#DanKolov2019

Dan Kolov Day One Semifinal Pairings

By Eric Olanowski

RUSE, Bulgaria (February 28) - The opening round of wrestling at the Monbat Sports Park Arena in Ruse, Bulgaria, just wrapped up, and four freestyle and women's wrestling semifinal pairings were finalized. The Day One semifinals begin on Thursday at 17:00 (local time). 

Freestyle
61kg

SEMIFINAL - Joseph Daniel COLON (USA) vs. Nurislam (Artas) SANAYEV (SANAA) (KAZ) 
SEMIFINAL - Munir Recep AKTAS (TUR) vs. Sandeep TOMAR (IND) 

70kg 
SEMIFINAL - Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS) vs. Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR) 
SEMIFINAL - Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) vs. Viktor RASSADIN (RUS) 

79kg
SEMIFINAL - IAtsamaz SANAKOEV (RUS) vs. Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU) 
SEMIFINAL - INika KENTCHADZE (GEO) vs. Alexander David DIERINGER (USA) 

92kg
SEMIFINAL - Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) vs. Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR) 
SEMIFINAL - Magomed KURBANOV (RUS) vs. Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA) 

Women's Wrestling 

55kg
SEMIFINAL - Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) vs. Roksana ZASINA (POL) 
SEMIFINAL - Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) vs. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) 

59kg
Round-Robin - Kornelija ZAICEVAITE (LTU) vs. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) 
Round-Robin - Pooja DHANDA (IND) vs. Sarita SARITA (IND) 

65kg
SEMIFINAL - Petra OLLI (FIN) vs. Sakshi MALIK (IND) 
SEMIFINAL - Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) vs. Maya NELSON (USA) 

72kg
SEMIFINAL - Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs. Buse TOSUN (TUR) 
SEMIFINAL - Chuchu YAN (CHN) vs. Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR) 

SCHEDULE

February 28 (Thursday) 
16:00 - Draw - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR-87 ,97, 130; WW - 62 ,68 ,76kg
16:30 - Opening ceremony
17:00 - Semifinals FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg

March 1 (Friday) 
8:00 - Medical examination and weigh-in 1 - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR (+ 2 kg) - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg
8: 30 - Weigh-in 2 FS - 61,70,79, 92 kg; GR (+ 2 kg) - 55,63,72,82 kg; WW - 55,59,65, 72 kg Referee meeting
10: 00 - Elimination rounds FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76 kg
10: 00 - Repechages FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg
16: 30 - Draw - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR - 60, 67, 77kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
17: 00 - Semi-finals FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg
18:00 - Final matches and awarding ceremony - FS - 61,70,79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg

March 2 (Satuday) 
8:00 - Medical examination and weigh-in 1 - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR (+ 2 kg) - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg 
8:30: - Weigh-in 2 - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR (+ 2 kg) - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg 
10: 00 - Elimination rounds - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
10:00 - Repechages - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg
17:00 - Semifinals - FS 86, 97, 125kg;GR - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
18: 00 - Final matches and awarding ceremony - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg

March 3 (Sunday) 
8:00 - Weigh-in 2 - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR (+ 2 kg) - 60, 67, 77kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
Repechages - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR (+ 2 kg) - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
Final matches and awarding ceremony - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg

2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games

Oborududu Named Athlete Role Model for 2026 Dakar YOG

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 15) -- Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) was announced as one of the 36 Athlete Role Models for the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games.

Oborududu, a silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has been a stalwart in Nigerian sports and represented the country for close to two decades. In Tokyo, she made history by winning silver medal at 68kg in Women's Wrestling, becoming Nigeria’s first‑ever Olympic medallist in the sport.

The four-time Olympian was also a 14-tim African champion, a record that still stands. She compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and finished fifth.

The Athlete Role Models will provide mentoring and workshop training to young athletes on site during Dakar 2026. They will be on the ground in Senegal to engage with competing athletes, providing support and advice around competition and taking part in educational workshops. These workshops cover topics such as career management, injury prevention and mental preparation, among many other things.

The group will also attend training sessions, engage with the local community, support the athletes from the sidelines and be there to congratulate them at victory ceremonies.

The Dakar 2026 YOG will take place from October 31 to November 13, 2026, bringing together around 2,700 young athletes aged up to 17 across three host zones: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.