Bulgaria Bags Three Women’s Wrestling Finals Spots

Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 20:05 By Eric Olanowski

BUCHAREST, Romania (April 10) - The first set of women’s wrestling gold-medal matches were settled on the third day of wrestling at Bucharest’s Polyvalent Hall. Bulgaria, led by 2018 world runner-up Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), led the way with three semifinal winners. The other two Bulgarian women who reach the finals were Miglena SELISHKA and Evelina NIKOLOVA.

Reigning 57kg world finalist Bilyana Dudova was the first Bulgarian women’s wrestler who celebrated her finals birth after she defended fellow Budapest world runner-up Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR).

Dudova picked up the matches only two points, which came from a takedown in the first 10 seconds of the match.

Dudova will take on Russia’s Svetlana LIPATOVA for the 59kg gold on Thursday night. Lipatova, last year’s European bronze medalist, got back to the finals for the first time since 2013 with a 6-5 win over Ukraine’s Anhelina LYSAK.

Bulgaria's second finalist, three-time junior European champion Miglena Selishka, handled Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR), 11-2, and made the 50kg finals. She’ll wrestle Ukraine’s 2018 world bronze medalist Oksana LIVACH in the finals.

Livach, who shed tears of joy as she departed the mat, was awarded a pair of inactivity points and defeated 2017 U23 world champion Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR).

Livach’s win on Wednesday night made it two straight European Championship wins over the 24-year-old Turkish wrestler. Livach fell to Demirhan in Kaspiisk last year, but stopped Demirhan, 10-9, at last year’s U23 European Championships.

The final Bulgarian woman competing on Thursday night will be Evelina Nikolova, who capped off her finals run by blanking Andreea ANA (ROU), 3-0. Nikolova will wrestle Ukraine’s Iryna HUSYAK for the 53kg gold medal. Husyak upset reigning world runner-up Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), 8-4, and earned her first continental medal since her 2013 bronze-medal finish.

Meanwhile, at 68kg, reigning world champion Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) put five points on the board in the opening period, then tacked on another six points in the second period, and upended 2018 world bronze medalist Iryna NETREBA (AZE), 11-0.

Her finals opponent will be Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE). Hanzlickova cruised to a 7-2 victory against Budapest world bronze medalist and last year’s European runner-up Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT).

The last gold-medal match will be at 76kg where Yasemin ADAR (TUR) will meet Martina KUENZ (AUT).

In a battle of world champions, 2017 world champion Yasemin Adar scored a convincing 5-2 victory over 2014 world champion Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER). The Turkish wrestler scored an inactivity point, and a takedown, and commanded the 3-0 lead into the final period. In the final three minutes, Adar surrendered a takedown but scored two exposure and brought the score to 5-2.

With her win over Focken on Wednesday night, Adar has won two of the pair's last three matches. Focken won their Yasar Dogu finals meeting, But Adar got her revenge, sticking the German wrestler at the Dan Kolov earlier this year, then picked up her second straight win on Wednesday night.

Adar will wrestle 2018 world bronze medalist and 72kg Martina Kuenz, who closed out her semifinals match against 2017 European runner-up Zsanett NEMETH (HUN) with a massive four-point throw. Kuenz ultimately won her semifinals match, 9-3.

Thursday night’s women’s wrestling finals begin at 18:00 (local time) and can be followed on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

SCHEDULE
Thursday (April 11)
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg page4image2914979424 page4image2914979968
14:00 - Repechage WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
14:00 - Draw GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
18:00 - Finals WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg / Award ceremonies

Friday (April 12)
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
11:30 - Repechage WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
15:40 - Draw GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
18:00 - Finals WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg / Award ceremonies

Saturday (April 13)
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
11:30 - Repechage GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18:00 - Finals GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg / Award ceremonies

Sunday (April 14)
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
16:00 - Repechage GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18:00 - Finals GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg / Award ceremonies

RESULTS
50kg
GOLD - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) vs. Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL)
SEMIFINAL - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 2-0
SEMIFINAL - Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR), 11-2

55kg
GOLD - Evelina Georgieva NIKOLOVA (BUL) vs. Iryna HUSYAK (UKR)
SEMIFINAL - Evelina Georgieva NIKOLOVA (BUL) df. Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU), 3-0
SEMIFINAL - Iryna HUSYAK (UKR) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), 8-4

59kg
GOLD - Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) vs. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL) df. Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR), 2-0
SEMIFINAL - Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) df. Anhelina LYSAK (UKR), 6-5

68kg
GOLD - Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) vs. Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
SEMIFINAL - Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) df. Iryna Petrovna NETREBA (AZE), 11-0
SEMIFINAL - Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) vs. Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT), 7-2

76kg
GOLD - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) vs. Martina KUENZ (AUT)
SEMIFINAL - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER), 5-2
SEMIFINAL - Martina KUENZ (AUT) df. Zsanett NEMETH (HUN), 9-3

#UnitedWorldWrestling

UWW World Conference: Lalovic stresses on AI, Amateur MMA and keeping wrestling at the top

Friday, September 26, 2025 - 17:25 By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 24) -- Putting his faith in the ‘young generations’ to use Artificial Intelligence to their ‘benefit’, United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC said that proper use of the ‘modern tools may help coaching, analysis, planning events and being more efficient’. Lalovic called on the wrestling world to ‘adapt’ and embrace AI, ’which is already almost everywhere’.

The UWW President shared these thoughts at the first UWW World Conference 2025, which was held in Zagreb from September 17 to 19. The conference covered a wide array of topics and brought together the best minds in the sport and beyond under one roof on the sidelines of the World Championships.

Expert panelists from all over the world discussed subjects ranging from digital transformation and associated styles to injury prevention and weight management, growing women’s wrestling and career transitions for wrestlers, as well as the future of the sport during the three-day event at the Westin Hotel in Zagreb, Croatia.

The conference started with Lalovic and UWW Secretary General Carlos ROY welcoming the delegates.

Lalovic said in his address: “We had this idea maybe almost a decade ago. We were seeking a platform, how these good relations among wrestlers and the national federations can improve our sport.”

UWW Secretary General Carlos ROY welcomes the delegates to the World Conference. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Roy added that the ‘rich program was designed to cover wrestling from every angle’. “This conference brings together leaders, coaches, athletes, medical and scientific experts, referees and partners from around the world to exchange knowledge, share experiences and shape the future of our sport,” he said.

Among those who attended the event were leaders from National Federations, members of UWW Commissions, the International Olympic Committee, International Testing Agency and UWW partners like TAISHAN, Rudis and N3XT. Legendary wrestlers including Mijain LOPEZ (CUB), Erica WIEBE (CAN), Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG), Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) and Marwa AMRI (TUN) also graced the symposium and shared their views during the lively discussions.

While Wiebe spoke about the wrestlers’ transition from actively competing to other jobs in wrestling, Julfalakyan shared insights on how collaboration between different bodies can power the clean sport drive, an important area where the UWW has continued its development work. Mattsson, who is now the head coach of the Swedish team, opened up on ways to support and train women’s wrestlers.

Nenad LALOVIC in a Q/A session with UWW Development Director Deqa NIAMKEY.

Lalovic and Deqa NIAMKEY, the UWW Development Director, got the sessions underway with an intriguing discussion on the future of wrestling.

This topic continued to be a recurring theme as the new disciplines and associated styles were passionately talked about during the panel discussions.

UWW Associated Styles Manager of UWW Onur SIMSEK.

Onur SIMSEK, the Associated Styles Manager of UWW, spoke about Amateur MMA, which he said is the 'modern version of pankration, our ancient asset.'

"Technically MMA is wrestling, Pankration is wrestling, traditional styles are wrestling and grappling is wrestling itself," Simsek told the audience. "Pankration is the fundamental of MMA with its philosophy not only in sports but teaching that a wrestler understands the sport. It keeps the richness in wrestling."

Simsek said it was important to govern these styles because the 'aim is to unite towards wrestling.' "So, we will govern all these styles today and in future too."

Lalovic echoed these sentiments, saying that ‘we want to prepare athletes who will one day join professional MMA leagues and competitions.'

"This is why we established a new department almost a year ago. We call this amateur MMA with protections," he said.

UWW Beach Wrestling Committee President Pedro SILVA.

Pedro SILVA, the President of the Wrestling Federation of Portugal and a UWW Bureau Member, underlined the growth of beach wrestling. He looked back at President Lalovic’s commitment to develop the style through statements made in 2018.

Acting on Lalovic’s comments, Silva said that in 2019, they went from ‘a yearly one event World Championship to a series of events, a world tour that would at the end produce a new world champion, new heroes.'

"We overhauled the rules, making them easier to understand, not only for the wrestling fans, but specifically for the new fans, the people that know nothing about wrestling," Silva said.

Pedro SILVA, left, and UWW Sports Director Jean-Daniel REY. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Silva was optimistic that the Beach Wrestling events at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, would drive high engagement.

"Dakar 2026 is the first Olympic Games in Africa, and Beach Wrestling is the UWW style at the Games," he said. "The national sport of Senegal is traditional wrestling, which is very close to Beach Wrestling. We anticipate a big fan engagement and also on TV, on social media due to the specific popularity of the sport within the host country."

Bulgaria Bags Three Women’s Wrestling Finals Spots

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UWW World Conference: Lalovic stresses on AI, Amateur MMA and keeping wrestling at the top