#WrestleAlexandria

WATCH: 10 women's wrestling from Egypt

Thursday, March 2, 2023 - 09:14 By Vinay Siwach

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ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (March 2) -- In the absence of Japan, Ukraine and China dominated the competition at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series event. Ukraine outplaced China with ease and will continue to battle for the second spot below Japan this year.

With more and more wrestlers moving into the Olympic weight classes, a few weight classes saw surprising results but some other stalwarts returned to form before the long season which also includes the World Championships.

GOLD: 50kg - Meng FAN (CHN) vs. Ziqi FENG (CHN)

GOLD: 53kg - Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) vs. Li DENG (CHN)

GOLD: 55kg - Bediha GUN (TUR) vs. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)

Semifinal: 57kg - Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) vs. Alexandria TOWN (CAN) [The gold medal bout between Town and Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) did not take place after the later pulled out injured]

GOLD: 59kg - Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) vs. Yuliia TKACH (UKR)

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

Round 2: Emma BRUNTIL (USA) vs. Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)

GOLD: 65kg - Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) vs. Forrest MOLINARI (USA)

GOLD: 72kg - Alina RUDNYTSKA LEVYTSKA (UKR) vs. Dalma CANEVA (ITA)

GOLD: 76kg - Juan WANG (CHN) vs. Kennedy Alexis BLADES (USA)

#BeachWrestling

Sakurai swaps mat for sand, wins Beach Wrestling gold

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 09:01 By Vinay Siwach

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TOKYO (May 13) -- Paris Olympic champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) made a return to competition for the first time since August last year. However, it was not on the mat.

Sakurai, who won gold medal at 57kg in Paris, returned to compete in beach wrestling. She wrestled at the Japan Beach Wrestling National Team Qualifying Tournament held in Tachikawa, Tokyo on Sunday and won gold at 60kg

"It may sound strange for me to say it, but I felt that I was suited to it," Sakurai was quoted by Japan Olympic Committee.

Sakurai, who is not entered for the June 19-22 Meiji Cup, Japan's qualifying tournament for the World Championships in September, is now qualified to compete for Japan in Beach Wrestling this year.

"Since I am qualified for the international tournament, I will try to participate," she said. "I want to be number one. I'll practice on the sandy beaches of Kochi [Prefecture]."

The three-time world champion, however, did not rule out the possibility of returning to the mat soon.

"I am still practicing on the mat and when I feel like I am ready, I will be back on the mat," she said.