European Games

Aleksanyan Looks to Add European Games Gold to Resume

By United World Wrestling Press

MINSK, Belarus (June 29) - Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) has won gold medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Games. Now the 27-year-old Armenian stands one win away from winning a gold medal at the European Games.

Competing in his first European Games, Aleksanyan won three matches on Saturday to earn a spot in the 97kg finals. He trailed in his first two matches before battling back to win. In his semifinal match, Aleksanyan faced two-time U23 world champion Aleksandr GOLOVIN (RUS). 

This time Aleksanyan led the entire time, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the opening period, scoring off a passivity and then a gut wrench. He held on to win 3-1. Aleksanyan will face Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR) in the gold-medal match at 97kg. Hrabovik shut out Olympic bronze medalist Cenk ILDEM (TUR) 2-0 in the semifinals.

Two world No.1's competed in Saturday's semifinals, with one winning and the other losing. 

World No. 1's Zhan BELENIUK (UKR), a 2015 world champion and 2016 Olympic silver medalist, came back to defeat Radzik KULIYEU (BLR) 3-1 in the semifinals at 87kg. Kuliyeu led 1-0 at the break after scoring with a passivity point, but Beleniuk battled back in the second period to win, scoring off a passivity point and then with a gut wrench. He will meet Islam ABBASOV in the 87kg finals. Abbasov, a two-time U23 world medalist, shut out Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) 5-0 in the semifinals. 

At 130kg, Kiryl HRYSHCHANKA (BLR) stunned world No.1 Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) 3-1 in the semifinals. The Russian Olympic medalist scored first off a passivity and held a 1-0 lead at the break. But with the home crowd cheering on Hryshchanka, the Belarusian Greco-Roman heavyweight scored three points in the final period to secure a spot in Sunday's gold-medal. He will face Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) in the finals. Kajaia, a European silver medalist, advanced to the finals with a fall over world No.7 Oskar MARVIK (NOR).

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

87kg
GOLD - Islam ABBASOV (AZE) vs. Zhan BELENIUK (UKR)
SEMIFINAL - Islam ABBASOV (AZE) df. Ivan HUKLEK (CRO), 5-0
SEMIFINAL - Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) df. Radzik KULIYEU (BLR), 3-1

97kg
GOLD - Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR) vs. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)
SEMIFINAL - Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR) df. Cenk ILDEM (TUR), 2-0
SEMIFINAL - Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Aleksandr GOLOVIN (RUS), 3-1

130kg
GOLD - Kiryl HRYSHCHANKA (BLR) vs. Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO)
SEMIFINAL - Kiryl HRYSHCHANKA (BLR) df. Sergey SEMENOV (RUS), 3-1
SEMIFINAL - Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) df. Oskar MARVIK (NOR), Fall (1:02)
 

#development

Niamkey elected to Advisory Board of the International Council for Coaching Excellence

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 2) -- Deqa NIAMKEY, United World Wrestling's Development Director, has been elected as a Board Member of the International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) by the ICCE General Assembly during the 14th ICCE Global Coach Conference in Singapore.

"I am honored to join such a distinguished organization, working to enhance the coaching education pathways with renowned experts. UWW is working to establish a coaches certification program in collaboration with worldwide universities. Being a member of the ICCE advisory board will provide me with the tools to implement this exciting project," said Niamkey. "I would like to thank our President, Mr. Nenad Lalovic, for his trust and endorsement and ASOIF for their continued support."

Niamkey will serve in office for two years (2024-2025), with an option to be re-elected by the General Assembly in Athens in 2025.

More information on ICCE:
The mission of the ICCE is to lead and support the development of sport coaching globally.

The ICCE is a not-for-profit, global organization that aims to lead and develop sport coaching globally. ICCE members seek to enhance the quality of coaching at every level of sport.

The International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) was established on September 24, 1997, by delegates representing 15 countries during the second International Coach Education Summit held at Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel. The idea of creating an international body to represent coaches and coaching was discussed by Uri Schaefer from Israel, Jurgen Kotzel from Germany and Sue Campbell from UK at the 1994 meeting marking the 20th anniversary of the Trainerakademie in Cologne, Germany.