Development

2018 Creative Sports Award to Boost UWW’s Development Projects

By United World Wrestling Press

DUBAI (January 9) -- During a dedication ceremony held in Dubai, United World Wrestling (UWW) received the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award in the category of the best initiative of the Summer Olympic International Federations (IFs).

The 2018 edition sought to recognize the initiatives that empower youth in sports -- the award comes with a USD $250,000 prize for use in development activities.

UWW President Nenad Lalovic accepted the award on behalf of his organization, which was recognized for its innovative project “More than Medals”, the first cornerstone of the IF’s new wrestling development plan. Five camps conducted between February and July last year targeted more than 200 young elite athletes and combined high-quality training with education on important topics such as anti-doping, nutrition, training plan, and the IOC’s Athlete Career Programme. The educational part also included the athletes’ entourage. Organized on all continents, the camps also served to prepare wrestlers to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October 2018.

While attending the ceremony, ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said, “ASOIF is very thankful to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his recognition of outstanding activities of sports federations in such a generous way for the sixth consecutive year. Sports development and youth promotion go hand in hand and they are the most important fields for IFs to invest in. UWW’s project is exemplary in integrating essential educational elements into training for young athletes and UWW fully deserves this prestigious award.”

 Lalovic added, “On behalf of the wrestling family worldwide, UWW is highly honored to receive this award for the development programme ‘More than Medals 2018’ dedicated to the support and empowerment of the future generations. We reiterate our appreciation to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his great initiative to support sports development.”

The application phase for the 2019 H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Creative Sports Award is scheduled to open in April 2019.

#WrestleBucharest

European Championships WW 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, 72kg semis set

By United World Wrestling Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 15) -- The fourth day of the European Championships will be all about women's wrestling as five weight classes will be in action -- 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg and 72kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 REPORT

Semifinals for the evening session

53kg
Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) vs. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)
Sztalvira ORSUS (HUN) vs. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE)

57kg
Anhelina LYSAK (POL) vs. Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN)
Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) vs. Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)

62kg
Grace BULLEN (NOR) vs. Veranika IVANOVA (AIN)
Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) vs. Johanna LINDBORG (SWE)

65kg
Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) vs. Irina RINGACI (MDA)
Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) vs. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)

72kg
Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) vs. Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) vs. Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR)

12:50: Never a disappointing moment when these two wrestle! Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) gets Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) in the quarterfinals at 53kg. Yetgil takes a 4-2 lead but Malmgren thunders back and pins Yetgil.

12:35: Irina RINGACI (MDA) had only one match in the morning session and she won 10-0 against Dinara KUDAEVA (AIN). Ringaci is looking to make amends as she won a silver medal last year.

12:20: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) scores late in the match to beat Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) 3-2 and advance to the semifinals at 62kg. What a huge win for Lindborg. She will take on Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)

12:10: Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) with a fall over Russo. She had built an 8-0 lead before hitting a four and getting a fall. She will now take on Anhelina LYSAK (POL) at 57kg.

11:50: Grace BULLEN (NOR) led 4-0 at the break and then made it 14-5 before getting the fall over Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE). Bullen is a returning silver medalist after suffering a heartbreaking loss in the 62kg final last year

11:40: Anhelina LYSAK (POL) with a 26-second fall over Irina OLOGONOVA (AIN). Lysak is one of the favorites to win the 57kg gold medal. She will face the winner of Aurora RUSSO (ITA) and Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN)

11:35: Defending champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) with a fall at 53kg, dashing the hopes of local Elena IONESCU (ROU). Malmgren is looking to win his third straight European title.

11:25: Sztalvira ORSUS (HUN) was trailing Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) in their 53kg bout but she makes a comeback to beat Malanchuk 9-5.

11:20: What a match on Mat C! Olesia BEZUGLOVA (AIN) was leading 8-7 after she had scored a four-pointer on Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL). But the Polish wrestler hits a double-leg and lifts Bezuglova and gets two points with three seconds left. Choluj wins 9-8

11:15: The mat B has seen quick results! World and Olympic bronze medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) with a 47-second fall against Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT). Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), formerly wrestling for Ukraine, beats Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) 10-0

11:05: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) takes out Erika BOGNAR (HUN) in the opening match at 57kg. Aliyeva is a returning silver medalist and looking to earn her first gold.

10:50: U20 world champion Aurora RUSSO (ITA) took her time but beat Anna MICHALCOVA (CZE) 5-1 and advanced at 57kg. She will face Tokyo silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) in the 1/8 finals.

10:30: Welcome to day four of the European Championships. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) and Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) will be looking to defend their titles at 53kg and 72kg. Zhala ALIYEV (AZE), Irina RINGACI (MDA), Grace BULLEN (NOR), Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) are wrestling as well.