#WrestleBudapest

#WrestleBudapest: Ukraine wins two golds on emotional day

Friday, April 1, 2022 - 20:41 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (April 1) -- Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) was one of the 22-member Ukrainian team that gathered in Lviv, Ukraine on March 10.

After a traumatizing three-day journey by road, she reached Lviv and along with the team, stayed in the city for four days before leaving for Budapest, Hungary for a training camp. But as they left their homes and families behind, no one was able to concentrate on training at the camp in Budapest before the European Championships.

No one knew if they would ever return to their home, and like Akobiia, other wrestlers also spent some emotional days training in Budapest.

Those memories came bursting out of them as Akobiia claimed the first gold of the tournament for Ukraine and the chants of 'Ukarina, Ukarina' filled the Bok Sports Hall.

“I still can’t believe I’ve won the gold medal of the senior European championship," Akobiia said. "I’ve come through a tough way and a lot of people have helped me. But now, all of Ukraine has helped me. I am really happy."

Akobiia stunned Tokyo bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) in the 57kg final to claim the first gold of the tournament for her country. She was trailing 2-2 when Akobiia tripped Nikolova for four points with 39 seconds remaining. She won the final, 6-2.

Nikolova had been on an incredible run of seven wins via pin and it looked that Akobiia would be her latest victim but the Ukrainian managed to overpower Nikolova at the right time.

This was Akobiia's first-ever gold medal at the senior championships and it could not have been more special, as she dedicated the medal to Ukraine.

"I want to dedicate my gold to my parents and to my motherland Ukraine. These are the closest things to me," she said.

The fact that the team did not have a place to train until being allowed to train in Budapest made the 22-year-old's feat even more incredible. 

“It was really difficult to prepare mentally," she said. "Sometimes I would give up, but then I believed in myself again. My friends didn’t let me lose heart. I believed till the end that I could make it happen.

"Nobody even planned to go to the European Championships, we just wanted to save our lives. My family is still there and we worry a lot for them. But I am here and I am happy that I have proved that I am the strongest in this weight class."

Tetiana RIZHKOTetiana RIZHKO (UKR) pinned Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The second gold medal for the team went to Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) who pinned Tokyo Olympian Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) inside two minutes to win her maiden senior European gold. That medal from Rizhko sent another wave of emotional reactions not only in the Ukraine team but also in the stadium.

"It took me four days to reach Lviv, then we stayed there for three days because we couldn’t leave, then we came here to Hungary, we spent two weeks in a training camp," Rizhko said. "The wrestling association helped us a lot, the national team coaches who organized this trip. We have two gold."

Talking about her final, the Ukrainian said that she did not expect her to pin Manolova.

"I didn’t expect I would pin her so fast because the final was tough as there is high competition in my weight class," she said. "I am full of emotions. I am so glad we have such coaches and girls who came here with us."

Accompanying the team is the 2014 World Champions Yulia TAKCH (UKR), Tokyo medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), Tetyana KIT (UKR) and Oksana LIVACH (UKR) among others.

Since the team is a mix of young wrestlers as well, the senior wrestlers had to care for the younger ones.

"I had to distract the younger girls so they don't think about what is going on," Livach said. "We had to go through a lot and stay in shelters for two weeks. It was very emotional for everyone in the training."

But they did forget the difficult times, though momentarily, as the team ceremony happened.

"When the flag of Ukraine was going up, all I could think was about what the girls have done to reach here," Takch said. "The second place is still the first for us."

Emma MALMGRENJunior world champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE) won the 53kg gold in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In other finals, junior world champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE) defeated three-time Olympian Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), 3-2, to win the gold medal at 53kg. 

The 20-year-old Malmgren trailed Prevolarki 2-2 at the break but she got a point for inactivity from Prevolaraki to lead 3-2 in the second period.

She defended that lead till the end to win Sweden's first gold at the senior European Championships after four years.

"It feels unreal for me to stand here," she said. "This has been a dream for me and I have worked so hard to stand here. So it feels good to walk home with the gold medal."

Malmgren had Yuliya RATKEVICH (AZE), who wrestled the Greek wrestler at the London Olympics, in her corner, and before the final, the two had a chat about how to tackle the veteran.

"We had a good plan before the match I just kept to it," she said. "She [Ratkevich] did tell me a lot of things about her and I am glad that they are here with me. Sofia [MATTSSON] on the phone. It came out very good."

Malmgren had a great tournament as she won her first bout 12-2 and the semifinal via fall. After a disappointing tournament in Istanbul where she was pinned, it came around well.

"I am satisfied with my wrestling over the two days," she said. "I was very disappointed after Istanbul and a little concerned. Now I am feeling very happy with the result. We have new coaches in Sweden and I will start working with them and continue going with them to camps around the world."

Taybe YUSEINTaybe YUSEIN (BUL) won her first gold at European Championships since 2019. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 62kg, Tokyo bronze medalist Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) managed to claim the gold with a comfortable 7-0 victory over Luisa NIEMESCH (GER). She kept the pressure on her German opponent and never looked in trouble.

"I was without the gold for two years at the European Championships," Yusein said. "It was good for me to come back and win the gold. My plan was to take advantage of my opponent's mistakes. It was a great bout."

Anna SCHELLAnna SCHELL (GER) gave Germany its first gold since 2007. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Anna SCHELL (GER) gave Germany its lone gold of the tournament as she pinned Buse TOSUN (TUR) at 72kg. The win was her second straight win over the Turkey wrestler and she will now be UWW's number one ranked wrestler at 72kg.

"It's the second final because in Istanbul I met her in the semifinal. Today was the second bout against her and it's great to win," Schell said.

Not only did she end Germany's 15-year wait for a women's wrestling gold at European Championships, but Schell also reached a personal landmark. The gold in Budapest was the first ever in her international career.

"It's amazing as I don't have a gold medal in international competition," Schell said.

Turkey won its maiden women's wrestling team title with 140 points while Ukraine finished second with 135 points. Bulgaria was third in the race.

photo

WW Results

53kg
GOLD: Emma MALMGREN (SWE) df Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), 3-2

BRONZE: Iulia LEORDA (MDA) df Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), 3-2
BRONZE: Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) df Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR), 14-4 

57kg
GOLD: Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) df Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL), 6-2

BRONZE: Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) df Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), 7-2
BRONZE: Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) df Anhelina LYSAK (POL), 4-2

62kg
GOLD: Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) df Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), 7-0

BRONZE: Natalia KUBATY (POL) df Yagmur CAKMAK (TUR), 10-0
BRONZE: Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) df Anna FABIAN (SRB), via inj. def.

65kg
GOLD: Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) df Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), via fall
BRONZE: Kriszta INCZE (ROU) df Sofiya GEORGIEVA (BUL), 4-3

Final standings
GOLD: Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)
SILVER: Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
BRONZE: Kriszta INCZE (ROU)

72kg
GOLD: Anna SCHELL (GER) df Buse TOSUN (TUR), via fall

BRONZE: Kendra DACHER (FRA) df Eleni PJOLLAJ (ITA), via fall
BRONZE: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) df Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), 3-3

GR Semifinal Results

55kg
GOLD: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)

SF 1: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM), 7-3
SF 2: Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df Artiom DELEANU (MDA), 9-0

63kg
GOLD: Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) vs Leri ABULADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) df Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM), 3-1
SF 2: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df Etienne KINSINGER (GER), 6-2

77kg
GOLD: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) vs Yunus BASAR (TUR)

SF 1: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df Per OLOFSSON (SWE), 9-0
SF 2: Yunus BASAR (TUR) df Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL), 5-3

87kg
GOLD: Nicu OJOG (ROU) vs Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN)

SF 1: Nicu OJOG (ROU) df Islam ABBASOV (AZE), via fall
SF 2: Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) df Mirco MINGUZZI (ITA), 10-0

130kg
GOLD: Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA) vs Riza KAYAALP (TUR)

SF 1: Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA) df Franz RICHTER (GER), via fall
SF 2: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 1-1

Obituary

Japanese legend and Olympic champ Obara passes away aged 44

Saturday, July 19, 2025 - 11:00 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO (July 19) — Legendary Japanese wrestler Hitomi OBARA, the 2012 London Olympic gold medalist at women's 48kg and an eight-time world champion, passed away on Friday, the Japanese media reported on Saturday. She was 44.

The Japan Self-Defense Force Physical Training School, where Obara was a women's coach, said it was withholding the cause of death "out of consideration for the privacy and emotions of the bereaved family," according to The Yomiuri Shimbun.

Obara, the mother of two elementary school-aged children, was a director in the Japan Wrestling Federation, and had just been appointed in June as a coach of the women's national team for the run-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics along with fellow former Olympic champion Kaori ICHO.

Obara, who won six of her world titles at 51kg under her maiden name of SAKAMOTO, became a model case for the ups and downs of high-level sports and the ability to overcome grave disappointment. Her victory at the London Olympics, at age 31, came after being denied spots on Japan's team at both of the two previous Olympics by fellow legend Saori YOSHIDA.

Born in 1981 in the wrestling hotbed of Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan, Obara went on to attend Chukyo University (now Shigakkan), which she helped turn into a national powerhouse along with Yoshida and fellow Hachinohe native Icho.

"It's hard, it's hard, I can't keep from crying," former Shigakkan and national team coach Kazuhito SAKAE was quoted as telling the Japanese media. "She was a wrestling prodigy. At the least, she was a hard worker with a strong sense of responsibility. She was wrestling's heaven-sent child. I still can't believe it." 

Obara won back-to-back world 51kg titles in 1999 and 2000. A serious knee injury would keep her from returning to the world championships until 2005, from which she won four in a row.

In between, she attempted to make the Japanese's squad to the 2004 Athens Olympics, but that dream ended with a loss by fall to Yoshida in the 55kg final at the All-Japan Championships in December 2002. She would only compete once in 2003 before returning in earnest in 2004 and beginning her streak of world titles the following year.

But more disappointment came her way in the qualifying process for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Again it was Yoshida who squashed her dreams, beating her 2-0 (2-0, 4-0) in the 2006 All-Japan final. After the match, Obara sat for hours sobbing in a corner of the warm-up room, a towel draped over her head.

Obara managed to rebound from the defeat to win a playoff for the 51kg spot at the 2007 World Championships, where she won gold No. 5. After adding No. 6 a year later with a run to the gold that included a victory over future Olympic champ Helen MAROULIS (USA), she decided to retire.

But despite all of her success, the lack of a Olympic gold -- or even an appearance, for that matter -- still left a sting that would not abate. That, and the decision of her younger sister Makiko to retire, led her to attempt the difficult path of cutting down to 48kg to make it to London.

Makiko was a world bronze medalist at 48kg in 2005 and 2008, but decided to end her career after placing eighth in 2009. Hitomi had never wanted to displace her sister from the national team, but now the door to 48kg was open.

Her biggest battle may have been with the scale. On the mat, she was as unbeatable as ever, storming to world golds in 2010 and 2011 -- now as Obara after getting married in 2010.

There was one slip-up along the way -- a semifinal loss to So Sim HYANG (PRK) at the 2010 Asian Games that ended her 70-match winning streak in international matches. But she regained her confidence with a decisive win at the All-Japan, and it was with a full head of steam that she headed to the London Olympics, which she had announced would be her swan song.

In London, Obara knocked off defending Olympic champion Carol HUYNH (CAN) in the semifinals before coming from behind in the final to defeat Mariya STADNIK (AZE) 2-1 (0-4, 1-0, 2-0) -- a replay of the gold-medal match at the 2011 worlds.

"If you keep doing what you love and never give up, you can achieve your dream," Obara told students at the junior high school she attended during a visit in January last year.

Upon retiring, Obara joined the staff at the Self-Defense Force Physical Training School, where she was also an officer. Among the members she coached were Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO, Himeka TOKUHARA and Masako FURUICHI, who all made Japan's team to this year's World Championships.

In 2022, Obara was inducted into UWW's Hall of Fame along with Yoshida and Icho.