#WrestleAlmaty

Watch: Bolat Turlykhanov Cup ten freestyle finals

Wednesday, June 8, 2022 - 10:13 By Vinay Siwach

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ALMATY, Kazakhstan (June 8) -- The Bolat Turlykhanov Cup marked the second Ranking Series event of the year and wrestlers took this opportunity to grab some crucial ranking points.

Iran brought a strong freestyle team with three world champions and a U20 world champion to Almaty. All four of them reached the final of their respective weight classes with three winning gold.

Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang PUNIA (IND) suffered a shock loss for the first time at a Ranking Series but returned to win the bronze medal at 65kg.

Here are the 10 freestyle finals from Almaty.

57kg: Round 5 - AMAN (IND) vs. Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ)

 

61kg - GOLD: Zhassulan TASKUL (KAZ) vs. Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ)

 

65kg: GOLD - Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) vs. Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)

 

70kg: GOLD - Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) vs. Rodion ANCHUGIN (KAZ)

 

74kg: GOLD - Byambadorj BAT-ERDENE (MGL) vs. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)

 

79kg: GOLD - Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ) vs. Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ)

 

86kg: GOLD - Boris MAKOEV (SVK) vs. Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)

 

92kg: GOLD - Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) vs. Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)

 

97kg - GOLD: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) vs. Batyrbek TCAKULOV (SVK)

 

125kg: GOLD - Amir ZARE (IRI) vs. Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ)

Olympic silver medalist Oborududu announces retirement

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

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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.