Development

Wrestling Delivers Referee Courses in DPR-Korea and China

By Tim Foley

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (June 4) – United World Wrestling, under the expertise of Prof. Dr. Halil Ibrahim CICIOGLU - 1s-ranked referee and member of the Referee Commission - held a series of courses this month in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and China.

The courses were part of the “Referee Education Pathway” a program started last year as an effort to educate and develop future generations of referees worldwide.

“I had an excellent educational opportunity in the DPRK and China,” said Mr. Cicioglu. “I was very happy to serve the people who wanted to improve the sport of wrestling in their countries and was impressed with their excitement to learn. We look forward to seeing more of these referees at future international competitions.”

The referee course in the DPRK was the first such event organized by the nation’s national federation and met or exceeded all requirements. Last year the federation hosted a Level One Coaches Course, which was received with equal praise. The small nation produced an impressive number of referees and coaches with 16 referee candidates and a coaching seminar with 78 attendees.
 

Among the refereeing candidates was Mrs. Choe Jong Bok, was former medalist at the Asian Championships who was eager to learn more about a career as a referee. Should Mrs. Choe continue her education and become a referee she would be the first female from the DPRK to fill that role.

The referee seminar in Beijing was also a major success with more than 100 referees from around the country in attendance. The Chinese Wrestling Federation, who hosted an Olympic Qualification tournament in 2012, held the event at the National Training Center in Beijing.

Later this month the Chinese Wrestling Federation will also be hosting the China Open, a United World Wrestling Ranking Series event, in Taiyung, China. The women’s wrestling event will be held on June 22 and June 23, with a short women’s wrestling development camp to precede it starting June 17.

For more information on refereeing courses and opportunities please see below:

https://unitedworldwrestling.org/sites/default/files/wrestling_referee_brochure_eng.pdf

2026 U17 European Championships

Watch U17 European Championships Live Streaming: Results, Brackets, Videos

By United World Wrestling Press

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (May 11) -- The U17 European Championships will be held in Samokov, Bulgaria from May 11 to 17. How to watch the wrestling live stream of tournament?

To watch the U17 European Wrestling Championships, subscribe to UWW+ on uww.org here.

UWW Plus

Full Schedule: 2026 U17 European Wrestling Championships

May 11 (Monday)

Greco-Roman Qualification Rounds (10:30 onwards): 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg, 110kg
Greco-Roman Semifinals (18:00 onwards): 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg, 110kg

May 12 (Tuesday)

Greco-Roman Repechage (10:30 onwards): 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg, 110kg
Greco-Roman Qualification Rounds (10:30 onwards): 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg, 92kg
Greco-Roman Semifinals (17:00 onwards): 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg, 92kg\
Greco-Roman Finals (18:00 onwards): 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg, 110kg

May 13 (Wednesday)

Greco-Roman Repechage (10:30 onwards): 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg, 92kg
Women's Wrestling Qualification Rounds (10:30 onwards): 43kg, 49kg, 57kg, 65kg, 73kg
Women's Wrestling Semifinals (17:00 onwards): 43kg, 49kg, 57kg, 65kg, 73kg
Greco-Roman Finals (18:00 onwards): 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg, 92kg

May 14 (Thursday)

Women's Wrestling Repechage (10:30 onwards): 43kg, 49kg, 57kg, 65kg, 73kg
Women's Wrestling Qualification Rounds (10:30 onwards): 40kg, 46kg, 53kg, 61kg, 69kg
Women's Wrestling Semifinals (17:00 onwards): 40kg, 46kg, 53kg, 61kg, 69kg
Women's Wrestling Finals (18:00 onwards): 43kg, 49kg, 57kg, 65kg, 73kg

May 15 (Friday)

Women's Wrestling Repechage (10:30 onwards): 40kg, 46kg, 53kg, 61kg, 69kg
Freestyle Qualification (10:30 onwards): 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg, 110kg
Freestyle Semifinals (17:00 onwards): 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg, 110kg
Women's Wrestling Finals (18:00 onwards): 40kg, 46kg, 53kg, 61kg, 69kg

May 16 (Saturday)

Freestyle Repechage (10:30 onwards): 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg, 110kg
Freestyle Qualification Rounds (10:30 onwards): 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg, 92kg
Freestyle Semifinals (17:00 onwards): 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg, 92kg
Freestyle Finals (18:00 onwards): 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg, 110kg

May 17 (Sunday)

Freestyle Repechage (16:30 onwards): 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg, 92kg
Freestyle Finals (18:00 onwards): 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg, 92kg

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