Romania clinched two gold medals in wrestling on the opening day of Francophone Games competition in Kinshasa ©FRL

France and Romania sealed two golds each on the opening day of competition at the Francophone Games in Kinshasa.

Those came in freestyle wrestling as fighters battled it out for the first medals of the event in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Emma Luttenauer was the first to be crowned champion at the Tata Raphael Stadium after overcoming N'De Caroline Yapi of the Ivory Coast 3-0 in the women’s 50 kilogram gold-medal match.

France secured their second gold when Marwane Ahmed Yezza defeated Armenia’s Hrachya Margaryan 5-4 in the men’s 65kg final.

There was delight for Romania when Beatrice Ionela beat Lilya Yasmina Agnes Tugba Cohen of France 9-0 to win women’s 53kg gold.

Razvan-Marian Kovacs was Romania’s other gold medallist on the opening day after defeating Senegal’s Omar Faye 10-0 in the men’s 57kg final.


Miriam Ngoe Wase of Cameroon emerged victorious from the women’s 55kg category, beating Prisca Madunu Makiese of the DR Congo 10-8 in the battle for gold.

Zineb Hassoune of Morocco claimed the women’s 57kg title with a 12-3 win over Tunisia’s Faten Hammami.

Vrezh Gevorgyan delivered gold for Armenia with a 10-1 victory over home favourite Rabby Kilandi in men’s 61kg final.

Basketball competition also got underway with women’s group stage matches as Cameroon, Romania, Senegal, Lebanon and Benin all picked up victories.

There was also two football matches played as the men’s competition continued after starting yesterday.

Senegal drew 2-2 with Congo in Group B, while Cameroon and Lebanon finished 1-1 in Group C.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow with medals set to be awarded in road cycling and wrestling.