#WrestleFaenza

Cadet European Championship Preview

By Eric Olanowski

FAENZA, Italy (June 16) – The entry list for the Cadet European Championships boasts over 515 athletes from 37 countries, but five wrestlers in particular head to Faenza, Italy, looking to repeat as cadet European champion. 

There will be five wrestlers looking to defend their titles from last year’s Skopje Cadet European Championships. Freestyle wrestling lacks a returning champion, but Greco-Roman features four 2018 champs, while women’s wrestling has one wrestler looking to repeat. 

Stepan STARODUBTSEV (RUS), who’ll compete at 71kg, will have the toughest road to repeat as continental champion. Last year, Starodubtsev defeated Moldova’s Alexandrin GUTU in the finals to win his first continental title. This year, he’ll likely have to do the same to repeat as a European champion. Since that loss to Starodubtsev in last year’s European finals, Gutu went undefeated and won golds at the Balkans, the cadet world championships then capped his year off with a title-winning performance at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he avenged his loss against Starodubtsev in the gold-medal bout.

The pair begin their run to a European title on Tuesday and close out the Greco-Roman portion of the tournament on Wednesday. 

Greco-Roman’s also has three other returning champions. They are Edmond Armen NAZARYAN (BUL), Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO), Mukhammad EVLOEV (RUS). They’ll wrestle at 51kg, 55kg, and 92kg, respectively. 

Women’s wrestling's returning champion, Anastasiya YANOTAVA (BLR), is set to wrestle at 49kg. She’s the only returning medalist in her weight and is expected to repeat as European champions. 

Starting Monday, the Pala Cattani Arena will be the host site for this year’s Cadet European Championships. The seven-day tournament beings on Monday morning and will last until Sunday. You can follow all the action live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

SCHEDULE 

#development

Algeria Hosts Successful UWW Level 1 Coaches Course

By United World Wrestling Press

FOUKA, TIPAZA, Algeria (May 15) -- A United World Wrestling Level 1: Introduction to Coaching and Safety coaching course was successfully organized by the Algerian Wrestling Federation, UWW and Olympic Solidarity.

The five-day course was organized at the National Teams Training and Preparation Center in Fouka, Tipaza from May 7 to 11 and it brought together wrestling coaches from across Algeria in an atmosphere marked by discipline, professionalism, and a shared commitment to developing wrestling at both national and continental levels.

The course was conducted by international UWW experts Vincent AKA and Ahmed KHEDHRI, who delivered theoretical and practical sessions focused on modern coaching methodology, athlete safety, technical development, and the core principles of international wrestling training standards.

Algeria

Throughout the course, participants demonstrated remarkable engagement, collaboration, and enthusiasm. Coaches exchanged experiences, strengthened their technical knowledge, and reinforced their collective ambition to contribute to the long-term growth of Algerian wrestling.

The closing ceremony, highlighted by the presentation of certificates to all participants, reflected the success of the program and the strong educational momentum currently shaping wrestling development in Algeria.

During the course, several participants expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the quality of the training and the spirit of unity created throughout the event.

"This training was a true source of inspiration for all of us. Thanks to the professionalism, pedagogy, and expertise shared during the course, we experienced an unforgettable educational journey," said Fodil BOURAS SIDAHEMED on behalf of the group “Les Guerriers.”

Another participant, AK DJAHID, praised the atmosphere among the coaches, emphasizing “solidarity, respect, professionalism, and exemplary behavior throughout the entire course.”

UWW

The event also coincided with the official visit of Development Director of UWW Deqa NIAMKEY, who visited several wrestling development sites in Algeria and met with national sports authorities.

During her visit, Niamkey highlighted the impressive progress achieved by the Algerian Wrestling Federation in recent years and reaffirmed UWW’s support for the federation’s ambitious long-term development strategy, particularly its investment in youth wrestling and grassroots programs.