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Individual Neutral Athletes to compete at U17 European C’ships

Monday, June 12, 2023 - 11:51 By United World Wrestling Press

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COSIER-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 12, 2023) --- Russia and Belarus will return to international competition at the upcoming U17 European Championships, scheduled to take place in Tirana, Albania, from June 12-18. However, athletes representing both countries will compete under the Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) designation.

During the competition, they will be ranked according to their results, but Individual Neutral Athletes won’t be allowed to play their anthems or use their respective flags. For the team rankings, AIN athletes won’t score points and will therefore be unranked.

With safety as a top priority and following a thorough examination of registrants by United World Wrestling, four individuals from Russia and Belarus have been denied access and subsequently removed from the competition. The review of the registrants by the UWW eligibility panel was based on vetting reports carried out by a private integrity services provider (Sportradar) and led to the exclusion of these individuals, ensuring fair and transparent participation in the Championships.

“Ensuring the safety and well-being of the athletes, coaches, volunteers, and everyone involved in the U17 European Championships is paramount,” said President Lalovic. “Our aim, with the assistance of the Albanian Wrestling Federation, is to provide a secure and enjoyable Championships where the young athletes can excel while having confidence in their physical and emotional well-being.”

The U17 European Championships begins Monday, June 12, in Tirana, Albania, and can be followed live on www.uww.orgor on “The Home of Wrestling,” United World Wrestling’s app.

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Ukraine Puts Four in Women's Finals at Europeans

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - 19:09 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 22) -- Ukraine kicked off Women's Wrestling at the European Championships with four finalists in five weight classes including two defending champions in Tirana.

Defending champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR) and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) made it to the finals at 50kg and 76kg, respectively hiwle Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) and Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) reached the final at 55kg and 59kg.

At 68kg, the only weight class in which Ukraine did not get a finalist, a blockbuster final is set between U23 world champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) and defending champion Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW).

Livach used her aggressive style to score multiple stepouts in her 6-2 victory over Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) and set up a rematch of 2025 European final against Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) who was at her defensive best against Emilia GRIGORE VUC (ROU) and won 6-0.

Alpyeyeva reached the final after a clinical 4-0 victory over Martina KUENZ (AUT) in the semifinal. She will now face former European champion Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) who moved past Enrica RINALDI (ITA), 3-1, in a low scoring semifinal.

Malanchuk at 55kg came alive in the second period, scoring six points and a fall over U23 world silver medalist Tuba DEMIR (TUR). She led 1-1 on criteria at the break but she hit a double-leg attack and tried to hold Demir on the mat for fall but she survived.

Demir tried a leg-attack but Malanchuk countered it and held Demir on the mat and secured the fall with 1:45 remaining.

She will now face former European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) who saw off Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA), 10-0, in the other semifinal.

Vynnyk, all but lost in the semifinal against Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE), 6-2, tripped the Azerbaijan wrestler with less than 10 seconds remaining to claim a stunning victory and enter the 59kg final. After the trip, Vynnyk also scored exposure points.

She will now face Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) who held defeated Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW), 4-2, in a low scoring bout. Wrzesien led 3-1 and was in danger of giving up a takedown when Lipatova got on a single-leg attack. However, the Poland wrestler defended well and gave up only a stepout. Lipatova challenged but lost it to give one more point tp Wrzesien.

Bas vs Shauchuk

Defending champion at 68kg Shauchuk defeated Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), 4-3, scoring two second-period takedowns. Shauchuk had beaten the Romanian in the final last year. But for the gold this year, Shauchuk will take on Bas, a U23 world champion and returning silver medalist from 72kg.

Bas had no trouble completing a 12-1 technical superiority win over Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW) in the other semifinals.

RESULTS

50kg
SF 1: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Emilia GRIGORE VUC (ROU), 6-0
SF 2: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW), 6-2

55kg
SF 1: Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) df. Tuba DEMIR (TUR), via fall
SF 2: Andreea ANA (ROU) df. Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA), 10-0

59kg
SF 1: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE), 6-2
SF 2: Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW), 4-2

68kg
SF 1: Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) df. Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), 4-3
SF 2: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW), 12-1

76kg
SF 1: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) df. Martina KUENZ (AUT), 4-0
SF 2: Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) df. Enrica RINALDI (ITA), 3-1