Sghaier beats Hamza; New Zealand, Algeria earn historic Paris Olympic spots

Saturday, March 23, 2024 - 20:16 By Vinay Siwach

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (March 23) -- For a second consecutive day at the African & Oceania OG Qualifiers in Alexandria, Egypt suffered a heartbreak.

On Friday, Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) failed to earn a Paris Olympic spot in Greco-Roman. And today, two-time world medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) suffered a stunning loss in Women's Wrestling to miss out on the Paris spot.

Apart from Hamza, the tournament threw a few other surprises as six nations shared the 12 Paris spots with Nigeria winning the most with four. Algeria, Guam and Tunisia won two each while Egypt and New Zealand got one each. Algeria and New Zealand qualified for the Olympics for the first time in Women's Wrestling.

Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN), an African champion at 72kg and Tokyo Olympian, once again earned her qualification at 76kg. Beating Hamza made it even more special.

Six wrestlers were divided into two groups of three each. Samar HAMZA (EGY) topped her group while Amy YOUIN (CIV) finished second. In the other group, African champion Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) topped the group and Sghaier was second as she had lost to Rueben in the first match.

Hamza and Sghaier faced each other in the semifinal and Sghaier was slow to start before hitting a headlock four-pointer and Hamza could only score two points. In the second period, Sghaier inside-tripped Hamza for two more points. Hamza responded with a four but Sghaier recovered from the throw and held Hamza on the mat for a pin. While it was not confirmed, Hamza was cautioned for fleeing, adding two more points to Sghaier's score.

Hamza got a takedown and on another attempt, Sghaier hit a hip toss and helped Hamza to the mat to secure the fall and earn the Paris spot.

In the other semifinal, Rueben completely blocked Youin to score a 6-0. Rueben's was Nigeri's fifth Paris Olympic quota as Odunayo ADEKOUROYE (NGR) won one at the World Championships.

Nigeria's Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) showed her class at 68kg again, winning the semifinal against Uilau TARKONG (PLW) via fall in just 24 seconds.

Tayla FORD (NZL) is the first to qualify New Zealand for Olympics in Women's Wrestling. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Tayla FORD (NZL) made sure that New Zealand will have a representative at the Olympics in Women's Wrestling for the first time as she won the spot after pinning Samah ABDELLATIF (EGY) in the other semifinal at 68kg.

The only weight class in which Nigeria is yet to qualify is the 50kg as African champion Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) suffered a 7-5 loss to Nada MOHAMED (EGY) in the semifinal.

The Rio Olympian led 2-2 at the break and scored a stepout at the start of the second period to lead 3-2. But Nada got a stepout to earn a 3-3 criteria lead. However, that lead was short-lived as Genesis answered with a takedown and led 5-3 with 50 seconds left on the clock.

Nada scored a stepout with nine seconds remaining and in a dramatic turn of events, she snapped Genesis who pointed out that there was no whistle from the referee to restart. But Nada was awarded the two points which Genesis challenged but lost.

Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG) earned an Olympic quota at 50kg, a first for Algeria. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In another close semifinal, Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG) got the better of Chahrazed AYACHI (TUN), 9-6, becoming the first Algeria wrestler to qualify the nation in Women's Wrestling. She led 4-0 using two takedowns before Ayachi scored a reversal and exposure to cut the lead to 4-3.

Doudou had to pay the price for being defensive as Ayachi scored a stepout in the second period and later a go-behind to lead 6-4. Ayachi became defensive soon after and Doudou hit a single leg and elevated Ayachi who fell as Doudou tried making it a double-leg. She was awarded four points, giving her an 8-6 lead with 28 seconds left.

Ayachi tried her options but gave up a stepout as Doudou celebrated earning a spot in the Olympics while Ayachi could not control herself as soon as the match ended.

Tunisia's second quota came in 62kg as Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) dominated Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG) in the semifinal. Her 12-1 win ensured that Tunisia continued its African dominance at the weight even after Marwa AMRI's (TUN) retirement. Amri now coaches the Tunisian team.

The other wrestler to qualify at this weight was African champion Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) who defeated Angelina RODRIGUES MIRANDA (CPV) 10-0 in just 24 seconds.

Rckaela AQUINO (GUM) after qualifying Guam for the Paris Olympics at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Aquino sisters win

The Aquino sisters from Guam, Mia and Rckaela, earned Paris Olympic spots after winning the semifinals at 53kg and 57kg. Mia has wrestled at the Tokyo Olympians but Rckaela will go to her first Olympics.

Both posted contrasting victories in their respective semifinals as Mia pinned Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN) after scoring 11 points and Rckaela managed a close 4-3 win over Faten HAMAMMI (TUN) who scored all her points in the first period.

Rckaela trailed 3-2 at the break and showed some frantic wrestling in the second period which did not threaten Hamammi. However, her constant movement managed to tire Hamammi who gave up a takedown with 20 seconds left. Rckaela needed to defend her 4-3 lead for 10 seconds which she did and won the Paris spot.

Qualifying with Mia at 53kg is African champion Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) who rolled to a 10-0 win over Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY). At 57kg, Chaimaa AOUISSI (ALG) earned the second spot after beating Natacha NABAINA (CMR) 11-8.

RESULTS

50kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG) df. Chahrazed AYACHI (TUN), 9-6
SF 2: Nada MOHAMED (EGY) df. Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR), 7-5

53kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Mia AQUINO (GUM) df. Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN), via fall (11-0)
SF 2: Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) df. Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY), 10-0

57kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Chaimaa AOUISSI (ALG) df. Natacha NABAINA (CMR), 11-8
SF 2: Rckaela AQUINO (GUM) df. Faten HAMMAMI (TUN), 4-3

62kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) df. Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG), 12-1
SF 2: Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) df. Angelina RODRIGUES MIRANDA (CPV), 10-0

68kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF1: Tayla FORD (NZL) df. Samah ABDELLATIF (EGY), via fall
SF 2: Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) df. Uilau TARKONG (PLW), via fall

76kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) df. Samar HAMZA (EGY), via fall (14-8)
SF 2: Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) df. Amy YOUIN (CIV), 6-0

#WrestleAlexandria

Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series day two finals set

Friday, February 24, 2023 - 06:46 By Vinay Siwach

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (February 24) -- The second of the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series in Alexandria will see three Greco-Roman and four women's wrestling weight classes in action. After an enthralling first day, expect nothing less.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The finals for the evening session are set

72kg
Otar ABULADZE (GEO) vs. Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)

77kg
Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) vs. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL)

82kg
Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) vs. Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)

57kg
Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) vs. Alexandria TOWN (CAN)

62kg
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) vs. Xiaojuan LUO (CHN)

68kg
Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) vs. Forrest MOLINARI (USA)

76kg
Juan WANG (CHN) vs. Kennedy BLADES (USA)

15:10: Kennedy BLADES (USA) is having a dream run here! She takes on Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) 12-1. She will wrestle for gold at 76kg against Juan WANG (CHN).

15:00: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) controls the bout through and through to win 6-1 against Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) to book her place in the 68kg final. She will now face Forrest MOLINARI (USA) who defeated Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) via fall in the other semifinal.

14:55: Mohammedreza GERAEI (IRI) cannot catch a break. He now suffers an 8-0 loss to Otar ABULADZE (GEO) in the 72kg semifinal. Abuladze with a throw to start which was challenged by Geraei but he lost that. From 3-0, Abuladze countered Geraei's bodylock for four and added another correct throw for one point to win 8-0.

14:50: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) on Mat A. Koliadenko is called passive and Tynybekova takes the lead. In the second period, Koliadenko tries to force Tynybekova out of bounds but she fails. However, she challenges that she did score a stepout. A lost challenge. Tynybekova holds on for a 2-0 win.

14:40: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) wins 5-3 over Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) at 68kg. Molinari never stopped her attacks and Zhumanazarova never got going. Big win for Molinari at this weight.

14:15: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) continues her run at 57kg. She beats Qi ZHANG (CHN) 7-0 in the semifinals and will take on Alex TOWN (CAN) in the final. Town, surprisingly, has beaten Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) via fall.

14:10: They never disappoint! Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and Samar HAMZA (EGY) once again put on a show at 76kg. Hamza led 5-0 against Medet Kyzy. But the Kyrgz wrestler was never giving up and scored a fall over Hamza. She will face Kennedy BLADES (USA) in the semifinals.

13:50: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) moves into the semifinal at 62kg after a close 3-3 win over Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL). Some great defense from Lindborg at the end of that bout.

13:40: Kayla MIRACLE (USA) fails to trouble Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) who scores a 10-0 win over Miracle. Tynybekova, despite struggling for sometime now, keeps posting these big wins perhaps telling everyone to never count her out.

13:35: Sheroz OCHILOV (TJK) could have caused a big upset had he pinned Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI). Ochikov got the headlock for two and held Geraei to his back but could not finish the job. Geraei rarely gives a second chance. He scores a four and two takedowns after reversals to win 11-3.

13:30: Grace BULLEN (NOR) up against Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) on Mat B. She begins with a double leg for two. Koliadenko counters an attempt from Bullen to score a takedown. As Koliadenko tries a lace, Bullen holds her to her back for two but gives up a lace. Koliadenko leads 5-4 after that exchange. Huge throw from Bullen with locked arms! She gets the lead 8-5. The second period begins with Koliadenko scoring a takedown and transitioning to a lace. She manages two of them and takes the lead 11-8. A takedown from Bullen with under a minute remaining. Another double-leg blast to regain the lead 12-11. A shot from Bullen but Koliadenko exposes her for two. Bullen challenges the call but loses. Koliadenko wins 14-12

13:15: Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) always finds a way to win! Yongxin FENG (CHN) got exposure late in the bout to win 4-3 but Nikolova was sure there was no score in the exchange. She challenges and wins the call. A 3-2 win for Nikolova.

13:00: Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) gets a correct throw in the second period to beat Yunus BASAR (TUR) 3-1 at 77kg. Basar would be ruing the chance he got in par terre but failed to get anything out of it.

12:45: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) continues to control her opponents with great command. She worked up a 6-0 lead before finishing the bout 10-0 against Giullia OLIVEIRA (BRA) to move into the semifinals at 57kg.

12:15: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) has eked out a 2-0 win over Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) at 68kg. On Mat C, Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) and Buse TOSUN (TUR) were involved in a fierce battle. Larroque scored a takedown to lead 3-1 but Tosun pushed for a stepout. However, Larroque held on for a 4-2 win.

12:10: Tokyo Olympic silver bronze medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), wrestling for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics, using a lethal leg lace to win against Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) at 62kg. She faces Grace BULLEN (NOR) next.

12:00: Kayla MIRACLE (USA) with a final second takedown to beat Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) 5-4 at 62kg. That was ridiculous from Miracle, circling around and forcing Prokopevniuk to give up. On Mat B, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) beats Ameline DOUARRE (FRA). Both Miracle and Tynybekova will face each other in the quarterfinal.

11:50: Grace BULLEN (NOR) is becoming a force at 62kg. She gets the better of Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) in the quarterfinals. Dudova was leading 3-2 but Bullen scored two takedowns in the second period to win 6-3.

11:40: A lot of action at 76kg. Anastasiia OSNIACH (UKR) has pinned Skylar GROTE (USA) on Mat C while Samar HAMZA (EGY) starts with a 5-0 win over Maria ACOSTA ((VEN).

11:30: World bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST), wrestling for the first time since the World Championships, looking in trouble on Mat B against KIRAN (IND). She did get the first point for Kiran's passivity but gave up a takedown and passivity point to trail 3-1. Kiran scores a takedown to make it 5-1. A desperate throw attempt lands Mae on her back as Kiran wins 9-1.

11:15: Former U20 world champion Kennedy BLADES (USA) makes her senior debut in Alexandria. She begins with a solid 11-2 win over Qian ZHOU (CHN) at 76kg.

11:10: Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) wrestling at 72kg in Alexandria. He faces Omar OKIL (EGY) in the first bout. Geraei gets the parterre and scores two. Underhook from Okil but Geraei with a slam for four! Okil can't stop Geraei from another exposure but scores a reversal as well. Okil is asking for a takedown. He challenges but there is no takedown. Geraei wins 10-1

10:55: Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) is one of those wrestlers who will keep you busy throughout the bout and will capitalize on each opening she gets. Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) gave her one and Hrushyna used an arm-bar to pin her German opponent. She moves on at 57kg.

10:40: Yunus BASAR (TUR) and Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) on Mat B for their 77kg bout. Basar gets the first par terre advantage. He manages to roll Levai using a chest wrap but was himself in danger of giving up danger position. Basar returns on top and throws Levai for four. Referees call for a foul from Levai which means a 9-0 win for Basar. Levai challenges the call but there is a leg foul. Basar wins 10-0

10:35: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) has challenged the call after he gave up a series of gut wrenches against Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ). Gutu got the par terre advantage and tried to front headlock but failed Zhadrayev scored a 10-1 win but Gutu challenged. No illegal move by Zhadtayev and Gutu goes down 11-1.

10:30: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) and Alla BELINSKA (UKR) win with falls at 68kg. Dominant start for both the wrestlers who can meet later in the session.

10:20: Nathali GRIMAN (VEN) gave Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) a scare in the opening match at 62kg. Griman at one point led the bout 6-4 but Prokopevniuk manages to roll to a 9-6 win.

10:15: Early big match here in Alexandria. Grace BULLEN (NOR) is up against Jennifer PAGE (USA) at 62kg. She was put on the clock but scores a double leg for four over Page. A reversal and gut wrench for Page to make it 4-3 before adding a stepout. Bullen holds 4-4 criteria at the break. Bullen starts the second period with a takedown and another double leg for four. Page manages to reverse once again and score from the gut wrench. Bullen leads 10-7 with just over a minute left in the bout. Page with a slipby takedown to make it 10-9. Great comeback from Page. Bullen adds a stepout to make it 11-9. Page needs three points to win this. She scores a takedown but the time runs out. Bullen wins 11-11.

10:00: The wrestlers enjoyed their time going around Egypt and seeing the pyramids. But now serious business. Day two of the tournament is here. Greco-Roman 72kg, 77kg and 82kg will be in action along with 57kg, 62kg, 72kg and 76kg in women's wrestling.

Sghaier beats Hamza; New Zealand, Algeria earn historic Paris Olympic spots

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Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series day two finals set