#WrestleElJadida

#WrestleElJadida African Championships entry list

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 - 13:04 By Vinay Siwach

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EL JADIDA, Morocco (May 12) -- When the African Championships begin in El Jadida, Morocco next week, all eyes will be on Nigeria's Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) and Marwa AMRI (TUN). They are the only Olympic medalist in the field of more than 200 wrestlers that will compete for the 30 gold medals on offer.

Oborududu, who won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, will be eyeing her 11th straight African Championships gold. She is undefeated in the tournament since 2010. 

Other stars entered in the competition include world silver medalist and five-time African champion Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), Olympians Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS) and Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) and junior world bronze medalist Nicolaas DE LANGE (RSA).

In Greco-Roman, former U23 World bronze medalist Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) will be competing for the first time since wrestling at the Tokyo Olympics. More Olympians will be eyeing medals in El Jadida as Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG), Lamjed MAAFI (TUN), Bachir SID AZARA (ALG), Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG) and Amine GUENNICHI (TUN) are registered.

Oborududu and Adekuoroye will be responsible for a new-look Nigerian team running for the women's team title. But they will be challenged by Tunisia which is bringing five Olympians to the competition.

Apart from Amri, Sarra HAMDI (TUN), Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) and Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) are entered for the tournament. Khadija JLASSI (TUN), the young star from the country, will try to win her first senior African title.

Egypt's first-ever senior world medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) will be looking for her fourth African title at 76kg.

Tokyo Olympian Fatoumata CAMARA (GUI) will wrestle a weight up at 59kg.

The African Championships for seniors begins May 21 with women's wrestling and Greco-Roman bouts on Saturday and freestyle on Sunday. All the live actions and highlights will be available on uww.org.

Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS)Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS), left, is a junior African champion and Olympian. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

57kg
Salah KATEB (ALG)
Rabby KILANDI (COD)
Gamal MOHAMED (EGY)
Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS)
Simon WAINAINA (KEN)
Younes LACHGAR 
Romio GOLIATH (NAM)
Ebikewenimo WELSON (MGR)
Jakobo TAU (RSA)
Omar FAYE (SEN)
Fathi NASIR (SUD)

61kg
Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG)
Mdraman BILE (CIV)
Jordan KABONGO (COD)
Shehabeldin MOHAMED (EGY)
Kenneth KOECH (KEN)
Sofiane EL KHAMER (MAR)
Didier DIATTA (SEN)
Jafar FASHER (SUD)

65kg
Chouaib SAHRAOUI (ALG)
Rosian NGUIGAZA (CAF)
Christ NDRI (CIV)
Yehia HAFEZ (EGY)
Mbunde CUMBA MBALI (GBS)
Otmane EL BAHJA (MAR)
Jean BANDOU (MRI)
Jason AFRIKANER (NAM)
Reynhardt LOUW (RSA)
Saya KOKO (SUD)

70kg
Rami BRINIS (ALG)
Armando NTOYA (ANG)
Guy LAGO (CIV)
Anthony WESLEY (CPV)
Said ELGAHSH (EGY)
Bacar NDUM (GBS)
Abdelwahad BADRI (MAR)
Sampson CLACKSON (MGR)
Gaston DIATTA (SEN)
Fakhireldin SORIEN (SUD)
Mohamed ZORGUI (TUN)

74kg
Abdelkader IKKAL (ALG)
Francisco KADIMA (ANG)
Amr HUSSEN (EGY)
Caetano ANTONIO (GBS)
Abubakar ALHASSAN (GHA)
Brian OLOO (KEN)
Aime RAKOTONIAINA (MAD)
Mohammed MOUFRIJ (MAR)
Ogbonna JOHN (NGR)
Arno VAN ZIJL (RSA)
Mamadou DIOUF (SEN)
Mohamed SESAY (SLE)
Nasir OCBI (SUD)
Jacob NTUYO (UGA)

79kg
Chems FETAIRIA (ALG)
Kieto ACHECO (ANG)
Nziga ZOZO (CAF)
Assane BALLO (CIV)
Andy MUKENDI (COD)
Nasser SAYED (EGY)
Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN)
Totiana RAZAFINJATO (MAD)
Youssef AIT BOULAHRI (MAR)
Jean STE MARIE (MRI)
Donald MABUSELA (RSA)
Lamjed MAAFI (TUN)
Jamal ABDUL (UGA)

86kg
Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG)
Donald BENSANH (BEN)
Drissa ZON (BUR)
Cedric ABOSSOLO (CMR)
Barthelemy TSHOSHA (COD)
Mohamed ABDELAAL (EGY)
Arices DJIAMO (GBS)
Mark ONGUYESI (KEN)
Eric BORKUAH (LBR)
Mohamed EDDAOUAHIRI (MAR)
Jean MARIANNE (MRI)
Ekerekeme AGIOMOR (NGR)
Edward LESSING (RSA)
Guma BASHIR (SUD)
Sabri MNASRIA (TUN)
Ivan MASAKWE (UGA)

92kg
Mohammed FARDJ (ALG)
Timothee TOE (BUR)
Noureldin HASSAN (EGY)
Maxwell AMEKUDZI (GHA)
John OMONDI (KEN)
Fandresena RAMALANJAONA RALITERASOLO (MAD)
Ahmed SEREHALI (MAR)
Machiel GROBLER (RSA)
Imed KADDIDI (TUN)

97kg
Abderrahmane BENACHA (ALG)
Amoussou CAKPO (BEN)
John FOLANE (BUR)
Ulrich MANOUAN (CIV)
Aron MBO (COD)
Mostafa ELDERS (EGY)
Dan CHEPTAI (KEN)
Moussa SALIH (MAR)
Nicolaas DE LANGE (RSA)
Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN)

125kg
Youssif HEMIDA (EGY)
Anas LAMKABBER (MAR)
Hamza RAHMANI (TUN)

Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY)Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) is a U23 world medalist and the defending champion at 130kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Mohamed DRIDI (ALG)
Rabby KILANDI (COD)
Abdalla SHAABAN (EGY)
Kamal BENABBOU (MAR)
Romio GOLIATH (NAM)

60kg
Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG)
Ahmed BAGHDOUDA (EGY)
Simon WAINAINA (KEN)
Aymane LAKHFIF (MAR)
Jakobo TAU (RSA)
Salim HAMDI (TUN)

63kg
Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG)
Jordan KABONGO (COD)
Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY)
Kenneth KOECH (KEN)
Fouad FAJARI (MAR)
Hamed TCHOUFON (RSA)

67kg
Ishak GHAIOU (ALG)
Ivu KISUNGU (ANG)
Abdelrahman OMAR (EGY)
Bilal EL BAHJA (MAR)
Jason AFRIKANER (NAM)

72kg
Walid GHAIOU (ALG)
Armando NTOYA (ANG)
Mohamed KHALIL (EGY)
Yassine FARAJ (MAR)
Shafaihuuna BENHARD (NAM)
Daniel DU TOIT (RSA)
Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN)

77kg
Tarek BENAISSA (ALG)
Francisco de Deus KADIMA (ANG)
Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY)
Brian OLOO (KEN)
Aziz BOUALEM (MAR)
Johannes HATTINGH (RSA)
Sheku KASSEGBAMA (SLE)
Lamjed MAAFI (TUN)

82kg
Abd OUAKALI (ALG)
Jones MABUNGU (ANG)
Andy MUKENDI (COD)
Fares GHALY (EGY)
Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN)
Mohamed FAIQ (MAR)
Abdul TCHOUFON (RSA)
Hakim TRABELSI (TUN)

87kg
Bachir SID AZARA (ALG)
Barthelemy TSHOSHA (COD)
Noureldin HASSAN (EGY)
Mark ONGUYESI (KEN)
Reda MOUENISS (MAR)
Edward LESSING (RSA)
Guma BASHIR (SUD)
Mohamed MISSAOUI (TUN)

97kg
Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG)
Aron MBO (COD)
Mohamed GABR (EGY)
Dan CHEPTAI (KEN)
Hamza BOUMADIENE (MAR)
Pieter SWART (RSA)

130kg
Hichem KOUCHIT (ALG)
Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY)
Anas LAMKABBER (MAR)
Amine GUENNICHI (TUN)

Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) is a silver medalist from Tokyo Olympics. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG)
Nde YAPI (CIV)
Nada MEDANI (EGY)
Imane BOUJNANE (MAR)
Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR)
Sarra HAMDI (TUN)

53kg
Lamia CHEMLAL (ALG)
Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV)
Shaimaa BARAKAT (EGY)
Emma WANGILA (KEN)
Wissal EL GNAOUI (MAR)
Mercy ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN)

55kg
Louji YASSIN (EGY)
Zineb HASSOUNE (MAR)
Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR)
Faten HAMMAMI (TUN)

57kg
Farah HUSSEIN (EGY)
Peruce OKOBA (KEN)
Nisrine HAMMAS (MAR)
Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR)
Helena VAN AS (RSA)
Francine DIATTA (SEN)
Zainab BARRIE (SLE)
Siwar LOUATI BEN ALI (TUN)
Veronica AYO (UGA)

59kg
Rayane HOUFAF (ALG)
Fatoumata CAMARA (GUI)
Atika EL ASLA (MAR)
Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
Siwar BOUSETA (TUN)

62kg
Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG)
Françoise RASOARIMALALA (MAD)
Safietou GOUDIABY (SEN)
Marwa AMRI (TUN)

65kg
Berthe ETANE NGOLLE (CMR)
Sophia AYIETA (KEN)
Sunmisola BALOGUN (NGR)
Francine DIATTA (SEN)
Khadija JLASSI (TUN)

68kg
Houria BOUKRIF (ALG)
Blandine NGIRI (CMR)
Rosie TABORA (COD
Menatalla BADRAN (EGY)
Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
Patricia ELNOUR (SUD)
Ranim SAIDI (TUN)

72kg
Ebi BIOGOS (NGR)
Anta SAMBOU (SEN)
Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN)

76kg
Yvette ZIE (BUR)
Amy YOUIN (CIV)
Samar HAMZA (EGY)
Jemima NYARKO OFORI (GHA)
Hannah RUEBEN (NGR)
Nour JELJELI (TUN)

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: Ganiev, Beishekeev end title droughts for Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 - 23:31 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (October 22) -- Alisher GANIEV (UZB) was a little harsh on himself when he failed to win gold at the U20 Asian Championships in July. He even called it a 'painful defeat'. Little did he know that three months later, he would be creating history for Uzbekistan.

The 19-year-old Ganiev became the first U23 world champion for Uzbekistan in any style. The country did not have a medalist at the U23 World Championships in Greco-Roman until Ganiev changed that with a gold medal.

"Last year, I finished third at the U20 World Championships," Ganiev said. "That loss gave me a lot of motivation. This is my first Worlds gold. I lost at the U20 Asian championships this year. That was a painful defeat. I guess those losses hugely influenced the way I prepared for this World championships."

Ganiev won all his bouts on Monday via technical superiority and on Tuesday, he defeated Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN) 8-4 in the 60kg final to clinch the first-ever gold medal for his country.

"The final was the most difficult one," he said. "But the right plan and technique made my dream come true."

Ganiev was off to a flyer and finished the final in the first period when he tossed Bammatov for four points and the referees called a foul on Bammatov to give a 9-0 lead for Ganiev. However, on challenge, Bammatov received a lifeline as he had not committed a foul and the scored was reversed to 7-0.

But the gap was too big got Bammatov to make a comeback in the second period. He managed to score four points over Ganiev but he failed to change the outcome of the final. 

"It might have looked so easy but it was definitely tough," he said. "We have been preparing the tactics for every single opponent. That’s why it worked out."

Kyrgyzstan too crowned its first U23 world champion in Greco-Roman as Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) clinched the 67kg with a 6-1 victory over European bronze medalist Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) in the final. Beishekeev got the early advantage as he used an arm-throw to get four points and since, Chkhikvadze was only playing catch-up.

In the last few years, Kyrgyzstan has got its first senior world champion, a U23 world champion and more recently a U20 world champion. The last time it won a U17 world title was won by Kyrgyzstan wrestler, was in 2018. Incidentally, Beishekeev was the last U17 world champion.

Another wrestler chasing a first for his country fell short as Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) defeated Beka MELELASHVILI (USA), 4-3, in the 82kg final. 

Melelashvili was the first Greco-Roman wrestler from the United States to secure a medal at the U23 World Championships and had the chance to become the first champion. However, Naghousi kept his cool and managed to eke out a 4-3 win.

At 97kg, Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM), who has never placed on a podium before, won the gold medal by beating Paris Olympian Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN), 11-6, in the final.

Prior to the World Championships, Khloyan had finished 14th and fifth. But none of that mattered on Tuesday as he built a 7-0 lead over Khaslakhanau. Khloyan got the first par terre advantage and to everyone's surprise, managed to turn Khaslakhanau three times to lead Iran. Khaslakhanau got his opportunity in the second period but he failed to get even a single turn.

Georgia was also crowned a champion at 72kg after Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) defeated Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1, in the gold medal bout.

Chkhikvadze was leading 1-1 on criteria but the referees awarded a third passivity to Khachatryan who went for a par terre position. As he tried to turn Chkhikvadze, Khachatryan was blocked during the turn and Chkhikvadze scored two points for exposure.

This was Chkhikvadze's first world title as he had finished with a silver at the U20 World Championships in 2021. He had defeated Khachatryan in the semifinals of that tournament. However, Khachatryan leveled the head-to-head score by beating Chkhikvadze in the opening round of the U23 World Championships.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN), 8-4

BRONZE: Pridon ABULADZE (GEO) df. SURAJ (IND), 9-1
BRONZE: Denis MIHAI (ROU) df. Nihad GULUZADE (AZE), 

67kg
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 6-1

BRONZE: Daniial AGAEV (AIN) df. Yanis GUENDEZ NIFRI (FRA), 2-1
BRONZE: Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) df. Farid KHALILOV (AZE), 8-4

72kg
GOLD: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1

BRONZE: Imran ALIEV (AIN) df. Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ), 11-1
BRONZE: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) df. Georgios BARBANOS (SWE), 9-0

82kg
GOLD: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) df. Beka MELELASHVILI (USA), 4-3

BRONZE: Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO) df. Elmin ALIYEV (AZE)
BRONZE: Deni NAKAEV (GER) df. Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY), 5-1

97kg
GOLD: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) df. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN), 11-6

BRONZE: Shayan HABIBZARE (IRI) df. Richard KARELSON (EST), 8-5
BRONZE: Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) df. Anton VIEWEG (GER), 11-0

Semifinals

55kg
GOLD: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) vs. Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE)

SF 1: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) df. Vishvajit MORE (IND), 14-5
SF 2: Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Kohei YAMAGIWA (JPN), 12-2

63kg
GOLD: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) vs. Komei SAWADA (JPN)

SF 1: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Arman VARDANYAN (ARM), 14-5
SF 2: Komei SAWADA (JPN) df. Bekir ATES (TUR), 7-0

77kg
GOLD: Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) vs. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)

SF 1: Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) df. Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO), 2-1
SF 2: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), 6-1

87kg
GOLD: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) vs. Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)

SF 1: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) df. Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), 2-1
SF 2: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) df. Yasin YAZDI (IRI), 5-1

130kg
GOLD: Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN) vs. Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)

SF 1: Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN) df. Albert VARDANYAN (ARM), via fall
SF 2: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Koppany LASZLO (HUN), 8-0