UWW

UWW President Lalovic Carries Torch at '22 Beijing Olympic Games

By United World Wrestling Press

Photo Credit: International Olympic Committee

BEIJING, China (February 6) — International Olympic Committee Executive Board Member and United World Wrestling President Nenad Lalovic carried the Olympic Torch at the opening ceremony of the 24th Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Lalovic, in addition to his obligations as an IOC Executive Board member, had great recognition on the opening day of the Games as he was one of the few bearers of the torch that lit the Olympic flame at the National Stadium.

“Being the torchbearer at the Olympics is a great honor and one of the most memorable moments for me, personally and professionally,”  Lalovic said.

The Olympic flame was later placed inside a giant snowflake and raised high above the ground, where it will remain lit for the duration of the Games — February 4-20, 2022.

“I wish luck and success to all the athletes competing in Beijing,” he said. “IOC and Beijing Organising Committee have been phenomenal in organizing these Games despite the challenges due to the pandemic. With the growing popularity of winter sports, these Games will be an inspiring moment for sports lovers around the world and in the Olympic Moment.“

Lalovic, who has been the UWW President since 2013, was also one of the bearers of the Olympic torch lit at a traditional ceremony in ancient Olympia in Greece. The Olympic torch for these Games was carried by some of the most celebrated athletes and public figures in China while only selected foreigners had the privilege of being part of this abbreviated ceremony.

Unlike previous Olympic torch-carrying ceremonies, the torch for the Beijing Games was carried for only three days in three areas of the Chinese capital. In the build-up to the Games, he participated in the IOC Executive Board and IOC Sessions held in Beijing before the official opening of this edition of the Winter Games.

#WrestleAmman

U20 World Championships, Day 3 semis set

By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 16) -- Women's Wrestling will be the talking point of day three of the U20 World Championships in Amman, Jordan as five weight classes -- 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg -- will be in action.

Japan, the gold standard of Women's Wrestling, will try to put all five wrestlers in the semifinals while other nations try to stop it.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Here are the Women's Wrestling semifinals

50kg
Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) vs. Reka HEGEDUS (SVK)
Viktoriia SLOBODENIUK (UKR) vs. Yanrong LI (CHN)

55kg
Albina RILLIA (UKR) vs. Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN)
Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) vs. Georgiana LIRCA (ROU)

59kg
Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) vs. Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ)
Alexis JANIAK (USA) vs. Aurora RUSSO (ITA)

68kg
Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) vs. ARJU (IND)
Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) vs. Ray HOSHINO (JPN)

76kg
Kennedy BLADES (USA) vs. PRIYA (IND)
Veronika NYIKOS (HUN) vs. Laura KUEHN (GER)

13:35: Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) looks unstoppable today. She gets another 10-0 win, this time over Sevim AKBAS (TUR) to reach the semifinals.

13:25: Audrey JIMINEZ (USA) gets over the Japanese hurdle she failed to last year. A 4-2 win over Miruko SAKANE (JPN) at 50kg helps her move into the semifinal. Jiminez scored two takedowns to Sakane's one.

13:10: Insane battle of two world champions on Mat C. 2021 U20 world champion Kennedy BLADES (USA) scored a takedown to lead 2-0 before the 2022 U20 world champion Ayano MORO (JPN) scored a takedown. However, a stepout for Blades along with a lost challenge made it 4-2 for Blades. Moro scored a stepout but the clock ran out as Blades moves into the semifinals against Priya MALIK (IND).

12:43: A stunning comeback from U17 Asian champion Yanrong LI (CHN) after trailing 6-0 against Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN). She suplexes Katenka for four before rolling to a 16-6 win. Gut-wrenched.

12:35: Returning silver medalist Audrey JIMINEZ (USA) raced to a 7-0 lead before Zerda DEMIR (TUR) scored a takedown to cut the lead to 7-2. Jiminez then added another takedown. Jiminez did take some time but she wins 16-6 to advance.

12:20: Miruko SAKANE (JPN) scored a takedown in the second period to lead 2-2 on criteria and despite Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND) efforts to score, there was no change in the score. Sakane's win sends her into the quarterfinals at 50kg.

11:45: A 25-second technical superiority win for defending champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN). She won the title without any trouble last year and looks like she is on her way to a repeat

11:35: Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN), the U20 world champion from 2021, with a technical superiority win over Aleksandra WITOS (POL) at 59kg. 

11:15: First look of the Japan team and Miruko SAKANE (JPN) rolls over Maria CAZALLA (ESP) 10-0 at 59kg. Japan won 10 medals last year including eight gold medals.

10:45: Aleksandra WITOS (POL) with a huge pin over Mia OLIVIER (FRA) at 59kg. Just stuck with a headlock and got the fall before the break. She sets up a pre-quarterfinal against Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN).

10:40: Continuing at 76kg, returning silver medalist Priya MALIK (IND) begins with a 4-0 win over Mariia SILINA (AIN). In the next match, Veronika NYIKOS (HUN), who lost to Malik in the semifinals last year, beats Myah PHILLIPS (CAN) and sets up a quarterfinal against Cancan LIU (CHN).

10:25: The first could not have been any better as Kennedy BLADES (USA) as she mauls Mariia ZENKINA (UKR) 10-0 at 76kg. Next up for her -- defending champion Ayano MORO (JPN) in the quarterfinals.

10:00: Beginning with Women's Wrestling in Amman today. Some of the best U20 talent will be on the mat aiming to win the gold medal.