#WrestleCasablanca

Abdellatif leads Egypt to Greco team title with 8th African gold

By Vinay Siwach

CASABLANCA, Morocco (May 3) — Mohamed ABDELLATIF (EGY) scored three technical superiority wins to win the 130kg and lead Egypt to the Greco-Roman team title at the African Championships in convincing fashion.

Egypt won seven gold and three silver medals to emerge as the best team with 235 points. Hosts Morocco didn’t win any gold but had three silver and six bronze medals to overtake Algeria for the second position with 160 points. Algeria finished third with 125 points, thanks to three golds and other medals.

World bronze medalist Abdellatif won his eighth African Championships gold medal without dropping a point in Casablanca. He defeated Wissam KOUAINSO (MAR) in Round 1, Joel TUKAI (KEN) in Round 2 and tossed around Issah FUSEINI (GHA) in Round 3. He just spent only 2 minutes and 39 seconds on the mat.

That was the final gold for Egypt on Saturday. The gold rush began when Ahmed ALY (EGY) stunned Adem LAMLOUM (TUN) 10-0 in the 55kg final. It was better result than the one when they met in the first round. Aly won the first bout 10-6.

At 60kg, Ahmed SHABAN (EGY) won four bouts in dominant fashion to clinch the gold medal. 

Women’s Wrestling

Medals in five weight classes of Women’s Wrestling were also awarded on Saturday.

Nigeria won four of the five gold medals on offer as Mercy ADEKOUROYE (NGR) became a late withdrawal from the 57kg competition.

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD: Ahmed ALY (EGY) df. Adem LAMLOUM (TUN), 10-0

BRONZE: Ayoub SBETE (MAR) df. Bofenda KALUWEKO (ANG), via fall (11-10)

60kg
GOLD: Ahmed SHABAN (EGY)
SILVER: Mouad JAHID (MAR)
BRONZE: Rabby KILANDI (COD)

63kg
GOLD: Mohamed DRIDI (ALG)
SILVER: Youssef MOHAMED (EGY)
BRONZE: Mouncif MESROUR (MAR)

67kg
GOLD: Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY) df. Ishak GHAIOU (ALG), 2-0

BRONZE: Oussama NASR (TUN) df. Roland KALAMBAYI (COD), 9-6

72kg
GOLD: Mohamed IBRAHIM (EGY) df. Abdelmalek MERABET (ALG), 3-1

BRONZE: Walid TALBI (MAR) df. Nkosinathi MASHININI (RSA), 9-0
BRONZE: Yamine ATCHIBA (BEN) df. Norvil BUKASA (COD), 7-7

77kg
GOLD: Yehia ABDELKADER (EGY)
SILVER: Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN)
BRONZE: Souhaib KHDAR (MAR)

82kg
GOLD: Abd OUAKALI (ALG) df. Mohamed DYAB (EGY), 11-3

BRONZE: Elias CHIGUER (MAR) df. Andy MUKENDI (COD), via fall (7-4)

87kg
GOLD: Bachir SID AZARA (ALG)
SILVER: Mahmoud IBRAHIM (EGY)
BRONZE: Wadii OUALAL (MAR)

97kg
GOLD: Mohamed GABR (EGY)
SILVER: Hamza BOUMADIENE (MAR)
BRONZE: Barthelemy TSHOSHA (COD)

130kg
GOLD: Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY)
SILVER: Wissam KOUAINSO (MAR)
BRONZE: Issah FUSEINI (GHA)

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) df. Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV), 11-0

BRONZE: Chahrazed AYACHI (TUN) df. Zineb ECH CHABKI (TUN), 8-6
BRONZE: Sama MAHMOUD (EGY) df. Matilda KOKERA (RSA), via fall

57kg
GOLD: Chaimaa AOUISSI (ALG) df. Chaima DAHI (TUN), via fall

BRONZE: Mamy RASOANOMENJANAHARY (MAD) df. Mercy ADEKUOROYE (NGR), via walkover

62kg
GOLD: Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) df. Farah HUSSEIN (EGY), 10-0

BRONZE: Nawel BAHLOUL (ALG) df. Safietou GOUDIABY (SEN), 8-1

68kg
GOLD: Hannah RUEBEN (NGR)
SILVER: Mariam MESBAH (EGY)
BRONZE: Saadia ET TAMMAR (MAR)

76kg
GOLD: Damola OJO (NGR)
SILVER: Amy YOUIN (CIV)
BRONZE: Rayhana BENREZIK (MAR)

#development

Afghanistan Coaches Build Skills at UWW Level 1 Coaching Course

By United World Wrestling Press

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (June 30) -- Eleven coaches from Afghanistan were among 21 participants who completed a United World Wrestling Level 1 Coaching Course in Almaty, strengthening the country's coaching capacity while building closer ties with neighboring Kazakhstan.

Organized through a partnership between Olympic Solidarity, the Kazakhstan National Olympic Committee, the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee, the Kazakhstan Wrestling Federation, and United World Wrestling, the course focused on developing internationally recognized coaching competencies while fostering collaboration between the two wrestling nations.

Apart from the 11 coaches from Afghanistan, coaches from Kazakhstan also joined for a comprehensive program. The curriculum covered coaching responsibilities, skill development using UWW's Key Factors teaching methodology, athlete-centered learning through discovery games, coaching self-reflection, risk management, and practical coaching assessment.

Afghanistan

UWW Educator and former world champion Mohammed ABDELFATTAH praised the participants for their commitment throughout the program.

"I was very impressed with the overall level of the participants," Abdelfattah said. "The coaches were highly motivated, actively participated in every session, and continuously asked thoughtful questions throughout the course."

Abdelfattah was particularly encouraged by the technical level demonstrated by the Afghan coaches.

"The Afghan coaches demonstrated a strong technical understanding of wrestling." he said. "After speaking with several participants, I learned that traditional wrestling is extremely popular in Afghanistan and shares many technical similarities with Olympic wrestling. This provides coaches with an excellent technical foundation for further development."

The practical sessions proved to be a particular highlight, with coaches working through technical demonstrations, problem-solving exercises, and athlete-centered coaching activities designed to strengthen both technical instruction and coaching methodology.

The Afghanistan Wrestling Federation views the course as an important step in its long-term development strategy. Dr. Yonus POPALZY, an Afghan NOC and Olympic Council of Asia member, was instrumental in the development, organization, and success of the course.

Participants highlighted the practical nature of the course and the opportunity to exchange ideas with coaches from different backgrounds.

"The course exceeded our expectations. The practical sessions and interactive teaching methods gave us new ideas that we can immediately apply in our daily coaching."