#WrestleSofia

Russia has three Greco-Roman finalists for last day of #WrestleSofia

Saturday, August 3, 2019 - 17:26 By Taylor Miller

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SOFIA, Bulgaria – The final five gold-medal matches of the 2019 Cadet World Championships have been set for Sunday evening in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Leading the field is 2018 Youth Olympic Games silver medalist and 2018 Cadet European champion Stepan STARODUBTSEV (RUS), who will wrestle for 71 kg gold in Greco-Roman.

Looking to challenge Starodubtsev is 2019 Cadet Asian runner-up Reza SAKI (IRI), who knocked off reigning World champion and 208 Youth Olympic champ Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) in the semifinals with a 6-6 win on criteria.

In addition to Starodubtsev, Russia put two other athletes into the gold-medal matches.

Also representing Russia in the gold-medal bout is Muhammed EVLOEV (RUS), who will make his second appearance in the Cadet World finals. In 2017, he finished with a World silver medal.

For gold, Evloev will face 2019 European silver and 2018 European bronze medalist Lachin VALIYEV (AZE).

At 60 kg, 2019 Cadet European champion Maksim SKURATOV (RUS) outlasted 2019 Cadet Asian silver winner Seyed SOHRABI (IRI), 3-0, in the semifinals.

Skuratov will go up against two-time European medalist Mert ILBARS (TUR) for the title.

Wrestling for the crown at 51 kg is Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) and Elmir ALIYEV (AZE).

Esmaeili Leivesi advanced to the finals with a 9-0 win, taking out hometown favorite and returning World bronze medalist and 2018 Youth Olympic Games bronze medalist Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL), son of legendary Armen Nazarian, a two-time Olympic champion and three-time World champion.

2019 Cadet Asian champion Samatbek IZIMGALI (KAZ) will compete for the gold medal at 45 kg. Looking to challenge him is Asadbek BAKHRAMAOV (UZB), who was eighth at Cadet Asian Championships earlier this year.

The finals will take place Sunday at 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Finals matchups
45 kg: Asadbek BAKHRAMAOV (UZB) vs. Samatbek IZIMGALI (KAZ)
51 kg: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) vs. Elmir ALIYEV (AZE)
60 kg: Mert ILBARS (TUR) vs. Maksim SKURATOV (RUS)
71 kg: Stepan STARODUBTSEV (RUS) vs. Reza SThe fAKI (IRI)
92 kg: Muhammed EVLOEV (RUS) vs. Lachin VALIYEV (AZE)

#development

Dominican Republic hosts flawless More Than Medals 2024 camp

Saturday, August 3, 2024 - 10:10 By United World Wrestling Press

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SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (August 3) — The Dominican Olympic Sports Center was the epicenter of a transformative experience for athletes and coaches. More Than Medals 2024 exceeded expectations, offering a comprehensive program that combined sports development with personal growth and community action.

For seven days, 13 countries and 32 wrestlers were immersed in an environment of learning and camaraderie. Top-notch facilities allowed for high-performance training, while workshops on nutrition, sports psychology, injury prevention, and leadership provided valuable tools for the athletes' future.

The week was marked by a series of specialized clinics led by experts in various areas:

  • Applied Psychology in Sports (Lic. Rusbel Salomón)
  • Nutrition Applied to Weight Control Sports (Dr. Francisco Soto)
  • Doping Prevention (Dra. Laura Anabel Pinedo)
  • Sports Injury Prevention (Lic. Abel Caballero)

These sessions enriched the participants' knowledge and promoted the importance of holistic health in sports.

Training sessions were led by each national coach, allowing everyone to experience different countries' training styles and learn new methods.

A fun activity day was organized with the support of the Dominican Wrestling Federation, including sightseeing in the traditional Santo Domingo neighborhood.

The commitment to the community was evident in the inspiring beach cleanup day. Athletes and coaches worked side by side to preserve the environment, demonstrating that sport can catalyze positive change.

The Dominican Wrestling Federation played a crucial role as the event's main organizer, demonstrating exceptional commitment and efficiency in ensuring the program’s success. Their collaboration, alongside the support of the Dominican Olympic Committee, was instrumental in creating a memorable and impactful experience for all participants.

More Than Medals 2024 also left a lasting impact on the Dominican sports community. Through exchanging knowledge and promoting values such as respect, inclusion, and solidarity, the program strengthened local sports and laid the foundation for a more promising future.

As a flagship initiative of United World Wrestling, More Than Medals continues to showcase the power of sport to unite people and generate positive change. We look forward to future editions of this inspiring program and the continued success of its mission.