#WrestleBudapest

LIVE BLOG: European Olympic Qualifier, Day Two (Session One)

By Eric Olanowski

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 19) --- The second day of wrestling at the #WrestleBudapest European Olympic Qualifier is underway in Hungary. 

Day One Recap: Armenia Earns Olympic Berths Through Rising Stars Tevanyan and Harutyunyan

Semifinal Matchups:
50kg
SEMIFINAL: Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) vs.Iwona Nina MATKOWSKA (POL) 
SEMIFINAL: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) vs. Julie Martine SABATIE (FRA) 

53kg
SEMIFINAL: Sofia Magdalena MATTSSON (SWE) vs. Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS)
SEMIFINAL: Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) vs. Iulia LEORDA (MDA)

57kg 
SEMIFINAL:  Sara LINDBORG (SWE) vs. Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) 
SEMIFINAL: Bediha GUN (TUR) vs. Evelina Georgieva NIKOLOVA (BUL) 

62kg
SEMIFINAL: Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR) vs. Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT)
SEMIFINAL:  Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) vs. Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA)

68kg
SEMIFINAL:  Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) vs. Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) 
SEMIFINAL: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) vs. Dalma CANEVA (ITA) 

76kg
SEMIFINAL: Martina KUENZ (AUT) vs. Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS)
SEMIFINAL: Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) vs. Mariya ORYASHKOVA (BUL)

14:31: That'll do it for the opening session of women's wrestling. We'll see you back here at 14:00 for the freestyle medal matches.

14:26: The final match of the session is a close one.  Mariya ORYASHKOVA (BUL) leads Georgina NELTHORPE (GBR) by one point with one minute left. The winner will wrestle Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) for an Olympic berth.

14:21: The Turkish upper weight struggle continues. Martina KUENZ (AUT) just pinned world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR). Adar will have one last opportunity to qualify Turkey for the Olympic Games at 76kg.

14:17: That's back-to-back falls for Olympic champion Vorobieva. She'll wrestle for her

14:01: How about that rollercoaster of a match? Bediha GUN (TUR) led two-time European champion Grace BULLEN (NOR), 2-0, but relaxed on the edge and surrendered a takedown. She trailed, 2-2, but got to her shot with 12 seconds left and scored the match deciding takedown. Gun will wrestle the winner of Emese BARKA (HUN) and Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) in tonight's semifinals.

13:40: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) lead Rio Olympic silver medalist Maryia MAMASHUK (BLR), 2-0, over on Mat A. The first period is about to come to a close.

13:29: Kriszta INCZE (ROU) already took out one world silver medalist today (Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS)). Can she make it two? She leads Turkey's Elif Jale YESILIRMAK, 2-0, over on Mat B.

13:15: Mattsson is wrestling at another level. It doesn't make sense. This is her 14th year wrestling on the senior level (made debut in '07) and she's still improving. How is that possible?! She's outscored her first two opponents 21-0 en route to the 53kg semifinals. Mattsson will wrestle the winner of Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) and Jessica BLASZKA (NED) for an Olympic berth.

13:09: There are three matches going on right now and two of them feature world champions. Mattson is wrestling on Mat B and two-time world champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) is wrestling on Mat C!

13:01: We're five minutes away from rolling right into the quarterfinals!

12:47: We'll hold all quarterfinal matches until all the 1/8 matches wrap up.

12:34: Starting at Bout 97 on Mat A, world champions Natalia Vorobeva and Yasemin ADAR (TUR) will be up back-to-back.

12:08: Yaneva is absolutely furious, and I would be, too. She's yelling about Tosun's constant hair pulling. The ref looked at her and signaled to quiet down before awarding her a point. Yaneva ends Tosun's day, 5-0.

12:06:  Buse TOSUN (TUR) has been repeatedly yanking on Yuliana YANEVA's (BUL) hair and has been warned several times. Things could get chippy on Mat A!

12:04:  Natallia VARAKINA (BLR) and Emma MALMGREN (SWE) are in a tight battle on Mat C. There's a little less than 90 seconds left in the second period. Malmgren just scored a takedown to take the criteria lead. Things are about to heat up!

11:56:  I'm not a betting man, but if I was, I would have bet that Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) would go big at least once in her opening-round match against Hanna SADCHANKA (BLR). She's so fun to watch compete; she loves letting it fly.

11:50: Elif Yesilirmak is coming up in two matches on Mat B. Through her London Olympic qualification, she became the first Turkish woman to earn an Olympic berth. She then qualified for the Rio Games -- making her the first Turkish woman to qualify for back-to-back Olympic Games. Can she make it a three-peat? 

11:47: Upset of the Day Candidate: Kriszta INCZE (ROU) just demolished '19 world silver medalist Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS), 11-4. She'll face the winner of Katarzyna MADROWSKA (POL) and Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR). 

11:39: Hemmer tried fighting back, but ultimately gave up a last-second takedown and lost to Iulia LEORDA (MDA), 8-6.

11:38: There's been a stop in action on Mat B. Nina HEMMER (GER) suffered a leg injury but it looks like she's going to tough it out wrestle through the pain.

11:29: Although it's still a way out, Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) will wrestle on Mat A in ten matches (Bout 97). The London gold medalist and Rio silver-medal winner is the reigning world and European champion at the non-Olympic weight of 72kg. She’s moving up to 76kg with hopes of becoming the first non-Japanese woman ever to win a pair of Olympic gold medals. 

11:15: Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) is coming up next on Mat B. The six-time world medal-winner and Rio Olympic bronze medalist is coming off winning January's Henri Deglane where she defeated reigning world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) in the finals. But today, she begins her quest to become Sweden's first-ever two-time women's wrestling Olympian.

11:12: Good morning, from beautiful Budapest! Yesterday lived up to the hype. Let's keep things rolling with another great day of action. We'll kick things off with four freestyle repechage matches then roll right into women's wrestling action.

#development, #Anti-Doping

UWW, ITA deliver anti-doping education at World Championships camp

By United World Wrestling Press

POREC, Croatia (September 11) -- The United World Wrestling recently hosted a successful on-site Anti-Doping education event in collaboration with the International Testing Agency at the World Championships acclimatization camp in Poreč.

This marked the first time UWW partnered with ITA to deliver education directly at a training camp. A dedicated booth was set up on September 8 and 9 during the camp, and presentation sessions, led by ITA educator Anita HARTUNG, were held during the evenings of both days.

"The camp offered a great opportunity to connect with athletes ahead of their major competition," Hartung said. "Many stopped by the Clean Sport booth before and after training, showing genuine interest and openness in discussing the fundamentals of Anti-Doping.

"It was inspiring to be surrounded by such a motivated athlete community and support them in their sporting journey."

The sessions provided athletes with in-depth knowledge about Anti-Doping rules, safe supplement use, and ethical sporting practices.

Two dedicated presentation sessions explored key topics, including athletes’ rights and responsibilities, how to check medications, Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs), Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), and the risks associated with supplement use.

Holding the sessions during the acclimatization period, rather than the competition phase, allowed athletes to engage in a more relaxed environment and fully focus on learning.

CRO

"These are some of the best wrestlers in the world, and thanks to the collaboration with ITA, they are better informed,” Carlos ROY, UWW Secretary General, said. "Education on Anti-Doping protects our sport, promotes fair competition, and ensures our athletes can perform at their best with confidence."

The initiative reflects UWW’s ongoing commitment to clean sport and athlete support. By equipping wrestlers with knowledge and tools to make informed choices, UWW and ITA aim to strengthen integrity in wrestling while fostering a culture of safe and fair competition.

The Anti-Doping education sessions are part of a broader effort by UWW to provide athletes with continuous learning opportunities on the importance of competing clean, complementing existing regulations and testing programs.

With the World Championships on the horizon, these activities ensure that athletes are not only physically and technically prepared but also well-informed about Anti-Doping practices, reinforcing the values of integrity, fairness, and excellence in wrestling.