Beach wrestling

Brackets Released For 2018 Beach Wrestling World Championships

Friday, October 5, 2018 - 22:12 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

SARIGERME, Turkey (October 5) – Brackets for the 2018 Beach Wrestling World Championships were released on Friday night, with defending champions Turkey set to their defend their title in the coastal city of Sarigerme. 

In all five individual champions will be returning to Turkey to defend their titles. To do so they'll need to navigate a field of seasoned veterans, and first-time beach wrestlers with international experience in other styles.

Defending senior men’s 70kg division champion Semen RADULOV (UKR) will need to work his way past a loaded field of 20 competitors should he want to take the Group A title. Meanwhile, United States' Michael PETERS loooks to improve on his medal performance from a year ago and upgrade to gold. Greco-Roman European medalist Konstantine KHABALASHVILI (GEO) has entered Group C and could be a standout performer. Frank ANDERSEN (NOR) comes back to Turkey looking to capture a podium finish in Group E.

At 90kg Muhammed INAM (PAK) will be starting his day in Group A. He took home gold last year, but to make the medal rounds he will first need to get past the tough Norwegian Bo BERGEN (NOR). Anton CHUIEV (UKR) fell short in last year's quarterfinal last year, but comes into Group D with a lot to prove. Christos SAMARTSIDIS (GRE), who took off last year's championships having medaled in year's previous, will start in the tough Group C.

Francesca INDELICATO (ITA) is the defending champion in the Women’s 60kg division, but will need to get past Rikke BUGGE (NOR) and  Mihaela Denisa BARBULESCU (ROU). Bugge is part of the large Norwegian team that is in the hunt for the team title in the women’s division. Another Norwegian to watch is Charlotte SKAUEN (NOR) at 70kg. If she makes it out of Group A, she is likely to face teammate, Cesilie Hoeivik MAGNUSSEN (NOR) who is a favorite in Group B. Both will need to beat tough opponents from Turkey and Romania.

Click here: https://bit.ly/2OH12Cr for the full brackets.

Watch the matches live on United World Wrestling. The actions begins at 7am (GMT).

Development

Wrestling completes tree-planting initiative in Casablanca

Monday, June 30, 2025 - 11:52 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

CASABLANCA, Morocco (June 30) --- A tree-planting initiative was organized in Casablanca in partnership with local authorities. This initiative aimed to raise participants’ awareness of the environmental emergency and the role of sport in combating climate change.

“Planting a tree is sowing a promise. Today, we plant for tomorrow, just as we train today for tomorrow’s medals,” said Assad Ouassama a young Moroccan wrestler participating in the camp, with emotion.

An educational session on environmental protection in sport also took place on April 25, continuing eco-responsible momentum.

A Fraternal Atmosphere and a Family Spirit

Beyond the technical and educational aspects, this camp provided many athletes with the opportunity to build lasting bonds with their fellow African counterparts.

“I leave not only stronger, but with lifelong friends. Camps like this strengthen our continental identity and spirit of unity,” emphasized Rahman Sesay ABDUL, a Sierra Leonean coach attending the training camp.

The warm atmosphere and high-quality exchanges confirmed the value of this holistic approach to sports training.

Toward a New Model of Sports Organization in Africa

By combining sporting excellence with educational values and social engagement, United World Wrestling is promoting an innovative model for competitions across the African continent.

“Casablanca 2025 is not just a competition; it’s a turning point. By integrating these educational dimensions, we are building a sustainable ecosystem for wrestling in Africa,” concluded Fouad Meskout, President of UWW Africa.

A Lasting Legacy for Casablanca and Africa

As the African Championships opened in an atmosphere of commitment and unity, the training camp organized by UWW stood out as a model to follow. It demonstrated that athletic performance can -- and should -- be paired with social and environmental consciousness.