#WrestlePlovdiv

Live Blog: U23 European Championships, GR Day 1

By United World Wrestling Press

PLOVDIV, Bulgaria (March 7) -- The first day of the U23 European Championships begins with five weight classes in Greco-Roman wrestling. Wrestlers from 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg will be in action on day one. Keep an eye on Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN), Denis MIHAI (ROU) and Istvan TAKACS (HUN) among others.

MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE

1300: The small section of fans cheer as Ilia MUSTAKOV (BUL) defends a 3-1 lead against Levente TOTH (HUN) and secures his place in the 63kg semifinals.

1220: Junior European champion Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) brings out a big front headlock throw against Lachin VALIYEV (AZE) to win 10-2 at 87kg 

1205: Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM) has locked Beka MELELASHVILI (GEO) arm and chest and rolls him four times to win 9-0

1155: Outstanding from Deni NAKAEV (GER). He ensures that two big throws from par terre give him the 9-0 win over Rasmus AASTROEM (SWE)

1145: Abdurrahman KALKAN (TUR) does not wait for the passivity warning from the referee. He blasts two throws to win 8-0 against Niko NIKOLADZE (ISR) 

1130: We are beginning with the 77kg weight class on three mats. The qualification rounds of this weight class will be followed by 87kg. In the morning session, we will continue will the quarterfinals

1115: We are live from Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It's the first continental championships of the year. The U23 wrestlers from around Europe are here.

2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games

Oborududu Named Athlete Role Model for 2026 Dakar YOG

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 15) -- Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) was announced as one of the 36 Athlete Role Models for the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games.

Oborududu, a silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has been a stalwart in Nigerian sports and represented the country for close to two decades. In Tokyo, she made history by winning silver medal at 68kg in Women's Wrestling, becoming Nigeria’s first‑ever Olympic medallist in the sport.

The four-time Olympian was also a 14-tim African champion, a record that still stands. She compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and finished fifth.

The Athlete Role Models will provide mentoring and workshop training to young athletes on site during Dakar 2026. They will be on the ground in Senegal to engage with competing athletes, providing support and advice around competition and taking part in educational workshops. These workshops cover topics such as career management, injury prevention and mental preparation, among many other things.

The group will also attend training sessions, engage with the local community, support the athletes from the sidelines and be there to congratulate them at victory ceremonies.

The Dakar 2026 YOG will take place from October 31 to November 13, 2026, bringing together around 2,700 young athletes aged up to 17 across three host zones: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.