#development

UAE aims for wrestling boost

By United World Wrestling Press

ABU DHABI, UAE (March 10) -- The United Arab Emirates Wrestling Federation has launched a new development program to promote the sport of wrestling in the country, with the help of United World Wrestling.

The initiative kicked off with the hosting of the 'Maritime Heritage Festival 2023' in Abu Dhabi, which featured the traditional wrestling form known as Mutaraha.

The UAE Wrestling Federation has outlined a long-term strategy to develop the sport of wrestling in the country, which includes increasing participation in the sport among young people, promoting training and education programs for coaches and athletes, and organizing international competitions.

UAE
The winners of the Maritime Festival 2023.

With a rich history of traditional wrestling, the UAE wants to engage the youth in Mutaraha in which the two wrestlers face each other in a circular ring on sand that is approximately six meters in diameter. The objective of the game is to force the opponent to touch the ground with any part of their body other than their feet, without using any striking or kicking techniques.

The partnership with UWW is a major step towards achieving these goals, as it will provide the necessary resources, expertise, and support to help the UAE Wrestling Federation implement its development program. With the 'Maritime Heritage Festival 2023', the UAE has taken a significant step towards promoting the sport of wrestling and raising its profile in the region.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open: Amouzad vs Tevanyan for 65kg gold; Nolf, Aman in finals

By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 10) -- The season begins with the Zagreb Open Grand Prix in the Croatian capital. Freestyle will kick off action in seven weight classes. The Ranking Series provides points that will be used to seed the wrestlers for the Paris Olympics.

Watch all the action from the #WrestleZagreb Ranking Series event, FREE on UWW+ using CODE: ZAGREB100

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

The gold medal bouts for the evening session

57kg: AMAN (UWW) vs. Wanhao ZOU (CHN)
61kg: Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) vs. Andrii DZHELEP (UKR)
65kg: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) vs. Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)
70kg: Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) vs. Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO)
74kg: Jason NOLF (USA) vs. Hossein ABOUZARIPASHKOLAEI (IRI)
86kg: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) vs. Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL)

14:40: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) is not letting Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) do his things. Rivera had beaten Tevanyan in the World Championships semifinals but the Armenian avenges that loss with a 9-1 win in Zagreb. Tevanyan will take on Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in the 65kg final.

14:32: Jason NOLF (USA) with a 35-second pin over Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)! A strong headlock to put the Greek wrestler on the mat and Nolf kept him there to win and move into the final at 74kg.

14:18: We have our 57kg finalists. AMAN (UWW) won 11-0 against Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) while Wanhao ZOU (CHN) scored a takedown with 16 seconds left to beat Horst LEHR (GER) 4-3.

14:03: World bronze medalist Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) moves into the semifinals at 65kg after a 5-2 win over Jo MCKENNA (USA). He used a takedown and gut wrench in the first period to keep his lead.

13:55: A big result in the Iran national team context as Yones EMAMI (IRI), the first choice wrestler, drops his match against Hossein ABOUZARIPASHKOLAEI (IRI) 4-4 at 74kg. Emami disappointed with that result.

13:50: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) is too much for Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) as the Greek wins 8-0. Khadjiev had some moves but wasn't strong enough to score on Kougioumtsidis who is now into the 74kg semifinals.

13:45: Dzhbrail GADZHIEV (AZE) hangs on for a 5-4 win over Quincy MONDAY (USA). The two were 4-4 with Gadzhiev leading on criteria but he scored a late stepout to claim a 5-4 win.

13:40: Chace MARSTELLER (USA) makes a huge comeback against Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) to win at 86kg. The Georgian raced to a 5-0 lead but Marsteller's conditioning helped him make it 8-5 for the win.

13:30: Aman works his way to an 11-0 technical superiority win over Richards at 57kg. Aman continued to attack throughout the six minutes and never let Richards make a comeback.

13:20: First of the big quarterfinals on Mat C. AMAN (UWW) takes on Zane RICHARDS (USA) at 57kg. This match will be followed by Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) vs Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) at 86kg, Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) vs Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) at 74kg and Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) vs Joseph MC KENNA (USA) at 65kg.

13:00: Another comeback man Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) is at 57kg. He last wrestled at the Tokyo Olympics. Now he is in the quarterfinals with a 9-4 win over Joseph SILVA (PUR).

12:55: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) rolls into the 74kg quarterfinals after a 9-1 win over Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO). He seems to have adjusted well to the lower weight class.

12:35: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) was slow to get off the mark but raced to a 12-1 victory over Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) at 65kg. On Mat C, Joseph MC KENNA (USA) gets a lace to beat Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) 10-0

12:15: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) gets a 10-0 victory at 65kg. While he looks in control of his wrestling, his conditioning still looks off. He takes his time to walk off the mat after the bout.

12:00: Yones EMAMI (IRI) with a technical superiority win over Nuerlanbieke WURENIBAI (CHN) at 74kg. Emami missed out on a medal and Olympic qualification at the World Championships.

11:35: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Chance MARSTELLER (USA) are squaring it off at 86kg. Marsteller put on the clock for passivity and Nurmagomedov goes 1-0 up at the break. Marsteller with a takedown in the second period and Nurmagomedov is called for passivity. Marsteller takes a 3-0 lead which Nurmagomedov fails to cover. Marsteller moves on 3-0 at 86kg.

11:15: Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA), making a comeback after testing positive for a banned substance in 2019, begins with a pin over Ivan STOYANOV (BUL) at 74kg. It will be interesting to see how far he can go in this tournament.

11:00: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), who finished fifth at the World Championships, seems to have found his form back, at least by the looks of the first bout. He beats Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR), who is out after three cautions against him.

10:42: Chance MARSTELLER (USA), moving up to 86kg, gets two takedowns on either side of the break to win 4-0 over Ceballos PEDRO (VEN).

10:30: World silver medalist at 79kg Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) makes a winning debut at 86kg. He beats U20 world champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) 6-3 in Zagreb. On Mat C, Zahid VALENCIA (USA) doesn't have the same start as he falls to Valentyn BABII (UKR).

10:15: Deepak PUNIA (UWW) was up 2-0 after two activity points but world bronze medalist Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) got a takedown and gut wrench to make it 4-2 with under a minute left. He added another takedown to win the 86kg opening bout 6-2.

10:00: Welcome to the Zagreb Open! The first tournament of the season and we have around 600 wrestlers competition.