#WrestleZagreb

WATCH: 10 women's wrestling finals from Zagreb

Thursday, February 9, 2023 - 10:27 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 9) -- The Zagreb Open marked the start of the 2023 season and some of the biggest names in women's wrestling took the mat. Japan returned to the ranking series after a gap of four years. China, the USA, Azerbaijan and other strong nations too sent their teams to the competition.

Here are the 10 women's wrestling finals from the Zagreb Open

50kg: GOLD - Jiang ZHU (CHN) vs. Yui SUSAKI (JPN) 

53kg: GOLD - Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL)

Round 5: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) vs. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)

57kg: GOLD - Yongxin FENG (CHN) vs. Sae NANJO (JPN)

59kg: Round 2 • Yui SAKANO (JPN) vs. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

GOLD: 62kg - Grace BULLEN (NOR) vs. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN)

65kg: GOLD - Mallory VELTE (USA) vs. Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN)

72kg: GOLD -  Skylar GROTE (USA) vs. Dalma CANEVA (ITA)

76kg: GOLD - Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. Yelena MAKOYED (USA)

Olympic silver medalist Oborududu announces retirement

Saturday, June 7, 2025 - 07:10 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

NIGERIA (June 6) -- Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) announced her retirement last week, ending a memorable career in wrestling.

The 36-year-old called it quits at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, a tournament she made her first appearance as a young wrestler in 2006.

In a career spanning 19 years, Oborududu won the African Championships 13 times, became the first African wrestler to win Olympic silver medal in Women's Wrestling and finished fifth at the Paris Olympics.

Oborududu participated won her first gold at the African Championships in 2010 and maintained her winning streak at the tournament for 15 years. 

“I want to thank everyone who has been part of my journey: the Nigeria Wrestling Federation led by Daniel IGALI, the board members, my teammates, and my family,” Oborududu was quoted as saying by the Nigeria media. "I created a lot of memories, but my most memorable one was the Tokyo Olympics, which ignited hope across Africa. It was the first-ever medal by an African woman in wrestling at the Olympics, and I hope more will come for future wrestlers."

At the sports festival, Oborududu helped Team Bayelsa clinch gold medal in her final bout at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival. He later received a farewell from teammates, officials and fans.