Egypt dominates GR, Nigeria shines in WW at African Championships

Monday, March 18, 2024 - 20:10 By Vinay Siwach

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (March 18) -- Led by world bronze medalist Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) and U20 world champion Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY), Egypt produced a stunning performance at the African Championships, winning nine Greco-Roman gold medals in Alexandria.

In Women's Wrestling, Nigeria won four gold medals out of the five weight classes contested on Monday in Alexandria.

The nine golds helped Egypt win the Greco-Roman team title in front of the home crowd with 240 points. Algeria was second with 184 points and Tunisia finished third with 95 points.

Mohamed wrestled three matches in a Nelson bracket and won all three without surrendering a point. He defeated Hichem KOUCHIT (ALG), who later finished with a silver, 8-0 and Ahmed SEREHALI (MAR) 8-0. His final was against Brahim MALKI (TUN) who forfeited.

Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) won the gold medal 67kg in Greco-Roman. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Alameldin was even better as he won three of the four bouts via technical superiority while one was a walkover for the U20 world champion. In his first bout, he Souhaib KHDAR (MAR) 8-0 followed by a 9-0 win over Fayssal BENFREDJ (ALG) and 10-0 blanking of Sahid KARGBO (SLE).

Top seed Alameldin finished all his bouts well before regulation time. His first win, over Khdar, came in just 24 seconds.

At 60kg, Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY) defeated youngster Mohamed DRIDI (ALG), 8-1, in the final. He scored a stepout and later got a throw from par terre to get four points and led 6-0 at the break.

Dridi failed to score any points from par terre in the second period. Mahmoud got a front headlock and threw Dridi which was scored four points. Algeria challenged the call and it was scored only two points. However, Mahmoud still had enough to win the gold medal 8-1. In their Round 3 match, Mahmoud had blanked Dridi 8-0.

Mohamed KHALIL (EGY) launches Shafaihuuna Benhard (NAM) for a big throw. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Mohamed KHALIL (EGY) won the gold medal at 77kg but did not have a smooth sailing. In his four bouts, Khalil dominated three while the one against Chawki DOULACHE (ALG) was a close contest.

The two met in Round 2 and the winner was most likely to win the gold medal. Khalil was called passive in the first period giving Doulache a 1-0 lead. But Khalil got the 1-1 criteria lead in the second period after Doulache was called passive. Both of them failed to score any action points but Khalil was the important win over Doulache to win the gold medal.

While Noureldin HASSAN (EGY) did not keep a clean sheet, he won the 87kg gold medal with four technical superiority wins in four bouts. Hassan did not face any real challenge from his opponents and only Haithem ISSAD (ALG) scored any points on Hassan.

In the Round 5 bout, Issad hit an arm throw and scored two points over Hassan. But that was all from Issad as Hassan dominated the bout from there and won 10-2.

The silver medal went to Roberto NSANGUA (ANG) who became the first wrestler from Angola to win silver at the African Championships. His only loss at the tournament was against Hassan.

At 97kg, Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY) won the gold medal after four wins. He was barely tested in his bouts apart from one against Wissam KOUAINSO (MAR) who had built a 3-0 lead at the break. He even defended well from par terre and did not give any points.

Abouelatta remained relentless in his attacks and after a failed front headlock attempt, he quickly moved behind Kouainso and hit a big throw for four points that gave him the 5-3 win.

Shaaban ABDELLATIF (EGY) won the gold medal at 55kg while Adham ELSAYED (EGY) won the gold medal at 63kg after Abdennour LAOUNI (ALG) pulled out of the final due to injury. The 82kg gold medal was captured by Mahmoud IBRAHIM (EGY).

72kg was the only weight in which Egypt did not win a gold medal as Emad GHALY (EGY) fell to Abdelmalek MERABET (ALG), 9-0, in the semifinals. Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN) then defeated Merabet in the final 5-1 to win the gold while Ghaly captured the bronze medal.

Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) won the 57kg gold without giving up a single point. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Nigeria shines

World bronze medalist Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) began the season with gold medals at the African Championships as Nigeria dominated Women's Wrestling.

Five weight classes were on the mat on Monday and Nigeria won four gold medals. Apart from Adekuoroye and Oborududu, Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) won at 53kg and Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) won at 62kg.

Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) denied Nigeria a clean sweep as she defeated Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) 12-2 in the 76kg gold medal bout.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Shaaban ABDELLATIF (EGY)
SILVER: Sefiane GUEZZANIA (ALG)
BRONZE: Bofenda KALUWEKO (ANG)

60kg
GOLD: Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY) df. Mohamed DRIDI (ALG), 8-1

BRONZE: Latuf MADI (COM) df. Given SIKHOSANA (RSA), via inj. def.

63kg
GOLD: Adham ELSAYED (EGY) df. Abdennour LAOUNI (ALG), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Romio GOLIATH (NAM) df. Mouad JAHID (MAR), 16-11

67kg
GOLD: Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY)
SILVER: Fayssal BENFREDJ (ALG)
BRONZE: Sahid KARGBO (SLE)

72kg
GOLD: Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN) df. Abdelmalek MERABET (ALG), 5-1

BRONZE: Emad GHALY (EGY) df. Anthony WESLEY (CPV), via fall (17-8)

77kg
GOLD: Mohamed KHALIL (EGY)
SILVER: Chawki DOULACHE (ALG)
BRONZE: Francisco KADIMA (ANG)

82kg
GOLD: Mahmoud IBRAHIM (EGY)
SILVER: Amar MOUMENE (ALG)
BRONZE: Belhasan AZAOUZI (TUN)

87kg
GOLD: Noureldin HASSAN (EGY)
SILVER: Roberto NSANGUA (ANG)
BRONZE: Hakim TRABELSI (TUN)

97kg
GOLD: Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY)
SILVER: Mohamed MISSAOUI (TUN)
BRONZE: Wissam KOUAINSO (MAR)

130kg
GOLD: Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY)
SILVER: Hichem KOUCHIT (ALG)
BRONZE: Ahmed SEREHALI (MAR)

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) df. Chahrazed AYACHI (TUN), 10-0

BRONZE: Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV) df. Miriam NGOE WASE (CMR), 10-0
BRONZE: Hadir AHMED (EGY) df. Elisa RASOANANTENAINA (MAD), 4-0

57kg
GOLD: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Chaimaa AOUISSI (ALG), via fall

BRONZE: Shaimaa ABDELZAHER (EGY) df. Natacha NABAINA (CMR), 10-0
BRONZE: Faten HAMMAMI (TUN) df. Zineb HASSOUNE (MAR), via fall

62kg
GOLD: Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) df. Farah HUSSEIN (EGY), 11-0

BRONZE: Minette KRUGER (RSA) df. Eunice MBURU (KEN), 2-0
BRONZE: Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG) df. Fatoumata CAMARA (GUI), via fall (8-6)

68kg
GOLD: Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) df. Menatalla BADRAN (EGY), 13-2

BRONZE: Nour JELJELI (TUN) df. Blandine NGIRI (CMR), 8-2

76kg
GOLD: Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) df. Hannah RUEBEN (NGR), 12-2

BRONZE: Amy YOUIN (CIV) df. Pelagie WILITA (CMR), 6-4

#WrestleMonterrey

Pan-American Championships 2025 Preview

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - 08:11 By Vinay Siwach

MONTERREY, Mexico (May 6) -- The Pan-American Championships 2025 in Monterrey can be a different story from the past as the United States is sending a much depleted squad for the tournament.

Will other countries rise up this year? The Pan-American Championships will be live on UWW+ on uww.org and the UWW+ [FloWrestling for the U.S. and Canada] from May 8 to 11. Follow United World Wrestling on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and TikTok.

DOWNLOAD/READ THE FULL PREVIEW HERE

Text version

Greco-Roman

The biggest stars in Greco-Roman will be the three entries of Cuba. The nation has both of its Paris Olympic bronze medalists making a return to competition. World champions Luis ORTA (CUB) and Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) will be in action at 67kg and 97kg respectively and will be the favorite to win the gold medal. It also has Oscar PINO (CUB) at 130kg, who won the Pan-Am gold a couple of years ago.

The U.S. is banking on a mix of youth and experience. Young star Jayden RANEY (USA), who won U17 world title in 2024, is at 55kg, Maxwell BLACK (USA) is making his Pan-Ams debut at 60kg while veteran Ellis COLEMAN (USA) is returning to this tournament after six years.

Former champion Alejandro SANCHO (USA) has moved up a weight class to 72kg, big-throwing Kamal BEY (USA) is at 77kg and history-maker at the U23 World Championships with a silver medal Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) will be the favorite at 82kg. Paris Olympian Payton JACOBSON (USA) will be at 87kg and former U17 world champion Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) is at 130kg.

For Orta, the path to gold appears simple but he has returning silver medalist Andres MONTANO (ECU) and bronze medalist Nestor ALMANZA TRUYOL (CHI). However, it is unlikely that Orta will be challenged in the bracket. Rosillo will be the favorite at 97kg despite the presence of Paris Olympian and defending champion Kevin MEJIA (HON).

Pino, who won the gold at 130kg in 2023, has Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA) and Schultz in the bracket but has experience and quality on his side.

He has been Cuba’s mainstay at 130kg for long but never competed at the Olympics due to the presence of Mijain LOPEZ (CUB). With Lopez retired after winning a record fifth Olympic gold in Paris, the doors to compete at Olympic have opened up for Pino.

The other weight classes will be evenly contested with the absence of Cuba. At 87kg, Sosruko KODZOKOV (BRA) will look to win his second Pan-Am title as he won the 82kg gold medal last year. He has Paris Olympian Payton JACOBSON (USA) and returning silver medalist Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) as the other big names in the bracket.

The U.S. will bank on Melelashvili to win the 82kg as he has only two other competitors in the weight class. Melelashvili became the first-ever U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler to win a silver medal at the U23 World Championships last year. Former silver medalist David CHOC HUOC (GUA) and returning bronze medalist Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX) are entered at 82kg.

At 77kg, former Pan-Am champion Bey will be looking for his second title. Former world champion and veteran Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG), wrestling perhaps for the last time, will be his biggest challenger. The two were involved in a thrilling contest in the 2024 Pan-Am Olympic Qualifier last year but Bey hit a clutch throw to beat Julfalakyan 4-2.

Sancho, who won the gold medal at 67kg last year, is at 72kg and will be the best bet to win the gold medal. Former bronze medalist Cristian MEJIA TEPEN (GUA and recently crowned 2025 U23 Pan-Am champion Jorge GOMEZ GARCIA (MEX) will be his biggest tests.

Another one of Mexico's 2025 U23 Pan-Am champion Diego TERRIQUEZ IBARRA (MEX) will be hoping to win the gold at 60kg. But Patrick RODRIGUEZ QUINTO (ECU), who lost to Ibarra in the final last month will look to avenge that loss and upgrade to gold. Yonaiker MARTINEZ CRAVO (VEN), who has multiple age-group Pan-Am medals, will look to make a mark at the senior level.

Angel SEGURA TELLEZ (MEX) won the gold medal at U23 Pan-Ams at 63kg but the senior competition can prove tougher. He has Coleman, a 2012 Olympian for the U.S. and who recently won a bronze medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series.

Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU), a silver medalist from 2023, will look to win his first-ever gold medal.

At 55kg, Raney has just Isaac MARIN MATA (MEX) as the only other competitor entered while Colombia's absence from the tournament has offered a chance to a few others to be on the podium in Monterrey.

Women's Wrestling

Three silver and one bronze medalist from the 2024 Paris Olympics are entered in the field for Women's Wrestling. Kennedy BLADES (USA), Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) and Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB) won silver medals in Paris while Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) won bronze.

But the big question will be if the U.S. can dominate Women's Wrestling like it has in recent years.

Undoubtedly, the 76kg weight will be the toughest in Monterrey. Defending champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) has a big task ahead of her with Olympic bronze medalist Marin and world bronze medalist Kylie WELKER (USA) entered in the competition.

Reasco defeated Adeline GRAY (USA), 10-0, last year on her way to the gold. But Marin enjoys a better head-to-head record against Reasco which can put the latter under pressure.

Welker won the gold medal at the World U23 Championships last year and followed it up with a bronze medal at 72kg at the senior level but Pan-Ams will be a huge test for her at a heavier weight category. Reasco had defeated Welker 9-7 at Pan-Am Games in 2023.

Blades, who won silver in Paris at 76kg, continues her new season at 68kg. She will be making her Pam-Am debut and will be the favorite to win the gold medal at 68kg.

At 65kg, world bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA) will be the favorite to win the gold medal. Former silver medalist Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) is also entered.

Former world U20 and U23 silver medalist and returning bronze medalist Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) will hope to improve on her past result at 50kg. For that, she will have to go through Olympic silver medalist Guzman, defending champion Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU), Kamila BARBOSA (BRA) and Madison PARKS (CAN) among others.

53kg has defending champion Yepez who will be the favorite as she returns to competition for the first time since winning the silver medal in Paris. World U20 silver medalist Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN) and former Pan-Am U20 silver medalist Jaslynn GALLEGOS (USA) are among the challengers.

Canada will be hoping for at least two gold medals, and the Godinez sisters will be the biggest reason. Karla GODINEZ (CAN) at 55kg and Ana at 62kg seem to have a relatively easy path to gold and will be favored to add to their past Pan-Am titles.

Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN), another former Pan-Am champion, can add to the count for Canada.

At 57kg, veteran Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) will look to win a gold medal but she will have to see off Mia FRIESEN (CAN) and Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) among other wrestlers.

Freestyle

The United States won all 10 gold medals last year. Will that be the case this time around? Possible.

The country is counting on a young line-up led by Zahid VALENCIA (USA) to retain their supremacy in the continental championships.

Valencia, who recently defeated Kyle DAKE (USA), will be at 86kg and the favorite to repeat. Veteran Ethan RAMOS (PUR), returning medalist Jorge LLANO (ARG and Steven RODRIGUEZ (VEN) are also there but Valencia clearly has an edge over the field.

At 125kg, former world U23 champion Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) will challenge the field. Hendrickson recently made global headlines after beating Gable STEVESON (USA) to win the NCAA title. Hendrickson will look to complete a U.S. hat-trick of gold at this weight class.

Other U.S. young stars include Jaxen FORREST (USA) at 61kg, Ladarian LOCKETT (USA) at 74kg, Trent HIDLAY (USA) at 92kg, and Justin RADEMACHER (USA) at 97kg. Joseph MCKENNA (USA) is one of the relatively experienced wrestlers at 65kg.

Forrest, who is known for his attacking style, will have his task cut out in his first-ever senior tournament. The 2022 world U17 silver medalist can face tough competition from Joseph SILVA (PUR), a three-time consecutive silver medalist at 61kg, losing all finals to American wrestlers.

Lockett won the world U17 gold in 2023 but ended up with a silver medal at the world U20 in 2024. He will be making his senior-level debut at the Pan-Am Championships. It will be a surprise if he misses out on the gold medal in Monterrey despite his young age.

The 92kg weight class has five wrestlers entered and Hidlay will have to beat everyone to win the gold medal. Given his experience, Hidlay shouldn't have a problem navigating the field which has Andrew JOHNSON (CAN), Miguel LAVIELLE RAMIREZ (MEX), Eduardo VEGA GARCIA (PAN), and Edwin MORALES (PUR).

Paris Olympian Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) has emerged as the favorite to win the gold medal at 57kg. Bronze medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series event, Bravo Young had an exceptional performance at the 2024 Pan-Am Olympic Qualifying tournament in which he defeated Zane RICHARDS (USA). He will hold the key to denying the U.S. a clean sweep as he has Liam CORNIN (USA) in his weight class.

Eduardo PALAS SEQUEIROS (PER) will be returning to wrestling at 13 years. He last wrestled at the Pan-Am U20 Championships in 2012 in Greco-Roman.

Mexico's other Paris Olympian in Freestyle -- Austin GOMEZ (MEX) -- is at 70kg and has a good chance to win the gold medal as well over the U.S.

Argentina can finally end its drought of a gold medal at the Pan-Am Championships if Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) can bring out a performance like last year in which he finished with a silver medal.

This year, he will be among the favorites, along with Peiman BIABANI (CAN) who continues to try and make a mark since switching from Iran to Canada. McKenna is another wrestler who can stop Destribats.

The 97kg weight class can also throw a different winner as returning silver Arturo SILOT (CUB) hopes to upgrade his medal. Former silver medalist Nishan RANDHAWA (CAN) will be among the favorites for gold as well.

The U.S. has Rademacher, a bronze medalist at the 2024 World U20 Championships. He can surely surprise all to win the gold medal and continue the U.S. dominance at this weight class, all thanks to Kyle SNYDER (USA).

Returning bronze medalist Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN) and multiple-time medalist Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) are also entered at the weight.

At 79kg, Evan WICK (USA) will have his task cut out in the round-robin bracket as his weight class has only five wrestlers. Apart from Wick, Jasmit PHULKA (CAN), Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX), Jose AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER) and Shane JONES (PUR) are registered.

Egypt dominates GR, Nigeria shines in WW at African Championships

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Pan-American Championships 2025 Preview