In one region of Senegal, girls can become wrestlers — and win. But only until marriage

MLOMP, Senegal (AP) — It’s almost dusk, and the West African heat is finally faltering. In Mlomp, a village in southern Senegal, dozens of teenagers in colorful jerseys are throwing each other to the ground to the rhythm of Afrobeats against a backdrop of palm trees.

It's a common sight across Senegal, where wrestling is a national sport and wrestlers are celebrated like rock stars. The local variation of wrestling, called laamb in Wolof, one of the national languages, has been part of village life for centuries. Senegalese wrestle for entertainment and to celebrate special occasions. The professional version of the sport draws thousands to stadiums and can be a catapult to international stardom.

But in most of the country, wrestling remains off-limits for women.

There is one exception. In the Casamance region, home to the Jola ethnic group, women traditionally wrestle alongside men. At a recent training session in Mlomp, most teenagers on the sandy ground were girls.

“It's in our blood,” said coach Isabelle Sambou, 43, a two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion. “In our village, girls wrestle. My mum was a wrestler, my aunts were wrestlers.”

But once Jola women marry, they are expected to stop practicing and devote themselves to family life, considered the main duty of Senegalese women regardless of ethnicity or religion.

Sambou's aunt, Awa Sy, now in her 80s, was the village champion in her youth, and said she would even take down some men.

“I liked wrestling because it made me feel strong,” she said, standing outside her house nestled between rice fields and mangroves. “I stopped when I got married." She didn't question it at the time.

That hasn't been the case for her niece, who, despite her humble demeanor and small size, exudes strength and determination. She defied many barriers to become a professional athlete.

As a teenager, Sambou was noticed by a professional wrestling coach at a competition during the annual Festival of the King of Oussouye, one of the few events accessible to women. The coach suggested that she try Olympic wrestling, which has a female national team. But she only agreed after her older brother convinced her to do it.

Wrestling brought Sambou, who did not finish primary school, to the Olympic Games in London and Rio de Janeiro, where she placed outside the medal contenders. But being a successful professional female athlete in a conservative society comes with a price.

“If you are a female wrestler, people are going to make fun of you,” Sambou said, recalling her experiences in parts of Senegal beyond her home region. “When I walked around in shorts, people were saying: ‘Look, is it a woman or is it a boy?’"

Others claimed that her body would change and she would no longer look like a woman.

Such things can “get to your head,” Sambou said. “But I tell myself: They don’t know what they are talking about. It’s in my blood, and it brought me where I am today.”

In 2016, facing her mid-30s, she decided to retire from professional sport and move back to her village.

“I thought it was the time to stop and think of something else, maybe find a job, start a family," she said. “But that hasn't happened so far.”

Instead, she focused on finding “future Isabelles.” After not fulfilling her dream of winning an Olympic medal, she hopes a girl she coaches can achieve that.

That mission has been complicated by the lack of resources. Female sport is often underfunded, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Around Sambou's village, there are no gyms where girls can do strength training. They don't have the special shoes used in Olympic wrestling, and instead train barefoot. They don't have mats, so they make do with sandy grounds.

And yet, at Africa’s youth championship in wrestling held in June in Senegal's capital, Dakar, Sambou’s students won 10 medals, including six golds.

“Despite everything, they did magnificent work,” she said.

She has received little in return. Senegal has no pension system for retired professional athletes. Her lack of formal education complicates her career as a coach. She helps to coach the national wrestling team, both men and women, but on a voluntary basis. To get by, she works in a small shop and cleans people's houses.

“I gave everything to wrestling, to my country,” she said. “Now I don’t have anything. I don't even have my own house. It hurts a bit.”

She listed the countries she has visited, including the United States and Switzerland, while sitting outside the home she shares with relatives. Her bedroom is decorated with a picture of Virgin Mary and posters celebrating her participation in championships — the only sign of her glorious past.

“It's difficult to be a professional athlete. You have to leave everything behind," she said. “And then you stop, and you come back here and you sit, without anything to do.”

But times are changing, and so is the perception of women in Senegalese society. These days, parents seek out Sambou and ask her to coach their children, regardless of their gender, even if it's still for free.

Sambou's 17-year-old niece, Mame Marie Sambou, recently won a gold medal at the youth championship in Dakar. Her dream is to become a professional wrestler and compete internationally. The big test will come in two years when Senegal hosts the Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event ever organized on African soil.

“It's my aunt who encouraged me to start wrestling,” she said. “When I started, many people were saying they have never seen a girl wrestle. But I never listened to them. I want to be like her."

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Coach Isabelle Sambou, 43 years old, two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion, plays with children at her house in Mlomp, southern Senegal, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

Coach Isabelle Sambou, 43 years old, two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion, walk past tall trees around her house in Mlomp, southern Senegal, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

Coach Isabelle Sambou, 43 years old, two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion, prepares her room in Mlomp, southern Senegal, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

Coach Isabelle Sambou, 43 years old, two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion, cleans a mirror inside her room in Mlomp, southern Senegal, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

Coach Isabelle Sambou, 43 years old, two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion, right, talks with her aunt Awa Sy, a former wrestler, in Mlomp, southern Senegal, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

Young women coached by Isabelle Sambou, two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion, wait before a wrestling training in Mlomp, southern Senegal, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

Coach Isabelle Sambou, 43 years old, two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion, back to camera, speaks to young women before a wrestling training in Mlomp, southern Senegal, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

Coach Isabelle Sambou, 43 years old, two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion, center, explains moves to young women during a wrestling training, in Mlomp, southern Senegal, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

Coach Isabelle Sambou, 43 years old, two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion, left, speaks to young women during a wrestling training in Mlomp, southern Senegal, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

Coach Isabelle Sambou, 43 years old, two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion, left, explains a move during a wrestling training in Mlomp, southern Senegal, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

Coach Isabelle Sambou, 43 years old, rear, two-time Olympian and nine-time African wrestling champion, explains a move to a young woman during a wrestling training in Mlomp, southern Senegal, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — India has a new batting hero after 21-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy showed the poise of a veteran to score his maiden century, leading his team’s comeback against Australia on day three of the fourth test.

At stumps on Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India (358-9) still trailed Australia (474) by 116 runs on the first innings, but it could have been much worse.

Reddy, playing in just his fourth test and batting at No. 8, rescued India from a shaky 221-7, sharing a 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar (50).

The pair fell two runs shy of equaling the record for an eighth-wicket partnership for India versus Australia of 129 which was set by Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2008.

Spin-bowling allrounder Sundar offered a difficult chance off the back of his bat to second slip on 18, which was dropped by a diving Steve Smith as Mitchell Starc bowled the first over with the second new ball.

But chances were few for Australia’s bowlers. Reddy was unbeaten on 85 at tea, with the score on 326-7.

With Reddy on 97, Sundar’s 162-ball innings finally ended when he was caught at slip off the bowling of spinner Nathan Lyon (2-88) at 348-8. The patient Sundar struck just one boundary.

Reddy played a lofted drive to cover to move to 99 but lost tailender Jasprit Bumrah for a duck, caught at first slip off the bowling of captain Pat Cummins (3-86), in the following over at 350-9.

The tension was building as Mohammed Siraj survived three deliveries from Cummins, allowing Reddy to seize the moment and make the century in the following over with an on-drive to the boundary, leading to deafening roars from the thousands of India fans in the stands, including his father.

Reddy’s father Mutyala nervously watched from the stands as his son edged through the nervous 90s, before wiping away tears of joy as he was mobbed by well-wishers in the MCG crowd.

“For our family, it’s a special day and we cannot forget this day in our life . . . he has been performing well since the age group of 14-15, and now in international cricket, it’s a very special feeling,” Mutyala told hindustantimes.com.

“I was very tense. Only the last wicket was remaining. Thankfully Siraj managed to survive.”

Reddy’s hundred came off 171 deliveries and included 10 fours and one six. Only nine more deliveries were bowled before play was delayed and then called off due to bad light and rain, with Reddy unbeaten on 105.

Sundar said he felt India was in a good position, despite still trailing by 116 runs but enjoying playing in front of a roaring crowd of over 83,000 on Saturday.

“We will just fight, no matter what,” Sundar said. “Playing against Australia in a big series, you are always going to be up against a challenge.

"I’m very, very happy for Nitish. He got an unbelievable hundred and I’m sure this will be remembered forever. The way he went about his business today was amazing. This hundred will be talked about for a very long time.”

Australia fast bowler Scott Boland said after play ended that his fellow pace bowler Starc, who took 0-86 off 25 overs, was carrying an injury.

“He’s OK, he’s had a bit of a niggle somewhere in his back or his rib,” Boland said. “But … he was bowling around 140 (kilometers an hour, 85 mph) so I think he’s going to be fine. He’s under-rated for how tough he is. He’s someone who can play through a lot of pain."

Resuming Saturday on 164-5, India had wobbled to 244-7 at lunch, losing the wickets of Rishabh Pant (28) and Ravindra Jadeja (17).

Australia’s hopes of quickly skittling India’s tail faded, however, as 82 runs were added without loss in the post-lunch session. Cummins and Boland (3-57) took three wickets each for Australia.

Australia’s first-innings total of 474 was highlighted by Steve Smith’s 34th century. Smith’s 140 lifted the 35-year-old to equal-seventh most hundreds in test cricket.

The five-match series is level at 1-1 after a rainy draw at Brisbane, The fifth and final test is scheduled to start on Jan. 3 at Sydney.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

India's Nitish Kumar Reddy raises his bat as he celebrates after scoring his century during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Nitish Kumar Reddy raises his bat as he celebrates after scoring his century during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Spectators cheer as India's Nitish Kumar Reddy raises his bat as he celebrates after scoring his century during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Mohammed Siraj, left, hugs batting partner Nitish Kumar Reddy to congratulate him on scoring a century during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australian players walk back to the pavilion after bad light stopped play during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Nitish Kumar Reddy, right, hits a boundary during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Nathan Lyon appeals successfully for the wicket of India's Ravindra Jadeja during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Groundsmen pull on the covers after rain stopped play during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Washington Sundar, left, and Nitish Kumar Reddy leaves the field as rain stops play during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's captain Pat Cummins, left, talks to Mitchell Starc during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Washington Sundar dives to make it successfully into the crease during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Washington Sundar dives to make it successfully into the crease during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Nitish Kumar Reddy reacts after being hit on elbow during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australian players and umpires leaves the field as rain stops play during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Washington Sundar hits a boundary during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Nitish Kumar Reddy acknowledged the crowd as he walked off the field after bad light stopped play during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Washington Sundar, left, and Nitish Kumar Reddy walk out to bat after a rain break during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Nitish Kumar Reddy acknowledged the crowd as he walked off the field after bad light stopped play during play on the third day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)