#WrestleTunis

World champ Maroulis suffers shock loss at Zouhaier Sghaier

Friday, July 15, 2022 - 19:57 By Vinay Siwach

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TUNIS, Tunisia (July 15) -- Helen MAROULIS (USA) was closing in on a routine win. She was 7-2 against Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) and had 45 seconds to defend to make the 57kg final.

But Maroulis got hit with a single leg as Kamaloglu built up momentum. Dragging Maroulis to the zone, Kamaloglu scored a takedown and turned the world champion on her back before securing a fall. The U23 European champion celebrated the win, making the final over the Olympic bronze medalist and in a convincing manner.

A gold would have been a cherry on the cake but Kamaloglu could not finish the day on a high as Giullia DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) kept her quiet before securing a fall with two seconds left in the bout.

Kamaloglu led 1-0 at the break as De Oliveira was called passive in the first period. But the Brazil wrestler got the criteria lead 1-1 after Kamaloglu was called for inactivity. With just 30 seconds left on the clock, the Turkey wrestler got on a one-on-one but De Oliveira tossed with her leg and secured the fall.

Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA)Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) dominated her way to 68kg gold in Tunis. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

The USA did win two gold medals in women's wrestling as four weight classes were contested on day two of the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series in the Tunisian capital.

Olympic champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) and Yelena MAKOYED (USA) came home with the gold medals at 68kg and 76kg respectively. The fourth gold went to Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) at 62kg.

Mensah Stock was making a comeback since the shock loss at the Oslo World Championships. But on Friday it seemed that she was never on a break, winning her three bouts with technical superiority. Silver went to Nisha DAHIYA (IND) who lost only to Mensah Stock while dominating her other bouts.

Makoyed, who had stunned everyone by winning the gold at Matteo Pellicone last month, had to work hard for her gold medal at 76kg as she was up against the USA World team member Dymond GUILFORD (USA).

The two had met in a Round 2 bout which Guilford won 7-6. Both then qualified for the final and it looked like Guilford will once again come out on top but a late takedown turned the bout in favor of Makoyed who won 5-2.

Makoyed broke the deadlock with a stepout despite Guilford getting on a single leg. But she was then called passive and Guilford led 1-1 at the break. In the second period, Guilford was called passive but as soon as the activity period ended, she scored a stepout to maintain the criteria lead of 2-2.

But with 22 seconds remaining, Makoyed managed to takedown Guilford and score the all-important two points. A lost challenge added the final point.

Guilford would rue the missed chances to score a takedown especially when she got behind Makoyed early in the bout but instead of putting her on the mat, she turned and scored a stepout.

For Makoyed, the win meant that she has now finished at the top of the podium in the three international tournaments she has been part of. Last year, she won the U20 Pan-Am Championships before the Matteo Pellicone high two weeks back.

World bronze medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) won the bronze medal after beating Francy RAEDELT (GER) 3-1.

At 62kg, Niemesch defeated Lais NUNES (BRA) 4-2 in Round 2 and followed that up with a 4-2 win over Sakshi MALIK (IND) to win the gold. Nunes had earlier pinned Malik which proved crucial as she secured the silver.

Tunisian star Marwa AMRI was also entered in the draw but she did not take the mat and all her bouts were forfeited.

Emrah KUS (TUR)Emrah KUS (TUR) won the 82kg gold for Turkey. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Turkey wins 2 GR gold

The three remaining Greco-Roman weight classes were also in action on Friday and Turkey added two more golds to the three it won on Thursday.

Murat DAG (TUR) won the gold at 72kg while Emrah KUS (TUR) sneaked through to win the gold at 82kg based on classification points.

Dag faced Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN) in Round 3 and in a tense bout, he came out on top 4-0. He was awarded a stepout before Tarhouni was called passive which made Dag's lead 2-0. He then got a turn from par terre to make it 4-0 and maintained that lead for the win.

At 82kg, Kus had lost a bout to Lamjed MAAFI (TUN) while Harpreet SINGH (IND) came into the third round with two wins under his belt. A win for Kus would tie him with Singh with two wins each.

He led 1-0 when Singh was called passive and then a front chest wrap got him four points to make it 6-0. A takedown then confirmed his 8-0 win and the gold. Since Singh and Kus were the only wrestlers with two wins each, the gold went to Kus due to the head-to-head win.

At 77kg, Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) first defeated Furkan BAYRAK (TUR) 6-1 in the morning session and later dominated Belhasan AZAOUZI (TUN) in an 8-0 win.

The remaining six women's and two freestyle weight categories will be in action Saturday.

Day 2 Results

Greco-Roman

72kg
Round 3: Murat DAG (TUR) df. Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN), 4-0

Final standings
GOLD: Murat DAG (TUR)
SILVER: Kenedy PEDROSA (BRA)
BRONZE: Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN)

77kg
Round 3: Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) df. Belhasan AZAOUZI (TUN), 8-0
Round 3: Furkan BAYRAK (TUR) df. Joilson DE BRITO (BRA), 8-0

Final standings
GOLD: Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL)
SILVER: Furkan BAYRAK (TUR)
BRONZE: Joilson DE BRITO (BRA)

82kg
Round 3: Emrah KUS (TUR) df. Harpreet SINGH (IND), 8-0 
Round 3: SAJAN (IND) df. Lamjed MAAFI (TUN), via fall

Final standings
GOLD: Emrah KUS (TUR)
SILVER: Harpreet SINGH (IND)
BRONZE: SAJAN (IND)

Women's Wrestling

57kg
GOLD: Giullia DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), via fall 

BRONZE: Mansi AHLAWAT (IND) df. Helen MAROULIS (USA), via injury default

62kg
Round 3: Lais NUNES (BRA) df. Marwa AMRI (TUN), via forfeit
Round 3: Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) df. Sakshi MALIK (IND), 5-2 

Final standings
GOLD: Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)
SILVER: Lais NUNES (BRA)
BRONZE: Sakshi MALIK (IND)

68kg
Round 3: Nisha DAHIYA (IND) df. Ranim SAIDI (TUN), 10-0
Round 3: Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) df. Grabriela DA ROCHA (BRA), 10-0

Final standings
GOLD: Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA)
SILVER: Nisha DAHIYA (IND)
BRONZE: Grabriela DA ROCHA (BRA)

76kg
GOLD: Yelena MAKOYED (USA) df. Dymond GUILFORD (USA), 5-2

BRONZE: Samar HAMZA (EGY) df. Francy RAEDELT (GER), 3-1 

#WrestleBudapest

Ranking Series: Tazhudinov Shows No Rust on His Way to Gold

Thursday, July 17, 2025 - 21:32 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 17) --  Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) gave an early preview to what to expect from him at the World Championships in September.

The Paris Olympic champion won the gold medal in the 97kg weight class at the Budapest Ranking Series, outscoring his opponents 44-2 in four bouts and never appearing in trouble on the mat.

"I feel very good," Tazhudinov said. "I'm very happy to be back on the mat. It’s been almost a year I haven’t been competing  and it’s such a pleasure for us when you come back and win a gold medal."

The final Ranking Series event of the season kicked off in Budapest on Thursday with several familiar names winning gold medals. Asian champion Takara SUDA (JPN), world silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), world U20 champion Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) and SUJEET (IND) were among the gold medalists on day one.

But none were as dominant as Tazhudinov.

The Bahrain star returned to competition for the first time since Paris Olympics competing last week in Madrid, where he won gold at the Grand Prix of Spain. In Budapest, he followed it up with another flawless run, claiming his second gold medal in as many weeks.

"Overall I’m satisfied with my performance. I would say I’m not yet in full form, so I’m pleased with how I did. I’ll reach 100% form by the World Championships," he said.

Wrestling in just his third career Ranking Series, Tazhudinov capped the day with an 11-0 technical superiority win over veteran Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) in the final.

He opened the tournament with a 14-2 win over Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA), who clearly looked smaller for the weight class and had trouble matching Tazhudinov in every aspect of the game.

Tazhudinov hit a big double-leg attack for four points but Viskhanov got two points for exposure. But that was only opening Tazhudinov allowed for the rest of the bout. Viskhanov tried a few leg attacks but Tazhudinov scored a takedown and two turns to be up 10-2 before an arm-bar attempt turned into takedown for his win.

In the quarterfinals, Tazhudinov needed just one minute to defeat Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (UWW). In the semifinals, he dispatched Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO) in 1:48, winning 10-0.

Despite the dominant performance in Budapest, Tazhudinov admitted the World Championships would present a tougher challenge. He’s expected to defend his 97kg world title in Zagreb.

"We’ll have two training camps leading up to the World Championships, and I think after those camps I’ll be fully ready," he said. "There will be very strong, tough opponents. So I’ll prepare thoroughly and focus on performing even better."