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Returning champs Jalolov and Amouzadkhalili seek second World gold medals at #WrestleSofia

Monday, July 29, 2019 - 18:25 By Taylor Miller

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Kadir Caliskan

Photo of Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB).

SOFIA, Bulgaria – Two wrestlers seek to earn their second Cadet World gold medals tomorrow at the 2019 Cadet World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

2018 Cadet World champion at 45 kg Rahman Mousa AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) will make his second-straight trip to the finals after defeating 2018 Cadet Pan American champion Stevo POULIN (USA) in the 48 kg semifinals with a 12-0 tech fall.

In the gold match, Amouzadkhalili will face 2019 Cadet Asian bronze medalist Kamronbek KADAMOV (UZB), who scored a takedown on Udit UDIT (IND) in the final three seconds to advance to the finals.

At 55 kg, Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB), a 2017 Cadet World champion and 2018 Youth Olympic Games champion, hopes to add to his resume. Jalolov punched his ticket to the finals after an 8-0 win over 2019 Cadet European silver medalist and 2018 Cadet European bronze medalist Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR).

Tomorrow Jalolov will face two-time Cadet Asian bronze medalist Mahdi Mehrdad VEISI (IRI) for gold. Veisi defeated 2018 Youth Olympic Games champion Robert HOWARD (USA) in the semis, 8-6.

Photo of Arsamag ZASSEEV (RUS). 

The 65 kg gold-medal finals will be a rematch of the 2019 European Olympic Games Festival finals with champion Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) meeting up with silver medalist Batyrbek TSKHOVREBOV (RUS).

Gadzhiev won a close 7-7 match over 2019 EYOF bronze medalist and 2019 Cadet European bronze medalist Davit PATSINASHVILI (GEO), while Tskhovrebov defeated 2019 Cadet Asian bronze medalist Manish GOSWAMI (IND) by pin.

At 80 kg, 2019 Cadet Asian champion Amirhossein Biglar FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) will face 2018 U15 European champion Arslan BAGAEV (RUS). Both were dominant in their semifinals matches, each winning 10-0.

Two athletes who made their international debuts today are in the finals at 110 kg, Arsamag ZASSEEV (RUS) and Giorgi CHIKHRADZE (GEO).

Zasseev beat 2019 Cadet Asian champion Salar Saeid HABIBIEHSAN (IRI), 8-5, in the semifinals and Chikhradze took out Sergey SARGSYAN (ARM), 9-2.

The finals will take place on Tuesday at 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Finals matchups
48 kg: Rahman Mousa AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) vs. Kamronbek KADAMOV (UZB)
55 kg: Mahdi Mehrdad VEISI (IRI) vs. Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)
65 kg: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) vs. Batyrbek TSKHOVREBOV (RUS)
80 kg: Amirhossein Biglar FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) vs. Arslan BAGAEV (RUS)
110 kg: Arsamag ZASSEEV (RUS) vs. Giorgi CHIKHRADZE (GEO)

Olympic silver medalist Oborududu announces retirement

Saturday, June 7, 2025 - 07:10 By Vinay Siwach

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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.