Amri extends record African streak with Oborududu in chase

Saturday, May 21, 2022 - 20:04 By Vinay Siwach

EL JADIDA, Morocco (May 21) -- Two Olympic medalists were entered at the African Championships and both ended up extending their record title streaks at the tournament.

Rio bronze medalist Marwa AMRI (TUN) extended her record streak of African gold medals to 12 as Tokyo silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) kept herself in the chase by winning her 11th gold Saturday.

Amri won her first African title in 2009 at 53kg while Oborududu achieved the feat in 2010 and since then the Nigerian has not been able to overtake Amri in the race.

Oborududu and Amri opted for a similar approach on Saturday, destroying their competition with ease. In the process of winning the gold, both did not give up a single point in their bouts.

Amri began the day with a resounding 10-0 win over Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG) in Round 1 of the Nordic bracket at 62kg. Then she leg-laced Françoise RASOARIMALALA (MAD) for another 10-0 win before securing a fall over Safietou GOUDIABY (SEN) in the semifinal.

The final against Patience OPUENE (NGR) followed a similar script as Amri won 10-0 and claimed her 12th straight title.

Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) won four out of her five bouts via fall. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Oborududu wrestled five bouts to win the gold -- four of those were victories via fall. Only Menatalla BADRAN (EGY) managed to avoid a fall against Oborududu.

Her first victim was Houria BOUKRIF (ALG) who got pinned in Round 1 after Oborududu had scored six points. Blandine NGIRI (CMR) fell in Round 2 while Rosie TABORA (COD) was pinned in the semifinal.

Badran, who had survived the fall during qualification, could not repeat in the final in which Oborududu got a big four before securing the fall.

Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) now has seven African titles. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Another Nigerian who starred in El Jadida was world silver medalist Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), winning the 59kg gold medal for her seventh straight African title.

The Tokyo Olympian moved a weight up from her normal 57kg but still managed to outclass the field scoring 45 points to only three against her.

She with a 12-1 win over Atika EL ASLA (MAR) 12-1 and secured a fall over fellow Olympian Siwar BOUSETA (TUN). The first period was a slow-paced battle but Adekuoroye shifted and scored 11 points before securing the pin. In the semifinals, Parfaite MAMBOU (CGO) had no answer to Adekuoroye's attacks.

Bouseta and Adekuoroye again met in the final and the Tunisian managed to score two points. However, that was all she was getting as the Nigerian moved to a 12-2 win and claim the gold.

Nigeria won two more gold medals as Mercy ADEKUOROYE (NGR) won the 53kg title while Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR) finished at the top in the 55kg weight class.

The four gold medals kept Nigeria in the team title race but it fell agonizingly short of winning it. Tunisia finished first in the race with 179 points while Nigeria had 170 points. Egypt finished third with 110 points.

Tunisia claimed only two gold medals but won four silver and had 10 or more points in the remaining weights to finish above Nigeria, which was hurt by their pointless finish in 50kg and 57kg.

At 50kg, Tokyo Olympian Sara HAMDI (TUN) defeated Nada MOHAMED (EGY) 2-1 in the final. The two had met in the opening round as well with Hamdi prevailing 9-6 in that bout. Hamdi's two points in the first period helped her claim the gold.

Samar HAMZA (EGY) won the 76kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Egypt's long gold medal came at 76kg as World bronze medalist and defending champion Samar HAMZA (EGY) defeated Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) 5-1 in the final. This was Hamza's sixth African title. Hamza's run saw her outscore her opponents 37-3.

Cameroon claimed two gold medals as its two star wrestlers lived up to the billing and were crowned champions.

Joseph ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR) won her 10th African Championships medal. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

At 57kg, Tokyo fifth-placer at 53kg Joseph ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR) claimed her 10th African Championships medal and second straight gold after pinning Rayane HOUFAF (ALG) in the final. Her medal haul now stands at two gold, five silver and three bronze medals.

Berthe ETANE NGOLLE (CMR) won the gold medal at 65kg. After three silver medals at the African Championships, she finally broke the jinx by winning her two bouts in the Nordic bracket. In a crucial Round 2 bout, she managed to beat Khadija JLASSI (TUN), 13-7 to clear her path to gold. Her second win was 5-1 over Sunmisola BALOGUN (NGR).

Senegal also claimed a gold medal, the first in six years, Anta SAMBOU (SEN) won two out of three bouts at 72kg. Defending champion Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) also won two out of three bouts including a fall over Sambou. But with the Senegal wrestler had scored 20 technical points over Sghaier's 14.

WW Results

50kg
GOLD: Sarra HAMDI (TUN) df. Nada MOHAMED (EGY), 2-1

BRONZE: Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG) df. Rebecca MUAMBO (CMR), 6-5

53kg
GOLD: Mercy ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV), 9-1

BRONZE: Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY) df. Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN), 12-2

55kg
GOLD: Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR)
SILVER: Faten HAMMAMI (TUN)
BRONZE: Louji YASSIN (EGY)

Key match: Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR) df. Faten HAMMAMI (TUN), 13-2 (Round 2)

57kg
GOLD: Joseph TIAKO (CMR) df. Rayane HOUFAF (ALG), via fall

BRONZE: Farah HUSSEIN (EGY) df. Siwar LOUATI BEN ALI (TUN), 11-0
BRONZE: Nisrine HAMMAS (MAR), via forfeit

59kg
GOLD: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Siwar BOUSETA (TUN), 12-2

BRONZE: Fatoumata CAMARA (GUI) df. Parfaite MAMBOU (CGO), 10-0

62kg
GOLD: Marwa AMRI (TUN) df. Patience OPUENE (NGR), 10-0

BRONZE: Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG) df. Safietou GOUDIABY (SEN), via fall (10-4)

65kg
GOLD: Berthe ETANE NGOLLE (CMR)
SILVER: Khadija JLASSI (TUN)
BRONZE: Sunmisola BALOGUN (NGR)

Key match: Berthe ETANE NGOLLE (CMR) df. Khadija JLASSI (TUN), 13-7 (Round 2)

68kg
GOLD: Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) df. Menatalla BADRAN (EGY), via fall (4-0)

BRONZE: Ranim SAIDI (TUN) df. Rosie TABORA (COD), 5-3

72kg
GOLD: Anta SAMBOU (SEN) (2 wins, 2 via fall)
SILVER: Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) (2 wins, 2 via fall)
BRONZE: Ebi BIOGOS (NGR) (2 wins, 1 via fall)

76kg
GOLD: Samar HAMZA (EGY) df. Hannah RUEBEN (NGR), 5-1

BRONZE: Amy YOUIN (CIV) df. Nour JELJELI (TUN), 5-4

2026 Muhamet Malo

Lolua Bumps to 60kg, Komarov Among World Champs Returning in Tirana

Monday, February 23, 2026 - 19:19 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 23) -- Last year, Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) was in Tirana, making his senior international debut. He went on to win the 55kg silver medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series event.

What followed was an incredible 2025 season for Lolua in which he became a world champion in Zagreb. He also won bronze medals at the European Championships, and U20 World and European Championships.

FREESTYLE PREVIEW | MUHAMET MALO ENTRIES | WATCH LIVE

The world champion at 55kg is returning to Tirana, making his Olympic weight debut at 60kg later this week at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series, which begins February 25.

While he got two wins last year to reach the final, where he lost to Emre MUTLU (TUR), Lolua will need to spend more time on the mat if he wants to wrestle for the gold medal.

The field at 60kg is no pushover, with several experienced contenders entered.

The 18-year-old will face the likes of European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), silver medalist Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), former U20 world champion Nihad GULUZADE (AZE), former U17 world champion SURAJ (IND) and compatriot Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO).

The Georgian has the par terre offense to win, as he showed in Zagreb. He tricked Payam AHMADI (IRI) in the final with two different par terre turns. However, he also keeps his matches tight. At the World Championships, he won only one of his four bouts by a margin of two points or more.

Mammadli presents his first major tactical test. He was in red-hot form in 2025 but fell off in the later half of the year. He lost his World Championships quarterfinal to Alisher GANIEV (UZB), who also defeated him at the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2025.

Guluzade and Tibilov pose a different challenge. The latter is an experienced campaigner, who often shuns big-move wrestling for tactical wins. Guluzade will bring raw energy, trying to prove his mettle before the European Championships.

Suraj, who defeated Victor CIOBANU (MDA), constantly works on his opponents for six minutes, which can put anyone's conditioning to the test.

Like at 60kg, Georgia and Azerbaijan have multiple wrestlers in other weight classes as well. Many other nations are also increasingly focusing on selecting their teams via results at Ranking Series events.

At 67kg, Georgia has Zagreb Open champion Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) and European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) going against each other. Khetsuriani has not wrestled since finishing 22nd at the World Championships in September.

The challenges will not be limited. U20 world champion Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) will make his senior debut in Tirana. He has impressed with his dominant performances in 2024 when he won the U20 gold. In 2025, he finished with a silver, losing a close final.

A minefield at 87kg will see the return of world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB). He will face top wrestlers from Hungary, Azerbaijan, UWW wrestlers and Kazakhstan.

Komarov rose to the occasion at the World Championships in Zagreb with an incredible run, winning gold over Olympic silver medalist Alireza MOHMADI (IRI). He will look to reset in Tirana.

World bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) has constantly improved and a good performance in Tirana at 87kg will do him a world of good. Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW), Islam ALIEV (UWW) and Alan OSTAEV (UWW) are a trio of UWW wrestlers in the field. Alirzaev and Ostaev have wins over Komarov in the past.

Islam ABBASOV (AZE) and Lachin VALIYEV (AZE) are leading the challenge for Azerbaijan while Istvan TAKACS (HUN), who won gold at the Zagreb Open, will be another top wrestler.

Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ) and Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) are two Kazakhstan wrestlers looking to make a mark as well.

A similar story will play out at 97kg with world silver medalist Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) eyeing his second Ranking Series gold medal. Standing in his way are Zagreb Open champion Alex SZOKE (HUN), world bronze medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW), Paris bronze medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ), former world bronze medalist Artur OMAROV (CZE).

Azerbaijan is sending three wrestlers at 97kg in hopes of finalizing its European lineup with world bronze medalists Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) and Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), and Mahammad AHMADIYEV (AZE).

At 77kg, Hungary is once again pitting Robert FRITSCH (HUN) against Zoltan LEVAI (HUN). In Zagreb, Levai won silver while Fritsch won bronze as both lost to Ali OKSOU (IRI).

Iran, which has its own struggles at this weight class, has also gone with two wrestlers, Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) and Amir ABDI (IRI).

U23 world champion Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) is returning to action, hoping to win his first Ranking Series gold medal. Gutu has given legendary performances at the age-group level but is yet to win a medal at the senior World or European Championships.

Imran ALIEV (UWW), Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW) and Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) will also be involved at 77kg as they try to confirm their spot for the European Championships.

Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) defeated Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), 3-1, at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Olympic rematch at 82kg

Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) rocked his neighbouring country Kyrgyzstan at the Paris Olympic when he defeated the favorite and world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ). Kyrgyzstan was hoping that Makhmudov would create history by becoming the country's first-ever Olympic champion.

Both have gradually returned to action. In Tirana, both are entered at 82kg and it won't be a surprise if they clash as well. However, Makhmudov would like to avenge that Paris loss.

Also at 82kg are Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) and comeback man and former world medalist Viktor NEMES (SRB).

Iran is bringing a small squad in Tirana but it made sure to bring Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI), perhaps the best heavyweight Greco wrestler in the world. The 130kg gold will, most likely, be his.

Amri extends record African streak with Oborududu in chase

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Lolua Bumps to 60kg, Komarov Among World Champs Returning in Tirana