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#WrestleOslo: Miyaji Stuns Olympic Champ Mensah Stock as Japan Rolls On

Wednesday, October 6, 2021 - 13:08 By Vinay Siwach

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OSLO, Norway (October 6) -- Akie HANAI (JPN) was still going through her interview when Rin MIYAJI (JPN) joined her in the mixed zone. A surprised Hanai was wondering how did Miyaji come back so early after her semifinal. But when she was informed that Miyaji pinned Tokyo Olympic and world champion Taymara MENSAH STOCK (USA), Hanai could not but hug her teammate with a big smile on her face.

In what is perhaps the biggest upset of the tournament, Miyaji claimed a 21-second pin over Mensah Stock after both the wrestlers were locked in arm-tie. But the USA wrestler squared up and Miyaji cradled her and held her on the back for the fall.

Miyaji was one of the three Japan wrestlers who reached the final Wednesday as Hanai managed to reach the 59kg final while Masako FURUICHI (JPN) entered the 72kg after beating Anna SCHELL (GER).

With that, Japan has sent six wrestlers to the final while nine others are wrestling for medals.

Miyaji, who has ever wrestled at a World Championships before, will wrestle Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) in the final. The Kyrgyzstan wrestler has to thank her fate for the win as the scorers' had wrongly indicated caution against when there was not.

She gave up a takedown in final 10 seconds to trail 3-3 on criteria but when the mat chairman was about announce the result, the criteria was give to Zhumanazarova as a wrong caution had been added to it.

Hanai also beat an American to reach the 59kg final as Maya NELSON (USA) was not given any chance in a 4-1 defeat. She will face 2018 world silver medalist Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) in what will a match of close margins. Dudova beat two-time Asian champion Sarita MOR (IND) 3-0 in the semifinals and booked her spot in the final. 

But India did get its first-ever women's wrestling Worlds finalists when Anshu MALIK (IND) defeated Solomiia VYNNYK (JPN) 11-0 in the semifinal at 57kg. India has five bronze medals from World Championships but no one ever reached the final.

Maik scored via a series of takedowns and finally a gut wrench and move on to face Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Helen MAROULIS (USA).

The USA wrestler had a nail-biting finish against U23 world champion Sar NANJO (JPN) before pulling off a 6-4 win. Nanjo was looking for a repeat of Tokyo Olympics where eventual champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) beat Maroulis to stop her from defending her Olympic title which she won in Rio.

Maroulis was given a point for Nanjo's passivity but the Japan wrestler launched a huge throw on the edge and was awarded four. Leading 4-1, Nanjo gave up two before the break.

Then Maroulis began the second period with a takedown and stayed with it until the final whistle. Nanjo's tries of attacking the legs in the end did not work and Maroulis entered the final.

Kazakhstan also had a World Championships finalist when Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) defeated Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) 13-2 with ease.

Bakbergenova will wrestle for gold against Masako FURUICHI (JPN) who defeat Anna SCHELL (GER), 13-2 and try to stop the Japanese juggernaut of winning gold medals with ease.

World Combat Games: Abdellatif leads Egypt’s golden hat-trick in GR

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 - 18:20 By United World Wrestling Press

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (October 24) -- Mohamed ABDELLATIF (EGY) can’t stop his medal-winning spree this season.

The 27-year-old has won a bronze medal at the World Championships in Belgrade, was crowned the African champion in May and reigned supreme at the Ibrahim Moustafa tournament on home soil. 

On Tuesday, Abdellatif added another medal after he won gold in the 130kg Greco-Roman category at the World Combat Games in Riyadh. Abdellatif was in red-hot form as he raced to the top of the podium without conceding a single point in the three bouts he competed in.

He began his campaign with a technical superiority win over Tunisia’s Mehdi BEN MOHAMED (TUN) and followed it up with a win by an identical margin over Morocco’ Anas LAMKABBER (MAR).

In the final, the Olympian was up against Ahmed TAMEEMI (IRQ). However, he wasn’t troubled much as he romped to another 9-0 win to claim the title.

Ghazi BIN BAKR (KSA) won one of the bronze medals, defeating compatriot Rayan MOHAMMED (KSA), 5-0, while Lamkabber beat Ben Mohamed to win the other bronze on offer.

Abdellatif was one of the three Egyptians who won the gold medal on the second day of competition at the World Combat Games, where Greco-Roman bouts took place. Mohamed GABR (EGY) was the winner in the 97kg while U20 world champion Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) won the gold medal in the 67kg weight class.

Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY)U20 world champion Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) won the 67kg gold in Riyadh. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari) 

Like his compatriot Abdellatif, Alameldin, too, did not concede a single point en route to the title as he defeated Faisal ALDOSSARY (KSA) via technical superiority in the final.

In an all-Saudi Arabia bronze medal bout, Saud ALSUBAIE (KSA) defeated Mesfer ALSUBAIE (KSA).

Meanwhile, in the 97kg category, Gabr beat Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG) via fall in another lopsided final to win gold. Tunisia’s Mohamed MISSAOUI (TUN) overcame Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA) to win one bronze medal, with Musaad SIBAEE (KSA) beating Faisal ALAMOUDI (KSA) to claim the other bronze medal.

Ismail ETTALIBI (MAR)Ismail ETTALIBI (MAR) emerged as the 60kg champion at World Combat Games. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the 60kg category, Ismail ETTALIBI (MAR) defeated two home favorites in his three bouts before cruising to gold.

Ettalibi first defeated Ryan HAWSAWI (KSA), 5-3, in the quarterfinals before beating another wrestler from Saudi Arabia, Munthir JANDU, 8-3, in the last-four encounter. Ettalibi faced Yacine DRIDI (ALG) in the final, which he won, 8-3, to clinch the gold medal. Bajram SINA (ALB) and Hawsawi won the bronze medals.

Hosts Saudi Arabia had two wrestlers on the podium once again in the 77kg category but endured another heartbreak after Hassan BARNAWI (KSA) lost in the final to gold medallist Kevin KUPI (ALB) by a margin of 8-0.

While Barnawi won the silver, the bronze went to Bandar BAIHGY (KSA), who defeated Abdullah FALLATAH (KSA) 10-4 in the bronze-medal bout.

There was more heartbreak in store for the home nation after Sanad ALSIBYANI (KSA) also lost the gold-medal bout to African champion Bachir SID AZARA (ALG) 8-0 in the 87kg category.

However, in one more all-Saudi affair for the bronze medal, Abdullah ALDOSARRY (KSA) defeated Ammar HAWSAWI (KSA) 5-1 to finish on the podium.