African Championships entry list

Friday, May 12, 2023 - 09:33 By Vinay Siwach

HAMMAMET, Tunisia (May 12) -- Next week's African Championships, set to begin on May 15 in Hammamet, Tunisia, will feature two Olympic medalists from Tokyo 2021 among its 202 registered wrestlers.

Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) and Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) will be competing as they begin another journey to the Olympic podium. The continental championships also offers them the opportunity to bounce back from their lackluster performance at the World Championships in Belgrade, where they failed to win a medal.

World silver medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) will also be defending her 76kg women's wrestling title she won in Morocco. Unlike Elsayed and Oborududu, Hamza has already competed this year, finishing 10th and ninth at the Zagreb Open and Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series events respectively.

In freestyle, Algeria is returning with all their gold medalists from 2021. It won four golds, the same as Egypt, but will hope to beat Egypt this time as the latter is returning with only two of their four gold medalists.

For Algeria, Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG), Chems Eddine FETAIRIA (ALG), Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) and Mohammed FARDJ (ALG) are in the line-up while Egypt only has Gamal MOHAMED (EGY) and Amr Reda HUSSEN (EGY).

Women's wrestling should have seen the return of Tokyo Olympian Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) after her marriage, but the three-time world medalist has decided to skip the tournament.

Nigeria won four gold medals last year and three of them are returning in Oborududu, Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR) and Mercy ADEKUOROYE (NGR), Odunayo's sister who has jumped from 53kg to 57kg, a weight class frequently represented by Odunayo.

Rio Olympic bronze medalist Marwa AMRI (TUN) will also be in action at 62kg as she hopes to defend her title in front of the home crowd. For Tunisia, Khadija JLASSI (TUN) at 65kg and
Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) at 72kg will also be big hopes for the gold medal.

Amr Reda HUSSEN (EGY) will defend his title at 74kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Freestyle

57kg
Salah KATEB (ALG)
Bofenda KALUWEKO (ANG)
Gamal MOHAMED (EGY)
Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS)
Mohamed CAMARA (GUI)
Davies ORIWA (KEN)
Younes LACHGAR (MAR)
John LEOPOLD (MRI)
Alexandro HAININGA (NAM)
Ebikewenimo WELSON (NGR)
Jakobo TAU (RSA)
KHALIL BARKOUTI (TUN)

61kg
Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG)
Filipe SEBASTIAO (ANG)
Yanisse MADI (COM)
Shehabeldin MOHAMED (EGY)
Kenneth KOECH (KEN)
Yassine JAA (MAR)
Seitonkumo RICHARD (NGR)
Ibrahim BUNDUKA (SLE)
Firas KHALIFA (TUN)

65kg
Zohier IFTENE (ALG)
Omar MOURAD (EGY)
Simon WAINAINA (KEN)
Levi NYONGESA (KEN)
Otmane EL BAHJA (MAR)
Frederik NORTJE (RSA)
Farouk JELASSI (TUN)

70kg
Yahia El Hadi GACEM (ALG)
Armando NTOYA (ANG)
Anthony WESLEY (CPV)
Said ELGAHSH (EGY)
Julio TCHAMI (GBS)
Brian OLOO (KEN)
Abdelwahad BADRI (MAR)
Pieter ROETS (RSA)
Sylvio DIATTA (SEN)
Mamudu MARAH (SLE)
Mohamed ZORGUI (TUN)
Rodgers MUKYEDA (UGA)

74kg
Abdelkader IKKAL (ALG)
Amr Reda HUSSEN (EGY)
Bacar NDUM (GBS)
Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN)
Yassine FARAJ (MAR)
Arno VAN ZIJL (RSA)
Mamadou DIOUF (SEN)
Mohamed BEN JAAFAR (TUN)
Jamal ABDUL (UGA)

79kg
Chems Eddine FETAIRIA (ALG)
Francisco de Deus KADIMA (ANG)
Matteo Alcidio Louis MONTEIRO FURTADO TRESSE (CPV)
Ahmed MAHMOUD (EGY)
Caetano Antonio SA (GBS)
Sofiane PADIOU BELMIR (MAR)
Ebikeme NEWLIFE (NGR)
Johannes HATTINGH (RSA)
Kaireddine BEN TELILI (TUN)
Ivan MASAKWE (UGA)

86kg
Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG)
Roberto NSANGUA (ANG)
Saifeldin ELKOUMY (EGY)
Mark ONGUYESI (KEN)
Roman MANITRA RAHARISON (MAD)
Adil JORF (MAR)
Jean MARIANNE (MRI)
Edward LESSING (RSA)
Sabri MNASRIA (TUN)

92kg
Mohammed FARDJ (ALG)
Artunes PEDRO (ANG)
Mahmoud IBRAHIM (EGY)
Dan CHEPTAI (KEN)
Wadii OUALAL (MAR)
Machiel GROBLER (RSA)
Imed KADDIDI (TUN)

97kg
Mohamed MOSTEFAOUI (ALG)
Mostafa ELDERS (EGY)
John OMONDI (KEN)
Oussama ASSAD (MAR)
Nicolaas DE LANGE (RSA)
Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN)

125kg
Abderrahmane BENACHA (ALG)
Diaaeldin ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY)
Joel TUKAI (KEN)
Anas LAMKABBER (MAR)
Hamza RAHMANI (TUN)

Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) is returning to competition since the World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Cheima CHEBILA (ALG)
Emma WANGILA (KEN)
Imane BOUJNANE (MAR)
Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR)
Chaima RAOUAFI (TUN)

53kg
Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG)
Mbuka CAROLINA (ANG)
Shaimaa ABDELZAHER (EGY)
Elisa RASOANANTENAINA NOMENJANAHARY (MAD)
Wissal EL GNAOUI (MAR)
Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR)
Abir ZARROUKI (TUN)

55kg
Achouak TEKOUK (ALG)
Zineb HASSOUNE (MAR)
Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR)
Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN)

57kg
Rayane HOUFAF (ALG)
Louji YASSIN (EGY)
Mercy ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
Helena VAN AS (RSA)
Faten HAMMAMI (TUN)
Veronica AYO (UGA)

59kg
Chaimaa AOUISSI (ALG)
Farah HUSSEIN (EGY)
Mary NALIAKA (KEN)
Atika EL ASLA (MAR)
Siwar BOUSETA (TUN)

62kg
Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG)
Gharam ASKAR (EGY)
Fatoumata CAMARA (GUI)
Emily WANYAMA (KEN)
Zineb JAMOUS (MAR)
Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR)
Marwa AMRI (TUN)

65kg
Eunice MBURU (KEN)
Ebipatei MUGHENBOFA (NGR)
Khadija JLASSI (TUN)

68kg
Samah ABDELLATIF (EGY)
Winrose ALIVISA (KEN)
Jessy ANDRIANANTOANDRO (MAD)
Nassma ESSATOURI (MAR)
Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
Nour JELJELI (TUN)

72kg
Menatalla BADRAN (EGY)
Ebi BIOGOS (NGR)
Hannah RUEBEN (NGR)
Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN)

76kg
Arianna XAVIER (CPV)
Samar HAMZA (EGY)
Anta SAMBOU (SEN)
Ranim SAIDI (TUN)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Mohamed Yacine DRIDI (ALG)
Bofenda KALUWEKO (ANG)
Davies ORIWA (KEN)
Mouad JAHID (MAR)
Given SIKHOSANA (RSA)
Adem LAMLOUM (TUN)

60kg
Sefiane GUEZZANIA (ALG)
Fernando MATONDO (ANG)
Latuf MADI (COM)
Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY)
Kenneth KOECH (KEN)
Ismail ETTALIBI (MAR)
Romio GOLIATH (NAM)
Riehan BOTHA (RSA)
Ibrahim BUNDUKA (SLE)
Mohamed HKIRI (TUN)

63kg
Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG)
Reginaldo da SILVA (ANG)
Ahmed BAGHDOUDA (EGY)
Simon WAINAINA (KEN)
Yassine JAA (MAR)
Oussama NASR (TUN)

67kg
Ishak GHAIOU (ALG)
Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY)
Levi NYONGESA (KEN)
Bilal EL BAHJA (MAR)
Franscoies DU TOIT (RSA)
Mohamed BEN ALI (TUN)

72kg
Abdelmalek MERABET (ALG)
Armando NTOYA (ANG)
Yehia ABDELKADER (EGY)
Gilbert KABOCHE (KEN)
Yassine FARAJ (MAR)
Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN)

77kg
Akrem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG)
Francisco KADIMA (ANG)
Mohamed KHALIL (EGY)
Rabii REGANI (MAR)
Emmanuel NWORIE (NGR)
Sami SLAMA (TUN)

82kg
Abd OUAKALI (ALG)
Mahmoud IBRAHIM (EGY)
Herinirina ANDRIAMALALA (MAD)
Elias CHIGUER (MAR)
Solomon ULABO (NGR)
James HOLDER (RSA)
Mohamed MALHI (TUN)

87kg
Bachir SID AZARA (ALG)
Roberto NSANGUA (ANG)
Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY)
Adil JORF (MAR)
Mohamed JABRI (TUN)

97kg
Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG)
Mohamed GABR (EGY)
John OMONDI (KEN)
Oussama ASSAD (MAR)
Wissam KOUAINSO (MAR)
Christiaan BURGER (RSA)
Mohamed MISSAOUI (TUN)

130kg
Hichem KOUCHIT (ALG)
Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY)
Daniel MOSETI (KEN)
Anas LAMKABBER (MAR)
Amine GUENNICHI (TUN)

#WrestleTunis

Turkey, India share spoils on Zouhaier Sghaier Day 1

Thursday, July 14, 2022 - 19:53 By Vinay Siwach

TUNIS, Tunisia (July 14) -- Junior world champion Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) put on a clinical display to lead Turkey's charge on day one of the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event, the fourth and final of the year.

On the first day, six Greco-Roman gold medals were on offer and Turkey and India snagged three each with close to perfect performances at the Sports Hall of Rades.

Bakir's performance highlighted Turkey's depth at the superheavyweight in Greco-Roman with Riza KAYAALP (TUR) and Osman YILDRIM (TUR) already there.

He wrestled two bouts in the day and won both without much trouble. In the morning, he was up against NAVEEN (IND) and after being given the advantage of Naveen's passivity, Bakir got a roll from par terre to make the score 3-0, a lead which he kept till the clock expired.

In the evening session, he was up against Amine GUENNICHI (TUN) in a virtual gold medal match. Guennichi had also defeated Naveen 5-3 in their bout.

Bakir was once again the aggressive wrestler of the two and was given a point for Guennichi's passivity. Despite his strong defense, Guennichi gave up two turns to Bakir who was up 5-0.

The positions were reversed in the second period but Bakir was stronger in defense and did not give up any turns. Ultimately, he won the bout and gold 5-1.

Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR), blue, dominated the 97kg weight in Tunis. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Men Mrad)

The second gold for Turkey came at 97kg as Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR managed to win all three of his bouts. While he defeated Mohamed JABRI (TUN), 12-0, in the Round 3 bout, it was the morning bout against DEEPANSHU (IND) that all but confirmed his gold.

Saricicek and Deepanshu were involved in a tense battle and the Turkey wrestler managed to pull off a 2-1 win in the end.

Deepanshu rallied back to beat Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG), 1-1, in Round 3 in the evening to confirm a silver medal for himself in the Nordic bracket.

Veteran Ayhan KARAKUS (TUR) gave Turkey its third gold when he began the evening session with a 9-0 technical superiority win over Arjun HALAKURKI (IND).

Using the arm-trap after par terre, Karakus finished the bout in just 1:58 to claim the gold at 60kg.

Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND) won the 67kg gold via classification points. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

At 67kg, Asian Championships bronze medalist NEERAJ (IND) was coming into Round 3 against Volkan CAKIL (TUR) unbeaten. A win against the Turkey wrestler would secure the gold medal for him.

But Cakil surprised Neeraj with a big four early in the bout. Neeraj cut the lead to 4-3 with a takedown which Cakil challenged but lost. The second period also began with a four-pointer from Cakil which made his lead 8-3.

As time progressed, Neeraj continued his attacks against a tiring Cakil and got a stepout, stepout and caution and a takedown to mount a comeback. But Cakil had got another two points when he used Neeraj's momentum for an arm throw in the second period.

A tiring Cakil managed to hang on for an 11-8 win but that did not get him the gold which went to Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND).

Neeraj had defeated Sahrawat in the morning session while Sahrawat had won against Cakil 8-0. With three wrestlers tied with two wins each, the classification points came into play.

Sahrawat collected a total of nine points after his 10-1 win over Koussay MELKI (TUN). Neeraj finished with eight classification points while Cakil had seven.

The two other gold medals for India came with much clearer results.

Former Asian champion Sunil KUMAR (IND) struggled against Mohamed MISSAOUI (TUN) but managed to win 2-1 in the only bout at the 87kg weight class.

The two exchanged passivity points but Kumar had a stepout point which proved to be crucial in the end. Mussaoui got the third passivity as well but he failed to turn Kumar from par terre.

At 60kg, Gyanender DAHIYA (IND) dominated Oussama NASR (TUN) for a 9-0 in the lone bout at the weight class.

After getting the par terre advantage, Dahiya scored via gut wrench and finished the bout with 4:06 still remaining on the clock.

Friday, the second day, will witness the remaining three Greco-Roman weight classes and four women's weights will be in action in Tunis.

Day 1 Results

60kg
GOLD: Ayhan KARAKUS (TUR) df. Arjun HALAKURKI (IND), 9-0

BRONZE: Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG) df. Salim HAMDI (TUN), 10-4

63kg
GOLD: Gyanender DAHIYA (IND) df. Oussama NASR (TUN), 9-0

67kg
Round 3: Volkan CAKIL (TUR) df. NEERAJ (IND), 11-8
Round 3: Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND) df. Koussay MELKI (TUN), 10-1

Final standings
GOLD: Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND)
SILVER: NEERAJ (IND)
BRONZE: Volkan CAKIL (TUR)

87kg
GOLD: Sunil KUMAR (IND) df. Mohamed MISSAOUI (TUN), 2-1

97kg
Round 3: Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR) df. Mohamed JABRI (TUN), 12-0
Round 3: DEEPANSHU (IND) df. Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG), 1-1

Finals standings
GOLD: Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR)
SILVER: DEEPANSHU (IND)
BRONZE: Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG)

130kg
Round 3: Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) df Amine GUENNICHI (TUN), 5-1

Final standings
GOLD: Muhammet BAKIR (TUR)
SILVER: Amine GUENNICHI (TUN)
BRONZE: NAVEEN (IND)

African Championships entry list

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Turkey, India share spoils on Zouhaier Sghaier Day 1