Beach wrestling

Rudulov Wins Gold at Odessa Beach Wrestling World Series, Earns 'Best Throw' Award

Monday, August 12, 2019 - 15:34 By United World Wrestling Press

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ODESSA, Ukraine (August 12) - Competing in his home country, 2017 beach wrestling world champion Semen RADULOV (UKR) turned in a strong performance at the Odessa Beach Wrestling World Series, winning gold and picking up the award for "Best Throw" of the competition.

Radulov, a 2016 European bronze medalist in freestyle wrestling, claimed the gold medal at 70kg with a with a 3-1 victory in the finals over Timothy BOX (USA). He was a silver medalist at last year's Beach World Championships, as well as a silver medalist at the Rio Beach Wrestling World Series in May.


Semen RADULOV (UKR) executing another flying fireman's carry in the event quarterfinal. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

The 29-year-old Ukrainian won the award for "Best Throw" in his semifinal match with a high amplitude, flying fireman’s carry.  By winning the award, Rudulov earned 1000 CHF. It marks the second straight time he has won the award. In Rio, Rudulov won the award after scoring with a blast double leg on the opening day of the competition.

Ukraine ran away with the team title in the men's competition on the strength of two champions and seven medalists. Joining Rudulov as a champion for Ukraine was Serghii PONOMARENKO at 80kg.

Moldova crowned a champion as Piotr IANULOV shut out Viktor SOLOVIOV (UKR) at 90kg.


Moldova's Piotr IANULOV (r) shut out Viktor SOLOVIOV (UKR) at 90kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Oyan NAZARIANI (AZE) edged Roman DOVHALIUK (UKR) to earn the title in the +90kg weight category.

In the women's competition, Ukraine won three of the four gold medals and captured the team title by 68 points.

Ukraine's gold medalists in the women's competition were Kateryna MASHKEVYCH (50kg), Valeriia SEMONKINA ZLATOVA (60kg) and Anna MAZURKEVYCH (70kg).

Champion aleriia SEMONKINA ZLATOVA (60kg) of Ukraine. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Aikaterini PITSIAVA (GRE) won the gold medal at +70kg.

The fourth and final Beach Wrestling World Series event will take place September 7-8 in Zagreb, Croatia.

RESULTS

Men's Beach Wrestling

70kg

GOLD: Semen RADULOV (UKR)
SILVER: Timothy BOX (USA)
BRONZE: Yehor MURADYAN (UKR)

80kg

GOLD: Serghii PONOMARENKO (UKR)
SILVER: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)
BRONZE: Georgios KOULOUCHIDIS (GRE)

90kg

GOLD: Piotr IANULOV (MDA)
SILVER: Viktor SOLOVIOV (UKR)

+90kg

GOLD: Oyan NAZARIANI (AZE)
SILVER: Roman DOVHALIUK (UKR)
BRONZE: Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR)

Team Standings

1. Ukraine 90
2. Greece 27
3. Azerbaijan 25
4. Moldova 25
5. United States 20

Women's Beach Wrestling

50kg

GOLD: Kateryna MASHKEVYCH (UKR)
SILVER: Mariia HEORHIIEVA (UKR)
BRONZE: Kristina BERMAN SHNYPKO (UKR)

60kg

GOLD: Valeriia SEMONKINA ZLATOVA (UKR)
SILVER: Yana KUZMINA POLTAVSKA (UKR)
BRONZE: Valeriia ODINTSOVA (UKR)

70kg

GOLD: Anna MAZURKEVYCH (UKR)
SILVER: Olha CHALIUK (UKR)
BRONZE: Yevheniia FOKINA (UKR)

+70kg

GOLD: Aikaterini PITSIAVA (GRE)
SILVER: Halyna KOVALSKA (UKR)
BRONZE: Cathrine FRILSETH (NOR)

Team Standings

1. Ukraine 95
2. Norway 27
3. Greece 25
4. United States 10

#WrestleAlexandria

Nigeria Dominates African Championships with 4 WW Golds

Friday, May 1, 2026 - 17:21 By United World Wrestling Press

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ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (May 1) -- Barring a close loss at the 68kg weight class, Nigeria put up a near flawless performance at the African Championships. Nigeria won four out of five Women's Wrestling gold medals that were on offer on Saturday while the one went to hosts Egypt.

After the U17 and U20 African Championships, the senior continental began in Alexandria, Egypt with all 10 Greco-Roman and five Women's Wrestling weight classes.

UWW Plus

The golden night for Nigeria began when defending champion Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) maintained her perfect record at the African Championships, winning the 53kg gold for the fourth time. Wrestling Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV) in the final, Ogunsanya led 7-1 when the Ivory Coast wrestler pulled out of the final citing injury. The forfeit gave the U23 world bronze medalist Ogunsanya the victory.

At 57kg, Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR) also became a four time African champion adding to her gold medals from 2022, 2023 and 2025. She defeated Achouak TEKOUK (ALG), 8-4, a final much closer than the score indicates.

The third gold for Nigeria came at 62kg as world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) won all four of her round-robin bouts with ease. She outscored her opponents 40-0, winning all four bouts via technical superiority.

In her first bout against Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY), who finished with a silver medalist, Kolawole used only one minute to gets a takedown and four turns to win the bout, a virtual final in hindsight.

At 76kg, Damola OJO (NGR) defended her gold medal to become a two-time African champion and win the fourth gold medal for Nigeria. She defeated Pelagie WILITA (CMR), 3-1, in the gold medal bout.

Sabah KHAMIS (EGY)Sabah KHAMIS (EGY) celebrates after beating Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) in Round 1 bout at 68kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The only weight class in which Nigeria did not win a medal was 68kg. Local star and U20 African champion on Thursday Sabah KHAMIS (EGY) upset defending champion Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) in their round-robin bout.

In what turned out to be the match of the morning session as they met in Round 1, Khamis held on to a thrilling 8-7 victory over Rueben who now has eight African Championships medals with three golds and five silvers.

Photo

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) df. Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV), via inj. (7-1)

BRONZE: Zineb ECH CHABKI (MAR) df. Latifatu MOHAMMED (GHA), via forfeit
BRONZE: Cheima CHEBILA (ALG) df. Israa SLIMI (TUN), 8-0

57kg
GOLD: Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR) df. Achouak TEKOUK (ALG), 8-4

BRONZE: Chahd JELJELI (TUN) df. Sara ETTAKI (MAR), via fall (4-0)

62kg
GOLD: Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR)
SILVER: Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY)
BRONZE: Esraa JABRI (TUN)

68kg
GOLD: Sabah KHAMIS (EGY)
SILVER: Hannah RUEBEN (NGR)
BRONZE: Joseth MAVUNGU (ANG)

76kg
GOLD: Damola OJO (NGR) df. Pelagie WILITA (CMR), 3-1

BRONZE: Amy YOUIN (CIV) df. Rosine BODJRENOU (BEN), 10-0