UWW Five-Year Strategic Plan: Enhance Women's Wrestling, Transform Digitally

Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - 08:38 By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (November 10) -- As United World Wrestling moves into another Olympic cycle after completing a successful Tokyo Olympics, it is keen on taking the next big step.

At the bi-annual Congress, held on the eve of the U23 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, UWW revealed its extensive five-year plan to enhance the sport. It has identified five key areas of focus over the next five years.

The areas identified following a comprehensive outreach program are women's wrestling, digital transformation, youth engagement, associated styles and the image of wrestling.

The five areas will be the priority at every competition through 2022-'26. The organization will implement a system to track the progress. United World Wrestling will provide national federations with roadmaps and resources that aim to help move forward together.

UWW Congress was held in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Enhance and Empower Women's Wrestling

In line with the International Olympic Committee's focus on gender equality, UWW aims to create an optimal inclusive environment to achieve gender equality. Women's wrestling and its growth are a significant part of that program.

With the objective to communicate the potential of women's wrestling and create inclusivity at the sporting and organizational level, UWW will analyze the areas that can boost women's wrestling growth.

UWW's top priority before Paris Olympics is to identify the blockers in the growth of women's wrestling and the potential drivers that can provide that boost. It also plans to share inspiring case studies and launch women's achievement awards.

On the sporting front, the technical committee will review and adapt training methods and techniques, develop more female coaches, analyze rules for WW and review event presentation and delivery for all women competitions.

UWW Tech UWW is keen on a digital-first approach. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Embrace and Foster Digital Transformation

With a digital-first approach, UWW has achieved a pathbreaking system aiming to transform the sport and organization using digital tools.

Moving forward, it will create a roadmap by analyzing the current landscape and identifying the challenges that may arise, given the complex nature of the sport.

The inclusion of all stakeholders is essential to achieve a digital transformation with national federations, commissions, and even wrestlers. Therefore, UWW will build a universal understanding of the digital-first approach.

An internal team will be formed, where they'll be responsible for setting goals and preparing the stakeholders. They will also be responsible for reinforcing the technology adaptation at all levels.

It will be a huge step in fostering a digital culture, and with the support of national federations, training will be provided. By monitoring the trends, UWW can analyze the areas in which more work is needed.

UWW is also in the works to create a digital transformation dashboard to measure the global status and progress it makes with these changes.

More than medals

Elevate and Inspire Youth Engagement

As the future of the sport lies in the hands of youth, UWW has made it a priority to reach out and engage youth for the future of our sport. The objectives outlined by UWW are to develop entry pathways for youth, connect and enhance youth competitions.

For that, UWW will encourage more schools to have wrestling programs, inspire more girls to wrestle, and even prepare programs between countries. It also aims to connect via demonstrating shared values, promoting youth wrestling stories and creating youth awards.

UWW will analyze industry best practices, test new event activation ideas at competitions of all styles and age categories, and evaluate the impact to enhance youth competitions.

Grappling is one of UWW's most important Associated Styles. (Photo: UWW / Max Rose-Fyne)

Support and Connect Associated Styles

Given the history of the sport, UWW embraces many different wrestling styles and aims to grow all styles under one umbrella.

For the best results in associated styles, UWW will clarify the objectives by capturing the current landscape of the different styles around the world and gathering input on the priorities and objectives.

It also aims to establish better connections by creating a global UWW Summit for all styles and fostering knowledge and best practices. Connecting all styles remains a priority for the organization, and it will keep testing new approaches for that.

UWW will review the competition system and increase cross-promotion by facilitating education about different styles to create synergy and a win-win situation for every style.

Revamp and Reinforce Image of Wrestling

UWW has done it before and now it is time to take it to the next level. In a need to be better at showcasing the strengths of both wrestling and UWW, it will showcase the unique and attractive image of wrestling to audiences worldwide.

At the first step, UWW will clarify the image gap and revamp it. The organization then plans to reinforce and multiply the message about the sport and how it's run.

It is undoubtedly a process, but to determine how it wants to be looked at, UWW will analyze how it is seen in the current scenario. Clarifying the image gap will also need to the gap internally and externally.

By identifying the intangible strength of wrestling, UWW aims to produce new and attractive material and have new activities to showcase its image.

A huge part in promotion is played by the national federations, and UWW will support them and seek to develop new partnerships to amplify the new image. It will also create awards to share positive stories.

While UWW will not lag in these initiatives, only a united effort will be needed to support and activate activities at the regional and national levels. It has invited all national federations to send regular feedback and even share ideas to make wrestling a better sport.

#WrestleIstanbul

U17 Worlds: USA crowns two champions in Istanbul

Saturday, August 5, 2023 - 18:33 By Gaurav Bhatt

ISTANBUL (August 5) -- Saturday's action at the U17 World Championships was highlighted by two young Americans who chose glory over comfort.

Paul KENNY (USA) beat Yamato FURUSAWA (JPN), and Marcus BLAZE (USA) defeated Ankush (IND) to win the 48kg and 55kg titles, respectively.

Kenny, 15, could have opted to compete in the U15 Division and settle for a title in the Pan American Games. Blaze could have chosen to defend the national title instead.

Both went the World Championships route and struck gold in Istanbul.

“Name a state and chances are I have wrestled there,” Kenny told Jersey Shore Online, “but I have never been overseas before.”

At the U17 World Team Trials, Kenny punched the ticket to Turkiye in style, defeating the top seed and reigning world champion Domenic MUNARETTI (USA).

Paul KENNY (USA) celebrates after winning the 48kg final in Istanbul (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Kenny — who "didn’t like (wrestling) right away, didn’t like to be sweaty" — was made to work for his title in Istanbul.

Kenny trailed 4-0 against Sam Reza SAYAR (IRI) in Friday's semifinal but kept fighting back. The wild bout against the reigning Asian champion saw two challenges favorable for Kenny, who managed to eke out criteria win at 8-8.

If that match was "really crazy", Saturday's final, in Kenny's words, "was kind of boring."

Both wrestlers were put on the shot clock, with Kenny giving up the point first before 2022 Asian U15 champion Furusawa was penalized for passivity. The American took the win on criteria.

"It feels great to be part of the winning team," Kenny said. "I hope the USA comes out on top of the team score. I look up to some of the guys on the team."

In the bronze medal bout at 48kg, Joseph BACHMANN (PUR), who lost 4-2 to Furusuwa in the semifinals, defeated Marian RUSU (ROU) 15-5 thus marking the first time in 48 years when Puerto Rico won a Freestyle medal at the U17 World Championships.

Blaze considered competing at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior and National Championships, before heading to Las Vegas for the U17 trials.

“Both of these tournaments are spectacular; both would be awesome to make and win,” Blaze had told Toledo Blade. “The process of going overseas and wrestling the other foreign wrestlers is an opportunity like no other. It’s a hard thing to pass up. I definitely have to wrestle at the world championships.”

On Friday, Blaze won the semifinal against 2023 European U17 silver medalist Samvel GEVORGYAN (ARM) with an 11-0 technical superiority.

Against Ankush in the final, Blaze — described by his coach Scott BURNETT as a "super sneaky counterattack wrestler who holds really good position" — lived up to the billing. After countering the initial pressure from the Indian, Blaze went for the single leg to open the scoring, before adding another step out.

The nifty U17 Asian champion scored a takedown before Blaze ran out the 31 seconds remaining to earn a 4-3 win.

"He really only had one thing, it was that duck under," Blaze said. "He had very good forward pressure. I really had to be careful about changing directions and getting pushed on my butt. But I think the difference was I was just a better wrestler."

Just like Kenny, the ongoing worlds was the first taste of international wrestling for Blaze, who hadn't been abroad even for a vacation.

“It’s actually going to be a very big learning curve,” Blaze had said. “It’s going to be awesome to feel how the foreign guys wrestle.”

Blaze felt, and learned. After a tough 2-1 win over Amirreza TEYMORIZAD (IRI), Blaze cruised into the finals with three tech fall wins, adapting his game along the way.

"I've always been known as a defensive wrestler," he said. "But I had to get to my offense against the Iranian. Indian wrestling is also similar, so they both just try to slow you down with more pressure and control ties."

And of course, watching his compatriot clinch gold before he walked onto the mat boosted Blaze's confidence.

"Paul stayed solid throughout that entire match. It just kind of motivated me that yeah, we can do this."

Sina Mahdi KHALILI (IRI) Sina KHALILI (IRI) won the 65kg final against Magomed ALIBAKHARCHIEV (AIN) 10-0. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Khalili wins 65kg title

Sina KHALILI (IRI) defeated Magomed ALIBAKHARCHIEV (AIN) to win the 65kg gold. The reigning Asian champion was at his defensive best, using his speed and strength to repeatedly score takedowns en route to a 10-0 win.

Alibakharchiev, who looked solid in his 12-2 win over Brock MANTANONA (USA), had to answers to Khalili's strength and speed in the final.

Khalili's win gave Iran a gold medal which continues the country's streak of having at least one champion in Freestyle after it missed out to crown any at the 2016 edition in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Magomed IDRISOV (AIN) won the 80kg gold after beating Alexandru BORS (MDA). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Individual Neutral Athletes also won a gold medal as Magomed IDRISOV (AIN) defeated the 2023 U17 European champion Alexandru BORS (MDA) in the 80kg category.

Idrisov wasn't the same self as he had been on Friday, winning his four bout by outscoring his opponents 28-1. In the final, Idrisov had to deal with strong of Bors but he switched his strategy and scored two points via Bors inactivity.

In the semifinal, Idrivsov defeated Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) who is the younger brother of three-time world champion Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO). Konstantine, on Saturday, returned to win the bronze medal against Dovletgeldi MYRADOV (TKM) 6-4.

U17 European champion Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) added the U17 world gold to his name in Istanbul. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The 110kg final saw the U20 European silver medallist Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) beat Asian champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) to clinch gold.

Over the two days, Dursunov has been a force, running away with the gold medal with little resistance from his opponents. He won his first bout against Eldorbek KHASANOV (UZB) 11-0, won 5-1 against Aleksandre ABRAMISHVILI (GEO) in the second bout and in the semifinals, he defeated Henrik HAYKYAN (ARM) 6-2, a better margin than the 4-4 win in the U17 European Championships final.

Kassimbek was no pushover for Dursunov as he got the first point on the board after Dursunov was called for inactivity. But it all changed in the second period as Dursunov defended a double-leg and scored a stepout.

Put on the activity clock, Kassimbek went for the far leg and Dursunov was quick to counter that with a takedown. Another point was added as the activity time finished for Kassimbek who, however, did not let Dursunov score any turns. Instead, a reversal got him one point.

Dursunov ran out the 20 seconds left on the clock to add a world gold to his continental title. He will have a chance to add another in just over a week's time as he makes the trip to Amman, Jordan for the U20 World Championships beginning August 14.

U17 Asian champion Ahora KHATERI (IRI) is a win away from becoming U17 world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Team battle heats up

Khalili's gold topped off an outstanding Saturday for Iran as their battle for the team title against the U.S. heats up. Three Iranians advanced to the finals in the first session on Saturday, including two head-to-head wins against the U.S.

In the 45 kg category semifinal, Ahora KHATERI (IRI) defeated Ignacio VILLASENOR (USA) 5-2. The U17 Asian champion will face Gor BUNIATYAN (ARM) in the final as the Armenian managed to go past Ebubekir GUR (TUR), 4-3.

At 92kg, Tahood NOORY (IRI) beat Aeoden SINCLAIR (USA) in the round of 16 at 92kg but lost in the quarterfinals, dashing Sinclair's repechage hopes. The final in this weight class will be a repeat of the U17 European final between Eyyup CETIN (TUR) and Sandro KURASHVILI (GEO) which the Georgian won.

Ladrion LOCKETT (USA) outscored his opponents 38-0 on his way to the 71kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Only Ladrion LOCKETT (USA) advanced to the finals for the U.S. on Saturday. And he did so with pure dominance as the 71kg competitor hasn't given up a point in the tournament so far. Incidentally, he will take on U17 Asian Seyedabolfazl HOSSEINI (IRI) in the gold medal bout.

Iran also has a finalist at 60kg as Sajad PIRDAYEH (IRI) won 3-2 against U17 European champion Jamal ABBASOV (AZE). He will take on Akito MAEHARA (JPN) in the final after the Japanese defeated Zandanbat BATSAIKHAN (MGL) 11-0 in the other semifinal.

Japan's second finalist on Saturday was Yamato OGAWA (JPN) who ended U17 Asian champion Amirmohammad NAVAZI's (IRI) dream of becoming a world champion with a 4-1 win. He will now take on ROHIT (IND) who won 5-2 over Usman INDIRBAEV (AIN) in the other semifinal. A gold for Rohit would mean India winning a U17 world title for the third consecutive year.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Paul KENNY (USA) df. Yamato FURUSAWA (JPN), 1-1

BRONZE: Sam Reza SAYAR (IRI) df. Azymberdi ASHYRGULYYEV (TKM), 10-0
BRONZE: Joseph BACHMANN (PUR) df. Marian RUSU (ROU), 15-5

55kg
GOLD: Marcus BLAZE (USA) df. ANKUSH (IND), 4-3

BRONZE: Samvel GEVORGYAN (ARM) df. Amirreza TEYMORIZAD (IRI), 4-4
BRONZE: Akhmad MUSAKHADZHIEV (AIN) df. Arshak LULUKYAN (GEO), 12-2

65kg
GOLD: Sina KHALILI (IRI) df. Magomed ALIBAKHARCHIEV (AIN), 10-0

BRONZE: Manuel WAGIN (GER) df. Vladimir AZARYAN (ARM), 13-13
BRONZE: Brock MANTANONA (USA) df. Khizir DASIYEV (FRA), 6-5

80kg
GOLD: Magomed IDRISOV (AIN) df. Alexandru BORS (MDA), 2-0

BRONZE: Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Dovletgeldi MYRADOV (TKM), 6-4
BRONZE: Zackary RYDER (USA) df. Ismayil ASADLI (AZE), via fall (12-2)

110kg
GOLD: Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) df. Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ), 4-2

BRONZE: Henrik HAYKYAN (ARM) df. Aleksandre ABRAMISHVILI (GEO), 11-0
BRONZE: Rakhman MALAKHMEDOV (AIN) df. Balazs CSIPKES (ROU), 10-0

Semifinals

45kg
GOLD: Gor BUNIATYAN (ARM) vs. Ahora KHATERI (IRI)

SF 1: Gor BUNIATYAN (ARM) df. Ebubekir GUR (TUR), 4-3
SF 2: Ahora KHATERI (IRI) df. Ignacio VILLASENOR (USA), 5-2

51kg
GOLD: Yamato OGAWA (JPN) vs. ROHIT (IND)

SF 1: Yamato OGAWA (JPN) df. Amirmohammad NAVAZI (IRI), 4-1
SF 2: ROHIT (IND) df. Usman INDIRBAEV (AIN), 5-2

60kg
GOLD: Sajad PIRDAYEH (IRI) vs. Akito MAEHARA (JPN)

SF 1: Sajad PIRDAYEH (IRI) df. Jamal ABBASOV (AZE), 3-2
SF 2: Akito MAEHARA (JPN) df. Zandanbat BATSAIKHAN (MGL), 11-0

71kg
GOLD: Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) vs. Seyedabolfazl HOSSEINI (IRI)

SF 1: Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) df. NARENDER (IND), 10-0
SF 2: Seyedabolfazl HOSSEINI (IRI) df. Islam KAZHAROV (AIN), 11-1

92kg
GOLD: Eyyup CETIN (TUR) vs. Sandro KURASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Eyyup CETIN (TUR) df. VINAY (IND), 10-0
SF 2: Sandro KURASHVILI (GEO) df. Genki HOKI (JPN), 10-0

UWW Five-Year Strategic Plan: Enhance Women's Wrestling, Transform Digitally

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U17 Worlds: USA crowns two champions in Istanbul