#BackToWrestling

With Eye on Safety, Lithuania Returns to Practice Mats

By United World Wrestling Press

VILNIUS, Lithuania (May 22) -- With few cases of COVID-19 nationwide, Lithuania's top wrestlers are returning to the mat, albeit with safety precautions in place. 

Lithuania has only seen 1600 total cases of COVID-19 and 60 deaths. Despite the lower numbers the wrestling federation and the athletes are taking every precaution they can to ensure the health and safety of the wrestlers on the mat. The new guidelines for practice includes increased cleaning protocols, temperature checks, hand sanitization and face masks (for anyone not actively wrestling).

Athletes’ Commission member Mindaugas EZERSKIS mentioned the practices during Monday's Athlete Webinar with the commission and UWW President Nenad Lalovic. Ezerskis said the team is training during the week and taking weekends off with a focus on preparing for the Olympics and Olympic Qualification events. 

You can watch the full video, here.

#wrestlebishkek

WATCH: 10 women's wrestling finals from #WrestleBishkek

By Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (June 11) -- Women's wrestling at the Ranking Series in Bishkek was expected to be dominated by China, a powerhouse. However, Ukraine had different ideas.

Ukraine showed by in big numbers and outperformed other nations in the third Ranking Series event, winning three gold medals. China and Kazakhstan won two each while India and Kyrgyzstan won one each.

Watch the 10 gold medal bouts from the third Ranking Series event.

GOLD: 50kg - Meng FAN (CHN) vs. Oksana LIVACH (UKR) 

GOLD: 57kg -  Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) vs. Kexin HONG (CHN) 

Round 3: 72kg -  Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs. REETIKA (IND)