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 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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