#WrestleSamokov

Russia Leads Ukraine by Four-Points After Day Four

By United World Wrestling Press

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (June 16) --- Russia leads Ukraine by four points heading into the closing day of women’s wrestling action at the Cadet European Championships.

They both had four wrestlers win medals on Thursday, but Russian one-upped Ukraine after Millena VINOGRADOVA (RUS) and Mariia AKULINCHEVA (RUS) outnumbered Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) in the winner’s circle. Vinogradova pinned Martha Silvia FRANK (GER) in the 43kg finals, while Akulincheva scored a controlled 10-4 win over Patrycja Dorota CUBER (POL) in the 73kg finals.

Ukraine’s lone champion, Yefremova, tallied an eight-point win over Sevim AKBAS (TUR) and claimed the 49kg gold medal.

Romania and Hungary were the final two nations who crowned a champion on Thursday.

Romania’s Georgiana Carla LIRCA (ROU) stopped Russia from winning a third gold on the day after beating Angelina PERVUKHINA (RUS), 10-5, in the 57kg finals. Hungary’s Eniko ELEKES (HUN) was the fifth and final champion. She beat Daria KONSTANTYNOVA (UKR), 11-1, for the 73kg title.

Wrestling resumes tomorrow at 11:30 (local time) and can be followed on www.uww.org.

RESULTS
43kg
GOLD - Millena VINOGRADOVA (RUS) df. Martha Silvia FRANK (GER), via fall
BRONZE - Yelyzaveta KULAKIVSKA (UKR) df. Isabela Cristina MARIN (ROU), 10-0
BRONZE - Krasimira Plamenova DIMITROVA (BUL) df. Eda Nur ERSOY (TUR), 4-3

49kg
GOLD - Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df. Sevim AKBAS (TUR), 10-2
BRONZE - Nikola Monika WISNIEWSKA (POL) df. Darya KLIMOVICH (BLR), 10-7
BRONZE - Svenja JUNGO (SUI) df. Leonie Yvonne WOLF (GER), 6-1

57kg
GOLD - Georgiana Carla LIRCA (ROU) df. Angelina PERVUKHINA (RUS), 10-5
BRONZE - Yuliia PAKHNIUK (UKR) df. Lotta Amanda VETTENRANTA (FIN), 6–3
BRONZE - Uladzislava KUDZIN (BLR) df. Nazar KAYA (TUR), 10-6

65kg
GOLD - Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. Daria KONSTANTYNOVA (UKR), 11-1
BRONZE - Alisa CHERNYSHKOVA (RUS) df. Alicja NOWOSAD (POL), 10-2}
BRONZE - Aliaksandra ZHUK (BLR) df. Vanja GERSAK PEREZ (GER), 4-3

73kg
GOLD - Mariia AKULINCHEVA (RUS) df. Patrycja Dorota CUBER (POL), 10-4
BRONZE - Veronika NYIKOS (HUN) df. Kseniya PATAPOVICH (BLR), 8–2
BRONZE - Ambre Oriane CHEVREAU (FRA) df. Mariia ZENKINA (UKR), 5-2

Olympic silver medalist Oborududu announces retirement

By Vinay Siwach

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.