#SportsDepartment

UWW Hosts First-Ever Event Organization Workshop in Panama City

By United World Wrestling Press

PANAMA CITY, Panama (January 28) -- In Panama City from January 21 to 24, the first Event Organization Workshop organized by United World Wrestling Sports Department with the collaboration of the national Olympic Committee of Panama finalized successfully.

The workshop was aimed to the National Federations that plan to hold Continental Championships during 2022 and 2023.

“It is essential for the UWW to provide the tools and knowledge to our National Federations in order to increase the quality in the delivery of our competitions and continue to put Wrestling at the top. With the support of the local sports’ authorities and the dedication of my talented colleague Yuri Meier, this first workshop was a success” said Jean-Daniel REY, UWW Sports Director.  

Some of the topics discussed were the benefits of organizing an event, planning, bidding process, functional areas, among others.

The main focus of this Workshop is to work with the countries that have already been awarded as a host country for major events in the Americas in 2022, 2023, and potentially 2024. UWW wants to give the National Federations the tools and knowledge to deliver their events successfully and to provide a follow up with all them to assess and support them in the process.

Panama was strategically selected to host the workshop because it is a country with a lot of potential, its geographical location and the organizational level that has both the National Federation and the National Olympic Committee of Panama shown, was a key factor in the logistical aspect of the Workshop.

PAN
Attendees of the first-ever Event Organization Workshop stand together after the conclusion of the workshop. (Photo: United World Wrestling) 

Ms. Damaris YOUNG, President of the National Olympic Committee of Panama, was awarded the Golden Boot as a token of gratitude for her support and commitment to Wrestling in the continent.

Guillermo DIAZ GUTIÉRREZ, President of the Mexican Wrestling Federation and UWW Americas Executive Board member, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of this first event, "This Workshop opens the way for us to continue to improve the organizing of national and international events, in addition to getting to know the new requirement and regulation of the organizations for our futures events", he affirmed.

The three facilitators who delivered the Workshop were Yuri MAIER, UWW Sports and Development Officer, Eduardo PEREZ TÉLLEZ, UWW Americas Event Manager, and Jesús SALAZAR GARDUÑO, UWW Americas IT Manager.

The Americas is the first continent to hold this Workshop, as part of a pilot project for host cities. The next Workshop will be held in Rome, Italy, where the U17 World Championships will take place. As in Panama, the National Federations participating will be the ones with future or potential events to host whether a Continental o World Championships.

#WrestleNoviSad

U23 World Championships 2025 Day 6 Freestyle Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 25) -- The U23 World Championships 2025 in Novi Sad will see four Freestyle weight classes -- 57kg, 70kg, 79kg and 125kg -- in action on day six.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 5 RESULTS

14:00: Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI), a world U20 silver medalist, reaches the semifinals at 125kg in Novi Sad after an 8-0  win over Khachatur KHACHATRYAN (ARM).

13:40: Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) got taken down by Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) for the opening score in their match but Lilledahl comes back and scores three takedowns to lead 6-2 at the break. He keeps the momentum going in the second period and beats Valizadeh 11-5 at 57kg.

13:25: Levi HAINES (USA) is on a mission here. He blanks Aykan SEID (BUL), 10-0, in the 79kg quarterfinals and powers his way into the semifinals.

13:10: PJ DUKE (USA) was challenged a little by Kaito MORITA (JPN) but he uses a big four-pointer to win 7-3 and advance to the semifinals at 70kg.

12:55: Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) had to wait for it but he beats Luka GVINJILIA (GEO), 12-2, at 57kg. Solid gut-wrench from Valizadeh to win his bout.

12:40: U20 world champion Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) needed four minutes and 25 seconds to see off Honghang LIAO (CHN) at 57kg. Lilledahl is the favorite to capture the gold here in Nvoi Sad. 

12:30: Yuta KIKUCHI (JPN) stars off with a 7-2 win against Vladyslav ABRAMOV (UKR) at 57kg. Very controlled win from the Japanese who has world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) and Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) in his corner.

12:15: In a match between world silver medalist Levi HAINES (USA) and U20 world champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI), Haines comes out on top 7-0. Yousefi completely shut down there in this 79kg bout.

11:45: Sina KHALILI (IRI) with a 12-2 technical superiority win over Naveen KUMAR (IND) at 70kg. That gu-wrench was very effective for Khalili.

11:40: PJ DUKE (USA) with a huge 10-0 win over Rostislav LEICHT (GER) at 70kg. He looks in top form and better than his run in Samokov where he won gold at the U20 World Championships. 

11:25: Luka GVINJILIA (GEO) with an excellent strategy against recent U20 world silver medalist Sumit MALIK (IND). Gvinjilia scored a double leg attack and turned Malik twice to lead 6-0. Despite his strong efforts, Malik could only score 5 points and lost his 57kg bout 6-5

11:00: Sina KHALILI (IRI) hangs on to beat Omar OMAROV (UWW) 6-5 at 70kg. Both Omarov led 5-4 when Khalili forced a stepout with 24 seconds left. Omarov challenged the call for a par terre position but the challenge was lost, giving a 6-5 lead to Khalili. Omarov then tried two pushouts which were both called pushouts. Khalili survived there to win 6-5

10:50: Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO) with a brilliant fireman's carry for four points against CHANDERMOHAN (IND) before he adds a huge reverse slam for a five points. A pushout to end the match 10-0 in two minutes and 18 seconds at 79kg.

10:35: U20 world champion PJ DUKE (USA) up against Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB) at 70kg. He gets a point for Kuldashev's passivity before scoring a takedown for two points and lead 3-0 at the break. A point for Kuldashev in the second period but Duke hits two takedowns and then defends to win 7-1.