Oborududu leads Nigeria to six golds at African Championships

Friday, May 19, 2023 - 20:28 By Vinay Siwach

HAMMAMET, Tunisia (May 19) -- For a brief period in the evening session of the African Championships in Hammamet, the local Tunisian fans believed that the nation can win the women's wrestling team title.

Led by Olympic bronze medalist Marwa AMRI (TUN), Tunisia remained at the heels of Nigeria in the race with three gold medals after seven weight classes were finished.

But as the session progressed, Nigeria continued to assert its dominance and defended its team title from last year with 230 points, 51 points more than second-placed Tunisia.

Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) won a record-extending 13th African title at 68kg and helped her team to the top of the podium, even as three-time world medalist Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) skipped the tournament.

Oborududu, who had not wrestled since the World Championships, was in a Nelson bracket. She wrestled four bouts Friday and won all four without giving up a point. She began with a 10-0 thrashing of Samah ABDELLATIF (EGY), followed by a win by the same scoreline against Nassma ESSATOURI (MAR). After pinning Nour JELJELI (TUN) in her third bout, Oborududu received a walkover to claim the gold medal.

Joining her as gold medalists were five other Nigeria wrestlers with Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) at 50kg, Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) at 53kg, Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR) at 55kg, Mercy ADEKUORIYE (NGR) at 57kg, and Ebi BIOGOS (NGR) at 72kg.

Genesis captured her fourth African title and first since 2019 as she had skipped the previous three editions. With only four wrestlers entered at 50kg, Genesis wrestled in three bouts and outscored her opponents 31-0, all three wins being technical superiority.

Wrestling at her first senior championships, Ogunsanya impressed all in Hammamet as she won the gold medal with three dominant victories. She began with an 11-0 win over Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG) in the quarterfinals followed by a 10-2 win over Shaimaa ABDELZAHER (EGY) in the semifinal.

From the other side of the bracket Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV), reached the 53kg final for the second straight year. But she had no answers to Ogunsanya's attack in the final and lost 11-0.

At 55kg, Adekoye defended her gold medal from El Jadida as she navigated through a Nelson bracket. She first wrestled Zineb HASSOUNE (MAR) and won 13-2. Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN) gave her best to deny Adekoye in Round 2 but she fell short and lost 6-3. In the Round 3 bout, Adekoye hammered Achouak TEKOUK (ALG) 11-0 to win the gold medal.

Last year in El Jadida, Adekuoroye won the 53kg gold medal but she jumped two weight classes to 57kg for Hammamet. However, there was no change in the color of the medal as she won the gold in the new weight class as well.

Despite a big change in weight, Adekuoroye looked in no trouble as she dispatched Veronica AYO (UGA) 11-0, Louji YASSIN (EGY) via fall and Rayane HOUFAF (ALG) 10-0 in the morning. In the semifinal, Adekuoroye continued her strong performance and defeated Bachir FALMATA SALI (CMR) via fall.

Faten HAMMAMI (TUN), who won three of her four bouts via fall, was expected to give a fight in the final but Adekuoroye was in a league of her own and won the gold medal with an 11-0 thrashing.

At 72kg, Biogos pulled off two incredible wins to capture the gold. She upset home favorite Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) 4-1 in Round 1 and Menatalla BADRAN (EGY) 5-0 in the decisive Round 5 battle.

3 golds for Tunisia

Amri defended her 62kg title for Tunisia, beating Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), 7-1, in the gold medal bout, a stunning reversal from the morning Round 1 bout in which Kolawole defeated Amri 4-3. Perhaps taking lessons from that loss, Amri changed her strategy in the final and controlled it for six minutes to win 7-1.

At 59kg, Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) held off Patience OPUENE (NGR) 8-3 in the final to win her first African title. She had reached the final of the 59kg weight class last year as well but lost to Odunayo to finish second.

But there was no stopping Bouseta this year as she won four of her bouts via fall and then remained calm against Opuene who did threaten to deny Bouseta of the gold. However, Bouseta managed to win in front of her home crowd.

Only three wrestlers were entered at 65kg and Khadija JLASSI (TUN) made sure she emerges as the best among them.

The 21-year-old began her day with a 10-0 win over Eunice MBURU (KEN) in Round 1 and looked in trouble against Ebipatei MUGHENBOFA (NGR) who led 5-0 in the Round 2 bout.

But Mughenbofa was not aware of Jlassi's ability to pull off big throws. Jlassi, like many times in her career, unleashed a big throw and put Mughenbofa to her back to secure the fall and capture the gold medal.

Jlassi had missed out on the gold medal last year, winning silver at 65kg. But she has begun this year on a good note, winning the bronze medals at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series and Dan Kolov international tournament.

Hamza defends

World silver medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) managed to defend her 76kg gold medal in Hammamet after a close 4-2 win over Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) in the final.

This was Hamza's sixth African title as she continues to chase Doaa MAHER (EGY) who won a record seven gold medals for Egypt at the event.

In the first bout of the day, Hamza humbled Amy YOUIN (CIV) 11-0 but faced a stern test against Anta SAMBOU (SEN) in Round 2. She survived, barely, to win 3-2.

Hamza pinned Ranim SAIDI (TUN) in the semifinal before winning the gold medal over Rueben.

RESULTS

Women's wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR)
SILVER: Cheima CHEBILA (ALG)
BRONZE: Emma WANGILA (KEN)

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

BRONZE: Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG) df. Shaimaa ABDELZAHER (EGY), via fall
BRONZE: Abir ZARROUKI (TUN) df. Elisa NOMENJANAHARY (MAD), via inj. def.

55kg
GOLD: Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR)
SILVER: Achouak TEKOUK (ALG)
BRONZE: Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN)

57kg
GOLD: Mercy ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Faten HAMMAMI (TUN), 11-0

BRONZE: Rayane HOUFAF (ALG) df. Bachir FALMATA SALI (CMR), via fall (6-8)

59kg
GOLD: Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) df. Patience OPUENE (NGR), 8-3

BRONZE: Farah HUSSEIN (EGY) df. Chaimaa AOUISSI (ALG), 5-0

62kg
GOLD: Marwa AMRI (TUN) vs. Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), 7-1

BRONZE: Fatoumata CAMARA (GUI) df. Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG), via inj.

65kg
GOLD: Khadija JLASSI (TUN)
SILVER: Ebipatei MUGHENBOFA (NGR)
BRONZE: Eunice MBURU (KEN)

68kg
GOLD: Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
SILVER: Samah ABDELLATIF (EGY)
BRONZE: Nour JELJELI (TUN)

72kg
GOLD: Ebi BIOGOS (NGR)
SILVER: Menatalla BADRAN (EGY)
BRONZE: Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN)

76kg
GOLD: Samar HAMZA (EGY) df. Hannah RUEBEN (NGR), 4-2

BRONZE: Anta SAMBOU (SEN) df. Ranim SAIDI (TUN), via fall

#WrestleBelgrade

Throwback to 2019 World Championships: Game before the Games

Wednesday, August 16, 2023 - 07:53 By Gaurav Bhatt

BELGRADE, Serbia (August 16) -- As the clock ticks down and the global wrestling community holds its breath, we stand just a month from the 2023 Wrestling World Championships in Belgrade. This year is particularly poignant for the honors at stake and the Olympic dreams intertwined with every bout.

Before we dive into the intense competition that awaits, it's essential to cast a glance back to draw parallels, lessons, and inspiration. The 2019 Wrestling World Championships in Astana set the stage for Tokyo 2020, offering a blend of strategy, skill, and heart-stopping moments. As we gear up for another thrilling chapter, let’s revisit the 2019 drama to appreciate better the spectacle that 2023 promises to be.

The Tokyo Implication: Game Before The Game

In the shadow of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, every move on the mats of Astana was calculated, every win cherished, and every loss a setback. With only the top-6 finishers in each Olympic weight category ensuring a berth for their nation, the pressure was tangible. Wrestling powerhouses with decades' of traditions faced a unique challenge: Whom to field in these all-important qualifiers? This brought in an element of strategy and playbooks.

Kyle DAKE (USA) won the world title at 79kg in Astana. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

The American Approach

With its depth of talent in wrestling, the United States faced an intriguing challenge. They had to make crucial decisions with categories like 79kg and 92kg not featuring in the Olympics. Would Kyle DAKE (USA) and J'den COX (USA) — world champions at Budapest 2018 — adjust weights to target Olympic glory?

The U.S. trusted their seasoned champions, betting on their adaptability. Both Dake and Cox defended their titles in Astana. Dake went on to earn bronze in Tokyo, while Cox was out of the USA Wrestling Trials before they even began after choosing to bulk up and failing to make weight for the 97kg bracket.

Deepak PUNIA (IND) won a silver medal at 86kg in Astana. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

India’s Bet

Contrastingly, India decided to invest in its future. Deepak PUNIA (IND) was their trump card, a young prodigy in the 86kg freestyle category. At 20 years, Punia showcased maturity beyond his years in Astana, clinching a silver medal and securing an Olympic spot. India's gamble was clear: trust the young, hungry talent to rise to the occasion.

In Tokyo, Punia let his lead slip in the final seconds to lose the bronze-medal match.

Risako KAWAI (JPN) was unstoppable as she won the gold in Astana. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan's Phenoms

Japan was under immense scrutiny and pressure as the host nation for the upcoming Olympics. And they leaned on established, yet young, phenoms like Risako KAWAI (JPN) and Takuto OTOGURO (JPN).

Otoguro, the youngest Japanese male to win a world title in 2018, had a rough go in the 65kg category in Astana. The category featured a murderers' row of wrestlers such as (eventual champion) Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV, three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE), Olympic gold medalist Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO), two-time world bronze medalist Alejandro TOBIER (CUB), returning silver medalist Bajrang PUNIA (IND) and three-time NCAA champion Zain RETHERFORD (USA) to name a few.

Otoguro missed out on bronze in 2019. However, he later clinched a berth to Tokyo and overcame his nemeses to clinch gold in front of his home crowd.

The Outcome

Astana's mats witnessed a unique blend of experience and exuberance. While some nations leaned heavily on their seasoned warriors, hoping their experience would shine in pressure situations, others bet on their youth's unyielding spirit and vigor. This strategic chess game yielded mixed results, with some bets paying off handsomely and others serving as learning experiences.

Ultimately, the road to Tokyo 2020 was as much about mental fortitude and strategic planning as it was about skill, strength, and technique.

In Greco-Roman, Kenchiro FUMITA (JPN) ended his compatriot Shinobu OTA (JPN) hopes of winning a medal in Tokyo as Fumita won gold at 60kg while Ota won at 63kg, a non-Olympic weight class.

Cuba's show

Rio Olympic champion Ismail BURRERO (CUB) won the gold in Astana at 67kg, two weight classes up. Oscar PINO (CUB), the constant substitute for Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) at 130kg, went on to make it to the final before winning a silver medal.

Running Roughshod, From Astana to Tokyo

Numerous wrestlers who qualified for Tokyo at the 2019 World Championships went on to reaffirm their dominance on the Olympic stage.

Zaur UGUEV (57kg Freestyle)
After successfully defending his title in Astana, Uguev continued his impressive form in Tokyo, winning gold and proving himself to be the undisputed best.

Risako KAWAI (JPN) (57kg Women's Wrestling)
Kawai’s triumph in Nur-Sultan was her third world title in as many divisions (60kg, 59kg, and 57kg). It was also a precursor to her Olympic success. In Tokyo, she clinched the gold medal, defending her Olympic title from Rio and cementing her legacy as one of the premier female wrestlers of her time.

Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (68kg Women's Wrestling)
After her dominant gold in the 2019 World Championships, Mensah captured gold in Tokyo, showcasing her consistent prowess on the international stage. The American also won the world title in Belgrade last year.

Abdulrashid SADULAEV (97kg Freestyle)
The Tank, after defeating Kyle Snyder in what many termed the "Match of the Century" in Astana, continued his dominance by securing the gold medal in Tokyo. He already had an Olympic gold and three world titles before stepping onto the mat in Kazakhstan. Sadulaev's rivalry with Snyder and consistent performance against other competitors solidified his status as one of the best in his category.

Hungary brothers

Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) and Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) ended up winning the gold and silver at 77kg and 87kg respectively. In Tokyo, the brothers would repeat the performance with Tamas becoming an Olympic champion and Viktor ending up with a silver medal to Zhan BELENUIK (UKR). Both brothers retired after the Olympics.

Stacking Up For Paris

As we stand on the cusp of the 2023 World Championships, the memory of Astana serves as both an inspiration and a cautionary tale. The road to Paris will be paved in Astana's legacy.

Wrestlers will be eyeing the world title and the golden ticket to Paris. The Olympic weight classes are set, and while many from 2019 will return, new faces are bound to emerge.

The wrestling community can expect the usual suspects -- U.S., Japan, and Iran -- to be strong contenders across categories. However, nations like India, Georgia, and Turkey, among others, have shown that they can disrupt the status quo.

Japan and the U.S. will likely remain dominant in women's wrestling. But with nations investing more in women's sports, expect more countries to challenge the old guard.

The 2019 World Championships were a masterclass in wrestling, passion, strategy, and heartbreak. They served as a reminder of the beauty of the sport and its ability to surprise and enthrall. As the world of wrestling looks ahead to the 2023 Championships and beyond to Paris, the echoes of Astana will undoubtedly be ringing in their ears.

Every takedown, every pin, and every bout will have the weight of Olympic dreams behind it. Here's to hoping for a championship that matches or even surpasses the spectacle of 2019. Paris awaits!

Oborududu leads Nigeria to six golds at African Championships

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Throwback to 2019 World Championships: Game before the Games