#WrestleNoviSad

Four Russian Women Punch Tickets to Day Four Finals

Wednesday, March 6, 2019 - 20:06 By Eric Olanowski

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (March 6) – Russian women won four of five semifinal matches, qualifying a quartet of wrestlers for Thursday night’s U23 European championship women’s wrestling finals.

The four Russian women who will compete for gold on Thursday night (18:00 local time) are Nadezhda SOKOLOVA, Viktoriia VAULINA, Khanum VELIEVA, and Daria SHISTEROVA. 

At 50kg, Russia’s Sokolova threw Turkan NASIROVA (AZE) to her back early in the first period and scored the fall, locking up her first European finals appearance since her 2016 title-winner performance. 

She’ll wrestle 2018 world bronze medalist Oksana LIVACH (UKR) in the 50kg gold-medal bout. To reach the finals, Livach shutout Poland’s Katarzyna KAMINSKA, 10-0, and locked up her spot in the finals. The Ukranian wrestler led 4-0 in her semifinals match against Kaminska before closing the match out with a takedown and a pair of leg laces. 

Russia’s second finalist is Viktoriia Vaulina. Vaulina was up 8-0, but surrendered six straight points to her German opponent and only led 8-6. A late headlock for the Russian increased her lead by four points and pushed her into the finals with a 12-6 victory. 

She’ll have to defeat Turkey’s Eda TEKIN to take the home 55kg gold medal. Tekin trailed 4-1 with under 20 seconds left when she picked up a takedown and an exposure, stealing the match, 5-4. 

Four-time age-group world champion Khanum Velieva is the third Russian competing for a Day 4 gold medal. Velieva used three takedowns and a step out to score the 7-0 shutout over Ukraine’s Alina RUDNYTSKA LEVYTSKA in her semifinals match. 

Velieva will wrestle Natalia STRZALKA (POL) for the 68kg gold medal. 

Strzalka scored nine unanswered second-period points after trailing 4-0 and grabbed the 9-4 victory over Yauheniya ANDREICHYKAVA (BLR). 

Russia’s remaining semifinal winner was Daria Shisterova, who led 1-0 but had to capitalize on a pair defensive of takedowns in the second period to defeat Romana VOVCHAK (UKR), 5-2. 

She’ll take on Turkey’s Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR) in tomorrow’s finals. Ozbege shutout Italy’s Enrica RINALDI (ITA), 9-0, to reach her first European finals. 

The lone weight not featuring a Russian finalist is 59kg. 

Moldova’s Anastasia NICHITA will meet Ukraine’s Anhelina LYSAK in the 59kg gold-medal match.   

Nichita only needed a little over a minute to pick up the 10-0 technical superiority victory over Russia’s Zelfira SADRADDINOVA to lock up a spot in the finals.

Her finals opponent Lysak trampled Emma Margareta JOHANSSON (SWE), 12-1 in her semifinals bout. 

Thursday’s finals begin at 18:00 (local time) and can be watched live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

RESULTS
50kg 
GOLD - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS) 
SEMIFINAL - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Katarzyna KAMINSKA (POL), 10-0 
SEMIFINAL - Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS) df. Turkan NASIROVA (AZE), via fall 

55kg
GOLD - Eda TEKIN (TUR) vs. Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Eda TEKIN (TUR) df. Sezen BELBEROVA (BUL), 5-4 
SEMIFINAL - Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS) df. Ellen RIESTERER (GER), 12-6 

59kg 
GOLD - Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) vs. Anhelina LYSAK (UKR)
SEMIFINAL - Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Zelfira SADRADDINOVA (RUS), 10-0
SEMIFINAL - Anhelina LYSAK (UKR) df. Emma Margareta JOHANSSON (SWE), 12-1 

68kg 
GOLD - Natalia  STRZALKA (POL) vs. Khanum VELIEVA (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Natalia STRZALKA (POL) df. Yauheniya ANDREICHYKAVA (BLR), 9-4 
SEMIFINAL - Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) df. Alina RUDNYTSKA LEVYTSKA (UKR), 7-0 

76kg
GOLD - Daria SHISTEROVA (RUS) vs. Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Daria SHISTEROVA (RUS) df. Romana VOVCHAK (UKR), 5-2 
SEMIFINAL - Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR) df. Enrica RINALDI (ITA), 9-0 

#UnitedWorldWrestling

Lalovic attends WADA Conference, completes development visits in Asia

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 - 12:45 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 8) -- United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC, who serves on the WADA Executive Committee as an IOC representative, attended the 2025 WADA World Conference held from December 1 to 5 in Busan, Korea.

The conference brought together the global anti-doping community for high-level discussions on the World Anti-Doping Program, with a key focus on approving the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards. The revision process, launched in September 2023, has allowed stakeholders to contribute to strengthening and modernizing the global anti-doping system.

Nenad LALOVIC

Development visits

President Lalovic also completed wrestling-related visits to China, Korea, and Kyrgyzstan, reinforcing UWW’s commitment to supporting National Federations and expanding the sport across the region.

In each country, Lalovic emphasized UWW’s ongoing efforts to deepen cooperation with National Federations, increase engagement, and grow wrestling at the elite and grassroots levels. He encouraged federations to integrate wrestling programs into schools, offering more opportunities for young athletes to enter the sport.

Nenad LALOVIC

A key area of discussion was UWW’s development strategy leading into the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle, including updates on Olympic qualification, the Pro Series, and opportunities available to National Federations.

In China, meetings were held with Vice Minister of General Administration of Sport of China Lixin TONG and Vice President of National Olympic Committee of China Jinqiang ZHOU.

UWW also recently announced the addition of Raul TRUJILLO DIAZ, longtime coach of Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) and recipient of the 2025 IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award, to support global development of Greco-Roman. Lalovic highlighted that such initiatives strengthen the sport and promote valuable exchanges of expertise among federations and coaches.

MoU

MoU signed in Kyrgyzstan

During the visit to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan inaugurated a new wrestling arena and academy, marking a significant step forward in its cooperation with UWW.

A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between UWW and Izabekov Wrestling Academy to expand development programs and training opportunities in the country.

Accompanied by UWW Asia President Mohammad Al-AWAMLEH and Secretary General Carlos ROY, Lalovic met with representatives of the Kyrgyzstan federation to discuss regional initiatives and long-term development plans.

On December 6, Lalovic was received by Sadyr JAPAROV, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, to whom he presented the UWW medal in recognition of his support for wrestling.