#kaspeuro2018

Live Notebook - European Championships (Day Three)

By Eric Olanowski

1:20 PM - That'll do it for the morning session on Day 3. We'll be back at 5:15 PM (local time) for the women's wrestling semifinals and the Greco-Roman finals. 

1:08 PM -  Ainztane GORRIA GONI (ESP) scores an early takedown and takes the 2-0 lead on 2017 silver medalist, Emilia Alina VUC (ROU). Vuc immediately comes up to her feet, hits a headlock and picks up the fall with just over a minute gone in the first period. 

12:52 PM -  Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), U23 world champion trails Oksana LIVACH (UKR), 4-0 after the first minute of wrestling. Demirhan closed out the first period with three takedowns and takes the 6-5 lead into the second period. Livach headlocks Demirhan to her back and takes the 9-8 lead, but a late takedown for the Turk gives her the 10-9 victory. 

12:35 PM -  Mariya STADNIK (AZE), seven-time Euro champion is making her way to Mat C. Stadnik picks up back-to-back technical superiority victories. The second 10-0 victory came against Milana DADASHEVA (RUS) in just under three minutes. 

12:26 PM - Yasemin Adar, 2017 world champion leads 2015 world bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST), 4-0 after a feet to back single leg. Adar starts the second period with another thunderous four-point throw to take the 8-0 lead. Her snap-down-spin-behind gives her the 10-0 technical superiority victory. 

12:16 PM - Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), 2017 world bronze medalist is making her way to Mat C. Larroque's takedown in the first period gives her the 2-0 over Monika MICHALIK (POL) heading into the second period.  

12:09 PM - 50kg WW - Milana DADASHEVA (RUS) picks up the first fall of the day over Fatme MANDEVA (BUL). The Russian had a commanding 6-0  lead before throwing the Bulgarian to her back for the fall. 

12:00 PM - Yasemin ADAR (TUR)  2017 world champion and Olympic silver medalist, Mariya STADNIK (AZE) will be headlining the third day of wrestling. Stadnik has never suffered a defeat at a European Championship will be looking for her eighth European gold medal. 

Start of action
11:00 AM -  Qualification rounds for WW 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg
11:00 AM - Repechage for GR 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, and 97kg

 

#development

South Africa Advances National Wrestling System with DNSS Phase 2

By United World Wrestling Press

PRETORIA, South Africa (April 8) -- South Africa has reached a decisive milestone in its long-term wrestling development strategy with the successful implementation of Phase 2 of the Development of National Sport System (DNSS) programme, delivered in collaboration with United World Wrestling (UWW) and supported by Olympic Solidarity.

Following the diagnostic and mapping phase conducted earlier, Phase 2 marks a clear transition from analysis to structured implementation, laying the foundation for a sustainable and internationally aligned wrestling system.

Led by UWW Development Officer Vincent AKA, in close cooperation with the South African Wrestling Federation (SAWF), the National Head Coach, Markus DEKKER and Provincial Coordinators, the programme was deployed across multiple provinces through a structured 10-day intervention from March 2 to 13. 

Activities were conducted in key locations including:

· LPWA (Ion Bachu)
· CGWA (Ruiter)
· NGWA (Menlo Park Hall)
· Frank Joubert Tournament (Menlo Park Hall)

This nationwide approach ensured direct engagement with provincial structures, strengthening alignment between national leadership and local associations while promoting inclusive development across the country.

From Talent Identification to System Building

Unlike traditional training camps, DNSS Phase 2 focused on identifying talent and building long-term development systems. Wrestlers and coaches from all age categories -- U13, U15, U17, U20, and Senior -- were actively involved, ensuring a complete pathway approach.

Provincial visits and stakeholder meetings played a key role in assessing facilities and operational structures, strengthening coordination between SAWF and provinces, and identifying emerging wrestlers.

Building Athlete Pipeline

A training camp for different provinces brought together wrestler to consolidate talent identified during Phase 1 and introduce standardized training methodologies.

The training camp included technical sessions, physical conditioning, match simulations and wrestling. The initiative contributed to the creation of an updated national prospect and the foundation of a structured athlete monitoring system.

South Africa

Beach Wrestling Gains Momentum

As part of the DNSS activities, a Beach Wrestling training session in Roodepoort highlighted the programme’s expanding impact.

During the visit, Aka led a specialized session, sharing advanced technical insights adapted to beach wrestling. It included stance and balance adjustments, grip and control techniques, and movement adaptation on sand.

The training programme comes at a crucial time, as South African athletes prepare for African Beach Wrestling Championships in Alexandria, Egypt and other international tournaments.