Ukraine Leads Bulgaria By Ten Points After Day 4

Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 20:31 By Eric Olanowski

BUCHAREST, Romania (April 11) - Ukraine’s national anthem played three times on Thursday night as Oksana LIVACH, Iryna HUSYAK, and Alla CHERKASOVA captured three of the five women’s wrestling European Championships titles on the fourth day of wrestling in Bucharest, Romania. Ukraine, who finished Day 4 with 85 points, leads Bulgaria by 10 points heading into the final day of the women’s wrestling competition.

In the 50kg gold-medal bout, Oksana Livach trailed 4-4 on criteria with under 15 seconds left but was able to gain the 6-4 outright advantage over her Bulgarian opponenet Miglena SELISHKA to win her first senior-level European title.

Ukraine’s second European champion came at 55kg, where Iryna Husyak also defeated a Bulgarian wrestler to win a gold. Husyak trailed Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL), 4-2, after the first period, but was the aggressor in the second period. She scored eight points off two takedowns and a four-point throw to reach the top of the continental podium for the first time with a 10-4 victory.

Reigning world champion Alla Cherkasova gave Ukraine their third and final Day 4 gold medal. In what turned out of being the most exciting bout of the day, Cherkasova and her Czech Republic opponent Adela HANZLICKOVA combined to score 17 points. But, it was the reigning world champion who prevailed in the end, winning the 68kg gold medal, 11-6.

Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) won her second consecutive European title with a 3-0 victory in the 59kg finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Bulgaria, who sits in second place in the team race, finished with one champion and two silver medals.

Bilyana DUDOVA was Bulgaria's Day 4 champion, where she won the title at 59kg. The reigning world runner-up at 57kg made the smooth transition up to 59kg and capped off her run to her second consecutive continental gold medal, stopping Russia’s Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS), 3-0. Dudova scored an inactivity point and a takedown off a Russian tie and helped Bulgaria claim the 25 first place points.

Bulgaria's two silver medals came from the aforementioned Miglena Selishka and Evelina Nikolova who fell short in the 50kg and 55kg gold-medal bouts respectively.

Turkey is in third place heading into the final day of women's wrestling. They had a champion in Yasemin ADAR and a trio of bronze medalists, Evin DEMIRHAN, Bediha GUN, Elif YESILIRMAK.

Yasemin Adar, last year's world runner-up, was the final women’s wrestler who won a gold medal on Day 4. Adar defeated Austria’s Martina KUENZ (AUT), 6-1, using an arm spin and four-point throw to win her fourth consecutive European title.

Adar, who entered the European Championships ranked No. 2 in the world, will take over the top spot in the world after her title-winning performance in Bucharest.

Greco-Roman wrestling begins tomorrow at 11:30 (local time) and can be followed on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

RESULTS

Team Scores
GOLD - Ukraine (85 points)
SILVER - Bulgaria (75 points)
BRONZE - Turkey (70 points)
Fourth - Azerbaijan (41 points)
Fifth - Romania (35 points)

50kg
GOLD - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL), 6-4
BRONZE - Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR) df. Stefania PRICEPUTU (ROU), 10-2
BRONZE - Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Turkan NASIROVA (AZE), 10-3

55kg
GOLD - Iryna HUSYAK (UKR) df. Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL), 10-4
BRONZE - Andreea ANA (ROU) aforementioned. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 6-4
BRONZE - Bediha GUN (TUR) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), 10-0

59kg
GOLD - Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS), 3-0
BRONZE - Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) df. Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN), 5-1
BRONZE - Elmira GAMBAROVA (AZE) df. Anhelina LYSAK (UKR), 11-6

68kg
GOLD - Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) df. Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE), 11-6
BRONZE - Anna FRANSSON (SWE) df. Iryna Petrovna NETREBA (AZE), 5-2
BRONZE - Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) df. Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU), 8-3

76kg
GOLD - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Martina KUENZ (AUT), 6-1
BRONZE - Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) df. Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU), via fall
BRONZE - Zsanett NEMETH (HUN) df. Iselin SOLHEIM (NOR), 6-1

#WrestleAlexandria, #WrestleParis

Sghaier beats Hamza; New Zealand, Algeria earn historic Paris Olympic spots

Saturday, March 23, 2024 - 20:16 By Vinay Siwach

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (March 23) -- For a second consecutive day at the African & Oceania OG Qualifiers in Alexandria, Egypt suffered a heartbreak.

On Friday, Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) failed to earn a Paris Olympic spot in Greco-Roman. And today, two-time world medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) suffered a stunning loss in Women's Wrestling to miss out on the Paris spot.

Apart from Hamza, the tournament threw a few other surprises as six nations shared the 12 Paris spots with Nigeria winning the most with four. Algeria, Guam and Tunisia won two each while Egypt and New Zealand got one each. Algeria and New Zealand qualified for the Olympics for the first time in Women's Wrestling.

Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN), an African champion at 72kg and Tokyo Olympian, once again earned her qualification at 76kg. Beating Hamza made it even more special.

Six wrestlers were divided into two groups of three each. Samar HAMZA (EGY) topped her group while Amy YOUIN (CIV) finished second. In the other group, African champion Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) topped the group and Sghaier was second as she had lost to Rueben in the first match.

Hamza and Sghaier faced each other in the semifinal and Sghaier was slow to start before hitting a headlock four-pointer and Hamza could only score two points. In the second period, Sghaier inside-tripped Hamza for two more points. Hamza responded with a four but Sghaier recovered from the throw and held Hamza on the mat for a pin. While it was not confirmed, Hamza was cautioned for fleeing, adding two more points to Sghaier's score.

Hamza got a takedown and on another attempt, Sghaier hit a hip toss and helped Hamza to the mat to secure the fall and earn the Paris spot.

In the other semifinal, Rueben completely blocked Youin to score a 6-0. Rueben's was Nigeri's fifth Paris Olympic quota as Odunayo ADEKOUROYE (NGR) won one at the World Championships.

Nigeria's Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) showed her class at 68kg again, winning the semifinal against Uilau TARKONG (PLW) via fall in just 24 seconds.

Tayla FORD (NZL) is the first to qualify New Zealand for Olympics in Women's Wrestling. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Tayla FORD (NZL) made sure that New Zealand will have a representative at the Olympics in Women's Wrestling for the first time as she won the spot after pinning Samah ABDELLATIF (EGY) in the other semifinal at 68kg.

The only weight class in which Nigeria is yet to qualify is the 50kg as African champion Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) suffered a 7-5 loss to Nada MOHAMED (EGY) in the semifinal.

The Rio Olympian led 2-2 at the break and scored a stepout at the start of the second period to lead 3-2. But Nada got a stepout to earn a 3-3 criteria lead. However, that lead was short-lived as Genesis answered with a takedown and led 5-3 with 50 seconds left on the clock.

Nada scored a stepout with nine seconds remaining and in a dramatic turn of events, she snapped Genesis who pointed out that there was no whistle from the referee to restart. But Nada was awarded the two points which Genesis challenged but lost.

Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG) earned an Olympic quota at 50kg, a first for Algeria. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In another close semifinal, Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG) got the better of Chahrazed AYACHI (TUN), 9-6, becoming the first Algeria wrestler to qualify the nation in Women's Wrestling. She led 4-0 using two takedowns before Ayachi scored a reversal and exposure to cut the lead to 4-3.

Doudou had to pay the price for being defensive as Ayachi scored a stepout in the second period and later a go-behind to lead 6-4. Ayachi became defensive soon after and Doudou hit a single leg and elevated Ayachi who fell as Doudou tried making it a double-leg. She was awarded four points, giving her an 8-6 lead with 28 seconds left.

Ayachi tried her options but gave up a stepout as Doudou celebrated earning a spot in the Olympics while Ayachi could not control herself as soon as the match ended.

Tunisia's second quota came in 62kg as Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) dominated Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG) in the semifinal. Her 12-1 win ensured that Tunisia continued its African dominance at the weight even after Marwa AMRI's (TUN) retirement. Amri now coaches the Tunisian team.

The other wrestler to qualify at this weight was African champion Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) who defeated Angelina RODRIGUES MIRANDA (CPV) 10-0 in just 24 seconds.

Rckaela AQUINO (GUM) after qualifying Guam for the Paris Olympics at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Aquino sisters win

The Aquino sisters from Guam, Mia and Rckaela, earned Paris Olympic spots after winning the semifinals at 53kg and 57kg. Mia has wrestled at the Tokyo Olympians but Rckaela will go to her first Olympics.

Both posted contrasting victories in their respective semifinals as Mia pinned Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN) after scoring 11 points and Rckaela managed a close 4-3 win over Faten HAMAMMI (TUN) who scored all her points in the first period.

Rckaela trailed 3-2 at the break and showed some frantic wrestling in the second period which did not threaten Hamammi. However, her constant movement managed to tire Hamammi who gave up a takedown with 20 seconds left. Rckaela needed to defend her 4-3 lead for 10 seconds which she did and won the Paris spot.

Qualifying with Mia at 53kg is African champion Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) who rolled to a 10-0 win over Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY). At 57kg, Chaimaa AOUISSI (ALG) earned the second spot after beating Natacha NABAINA (CMR) 11-8.

RESULTS

50kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG) df. Chahrazed AYACHI (TUN), 9-6
SF 2: Nada MOHAMED (EGY) df. Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR), 7-5

53kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Mia AQUINO (GUM) df. Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN), via fall (11-0)
SF 2: Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) df. Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY), 10-0

57kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Chaimaa AOUISSI (ALG) df. Natacha NABAINA (CMR), 11-8
SF 2: Rckaela AQUINO (GUM) df. Faten HAMMAMI (TUN), 4-3

62kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) df. Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG), 12-1
SF 2: Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) df. Angelina RODRIGUES MIRANDA (CPV), 10-0

68kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF1: Tayla FORD (NZL) df. Samah ABDELLATIF (EGY), via fall
SF 2: Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) df. Uilau TARKONG (PLW), via fall

76kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) df. Samar HAMZA (EGY), via fall (14-8)
SF 2: Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) df. Amy YOUIN (CIV), 6-0

Ukraine Leads Bulgaria By Ten Points After Day 4

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Sghaier beats Hamza; New Zealand, Algeria earn historic Paris Olympic spots