#Tokyo2020

Ecuador, Romania Earn Olympic Tickets as North Korea Withdraws from Tokyo 2020

By United World Wrestling Press

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea provided official notice that they won't be attending the Tokyo Games, thereby giving Ecuador and Romania additional Olympic allocations.

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 15) -- Officials from The Democratic People's Republic of Korea have notified United World Wrestling and the International Olympic Committee that they will not be attending the Summer Olympics this year in Tokyo.

Due to their absence, North Korea's Olympic qualification allocations at 53kg and 62kg in women's wrestling must be reassigned according to the established United World Wrestling's Olympic qualification system.

The Olympic qualifications will now be allotted to Ecuador (53kg) and Romania (62kg).

Ecuador's Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES, who finished seventh at the 2019 Wrestling World Championships in Nur-Sultan, will earn the award for her home nation as she was the next highest finisher at 53kg after the removal of world champion PAK Yong Mi (PRK).

At 62kg RIM Jong Sim (PRK) placed 6th at the world championships leaving Kriszta INCZE (ROU) as the next highest, non-qualified, finisher at the weight category. Wrestlers ahead of her from Ukraine and the United States later qualified at their respective continental qualification events.

Wrestling at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games is set to begin August 1, 2021, at the Makuhari Messe in Tokyo.

#WrestleAlexandria

Watch Live: U17, U20 and Senior African Championships 2026

By United World Wrestling Press

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (April 27) -- The U17, U20 and Senior African Championships begins in Alexandria, Egypt from April 27 to May 2.

The U17 African Championships will take place first on April 27 and 28. The U20 African Championships will be held on April 29 and 30 and the Senior African Championships will be on May 1 and 2.

UWW Plus

African Championships 2026 Full Schedule

April 27 (Monday): U17 Greco-Roman all weight categories; U17 Women's Wrestling 43kg, 49kg, 57kg, 65kg, 73kg
April 28 (Tuesday): U17 Freestyle all weight categories; U17 Women's Wrestling 40kg, 46kg, 53kg, 61kg, 69kg

April 29 (Wednesday): U20 Greco-Roman all weight categories; U20 Women's Wrestling 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 68kg, 76kg
April 30 (Thursday): U20 Freestyle all weight categories; U20 Women's Wrestling 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 65kg and 72kg

May 1 (Friday): Senior Greco-Roman all weight categories; Women's Wrestling 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 68kg, 76kg
May 2 (Saturday): Senior Freestyle all weight categories; Women's Wrestling 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 65kg, 72kg

WATCH LIVE: 2026 African Championships, Alexandria

Results of 2026 African Wrestling Championships: Click Here