#WrestleBirmingham

Ravi, Punia, Oborududu headline this week’s Commonwealth Games

Monday, August 1, 2022 - 11:30 By Eric Olanowski

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BIRMINGHAM, England (August 1) --- Some of wrestling’s biggest freestyle and women’s wrestling stars will be headed to Birmingham, England this week, as the 21st edition of wrestling at the Commonwealth Games gets underway August 5-6.

The stacked entry list includes 14 returning medalists – five of which are looking for back-to-back Commonwealth Games golds. But the list is headlined by superstars Kumar RAVI (IND) Bajrang PUNIA (IND) and Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR).

Oborududu and Ravi won silver medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games, while Punia claimed bronze.

Ravi will be making his first appearance at the prestigious Commonwealth Games, while Oborududu and Bajrang will be looking to reach the top of the podium for a second consecutive time.

On the freestyle side of the competition, outside of Ravi and Bajrang, the list of seven returning medalists is headlined by 2018 CWG champ Muhammad INAM (PAK) who’ll compete at 86kg.

Lightweight star Ravi will wrestle at the Olympic weight of 57kg in England after he’s jumped between 57kg and 61kg at the Yasar Dogu, Dan Kolov and Asian Championships. This season, the 25-year-old product from the wrestling powerhouse state of Haryana has a 12-1 record. He’s won golds at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event and Asian championship and settled for Dan Kolov silver after falling to Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), 7-1, in the gold-medal match.

His biggest competition in England will be Ebikewenimo WELSON (NGR). The 30-year-old has represented Nigeria at the CWG at every Games since 2010 and has finished with two silvers and a bronze, with the latter coming in 2018.

At 65kg, Bajrang walks into Birmingham as the unquestionable favorite to win the gold. India’s first-ever three-time world medalist will likely have to get past the 12-man bracket’s lone returning CWG medalist in Amas Daniel (NGR). It’ll be Daniel’s fourth straight appearance wrestling at the CWG, where he’s finished with two bronze medals and had a fourth-place finish in 2010.

Muhammad Inam (PAK) is the third returning freestyle champion in action. His biggest competitor at 86kg will be one of the world’s fastest rising stars in Deepak PUNIA (IND)

Punia announced his presence on the senior circuit at the 2019 World Championships, where he stormed past the field to reach the finals and punch India ticket to the Olympic Games. In Tokyo, Punia led Myles AMINE (SMR) in the bronze-medal match but surrendered a last-second takedown and settled for fifth place in Tokyo.

Another guy who could stir up the pot at 86kg is Syerus Eslami (ENG). He’ll be looking to improve on his bronze-medal in front of a friendly English crowd.

In women’s wrestling, there will be stars galore.

Vinesh VINESH (IND), Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) and Oborududu are the trio of returning champs eying a shot at adding their name to the short list of Commonwealth Games two-timers.

Vinesh will return to the mat for the second time since her emotional toll-taking Tokyo Olympic exit which resulted in a ninth-place finish. After taking four months off, she returned to action at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event and finished in fifth place. Her pair of losses came at the hands of Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) and Ekaterina ISAKOVA (RWF).

Vinesh’s biggest threat will likely be Canada’s Samantha STEWART (CAN). If the two meet, it’ll be a rematch from the 2021 Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event semifinals where the Indian picked up the fall via cradle 42 seconds into the first period.

Tokyo fifth-place finisher Joseph ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR) is on a quest to become Cameroon's first-ever Commonwealth Games champion. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

At 57kg, there are three tier one wrestlers who should vie for the gold medal. Most people expect to see returning champion Adekuoroye or 2021 world silver  Anshu Anshu (IND) in the finals, but Joseph ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR) is a wrestler who could stop the highly anticipated bout between the Nigerian and Indian.

Coming into Birmingham, Cameroon is 0-3 in gold-medal matches. Essombe Tiako is looking to rewrite the history books as she moves up to 57kg from her Tokyo Olympic fifth-place weight of 53kg.

There’s no secret that Oborududu headlines the 68kg women’s field. The Olympic runner-up and returning CWG champion will likely have to stop Divya KAKRAN (IND) if she wants to join Adekuoroye and Adeniyi OLUWAFUNMILAYO (NGR) as Nigeria’s only two-time CWG women’s wrestling winners.

Follow United World Wrestling on all social media channels for live updates from the Commonwealth Games.

Bajrang PUNIA (IND) is one of three Tokyo Olympic medalists that'll be in action in Birmingham. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle returning medalist::
57kg - Ebikewenimo Welson (NGR) – bronze
65kg - Bajrang Bajrang (IND) – gold
65kg - Amas Daniel (NGR) – bronze
74kg - Curtis Dodge (WAL) - bronze
74kg - Charlie Bowling (ENG) -– bronze
86kg - Muhammad Inam (PAK) – gold
86kg - Syerus Eslami (ENG) – bronze

Women’s wrestling returning medalist:
50kg Miesinnei Mercy Genesis (NGR) – bronze
53kg - Vinesh Vinesh (IND) – gold
57kg - Odunayo Folasade Adekuoroye (NGR) – gold
62kg - Sakshi Malik (IND) - bronze
68kg - Blessing Oborududu (NGR) – gold
68kg - Divya Kakran (IND) – bronze
76kg - Georgina Nelthorpe (ENG) – bronze

Freestyle
57kg
Ebikewenimo Welson (NGR)
Romio Ricardo Goliath (NAM)
Ravi Kumar (IND)
Darthe Capellan (CAN)
Justin Holland (AUS)
Suraj Singh (NZL)
Ali Asad (PAK)
Harvey Ridings (ENG)
Jakobo Tanki Tau (RSA)
Gary Giordmaina (MLT)

65kg
Amas Daniel (NGR)
Jason Shannon Afrikaner (NAM)
Bajrang Bajrang (IND)
Lowe Bingham (NRU)
Jean Guyliane Joris Bandou (MRI)
Lachlan Mcneil (CAN)
Mostafa Rezaeifar (AUS)
Brahm Richards (NZL)
George Ramm (ENG)
Inayat Ullah (PAK)
ROSS CONNELLY (SCO)
Adam Vell12a (MLT)

74kg
Ogbonna Emmanuel John (NGR)
Mathayo Matonya Mahabila (KEN)
Mohamed Sesay (SLE)
Jasmit Singh Phulka (CAN)
Hong Yeow Lou (SGP)
Cole Hawkins (NZL)
Thorn Demeritte (BAH)
Charlie Bowling (ENG)
Muhammad Sharif Tahir (PAK)
Arno Van Zijl (RSA)
NICOLAE COJOCARU (SCO)
Curtis Dodge (WAL)
Shanith Yoda Pedige (SRI)
Jacob Ntuyo (UGA)
Naveen Naveen (IND)
John Vake (TGA)

86kg
Ekerekeme Agiomor (NGR)
Lesyan Cousin Otomuro (JAM)
Abdur Roshid Hawladar (BAN)
Sheku Kassegbama (SLE)
Deepak Punia (IND)
Jean Frederic Marianne (MRI)
Alexander Moore (CAN)
Weng Luen Gary Chow (SGP)
Jayden Lawrence (AUS)
Taitaifono Tamati (SAM)
Matthew Oxenham (NZL)
Syerus Eslami (ENG)
Muhammad Inam (PAK)
Edward Lessing (RSA)
KIERAN MALONE (SCO)
Suresh Warnakulasuriya Fernando (SRI)
CHARALAMPOS CHOIRAS (CYP)

97kg
Nishan Randhawa (CAN)
Thomas Barns (AUS)
Maulalo Willie Alofipo (SAM)
Rashji Mackey (BAH)
Tayab Raza Awan (PAK)
CAMERON NICOL (SCO)
Sione Sika (TGA)
Nicolaas De Lange (RSA)
Deepak Deepak (IND)

125kg
Aaron Johnson (JAM)
Liton Biswas (BAN)
Mohamed Bundu (SLE)
Kensley Anthony Marie (MRI)
Mohit Mohit (IND)
Amarveer Dhesi (CAN)
Mandhir Kooner (ENG)
Zaman Anwar (PAK)
Aaron Lehauli (TGA)
ALEXIOS KAOUSLIDIS (CYP)

Odunayo Adekuoroye (NGR) is looking to become a three-time Commonwealth Games champion. She'll compete at 57kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Rebecca Ndolo Muambo (CMR)
Madison Parks (CAN)
Miesinnei Mercy Genesis (NGR)
CHRISTELLE LEMOFACK LETCHIDJIO (SCO)
Shriyanthika Niroshani Sinhala Pedige (SRI)
Pooja Gehlot (IND)

53kg
Mercy Bolafunoluwa Adekuoroye (NGR)
Vinesh Vinesh (IND)
Samantha Stewart (CAN)
Chamodya Keshani Maduravalage Don (SRI)

57kg
Odunayo Folasade Adekuoroye (NGR)
Joseph Emilienne Essombe Tiako (CMR)
Zainab Barrie (SLE)
Anshu Anshu (IND)
Veronica Ayo (UGA)
Sophia Omutichio Ayieta (KEN)
Hannah Taylor (CAN)
Danielle Sue Ching Lim (SGP)
Irene Symeonidis (AUS)
Shannon Harry (WAL)
Nethmi Poruthotage (SRI)

62kg
Esther Omolayo Kolawole (NGR)
Berthe Emilienne Etane Ngolle (CMR)
Dola Khatun (BAN)
Ana Godinez Gonzalez (CAN)
Kelsey Barnes (ENG)
ABBIE FOUNTAIN (SCO)
Sachini Weraduwage (SRI)
Sakshi Malik (IND)

68kg
Blessing Oborududu (NGR)
Blandine Nyeh Ngiri (CMR)
Tithy Roy (BAN)
Divya Kakran (IND)
Amylee Sephora Aza (MRI)
Linda Morais (CAN)
Sarah Clossick (ENG)
Chloe Spiteri (ENG)
Tiger Lily Cocker Lemalie (TGA)
TAYLA FORD (NZL)

76kg
Hannah Amuchechi Rueben (NGR)
Madusu Koroma (SLE)
Marie Celeste Andrea Vilbrun (MRI)
Justina Di Stasio (CAN)
Naomi De Bruine (AUS)
Michelle Montague (NZL)
Georgina Nelthorpe (ENG)
Pooja Pooja (IND)

#WrestleBaku

Paris Olympic qualification bouts in Women's Wrestling set

Saturday, April 6, 2024 - 05:25 By United World Wrestling Press

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (April 6) -- Six Women's Wrestling weight classes will be in action at the European Olympic Games Qualifier in Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday. To win the 12 Paris 2024 quotas, wrestlers have to win the semifinal in their respective weight classes.

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WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 REPORT

Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts Line-Up

50kg
SF 1: Mariya STADNIK (AZE) vs. Oksana LIVACH (UKR)
SF 2: Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (AIN) vs. Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)

53kg
SF 1: Annika WENDLE (GER) vs. Andreea ANA (ROU)
SF 2: Natalia MALYSHEVA (AIN) vs. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)

57kg
SF 1: Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) vs. Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
SF 2: Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) vs. Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN)

62kg
SF 1: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) vs. Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
SF 2: Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA) vs. Alina KASABIEVA (AIN)

68kg
SF 1: Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) vs. Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL)
SF 2: Khanum VELIEVA (AIN) vs. Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR)

76kg
SF 1: Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) vs. Bernadett NAGY (HUN)
SF 2: Martina KUENZ (AUT) vs. Yasemin ADAR (TUR)

13:10: In the final bout of the session, Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (AIN) denies Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) a spot in the semifinals at 50kg, beating the Bulgarian 5-4.

13:00: Yasemin ADAR (TUR) is in the semifinal at 76kg. She takes out Rita TALISMANOVAAA (AIN) 11-0 and will wrestle for a Paris spot in the evening session.

12:56: Down goes Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist and European silver medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL). Leading 2-1, Nikolova gave up a takedown and Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) got the 3-2 lead. Nikolova tried to score a reversal but the clock expired. Bulgaria challenged but lost, adding one more point to Paruszewski's score.

12:55: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) takes out Julie SABATIE (FRA) 5-0 in the 50kg quarterfinals and sets up the semifinal against Mariya STADNIK (AZE) for a spot for the Paris Games.

12:53: Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) scores a late takedown to beat Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) 6-6 in the 53kg quarterfinals. She will face Natalia MALYSHEVA (AIN) in the semifinals. Malysheva defeated Zynep YETGIL (TUR) 11-0

12:45: Tokyo silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) scores a takedown with 10 seconds left on the clock to beat Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN) 4-2 in the 57kg quarterfinals. Big win for Kurachkina. 

12:37: 51 seconds and we are done! Mariya STADNIK (AZE) rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority over Gabija DILYTE (LTU) in the 50kg quarterfinal. She will face the winner of Oksana LIVACH (UKR) and Julie SABATIE (FRA)

12:35: Moving into the semifinals at 57kg with another dominant victory is Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR). She rolls to a 10-0 win over Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE).

12:20: Dominance from Martina KUENZ (AUT). She beats the European Championships silver medalist Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTOVA (UKR) 10-0 in one minute and moves into the 76kg semifinals for tonight. Kuenz last competed at the Bishkek Ranking Series in June 2023.

12:15: European champion at 55kg Andreea ANA (ROU) moves into the 53kg semifinals with a technical superiority 11-0 win over Veronika RJABOVOLOVA (MKD).

12:05: Annika WENDLE (GER) takes out Sztalvira ORSUS (HUN) 2-1 at 53kg. No action points were scored but Wendle got the technical points to move into the semifinals

11:55: How did that happen? Mimi HRITSOVA (BUL) was leading 8-0 when Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) got her in a cradle and pinned Hritsova! The Bulgarian is shellshocked.

11:50: European champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) with a strong gut game to beat Epp MAE (EST) 12-1 at 76kg. Mae will have to try to qualify for the Paris Olympics in Istanbul now.

11:45: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) doesn't let Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) to take any advantage this time. She avenges her European Championships loss and moves into the semifinals at 62kg with a 9-0 win.

11:35: European silver medalist Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) was trailing 8-8 on criteria against Vanesa GEORGIEVA (BUL) but came back to beat her 14-8 at 76kg. She moves into the quarterfinals.

11:30: Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) with a fall over Othelie HOEIE (NOR) in her first bout since the World Championships. Hrushyna was out due to an injury but looks fully recovered 

11:15: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) sees off Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) 7-1 and moves on at 53kg. She will face Natalia MALYSHEVA (AIN) for a semifinal spot.

11:10: Annika WENDLE (GER), down 3-1 with 15 seconds remaining, hits a front headlock for four and gets the win over Jowita WRZESIEN (POL). Wendle avoided an attempted big throw from Wrzesien as well.  

11:00: In a battle of two Tokyo Olympians, Mimi HRITSOVA (BUL) holds off Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) 4-2 to advance at 68kg. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) beats Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) 10-3 at 68kg.

10:50: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), who is down at 68kg from her usual 72kg weight class, rolls to an 11-0 win over Ilana KRATYSH (ISR). At the same weight, Tokyo Olympian Khanum VELIEVA (AIN) beats Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT) 10-0 in a minute and 15 seconds. 

10:40: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) gets her campaign underway with a 4-1 win over Eniko ELEKES (HUN) at 62kg. She will now face Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) in the quarterfinals. Lindborg defeated Dudova at the European Championships in February

10:30: Welcome to Women's Wrestling day at the European OG Qualifier in Baku. Can Mariya STADNIK (AZE) be the first woman wrestler to qualify for five Olympics? Will Yasemin ADAR (TUR) earn a qualifying or will we see some historic moments?