#WrestleWarsaw

Live Blog: Poland Open Ranking Series, Day Four

Friday, June 11, 2021 - 08:14 By Eric Olanowski

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Superstars of women's wrestling will take the mat on day four of the Poland Open Ranking Series event in Warsaw on Friday. (Day 3 Recap)

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Finals Matches (As they come in):
53kg: Vinesh VINESH (IND) vs. Khrystyna BEREZA (UKR)
57kg: Odunayo Folasade ADEKUOROYE (NGR) vs. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) 
59kg: Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) vs. Elif YANIK (TUR) 
68kg: Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) vs. Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA) 
72kg: Nordic Style

12:49: Adekuoroye already took out Olympic champion Maroulis earlier today. She'll take on Rio Olympic silver medalist  Valeria KOBLOVA ZHOLOBOVA (RUS) next on Mat A.

12:40: In the battle of world bronze medalists, Vinesh ends Poleschuk's quest for gold with a 6-2 win. The Indian wrestler trailed 2-0 but scored six straight to close out the match and move into the semifinals. She'll take on Amy FEARNSIDE (USA) for a spot in tonight's finals.

12:27: Another match for two-time European champion Kurachkina, another technical superiority win. She's now outscored her first two opponents 22-2.

12:17: We'll have a showdown between world bronze medalists on Mat A in five matches. It'll be Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS) taking on Vinesh VINESH (IND) in the 53kg quarterfinals.

12:05: There's your Performance of the Competition! Adekuoroye just tossed Olympic champion Maroulis twice for four points and scored the dismantling 13-0 win.

11:59: HERE. WE. GO! All eyes should be on Mat C! Superstars Helen MAROULIS (USA) and Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) are wrestling now! 

11:54: Welcome back, Danielle Lappage! The '18 world silver medalist stopped Nasanburmaa Ochirbat, 11-1, in her first match back since she qualified Canada for the Olympic Game back in March of 2020.

11:35: The 68kg is like a mini Olympic bracket. Half of the 16 nations/wrestlers who qualified for the Olympic Games are competing today.
- Danielle Suzanne LAPPAGE (CAN)
- Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) 
- Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) 
- Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA)
- Anna Carmen SCHELL (GER) 
- Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
- Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) 
- Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) 

11:32: Patrycja GIL (POL) was down 9-0 against Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS) but secured a takedown to a leg turk for the fall!

11:24: World bronze medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) just needed a little wake-me-up to get her day going.  She surrendered an early takedown against Eda TEKIN (TUR) but ended things after scoring 12 straight points. 

11:19: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), "The Dancing Queen," is wrestling European runner-up Tetyana KIT (UKR) on Mat C.

11:13: U23 world champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) wins her first-round match, but clearly pulls Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO'S (RUS) hair during the match. Unfortunately, this is a reoccurring issue for the Turkish wrestler and needs to be addressed.

11:09: Good morning, wrestling fans! The fourth day of wrestling at the Poland Open is here! Let's keep this thing rolling.

#development

UWW conducts REDT program in Benin

Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:06 By United World Wrestling Press

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OUIDAH, Benin (December 20) -- United World Wrestling (UWW), in collaboration with the Benin Wrestling Federation, the Benin National Olympic Committee and the national sports authorities, successfully organized the Regional Education and Development Wrestling Tournament (REDT), which took place in Ouidah from November 23 to 30, 2025.

This event represents the first tournament ever organized in West Africa, marking a major milestone in UWW’s wrestling development strategy on the African continent.

Ten countries from the West African region took part in the tournament, contributing to a framework of technical and educational exchanges aimed at enhancing the competencies of wrestling stakeholders.

Deqa NIAMKEY, Director of Development at United World Wrestling, paid an official visit to Benin. She praised the progress achieved by the Benin Wrestling Federation and recalled the core objective of the REDT program.

"The REDT was initiated by United World Wrestling to support countries in the sustainable development of wrestling.”

Niamkey also conducted a sports administration education session with representatives of national federations, while Youssef BOUAZIZ delivered an online training session on ARENA.

Benin

Ahead of the competitions, a regional coaches’ education program was conducted from November 24 to 27, 2025, bringing together coaches, referees, athletes and technical staff from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Senegal.

This program was delivered by Vincent AKA, UWW Expert and Development Officer, and concluded with theoretical and practical evaluations leading to the award of UWW International Coaching Certifications Levels 1 and 2.

Celestin PAVELESCU, UWW Expert, led the refereeing education program in Olympic Wrestling and Beach Wrestling, contributing to the improvement of technical standards and the harmonization of officiating practices across the region.

The competitions were held on November 29, 2025 at the IRSP Gymnasium, while the Beach Wrestling events took place on November 30, 2025 at the Door of No Return Beach, an emblematic site of Ouidah’s historical and cultural heritage.

The host nation particularly distinguished itself during this edition, winning a total of 35 medals (11 gold, 15 silver and 9 bronze).

The development strategy focused on youth and the introduction of wrestling in the school environment, with a strong representation of U17 wrestlers, illustrates the long-term vision pursued by the Benin Wrestling Federation.

At the conclusion of the competition, the President of the Benin Wrestling Federation, Adihunkpéto YVES AZIFAN, congratulated all wrestlers and coaches, while reaffirming the federation’s commitment to position Benin sustainably among the leading nations of African and international wrestling.