#WrestleIstanbul

#WrestleIstanbul: Oborududu Wins 68kg Gold; Tynybekova stunned

Friday, February 25, 2022 - 16:12 By Vinay Siwach

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ISTANBUL, Turkey (February 25) -- Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) clearly remembered her Olympic quarterfinal bout against Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ). She won that match, 3-2, but it wasn't as error-free as she wanted it to be. She earned two points for a takedown and a point for Zhumanazarova's inactivity but also surrendered a takedown and was on the verge of losing.

With lessons from that Tokyo bout, Oborududu stepped on the mat for her 68kg final against Zhumanazarova at the Hamit Kaplan Ranking Series in Istanbul, Turkey, with confidence.

"I wrestled her in the quarterfinals in Tokyo, but here, I knew it would be tougher," Oborududu said. "I had to keep myself from attacking too much. My coach told me to move before attacking. I can say it was easy."

Both wrestlers were cautious at the beginning of the match, and the referee warned Zhumanazarova for her inactivity. At the end of the first period, Oburududu led 1-0.

Zhumanazarova was dinged again for passivity at the start of the second period. She became desperate to score, but Oborududu defended her Kyrgyz opponent's shot attempts and gained the 2-0 lead. 

"I was calculating a lot in my mind," she said. "I knew if she scored, then she would get two points. So I needed it to be 3-2."

With 40 seconds remaining, Oborududu managed to score a stepout, which proved crucial in the end. That also gave her a first Ranking Series gold after two silver and a bronze-medal finish.

Comparing the two bouts, the African champion felt that Zhumanazarov might have taken the Istanbul bout a little easy.

"She was a bit better in Tokyo than here because everyone prepares better for the Olympics," she said. "I needed to be careful to get gold. In Tokyo, I attacked to get two points and then one passivity to win, 3-2. That was difficult.

"I am so excited. Now I have African Championships in May and then the Commonwealth Games. I want to win a world medal in September."

Tserenchimed SUKHEETserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) defeated Macey KILTY (USA) in the 62kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Pin to win

Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) had an out-of-favor Olympic cycle before Tokyo. After winning the world title in 2014 and a silver medal in 2015, Mongolia hoped Sukhee would become their country's first Olympic champion. 

Unfortunately, Sukhee failed to qualify for Rio, and after losing in the semifinals of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Almaty, she could not punch her ticket for the Tokyo Games.

"I was devasted after the loss in Almaty," Sukhee said. "I worked hard on my skill and techniques to improve. I have focused on my condition as well."

That was evident today, as she made her way to the final with three big wins. She pinned Tokyo bronze medalist Tabye YUSEIN (BUL), Rio bronze medalist Sakshi MALIK (IND) and beat Rio bronze Marwa AMRI (TUN), 11-0.

Furthermore, she did so in a bracket that featured two-time world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), who lost in the first bout.

She faced a familiar opponent in the finals. A month back, Sukhee and Macey KILTY (USA) were in the gold-medal bout at the Ivan Yarguin Grand Prix. The Mongolian had no trouble getting past Kilty, winning that match, 12-0. The two made their way back to the final at the Hamit Kaplan Ranking Series events in Istanbul Friday, with Kilty hoping to avenge that loss.

But that dream quickly faded Sukhee bombed three four-point throws inside the first period to win 12-0, a score that mirrored the Yargiun final.

"I have done many camps in the USA and trained with her," she said. "The final from January also helped me prepare for this, and it was easy for me."

TynybekovaLais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) defeated two-time world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Earlier, Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) used her pace to score a pair of stepouts over Tnynbekova, then rallied to score three takedowns to beat the Tokyo silver medalist, 8-0.

Before that, the Brazilian recovered from 8-0 deficit to beat Anastasiia PAROKHINA (RWF), 11-8.

Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) was another wrestler who went on a pinning spree on Friday. She secured four wins via fall, including one in the 57kg final.

The Tokyo bronze medalist began with a quick pin over Ozge FINDIKCI (TUR). She followed that up with a similar pin over Aisha UALISHAN (KAZ) to reach the quarterfinal. It turned out to be a lot closer than she thought but ultimately prevailed over Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), 10-6.

Tokyo silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) thought she had secured a win over Nikolova when she led 6-4 in the semifinal, but Nikolova once again brought out the cradle to secure the win.

Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) had also made her way to the 57kg final after three wins out of four via pin, setting up a finals matchup of big pinners.

The Mongolian was leading 6-0, and it seemed Nikolova might go home with a silver medal, but out of nowhere, she held Khurelkhuu on the back to get the gold.

"I practice the technique a lot, and it has been working," Nikolova said.

Aiperi MEDETKYZYAiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) used two exposure to win over Martina KUENZ (AUT). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The last gold medal of the day went to U23 world champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), who fell behind 4-2 in the finals against Martina KUENZ (AUT), but with 40 seconds remaining, hit two crotch lifts. That turned the bout on its head and gave the Kyrgyzstan wrestler a 6-4 win.

Turkey Wins GR Team Title

Turkey grabbed the Greco-Roman team title after three gold medals on the second day. Selcuk CAN (TUR) won the 72kg gold, Yunus BASAR (TUR) won at 77kg and Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) claimed the gold at 82kg.

This was after two gold Thursday and Turkey finished on the top with 205 points. Kazakhstan finished second with 131 points, while Azerbaijan finished in third with 127 points.

At 77kg, Basar held off world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 2-1. The two exchanged inactivity points, but Basar secured the one-point win with a late step out.

In the 82kg finals, Akbudak won with a similar scoreline, as he beat Mihail BRADU (MDA), 2-1.

More than the final, it was the semifinal that mattered more. In an anti-climatic rematch of Oslo's 82kg world final, Akbudak stunned Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE), 9-0, after rolling the Azeri with four exposures.

At 72kg, Can got a walkover after Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) pulled out injured.

Evelina NIKOLOVAEvelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) won the 57kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

GR RESULTS

72kg
GOLD: Selcuk CAN (TUR) df Kristupas SLEIVA (LAT), via injury default 

BRONZE: Murat DAG (TUR) df Ensar KARABACAK (TUR), 8-5
BRONZE: Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) df Mikko PELTOKANGAS (FIN), 5-2

77kg
GOLD: Yunus BASAR (TUR) df Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 2-1

BRONZE: Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV (KAZ) df Viktor NEMES (SRB), 1-1
BRONZE: Furkan BAYRAK (TUR) df Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), 6-5

82kg
GOLD: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) df Mihail BRADU (MDA), 2-1 

BRONZE: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) df Ilimdor SATAYEV (KAZ), 11-0
BRONZE: Tunjay VAZIRZADE (AZE) df Rakhmet SAPIYEV (KAZ), 7-1

WW RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) df Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), via fall

BRONZE: Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), 8-3
BRONZE: Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RWF) df Anhelina LYSAK (POL) , 7-6

62kg
GOLD: Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) df Macey KILTY (USA), 11-0

BRONZE: Marwa AMRI (TUN) df Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), 5-4
BRONZE: Svetlana LIPATOVA (RWF) df Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), 6-5

68kg
GOLD: Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) df Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 3-0

BRONZE: Khanum VELIEVA (RWF) df Tatiana SMOLIAK (RWF), 10-0
BRONZE: Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) df Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ), 11-0

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df Martina KUENZ (AUT), 6-4

BRONZE: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) df Victoria FRANCIS (USA), 5-1
BRONZE: Francy RAEDELT (GER) df Ekaterina BUKINA (RWF), 13-11

#WrestleBudapest

World C'ships hopefuls battle it out in Budapest Ranking Series

Monday, July 14, 2025 - 14:51 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 13) -- The Budapest Ranking Series, held at this time of year, serves as the primary team selection event for most countries heading into the World Championships. Rather than conducting domestic trials, nations use this international competition to identify their top wrestlers for each weight class.

Georgia, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan will be among the top countries looking to finalize their Greco-Roman teams during the July 17-20 tournament in Hungary capital.

Azerbaijan, one of the strongest Greco-Roman nations, is bringing all three of its 2024 world champions. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), the 55kg world champion, and Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), the 63kg world champion, are both entered at 60kg. Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE), the 72kg world champion, will compete at 77kg alongside Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE).

Mammadli is on a hot streak, having claimed European and world titles in 2024 before adding the 2025 European gold at 60kg. Meanwhile, Azizli, a European silver medalist at 55kg, enters the 60kg bracket for two key reasons: to challenge Mammadli and avoid a significant weight cut.

Ganizade and Suleymanov did not win medals at the European Championships but will battle it out at 77kg in Budapest to make the team.

Paris Olympic bronze medalist and European champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) is at 72kg, up from his preferred 67kg as he prepares for the World Championships without forcing himself to reduce weight.

Similarly, hosts Hungary will have tough battles among local wrestlers. European 72kg champion Levente LEVAI (HUN) is moving up to 77kg and his brother Zoltan, a regular at 77kg, is now at 82kg. But so is world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) and it will be toss-up between the two to make the World Championships team.

The 87kg continues to be a heavily contested weight class as Tamas LEVAI (HUN), Istvan TAKACS (HUN) and European champion David LOSONCZI (HUN) are entered and the winner is likely to take the spot for the Zagreb Worlds.

At 130kg, Darius VITEK (HUN) and Koppany LASZLO (HUN) will fight it out for the spot.

The competition, however, won't be limited to these team selection battles. Many other top wrestlers are also entered, aiming for final preparations before the World Championships in Zagreb from September 13-21.

Here's the breakdown of each weight class:

55kg: European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) will be the favorite in the bracket which also has 2024 European champ Artiom DELEANU (MDA), United States phenom Jayden RANEY (USA), Mongolia Ranking Series winner Anil MOR (IND) and world bronze medalist Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB).

The Budapest tournament will be a big test for teenagers Mor and Raney as they compete at the senior level.

60kg: Apart from Azizli and Mammadli, Pridon ABULADZE (GEO), world U20 medalist SUMIT (IND), Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), former world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA), European silver medalist Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), Sadyk LALAEV (UWW), Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (UWW) and world U23 champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB) rack up a stacked bracket.

Mammadli will still be the favorite, coming in as the European champion. He will also be keen on avenging his Zagreb Open loss to Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB). Azizli, who has tried to make 60kg before in his career, will have a big task as he has struggled to match up against bigger-sized wrestlers at this weight class.

Tibilov made the finals in Bratislava but lost to Mammadli. He will be keen on getting a rematch in Budapest. Lalaev, who lost to Tibilov, has a chance to avenge that loss to the Serbian. He also has to battle it out with Allakhiarov as both are fighting for a spot at the World Championships as UWW wrestlers in Zagreb.

Ganiev, who has impressed with world U23 gold and Asian Championships silver, can be a problem for others in the bracket.

63kg: Red-hot Kerem KAMAL (TUR) will try to maintain his winning streak of 2025 as he enters the fourth tournament of the year. He won gold in Tirana, Bratislava and Ulaanbaatar in dominant fashion. He will be in Budapest at 63kg as the favorite.

European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) has a chance to avenge his loss in the final to Kamal but a strong bracket means he has bigger hurdles as well.

World U23 champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT), Dinislam BAMMATOV (UWW) and Sergey EMELIN (UWW) are entered to gain ranking points in Budapest.

67kg: With Jafarov moving up to 72kg for this tournament, former world champions Leri ABULADZE (GEO) and Sebastian NAD (SRB) along with a few others can win the gold.

Abuladze needs to win gold to make the World Championships over European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) who will also look to beat his compatriot and earn his ticket to Zagreb.

Kazakhstan's world U23 champion Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) has not shown the same form since winning the world gold in 2023. He has a chance to be in Zagreb with good performance in Budapest. He also has Din  KOSHKAR (KAZ) fighting for the same spot.

Add Ruslan BICHURIN (UWW) to the bracket as he can easily take the gold medal to surprise the field at 67kg.

Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) is a world U23 champion at 72kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

72kg: Three Georgians are entered at 72kg -- Iuri LOMADZE (GEO), Otar ABULADZE (GEO), Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO). The winner will get the spot on the Georgian team for the World Championships but the challenge is to win the tournament.

Lomadze failed to win a medal at the European Championships which created an opportunity for world bronze medalist Abuladze and world U23 champion Chkhikvadze to enter the race for a spot on the team.

Former world champion Ali ARSALAN (SRB), who missed out on a medal at the Europeans, would be keen on getting back to winning ways before the World Championships where he won bronze last year.

Jafarov won't be too worried about his result here as he neither gains ranking points nor is his Azerbaijan team spot in danger.

77kg: Both Ganizade and Suleymanov have a chance to make the world team for Azerbaijan. Even if Ganizade misses the podium, he will most likely be back to 72kg. Still, it spices up the 77kg in Budapest.

Levai, who won 72kg European gold, will be challenging the 77kg field in Budapest as he prepares for the World Championships. His win in Bratislava has forced his brother Zoltan to move to 82kg. Levai has rock-solid defense and can score points from different positions.

But big-throwing wrestlers like Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) and Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) are entered in the competition.

Gutu missed the European Championships and his place was taken by Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA). Now, both are fighting for the 77kg spot for Moldova. Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) will be hoping to build on his gold, his first-ever in any championships. 

Other significant names include Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO), Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR), Yunus BASAR (TUR) and Kamal BEY (USA).

82kg: European champion Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) will be challenged more than the Euros in Budapest. While he has mastered the European field, the Asian wrestlers can pose some unique challenges.

Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) and Samandar BOBONAZAROV (UZB) are the big names entered from Asia. Also add the two Kazakhstan wrestlers, Dias KALEN (KAZ) and Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ). World U23 silver medalist Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) will also be a tough competitor from the U.S.

Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO), Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) and Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) are some of the European stars.

87kg: Always regarded as the toughest weight class in Greco-Roman, the 87kg doesn't have a clear favorite. Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) will only be at his third competition this year after he won the Zagreb Open early in the year and then the invitational Thor Masters last month. It remains to be seen how rusty he looks coming back from the break.

Hungarian trio -- Levai, Takacs and Losonczi -- are fighting it out for the spot on the team and Losonczi will be the favorite to win, like last year.

The biggest challenge will come from Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW), Alan OSTAEV (UWW) and Aues GONIBOV (UWW). Only one of the three can be at the World Championships and that will add motivation for them to win the tournament.

Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) are also entered as they look to earn some ranking points for World Championships.

Islam ABBASOV (AZE), Ivan HUKLEK (CRO), Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ) and Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) are also in the bracket, making it even more unpredictable.

97kg: A mini-battle for Azerbaijan will be between Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) and Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE), while Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) and Magomed MURTAZALIEV (UWW) will vie for UWW spots. Sargasian suffered a surprising loss at the European Championships but will hope to make the world team.

Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) and Alex SZOKE (HUN) are other big names in the competition.

130kg: European silver medalist Hamza BAKIR (TUR) will be the favorite to win the gold medal at 130kg despite the presence of Beka KANDELAKI (AZE),  Heiki NABI (EST), Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) among others.

Hungary has Darius VITEK (HUN) and Koppany LASZLO (HUN) competing for the 130kg spot for Hungary. 

Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) is a surprise entry at 130kg from Serbia as he seems to struggle to make the 97kg weight class

The United States has three entries -- Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA), Aden ATTAO (USA) and Courtney FREEMAN (USA).