#WrestleHammamet

LIVE BLOG: African and Oceania Olympic Qualifier , Day Two

By Eric Olanowski

HAMMAMET, Tunisia (April 3) -- Women's wrestling takes center stage on Day 2 of action at the African and Oceania Olympic Qualifier.

19:20:  The semifinal session just wrapped up. We'll take a few-minute break and roll right into the medal matches.

19:11: This'll be the final match of the semifinal session. We'll take a quick break and roll right into the medal matches. 

19:07: Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) continues to roll past the competition at 68kg. She's barely broke a sweat in her first two matches. She's scored back-to-back technical superiority wins on the day. Oborudud's first came against Enas Mostafa Youssef Khourshed AHMED (EGY) and her second came against Anta SAMBOU (SEN). She'll wrestle Khadija JLASSI (TUN) in the third round. 

18:53: After dominating semifinal performances, Fatoumata CAMARA (GUI) and Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) qualified Guinea and Tunisia for the Olympic Games at 57kg. Camara pinned Rayane HOUFAF (ALG) after leading 6-0, and Bouseta scored two takedowns, two exposures and a reversal to defeat Eman EBRAHIM (EGY), 9-2.

18:35: How about that? Rckaela AQUINO (GUM) scored five first-period takedowns against Siwar LOUATI BEN ALI (TUN) and booked Guam a ticket to the Olympic Games at 53kg. She's the second women's wrestler ever from Guam to qualify for the Olympic Games. 

18:22: After leading 10-0, Joseph Emilienne ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR) pinned Lamia CHEMLAL (ALG) and qualified Cameroon for the Olympic Games at 53kg. That was her second win of the day via fall. In her first match, Essombe Tiako pinned her '20 finals opponent Bose SAMUEL (NGR) in less than a minute. 

18:21: ICYMI: Tunisia Tallies Four GR Olympic Berths on Friday

18:13: There's going to be one more 50kg Round 4 match. After that, the next four matches will determine Olympic berths as 53kg and 57kg are traditional brackets.

18:07: We're back to action! The match order is posted below. Outside of 53kg and 57kg, the majority of these matches will be Nordic-style bracket matches -- meaning the winners may not punch their nation's tickets to Tokyo. They'll have to finish in the top two to book a spot at the Tokyo Olympics.

HAMMAMET, Tunisia (April 3) -- Women's wrestling takes center stage on Day 2 of action at the African and Oceania Olympic Qualifier.

12:40: That concludes the morning session. We'll return at 18:00 for the women's wrestling Tokyo Qualification round.

Traditional-Bracket Semifinal Matches:

53kg
SEMIFINAL - Siwar LOUATI BEN ALI (TUN) vs. Rckaela Ramos AQUINO (GUM) 
SEMIFINAL - Joseph ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR) vs. Lamia CHEMLAL (ALG) 

57kg
SEMIFINAL - Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) vs. Eman EBRAHIM (EGY) 
SEMIFINAL - Fatoumata CAMARA (GUI) vs. Rayane HOUFAF (ALG) 

12:35: This'll be the last match of the morning session. 

12:13: What a match! Amri comes out on top, 3-1. She waited for the inactivity clock to expire, and once it did, she struck with a takedown and won by two points. Smart wrestling on behalf of the Tunisian. 

12:03: One of African women's wrestling biggest rivalries Amri and Adeniyi just started on Mat B.

11:57: This session is flying by! We only have two matches left on each mat. 

11:39: That didn't last too long! Hamza was quick to hit a nasty headlock. She pinned Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) and will wrestle Debora TURE (GBS) in two matches on Mat C!

11:30: Samar HAMZA (EGY) is coming up next on Mat A. The reigning African champ is ranked No. 2 in the world at 76kg after her runner-up finish at the '21 Matteo Pellicone in Rome earlier this year.

11:22: Amri only led 1-0 after the first frame but is a different wrestler here in the second. She stopped an attack from Berthe ETANE NGOLLE (CMR) then snagged two gut wrenches and closed out the match 7-0. Amri's next match will be against Aminat ADENIYI (NGR) -- the last African wrestler to hand her a loss.

11:19: Rio Olympic bronze medalist iMarwa AMRI (TUN) is up now on Mat A! 

11:10: We barely had time to get situated and we already had a '20 African finals rematch go down! Joseph ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR) hip tossed Bose SAMUEL (NGR) and earned the 24-second fall. That match was in the opening round at 53kg.

11:00: We're ready to get things roll on Day 2! Below you'll find the opening round match order for the morning session. 

#development

UWW unites UNAOC on #OneHumanity Campaign to promote global change

By United World Wrestling Press

VEVEY, Switzerland (November 7) --- United World Wrestling (UWW) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) have joined forces to support the #OneHumanity campaign. This collaboration aims to harness the power of sports to promote social inclusion, intercultural dialogue, and peace-building efforts worldwide.

As part of their partnership, UWW and UNAOC will work together to leverage the global reach and influence of wrestling to advance the goals of the #OneHumanity campaign.

The campaign, initiated by UNAOC, focuses on fostering unity, understanding, and solidarity among diverse communities through the shared values of respect, inclusion, and equality.

By uniting their efforts, UWW and UNAOC aim to utilize wrestling as a platform to advocate for social change and create opportunities for dialogue and collaboration across cultures. Through this collaboration, both organizations seek to highlight the transformative power of sports in promoting harmony and breaking down societal barriers.

The #OneHumanity campaign emphasizes the importance of embracing diversity and empowering individuals to become agents of positive change. UWW's dedication to promoting inclusivity and UNAOC's commitment to intercultural dialogue align seamlessly with the campaign's core principles.

"We are thrilled to partner with United World Wrestling in promoting the #OneHumanity campaign," said Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the High Representative for UNAOC. "Wrestling, with its deep-rooted history and global appeal, serves as an ideal vehicle to convey the message of unity and togetherness. Together, we can inspire individuals and communities to embrace diversity and work towards a more inclusive and peaceful world."

As part of their collaborative efforts, UWW and UNAOC will organize joint initiatives, awareness campaigns, and educational programs that highlight the values of respect, diversity, and equality. Through these activities, they aim to engage wrestling communities, athletes, coaches, and fans in promoting a culture of inclusivity and social cohesion.

"We are honored to partner with UNAOC for the #OneHumanity campaign," said Mr. Nenad LALOVIC, President of United World Wrestling. "Wrestling transcends borders, cultures, and backgrounds, and we firmly believe in its power to bring people together. By collaborating with UNAOC, we can leverage wrestling's global reach to promote understanding, respect, and unity among individuals from all walks of life."

The collaboration between United World Wrestling and UNAOC for the #OneHumanity campaign is a testament to the shared commitment to harness the power of sports for social good. Together, they aim to create a lasting impact and inspire positive change within the wrestling community and beyond.

About United World Wrestling:

United World Wrestling is the international governing body for the sport of wrestling and oversees wrestling competitions across the globe. With a commitment to promoting fair play, inclusivity, and gender equality, UWW strives to inspire athletes and contribute to the development of wrestling as a sport and a way of life.

About UNAOC:

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is a political initiative of the United Nations that works towards bridging divides and promoting understanding between cultures and religions. Through various programs and partnerships, UNAOC seeks to create a more inclusive and harmonious world by addressing issues of youth, migration, media, education, and women as agents of peace.