#kaspeuro2018

Bulgaria Bags a Pair of Golds on Final Day of Women's Wrestling

By Eric Olanowski

KASPIISK, Russia (May 4) - Host nation Russis entered Friday night's finals with three wrestlers competing for European gold, but it was Bulgaria who walked away with an armful of gold. Bulgaria finished with two champions while Russia, Finland, and Sweden brought home one gold a piece.

Bulgaria’s pair of Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) and Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) remained undefeated in their quest to capture 57kg and 62kg gold medals. 

Bilyana Dudova (BUL) won her second straight European title by shutting out three-time world runner-up, Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS), 6-0 in the 57kg gold-medal match. 

The reigning champion Dudova used a defensive stop in the opening period to put the first two points on the board. She followed that up with a four-point sequence to extended her lead to 6-0. 

Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) defeated Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS), 11-8 in the 62kg finals. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

At 62kg, Taybe Yusein improved on her second-place finished from a year ago by winning the gold-medal battle against Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS), 11-8. 

“It was hard for me because I was one second away from winning last year. After that second place finished, I had a full year to think about making it back to this stage, and it happened to be on my birthday. Today is my birthday, so this is the best gift that I could have received.” 

Yusein outlasted fellow 2016 Olympian Trazhukova in a 19-point brawl that faced multiple stoppages due to clock issues and a cut above the eye of the Russian. 

“It was a long match, but I just remained focused on getting the win,” said Yuesin. 

Russia’s Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) shocked the women’s wrestling world by winning the 53kg European crown. Orshush secured the first-period fall over 2017 world champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) to give the host nation their solo gold medal on the final day of women’s wrestling in Dagestan, Russia.

“This is my best result in life…When I was going to the mat, I was already imagining myself carrying the Russian flag.” 

Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) celebrates after winning the 72kg European title. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) and Petra Maarit OLLI (FIN) won the final two women’s wrestling gold medals.

Petra Maarit OLLI (FIN), the no. 1 wrestler in the world at 65kg used a late challenge to erase two points from Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), giving her the 4-1 victory. 

Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist closed out the tournament with a fall over Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR) at 72kg. 

Fransson, the 2018 Klippan Lady Open, and European gold medalist said “The goal now moves to the World Championships where I’ll be moving weight classes. I’ll be moving down to the Olympic weight of 68kg. But, for now, I’m focused on hearing my national anthem. I think I’m going to cry!” 

TEAM SCORES
GOLD – Russia (173 points)
SILVER -  Belarus (140 points)
BRONZE – Turkey (117 points)
Fourth – Azerbaijan (102 points)
Fifth – Bulgaria (92 points)
Sixth – Poland (75 points)
Seventh – Ukraine (63 points)
Eighth – Sweden (58 points)
Ninth – Hungary (47 points)
Tenth – Romania (45 points)

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling, 53kg
GOLD -  Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) df. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR), 7-0
BRONZE - Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) df. Mercedesz DENES (HUN), 7-0
BRONZE - Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Aysun ERGE (TUR), 12-7 

Women's Wrestling, 57kg 
GOLD - Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL) df. Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS), 6-0
BRONZE - Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), 4-0 
BRONZE - Emese BARKA (HUN) df. Laura MERTENS (GER), 11-0 

Women's Wrestling, 62kg 
GOLD -  Taybe Mustafa YUSEIN (BUL) df. Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS), 11-8
BRONZE - Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) df. Agnieszka Sylwia KROL (POL), 8-2
BRONZE - Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) df. Luzie MANZKE (GER), 4-0 

Women's Wrestling, 65kg 
GOLD – Petra Maarit OLLI (FIN) df. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), 3-1 
BRONZE - Henna Katarina JOHANSSON (SWE) df. Gabriella SLEISZ (HUN), 5-0
BRONZE - Krystsina FEDARASHKA (BLR) df. Viktoria Ivanova BOBEVA (BUL), 4-1

Women's Wrestling, 72kg 
GOLD - Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) vs. Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR), via fall. 
BRONZE - Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU) vs. Alena PEREPELKINA (RUS), via fall 
BRONZE - Cynthia Vanessa VESCAN (FRA) vs. Beste ALTUG (TUR), via fall

#UnitedWorldWrestling

UWW partners with Spring Media for worldwide distribution

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 12) — United World Wrestling has appointed Spring Media as the global media rights partner for all its events across the 2025-2032 cycle, excluding the United States and other specific territories. This includes international wrestling competitions for Greco-Roman, Freestyle, and Women’s Wrestling, with its flagship Senior World Championships, the Ranking Series, and the Senior Asian and European Championships.

“We are pleased to announce a partnership with Spring Media that holds immense potential to expand our broadcast reach across new countries and elevate wrestling’s global profile. This collaboration not only strengthens our commitment to bring world-class wrestling to a broader audience but also positions us to grow the sport internationally, engaging fans like never before,” said Gordon Templeman, UWW Commercial & Communications Director. “Together, we are ready to take wrestling to the next level and inspire a passion for wrestling in every corner of the globe."

Spring Media facilitates a range of distribution in selected territories for Olympic federations like Karate, Judo, Taekwondo and Gymnastics, and holds a world-leading position as a distributor of fight sports through its sub-brand, Fight Globe.

“We are thrilled to be part of shaping the continued growth of these thrilling events through our global distribution arm,” said Sabine Kesseler, Commercial Director, Spring Media. “We see great potential in wrestling and applaud the new concepts that the UWW is introducing in the next cycle, making it even more eye-catching to its millions of fans - existing and new alike.”

About Spring Media group
Spring Media is an international full-service sports agency that serves some of the biggest leagues, federations, teams and broadcasters in the world. Its business is built around four core areas including Rights Management, Production Services, Streaming Solutions and Growth Marketing. Spring Media group has more than a hundred employees and global reach with offices throughout the Nordics, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia. The group distributes, sells and produces more than 100 000 hours of live sports annually and works with over 500 broadcast partners. More info at: https://www.spring.media/
 

About UWW
UWW is the international governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee (“IOC”) for the sport of wrestling. The organization oversees approx. 7000 matches per year in different wrestling styles. With its vision “to be globally recognized as an inspiring, innovative and leading Olympic Federation”, its mission is to lead the growth of Wrestling, competitive and recreational, around the world. More info at https://uww.org/about-uww/