ALGIERS (April 2) – Africa champion Isabelle SAMBOU (SEN) punched her ticket to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Saturday with a pair of falls and first place in the women’s 53kg weight category at the Africa-Oceania qualifying tournament.

Sambou also notched a technical fall and a 9-0 win over Maroi MEZIEN (TUN) to finish her day with a perfect 4-0 record and a return to the Olympic Games after finishing in fifth place at London 2012.

Meanwhile, Marwa AMRI (TUN) and Laure ALI ANNABEL (CMR) won their individual categories in Saturday evening’s finals after booking a place in their third Olympic Games in a row.

Amri fashioned a technical fall over Africa champion at 63kg Aminat ADENIYI (NGR), capping her victory with a go-behind and gut wrench combination at 4:21 of the 58kg final.

Ali Annabel roared from behind with a pair of gut wrenches in the final minute of the day’s finale for a 5-4 win over Africa champion Samar HAMZA (EGY), avenging a loss at the African championships in early March.

Also on Saturday, Nigeria booked four tickets in women’s wrestling to join world bronze medalist at 53kg Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) on the road to Rio.

All-African Games champion Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) won the 48kg title with perfect 3-0 mark, including a pair of falls and was followed by Africa champion Rebecca MUAMBO (CMR) in the four-wrestler, Nordic competition group.

Out of three finalists in Saturday evening’s finals, however, only Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) was able to pull out a final tournament victory with an 8-2 decision over Enas AHMED (EGY), despite having to fight off her back after a whip-over to nearfall by Ahmed.


-- Results --

Women’s Wrestling

48kg (4 entries, Nordic system)

RR1 – Rebecca MUAMBO (CMR) df. Jessica LAVERS-McBAIN (AUS) by Fall, 0:32 (2-0)
RR1 – Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) df. Hanene SALAOUNANDJI (ALG) by TF, 10-0, 3:43

RR2 – Hanene SALAOUNANDJI (ALG) df. Jessica LAVERS-McBAIN (AUS) by Fall, 1:20 (3-2)
RR2 – Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) df. Rebecca MUAMBO (CMR), 7-2

RR3 – Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) df. Jessica LAVERS-McBAIN (AUS) by Fall, 1:39 (10-0)
RR3 – Rebecca MUAMBO (CMR) df. Hanene SALAOUNANDJI (ALG), 8-0

Final rankings, 48kg

1. Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR), 3 wins, no losses (11 classification points)
2. Rebecca MUAMBO (CMR), 2-1 (8 CP)
3. Hanen SALAOUNANDJI (ALG), 1-2 (4 CP)
4. Jessica LAVERS-McBAIN (AUS), 0-3 (0 CP)

53kg (5 entries, Nordic system)

RR5 – Maroi MEZIEN (TUN) df. Pia ROZENKRANZ (AUS) by Injury Default, 0:01 (0-0)
RR5 – Isabell SAMBOU (SEN) df. Kheira-Chaimaa YAHIAOUI (ALG) by Fall, 2:56 (5-2)
RR5 – Joseph ESSOMBE-TIAKO (CMR) – bye

Final rankings, 53kg
1. Isabelle SAMBOU (SEN), 4-0 (15 CP)
2. Joseph ESSOMBE-TIAKO (CMR), 3-1 (10 CP)
3. Maroi MEZIEN (TUN), 2-2 (9 CP)
4. Kheira-Chaimaa YAHIAOUI (ALG), 1-3 (5 CP)
5. Pia ROZENKRANZ (AUS), 0-4 (0 CP)

58kg (6 entries)
Gold – Marwa AMRI (TUN) df. Aminat ADENIYI (NGR) by TF, 10-0, 4:21
Bronze – Rabia LAMALSA (ALG) – No opponent
Bronze – Safietou GOUDIABY (SEN) df. Edwige NGONO EYIA (CMR), 9-0
 
Semifinal – Marwa AMRI (TUN) df. Rabia LAMALSA (ALG) by TF, 13-3, 4:31
Semifinal – Aminat ADENIYI (NGR) df. Safietou GOUDIABY (SEN) by Fall, 2:37 (3-0)

63kg (8 entries)
Gold – Hela RIABI (TUN) df. Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR), 8-7
Bronze – Stevie Grace KELLY (AUS) df. Amina BENABDERRAHMA (ALG) by TF, 12-2, 3:31
Bronze – Tayla FORD (NZL) df. Anta SAMBOU (SEN) by Fall, 1:24 (4-0)

Semifinal – Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) df. Amina BENABDERRAHM (ALG) by TF, 10-0, 0:51
Semifinal – Hela RIABI (TUN) df. Anta SAMBOU (SEN) by Fall, 1:50 (6-0)

69kg (6 entries)
Gold – Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) df. Enas AHMED (EGY), 8-2
Bronze – Houria BOUKRIF (ALG) – no opponent
Bronze – Bladine METALA EPANGA (CMR) df. Demos MEMNELOUM (CHA) by TF, 11-0, 2:10

Semifinal – Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) df. Houria BOUKRIF (ALG) by TF, 10-0, 1:50
Semifinal – Enas AHMED (EGY) df. Demos MEMNELOUM (CHA) by Fall, 2:57 (8-0)

75kg (7 entries)
Gold – Laure ANNABEL ALI (CMR) df. Samar HAMZA (EGY), 5-4
Bronze – Tassadit AMER (ALG) df. Hajaratu KAMARA (SLE) by Injury Default, 0:00
Bronze – Blessing Joy ONYEBUCHI (NGR) df. Shantelle THOMPSON (AUS) by TF, 12-0, 1:14
 
Semifinal – Samar HAMZA (EGY) df. Hajaratu KAMARA (SLE) by Fall, 0:35 (2-0)
Semifinal – Laure ANNABEL ALI (CMR) df. Blessing Joy ONYEBUCHI (NGR), 4-3