#GC2018

Olympic Champ Wiebe Eyes Back-To-Back Commonwealth Games Golds

Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - 14:01 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article
Olympic champion No. 8 Erica WIEBE (CAN)

GOLD COAST, Australia (April 11) - Over 100 wrestlers from 19 nations are set to compete in the Commonwealth Games, a multi-sport event that takes place every four years between athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. Freestyle and women's wrestling action at the 21st Commonwealth Games kicks off at Carrara Sports Arena 1 on April 12-14 in Gold Coast, Australia.

In women's wrestling, Canada, Nigeria, and India dominated the field at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland winning all seven of the gold medals.This year, six of the seven champions including Olympic champion No. 8 Erica WIEBE (CAN) return to the Commonwealth Games with hopes of repeating as gold medalists. 

Returning champion and Asian silver medalist Vinesh VINESH of India is currently ranked No. 2 in the world and is expected to compete for the gold medal at 50kg. 

The trio of African champions hailing from Nigeria are among the top contenders at the next three weight classes. 

At 53kg, 2018 African champion Bose SAMUEL (NGR) is currently ranked No. 6 in the world and is the frontrunner to win the gold medal. But first, she’ll have to get through a returning champion Babita KUMARI (IND) and a pair of 2017 world team representatives in Carissa Jane HOLLAND (AUS) and Diana WEICKER (CAN). 

Photo: 2018 African champion No. 7 Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR)

The duo of returning champions in No. 7 Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) and No. 9 Aminat Oluwafunmilayo ADENIYI (NGR) will look to pick up where they left off at the 2018 African Championships where they were crowned champions. 

Current world No. 2 Danielle Suzanne LAPPAGE (CAN) and No. 4 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) will most likely battle in the 68kg gold-medal bout. Lappage, a 2016 Olympian is the returning champion at this weight class. This will be Oborududu’s third time wrestling at the Commonwealth Games. She's finished with a medal twice, but never one that was gold. 

Freestyle
At the 20th Commonwealth Games, Canada won four freestyle gold medals and India secured the remaining three. 

Photo: Korey JARVIS (CAN)

Korey JARVIS (CAN), the 2016 Olympian and 125kg favorite is one of two champions who return from the 2014 Games. Also returning is 74kg favorite and two-time champion, Kumar SUSHIL (IND). Although three other finalists in Bajrang BAJRANG (IND), Jevon BALFOUR (CAN), and Ebikewenimo WELSON (NGR) come back with hopes of bettering their performance from four years ago. 

At 57kg, the veteran and two-time finalist No. 10 Ebikewenimo WELSON (NGR) returns to his third Commonwealth Games with hopes of avenging his loss in the African finals against No. 6 Jan Louwrens COMBRINCK (RSA). 

A potential top-five match-up could be brewing at 65kg with 2014 runner-up and this year’s Asian bronze medalist, No. 4 Bajrang and No. 5 Amas DANIEL (NGR), 2018 African champion.

Photo: Three-time Olympian Kumar SUSHIL (IND). 

If 2014 finalist Jevon Balfour expects a medal upgrade, he'll have to navigate through the 74kg favorite, two-time Olympic medalist Kumar Sushil.  

Headlining 86kg is Nigeria’s Melvin BIBO who is currently ranked No. 2 in the world. This is Bibo’s second appearance at the Commonwealth Games. In his first appearance, he finished as a bronze medalist at 74kg.  

Three top-15 wrestlers from African nations are set to clash at 97kg. No. 5 Martin ERASMUS (RSA), No. 9 Soso TAMARAU (NGR) and No.13 Cedric Yvan NYAMSI TCHOUGA (CMR) capped off the African Championships with gold, silver and bronze medal performances respectfully. Of these three, Olympian Soso Tamarau is the only wrestler with prior experience. Bibo did not medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games as he finished in fifth-place. 

FULL ROSTERS

SCHEDULE
April 12 (10:30 LOCAL TIME) 
Freestyle - 57kg and 74kg 
Women's Wrestling - 53kg and 76kg 

April 13 (10:30 LOCAL TIME) 
Freestyle - 65kg and 97kg 
Women's Wrestling - 57kg and 68kg 

April 14 (10:30 LOCAL TIME) 
Freestyle - 86kg and 125kg 
Women's Wrestling - 50kg and 62kg

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open 2026 Greco-Roman Day 1 Results & Highlights

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 - 17:22 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 4) -- The first day of the Ulaanbaatar Open will feature seven Greco-Roman weight classes. The third Ranking Series stop offers vital Ranking points which will in turn help earn a seed at the World Championships.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | ULAANBAATAR OPEN PREVIEW

14:35: 97kg semifinals - Minho LEE (KOR) showed some fight but eventually fizzled out as Nurassyl AMANALY (KAZ) secured the fall after a 10-4 lead. Amanaly will face Asian silver medalist NITESH (IND) in the final after the Indian defeated Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), 4-1. 

14:10: The 87kg semifinals took some time but they are done! Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ) finished his semifinal with a 9-0 victory over Seunghwan LEE (KOR) and in the second semifinal, Asian bronze medalist Sunil KUMAR (IND) held on to a 3-1 victory over Luis AVENDANO (VEN) after scoring a turn from par terre in the second period.

Switching to remaining semifinals on one mat!

13:45: An all-Bulgarian final at 82kg! Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL) wins his semifinal 9-1 in the first period against Imur TEMIRBEKOV (KGZ) while Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) blanks Lkhagvasuren DASHJAMTS (MGL), 9-0.

13:30: At 77kg, Amuguleng BAI (CHN) with a four-point throw in the final 10 seconds to stun Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ), 7-6, and advance to the finals. Bai was trailing 6-3 but out of nowhere he launches Orunkul Uulu to secure the win. He will face Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL) for the gold medal after he posted a controlled 3-1 win over Yeonghun NOH (KOR)

13:20: No mercy from Iranian duo of Danial SOHRABI (IRI) and Javad REZAEI (IRI) in 72kg semifinals. A very identical bout in their respective matches as both Sohrabi and Rezaei won in 1:39 seconds and score of 9-0. Sohrabi defeated Amanat SAMAT UULU (KGZ) while Rezaei moved past Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) and will meet in the 72kg final.

13:15: The semifinals will begin with 67kg. Murat FIRAT (TUR) up against Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND) in the semifinals. He scores a stepout before given a par terre position from which he turns Sahrawat and then lifts him to throw for four points. India challenge the last throw but loses it and Firat wins 9-0. He will face Xinxin JIN (CHN) for the gold medal after Jin upsets Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (AUS), 4-2, in the other semifinal.

12:45: Payam AHMADI (IRI) does it! He wins the gold at 55kg after winning his Round 4 bout against Emin CAKIR (TUR), 9-0, his fourth technical superiority win of the morning session. He completed a 17-second win in Round 3. 

12:20: Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (AUS) continues his dominant run at 67kg as he beats Karanjit SINGH (IND), 12-3. Singh got the par terre and scored a turn but Shimoyamada used an arm-throw to take a 4-3 lead. He used another arm throw but did not succeed. However, he wrapped Singh's arm around his head to turn the Indian twice and lead 8-3. He used a reverse lift for four points to finish the bout right at the stroke of the break.

12:00: Continuing the round-robin bracket at 55kg, world silver medalist Payam AHMADI (IRI) with two beautiful throws over Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL) to win his second bout 8-0. Two more wins and he will claim the gold medal.

11:45: At 97kg, Asian silver medalist NITESH (IND) has to work hard for his 3-1 victory over Juan DIAZ (VEN) in the quarterfinals. Nitesh is the favourite to win the gold medal but still needs two more wins.

11:22: Asian silver medalist Javad REZAEI (IRI) takes less than two minutes to complete a 10-0 win over former U23 world champion Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) at 72kg. Two Iran wrestlers are entered at 72kg. Apart from Rezaei, Sohrabi is also wrestling in Ulaanbaatar with Iran hoping that they face each other and the winner likely to get the spot on the Iran team for the World Championships.

11:15: European silver medalist Murat FIRAT (TUR) takes some time but manages an 8-0 technical superiority victory over ALAMUSI (CHN) in 4:49 at 67kg.

11:10: No troubles for world bronze medalist and defending champion in Ulaanbaatar, Danial SOHRABI (IRI) as he finishes Borgil TUVSHINBAATAR (MGL) in just a minute and 26 seconds at 72kg. Sohrabi wins 10-0

11:00: Former Asian champion Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (AUS) with a statement win over Man Gwang SON (PRK) at 67kg. He got highlight reel going with big four-pointers as he moves on with a 10-1 victory

10:52: Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) with a big head lock throw and holds ANIL (IND) for a fall in the opening round bout at 72kg.

10:45: World silver medalist Payam AHMADI (IRI), in a Nordic bracket at 55kg, begins with a technical superiority win over Asian silver medalist LALIT (IND). He scored a takedown to lead 2-0 before given the par terre position. From 3-0, he scored a turn to make it 5-0 and Lalit committed a leg foul which gave two more points to Ahmadi. India challenge the call but it is lost, giving an 8-0 victory to Ahmadi 

10:30: Welcome to Ulaanbaatar Open in the Mongolian capital. Seven Greco-Roman weight classes will kick off the competition.