Norwegian king Mukubu reigns supreme at U23 Worlds

Wednesday, October 19, 2022 - 23:56 By Vinay Siwach

PONTEVEDRA, Spain (October 19) – When Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) first burst onto the wrestling scene in Norway, he was noticed as a refugee. But as he grew as a wrestler over the years, Mukubu has proved himself as a force to reckon with in wrestling.

Mukubu became the first male wrestler from Norway to win the U23 World Championships when he won the Greco-Roman 82kg gold medal in Pontevedra, Spain on Wednesday.

The U20 world silver medalist last year, Mukubu made sure he goes home with the title this year, giving no chance to Karlo KODRIC (CRO) in the final gold medal bout which he won 10-1, extending Croatia's wait for a world champion.

And then came out the celebration in which he placed a crown on his head symbolizing him as the king of the [wrestling] world, at least for now.

Exacue MUKUBU (NOR) Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) throws Karlo KODRIC (CRO) for four points. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Mukubu was eight years old when he fled the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo with his mother and four siblings for Norway. For four years, the family was unaware of the whereabouts of Exauce's father who had been taken to the USA by the United Nations peacekeeping forces.

“In 2013, we received a phone call and my mother was screaming,” Mukubu said. “It had been four years since any news of my father. We did not even know where he was.”

Last year, Mukubu and his family flew to the United States to meet his father after 12 years and first since moving to Norway.

“So many people don't know this history about me,” he said. “It was awesome to see him after 12 years and know my history.”

While his father still cannot stay with the Mukubus in Norway, he remains in constant touch and is interested in his son's wrestling.

Mukubu first trained in the sport when he was 10 years old. One day, his mother lost her patience seeing the siblings fight around the house. Hence, she went up to their neighbor Sheikhrullah, a former wrestler, to take the kids to train.

“He took us to wrestle and I fell in love,” Mukubu recalled.

While the three other siblings moved on to other sports; Gabriel is part of Norway's U18 ice hockey team, Mukubu stayed. It took some time for him to make his mark but in his first championships, he won a bronze medal at the U17 Euros in 2018. The biggest breakthrough came when he reached the final of the U20 Worlds last year.

“I was 8-0 in the final in Ufa but to make it 10-1 here, it feels awesome to finally take the gold medal,” he said.

Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) with his gold medal in Pontevedra. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

In Pontevedra, Mukubu looked a notch above the field as he outscored his opponents 29-1 with a burst of big throws including two in the final Kodric.

“In this tournament, I went in with the belief that I can do it,” he said. “All the work I have put in has paid off with a gold medal.”

In the last year, Mukubu has been training in the Netherlands with the Sterkenburg twins and in Denmark with European champion and world silver medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN). The four first met at the U23 European Championships in Skopje, North Macedonia four years ago.

“We have been in together since,” he said. “We want to build a team and qualify for the Paris Games.”

That's the complex part. Bisultanov and Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) are at 87kg and will try to qualify for that weight. Mukubu is tempted to 77kg but the coaches want him to go for 87kg.

“Coaches want me to go 87kg but I am not big yet so I want to go 77kg,” he said. “Maybe I will try to have some bouts at 87kg. But I will go with the flow. This year I wrestled against wrestlers who have been to the Olympics and World Championships and I think 77kg is better.”

It is yet to be seen if he will be able to qualify for the 2024 Olympics, both Norway and his family are pinning hopes on Mukubu for a brighter future.

Norway failed to qualify a single wrestler for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and it does not want the same to happen this year. The wrestling team is also the subject of an NRK TV documentary 'Hodet i klemme', translation to 'headlock', which shows the wrestling team's journey.

On the other hand, Mukubu's family hopes to get a job through wrestling. He is currently building an app that lets a person reserve car parking in advance, Mukubu has pushed that project for later and set his sights on the Olympic qualification.

“Ultimately, I have to take care of my family,” he said. “It's a different culture. They are happy for me but I have responsibilities. But I don't get money for wrestling. For now, it's all about the Olympics, but one day, I have to return.”

Kerem KAMAL (TUR) ended a four-year wait for a world title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Kamal wins gold

In other gold medal bouts, European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) ended a three-year wait for a world title. He won the U20 gold in 2019 but has since been able to repeat the same at the senior level.

Wrestling another young star Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) in the final, Kamal never looked in trouble and scored an 8-0 win.

After getting points for stepout and passivity, Kamal got a huge four to lead 6-0 before a caution for two points against Mammadli gave him the gold medal.

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) won the long gold medal for Azerbaijan in Pontevedra. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

But Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) made sure Azerbaijan finished with a gold medal as he denied another Croatian wrestler the opportunity to create history. He defeated Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO) in the 72kg final as Croatia's wait for the Greco-Roman world champion was extended by another year.

Puklavec scored two points over Gurbanov but never looked in control of the final as the Azerbaijan wrestler scored eight points.

Alex SZOKE (HUN) claimed the 97kg gold with a 3-2 win over Markus RAGGINGER (AUT). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliksan)

At 97kg, senior world silver medalist Alex SZOKE (HUN) used his experience to win 3-2 against returning bronze medalist Markus RAGGINGER (AUT).

Szoke, who finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, was awarded the par terre position and he turned Ragginger to lead 3-2.

When Szoke was put in forced par terre, he fled the hold. After an Austrian challenge, he was cautioned and the bout restarted in par terre with Szoke leading 3-2. But Ragginger failed to score and the bout ended with the same scoreline.

U20 world champion Danial SOHRABI (IRI) defeated Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA) 17-7 to win the 67kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Iran won the team title with 138 points, 37 points more than second-placed Georgia. Turkey jumped over Azerbaijan to finish third with 93 points.

For Iran, Danial SOHRABI (IRI) won the third gold medal of the tournament by winning the 67kg weight class.

With a sense of calm about him, Sohrabi overcame a 7-0 deficit to win the gold medal 17-7 against Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA).

He was surprised early by a Snjoyan takedown. Sohrabi was put in par terre from which Snjoyan scored a four to lead 7-0. But Sohrabi got a headlock for four, a call which France challenged and lost to make it 7-5.

Sohrabi began the second period with another big four to lead 9-7 and with Snjoyan struggling to match his pace, the U20 world champion used the underhook to perfection to score stepouts.

Once the lead swelled to 13-7, Sohrabi was happy to play out the clock but Snjoyan attempted a big throw which resulted in him giving up another four points and the win to the Iran wrestler.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) reached the final at 50kg without giving up a point. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's wrestling also began Wednesday in Pontevedra and as expected, world and Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) wasted no time stamping her authority.

In her three bouts, Susaki won without being scored and finished all her bouts inside the first period. She is one win away from completing a grand slam of winning all the world titles along with the Olympic gold, for which she will face Anksuh PANGHAL (IND) in the final Thursday.

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) and Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) also made it to the gold medal bouts at 55kg, 59kg and 68kg.

Matsuyuki will face Nesrin BAS (TUR) in the final who defeated senior world bronze medalist Irina RINGACI (MDA) 11-6 in a battle.

At 76kg, Dymond GUILFORD (USA) will face returning silver medalist Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) for the gold medal bout.

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

60kg
GOLD: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), 8-0

BRONZE: Olzhas SULTAN (KAZ) vs. Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ), 8-0
BRONZE: Melkamu FETENE (ISR) df. Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO), via injury (11-7)

67kg
GOLD: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) df. Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA), 17-7

BRONZE: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Julian HORTA (COL), 3-1
BRONZE: Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) df. Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM), 3-1

72kg
GOLD: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO), 8-2

BRONZE: VIKAS (IND) df. Daigo KOBAYASHI (JPN), 6-0
BRONZE: Amir ABDI (IRI) df. Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR), 3-1

82kg
GOLD: Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) df. Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 10-1

BRONZE: Lukas AHLGREN (SWE) df. Ranet KALJOLA (EST), 7-1
BRONZE: Beka GURULI (GEO) df. Ali HUNC (TUR), 9-0

97kg
GOLD: Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Markus RAGGINGER (AUT), 3-2

BRONZE: Ali ABEDI (IRI) df. Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO), 1-1
BRONZE: NITESH (IND) df. Igor ALVES (BRA), 10-0

Women's wrestling semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Ankush PANGHAL (IND) vs. Yui SUSAKI (JPN)

SF 1: Ankush PANGHAL (IND) df. Nada MOHAMED (EGY), via fall
SF 2: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA), 10-0

53kg
GOLD: Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) vs. Moe KIYOOKA (JPN)

SF 1: Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) df. Alisha HOWK (USA), 9-8
SF 2: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Virginie KAZE GASCON (CAN), 10-0

59kg
GOLD: Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) vs. Magdalena GLODEK (POL)

SF 1: Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) df. Lexie BASHAM (USA), 9-0
SF 2: Magdalena GLODEK (POL) df. Ramina MAMEDOVA (LAT), 8-2

68kg
GOLD: Nesrin BAS (TUR) vs. Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN)

SF 1: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Sienna RAMIREZ (USA), 9-4
SF 2: Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 6-5

76kg
GOLD: Dymond GUILFORD (USA) vs. Tatiana RENTERIA (COL)

SF 1: Dymond GUILFORD (USA) df. Inkara ZHANATAYEVA (KAZ), 11-0
SF 2: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) df. Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR), 4-1

#WrestleBaku

Malmgren boosts Olympics preparations with U23 Euro title

Thursday, May 23, 2024 - 18:01 By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (May 23) -- Jonna MALMGREN’S (SWE) social media bio, glittering with gold medal emojis, will soon have a new addition.

A three-time European medallist [two gold and a silver], four-time U17 and U20 European medal winner, a U20 world champion and a Youth Olympics gold medallist, the Paris Olympic-bound wrestler added another title to her overflowing cabinet. The 23-year-old, on Thursday, won her second consecutive U23 European Championship gold medal here.

And she did it with minimal fuss, winning the final against Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) 5-0.

Competing in the 55kg category instead of her usual 53kg, Malmgren conceded only two points in her four bouts and that too in her opening match against Tuba DEMIR (TUR). After that 10-2 win, she didn’t allow any of her opponents the slightest of chances to nick a point from her.

Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) used a duck under to score two points over Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) in the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the gold medal bout, Vynnyk tried testing Malmgren’s patience by blocking her attacking channels but the Swede isn’t a one-trick wrestler, as she has shown in the past.

Malmgren’s wrestling style can outfox many. She is never steady on the mat. Her legs constantly shuffle back and forth, and she moves around in circles. Her hands are always trying to break the opponent’s defense and the prying eyes look for the tiniest of gaps that she could exploit with her breathtaking speed.

Her Ukrainian opponent learned it the hard way. If Vynnyk planned to keep the scoreline close, she succeeded to an extent. But it was always going to be tough to sustain that level of defense, especially with the risk of being penalized for passivity, which she was inside the first two minutes of the bout.

Malmgren upped the ante in the second period, using a duck under to add two points to her tally. Then, with a little more than a minute remaining, she got control of Vynnyk’s arm and neck before turning her over onto her back for two more points.

Malmgren ran to her corner to celebrate her second consecutive title, the kind of performance that will leave her in good stead in the build-up to the Paris Olympics.

Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR) defeated Laura KUEHN (GER) to win the 76kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

It was a mixed day for Ukrainian wrestlers, who featured in three out of the five finals that were held on Thursday and lost two while winning one.

Minutes after Vynnyk lost to Malmgren, Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) defeated Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) 9-2 in the final of the 68kg category. It was the biggest title so far of the 20-year-old former U20 European silver medallist’s career.

But Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR) ensured her country didn’t end the opening day of women’s wrestling with zero gold medals.

The former U20 European Championship silver medallist won the first title of her career as she defeated Laura KUEHN (GER) 6-0 in a lopsided 76kg final.

Orlevych looked in sublime form and was in the attacking mode from the get-go. Within the first 60 seconds, the Ukrainian used a one-on-two and scored a takedown over Kuehn for two points.

Kuehn defended well for the rest of the period but mid-way through the second period, Orlevych was on the offensive again, using the arm-drag to push her opponent on the mat for a further two points. Desperate to make a comeback, a tired Kuehn went for a single-leg attack but missed and Orlevych caught her on the counter to add two more points and seal the bout.

Natallia VARAKINA (AIN), right, celebrates after winning the 50kg gold medal after beating Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR), left, in the final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Earlier in the finals session, Natallia VARAKINA (AIN) won the gold medal in the most dramatic of circumstances, beating Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR) 8-8 on criteria in the 50kg final.

Varakina led 8-4 with only 10 seconds remaining but Demirhan cut the deficit to two points with a push-out and a caution to Varakina. As the clock ticked down, with just seven seconds remaining, Demirhan forced another takedown to level the scores at 8-8. However, as she tried to sneak in another point, the time was up and Varakina was declared the winner by the virtue of a higher-point hold.

Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) held on to a 5-3 win over Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) in the 59kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The 59kg final, a battle between two former U20 world champions, Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) held on to a close 5-3 win over Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN). Hetmanava was leading 4-0 with 25 seconds left in the bout when Sidelnikova scored her first point using a stepout. Both got in a tangle and Sidelnikova tripped Hetmanava who fell on her back and in danger of a fall, surviving that position as the time ran out.

Sidelnikova challenged asking for four points but the judges upheld the original decision of two points and Hetmanava won the gold medal 5-3.

Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) will wrestle for the 53kg gold medal on Friday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Ukraine puts three more in finals

Meanwhile, on Friday, Ukraine will have more chances to win a women’s wrestling gold medal at the U23 European Championships when their three more wrestlers take to the mat in the gold medal bouts on Friday.

Leading the way for them in Thursday’s early rounds and the semifinals was the U23 European Championship silver medallist and U23 Worlds bronze medal winner Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) at 53kg.

Malanchuk didn’t concede a single point en route to the final, beating Venera NAFIKOVA (AIN) 8-0 in the quarterfinals and Laura STANELYTE (LTU) 7-0 in the semis. She will face home favorite Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) in the final.

Joining her in the title bout will be U20 European champion and U23 Worlds silver medallist Iryna BONDAR (UKR). Bondar wasn’t tested in her early rounds but was challenged in the semifinals by Alina KASABIEVA (AIN), who tried to make a late comeback. Bondar, however, prevailed 7-4 to set up a final encounter with Yana TRETSIAK (AIN) at 62kg.

The third Ukrainian in the final will be Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) who, like her compatriot, was dominant in all her bouts. She will face Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) in the 72kg gold medal match.

Paris-bound and former world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) will wrestle for the 65kg after she showed the gulf in class at the age-group level. She scored a 10-0 win in the quarterfinal and then handed another Paris-bound wrestler, Nesrin BAS (TUR), a 8-2 loss. She will take on Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN) for the gold medal.

Koshkina dominated her semifinal 12-2 against Ingrid SKARD (NOR) but survived a scare in the quarterfinal against Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU). Trailing 10-5, Koshkina secured a fall over Zelenykh.

The 57kg final will be a battle between Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) and Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR).

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Natallia VARAKINA (AIN) df. Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR), 8-8

BRONZE: Ana Maria PIRVU (ROU) df. Khrystyna BASYCH (SVK), 6-2
BRONZE: Natalia WALCZAK (POL) df. Gabija DILYTE (LTU), 5-2

55kg
GOLD: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) df. Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 5-0

BRONZE: Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) df. Tuba DEMIR (TUR), 8-4
BRONZE: Anastasiia IANDUSHKINA (AIN) df. Aliaksandra BULAVA (AIN), 13-3

59kg
GOLD: Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) df. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN), 5-3

BRONZE: Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Ana Maria PUIU (ROU), via fall (8-0)
BRONZE: Amel REBIHA (FRA) df. Sevim AKBAS (TUR), 6-1

68kg
GOLD: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) df. Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR), 10-2

BRONZE: Viktoryia RADZKOVA (AIN) df. Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER), via fall
BRONZE: Karolina POK (HUN) df. Luciana BEDA (MDA), 5-3

76kg
GOLD: Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR) df. Laura KUEHN (GER), 6-0

BRONZE: Zsofia VIRAG (HUN) df. Nazar BATIR (TUR), 4-2
BRONZE: Olga KOZYREVA (AIN) df. Daniela TKACHUK (POL), via fall (5-4)

Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) vs. Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE)

SF 1: Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Laura STANELYTE (LTU), 7-0
SF 2: Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) df. Sevval CAYIR (TUR), 11-0

57kg
GOLD: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) vs. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)

SF 1: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) df. Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), 3-1
SF 2: Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) df. Volha HARDZEI (AIN), 8-0

62kg
GOLD: Yana TRETSIAK (AIN) vs. Iryna BONDAR (UKR)

SF 1: Yana TRETSIAK (AIN) df. Viktoria VESSO (EST), 4-4
SF 2: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Alina KASABIEVA (AIN), 7-4

65kg
GOLD: Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN) vs. Irina RINGACI (MDA)

SF 1: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Nesrin BAS (TUR), 8-2
SF 2: Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN) df. Ingrid SKARD (NOR), 12-2

72kg
GOLD: Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) vs. Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN)

SF 1: Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) df. Olesia BEZUGLOVA (AIN), via fall (7-0)
SF 2: Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) df. Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 2-1

Norwegian king Mukubu reigns supreme at U23 Worlds

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Malmgren boosts Olympics preparations with U23 Euro title