African Championship Preview

Tuesday, February 4, 2020 - 21:45 By Eric Olanowski

ALGER, Algeria (February 6) --- African stars Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY), Ahmed MOHAMED (EGY) and Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) enter the African Championships poised to improve their top-five rankings.

Adekuoroye jumped RONG Ningning (CHN) and is ranked second in the world at 57kg. The Nigerian superstar trails three-time world champion and 2016 Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) by 17 points.

But Adekuoroye, a three-time world medalist, can overthrow Kawai for the world’s top-ranking if she’s able to claim her fifth consecutive crown. A gold in Alger will be worth 18 points, which would catapult Adekuoroye into the No. 1 spot, one point ahead of the Japanese wrestler before the Asian Championships.

Adekuoroye is favored to win the five-woman 57kg bracket. But, undoubtedly, Adekuoroye’s biggest threat is Eman EBRAHIM (EGY), who she defeated in last year's All African Games finals.

Ebrahim, the defending African champion at 59kg, is ranked 12th in the world and will make her descent down to 57kg for a run at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Mohamed El Sayed enters the African Championships ranked fifth in the world at 67kg and is five points from leaping into the top-three of the rankings. He’s on a quest to win his fourth African championship crown in his last five tries.

The two-time U23 world champion will earn 18 Ranking Series points if he caps off the 2020 African Championships with another title. He'd move into the third spot of the rankings before the European Championships kick-off.

According to the 67kg early entries for the European Championships, fourth-ranked Mate NEMES (SRB) is the only European wrestler that’s ranked higher than El Sayed that’ll wrestle at the continental championships. Nazir ABDULLAEV (RUS) will replace No. 2 Artem SURKOV (RUS) and Witalis LAZOVSKI (GER) will take No. 3 Frank STAEBLER’S (GER) starting spot.

The absence of Surkov and Staebler presents El Sayed with an opportunity to be ranked no lower than fourth heading into the final Ranking Series event, the Poland Open. But first, he’ll have to get through his most dangerous opponent, Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN), who was last year’s 63kg African runner-up.

Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) could pass Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) for the No. 2 spot if she wins the 68kg title in Alger. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

At 68kg, Blessing Oborududu is ranked third in the world and sits ten points away from surpassing Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) for the No. 2 spot in the women’s wrestling rankings. A tenth African title will be worth 18 points and will boost Oborududu into the second spot, eight points ahead of Fransson.

Mona AHMED (EGY) and Anta SAMBOU (SEN) are in charge of stopping Oborududu in her quest to reach double-digit African titles. But that’ll be easier said than done. Oborududu hasn’t lost at the African Championships since her first continental appearance in 2009.

Ahmed won a silver medal at last year’s African Championships, but that was at 76kg. She’s dropping down two weight classes to try to improve on that silver-medal finish.

Sambou fell to Obordudu in their last three meetings. Sambou dropped her finals matches against the Nigerian at last year’s All African Championships and also fell to Obordudu in the previous two African Championship finals.

At 130kg, Abdellatif Mohamed enters the African Championships ranked third in the world with 30 Ranking Series points. He’s positioned eight points behind Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) but will gain the ten-point lead over the Cuban world runner-up if he claims gold in the five-person bracket in Alger.

Hichem KOUCHIT (ALG) and Amine GUENNICHI (TUN) are the top-two candidates who have a shot at stopping Mohamed from winning a fifth African title. Mohamed downed Kouchit, 8-0, in their fifth-round meeting at last year’s African Championships, and bested Guennichi in last year’s All African Games finals.

Samar HAMZA (EGY) is bumping up to 76kg after splitting time in 2019 at 68kg and 72kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Three Weights to Feature Two Returning Champs
57kg (WW), 74kg (FS) and 76kg (WW) feature a pair of reigning African champions entered into the same weight -- with one winner switching weight classes to challenge the defending 2019 champion.

As previously mentioned, reigning 59kg champion Eman Ebrahim is dropping down to 57kg to challenge Adekuoroye.

Samar HAMZA (EGY) is returning to the Olympic weight of 76kg to try to halt Blessing ONYEBUCHI (NGR) from winning a second consecutive 76kg title. Hamza split time in 2019 between 68kg and 72kg. Hamza's cut down to 68kg proved to be too much to handle, so she was left with no other option but to move back up to 76kg.

Hamza’s move to 76kg reinvigorates her rivalry with Onyebuchi that dates back to 2016. The Egyptian scored the come-from-behind fall against Onyebuchi in their 2016 African Championship semifinals match, which ultimately led to her winning one of her three continental titles. Hamza won their latest meeting, too. She grabbed a one-point victory in the pair’s 9-8 shootout match at the 2018 African Championships.

On a side note, Hamza’s African record remains unblemished in her five trips to the African Championships. She’s a two-time junior African champion and three-time senior African gold medalist.

In freestyle, Amr HUSSEN (EGY) will make his ascent up to 74kg and try to avenge multiple losses suffered at the hands of three-time African champion Ogbonna Emmanuel JOHN (NGR).

Most recently, Hussen fell to John 2-2 on criteria in the 2018 African finals. The Egyptian wrestler also fell to the Nigerian in the 2017 African Championships. That 9-8 quarterfinals loss in 2017 led to Hussen finishing with a bronze medal, while John reached the top of the podium.

Adama DIATTA (SEN) is in search of his tenth African title. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Diatta Chasing African Title Number Ten
Adama DIATTA (SEN) is on a quest to claim his tenth African Championship title. He won his first of nine titles 13 years ago, at the 2007 African Championships. He captured three consecutive African gold medals from 2007-’09, before dropping to a silver and a bronze-medal finish at the 2010 and ’11 African Championships, respectively. Diatta added six African crowns to his resume since that loss in 2011 and is awaiting title number ten.

But for Diatta to reach double digits will be extremely tough. He’s bumping up to 65kg for the second time in his career. He appeared at 65kg at last year’s All African Games and finished in eighth place.

The favorite at the weight is returning 65kg African champion, Mbunde CUMBA MBALI (GBS).

Marwa AMRI (TUN), a Rio Olympic bronze medalist, is one of nine returning women's wrestling African champions. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

23 of 30 Gold Medalists Returning
There are 23 of last year’s 30 champions that are returning to the African Championships looking to defend their 2019 crowns. Women’s wrestling has nine returning winners; freestyle has eight and Greco-Roman is set to feature six wrestlers looking to win a second consecutive title.

Women’s Wrestling:
50kg - Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR)
55kg - Faten HAMMAMI (TUN)
57kg - No. 2 Odunayo Folasade ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
57kg - No. 12 Eman Essam Guda EBRAHIM (Ranked at 59kg) (EGY)
62kg - Marwa AMRI (TUN)
68kg - No. 3 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
72kg - Sunmisola Idowu BALOGUN (NGR)
76kg - Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA (EGY)
76kg - Blessing Joy ONYEBUCHI (NGR)

Freestyle:
57kg - Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG)
65kg - Mbunde CUMBA MBALI (GBS)
74kg - Amr Reda HUSSEN (EGY)
74kg - Ogbonna JOHN (NGR)
79kg - Ayoub BARRAJ (TUN)
86kg - Sabri MNASRIYA (TUN)
92kg - Mohamed ABDALLA (EGY)
97kg - Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN)

Greco-Roman:
55kg - Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG)
60kg - Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY)
67kg - No. 5 Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY)
72kg - Tarek Aziz BENAISSA (ALG)
97kg - Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG)
130kg - Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY)

SENIOR AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Friday (February 7)
14:00 - Technical conference – all SENIOR teams

Saturday (February 8)
8:30 - Medical examination and Weigh-in WW – GR / SENIOR
10:30 - Qualification rounds and repechage WW – GR / SENIOR
17: 00 - Finals WW – GR / SENIOR

Sunday (February 9)
8:30 - Medical examination and Weigh-in FS / SENIOR
10:30 - Qualification rounds FS / SENIOR
17:00 - Finals FS / SENIOR

#WrestleParis

Paris 2024 Wrestling Day 4: Yazdani, Lee, makes semis; Sakurai vs Maroulis set

Thursday, August 8, 2024 - 08:30 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

PARIS (August 9) -- Freestyle action kicks off in Paris with 57kg and 86kg as Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) and Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) look to change their silver medals from past Olympics to gold. In 57kg, Helen MAROULIS (USA) is trying to do the same but world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) is in her way.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS 2024 DAY 3

13:31: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) is back in the Olympic semifinals! He got thrown for a huge four from Dauren KURGULIEV (GRE) but he comes back to break Kurguliev and win 9-4 and book a spot against Myles AMINE (SMR)

13:20: A bout for the ages as returning bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR) beats Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) 16-14 to book his spot in the semifinal! Nurmagomedov took the lead using a leg lace but Amine hit the same and reclaimed the lead. At 16-12, Amine was happy to keep his distance from Nurmagomedov even if that meant giving up a takedown.

13:08: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) pins Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) in the second period. What a win for Ramazanov and he moves into the semifinal at 86kg. He will face Aaron BROOKS (USA) for a spot in the final

13:06: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) with a first-period fall of Giullia PENALBER (BRA) to book her spot in the women's 57kg semifinals. The former 59kg world champion will face Hong.

13:04: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) gets a 4-point counter and three takedowns in a 12-5 victory over Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and he's into the freestyle 57kg semifinal and a date with Lee.

13:00: Kexin HONG (CHN) wins a thriller in the women's 57kg quarterfinals over Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), finishing off the Nigerian with a cradle for a fall with :44 left after she had just surrendered the lead. Adekuoroye strikes first with a pair of takedowns, but Hong responds with a takedown and three lace-lock rolls to go up 8-4. In the second period, Adekuoroye goes ahead on criteria with a takedown and lace lock, but Hong strikes back by getting her into a cradle and securing the fall.

12:55: Aaron BROOKS (USA) is on mission today! He takes out Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) 11-1 at 86kg. The pace of that bout was unreal and completely broke Ishiguro

12:51: Helen MAROULIS (USA) scores three takedowns and she's into the women's 57kg with a 7-4 victory over Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR). She will face Sakurai in a rematch of the semifinals at last year's worlds in Belgrade, which Sakurai won 6-0.

12:49: Spencer LEE (USA) gives up an early takedown to Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) in their freestyle 57kg quarterfinal, but then he gets to work. He twice gets a takedown-exposure combo, then finishes off a 12-2 win with a 4-point takedown with 58 seconds left in the first period.

12:45: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) has been spotted. He begins with a 10-0 win over Jayden LAWRENCE (AUS) who has scored two points over Yazdani at the World Championships.

12:41: AMAN (IND) earns a clash with Higuchi in the freestyle 57kg semis after using the lace lock to chalk up a 12-0 victory over Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB).

12:39: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) is at her dominating best, piling up the points with both offensive and defensive takedowns and a pair of stepouts against Luisa VALVERDE (ECU). When it hits 11-0, she is in the middle of applying an arm bar that puts Valverde onto her back for a fall at 4:35.

12:28: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) is coming in hot! He moves into the quarterfinals with an 11-0 win over Ethan RAMOS (PUR). His likely quarterfinal opponent -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)

12:33: Rio Olympic silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) takes the mat for the first time in the freestyle 57kg quarterfinals after his first-round opponent, Alireza SARLAK (IRI), failed to make weight. Higuchi dominates Darian CRUZ (PUR), scoring with some creative exposures to finish off a 12-2 victory early in the second period.

12:30: World silver medalist Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) easily gets past Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) 9-0 to secure a place in the women's 57kg quarterfinals.

12:26: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) makes his Olympic debut with a win over Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) at 86kg. A top 12-2 win to advance to the quarterfinals.

12:22: Three-time world bronze medalist Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) grabs the final place in the freestyle 57kg quarterfinals with a 13-3 win over Roman BRAVO (MEX).

12:19: Giullia PENALBER (BRA) makes short work of Rckaela AQUINO (GUM), slamming to her back for a 4-point takedown and securing the fall in 1:02 to advance at women's 57kg.

12:16: Returning bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR) shows why he is a threat. Top defense as he beats Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) 7-4 to move into the quarterfinals at 86kg.

12:15: Kexin HONG (CHN), a winner this year in Budapest and Zagreb, wins a lively clash with Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL), advancing at women's 57kg with a 16-12 victory. Hong takes an 8-0 lead, but Boldsaikhan cuts the lead to 2 in the second period. Hong puts up 6 with a takedown-lace lock combination, only for Boldsaikhan to get 4 with a counter lift. But Hong gets a final 2-point exposure to notch the win.

12:11: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) gets a 4-point throw in the first period, then gets a pair of exposures countering a front headlock roll in the second in an 11-4 win over Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) at freestyle 57kg.

12:04: World bronze medalist Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), looking for her first Olympic medal in a thrid appearance, advances at women's 57kg by injury default when Chaimaa AOUISSI (ALG) suffers a head gash and is unable to continue.

12:02: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) pulls out his 'A' game to beat Alexander MOORE (CAN) 12-2 in the opening round. He will face Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) who defeated Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) 5-2 in the other bout.

12:00: Spencer LEE (USA), competing on a top world stage for the first time since winning back-to-back world junior titles in 2015-16, scores a takedown and activity point in the first period, and holds on for a 3-2 win over Wanhao ZOU (CHN) at freestyle 57kg. Zou gets a pair of stepouts late in the second period but just ran out of time.

11:59: In a wild clash of 2022 world bronze medalists, Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) rallies out of an eight-point hold to defeat Anhelina LYSAK (POL) 16-13 at women's 57kg. Lysak had three 4-point moves and led 13-5 when Hrushyna Akobiia hit a 4-pointer of her own. In the final 30 seconds, she picked up a takedown and a stepout to go ahead, then added a late takedown. Whew!

11:47: Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) scores a second-period takedown with Asian bronze medalist Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) on the activity clock to take a 3-1 lead, then adds a stepout for a 4-1 victory at freestyle 57kg.

11:45: Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) has no trouble disposing of Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) via technical superiority and sets up a 86kg quarterfinal with Aaron BROOKS (USA).

11:41: Helen MAROULIS (USA), looking for her second Olympic gold and third medal overall, repeats her victory from the 2021 world final over ANSHU (IND) to advance to the women's 57kg quarterfinals 7-2. Maroulis uses an effective single-leg attack to score three takedowns

11:38: Aaron BROOKS (USA), who defeated David TAYLOR (USA) in the U.S. trials, gave up an early stepout but bounced back with two takedowns and beat top seed Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) 4-1 in the opening round at 86kg.

11:36: Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS), only the third wrestler in Guinea-Bissau history to appear in the Olympics, looks like a seasoned pro in taking a 6-0 lead against world bronze medalist Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) at freestyle 57kg. But the match is six minutes, and Abakarov comes back with two takedowns, adding a lace lock after the second. An unsuccessful challenge adds a point as Abakarov advances 7-6.

11:33: An impressive start for Luisa VALVERDE (ECU), who opens with a 4-point takedown against Aurora RUSSO (ITA) at women's 57kg, then scores a takedown to the back and secures the fall at 2:34.

11:27: Two-time reigning world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) opens her Olympic debut at women's 57kg with an activity point, then a slick ankle pick for a takedown against Hannah TAYLOR (CAN), but gets reversed going for a lace lock. She adds a stepout and another takedown in the second period for a hard-fought 6-1 win.

11:26: 2023 Asian champion AMAN (IND) uses a shrug-by to get behind Russian-born 2021 European champion Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) for the clinching takedown in a 10-0 win at freestyle 57kg.

11:17: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) spots Dominique PARRISH (USA) a four-point lead in their women's 53k repechage, then storms back to go ahead 10-4 with a back trip before latching onto a cradle for a fall.

11:14: Darian CRUZ (PUR) picks up a big win for the Caribbean nation, locking up Gamal MOHAMED (EGY) in a cradle and securing the fall in their freestyle 57kg opener.

11:09: Luis ORTA (CUB), denied in his bid for a second straight Olympic gold, will get a chance for a bronze after storming to a 9-0 victory over Ishak GHAIOU (ALG) in the 67kg repechage.

11:08: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) stays on track to give the DPR Korea its first-ever women's Olympic medal with an 11-0 repechage victory over European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) at 53kg. Choe will take on Annika WENDLE (GER).

11:04: In the opening match on Mat A, Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) uses an arm throw for a quick 4-pointer, then lifts and throws Mate NEMES (SRB) for 4 more and an 8-0 win in their Greco 67kg repechage. He will face Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) in a bid for Kyrgyzstan's third bronze medal in Greco later tonight.

10:45: We are beginning with Freestyle at Paris 2024 in two weight classes and women's wrestling will continue with 57kg.

African Championship Preview

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Paris 2024 Wrestling Day 4: Yazdani, Lee, makes semis; Sakurai vs Maroulis set