#WrestleBelgrade

Live Blog U23 World Championships Day 3: WW 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, 76kg

By United World Wrestling Press

BELGRADE, Serbia (November 3) -- Day three of the U23 World Championships will see women's wrestling with five weights. Wrestlers from 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg will be on the mat. The first two days saw Greco-Roman stars put up a show and if you missed any action, here's the recap.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

1300: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) closes out the session with a 12-0 win over FRISKE (USA) and that will do for the morning session! We will be back at 1645 hours local time for the semifinals

1250: What a bout we had! Alexandra HEDRICK (USA) lead 6-6 on criteria against ANJU (IND) with 30 seconds to go. Anju pulls off a beautiful double leg and a four-point throw! There is reverse exposure for 2 but the time finishes and Anju wins 11-8

1240: Another fall! Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) makes it looks easy with a big throw and pins junior world silver BIPASHA (IND). She moves into the semifinals.

1232: A fall for Kylie WELKER (USA)! She locks the arms of Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) and holds her back on the mat to secure the fall. On Mat C, Somolia VYNNYK (UKR) was in a an intense battle with Krystsina SAZYKINA (BLR) but she holds on for a 8-6 win

1230: Returning bronze medalist Anhelina LYSAK (POL) humbles junior world champion Annastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (RUS) via fall in the quarterfinals of 59kg. A strong statement from the senior Euros silver medalist

1225: A takedown and two front lifts give six points to Pawar and she leads Profatilova 11-6. A single leg takedown to finish the bout 13-6. She reaches the 50kg semifinals

1220: Anna SZEL (HUN), a silver medalist from the junior Euros, moves into the 59kg semifinals with a 6-2 win over Ebru DAGBASI (TUR). On Mat C, Shivani PAWAR (IND) trails Tetiana PROFATILOVA (UKR) 6-5

1210: Emily SHILSON (USA) with the fall! Stefania PRICEPUTU (ROU) is the victim of an arm-trap and Shilson gets her on her back. It took some time but Shilson moves on to the semifinals

1200: The quarterfinals are underway. Mariia TIUMENKOVA (RUS) is up against Samantha ROMANO (CAN). Tiumenkova with a series of takedowns to lead 6-0 at the break. In the second period she finishes it 10-0 with ease

1145: World bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) does not spend much time on the mat and pins Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU) to get herself going

1130: On Mat C, Kylie WELKER (USA) and Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) battled it out but it is the junior world champ from USA who holds on for a 6-5 win

1120: An upset on Mat B! Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) against now against junior European champion Somolia VYNNYK (UKR). The scores are tied 4-4 with Vynnyk holding criteria. Nichita works hard for exposure but no points.

1100: Junior world champion Emily SHILSON (USA) is on Mat A. She is wrestling Lisa ERSEL (GER) at 50kg. She starts with a takedown and then adds a double leg to lead 4-0. Ersel attempts but Shilson goes behind. A gut and lace finishes it 10-0 for Shilson

1045: What a start we have! Shivani PAWAR (IND) was down 0-9 against U23 Euro silver Anastasiya YANOTAVA (BLR) but gets a big throw and a pin to survive and advance

1030: Welcome to day three of the U23 World Championships in Belgrade. After the highs of Greco-Roman, women's wrestlers are ready to put on a show. Keep an eye on junior world champion Emily SHILSON (USA), European champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), junior world champion Kylie WELKER (USA)

#UnitedWorldWrestling

Cuba’s Trujillo Diaz honored with IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (November 24) — Wrestling coach Raul TRUJILLO DIAZ (CUB) received the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday during a ceremony at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The award was presented by IOC President Kirsty COVENTRY and Sergii BUBKA, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission.

Trujillo Díaz has been one of the key figures in the inexorable rise of Cuba as one of the leading nations in Greco-Roman, with more than 52 years of coaching experience. He coached the Cuban and Portuguese national teams across five editions of the Olympic Games.

Cuba

“I am very honoured to receive this extraordinary recognition, Trujillo Diaz said. “I would like to thank the IOC, all the athletes I have coached over the past 50 years, the other wrestling coaches and people who worked tirelessly behind the scenes in the sport to which I have dedicated my life. All were my motivation and example. I also want to take the opportunity to thank United World Wrestling (UWW). And a big thank-you to someone very special who has always been with me – my family – for their great support.”

One of the legends he has trained is five-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB), who at Paris 2024 became the first athlete in any sport to win five consecutive Olympic gold medals in the same event. Others who have been trained by Trujillo Diaz are Rio 2016 champion Ismael BORRERO (CUB) and Luis ORTA (CUB), the 60kg champion at Tokyo 2020.

As well as introducing training innovations that have helped lead his nation to success, Trujillo Díaz has published numerous research papers and articles on wrestling science and pedagogy. He has also worked widely for UWW across Latin America as an educator, bringing the breadth of his knowledge and experience to new generations of athletes and coaches.

Alongwith Truillo Diaz, volleyball coach Lang PING also received the IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award.

"It's really special to be here with all of you and to celebrate our two coaches for their incredible commitment and their lifetime of work in serving their athletes to become the best athlete, but also the best humans that they can be," said IOC President Kirsty Coventry during the ceremony. "So many of us who compete in sport know and understand that the lessons that we learn in sport will guide us in our everyday life after and this is where the role of coaches is so important,” she added.