#BuchaWrestU23

Cataraga Becomes First to Win Back-to-Back U23 World Titles

By Taylor Miller

Photo of Daniel CATARAGA (MDA) by Martin Gabor. 

BUCHAREST, Romania – Daniel CATARAGA (MDA) became the first two-time U23 World champion in history, winning the 77 kg weight class on Tuesday night at the U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania.

After winning the 2017 U23 World title at 71 kg, Cataraga bumped up to 77 kg to claim his second, putting together a solid tournament to do so.

In gold-medal match, Cataraga faced 2018 U23 European champion Rajbek Alvievich BISULTANOV (DEN).

The Moldova native threw up six quick points on the board before securing a fall and the crown in 2:45.


In the heavyweight finale,
Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) battled back from a five-point deficit against Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) to win gold at 130 kg.

Yildirim led 5-0 at the break before Pataridze slowly chipped away at the lead, drawing a passivity, two caution-and-twos and a step out point to win his sixth age-group World championship.

In addition to his U23 World gold, Pataridze is a three-time Junior World champion and two-time Cadet World champion. Last year, Pataridze won silver at the U23 Worlds in Poland.


At 55 kg, Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), who won a Senior World bronze medal in Budapest, Hungary, just two weeks ago, topped the U23 World podium with a steady 3-2 win over 2018 Russia Nationals champion Vitalii KABALOEV (RUS).

Tsurtsumia scored all of his points in the first period and held off an aggressive Kabaloev in the second period for his first World title and second World medal of 2018.


After taking 15th at Senior Worlds in Budapest, Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) dominated Alexandru BICIU (MDA) in the 63 kg finals, 8-0. Endo took advantage of a chance on top in par terre, where he scored five points after the initial passivity point. Endo closed out the match with a takedown late in the first period for the technical fall.

Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) claimed the 87 kg World title, besting 2018 Senior Pan American champion Daniel GRGEGORICH (CUB) with a 10-2 technical fall. Early in the second period, Novikov scored four points on a throw attempt from Gregorich, and moments later, the Ukrainian picked up a takedown to end the bout.

Finals results

Greco-Roman, 55 kg
GOLD – Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) dec. Vitalii KABALOEV (RUS), 3-2
BRONZE - Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ) dec. Norayr HAKHOYAN (ARM), 7-3
BRONZE - Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) tech. fall Shota OGAWA (JPN), 8-0

Greco-Roman, 63 kg
GOLD – Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) df. Alexandru BICIU (MDA), 8-0
BRONZE – Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU) df. Turabek TIRKASHEV (UZB), 11-2 
BRONZE – Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR) df. Meysam Karamali DALKHANI (IRI), 12-4

Greco-Roman, 77 kg
GOLD – Daniel CATARAGA (MDA) df. Rajbek Alvievich BISULTANOV (DEN), fall 2:45
BRONZE – Fatih CENGIZ (TUR) df. Khalid KERCHIYEV (SWE), 5-1  
BRONZE – Ismail SAIDKHASANOV (RUS) df. Sajan SAJAN (IND), 6-5  

Greco-Roman, 87 kg
GOLD – Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) df. Daniel GREGORICH (CUB), 10-2
BRONZE - Anton KURS (BLR) df. Gazi KHALILOV (RUS), 10-0
BRONZE - Islam ABBASOV (AZE) df. Mohamed METWALLY (EGY), 3-3

Greco-Roman, 130 kg
GOLD – Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) df. Osman YILDIRIM (TUR), 6-5
BRONZE - Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) df. Oskar MARVIK (NOR), 2-1
BRONZE – Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI) df. Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN), 5-0

Team standings (top-six)
1. Georgia – 58
2. Russia – 51
3. Ukraine – 46
4. Moldova - 45
5. Japan – 35
6. Turkey – 35

#development

INSEP organizes three international camps

By United World Wrestling Press

PARIS, France (June 28) -- United World Wrestling partnered with the French wrestling federation (FFL) and the country's National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance, known as INSEP, last year. The objective was to promote wrestling in France, support Francophone athletes, and provide top-notch training facilities to wrestlers worldwide.

In line with their ambitious action program, INSEP hosted three training camps in freestyle, women's wrestling, and Greco-Roman during the first half of 2023. African wrestlers on scholarships were welcomed by INSEP for winter preparation between the Henri Deglane and UWW Rankings Series tournaments earlier this year.

With Paris hosting the 2024 Olympic Games, wrestlers have the opportunity to acclimate by training at INSEP. Since the beginning of the year, over 66 wrestlers and 17 coaches from 16 countries have trained in Paris. These athletes benefit from optimal conditions and engage in sparring sessions with various teams participating in the different camps.

Additional international camps for the three Olympic styles are scheduled at INSEP for October, November, and December. A significant number of wrestlers, including those who qualified for the 2024 Olympics, are expected to attend these camps. It will also be an opportunity to organize international training sessions for coaches in each of the Olympic styles.

"These camps provide everyone with the chance to benefit from exceptional training quality within a unique campus, increase sparring opportunities for our wrestlers, and welcome the wrestling community to the Olympic city with athletes and coaches who are eager to shine during the 2024 Olympic Games," said Pierre VAZEILLES, FFLDA deputy DTN, who is responsible for coordinating the camps. "The interactions between athletes and coaches are always incredibly valuable and highlight the unity of the wrestling community. We are thrilled with the trust that UWW has placed in INSEP and the federation."

INSEP and FFL remain dedicated to their goal of enhancing the value of the training center's structure, which serves as the home for the French Olympic wrestling teams. They aim to facilitate the implementation of international UWW training camps, pooling resources and manpower to ensure the best possible preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games.