#WrestleBirmingham

Ravi, Punia, Oborududu headline this week’s Commonwealth Games

Monday, August 1, 2022 - 11:30 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article

BIRMINGHAM, England (August 1) --- Some of wrestling’s biggest freestyle and women’s wrestling stars will be headed to Birmingham, England this week, as the 21st edition of wrestling at the Commonwealth Games gets underway August 5-6.

The stacked entry list includes 14 returning medalists – five of which are looking for back-to-back Commonwealth Games golds. But the list is headlined by superstars Kumar RAVI (IND) Bajrang PUNIA (IND) and Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR).

Oborududu and Ravi won silver medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games, while Punia claimed bronze.

Ravi will be making his first appearance at the prestigious Commonwealth Games, while Oborududu and Bajrang will be looking to reach the top of the podium for a second consecutive time.

On the freestyle side of the competition, outside of Ravi and Bajrang, the list of seven returning medalists is headlined by 2018 CWG champ Muhammad INAM (PAK) who’ll compete at 86kg.

Lightweight star Ravi will wrestle at the Olympic weight of 57kg in England after he’s jumped between 57kg and 61kg at the Yasar Dogu, Dan Kolov and Asian Championships. This season, the 25-year-old product from the wrestling powerhouse state of Haryana has a 12-1 record. He’s won golds at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event and Asian championship and settled for Dan Kolov silver after falling to Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), 7-1, in the gold-medal match.

His biggest competition in England will be Ebikewenimo WELSON (NGR). The 30-year-old has represented Nigeria at the CWG at every Games since 2010 and has finished with two silvers and a bronze, with the latter coming in 2018.

At 65kg, Bajrang walks into Birmingham as the unquestionable favorite to win the gold. India’s first-ever three-time world medalist will likely have to get past the 12-man bracket’s lone returning CWG medalist in Amas Daniel (NGR). It’ll be Daniel’s fourth straight appearance wrestling at the CWG, where he’s finished with two bronze medals and had a fourth-place finish in 2010.

Muhammad Inam (PAK) is the third returning freestyle champion in action. His biggest competitor at 86kg will be one of the world’s fastest rising stars in Deepak PUNIA (IND)

Punia announced his presence on the senior circuit at the 2019 World Championships, where he stormed past the field to reach the finals and punch India ticket to the Olympic Games. In Tokyo, Punia led Myles AMINE (SMR) in the bronze-medal match but surrendered a last-second takedown and settled for fifth place in Tokyo.

Another guy who could stir up the pot at 86kg is Syerus Eslami (ENG). He’ll be looking to improve on his bronze-medal in front of a friendly English crowd.

In women’s wrestling, there will be stars galore.

Vinesh VINESH (IND), Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) and Oborududu are the trio of returning champs eying a shot at adding their name to the short list of Commonwealth Games two-timers.

Vinesh will return to the mat for the second time since her emotional toll-taking Tokyo Olympic exit which resulted in a ninth-place finish. After taking four months off, she returned to action at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event and finished in fifth place. Her pair of losses came at the hands of Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) and Ekaterina ISAKOVA (RWF).

Vinesh’s biggest threat will likely be Canada’s Samantha STEWART (CAN). If the two meet, it’ll be a rematch from the 2021 Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event semifinals where the Indian picked up the fall via cradle 42 seconds into the first period.

Tokyo fifth-place finisher Joseph ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR) is on a quest to become Cameroon's first-ever Commonwealth Games champion. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

At 57kg, there are three tier one wrestlers who should vie for the gold medal. Most people expect to see returning champion Adekuoroye or 2021 world silver  Anshu Anshu (IND) in the finals, but Joseph ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR) is a wrestler who could stop the highly anticipated bout between the Nigerian and Indian.

Coming into Birmingham, Cameroon is 0-3 in gold-medal matches. Essombe Tiako is looking to rewrite the history books as she moves up to 57kg from her Tokyo Olympic fifth-place weight of 53kg.

There’s no secret that Oborududu headlines the 68kg women’s field. The Olympic runner-up and returning CWG champion will likely have to stop Divya KAKRAN (IND) if she wants to join Adekuoroye and Adeniyi OLUWAFUNMILAYO (NGR) as Nigeria’s only two-time CWG women’s wrestling winners.

Follow United World Wrestling on all social media channels for live updates from the Commonwealth Games.

Bajrang PUNIA (IND) is one of three Tokyo Olympic medalists that'll be in action in Birmingham. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle returning medalist::
57kg - Ebikewenimo Welson (NGR) – bronze
65kg - Bajrang Bajrang (IND) – gold
65kg - Amas Daniel (NGR) – bronze
74kg - Curtis Dodge (WAL) - bronze
74kg - Charlie Bowling (ENG) -– bronze
86kg - Muhammad Inam (PAK) – gold
86kg - Syerus Eslami (ENG) – bronze

Women’s wrestling returning medalist:
50kg Miesinnei Mercy Genesis (NGR) – bronze
53kg - Vinesh Vinesh (IND) – gold
57kg - Odunayo Folasade Adekuoroye (NGR) – gold
62kg - Sakshi Malik (IND) - bronze
68kg - Blessing Oborududu (NGR) – gold
68kg - Divya Kakran (IND) – bronze
76kg - Georgina Nelthorpe (ENG) – bronze

Freestyle
57kg
Ebikewenimo Welson (NGR)
Romio Ricardo Goliath (NAM)
Ravi Kumar (IND)
Darthe Capellan (CAN)
Justin Holland (AUS)
Suraj Singh (NZL)
Ali Asad (PAK)
Harvey Ridings (ENG)
Jakobo Tanki Tau (RSA)
Gary Giordmaina (MLT)

65kg
Amas Daniel (NGR)
Jason Shannon Afrikaner (NAM)
Bajrang Bajrang (IND)
Lowe Bingham (NRU)
Jean Guyliane Joris Bandou (MRI)
Lachlan Mcneil (CAN)
Mostafa Rezaeifar (AUS)
Brahm Richards (NZL)
George Ramm (ENG)
Inayat Ullah (PAK)
ROSS CONNELLY (SCO)
Adam Vell12a (MLT)

74kg
Ogbonna Emmanuel John (NGR)
Mathayo Matonya Mahabila (KEN)
Mohamed Sesay (SLE)
Jasmit Singh Phulka (CAN)
Hong Yeow Lou (SGP)
Cole Hawkins (NZL)
Thorn Demeritte (BAH)
Charlie Bowling (ENG)
Muhammad Sharif Tahir (PAK)
Arno Van Zijl (RSA)
NICOLAE COJOCARU (SCO)
Curtis Dodge (WAL)
Shanith Yoda Pedige (SRI)
Jacob Ntuyo (UGA)
Naveen Naveen (IND)
John Vake (TGA)

86kg
Ekerekeme Agiomor (NGR)
Lesyan Cousin Otomuro (JAM)
Abdur Roshid Hawladar (BAN)
Sheku Kassegbama (SLE)
Deepak Punia (IND)
Jean Frederic Marianne (MRI)
Alexander Moore (CAN)
Weng Luen Gary Chow (SGP)
Jayden Lawrence (AUS)
Taitaifono Tamati (SAM)
Matthew Oxenham (NZL)
Syerus Eslami (ENG)
Muhammad Inam (PAK)
Edward Lessing (RSA)
KIERAN MALONE (SCO)
Suresh Warnakulasuriya Fernando (SRI)
CHARALAMPOS CHOIRAS (CYP)

97kg
Nishan Randhawa (CAN)
Thomas Barns (AUS)
Maulalo Willie Alofipo (SAM)
Rashji Mackey (BAH)
Tayab Raza Awan (PAK)
CAMERON NICOL (SCO)
Sione Sika (TGA)
Nicolaas De Lange (RSA)
Deepak Deepak (IND)

125kg
Aaron Johnson (JAM)
Liton Biswas (BAN)
Mohamed Bundu (SLE)
Kensley Anthony Marie (MRI)
Mohit Mohit (IND)
Amarveer Dhesi (CAN)
Mandhir Kooner (ENG)
Zaman Anwar (PAK)
Aaron Lehauli (TGA)
ALEXIOS KAOUSLIDIS (CYP)

Odunayo Adekuoroye (NGR) is looking to become a three-time Commonwealth Games champion. She'll compete at 57kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Rebecca Ndolo Muambo (CMR)
Madison Parks (CAN)
Miesinnei Mercy Genesis (NGR)
CHRISTELLE LEMOFACK LETCHIDJIO (SCO)
Shriyanthika Niroshani Sinhala Pedige (SRI)
Pooja Gehlot (IND)

53kg
Mercy Bolafunoluwa Adekuoroye (NGR)
Vinesh Vinesh (IND)
Samantha Stewart (CAN)
Chamodya Keshani Maduravalage Don (SRI)

57kg
Odunayo Folasade Adekuoroye (NGR)
Joseph Emilienne Essombe Tiako (CMR)
Zainab Barrie (SLE)
Anshu Anshu (IND)
Veronica Ayo (UGA)
Sophia Omutichio Ayieta (KEN)
Hannah Taylor (CAN)
Danielle Sue Ching Lim (SGP)
Irene Symeonidis (AUS)
Shannon Harry (WAL)
Nethmi Poruthotage (SRI)

62kg
Esther Omolayo Kolawole (NGR)
Berthe Emilienne Etane Ngolle (CMR)
Dola Khatun (BAN)
Ana Godinez Gonzalez (CAN)
Kelsey Barnes (ENG)
ABBIE FOUNTAIN (SCO)
Sachini Weraduwage (SRI)
Sakshi Malik (IND)

68kg
Blessing Oborududu (NGR)
Blandine Nyeh Ngiri (CMR)
Tithy Roy (BAN)
Divya Kakran (IND)
Amylee Sephora Aza (MRI)
Linda Morais (CAN)
Sarah Clossick (ENG)
Chloe Spiteri (ENG)
Tiger Lily Cocker Lemalie (TGA)
TAYLA FORD (NZL)

76kg
Hannah Amuchechi Rueben (NGR)
Madusu Koroma (SLE)
Marie Celeste Andrea Vilbrun (MRI)
Justina Di Stasio (CAN)
Naomi De Bruine (AUS)
Michelle Montague (NZL)
Georgina Nelthorpe (ENG)
Pooja Pooja (IND)

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open: Six Paris medalists in action; Blades drops to 68kg

Saturday, February 1, 2025 - 17:26 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 1) -- With a couple of factors determining her decision, Kennedy BLADES (USA) will be moving down to 68kg, six months after winning the Olympic silver medal at 76kg in Paris.

Blades will make her 68kg debut at next week's Zagreb Open which coincides with her college wrestling season in which she wrestles at 160 pounds (around 72kg).

"Since I am in the middle of the college wrestling season and I am close to the weight (160lbs), I wanted to see how I felt," Blades told UWW.

Zagreb Open has a two-kilogram weight allowance and Blades revealed that she weighs around 72kg-73kg which makes it ideal for her to wrestle at 68kg in Zagreb. Even in Paris, Blades was wrestling under 76kg.

"I was naturally 2-4 kilograms under 76kg," she said. "So I wanted to see how I feel at my natural weight. Depending on how I feel, I'll determine if I want  to stay at 68kg or go back to 76kg."

Over her international career, Blades has never wrestled below 69kg, winning gold at the U17 Pan-Am Championships in 2018. She moved to 73kg for the U17 World Championships a year later and 72kg for the U20 World Championships in 2021. For her senior debut, Blades moved up to 76kg for the Henri Deglane in 2023 and competed at all tournaments for two years at that weight.

At 68kg in Zagreb, Blades will have to face a few long-timers.

World silver medalist from 2023 Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) and world bronze medalist Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) will be her biggest challenge. Former Asian silver medalist RADHIKA (IND) is also in the mix.

The United States will bring a solid team in Women's Wrestling with Blades, former world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), Michaela BECK (USA), Sofia MACALUSO (USA), Skylar GROTE (USA) and Yelena MAKOYED (USA).

PRIYA (IND)PRIYA (IND) is a U20 world champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

India has a full squad going to Zagreb with a few young stars. Former U17 and U20 world champion PRIYA (IND) will be at 76kg, along with Asian medalist MANISHA (IND).

Azerbaijan will be pinning hopes on its first-ever U23 world champion in Women's Wrestling Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) to shine in the 57kg which also has Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN), Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) and TAPSYA (IND). It also has Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE), Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) and Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) wrestling in Zagreb.

Paris Olympian Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) will be at 62kg a week after winning the Dan Kolov tournament in Varna. She will face challenges from Ameline DOUARRE (FRA), Nikolett SZABO (HUN), Bhagyashree FAND (IND) and Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA).

Freestyle

A battle of two Olympic medalists at 57kg is on the cards as Spencer LEE (USA) and AMAN (IND) are registered for the tournament. Lee won a silver medal at the Paris Games while Aman came home with a bronze medal.

While these two are the biggest achievers in the field, former European champion Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) will pose a significant challenge as he continues to find his space since he changed his nationality to Serbia. Paris Olympian Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) is also in the fray, giving a mouth-watering clash for the U.S. fans between him and Lee.

Iran is debuting Ahora KHATERI (IRI) at the senior level. He won the 2023 U17 World Championships at 45kg but moved to 60kg in one year and finished eighth at the U17 World Championships in 2024.

Iran's struggle at the lower weights has continued over a decade now and Khateri is touted as the most promising of the new lot. It is also trying its new batch at 61kg, sending Ahmad JAVAN (IRI), Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) and Reza Hossein MOMENI (IRI) to Zagreb.

But the star of the Iran line-up will be Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) who won the U20 and U23 World Championships gold medals at 125kg. He is likely to go unchallenged in Zagreb but the field includes Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO), Hayden ZILLMER (USA) and Mason PARRIS (USA) to name a few.

More closely contested battles will be on display at 92kg as Aaron BROOKS (USA) moves up from 86kg, a weight class he won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. He will have his hands full with Asian champion Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) and former U20 world champion Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI).

World silver medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) will be among the favorites for the gold along with former world silver medalist and Paris Olympian Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) who is returning to 92kg and will be joined by compatriot Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE). Boris MAKOEV (SVK) is also listed at 92kg for the competition.

Former Olympic and world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) will kick off his season in Zagreb and hope to reclaim the gold he lost in 2024 to Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI). The field at 97kg is a little thin but still has Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI), Radu LEFTER (MDA) and Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) among others.

Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) is entered at 70kg for the Zagreb Open. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

2023 world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) is entered at 70kg. He finished fifth at the same tournament in 2023 but will be the most experienced wrestler in the field this year. He will have a few known rivals in the field including James GREEN (USA), Alec PANTALEO (USA) and Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE).

Iran has gone with 2022 U17 world champion Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) and Sina KHALILI (IRI), a 2023 U17 world champion who finished seventh at the World Championships in Tirana last year.

Greco-Roman

Azerbaijan is all out with their Greco-Roman team in the first Ranking Series of the year. Three recent world champions, Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) and Uvli GANIZADE (AZE) are part of a 22-member strong squad that also has Paris Olympic bronze medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), Tokyo bronze medalist Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE), Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) among other younger stars.

Jafarov will be back in action at 67kg and hopes to start his season on a high. The wrestlers trying to stop him include teenager Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI) and U20 world champion Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI). The field also has former world champion Sebastian NAD (SRB) and Morten THORESEN (NOR).

At 60kg, defending champion Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) leads the field, followed by Mammadli, the newly crowned world champion at 63kg. However, as Azerbaijan's first choice at the Olympic weight class, he is moving down to 60 kg. Paris Olympian Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) is also entered, along with U23 world champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB), who is known for his big moves.

Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) will face a tough challenge from the Iranian duo of Danial SOHRABI (IRI) and Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI). World champion Ganizade is the defending champion at 72kg but Geraei will be keen on getting on top of the podium at an international event, a feat he hasn't achieved since winning gold at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup in June 2022. Sohrabi too has blown hot and cold since winning gold at the U23 World Championships in 2022.

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)Zagreb Open will be a big test for Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) at 77kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The two of the highly competitive weight classes in Greco-Roman are 77kg and 87kg and the Zagreb Open will be no different.

At 77kg, Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) will be back in action, facing a few of the mainstays of this weight class. Suleymanov will be looking to shake off his disappointment of missing a medal in Paris with a better showing in Zagreb.

But there are a few challenges. Paris Olympians Amin KAVIYANI (IRI) and Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) are competing in Zagreb and so is Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) who continues to build his profile. Gutu narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Paris Olympics but is one of the most dynamic wrestlers in the weight class. Surprisingly, former U17 world champion and Gutu's teammate Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) is also at 77kg.

Hungary has also sent Robert FRITSCH (HUN) and Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) at 77kg while Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) is a dark horse.

Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) is likely to have his Olympic bronze-medal bout rematch against David LOSONCZI (HUN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The 87kg weight class will see Paris bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) and a few other Paris Olympians as well. Bisultanov may have a rematch of his bronze-medal bout against David LOSONCZI (HUN) who is one of three Hungarian wrestlers entered. Tamas LEVAI (HUN) and Istvan TAKACS (HUN) will also try to claim their stake for the spot on the Hungarian national team in this weight class.

Aues GONIBOV (AIN) and Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) are the two neutral athletes with decorated resumes. Former world champion Huseynov is also entered along with Ivan HUKLEK (CRO), Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), Marcel STERKENBURG (NED), Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB).