TV Rights

United World Wrestling Signs Multi-Year TV Rights Agreement with Sporty Solutionz

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 19) – United World Wrestling (UWW) and India-based full-service sports business company Sporty Solutionz have entered into an understanding to promote the sports of wrestling in the Indian sub-continent.

Under the six-year agreement, Sporty Solutionz shall monetize and distribute the UWW media rights in the broadcast and digital mediums for the world governing body for Wrestling.

This partnership comes into effect immediately and continues until the end of 2024.

As part of the deal, Sporty Solutionz will also have the right to use recorded footage, feature previews, highlights and news on its partner’s channels.

“This agreement with Sporty Solutionz is a first of its kind in India and we look forward to a long-term partnership that will grow the sport and bring world-class wrestling to an Indian audience,” said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic.

Sporty Solutionz, among the leading sports rights management companies from the Indian Sub-Continent, has distributed sports content of more than 30 sports disciplines around the world while working with over 100 rights holders and broadcasters.

Competitions including top-ranked 65kg freestyle wrestler Bajrang PUNIA (IND) will now be carried throughout India via Sporty Solutionz. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)
 
Sporty Solutionz with its expertise, connect and understanding of the market will ensure the expansion of wrestling to new fan base and markets in the Indian-Sub Continent.

“India has a rich heritage, tradition and following for the sport of wrestling. In a rapidly growing economy that India has emerged, the sport of wrestling holds tremendous commercial potential,” says Ashish Chadha, Chief Executive, Sports Solutions Private Limited. “Sporty Solutionz is excited to work with the United World Wrestling to expedite the growth and explore the inherent commercial potential of the sport in the best interests of all stake holders. We look forward to opening in India a new window of opportunities for global wrestling.”

Sporty Solutionz - UWW partnership will cover 4 World Championships, World Cups, Continental Championships, and other age group UWW events.

About United World Wrestling

United World Wrestling is the international governing body of wrestling and is headquartered in Corsier-­Sur-­Vevey, Switzerland. To learn more about United World Wrestling and the activities of its 179 national federations, please visit: www.UnitedWorldWrestling.org, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

About Sporty Solutionz

Sporty Solutionz, headquartered in New Delhi, is India’s leading sports business company with 360° interest in the business of sports. Sporty Solutionz has been in the business of international sports media rights syndication, creating sports intellectual properties, commercial monetisation and opening new revenue streams for sports.

 

#WrestleTirana

Four Defending Champs Return to European Greco Finals on Day 2

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (April 21) -- Out of the five defending Greco-Roman champion on Tuesday at the European Championships, four will defend their gold medals after reaching the final. The one missing out was Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) at 60kg.

At 67kg, Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) was on the verge of bowling out, down 2-0 against Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) but was awarded the par terre in the second period. Jafarov scored a correct throw on Chkhikvadze, scoring two points to lead 3-2. Georgia challenged but on review, the correct throw call was upheld, giving Jafarov a 4-2 lead that he defended to enter the final.

He will wrestle Murat FIRAT (TUR) on Wednesday with an aim of winning a second straight European Championships title. Firat had one-sided final against Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR), beating the Ukrainian 4-0. He scored a turn from first par terre to lead 3-0 and then got the second par terre as well which gave him one more point.

In perhaps the biggest match of the session, defending champion at 97kg Kiril MILOV (BUL) denied world silver medalist Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) at 97kg with a 7-1 victory. Milov led 1-1 on criteria after par terre positions were exchanged but Sargsian wrapped his arm around Milov and tried scoring a takedown. Milov defended and both wrestlers went out of bounds.

Milov was awarded the point as Sargsian stepped out first. Sargsian challenged but on review, and the difference being a fraction of a second, Sargsian's knee touched outside before Milov's hand. Milov kept his point and got another point for lost challenge, giving him a 3-1 lead.

Sargsian tried a flying squirrel but Milov controlled him before slamming him on the mat for four points and extending his lead to 7-1.

He will defend his title against Alex SZOKE (HUN) who blanked Vladen KOZLIUK (UKR), 3-0, in the other semifinals. He got the two points for the par terre and one for the lost challenge.

The third defending champion to enter the final was Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) after he defeated Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO), 2-1 at 82kg. He will face Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) in the final after he defeated world bronze medalist Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 7-3.

At 72kg, Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) will look to win his second straight gold medal, reaching the final with a 6-1 victory over Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM). Ghanem opened the scoring with a stepout before losing a challenge to make it 1-1 but held criteria. He was awarded the par terre position from which he turned Terteryan to lead 4-1. Just before the break, he managed a takedown and extend his lead to 6-1, the winning score.

Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) will look to challenge Ghanem after he defeated Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR), 3-2, in the other 72kg semifinal

The one defending champion who did not reach the final, Mammadli, was stunned by former U20 world champion Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) in the 60kg semifinal, pinning the Azerbaijan wrestler after building a 7-1 lead.

Aghajanyan got the par terre in the first period and used a front headlock for a four-point throw and lead 5-0. In the second period, the Armenian got the par terre again to the surprise of Mammadli, who managed to score a reversal to cut the lead to 6-1. However, as he tried to gut-wrench Aghajanyan, he was blocked by the Armenian who kept Mammadli on the mat and got the pin.

Returning silver medalist Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) had no issues reaching his second straight final as he defeated Corneliu RUSU (MDA), 7-1 in the semifinal. Tibilov led 1-1 on criteria but got a third passivity, one without any points, and scored a four-point throw.

Towards the end of the bout, Rusu used an aggressive move on Tibilov which forced the referees to give two caution points to Tibilov, making his score 7-1.

RESULTS

60kg
SF 1: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) df. Corneliu RUSU (MDA), 7-1
SF 2: Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) df. Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), via fall (8-1)

67kg
SF 1: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df. Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 4-2
SF 2: Murat FIRAT (TUR) df. Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR), 4-0

72kg
SF 1: Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) df. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM), 6-1
SF 2: Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) df. Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR), 3-2

82kg
SF 1: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO), 2-1
SF 2: Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) df. Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 7-3

97kg
SF 1: Kiril MILOV (BUL) df. Artur SARGSIAN (UWW), 7-1
SF 2: Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Vladen KOZLIUK (UKR), 3-0