#WrestleTokyo

#WrestleTokyo Olympic Games Preview: 87kg

Thursday, July 22, 2021 - 14:05 By Andrew Hipps

Share this article

TOKYO, Japan (July 22) – Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) will look to improve on the Olympic silver medal he won at the 2016 Rio Games. He won gold at the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan, which was his second world title after claiming gold in 2015. The 30-year-old Beleniuk has five world medals and four European gold medals. Earlier this year, Beleniuk won gold at the Grand Prix of Zagreb before getting a bronze at the European Championships in April. He enters the Tokyo Olympics as the No.2 seed at 87kg.

The top seed at 87kg is Viktor LORINCZ (HUN), a three-time world medalist. He will be in search of his first world-level gold in Tokyo. Lorincz reached the finals of the 2019 World Championships before falling to Beleniuk, 2-1. Lorincz was leading the match with just over a minute remaining before Beleniuk scored the go-ahead point off passivity, which proved to be the difference in the match. Lorincz was named United World Wrestling's Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year in 2019 after he won gold medals in three Rankings Series events, as well as a bronze at the European Games, silver at the World Championships and gold at the World Military Games. He placed fifth at the 2016 Olympics, losing in the bronze medal match.

Denis KUDLA (GER) is one of the top contenders in this weight category despite not being seeded. Kudla is a two-time world medalist (bronze in 2019, silver in 2017) and earned a bronze medalist at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Kudla fell to Beleniuk in the bronze medal match at the 2021 European Championships.

Third-seeded Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) brings a strong resume to Tokyo. The 37-year-old  Uzbekistani has won two world medals, with his most recent one coming in 2019 when he claimed bronze in Nur-Sultan. His lone loss at the World Championship came to Lorincz on criteria in the semifinals. Assakalov reached the finals of the 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas before falling to Beleniuk. Assakalov, who is competing in his second Olympics, is a multiple-time Asian Games finalist, winning gold in 2014 and silver in 2018.

Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB), a silver medalist at the Pan Am Olympic Qualifier, earned the No.4 seed. He is a multiple-time U23 world medalist, winning silver in 2018 and bronze in 2019.

Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) could be in the mix for a medal. He was a 2019 world champion in a non-Olympic weight category (82kg) and also took bronze at the 2015 World Championships.

Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR) has had a strong season. He won the Individual World Cup in December before earning a silver medal at the European Championships, where he defeated Lorincz by technical superiority in the opening round.

Three-time European champion Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) will be competing in his third Olympics after qualifying by reaching the finals of the Last Chance Olympic Qualifier. Datunashvili had an impressive run to gold at this year's European Championships, earning victories over Beleniuk and Kudla before topping Maskevich in the finals.

87kg 
No. 1Viktor LORINCZ (HUN)
No. 2 Zhan BELENIUK (UKR)
No. 3 Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)
No. 4 Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)
Denis Maksymilian KUDLA (GER)
Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR)
Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ)
Mohamed Moustafa Ahmed Abdall METWALLY (EGY)
Bachir SID AZARA (ALG)
John Walter STEFANOWICZ JR (USA)
Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
Lasha GOBADZE (GEO)
Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
Fei PENG (CHN)
Ivan HUKLEK (CRO)
Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB)

#UnitedWorldWrestling

UWW adopts Sustainability Charter, reinforces core statements

Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 15:43 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 28) -- United World Wrestling announced the adoption of its Sustainability Charter and new core statements that will guide the organization's future endeavors.

UWW remains committed to its mission of leading the growth of wrestling, competitive and recreational, in all its styles around the world, while striving to be globally recognized as an inspiring, innovative, and leading Olympic federation.

UWW's core statements, including its mission, vision, and values, represent the organization's fundamental beliefs that drive its decisions and actions.

Unity stands at the forefront, as UWW champions respect, belonging, and cooperation among its members. Integrity is paramount, with UWW emphasizing trustworthiness, accountability, and ethical conduct in all aspects of its operations. Finally, resilience fuels UWW's determination to overcome challenges through hard work and discipline, leading to success for the wrestling community.

In line with its dedication to a sustainable future, UWW has introduced its Sustainability Charter. This comprehensive framework is designed to promote sustainable practices, events, and approaches that contribute to wrestling's global development while addressing the world's pressing challenges. The Sustainability Charter encourages UWW and its affiliated national federations to adopt realistic and feasible approaches to support a more sustainable environment.

The principles outlined in UWW's Sustainability Charter encompass a range of sustainability practices within the sport of wrestling. These include initiatives focused on transportation, waste reduction, energy conservation, water preservation, and actions promoting social and economic sustainability.

By fostering awareness of climate and environmental issues, UWW aims to ensure the practice of wrestling for future generations amidst the challenges of climate change, economic crises, and geographic disparities that affect the global wrestling community.

UWW's commitment to sustainability aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), serving as a catalyst for change in several key areas.

Among these, pursuing the SDG 4: Quality Education, UWW strives to provide access to wrestling through grassroots and school programs while offering continuous education opportunities for coaches, referees, and administrators in close collaboration with national federations and stakeholders.

Under SDG 5: Gender Equality, UWW has integrated gender equality programs into its 2022-2026 Strategy, promoting equal opportunities and representation within the sport.

By adopting the Sustainability Charter and aligning with the SDGs, UWW showcases its dedication to sustainability, ensuring the practice of wrestling for future generations while contributing to a more sustainable world.