12:35: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) finds a way to score a takedown with a 30 seconds remaining and beat Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), 7-6, in the 87kg semifinal. Zhanyshov was leading 6-5 at the break. Farokhi, struggling slightly with his conditioning, wrapped his arm around Zhanyshov's waist before slamming him on the mat for two points.

12:30: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) takes out Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY) in the 67kg semifinals and sets up a mouth-watering final against Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI)

12:25: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) bounces back from 2-0 down to beat Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) 5-3 in the 87kg semifinal and reach final.

12:20: Olympic champion Saied ESMAEILI (IRI) lifts Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) against gravity and completes the suplex for four points. He once again hits the four-pointers and wins his 67kg semifinal 9-0.

12:10: Alisher GANIEV (AZE) makes it to the final at 60kg after an 8-0 win over Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI). Big four-pointer in that match from Ganiev. He will face Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) for the gold medal.

11:51: Former world U20 champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) starts off with a Sukhrob ABDULKHAEV (TJK) and moves into the semifinals at 87kg. Too easy for him.

11:50: World 82kg champion Gholamreza FAROKHISENJANI     (IRI), who moved up to 87kg and won U23 World Championships gold as well, begins with a 3-0 win over Islam ABBASOV (AZE) at 87kg in Riyadh

11:45: Olympic champion Saied ESMAEILI (IRI), placed directly in the quarterfinals, starts with a big 8-0 win over Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) at 67kg. He is expected to face Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) in the final, a rematch of the final at World Championships.

11:24: World 63kg champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB), who had move up to 67kg for the Games, beats Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR), 5-2, and moves into the semifinals

11:10: Quarterfinal at 67kg between Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) and Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ). The first par terre advantage goes to Beishekeev who scores two points using a front headlock. Jafarov gets the par terre in second period and scores two turns and leads 5-3, which will be his winning score as well.

10:52: World bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) hangs on for 1-1 Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) victory having got the first criteria.

10:45: Big match at 60kg as Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) faces U23 world champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB). Ganiev with a over-under control and hits a throw for two points to lead 2-0. Mammadli tries to find some attacks going but fails to get Ganiev down. Ganiev goes into the break leading 2-0. Mammadli is put in par terre in the second period, giving Ganiev 3-0 lead. Mammadli goes down in the quarterfinals as Ganiev defends his 3-0 lead and wins at 60kg.

10:30: Olympic bronze medalist and world silver medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) gets going with a 9-0 victory over Ashraf ASLAM ZADA (AFG) at 67kg.

10:25: Amir ABDI (IRI) hits a front headlock throw for four and then a turn for two to win 8-0 against 72kg world champion Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) in their 77kg bout. Just one minute and 35 seconds needed for him to win 9-0.

10:21: World champion and Olympic bronze medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), who has not wrestled in international competition since the Paris 2024, returns to mat in Riyadh. In his first bout at 77kg, he warms up with an 9-0 technical superiority over Sami SLAMA (TUN).

10:10: European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) gets the first par terre position and then scores the four gut-wrenches to win 9-0 against Latuf MADI (COM) in the first bout at 60kg.

10:00: Hello from Riyadh! The first day of wrestling at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 and there will four Greco-Roman weight classes in action.