#WrestleCasablanca

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

Sunday, May 4, 2025 - 08:47 By Vinay Siwach

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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)

#WrestleBudapest

Grace Bullen Move: Outside Trip That Defines European Champ

Thursday, July 9, 2026 - 10:31 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 9) -- Grace BULLEN (NOR) lost the most important match of her career while attempting her trademark outside trip, trying to finish the bout with a fall. It came in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games semifinal against Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), who countered with a neck bridge, tossing Bullen over for the fall.

UWW+

Despite the mixed results the move has produced over the years, Bullen did not hesitate to use it in the 2026 European Championships final against Amina TANDELOVA (RUS). Trailing 9-0, Bullen hooked her left foot behind Tandelova's heel and brought her down for the fall.

Three months after their epic European 62kg final, Bullen and Tandelova will be at the Budapest Ranking Series from July 15 to 19, the last stop to gain ranking points before the World Championships.

They will be joined by a strong field that includes former world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN), world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), and European medalists Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) and Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR).

The field also includes Ana GODINEZ (CAN) and former U20 world champion Eniko ELEKES (HUN), who will have the backing of the home crowd. Two Indians, MANSI (IND) and SAVITA (IND), are also entered among others.

Grace BULLEN (NOR)Grace BULLEN (NOR) performs the outside trip against Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) during the 62kg final at the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The same move also rescued Bullen at the Tirana Ranking Series, where she trailed Mansi before winning 6-5.

Speaking after winning European gold, Bullen acknowledged both the risk and the reward of the move.

"I know it's my go-to when I'm down, but I also lost in that situation, the same place," Bullen said. "I know how it is being on the receiving end, also being an attacker in that situation. But glad it worked out for me.

"It's more risky that way and just locking the leg and going forward it's much less risky, especially for me."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Grace Bullen (@gracebullen7)

 

A pivotal career decision saw Bullen relocate her training base to Georgia under coach Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI. Since moving to 62kg, she has won world and Olympic medals and established herself as one of the division's most dangerous wrestlers. The demanding training in Georgia and the move up in weight have transformed her wrestling and her mindset, even if the results have occasionally fluctuated.

"I'm also getting older," she said. "I have to be wise with how I train and so I keep my shape."

That experience has also made Bullen more patient than she was five years ago.

"I've years of experience in wrestling," she said. "I take losses with a greater smile than I ever did before. Just knowing that this year I was in two ranking series competitions and only won one match, I am more patient with everything. I know that even though I lose, I can win in the future."