Scientific Commission

Barbas Wins 2019 Rayko Petrov Award for Scientific Contributions

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 20) -- Dr. Ioannis Barbas has been awarded the 2019 Rayko Petrov Award for Scientific Contributions to Wrestling by the the International Network of Wrestling Researchers (INWR) and the Scientific Commission of United World Wrestling.

The award was presented in Komotini, Greece by Dr. David Curby, the Director of the INWR.

Following a mat career as a Greco-Roman wrestler for the Greek National Team, Ioannis began his early academic career in the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at the Democritus University of Thrace. 

Dr. Barbas continued his studies at the National Academy of State in Sofia where he studied with scholarship and gained his PhD in Physical Education in 2001 under the tutelage of Dr. Petrov.  

He's the chair of Wrestling at the Physical Education and Sports School of the Democritus University of Thrace. In 2007 he was one of the founding members and deputy director of the INWR and has helped organized 13 International Scientific Wrestling Forums and Symposiums.

Dr. Barbas has also presented ninety-six (96) papers at scientific conferences and symposia around the world including the "Wrestling+ Injury Prevention Program for Young Athletes" which was created in cooperation with his colleagues from the Rehabilitation Laboratory of Democritus University of Thrace.

He also created the “Barbas 3D Wrestling Dummy” and has written and translated four books.

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The Rayko Petrov Award is named in honor of-PROFESSOR RAYKO (1930 – 2011). Petrov was a coach, scientist and pedagogue who dedicated all his life to wrestling. Prof. Rayko Petrov’s works are numerous; hundreds of titles in scientific publications, textbooks, manuals, programs, sports regulations and over 80 books. The message in all these works is unambiguous: wrestling existed in the past, exists today and shall exist in the future as it is a cultural factor in human society. It is an integral part of traditions, folklore, literature and art. It is an integral part of people's lives. Prof. Rayko Petrov’s works reflected his personality – a brilliant scientist with outstanding intellectual capacity for whom coaching was not simply work, but rather a science and a way of forging human character.

2026 U20 Asian Championships

U20 Asian Wrestling Championships: Watch Live Streaming, Brackets, Results

By United World Wrestling Press

PATTAYA, Thailand (June 29) -- The U20 Asian Championships kicks off in Pattaya, Thailand from Wednesday with Greco-Roman, followed by Women's Wrestling and then Freestyle.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | WATCH GRECO-ROMAN LIVE

The U20 Asian Wrestling Championships will run from July 1 to 5 with 120 medals up for grabs. Iran, India, Japan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan remain the strongest countries in the mix.

Full schedule of the U20 Asian Championships 2026, click here.

The live streaming of the U20 Asian Wrestling Championships will be free on uww.org and the UWW App: Download UWW+ App on Apple's App Store | Google Play Store

 

Complete list of wrestlers participating, results, live streaming, brackets, team standing, and photos.

ENTRIES | BRACKETS | RESULTS | NEWS | TEAM RANKING | PHOTOS

Full schedule of the U20 Asian Championships:

Day 1 - July 1, Wednesday

Greco-Roman Qualification Rounds & Semifinals: 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, 130kg - 10:30 hours onwards
Greco-Roman Repechage Rounds: 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, 130kg - after semifinals
Greco-Roman Final Medal Bouts: 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, 130kg - 18:00 hours

Day 2 - July 2, Thursday

Greco-Roman Qualification Rounds & Semifinals: 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg - 10:30 hours onwards
Greco-Roman Repechage Rounds: 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg - after semifinals
Greco-Roman Final Medal Bouts: 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg - 18:00 hours

Day 3 - July 3, Friday

Women's Wrestling Qualification Rounds & Semifinals: All 10 weight classes - 10:30 hours onwards
Women's Wrestling Repechage Rounds: All 10 weight classes - after semifinals
Women's Wrestling Final Medal Bouts: All 10 weight classes - 18:00 hours

Day 4 - July 4, Saturday

Freestyle Qualification Rounds & Repechage: 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg - 10:30 hours onwards
Freestyle Repechage Rounds: 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg - after semifinals
Freestyle Final Medal Bouts: 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg - 18:00 hours

Day 5 - July 5, Sunday

Freestyle Qualification Rounds & Semifinals: 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, 125kg - 10:30 hours onwards
Freestyle Repechage Rounds: 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, 125kg - after semifinals
Freestyle Final Medal Bouts: 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, 125kg - 18:00 hours

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