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

Wrestling 2026 Season Preview: Freestyle, Women's Wrestling, Greco-Roman

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - 11:11 By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 2) -- The 2025 World Championships in Zagreb marked a turning point in international wrestling as 18 first-time world champions were crowned, signaling the arrival of a new generation well before the qualification cycle for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games begins.

A few scenes in Zagreb showed what the titles meant. A women’s champion hugging anyone she could find, a Freestyle winner delivering revenge, and a Greco-Roman champion lifting a nation’s pride. Now, 2026 will determine whether those champions can turn a breakthrough into sustained dominance, or if the veterans will reclaim control.

For traditional powers like the United States, Iran, and Japan, maintaining dominance will be harder than ever as more countries close the gap.

In Women’s Wrestling, Japan is being challenged by the DPR Korea, while in Freestyle the U.S. and Iran remain the central rivalry. In Greco-Roman, Iran is undoubtedly the best team in the world but Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are closing the gap as another strong season approaches.

As wrestling moves toward LA 2028, 2026 becomes the year where storylines start to stick. The UWW Pro Series is part of that shift, taking its final shape before launch. Wrestlers will be rewarded for their ranks for the year and will stand a chance to win a grand prize.

The fans can follow wrestling with United World Wrestling through UWW+ on uww.org, Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube.

Freestyle

A Sadulaev vs Yazdani final at the World Championships. A match-up like no other can happen in 2026.

The 2026 season begins with a question: when will Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) return? A dream match against Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) is now firmly on the cards. Yazdani, the 2016 Olympic champion at 74kg, is now competing at 97kg, ten years later. Sadulaev, who won Olympic gold at 86kg in Rio, moved to 97kg soon after that gold.

The Iranian may compete at the Zagreb Open or at the Tirana Ranking Series. If the return is delayed, world silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) will likely carry the weight for Iran early in the season.

At the same time, several major stars are preparing comebacks. Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) is expected to return after recovering from shoulder surgery, while Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) is also set to resume competition, most likely around May.

READ THE FULL FREESTYLE PREVIEW HERE

Women’s Wrestling

Japan captured five of the 10 medals on offer at the World Championships and nothing less is expected from its wrestlers. But out of the first four weight classes, it managed to win only one gold and missed out on medals in two of them.

Missing a medal at 50kg is rare for Japan. It happened in 2009, then in 2019 and in 2025. So what can be expected from the best country in Women's Wrestling or perhaps wrestling?

The DPR Korea, China, India, Ukraine and the United States keep challenging Japan at various competitions but it has managed to hold its own. With the gap closing, 2026 will be a similar story.

Continental Championships will be the first test for countries building towards the year-ending World Championships. But these tournaments can also witness the returns of a few wrestlers. Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), Amit ELOR (USA), Maria YEFREMOVA (UKR), and possibly VINESH (IND).

Additionally, several medal contenders are shifting weight classes in 2026, opening their paths to medals at the World Championships and later at the Olympics.

READ THE FULL WOMEN'S WRESTLING PREVIEW HERE

Greco-Roman

Iran ruled Greco-Roman in 2025 with dominant performances at all levels, and it was not even close. Barring that one battle with Uzbekistan at the U17 World Championships, Iran remained untouched. In 2022 and 2023, it showed signs of long-term dominance and in 2024, it won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Then in 2025, it won team titles at all age-group levels.

At the World Championships in Zagreb, it won four gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Out of the 10 wrestlers, eight won medals, missing only at 77kg and 60kg. Will 2026 be Iran's year again?

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) make the core team. World champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) has been the latest sensation, going unbeaten in 2025 and winning the U23 world gold at 87kg. Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI) is also a proven wrestler at 87kg having won an Olympic and world silver.

Iran has a second team which can challenge any established star in the world. U20 and U23 world champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) is a wrestler waiting for his turn at 130kg. Hedayati is getting closer to beating Mirzazadeh in selection for the Iran team.

Payam AHMADI (IRI), Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) and Ahmadi VAFA (IRI) are already part of the team while younger stars wait for their turns.

But there has been an influx of talent in Greco-Roman in the new cycle especially with Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Japan, Armenia and UWW wrestlers stepping up.

READ THE FULL GRECO-ROMAN PREVIEW HERE

Amri extends record African streak with Oborududu in chase

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Wrestling 2026 Season Preview: Freestyle, Women's Wrestling, Greco-Roman