#WrestleBudapest

Live Blog: #WrestleBudapest European Championships Day 3

Wednesday, March 30, 2022 - 08:59 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 30) -- The European Championships in Budapest will see women's wrestling in five weight classes with several Tokyo Olympians and World Championships medalists competing.

The five weight classes are 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg. Irina RINGACI (MDA), Yasemin ADAR (TUR), Epp MAE (EST), Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), Emilia VUC (ROU) and other women's wrestling stars will be on the mat.

MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE

13:05: That's the end of the session for the morning. Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) could not have planned a more thrilling bout. She scored a takedown with four seconds left to win 7-7 to reach the semifinal at 59kg

12:45: Tokyo Olympian Emilia VUC (ROU) moves into the semifinals with an 8-2 win over Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA) at 50kg. On Mat A, Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) gets the first win of the day for Ukraine. She beats Nova BERGMAN (SWE) at 55kg

12:30: At 76kg, world silver medalist Epp MAE (EST) gets the victory via fall over Enrica RINALDI (ITA) and in the next bout, Tokyo bronze Yasemin ADAR (TUR) beats Mariya ORYASHKOVA (BUL) by technical superiority. 

12:25: Between a battle of world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) and European champion Alla BELINSKA (UKR), Ringaci runs to an easy 10-0 win inside the first period. 

12:15: Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) with a quick pin at 68kg against Amina CAPEZAN (ROU) who was a silver medalist at the U23 European Championships.

12:05: 59kg Round 2 is here. Top seed Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) gets hte win over Elena BRUGGER (GER) 8-4. On Mat B, Solomiaa VYNNYK (UKR) with some late points against Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) to win 5-4 but we have a challenge. Wrzesien gets the takedown and the score is reversed to 5-3 for Poland.

11:55: Bernadett NAGY (HUN) might have pulled off the upset of the tournament. She was trailing 2-0 with five seconds remaining against Martina KUENZ (AUT). But she scores the takedown for the win

11:45: U23 European champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) starts the day with a close 4-2 win over Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) 

11:40: What a start to the day. Morena DE VITA (ITA) pins Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) in Round 1 of the 59kg weight class.

11:30: Big day in Budapest as women's wrestling begins with five weight classes. Ukraine will have a team competing here

#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.