#WrestleSamokov

Russia Wins Cadet Euro WW Team Title

By United World Wrestling Press

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (June 18) --- Russia came into the final day of women’s wrestling at the Cadet European Championships with a four-point lead over Ukraine. After winning four of five medal matches on Friday night, they claimed the team title with 179 points. In the end, Russia finished 24 points ahead of Ukraine and picked up medals in nine weight classes – including a trio of titles.

Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) won Russia’s lone gold of the day, but they also earned three bronzes and a silver.

Ukraine and Belarus closed out the competition with a pair of Day Five champions and finished with 155 points. But when it was all said and done, Ukraine held criteria after winning three golds compared to Belarus’ pair of champions.

Ukraine’s pair of champions were Anastasiia POLSKA (40kg) and Iryna BONDAR (61kg). Polska pinned Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU) and won her third European gold medal. She also won U15 European gold in ’19 and ’21. Ukrainian’s second Friday champion Bondar also scored a fall in the gold-medal match. She stuck Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR) and improved on her runner-up finish from the ’19 U15 European Championships.

Sviatlana KATENKA (46kg) and Viktoryia RADZKOVA (69kg) were Belarus’ pair of champs. Katenka defeated Sofia FEDORCHENKO (RUS), 7-4, while Radzkova shutout Karolina Janina JAWORSKA (POL), 6-0.

RESULTS

40kg
GOLD - Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) df. Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU), via fall
BRONZE - Tana TIULIUSH (RUS) df. Veranika PRYLOUSKAYA (BLR)

46kg
GOLD - Sviatlana KATENKA (BLR) df. Sofia FEDORCHENKO (RUS), 7-4
BRONZE - Kornelia Nikolett LASZLO (HUN) df. Diana LATS (UKR), 2-0
BRONZE - Zenfira HASHIMOVA (AZE) df. Marina SATKOEVI (GEO), 5-0

53kg
GOLD - Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) df. Tuba DEMIR (TUR), 4-0
BRONZE - Volha HARDZEI (BLR) df. Oliwia MAKUCH (GER), via fall
BRONZE - Immacolata DANISE (ITA) df. Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP), 12-2

61kg
GOLD - Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR), via fall
BRONZE - Busra EFE (TUR) df. Viktoria BORSOS (HUN), 5-2
BRONZE - Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS) df. Masa PEROVIC (SRB), 10-0

69kg
GOLD - Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR) df. Karolina Janina JAWORSKA (POL), 6-0
BRONZE - Alina RYBKINA (RUS) df. Iryna ZABLOTSKA (UKR), 3-2
BRONZE - Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN) df. Cassidy RICHTER (GER), 4-0

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.