African C'Ships

African Cadet and Juniors Conclude In Nigeria

By Eric Olanowski

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (February 9) - The African cadet and junior championships concluded today in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Nearly 250 age-level wrestlers from 14 nations competed in this year’s African Championships.

Cadet Women’s Wrestling
Mercy Bolafunoluwa ADEKUOROYE (NIG), who is the niece of reigning world silver medalist and United World Wrestling’s History Maker of 2017, Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) took home the 53kg gold medal after she defeated Souad Malek BOUKSIR (ALG), 10-0.

Nigeria finished the day with two additional gold medals, bringing their total to three gold medals. Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia each had a solo gold medalist. The four remaining weight categories did not have entrants.  

Cadet Freestyle
After Ebizimor Daukeyai Kelvin SARIKI’s (NGR) 8-2 victory over Decan Lukeem JANTJIES (RSA) in the 45kg finals, South Africa took over the gold medal parade by winning back-to-back titles at 48kg and 51kg.

Algeria’s picked up the first of its two gold medals at 55kg when Oussama LARIBI (ALG) completed the 14-4 technical superiority victory over Adham Mohamed Abdelmonem Ali SAKR (EGY).  

At 60kg, Stephen Tope AKINTEWE (NGR) narrowly edged Alex Foday KALLON (SLE), 2-0, giving Nigeria their second gold medal of the cadet freestyle championships.

Fathi Tarek Fathi Attia ISMAIL (EGY) went unscored upon on his way to defeating Kenechukwu Prince NNAEMEKA (NGR), 6-0 in the 65kg gold medal bout.

At 71kg, Christian GUIDILIM (CMR) went 4-0 on the day and gave Cameroon their first medal of the 2018 African Championships.


Chadi EL KHALIL (EGY) and Ahmed Mahmoud Elsayed Mohamed KHALIL closed out the tournament for Egypt, winning two of the three remaining gold but not before Algeria’s Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) picked up the 80kg title.

Cadet Greco-Roman
Abdalla Mohamed SHAABAN (EGY) started out the Greco-Roman portion of the tournament by squeaking out at 3-2 victory over Omrane CHERRAD (ALG) at 48kg.

Peter UKORO (NGR) captured the host countries lone cadet Greco-Roman gold medal by shutting out Omar Adel Elsayed Gaafar ABDELAZIZ (EGY), 4-0 at 55kg.

Tunisia will head home with three champions, including back-to-back gold medalists at 65kg and 71kg with Lamjed MAAFI (TUN) and Mohamed Aziz LANDOLSI (TUN). Mehdi JOUINI (TUN) also took gold at 51kg .

Algeria’s trio of Mohamed Yacine DRIDI (ALG), Ahmed Abdelhakim MERIKHI (ALG), and Fadi ROUABAH (ALG) also captured three gold medals for their nation. Those gold medals came at 51kg, 60kg, and 80kg.

The competition did have entrants at 110kgs, so the final gold medal went to Egypt’s Shady WAHEEB (EGY) as he defeated Mundell BROWN (RSA) by technical superiority victory, 14-4.

Junior Freestyle
The first two matches of junior freestyle side of the tournament started with criteria wins. Beginning with 57kg, Gamal MOHAMED (EGY) was able to hold off Salah Eddine KATEB (ALG), 5-5 and pick up the gold medal. One gold medal bout later, Frederik NORTJE (RSA) stood his ground and beat Kouceila SADOUKI (ALG), 4-4 to seal up the 61kg gold medal.

Algeria would pick up their second gold medal in freestyle as Fares LAKEL (ALG) handed Kaireddine BEN TELILI (TUN) a 9-6 loss in the 65kg finals.

Nwafor EMEKA (NGR) gave Nigeria their first junior freestyle gold medal as he picked up the commanding 10-0 technical superiority victory over Mohamed Aziz BEN JAAFAR (TUN) at 70kgs.

At 74kg, Samy MOUSTAFA (EGY) added to Egypt’s gold medal count with a 10-0 victory over Matthew Trevor BARTLETT (RSA).

Oussama ABDELLAOUI (ALG) made it a trio of gold medals for Algeria as he completed the 5-0 shutout over Ebiboloukemi Gilbert CLARKSON (NGR) at 79kg.

After finishing the day with two wins, Tarikebena CAPTAN (NGR) and Omar Hussein Mohamed Hassanin ZAYED (EGY) walked away with the 86kg and 92kg gold medals.

At 97kg and 125kg, Mohammed FARDJ (ALG) and Radiance Best AKARI (NGR) finished the day with 1-0 records and took home African Championship crowns.

Junior Greco-Roman
Algeria kicked the off Greco-Roman wrestling with back-to-back champions at 55kg and 60kg. Mourtada NAANAA (ALG) held off Abderrazak ROUINBI (MAR), 1-1 to win the 55kg title. Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG) won both of his matches and walked away with the 60kg crown.

Egypt followed suit, taking home the next two gold medals. Hassan MOHAMED (EGY) shutout Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN), 9-0 in the 63kg finals, and in the 67kg finals, Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) picked up a technical superiority victory over Mustapha AFIRAOU (MAR), 12-1.

The final six gold medals were determined via round-robin. Egypt captured four of the last six weight classes with three gold medals. Nigeria and Tunisia grabbed the final two gold medals.


Junior Women’s Wrestling
50kg Sarra HAMDI (TUN) started the gold medal festivities for Tunisia by handling Nada Medani Ashour Abdalla MOHAMED (EGY), 16-5 in the 50kg finals. Tunisia went on to win gold medals at four additional weights, bringing their championship hardware to five gold medals.

Rosine NSTA ASSOUGA (CMR) gave Tunisia a rare finals loss as she edged out Siwar BOUSETTA (TUN), 4-2 to capture the 53kg African championship.

At 62kg Lina KHELLAL (ALG) went 3-0 on the day was awarded the gold medal.

With no participants at 76kg, the tournament concluded with Ebi BIOGOS (NGR) winning the title at 68kg and Youin AMY (CIV) taking home the gold medal at 72kg.

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open Live Day 4: Freestyle

By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 7) -- Freestyle day at Ulaanbaatar Open with seven weight class. World champions Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and Chongsong HAN (PRK) are in action at 65kg and 57kg respectively.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

14:20: 65kg semifinal - Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) has unreal pace and Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) has no answers for it. The world champion enters the 65kg final after a win over the Kazakhstan wrestler. Amouzad led 3-0 and then scored a stepout before Askarov also got a stepout to make it 4-1. Amouzad managed another before scoring a takedown to lead 7-1 at the break. He starts the second period with a takedown as well and then needs a stepout and go-behind to finish the bout 12-1.

14:07: 61kg semifinal - In a match that saw the lead switch hands on several occasions, Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) scores a late takedown to  beat Batnasan GANKHULEG (MGL), 3-2, and reach the 61kg final

14:07: 125kg semifinal - DINESH (IND) breaks Timur KOTAEV (RUS) in the 125kg semifinal and scored easy go-behind takedowns for a 11-0 victory in 3:13

14:00: 125kg semifinal - Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) with a late takedown to beat Jose DIAZ (VEN) 2-2 on criteria. Diaz had two activity points but Kassimbek's takedown takes the upper hand in the score

13:58: 61kg semifinal - DEEPAK (IND) in the 61kg final after a 7-1 victory over Adilet ALMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ). Deepak with relentless pressure to score his takedowns while Almukhamedov could never break through

13:51: 97kg semifinal - Demchigdorj TUMURBAATAR (MGL) hangs on for a 2-1 win over TUXIGE (CHN) at 97kg. He will face Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) for the gold medal

13:48: 65kg semifinal - Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) took his time but comes alive in the second period, finishing his semifinal 12-1 against Ossimzhan DASTANBEK (KAZ) at 65kg. He led 4-1 at the break but scores eight points in the second period to win 45 seconds after the break

13:47: 97kg semifinal - Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) scores a takedown and four turns using the gut-wrench to finish off his semifinal in 53 seconds against VICKY (IND) and advance to the final.

13:44: 79kg semifinal - Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) with a 13-2 victory over Shamsat TAIR (KAZ). Tair scored the first takedown but Yousefi with a takdown and turn to lead. Tair gives up a stepout and fleeing caution as Yousefi leads 7-2. A takedown later, he makes it 9-2 before finishing the bout with a techncial superiority win.

13:43: 70kg semifinal - Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) holds on to a 2-0 win over Magomed ELTEMIROV ((RUS) after the Russian was called passive two times in the bout. Both passivity calls gave Tumur Ochir gave one point each.

13:40: 57kg semifinal - Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS) uses the leg lace to build a 6-0 lead before finishing his 57kg semifinal with a 12-1 victory over Abzal OKENOV (KAZ) with the lace in the second sequence.

13:33: 57kg semifinal - World champion Chongsong HAN (PRK) advances to the final at 57kg after a 4-1 win over Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ). A stepout and activity point gave Han two points but he lost a challenge. He added a takedown in the second period to lead 4-1, the winning score.

13:31: 70kg semifinal - Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) dominates his 70kg semifinal against Usukhbayar BAATARKHUU (MGL) and posts a 10-0 win. Kakharov never looked in trouble against the Mongolian

13:30: 79kg semifinal - Barring a four-pointer from Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) which extended the bout, Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) dominated his semifinal to complete a 14-4 victory and advance to the final.

Semifinals on all three mats with three different weight classes

13:15: Last match of the qualification rounds and Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) hangs on for a 3-2 win over Ahora KHATERI (IRI) at 61kg. He score two activity points and a stepout while Khateri scored a takedown 

12:30: World Champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) keeps it simple in his first bout of the tournament with a 5-0 controlled win over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK). Kim had not idea how to break those underhooks. Amouzad into the 65kg semifinals.

12:15: Cross WASILEWSKI (USA) with two takedowns at the end against Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) to make it 5-4 but he cannot score a point needed for the win and Tumur Ochir advance to the semifinals at 70kg with the narrow win 

12:05: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) looks in great form at 65kg as he now beats Christopher COMPOSTO (USA), 10-0. He scores a takedown and gut-wrench to go 4-0 up. He then gets an easy go-behind for a 6-0 lead. Composto tries a fake but Mamedov counters with a takedown and exposure to win.

11:50: The Khaniev brothers -- Ismail and Takhir -- begin with contrasting victories at 79kg and 97kg respectively. Takhir goes first at 97kg and scores a 2-0 win over Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) with no action points. However, Ismail is scores multiple different takedowns to complete an 11-0 win over Khangaibayar GANBOLD (MGL) at 79kg 

11:30: Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) starts off with a 10-0 victory over Zandanbat BATSAIKHAN (MGL) at 70kg. He scores an easy takedown and then turns the Mongolia using gut-wrench and lace to complete the victory.

11:15: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) lost the Asian Championships final to ABHIMANYOU (IND) at 70kg. But he avenges that loss with a 9-0 victory over the Indian on Sunday. Tumur Ochir with total control of the bout while Abhimanyou looked tired.

11:05: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) steps on the mat at 65kg against MOHIT (IND). He lifts and slams Mohit for a four-pointer before finishing the bout 10-0. Mamedov is on the way to clash with world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) if both do not suffer an upset

10:55: European silver medalist Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS) scores six points and then holds on to his 6-2 lead throughout to beat Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ) at 57kg.

10:45: World champion Chongsong HAN (PRK) needed his strong leg lace to survive a scare in the opening round at 57kg against Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK). Han and Belolyubskii exchanged a few scrambles but the former led 10-8 when he unleashed the leg lace to complete an 18-8 win at 57kg. 

10:30: The fourth day of the Ulaanbaatar Open will feature 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg, and 125kg.