#development

Serbia hosts UWW Level 2 coaching course

By United World Wrestling Press

DIVCIBARE, Serbia (November 27) – After a strong performance at the World Championships, Serbia organized a coaching course to help grow and develop their coaches. This course was conducted in collaboration between United World Wrestling and the Serbian Wrestling Federation. The UWW Level 2 course was held at Divcibare, the same location as the World Championships Acclimation Camp held in September. The course was led by Mr. Georgi SREDKOV (BUL) and Mr. Árpád RITTER (HUN) from November 13-17.    

The Level 2 course focused on many topics around developing effective practice plans. This included the following topics:  basic wrestling skills, performance analysis, theoretical frameworks, practice plan essentials, strength and conditioning, and practice plan series. Dr. Milorad DOKMANAC (SRB) also delivered a session on performance analysis from the most recent major competitions. This allowed the 49 coaches in attendance to see how matches were won and what techniques were successful at those levels. In addition to training topics for the course, the participants also participated in sessions on athlete safeguarding, nutrition and weight management, and mental development of wrestlers.

“The course went great. There were many participants, club coaches, all national coaches and competitors wanting to become future coaches," said Georgi Sredkov. "The conditions at hotel and base were excellent--top level. The trainers were positively fit and it showed in the many smiles. During the course, wonderful ideas emerged for developing the sport of wrestling.”

“I think we have passed a well-successful course. The older generation, together with the young people, were positive towards our ideas," said Árpád Ritter. "It was nice to be here and hear the different ideas and see what they heard, think about, and try to use from the course! I am in the fortunate position that I also learned from them.” 

SRBParticipants spend some time together on the mat at he UWW Level 2 course in Divcibare. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Quotes from some participants:

"The course was of high quality, very educational and presented and conducted in a great way. The lecturers Georgi Sredkov and Arpad Ritter were up to the task, accurate, precise, very thorough, available for cooperation and questions, as well as providing answers and constructive solutions. I really appreciate it and I look forward to new friendships and even better education and friendship. Thank you!" - Dragana Jankov

"I am glad I had the opportunity to participate in this seminar, improve my knowledge and get to know the local wrestling scene. These events are important for the future development of positive sports practices and I am happy to be a part of them. Big thanks to the whole organization and amazing lecturers for providing us with the latest industry knowledge to support our future work." - Abel Antonio Balsinde Acosta

"This course has not only equipped me with new training methodologies but also affirmed the effectiveness of my existing approach. Learning innovative training principles from Georgi Sredkov and Arpad Ritter has broadened my skillset while confirming that my current strategies align with best practices. Empowered and validated, I'm eager to apply these skills, and I look forward to attending the next course." - Vukašin Veizović

"I express my great gratitude for the wonderful seminar in all respects. I would be grateful for new seminars (new topics) of this amazing lectures. (Georgi Sredkov and Arpad Ritter) Thank you very much! The information was presented in a very interesting and accessible way, all the questions of interest were answered!" - Ivan Mladenovic

#WrestleTirana

U23 Euros: Triple delight for Turkiye as Bas leads gold rush

By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (March 11) -- For Nesrin BAS (TUR), returning in the U23 European Championship after winning the senior continental title last year would have felt like finishing high school after earning a master’s degree.

Two years after claiming the U23 European gold, the 22-year-old star from Turkiye never looked troubled as she galloped to the top of the podium, beating Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR), 6-2, in a nerve-wrecking 68kg final on Tuesday.

Bas might never have looked troubled en route to the final, blanking Laura GODINO (ITA) 10-0 and Viktorya RADZKOVA (UWW) via fall, but in Skobelska, she met a hungry and brave rival.

Returning silver medalist Skobelska, despite two medical timeouts for bleeding, did not show any signs of slowing down to protect her injury. In fact, she charged more purposefully and went 2-1 up.

Bas, however, proved why she is considered one of the finest young stars of the sport right now. She did not panic as she tried to make a comeback into the match. Bas summoned all her experience and strength to execute a throw-by and scoring the first takedown for a 4-2 lead. The score remained 4-2 until the closing stages of the bout and when in the last 10 seconds, Skobelska tried to counter-attack, leaving her defence vulnerable and conceding two more points to put the result beyond any doubt.

Bas led Turkiye’s golden hat-trick Tuesday. Minutes before her final, it was Tuba DEMIR (TUR) who set the ball rolling in the 55kg.

Facing Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) in the title showdown, she made short work of her opponent to win 7-0. Demir opened the bout sedately, catching Samoil’s ankles to push her out of bounds for the first point of the final. Seconds after she went ahead, Demir thought she had a spectacular four-point throw but upon Samoil’s successful challenge, it was deemed to be just a two-pointer. However, it still gave the young Turkish wrestler a healthy 3-0 lead at the break.

Demir defended staunchly in the second period, surviving a barrage of attacks from Samoil. And in the closing stages of the match, Demir dug deep to counter an attempted whizzer from Samoil which was initially not score. Moldova challenged the decision, hoping to get four points for the win but on review, it was scored two points for Demir's takedown as she defended Samoil's toss and two more for exposure. Demir eventually won 7-0 open Turkiye’s gold medal account.

Demir’s trophy cabinet will now boast of a full set of age-group continental gold medals, having earlier won the U17 and U20 European Championships.

In the final bout of the day, Elmira YASIN (TUR) defeated Olga KOZYREVA (UWW) 10-5 to win the gold medal and cap off a remarkable day for Turkiye.

In an action-packed final, Yasin was put on the activity clock. With less than five seconds remaining for her to score, Yasin carried out a double-leg attack on Kozyreva. The referee judged it as a four-pointer but Kozyreva challenged the call and after a review, it was declared as a two-point throw.

But it swung the momentum in the favor of Yasin, who again initiated a double-leg attack to throw Kozyreva off-balance before slamming her on the mat back-first for a four-pointer. Kozyreva again challenged the call but this time, it was called four but she was awarded a point for taking Yasin out-of-bounds after the throw.

Yasin had the chance to win the match on technical superiority when she blocked a headlock attempt from Kozyreva and scored a takedown and lead 9-1. However, she failed to perform her lace. Yasin then went for a double-leg but lost her balance and fell with Kozyreya controlling her. That gave Kozyreva two points and a front chest-wrap turn made it 9-5. But Yasin scored a reversal and defended her 10-5 lead for the victory.

At 50kg, in an entertaining final, Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) scripted an impressive recovery to beat Anastasiya YANOTAVA (UWW) 7-5 after going 0-3 down at the start of the second period.

Pudova scored a reversal after Yanotava's takedown and scored a turn to take a 3-3 criteria lead. With a little more than a minute left, Pudova mistimed an attack and Yanotava made the most of it, using double underhooks to turn Pudova for two and lead 5-3.

But Pudova didn’t give up easily, making another comeback with only 30 seconds left to play. After a scramble, Pudova managed to hit a double-leg and Yanotava tried the front chest throw but Pudova blocked it and got Yanotava on her back to the mat for two points. An exposure turn made it 7-5 for Pudova who cliched the gold medal.

In the 59kg final, Zagreb Open winner 18-year-old Hiunai HUBRANOVA (AZE) defeated former U20 world champion Aurora RUSSO (ITA) 4-0 to make it two golds out of two tournaments this year.

Bondar aims third straight gold

Meanwhile, U23 and U20 world champion Iryna BONDAR (UKR) will hope to complete a hat-trick of U23 European Championship gold medals after she stormed into the 62kg final, where she will face Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) on Wednesday.

Bondar reached the final with a technical superiority win and a fall, first overcoming the challenge posed by Alesia HETMANAVA (UWW) 13-2 and then pinning Naemi LEISTNER (GER) in the semifinal.

If she is successful on Wednesday, she will add another feather to her cap, having already won the title in 2023 and 2024.

Photo

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) df. Anastasiya YANOTAVA (UWW), 7-5

BRONZE: Natalia WALCZAK (POL) df. Maria CAZALLA TORRES (ESP), 12-0
BRONZE: Asmar JANKURTARAN (AZE) df. Songul KAVAK (TUR), 9-3

55kg
GOLD: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA), 7-0

BRONZE: Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN) df. Anastasiia IANDUSHKINA (UWW), 6-0
BRONZE: Amory ANDRICH (GER) df. Kamila KASPROW (POL), via fall (12-0)

59kg
GOLD: Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) df. Aurora RUSSO (ITA), 4-0

BRONZE: Marta HETMANAVA (UWW) df. Yuliia PAKHNIUK (UKR), 14-6
BRONZE: Ebru DAGBASI (TUR) df. Evgeniia OGORODNIKOVA (UWW), 4-3

68kg
GOLD: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR), 6-2

BRONZE: Viktoryia RADZKOVA (UWW) df. Laura GODINO (ITA), 3-2
BRONZE: Karolina DOMASZUK (POL) df. Maria PANTIRU (ROU), via fall (7-3)

76kg
GOLD: Elmira YASIN (TUR) df. Olga KOZYREVA (UWW), 10-5

BRONZE: Hanna PIRSKAYA (UWW) df. Laura KUEHN (GER), 5-4
BRONZE: Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR) df. Veronika NYIKOS (HUN), via fall (6-0)

Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) vs. Ekaterina KARPUSHKINA (UWW)

SF 1: Ekaterina KARPUSHKINA (UWW) df. Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR), 3-2
SF 2: Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP), 12-0

57kg
GOLD: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) vs. Aryna MARTYNAVA (UWW)

SF 1: Aryna MARTYNAVA (UWW) df. Georgiana LIRCA (ROU), 5-3
SF 2: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) df. Inna ALIMOVA (LTU), 12-1

62kg
GOLD: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) vs. Amina TANDELOVA (UWW)

SF 1: Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) df. Iris THIEBAUX (FRA), 10-0
SF 2: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Alicja NOWOSAD (POL), via fall (5-0)

65kg
GOLD: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) vs. Kseniya TSIARENIA (UWW)

SF 1: Kseniya TSIARENIA (UWW) df. Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 3-1
SF 2: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. Viorica ADAM (ROU), 10-0

72kg
GOLD: Daniela TKACHUK (POL) vs. Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW)

SF 1: Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) df. Veronika VILK (CRO), 8-4
SF 2: Daniela TKACHUK (POL) df. Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN), via fall (4-4)