#WrestleNoviSad

U23 World Championships 2025 Greco-Roman Day 2 Highlights

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - 08:11 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 21) -- The U23 World Championships continue on second day in Novi Sad, Serbia. Greco-Roman will continue in 55kg, 67kg, 72kg and 97kg.

WATCH CENTER | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

15:10: Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) with a reversal when Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) got a turn which gives the Georgian a 5-4 lead and gives him the win and a place in the 67kg semifinals.

15:00: Alibek AMIROV (UWW), U23 European champion, is into the semifinals at 55kg at the U23 Worlds after a 9-0 victory over Vikramjit MORE (IND). Two defensive fouls from More in that match.

14:45: Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) has no mercy on Nurbolot BERDIKULOV (KGZ) as he rolls to a 13-3 technical superiority win at 55kg. Shamsipour, a 2024 U17 world champ, used his incredible gut-wrench to score his points.

14:30: Darius KIEFER (GEO) cannot survive the Maksim AVERIN (UWW) test! Kiefer, who has looked off color today, did well in the first period to be down only 1-0 but gives up two points in the second period to Averin who wins 3-1 to advance to the semifinals at 97kg

14:25: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) with a 5-3 victory over Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) at 72kg. He scores two front headlock turns from par terre while Nurullayev only scored a turn. 

14:00: Big match on Mat B as U20 world champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) takes on returning silver medalist Abubakr KHASLAKHANAU (UWW). The first points are scored by Khaslakhanau with a go-behind takedown for a 2-0 lead. Just before the break, Yakushenko with a cartwheel takedown to lead 2-2 on criteria. Khaslakhanau takes takes the lead back as Yakushenko called passive in the second period but he fails to score any points from par terre. Yakushenko has two minutes to make a comeback. He complains of a shoulder pain. Yakushenko with a stepout as the bout restarts and he takes a 3-3 criteria lead. He keeps his criteria lead and wins the bout 3-3 on criteria to advance to the semifinals.

13:55: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) scores a 7-1 victory at 67kg against Azat SARIYAR (TUR). Mohsen Nezhad is a two-time world U20 champion and making his U23 debut.

13:30: Andrea SETTI (ITA) with a four-pointer late in the match against Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) but the Georgian remains unfazed by the move and wins his 67kg bout 6-5.

13:20: World U20 champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) with a dominant win over Luka GABISONIA (GEO) at 97kg. He goes for a big four before getting a stepout to lead 5-0. A stepout and takedown to finish the bout 8-0 in the first period.

13:15: Returning silver medalist at 97kg Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (UWW) with a technical superiority win over world U20 silver medalist Mohammad SEYDI (IRI) as he wins 9-1. Three stepouts in that bout for him. He will face world U20 champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) next.

12:55: Darius KIEFER (GER) with a comeback in his 97kg bout against Tomislav BRKAN (CRO). Kiefier was down 3-2 but gets a par terre and turn to lead 5-3 before beating Brkan 7-4 and advance to the quarterfinals at 97kg.

12:30: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI), a two-time world U20 champion, gets a good warm-up with an8-0 win over Ardit ZENELI (ALB) in just a minute and 14 seconds at 67kg.

12:05: Mate VEGH (HUN) scored four points on Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) but the Iranian was just too too good for him. Mohammadi with 10 points in the match to beat Vegh 10-4 and advance at 72kg.

11:50: Hleb MAKARANKA (UWW) brings down world bronze medalist Daniial AGAEV (UWW) at 67kg. He gets four points from par terre while giving none as Makaranka wins 5-1 to advance at 67kg.

11:35: Vikramjit MORE (IND) gives India a win at 55kg as he beats Denis MIHAI (ROU). Mihai was up 1-0 but More pressures him towards the zone when Mihai tries a arm-throw but More blocks it for a takedown. He turns him for another two points to lead 4-1. Romania challenge for a slip throw but it is not and the challenge is lost. Mihai gets a point in the second period for par terre but More sails through 5-3.

11:20: Richard KARELSON (EST), senior European silver medalist, has no trouble in beating Javokhir SHODIYAROV (UZB) at 97kg. He scores the takedown 44 seconds in the second period to win 9-0.

11:05: U20 World silver medalist Hadi SEYDI (IRI) off to a good start as he scores a 10-0 win over Dorian TREJO OLGUIN (MEX) at 97kg. His next bout is against returning silver medalist Abubakr KHASLAKHANAU (UWW).

10:55: Darius KIEFER (GER), a U20 world silver and bronze medalist, off to a slow start as he beats Juan DIAZ BLANCO (VEN) 5-3 at 97kg. He scored a counter after Diaz's takedown and led 5-2. However, Kiefer defended his par terre for the win. 

10:30: Former Asian champion Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) opens his U23 Worlds campaign with a 6-0 win over Oleh KHALILOV (UKR) at 72kg.

#WrestleAlexandria

Wrestling World's Attention on Dunia after Golden Show

Sunday, May 3, 2026 - 09:50 By United World Wrestling Press

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ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (May 2) -- Dunia SIBOMANA (COD) was six years old when, in an instant, his childhood was shattered.

While playing with his brother and cousin at the Virunga National Park in the Congo, the three boys were attacked by chimpanzees. His brother and cousin did not survive. Dunia did, but just barely. The attack left him with devastating injuries to his lips, face, and right ear. Much of the muscle in his face was destroyed, and he lost the middle finger of his left hand. Yet from that unimaginable tragedy, a story of resilience began to take shape - one that saw rise to claim two golds at the African Championships in Alexandria.

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At just eight years old, Dunia was brought to the United States for a chance at rebuilding what had been taken from him. What followed was a long and gruelling journey through 14 intensive surgeries, where doctors painstakingly grafted tissue and muscle in an effort to reconstruct his lips and restore basic function to his face. Each procedure was another battle, each recovery another test of endurance.

During his time in the United States, Dunia lived with two host families before finding a permanent home with Long Beach assistant wrestling coach Miguel Rodriguez and his wife, Marissa. What began as care turned into something deeper. They adopted him, giving him not just stability but a family. In 2019, Dunia officially became a permanent U.S. resident.

That possibility found its outlet on the wrestling mat. Dunia emerged as a force in middle school and continued to rise through the ranks at Long Beach High School. His determination, forged through years of hardship, translated into a relentless drive. At just 14 years old, he captured the New York State Division 1 wrestling championship title in 2022, a stunning achievement that marked him as one of the sport’s brightest young talents.

On Saturday, Dunia’s journey reached another defining moment. Competing at 57kg for his birth nation, Congo, he claimed the gold medal with commanding authority. He opened with a tense 3-2 victory over Alaa ELSAYED (EGY), then surged past Mouadh CHIBANI (ALG) with a dominant 12-2 semifinal win. In the final, he needed just 51 seconds to overwhelm Roland NFORSONG (CMR), sealing a 10–0 technical superiority victory.

Dunia’s march to the top of the podium was even more remarkable because he was one of the two wrestlers in Freestyle not from Egypt or Algeria to win the gold medal. The other wrestler who put the brakes on Egypt’s dominance was Harrison ONOVWIOMOGBOHWO (NGR), who defeated Mohamed SALAHELDIN (EGY) 10-4 to win the gold medal in the 97kg category.

These two results, however, did not stop Egypt from running away with the team title. The host-nation wrestlers reigned supreme in six out of the 10 categories, winning gold medals in the 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg, 92kg and 125kg weight classes. Algeria were second best, claiming top-of-the-podium finishes at 79kg and 86kg divisions.

Hassan ELSAYED (EGY) started the fireworks for the hosts by defending his title at 61kg. He started with a flawless 12-0 win over Saviour EGOLI (NGR), then beat Rabby KILANDI (COD) on superiority in the second round. He maintained his unbeaten record by defeating Tadeu DE DEUS (ANG) in the third round and entering the semifinals, where he defeated Mustapha BATNINI (TUN) 11-0. In the final, Elsayed beat Abdelghani AID (ALG) 9-1 to win the title.

Shehabeldin MOHAMED (EGY) took just two minutes to pin Stephen AKINTEWE (NGR) in the 65kg final to claim the title. He used a perfect over-under to throw Akintewe and secure the fall. Soon after, Mohamed AHMED (EGY) was even quicker to win the 70kg final against Wotna NDOC (GBS), 12-1, rolling him using the gut-wrench to win in just 1:02 minutes and upgrading his 2025 silver to gold.

Defending champion at 74kg Omar MOURAD (EGY) managed to retain his gold medal after winning the final against Ebierelayefa ANDREW (NGR) in just 1:13. Mourad used a counter front headlock to throw Andrew over and then pinned the Nigerian used a double-arm lock.

Ahmed MOHAMED (EGY) added the fifth gold medal, beating Walid CHEIKH LAHLOU (MAR), 12-0, in the 92kg final. He used an arm-throw to score four points, then a fireman carry to get two more and lead 6-0. He could not pin Lahlou but got two more points for exposure. A second arm-throw gave him four more points and win the final via technical superiority.

In the round-robin bracket at 125kg, Abdelrahman SHEYATAN (EGY) won all four of his bouts in dominant fashion to claim the gold medal. He won his first bout against Joel TOKAI (KEN), 10-0, pinned Issah FUSEINI (GHA), got a forfeit in Round 4 and then pinned Laid KHELIF (ALG), the eventual silver medalist, in Round 5.

At 79kg, Abdelkader IKKAL (ALG) managed to defended his gold medal at the expense of Mohamed ABDELHADY (EGY), winning the final 10-0. A stepout opened the scoring for Ikkal who then scored a takedown using a leg-attack before lacing Abdelhady for a turn to lead 5-0. He tripped the Egyptian for two more points before an easy takedown made it 9-0. He finished the final with a stepout to win just before the break.

Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) reclaimed the 86kg title after three years, beating Gabriel MC DUFFIE (SLE), 12-0 in the final. He used two beautiful arm throws to score eight points and two turns for two points each. Despite the loss to Benferdjallah, McDuffie can be proud that he is the first-ever Freestyle silver medalist for Sierra Leone at the African Championships.

Photo

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Dunia SIBOMANA (COD) df. Roland TAMBI NFORSONG (CMR), 10-0

BRONZE: John LEOPOLD (MRI) df. Makaya KATENDI (ANG), 9-1
BRONZE: Mouadh CHIBANI (ALG) df. Alaa ELSAYED (EGY), 11-7

61kg
GOLD: Hassan ELSAYED (EGY) df. Abdelghani AID (ALG), 9-1

BRONZE: Saviour EGOLI (NGR) df. Mustapha BATNINI (TUN), 5-5

65kg
GOLD: Shehabeldin MOHAMED (EGY) df. Stephen AKINTEWE (NGR), via fall

BRONZE: Raby BAPELEKIA (CGO) df. Gilbert MWAMBA (ZAM), 11-0
BRONZE: Oussama LARIBI (ALG) df. Gabriel YANGA (COD), 10-0

70kg
GOLD: Mohamed AHMED (EGY) df. Wotna NDOC (GBS), 12-1

BRONZE: Khaireddine BEN TLILI (TUN) df. Mourad SAAD (MAR), via forfeit
BRONZE: Dideikemei EREFAGHA (NGR) df. Elie DJEKOUNDAKOM DJERAYOM (CHA), 12-0

74kg
GOLD: Omar MOURAD (EGY) df. Ebierelayefa ANDREW (NGR), via fall

BRONZE: Abderrahmane BENAISSA (ALG) df. Jacques MONTY MBOUGOU (CMR), 5-2
BRONZE: Caetano ANTONIO SA (GBS) df. Omar LAMBARRAA (MAR), 7-5

79kg
GOLD: Abdelkader IKKAL (ALG) df. Mohamed ABDELHADY (EGY), 10-0

BRONZE: Solomon ULABO (NGR) df. Totiana RAZAFINJATO (MAD), via fall
BRONZE: Andy MUKENDI (COD) df. Mohammed BOUAZOUNI (MAR), 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) df. Gabriel MC DUFFIE (SLE), 12-0

BRONZE: Mohamed EL MEKKAOUI (MAR) df. Persy BAMONA (COD), via fall
BRONZE: Matteo MONTEIRO FURTADO TRESSE (CPV) df. Bouba SALEH (CHA), 10-3

92kg
GOLD: Ahmed MOHAMED (EGY) df. Walid CHEIKH LAHLOU (MAR), 12-0

BRONZE: Kevin MOSSE (BUR) df. Tiwisna BAMBA (CHA), via fall

97kg
GOLD: Harrison ONOVWIOMOGBOHWO (NGR) df. Mohamed SALAHELDIN (EGY), 10-4

BRONZE: Wali KEBIR (ALG) df. Cedric ABOSSOLO (CMR), via inj. def.

125kg
GOLD: Abdelrahman SHEYATAN (EGY)
SILVER: Laid KHELIF (ALG)
BRONZE: Issah FUSEINI (GHA)