#BeachWrestling

Traditional wrestling hotbed Senegal dominates African Beach Games

Friday, June 30, 2023 - 06:58 By Vinay Siwach

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HAMMAMET, Tunisia (June 30) -- Senegal dominated the men's Beach Wrestling competition at the 2nd African Beach Games, securing three out of the four gold medals.

Led by African Beach Wrestling and Senegalese Wrestling champion Modou FAYE (SEN), Senegal claimed gold in the 80kg, 90kg, and +90kg weight classes but missed out in the 70kg category, where Gibriel CHOW (GAM) denied the country a cleansweep.

Senegal won the team title as well with 95 points while hosts Tunisia finished second with 57 points. Kenya finished a close third with 49 points.

READ: Olympic silver medalist Oborududu solid on sand

Faye, who had already won the African Championships in May in the men's +90kg division, emerged victorious in the gold medal bout against Hemza HALOUI (ALG), defeating him 3-0.

But that was not the only bout in which Faye did not give up a point. Whether it was Daniel MOSETI (KEN) in Round 1 or Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN) in the semifinals, no one was able to score on him during the tournament.

In the group stage, Faye secured a 3-0 victory over Haloui in Round 3, but both wrestlers qualified for the semifinals as they finished 1-2 in the group. While Faye triumphed over Saadaoui in the semifinals, Haloui won 1-0 against Progress BENSON (NGR).

In the final, Haloui failed to pose any significant challenge to Faye, as the Senegalese wrestler won the gold and continued to make his mark in Beach Wrestling this year.

Modou FAYE (SEN)Modou FAYE (SEN) celebrates after winning the gold medal at the African Beach Games. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Earlier in June, Faye made his world debut in the Beach Wrestling World Series in Singapore, reaching the semifinals and eventually winning a bronze medal. Despite a strong performance, Faye narrowly missed out on a spot in the final, where he came close to defeating world champion Mamuka KORDZAIA (GEO).

Faye made the mistake of touching his knee on the sand, resulting in points being awarded against him on two occasions. However, he quickly adapted his approach, launching clean attacks and taking a 2-2 lead on criteria over Kordzaia with less than 30 seconds remaining. Faye successfully defended against Kordzaia's desperate attack and countered with his own takedown to secure the victory.

It was only after Kordzaia challenged the call, and after a review, Faye's knee brushing the sand resulted in a point being awarded to Kordzaia. In Beach Wrestling, the first wrestler to reach three points is declared the winner.

Faye's impressive performance in Singapore solidified his status as one of the strongest competitors, leaving a lasting impression on the fans. His experience in Senegalese Wrestling enabled him to effortlessly defend against attacks on his legs.

Siny SEMBENE (SEN)Siny SEMBENE (SEN) was the champion at 90kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Another standout performer for Senegal was Siny SEMBENE (SEN), who remained undefeated in all four of his bouts in the 90kg round-robin bracket, securing the gold medal for Senegal.

Sembene's first victory came against Machiel GROBLER (RSA), whom he defeated 3-0 in Round 1. He followed this with a dominant victory via fall over Sabri MNASRIA (TUN) in Round 3.

Mark ONGUYESI (KEN) was the only other unbeaten wrestler and he faced Sembene in Round 4. But he suffered the same fate as the others, losing 3-0. Sembene was crowned champion after Zakaria BENAREZKI (ALG) withdrew from the fifth round due to an injury sustained in his bout against Onguyesi in Round 3.

Ngor NIAKHE (SEN)Ngor NIAKHE (SEN) won the 80kg gold after beating Bacar N'DIUM (GBS) in the final. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

In the 80kg category, Ngor NIAKHE (SEN) staged an impressive comeback to defeat Bacar N'DIUM (GBS) 2-0 and secure the gold medal for Senegal. Niakhe had previously lost to N'dium in the group stages.

Eight wrestlers competed in the 80kg weight class, divided into two groups. Niakhe faced N'dium in Round 1, resulting in a 1-1 tie decided on last-point criteria.

However, Niakhe rallied and emerged victorious by fall against Anthony WESLEY (CPV) in Round 2 and Chawki DOULACHE (ALG) in Round 3, qualifying for the semifinals against Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN). He defeated the Kenyan wrestler with superiority to reach the final.

In the final, Niakhe showcased solid defensive skills, preventing N'dium from scoring any points. With a two-point lead, Niakhe maintained his advantage to secure the gold medal, just two weeks after winning bronze at the Singapore Beach Wrestling World Series.

With the victory over N'dium, Niakhe also avenged his loss from the African Beach Wrestling Championships final which was won by N'dium in May.

Gibriel CHOW (GAM)Gibriel CHOW (GAM) denied Ya NDONG (SEN) 3-1 in the 70kg final. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

To prevent Senegal from winning all four gold medals, Chow delivered a strong performance to defeat Ya NDONG (SEN) 3-1 in the 70kg category.

Chow's journey to the final included victories over Mahmoud MEDJADBA (ALG) in Round 1 (3-1), Mohamed ZORGUI (TUN) in Round 2 (4-0), and John LEOPOLD (MRI) in Round 3 (3-0), securing the top spot in the group standings.

In the semifinals, Madi LATUF (COM) posed a challenge to Chow, scoring two points and coming close to victory. However, Chow executed a remarkable throw and won by fall (5-2), advancing to the final against Ndong, who had defeated Zorgui in the other semifinal.

In the final, Chow clearly outperformed Ndong, clinching the gold medal with a 3-1 victory over the African champion.

Bacar N'DIUM (GBS)Bacar N'DIUM (GBS) completes a throw against Anthony WESLEY (CPV) during their 80kg bout in Hammamet. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

RESULTS

70kg
GOLD: Gibriel CHOW (GAM) df. Ya NDONG (SEN), 3-1

BRONZE: Mohamed ZORGUI (TUN) df. Madi LATUF (COM), 3-0

80kg
GOLD: Ngor NIAKHE (SEN) df. Bacar N'DIUM (GBS), 2-0

BRONZE: Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN) df. Khaireddine BEN TLILI (TUN), 4-2

90kg
GOLD: Siny SEMBENE (SEN)
SILVER: Mark ONGUYESI (KEN)
BRONZE: Sabri MNASRIA (TUN)

+90kg
GOLD: Modou FAYE (SEN) df. Hemza HALOUI (ALG), 3-0

BRONZE: Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN) df. Progress BENSON (NGR), 3-2

#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Day 5 Recap

Sunday, March 2, 2025 - 09:59 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (March 2) -- The final day of Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series will see Greco-Roman action in six weight classes. 55kg, 60kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg and 130kg wrestlers will be on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

16:15: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) and Hamza BAKIR (TUR) enter the final at 130kg. Mirzazadeh scores a gut wrench from par terre against Wenhao JIANG (CHN) to lead 3-0 at the break. Jiang gets the forced par terre advantage in the second period but no points from the position for him. Mirzazadeh wins 3-1.

Bakir had Tokyo silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) in the semifinal. Kajaia gets the par terre in first period but doesn't turn Bakir, who got the par terre position in the second period but can't turn. Bakir holds the 1-1 criteria lead for the win.

16:00: Kiril MILOV (BUL) with a front headlock exposure for two and he led Alex SZOKE (HUN) 3-1. Szoke got the third passivity and as he tried to gut wrench Milov, he got stuck on the mat and Milov pinned him to enter the 97kg final.

He will take on Giorgi MELIA (GEO) in final after the Georgian defeated Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) 5-2. Melia blocked a turn from Ragginger and got two points. Ragginger got both the passivity calls and led 2-0 before the defended throw from Melia. Ragginger challenged for a defensive foul but lost it as Melia got another point and lead 3-2 with 1:30 remaining on the clock. Ragginger needs two points for a win. Melia with a stepout with 54 seconds remaining to lead 5-2. Ragginger fails to breakthrough and drops the semifinal.

15:50: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) defends from par terre when Ramon BETSCHART (SUI) got the third passivity and keep his 2-1 lead to enter the 82kg final. He will face Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) in the final after he got a gift from Svetoslav NIKOLOV (BUL) who committed two offensive leg fouls and was cautioned out of the semifinal.

15:35: Mehmet SAHIN (TUR) enters the 72kg final with a 9-0 technical superiority win over Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ). He will face Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) who beat Otar ABULADZE (GEO) 6-3 which may give him a look in the Georgian team for the European Championships.

15:20: Quick finishes to the 60kg semifinals! Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO) with two headpinch front throws to beat Haodong TAN (CHN) 8-0 and enter the final.

Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) brings out two reverse suplexes from par terre to beat Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ) 9-0. Lost challenge from Kyrgyzstan makes it 10-0

15:10: Emre MUTLU (TUR) with a huge four-point throw and then a turn from par terre as he leads Yerassyl MAMYRBEKOV (KAZ) 7-0 at the break in the 55kg semifinals. But Mamyrbekov storms back with two suplexes for two points each to make it 7-5. A challenge from Kazakhstan asking for a foul from Mutlu but there isn't any. A lost challenge makes it 8-5 for Mutlu with a minute remaining. Mutlu defends his lead and wins 8-5.

In the other semifinal, Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) was attacking from the start and earned two turns from par terre to lead 6-0 at the break Yersin ABYIR (TUR). Lolua also pulls out a good defense to keep it 6-1 when he was put on par terre in the second period. Abyir scores three points but a 6-4 win for Lolua.

The semifinals begin at 15:00 hours local time

14:40: Two turns from par terre for Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) to lead 5-1 and he may have thought that it was enough for a win. However, Shahin BADAGHI (QAT), of Iranian origin, scores a takedown to make it 5-4. Bolkvadze scores a stepout however Badaghi challenges and wins as Bolkvadze pulled his singlet. Badaghi down 5-4 with 1:21 left in the 82kg quarterfinal. Badaghi challenges for a headbutt but this time loses the challenge which makes Bolkvadze's score 6-4 whihc is also the winning score.

14:30: Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) with a five-pointer as he moves into the semifinals at 60kg! Shiotani blanks Ziyue XI (CHN) 11-0. 

14:20: Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) with a grand-amplitude over Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) for five points. Sleiva blocked with his hands which gives to more to Lomadze who leads 7-0 at the break. Sleiva can manage only two points in the second period as Lomadze wins 7-2

14:10: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) pulls out his best defense from par terre and stops Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) from turning him in the second period. A turn would have surely given Knystautas a 3-3 criteria lead. But Mirzazadeh wins 3-1

14:00: China has brought some hammers here! Haodong TAN (CHN) pins Paris Olympian Enes BASAR (TUR) at 60kg. Tan got the third passivity [no points are awarded for third passivity in Greco] and got a defensive foul from Basar. He then turned him and held Basar on the mat for a fall.

13:45: Ziyue XI (CHN) takes out Victor CIOBANU (MDA) at 60kg! What a performance from Xi. He defended his par terre position before scoring a correct throw from par terre in the second period to lead 3-1. Ciobanu gave up a stepout with 40 seconds remaining to fall behind 4-1. Ciobanu challenged so a foul but there was none. Xi gets a 5-1 lead. Ciobanu could not find a way to break Xi who wins 5-1 at 60kg.

13:35: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) scores an 8-0 win over Yuta NARA (JPN) at 130kg. Bakir has been impressive so far as he prepares himself for the big challenge at the European Championships. 

13:25: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist at Greco-Roman 130kg Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) turns Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) from par terre to lead 3-0 at the break before defending his position from forced par terre in the second and win 3-1 at 130kg.

13:10: The world is missing out on Yu SHIOTANI (JPN). A series of reverse lifts from par terre and Shiotani has Ergi UKU (ALB) in all sorts of trouble. An 11-0 win for Shiotani.

13:07: Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) brings out a reverse lift slam on Ji LENG (CHN) to score four points and snatch the win 4-2 against Leng who is a little dumbfounded with that move. Top move from Sleiva

13:05: Ali ARSALAN (SRB) can't find a way to break Iuri LOMADZE's (GEO) defense and drops his 72kg bout 5-1. Lomadze with a defensive block when Arsalan was trying to score on him.

12:50: Kyrgyzstan wrestlers are out here demoralising big star. Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ) takes out Selcuk CAN (TUR) at 72kg. After leading 5-0, Khamzaev defended well from par terre and gave up only two points. Can made it 5-5 with a push out but Khamzaev keeps the criteria win.

12:40: Former European champion Kiril MILOV (BUL), who wrestled at Paris Olympics at 130kg, drops down to his natural 97kg, and he dominates Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) 6-1. He scored two turns from par terre in the first period while Sterkenburg failed to do so in the second.

12:05: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) gets two par terre positions in the match and he scored three turns to beat 8-0 Laga BAYI (CHN) at 130kg. He expected to be the heir apparent to Riza KAYAALP (TUR) for Turkiye

11:50: Olympic bronze medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) using his aggressive style against Heiki NABI (EST) for a 4-0 win at 130kg. While he did the par terre in the first period, he asked for standing in the second.

11:45: Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) gives a reality check to U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) of the senior level. Shiotani was in forced par terre in the first period but he didn't let Ahmadi Vafa score. The referees were about to give Ahmadi Vafa the second par terre which may have made Ahmadi Vafa relax as he gave up a takedown. A reversal in the same sequence was scored one point for Ahmadi Vafa. But Shiotani with a big lift and throw for two points. Shiotani challenges and gets two more points for a foul from Ahmadi Vafa to lead 6-2. From par terre, Shiotani would score three more points and lead 9-4 with 35 seconds on the clock.

Ahmadi Vafa threatened to cause an upset as he scored a takedown and a turn to make it 9-6 before Shiotani blocked the next turn for two points. He then score another exposure and held Ahmadi Vafa on the mat for a fall.

11:35: Ali ARSALAN (SRB), world bronze medalist at 72kg, impresses with a 4-4 win over Levente LEVAI (HUN). Levai led 3-0 at the break but Arsalan with a headpinch for four. Levai blocked his second attempt. A stepout in the end gave Levai another point but Arsalan won 4-4 on criteria.

11:31: Selcuk CAN (TUR), wrestling at 72kg, with an impressive 7-3 win against Mikko PELTOKANGAS (FIN). Can with a top defense from par terre to keep Peltokangas at bay

11:25: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) needed two successful challenges to remaining in the opening match at 97kg against Alex SZOKE (HUN) who committed two offensive leg fouls. Szoke still had a 7-1 lead at the break. Savolainen managed two points in the second period but failed get a move on. Szoke with a 7-3 win.

11:00: Greco-Roman all day as the final day of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series is here. Long day ahead but some classic match ups in various weight class. By the way, rain is back in Tirana.