#WrestleBudapest

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

Friday, March 19, 2021 - 14:55 By Eric Olanowski

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 19) --- The #WrestleBudapest freestyle medal matches will start at 16:00 (local time) and will be followed by the women's wrestling #Tokyo2020 qualifying round at 18:00. 

20:07: That'll do it for Friday's coverage. We'll see you back here on Saturday at 11:00 as Greco-Roman actions gets underway at the European Olympic Qualifier.

20:04: Obviously two inactivity points was not the ideal way that Vorobeva wanted to earn Russia's Olympic spot, but sometimes the results is more important than the performance. She defeated Kuenz, 2-1, and will wrestle Marzaliuk in Saturday night's 76kg finals.

19:55: Olympic champion Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) and world bronze medalist Martina KUENZ (AUT) will close Friday's women's wrestling semifinals. 

19:53: That was quick! Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) pinned Mariya ORYASHKOVA (BUL) in just over two minutes and helped Belarus punch their fifth overall ticket to Tokyo and second in women's wrestling.

19:48: Here's the final weight for women's wrestling. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) and Mariya ORYASHKOVA (BUL) are up first!

19:46: The future is bright at 68kg! First, it was 22-year-old Larroque who qualified for the Olympics. Now, 21-year-old Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) just qualified Russia for the Olympics with her 6-0 victory over fellow European champion Elis MANOLOVA (AZE).

19:31: Larroque is on first early in the first period. She's scored three takedowns and leads 6-0 heading into the second period.

19:25: We'll move into the 68kg semifinals. First up will be Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) and Dalma CANEVA (ITA). 

19:24: WHAT A COMEBACK! Grigorjeva trailed 3-0 in the second period but scored a pair of takedowns to pick up the come-from-behind win over Yesilirmak and Olympic berth, 4-4.

19:20: European champions Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR) and Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) will wrestle in the second semifinal match at 62kg.

19;19: Koliadenko secured Ukraine's second Olympic license of the day with a 10-0 win over Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA) in the 62kg finals.

19:11: Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA) and Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) are up next in the 62kg semifinals.

19:07: Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) put on a flawless performance in the 57kg semifinals and ended Sara LINDBORG'S (SWE) hopes of qualifying Sweden for the Olympic Games. She won the match, 10-0.

18:55: Sara Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) and Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) will wrestle in the second 57kg semifinals.

18:54: What a performance by Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)! She scored a pair of takedowns against Bediha GUN (TUR) in the 57kg semifinals and punched Bulgaria's 57kg ticket to this summer's Games.

18:45: Rio Olympic bronze medalist Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) was in disbelief as she picked up a late fall against Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) in the 53kg semifinal to punch Sweden's ticket to Tokyo.

18:36: Two-time world champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) blasted through Iulia LEORDA (MDA), 9-1, in the first 53kg and helped Belarus book their fourth ticket to the Olympic Games. This week, Belarus claimed three spots from freestyle wrestlers and now one in women's wrestling.

18:23: The second 50kg Olympic berth went to Miglena SELISHKA (BUL). The reigning European champion caught Iwona MATKOWSKA (POL) off balance with just over two minutes left and gained the 2-1 advantage. She tacked on a second takedown after fighting off a late flurry of Polish attacks and won the match, 4-1

18:11: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) reached the final of the 50kg bracket and qualified Turkey for the Olympic Games with her 5-1 win over Julie SABATIE (FRA). 

Women's Wrestling Olympic Qualification Round

17:27: That'll do it for freestyle action. We'll take a short 30-minute break and see you back here for the women's wrestling Tokyo qualification round. action at 18:00.

17:25: Belarus crowned a third champion on the day as Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) injury defaulted out of the 125kg title bout giving gold to  Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR).

17:10: Karadeniz grabbed a takedown and put the pressure on late, but Huyshtyn came up clutch with a short-time takedown to win back-to-back golds for Belarus. The final score of the match was 5-4.

17:06: It was a pretty even first period between Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) and Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR) in the 97kg finals. They both scored a point, but the Belarusian has criteria heading into the final three minutes.

16:55: Shabanau continues to roll with that smoothing underhook. He's used it to pick up three takedowns in the finals, and after a lost Turkish challenge, the Belarusian walked away with a 7-0 win and the 86kg gold medal.

16:50: It's not something that'll show up on the results page or highlight clip, but let's give props to the refs for being extra cautious with knees and shoulders during these finals matches. The main objective of this competition was chasing the Olympic quota, and although a gold medal would be nice, the most important thing is the long-term safety of these competitors.

16:45: Shabanau, the four-time world medal-winner, is controlling the ties early in the match with his patented left-side underhook. He's so calculated with his attacks off that hook.

16:44:  Ali SHABANAU (BLR) and Osman GOCEN (TUR) are the next finals match up. They'll wrestle for 86kg gold. 

16: 41: It doesn't look like Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) will compete in the 74kg finals, which means the European OG Qualifier gold goes to Georgia's '18 world runner-up  Avtandil KENTCHADZE.

16:36: What a performance by Tevanyan. He has to be looked at as a serious contender to win the Tokyo Olympic Games at 65kg. Since December, he has wins over Olympic champion Vlad KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO), world bronze medalist Ismail MUSUKAEV (HUN), two-time world medalist Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), and now three-time world champion Aliyev.

16:24: Tevanyan just opened the match-up and leads 7-0. He was on the inactivity clock but snapped Aliyev down for a takedown. He caught the Azeri's left arm and roll twice with a trapped arm gut. He added another takedown and claimed 65kg gold, 9-0.

16:22: Nothing much to talk about in that first period outside of the inactivity point. Aliyev has to attack, and for us fans, that's a positive! This is where things are going to get interesting!

16:18: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) has had a lot of tough tests since December, but none like three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE). This should be a great gauge for the '20 Individual World Cup champion.

16:16: The Bulgarian tried everything he could to close the gap, but Harutyunyan takes the safe route out and concedes a takedown and flattens out. Harutyunyan wins 57kg gold with an 8-3 victory over Vangelov. 

16:14: The Armenian built a comfortable 8-1 lead after a counter-offensive go behind and a pair of below the hip exposures.

16:12: Harutyunyan scored the lone first-period takedown and leads 2-1 at the break. The 21-year-old used a textbook head outside single to take the one-point lead into the closing period. 

16:08: Just over a minute into the 57kg finals and we have a stoppage due to a cut on the head of Georgi VANGELOV (BUL). Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) is staying loose -- bouncing around the medical stall as the tape up the Bulgarian's head.

16:00: Please keep in mind that there could a good amount of medical forfeits in this session. Wrestlers who made it to the finals have already qualified their nations for the Tokyo Olympic Games. For now, we'll have to wait and see who is going to take the mat.

Development

DNSS Program in Cambodia: Building Foundations for Wrestling Growth

Monday, December 2, 2024 - 15:16 By United World Wrestling Press

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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (December 2) --- From July 18 to November 30, 2024, the Development of the National Sports System (DNSS) program in Cambodia marked a significant milestone for the growth of wrestling in the country. Led by UWW Educator Martin Hauck (USA), this program provided a comprehensive approach to enhancing coaching, athlete development, and refereeing in Cambodia. Through a mix of workshops, camps, and tournaments, the initiative sought to foster collaboration, education, and enthusiasm for wrestling at all levels.

During the program, more educational opportunities were created for coaches, athletes, and referees. A key highlight was a youth national tournament held during the second visit, which connected athletes and coaches from several provinces, promoting competition and collaboration. Plans were made to make this event an annual tradition, further strengthening the sport’s foundation in Cambodia.

The program objectives included observing and assessing the national team during a high-performance camp in July, educating coaches on long-term athlete development, and organizing a one-day seminar in a neighboring province to introduce wrestling games to youth. Meetings with the Cambodia Wrestling Federation leadership helped establish a roadmap for future development and in-person training sessions.

Key deliverables included:

  • Running camps and seminars for coaches and athletes, focusing on practical and theoretical education.
  • Creating a Cambodian Coaches Course Curriculum and teaching topics such as emergency action planning, practice structuring, periodization, talent identification, and connecting traditional Cambodian wrestling with Olympic styles.
  • Organizing a youth national tournament and camp, which saw participation from almost all provinces, showcasing significant growth on and off the mat.
  • Promoting communication, education, and resource-sharing platforms for ongoing development.

The DNSS program not only strengthened technical skills but also built excitement and unity within the Cambodia Wrestling Federation. With a focus on collaboration among referees, coaches, athletes, and stakeholders, this initiative laid the groundwork for sustained development and opportunities in wrestling throughout Cambodia.

The Development of National Sports System (DNSS) program, conducted in Cambodia from July 18 to November 30, 2024, marked a significant step toward developing wrestling in the country. Led by UWW Educator Martin Hauck (USA), the program aimed to address critical gaps in coaching, athlete development, and organizational structure while fostering growth and enthusiasm for the sport nationwide.

CAMOver 100 participants competed in the national youth tournament during the Development of the National Sports System (DNSS) program in Cambodia.

Program Activities and Achievements

The DNSS program implemented a range of initiatives to address these challenges and lay the groundwork for wrestling’s growth:

  1. Youth Development and Competitions:
    The program introduced a national youth tournament, drawing over 100 athletes from nearly all provinces. This event not only provided a platform for competition but also fostered excitement and collaboration among athletes, coaches, referees, parents, and stakeholders.
  2. Coaching Education and Communication:
    Coaches participated in comprehensive seminars covering emergency action planning, athlete development, periodization, video analysis, coaching females, and practice structuring. A centralized communication platform on the Cambodia Wrestling Federation website improved collaboration among coaches and clubs, helping connect rural and urban areas.
  3. Structured Athlete Development:
    New frameworks for athlete progression were introduced, enabling coaches and athletes to engage in long-term development cycles. Practical sessions during national team camps allowed coaches to apply their learning while working with athletes from across the country.
  4. Safety and Inclusivity:
    Emphasis on mental health, recovery practices, and safety protocols improved understanding and implementation of safe wrestling environments.
  5. Stakeholder Engagement:
    Meetings with the Cambodia Wrestling Federation leadership resulted in a shared vision for growth, including plans to strengthen partnerships, increase opportunities, and enhance stakeholder representation.

Key Outcomes

The program’s efforts led to several important outcomes:

  • Improved communication and collaboration within the wrestling community.
  • Significant growth in coaches’ theoretical and practical knowledge.
  • Increased participation and retention among athletes and coaches.
  • The successful execution of Cambodia’s first youth national tournament.
  • The identification of Coach Sotheara as a future leader for the sport.

Path to Success

The success of wrestling in Cambodia will depend on sustained education, participation, and collaboration. With improved communication, increased opportunities, and the emergence of local leaders like Coach Sotheara, the sport is well-positioned for growth. The DNSS program has laid a strong foundation, and with continued effort, wrestling in Cambodia has the potential to thrive at both national and international levels.

By fostering education, inclusivity, and passion, this program has not only addressed immediate needs but also set a vision for wrestling’s bright future in Cambodia.