#WrestleFaenza

Cadet European Championship Preview

By Eric Olanowski

FAENZA, Italy (June 16) – The entry list for the Cadet European Championships boasts over 515 athletes from 37 countries, but five wrestlers in particular head to Faenza, Italy, looking to repeat as cadet European champion. 

There will be five wrestlers looking to defend their titles from last year’s Skopje Cadet European Championships. Freestyle wrestling lacks a returning champion, but Greco-Roman features four 2018 champs, while women’s wrestling has one wrestler looking to repeat. 

Stepan STARODUBTSEV (RUS), who’ll compete at 71kg, will have the toughest road to repeat as continental champion. Last year, Starodubtsev defeated Moldova’s Alexandrin GUTU in the finals to win his first continental title. This year, he’ll likely have to do the same to repeat as a European champion. Since that loss to Starodubtsev in last year’s European finals, Gutu went undefeated and won golds at the Balkans, the cadet world championships then capped his year off with a title-winning performance at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he avenged his loss against Starodubtsev in the gold-medal bout.

The pair begin their run to a European title on Tuesday and close out the Greco-Roman portion of the tournament on Wednesday. 

Greco-Roman’s also has three other returning champions. They are Edmond Armen NAZARYAN (BUL), Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO), Mukhammad EVLOEV (RUS). They’ll wrestle at 51kg, 55kg, and 92kg, respectively. 

Women’s wrestling's returning champion, Anastasiya YANOTAVA (BLR), is set to wrestle at 49kg. She’s the only returning medalist in her weight and is expected to repeat as European champions. 

Starting Monday, the Pala Cattani Arena will be the host site for this year’s Cadet European Championships. The seven-day tournament beings on Monday morning and will last until Sunday. You can follow all the action live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

SCHEDULE 

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UWW and European University Sports Association Sign MoU

By United World Wrestling Press

POREC, Croatia (June 2) -- United World Wrestling (UWW) and The European University Sports Association (EUSA) formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations in Porec, Croatia on May 30.

The MoU was officially signed by the two presidents: UWW President Nenad LALOVIC and EUSA President Haris PAVLETIC at an official signing ceremony. The MoU marks a commitment by EUSA and UWW to cooperate to further university sport, specifically in wrestling across Europe, and to explore the possibilities of working closer together, including on the potential of EUSA Wrestling events in the future.

Both presidents expressed their pleasure to formalise the cooperation, and excitement for the future of wrestling in European university sport.

The MoU was signed on the occasion of the “Unisport HR Finals”, the finals of the Croatian University Sport competitions, and a range of UWW Wrestling events, including the Beach Wrestling World Series, which all took place in the Croatian city.

“The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with United World Wrestling marks an important milestone in strengthening cooperation between international sport federations and the university sport movement," EUSA President Pavletic said. "We are particularly pleased to welcome wrestling into the EUSA Combat Sport Championships starting from 2027 in La Nucia, Spain, creating new opportunities for student-athletes to compete, develop, and promote the values of excellence, respect, and fair play."

The EUSA delegation was additionally represented by Vice President Aitor Canibe SANCHEZ, Secretary General / CEO  Matjaz PECOVNIK, and Director of Sports Events Liam SMITH.

About United World Wrestling:
United World Wrestling is the international governing body for the sport of wrestling, recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Headquartered in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland, UWW oversees Olympic wrestling disciplines, including Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and Women’s Wrestling, as well as associated styles such as Grappling, Pankration, Belt Wrestling, and Beach Wrestling. UWW works with national federations worldwide to promote, regulate, and develop the sport at all levels.

About EUSA:
EUSA organises European Universities Games and European Universities Championships across 25 sports, attracting more than 6,000 participants from over 500 universities each year. (eusa.eu)