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UWW educational activities prior to the Southeast Asian Games

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 - 23:58 By United World Wrestling Press

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HANOI, Vietnam (May 11) -- With the support of the Olympic Solidarity and the Vietnam National Olympic Committee, technical courses for coaches and referees were organized by United World Wrestling for the Southeast Asian countries prior to the South East Asian Games from May 7 to 14 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

A total of 55 coaches and referees from Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam attended the training. Out of the 30 referees that attended the training course, 18 referees training will officiate at the SEA Games and obtain international refereeing licenses.

An anti-doping workshop was also delivered to the participating coaches by the Vietnam Anti-Doping & Sports Medicine Center on May 10. General anti-doping rules, rights & responsibilities of athletes & coaches, testing procedures, Therapeutic Use Exemptions and clean sports values and ethics were included in this workshop.

DopingThe Vietnam Anti-Doping & Sports Medicine Center present their course on anti-doping rules and ethics to 25 coaches.

"This is a great start for Southeast Asian countries after such a long time of no activity and sporting opportunities in the last two years," Deqa NIAMKEY, UWW Development Director, said. "The SEA Games allowed our smaller national federations to make a strong appearance on the international stage, and the training courses UWW organized prior to the Games help ensure that the wrestling competitions are conducted in a safe and fair manner.

"UWW thrives to provide the best possible training and education opportunities for the development of coaches and referees worldwide."

As part of its commitment to drive global wrestling development and further strengthen and enhance the communication with member federations, UWW has announced a new Regional Development Program to help support wrestling development activities across regions at beginning of the year.

This program contributes to a coherent development strategy and offers hands-on local support and assistance to benefit wrestling growth in countries that are relatively less developed in the sport of wrestling.

Through this flagship development program, UWW is continuing to provide tailored support to its member federations and making a real and lasting impact in driving the development of wrestling around the world.

The training courses prior to the SEA Games set another important milestone for UWW and marked a start of a series of wrestling development programs and projects in the region. Positive feedback was received from the participating nations, and many countries have already expressed their interest in hosting the 2023 UWW Southeast Asia Development Program.

"The training courses for coaches and referees are extremely important and beneficial for the development of wrestling in Vietnam and the whole Southeast Asia region," Manh Van TRAN, the Secretary-General of the Vietnam Olympic Committee, said.

"We have supported a coaching course via Olympic Solidarity back in 2017, and we hope to continue our successful collocation with UWW to grow wrestling in Vietnam," he said.

Lee Jiwoo_Ref course_VIE

"I’m a young coach from Indonesia and I am very happy that UWW offered this chance to further enhance my knowledge of wrestling in both coaching and refereeing," Purnama SURYA, a coach from Indoesia, said. "I attended both training courses, and had great experience learning from renowned international experts in the field. A big thank you to UWW."

2026 Muhamet Malo

Lolua Bumps to 60kg, Komarov Among World Champs Returning in Tirana

Monday, February 23, 2026 - 19:19 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 23) -- Last year, Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) was in Tirana, making his senior international debut. He went on to win the 55kg silver medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series event.

What followed was an incredible 2025 season for Lolua in which he became a world champion in Zagreb. He also won bronze medals at the European Championships, and U20 World and European Championships.

FREESTYLE PREVIEW | MUHAMET MALO ENTRIES | WATCH LIVE

The world champion at 55kg is returning to Tirana, making his Olympic weight debut at 60kg later this week at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series, which begins February 25.

While he got two wins last year to reach the final, where he lost to Emre MUTLU (TUR), Lolua will need to spend more time on the mat if he wants to wrestle for the gold medal.

The field at 60kg is no pushover, with several experienced contenders entered.

The 18-year-old will face the likes of European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), silver medalist Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), former U20 world champion Nihad GULUZADE (AZE), former U17 world champion SURAJ (IND) and compatriot Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO).

The Georgian has the par terre offense to win, as he showed in Zagreb. He tricked Payam AHMADI (IRI) in the final with two different par terre turns. However, he also keeps his matches tight. At the World Championships, he won only one of his four bouts by a margin of two points or more.

Mammadli presents his first major tactical test. He was in red-hot form in 2025 but fell off in the later half of the year. He lost his World Championships quarterfinal to Alisher GANIEV (UZB), who also defeated him at the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2025.

Guluzade and Tibilov pose a different challenge. The latter is an experienced campaigner, who often shuns big-move wrestling for tactical wins. Guluzade will bring raw energy, trying to prove his mettle before the European Championships.

Suraj, who defeated Victor CIOBANU (MDA), constantly works on his opponents for six minutes, which can put anyone's conditioning to the test.

Like at 60kg, Georgia and Azerbaijan have multiple wrestlers in other weight classes as well. Many other nations are also increasingly focusing on selecting their teams via results at Ranking Series events.

At 67kg, Georgia has Zagreb Open champion Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) and European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) going against each other. Khetsuriani has not wrestled since finishing 22nd at the World Championships in September.

The challenges will not be limited. U20 world champion Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) will make his senior debut in Tirana. He has impressed with his dominant performances in 2024 when he won the U20 gold. In 2025, he finished with a silver, losing a close final.

A minefield at 87kg will see the return of world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB). He will face top wrestlers from Hungary, Azerbaijan, UWW wrestlers and Kazakhstan.

Komarov rose to the occasion at the World Championships in Zagreb with an incredible run, winning gold over Olympic silver medalist Alireza MOHMADI (IRI). He will look to reset in Tirana.

World bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) has constantly improved and a good performance in Tirana at 87kg will do him a world of good. Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW), Islam ALIEV (UWW) and Alan OSTAEV (UWW) are a trio of UWW wrestlers in the field. Alirzaev and Ostaev have wins over Komarov in the past.

Islam ABBASOV (AZE) and Lachin VALIYEV (AZE) are leading the challenge for Azerbaijan while Istvan TAKACS (HUN), who won gold at the Zagreb Open, will be another top wrestler.

Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ) and Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) are two Kazakhstan wrestlers looking to make a mark as well.

A similar story will play out at 97kg with world silver medalist Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) eyeing his second Ranking Series gold medal. Standing in his way are Zagreb Open champion Alex SZOKE (HUN), world bronze medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW), Paris bronze medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ), former world bronze medalist Artur OMAROV (CZE).

Azerbaijan is sending three wrestlers at 97kg in hopes of finalizing its European lineup with world bronze medalists Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) and Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), and Mahammad AHMADIYEV (AZE).

At 77kg, Hungary is once again pitting Robert FRITSCH (HUN) against Zoltan LEVAI (HUN). In Zagreb, Levai won silver while Fritsch won bronze as both lost to Ali OKSOU (IRI).

Iran, which has its own struggles at this weight class, has also gone with two wrestlers, Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) and Amir ABDI (IRI).

U23 world champion Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) is returning to action, hoping to win his first Ranking Series gold medal. Gutu has given legendary performances at the age-group level but is yet to win a medal at the senior World or European Championships.

Imran ALIEV (UWW), Evgenii BAIDUSOV (UWW) and Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) will also be involved at 77kg as they try to confirm their spot for the European Championships.

Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ)Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) defeated Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), 3-1, at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Olympic rematch at 82kg

Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) rocked his neighbouring country Kyrgyzstan at the Paris Olympic when he defeated the favorite and world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ). Kyrgyzstan was hoping that Makhmudov would create history by becoming the country's first-ever Olympic champion.

Both have gradually returned to action. In Tirana, both are entered at 82kg and it won't be a surprise if they clash as well. However, Makhmudov would like to avenge that Paris loss.

Also at 82kg are Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) and comeback man and former world medalist Viktor NEMES (SRB).

Iran is bringing a small squad in Tirana but it made sure to bring Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI), perhaps the best heavyweight Greco wrestler in the world. The 130kg gold will, most likely, be his.