#development

British Wrestling Association Hosts Two-Day Referee Conference

By United World Wrestling Press

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom – The British Wrestling Association (BWA) recently hosted an inaugural Referee Conference in Manchester, UK on April 9-10. This seminar was done in conjunction with the UWW Development Department and conducted by Mr. Carlos Garcia (ESP). The course had 16 participants from the BWA and included four current UWW referees and 12 national referees, with four of them being new. 

“With some of our UWW Officials seeking upgrades in the near future, the conference provided a fantastic opportunity to learn from Carlos Garcia who was a key feature in making the whole weekend a success. The conference was incredibly well received by our officials, and it is our intention to make this an annual activity following UWW's annual publication of rule changes," said Craig Anthony, CEO of the British Wrestling Association.

GBRParticipants of the British Wrestling Association's (BWA) two-day course go through a practical training session. (Photo: David Morgan)

The goal of the course was to provide training on the new rules and focus on some of the more challenging areas for referees. The referees participated in theoretical and practical sessions during the two-day course that included the work in the following areas:  the new 2022 rule changes, takedown and control, out of bound situations, risk vs no risk, passivity, fleeing the mat/hold, referee mechanics, positioning during a bout, and mat chairman responsibilities.

“All participants showed great interest and commitment during the course. They asked many great questions and collaborated with the other participants.  All in all, it was very pleasant to work with them” said Carlos Garcia.

"British Wrestling's inaugural Referee Conference was an important step in our continued growth and efforts to build back better from the Coronavirus pandemic. After such a long time off the mat for many of our domestic referees, it was important for us to schedule an update on rule changes as well as to continue their development and raise officiating standards as a key part of the competition experience,” said Craig Anthony.  This seminar is part of their 2021-'25 strategic plan to “Develop the wrestling workforce to deliver the best combat sport experience in the UK.” 

This is just one of the many activities that have helped BWA grow over the past few years. “Since British Wrestling started its new strategic plan 2021-'25, everybody seems to be fully committed to further developing wrestling in the UK.  And you can see it and feel it in the way everybody performs and collaborates with the same goal:  compete at the highest level,” said Carlos Garcia.

Photos were taken by David Morgan (On the Mat | Flickr/On The Mat (@onthematuk) • Instagram)

#WrestleBaku

Paris Olympic qualification bouts in Women's Wrestling set

By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (April 6) -- Six Women's Wrestling weight classes will be in action at the European Olympic Games Qualifier in Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday. To win the 12 Paris 2024 quotas, wrestlers have to win the semifinal in their respective weight classes.

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WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 REPORT

Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts Line-Up

50kg
SF 1: Mariya STADNIK (AZE) vs. Oksana LIVACH (UKR)
SF 2: Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (AIN) vs. Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)

53kg
SF 1: Annika WENDLE (GER) vs. Andreea ANA (ROU)
SF 2: Natalia MALYSHEVA (AIN) vs. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)

57kg
SF 1: Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) vs. Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
SF 2: Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) vs. Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN)

62kg
SF 1: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) vs. Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
SF 2: Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA) vs. Alina KASABIEVA (AIN)

68kg
SF 1: Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) vs. Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL)
SF 2: Khanum VELIEVA (AIN) vs. Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR)

76kg
SF 1: Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) vs. Bernadett NAGY (HUN)
SF 2: Martina KUENZ (AUT) vs. Yasemin ADAR (TUR)

13:10: In the final bout of the session, Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (AIN) denies Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) a spot in the semifinals at 50kg, beating the Bulgarian 5-4.

13:00: Yasemin ADAR (TUR) is in the semifinal at 76kg. She takes out Rita TALISMANOVAAA (AIN) 11-0 and will wrestle for a Paris spot in the evening session.

12:56: Down goes Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist and European silver medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL). Leading 2-1, Nikolova gave up a takedown and Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) got the 3-2 lead. Nikolova tried to score a reversal but the clock expired. Bulgaria challenged but lost, adding one more point to Paruszewski's score.

12:55: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) takes out Julie SABATIE (FRA) 5-0 in the 50kg quarterfinals and sets up the semifinal against Mariya STADNIK (AZE) for a spot for the Paris Games.

12:53: Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) scores a late takedown to beat Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) 6-6 in the 53kg quarterfinals. She will face Natalia MALYSHEVA (AIN) in the semifinals. Malysheva defeated Zynep YETGIL (TUR) 11-0

12:45: Tokyo silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) scores a takedown with 10 seconds left on the clock to beat Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN) 4-2 in the 57kg quarterfinals. Big win for Kurachkina. 

12:37: 51 seconds and we are done! Mariya STADNIK (AZE) rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority over Gabija DILYTE (LTU) in the 50kg quarterfinal. She will face the winner of Oksana LIVACH (UKR) and Julie SABATIE (FRA)

12:35: Moving into the semifinals at 57kg with another dominant victory is Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR). She rolls to a 10-0 win over Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE).

12:20: Dominance from Martina KUENZ (AUT). She beats the European Championships silver medalist Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTOVA (UKR) 10-0 in one minute and moves into the 76kg semifinals for tonight. Kuenz last competed at the Bishkek Ranking Series in June 2023.

12:15: European champion at 55kg Andreea ANA (ROU) moves into the 53kg semifinals with a technical superiority 11-0 win over Veronika RJABOVOLOVA (MKD).

12:05: Annika WENDLE (GER) takes out Sztalvira ORSUS (HUN) 2-1 at 53kg. No action points were scored but Wendle got the technical points to move into the semifinals

11:55: How did that happen? Mimi HRITSOVA (BUL) was leading 8-0 when Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) got her in a cradle and pinned Hritsova! The Bulgarian is shellshocked.

11:50: European champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) with a strong gut game to beat Epp MAE (EST) 12-1 at 76kg. Mae will have to try to qualify for the Paris Olympics in Istanbul now.

11:45: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) doesn't let Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) to take any advantage this time. She avenges her European Championships loss and moves into the semifinals at 62kg with a 9-0 win.

11:35: European silver medalist Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) was trailing 8-8 on criteria against Vanesa GEORGIEVA (BUL) but came back to beat her 14-8 at 76kg. She moves into the quarterfinals.

11:30: Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) with a fall over Othelie HOEIE (NOR) in her first bout since the World Championships. Hrushyna was out due to an injury but looks fully recovered 

11:15: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) sees off Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) 7-1 and moves on at 53kg. She will face Natalia MALYSHEVA (AIN) for a semifinal spot.

11:10: Annika WENDLE (GER), down 3-1 with 15 seconds remaining, hits a front headlock for four and gets the win over Jowita WRZESIEN (POL). Wendle avoided an attempted big throw from Wrzesien as well.  

11:00: In a battle of two Tokyo Olympians, Mimi HRITSOVA (BUL) holds off Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) 4-2 to advance at 68kg. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) beats Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) 10-3 at 68kg.

10:50: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), who is down at 68kg from her usual 72kg weight class, rolls to an 11-0 win over Ilana KRATYSH (ISR). At the same weight, Tokyo Olympian Khanum VELIEVA (AIN) beats Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT) 10-0 in a minute and 15 seconds. 

10:40: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) gets her campaign underway with a 4-1 win over Eniko ELEKES (HUN) at 62kg. She will now face Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) in the quarterfinals. Lindborg defeated Dudova at the European Championships in February

10:30: Welcome to Women's Wrestling day at the European OG Qualifier in Baku. Can Mariya STADNIK (AZE) be the first woman wrestler to qualify for five Olympics? Will Yasemin ADAR (TUR) earn a qualifying or will we see some historic moments?