#WrestleOlegKaravaev

Kus and Sasunouski to Square off Saturday Night in Top-Four Matchup

Friday, July 26, 2019 - 16:00 By Eric Olanowski

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MINSK, Belarus (July 26) --- Top-ranked Emrah KUS (TUR) capped off the opening day of wrestling at the Oleg Karavaev with a trio of wins and will square off with fourth-ranked Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) in the 82kg finals. 

Kus kick-started his day with a 6-2 win over Marad HUSEINAU (BLR), then followed that up with an 8-0 routing of Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) to set up a semifinals match with Bilan NALGIEV (UZB). The Uzbek had a 1-0 lead over the reigning world runner-up but an inactivity point and a front head pinch earned Kus the 3-1 victory. 

He’ll meet Belarus’ fourth-ranked Viktar Sasunouski for the gold medal. The Belarusian trailed 3-1 late into the second period but slipped his way into a side head lock -- picking up four points and the 5-3 lead. He later tacked on two additional points for a correct throw and won, 7-3. 

Meanwhile, Shinobu OTA (JPN) fell behind 8-3 in his 63kg semifinal bout against Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ) but scored six unanswered points and locked up his spot in the Oleg Karavaev finals with the 9-8 come-from-behind victory. 

Ota, the Rio Olympic runner-up, will see Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) in the gold-medal bout. 

Bakhramov, the 15th-ranked wrestler in the world down at 55kg, bumped up to 60kg and knocked off reigning world bronze medalist WALIHAN Sailike (CHN), 3-3 after trailing by three points heading into the closing three minutes. 

RESULTS

63kg 
GOLD - Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) vs. Shinobu OTA (JPN)
SEMIFINAL - Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) df. Sailike WALIHAN (CHN), 3-3  
SEMIFINAL - Shinobu OTA (JPN) df. Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ), 9-8

72kg
GOLD - Magomed YARBILOV (RUS) vs. Narek OGANIAN (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Narek OGANIAN (RUS) df. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), 5-2 
SEMIFINAL - Magomed YARBILOV (RUS) df. Uladzislau MANKEVICH (BLR), 8-0 

82g
GOLD - Emrah KUS (TUR) vs. Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR)
SEMIFINAL - Emrah KUS (TUR) df. Bilan NALGIEV (UZB), 3-1  
SEMIFINAL - Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) df. Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS), 7-3

97kg 
GOLD - Siarhei STARADUB (BLR) vs. Suleyman DEMIRCI (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Siarhei STARADUB (BLR) df. Yerulan ISKAKOV (KAZ), 4-0 
SEMIFINAL - Suleyman DEMIRCI (TUR) df. Fatih BASKOY (TUR), 2-1 

#WrestleAlexandria

Nigeria Dominates African Championships with 4 WW Golds

Friday, May 1, 2026 - 17:21 By United World Wrestling Press

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ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (May 1) -- Barring a close loss at the 68kg weight class, Nigeria put up a near flawless performance at the African Championships. Nigeria won four out of five Women's Wrestling gold medals that were on offer on Saturday while the one went to hosts Egypt.

After the U17 and U20 African Championships, the senior continental began in Alexandria, Egypt with all 10 Greco-Roman and five Women's Wrestling weight classes.

UWW Plus

The golden night for Nigeria began when defending champion Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) maintained her perfect record at the African Championships, winning the 53kg gold for the fourth time. Wrestling Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV) in the final, Ogunsanya led 7-1 when the Ivory Coast wrestler pulled out of the final citing injury. The forfeit gave the U23 world bronze medalist Ogunsanya the victory.

At 57kg, Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR) also became a four time African champion adding to her gold medals from 2022, 2023 and 2025. She defeated Achouak TEKOUK (ALG), 8-4, a final much closer than the score indicates.

The third gold for Nigeria came at 62kg as world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) won all four of her round-robin bouts with ease. She outscored her opponents 40-0, winning all four bouts via technical superiority.

In her first bout against Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY), who finished with a silver medalist, Kolawole used only one minute to gets a takedown and four turns to win the bout, a virtual final in hindsight.

At 76kg, Damola OJO (NGR) defended her gold medal to become a two-time African champion and win the fourth gold medal for Nigeria. She defeated Pelagie WILITA (CMR), 3-1, in the gold medal bout.

Sabah KHAMIS (EGY)Sabah KHAMIS (EGY) celebrates after beating Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) in Round 1 bout at 68kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The only weight class in which Nigeria did not win a medal was 68kg. Local star and U20 African champion on Thursday Sabah KHAMIS (EGY) upset defending champion Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) in their round-robin bout.

In what turned out to be the match of the morning session as they met in Round 1, Khamis held on to a thrilling 8-7 victory over Rueben who now has eight African Championships medals with three golds and five silvers.

Photo

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) df. Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV), via inj. (7-1)

BRONZE: Zineb ECH CHABKI (MAR) df. Latifatu MOHAMMED (GHA), via forfeit
BRONZE: Cheima CHEBILA (ALG) df. Israa SLIMI (TUN), 8-0

57kg
GOLD: Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR) df. Achouak TEKOUK (ALG), 8-4

BRONZE: Chahd JELJELI (TUN) df. Sara ETTAKI (MAR), via fall (4-0)

62kg
GOLD: Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR)
SILVER: Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY)
BRONZE: Esraa JABRI (TUN)

68kg
GOLD: Sabah KHAMIS (EGY)
SILVER: Hannah RUEBEN (NGR)
BRONZE: Joseth MAVUNGU (ANG)

76kg
GOLD: Damola OJO (NGR) df. Pelagie WILITA (CMR), 3-1

BRONZE: Amy YOUIN (CIV) df. Rosine BODJRENOU (BEN), 10-0