#WrestleHammamet

Algeria Claims Four Berths as Six Countries Qualify for Tokyo Olympics

By Vinay Siwach

HAMMAMET, Tunisia (April 4) -- Six countries combined to secure the 12 Olympic berths in men's freestyle that were on the line on the final day of the African and Oceania Olympic Qualifier on Sunday.

Algeria led the way by capturing four quotas while Egypt, Tunisia and Guinea-Bissau claimed two each. Senegal and Nigeria also registered their names by claiming a berth each for the Tokyo Olympics.

Four wrestlers who punched their tickets to Tokyo for Algeria were Abdelhak KHERBACHE (57kg), Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (86kg), Mohammed FARDJ (97kg) and Djahid BERRAHAL (125kg).

However, the Algerian quartet in the finals failed to win a gold medal on Sunday and had to be content with four silver medals. The result came back to hurt them as they let the team title slip from their hands.

Egypt edged host nation Tunisia for the freestyle team title despite both countries having 105 points. The former had two gold medal finishes compared to the one of Tunisia.

Amr HUSSEN (EGY) led his country's charge as he defeated three-time Olympian Augusto MIDANA (GBS), 10-0, in the 74kg final. Hussen had a dream run in Hammamet as he began his day with 16-11 exciting win over multiple-time African champion John Emmanuel OGBONNA (NGR) before securing the berth with technical superiority win over Elias Lauofo VAOIFI (ASA).

African and Oceania Olympic Qualifiers 2021

Another gold medal for Egypt was earned by Rio Olympian and African champion at 125kg Diaaeldin Kamal Gouda ABDELMOTTALEB in the Nordic style bracket. Using his experience to a great effect, the Egyptian pinned Thiacka FAYE (SEN), held off Abdelmoneim ADOULI (TUN), 5-4, then scored a over Johannes Jacobus KRIEL (RSA). The South African pulled out due to injury before claiming the gold medal with a 4-0 win over Djahid BERRAHAL (ALG) in the final which was a rematch of the last year's African Championships which was won by the Egyptian wrestler.

At 57kg, 19-year-old Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS) stole the show as he claimed the gold medal in stunning fashion by pinning two-time African champion Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG) in just 57 seconds. On his way to the final, IUNA FAFE handed defeats to African Championships silver medalist Gamal MOHAMED (EGY), three-time Commonwealth Games silver-medalist Ebikewenimo WELSON (NGR) and 2016 Rio Olympian Chakir ANSARI (MAR).

His senior teammate Augusto MIDANA (GBS), however, could not match the gold-medal finish. After securing the Olympic berth, the three-time Olympian surrendered 0-10 in the 74kg final against Amr Reda Ramadan HUSSEN (EGY).

Tunisia also had two finalists but managed to claim only one gold. Rio Olympian Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN) won the 97kg gold after Mohammed FARDJ (ALG) pulled out midway with an injury.

African and Oceania Olympic Qualifiers 2021

Another Tunisian in the final, Haithem DAKHLAOUI (TUN), missed out on the gold medal in a close 1-1 loss to veteran Adama DIATTA (SEN), who is now a three-time Olympian after claiming the lone spot for the country.

But Ekerekeme AGIOMOR (NGR) could not have scripted a better finish for himself. Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) surprised AGIOMOR with a five-point throw after starting with a single attack. Trailing 5-6 in the final 10 seconds of the bout, the Nigerian got an exposure over the Algerian to claim the gold medal at 86kg, thus managing to mount an inspiring comeback.

RESULTS:

Team standings

GOLD: Egypt (105 points)
SILVER Tunisia (105 points)
BRONZE: Algeria (98 points)
4TH: South Africa (62 points)
5thGuinea-Bissau (61 points)

57kg
GOLD: Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS) df Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG), via fall
BRONZE: Kossai AJIMI (TUN) df Junjun ASEBIAS (FSM), 2-0
BRONZE: Chakir ANSARI (MAR) df Gamal Abdelnaser Hanafy MOHAMED (EGY), 16-14

65kg
GOLD: Adama DIATTA (SEN) df Haithem DAKHLAOUI (TUN), 1-1
BRONZE: Reynhardt LOUW (RSA) df Aime Mbolalalaina Joel RAKOTONIAINA (MAD), 11-0
BRONZE: Fathi Tarek Fathi Attia ISMAIL (EGY) df Mostafa REZAEIFAR (AUS), 10-4

74kg:
GOLD: Amr Reda Ramadan HUSSEN (EGY) df Augusto MIDANA (GBS), 10-0
BRONZE: Ayoub BARRAJ (TUN) df Ishak BOUKHORS (ALG), via fall
BRONZE: Ogbonna Emmanuel JOHN (NGR) df Elias Lauofo VAOIFI (ASA), 6-2

86kg:
GOLD: Ekerekeme AGIOMOR (NGR) df Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG), 7-6
BRONZE: Khaled Masoud Ismail ELMOATAMADAWI (EGY) df Bedopassa Buassat DJONDE (GBS), 7-0
BRONZE: Maher GHANMI (TUN) df Jayden Alexander LAWRENCE (AUS), 10-0

97kg:
GOLD: Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN) df Mohammed FARDJ (ALG), via VIN
BRONZE: Martin ERASMUS (RSA) df Soso TAMARAU (NGR), via fall
BRONZE: Hosam Mohamed Mostafa MERGHANY (EGY) df Thomas John Mcglinchey BARNS (AUS), 6-4

125kg
GOLD: Diaaeldin Kamal Gouda ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY)
SILVER: Djahid BERRAHAL (ALG)
BRONZE: Abdelmoneim ADOULI (TUN)
4th: Johannes Jacobus KRIEL (RSA)

#Grappling

Uzbekistan shines at Andijan Open Grappling

By United World Wrestling Press

ANDIJAN, Uzbekistan (June 11) -- The Grappling season is back. Andijan Open was organized in Andijan, Uzbekistan on June 1 and 2 in U17, U20 and Senior age-groups.

Host country Uzbekistan had the most grapplers entered in the competition which also serves as the test event for the World Grappling Championships to be held in Novi Sad, Serbia in October.

Out of the six weight classes competed in senior men's grappling, Uzbekistan won four gold medals. Avzal AKHMETOV (UZB) won the gold medal at 66kg, Janobiddin SATTAROV (UZB) won at 84kg and Azizbek SHARIPOV (UZB) defeated Alisher NEMATJONOV (UZB), 18-0, at 92kg, a weight class in which only two entries were received.

Asrorbek ANVARJONOV (UZB) won the gold medal at 100kg after he was the only grappler entered in the weight class.

At 62kg, Kiryl AHEIKA (UWW) won the gold medal after winning all his round-robin bouts. Zojiakbar KAMOLOV (UZB) was silver medalist while Avrangzebmirzosulton TORAQULOV (UZB) won bronze medal.

Nico PULBERMUELLER (GER) won the gold medal at 71kg after he won three bouts in round-robin. Makhmudjon ODILOV (UZB) won silver while Muhammad MAHSUDXOJAYEV (UZB) was bronze medalist.

In women's competition, only 64kg weight class was competed and Zebiniso OTAQULOVA (UZB) submitted Khilola SOBIROVA (UZB) to win the gold medal.

At the U20 level, Uzbekistan won four of the five gold medals on offer in men's grappling and Heorhi HLAZKO (UWW) won the gold medal at 77kg to break the cycle.

For detailed results of the U17, U20 and Senior Grappling Andijan Open, click here.

RESULTS

Senior Men's Grappling

62kg
GOLD: Kiryl AHEIKA (UWW)
SILVER: Xojiakbar KAMOLOV (UZB)
BRONZE: Avrangzebmirzosulton TORAQULOV (UZB)

66kg
GOLD: Avzal AKHMETOV (UZB)
SILVER: Umidjon ABDURAXIMOV (UZB)
BRONZE: Muhammad MAHSUDXOJAYEV (UZB)

71kg
GOLD: Nico PULVERMUELLER (GER)
SILVER: Makhmudjon ODILOV (UZB)
BRONZE: Khusniddin JURABOEV (UZB)

84kg
GOLD: Janobiddin SATTAROV (UZB)
SIVER: Azizbek MIRZAEV (UZB)
BRONZE: Ahmadullo NUMONOV (UZB)

92kg
GOLD: Azizbek SHARIPOV (UZB) df. Alisher NEMATJONOV (UZB), 18-0

100kg
GOLD: Asrorbek ANVARJONOV (UZB)

Senior Women's Grappling

64kg
GOLD: Zebiniso OTAQULOVA (UZB) df. Khilola SOBIROVA (UZB), via submission (9-0)

Men's U20 Grappling

58kg
GOLD: Farrux ERGASHEV (UZB) df. Abror SAIDGANIYEV (UZB), via submission (6-4)

62kg
GOLD: Egamberdi SOLIYEV (UZB)
SILVER: Temur UMARALIYEV (UZB)
BRONZE: Shuxratbek YUNUSJONOV (UZB)

66kg
GOLD: Abduraxmon XAYITOXUNOV (UZB)
SILVER: Muhammad MAHSUDXOJAYEV (UZB)
BRONZE: PRINCE (IND)

77kg
GOLD: Heorhi HLAZKO (UWW)
SILVER: Dostonjon MAMASHARIPOV (UZB)
BRONZE: Muhakammadali HAMIDJONOV (UZB)

84kg
GOLD: Firdavsbek GOFURJONOV (UZB) df. Ruslan PLOTNIKOV (UZB), 10-1

Men's U17 Grappling

50kg
GOLD: Shoxboz ABDUXARIMOV (UZB)
SILVER: Ibrokhimjon BOTIROV (UZB)
BRONZE: Ozodbek ABDUSAMADOV (UZB)

54kg
GOLD: Gofur ISMOILOV (UZB) df. Raxmatillo RUSTAMJONOV (UZB), via submission (8-3)

58kg
GOLD: Mikita KAPYCHKA (UWW)
SILVER: Holid ARABBOYEV (UZB)
BRONZE: Abdulaziz MAMATIMINOV (UZB)

69kg
GOLD: Elbek ERKINOV (UZB)
SILVER: Dzianis FEDARTSOU (UWW)
BRONZE: Asilbek MAHAMMADAMINOV (UZB)

Women's U17 Grappling

49kg
GOLD: Rayhona ISLOMBOYEVA (UZB)