European Games

Maryanyan, Chekhirkin Headline Greco Semifinalists at European Games

Friday, June 28, 2019 - 11:28 By United World Wrestling Press

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MINSK, Belarus (June 28) - A pair of returning world champions for Russia were among the dozen wrestlers to reach the semifinals on the opening day of Greco-Roman competition at the European Games in Minsk, Belarus.

Russian wrestlers Stepan MARYANYAN (60kg) and Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (77kg), world champions in Budapest, advanced to tonight's semifinals in Greco-Roman. 

Maryanyan, a European Games champion in 2015, faced some stiff competition in the opening session. In his first match, he wrestled returning world silver medalist and European champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA). The 27-year-old Russian proved to be too much for Ciobanu as he picked up a 9-1 technical superiority in the first period. 

Next up for Maryanyan was two-time junior world champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR). Maryanyan grinded out a 5-2 victory over Kamal. Tonight in the semifinals he will face Zhora ABOVIAN (UKR), who defeated 2013 world champion Ivo ANGELOV (BUL) in the quarterfinals.  Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO), a 2016 junior world champion, will battle Erik TORBA (HUN) in the other semifinal at 60kg.

Chekhirkin was pushed in his first match against Daniel ALEKSANDROV (BUL), but prevailed 3-3 on criteria. He then shut out world No. 8 Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) 6-0 I the quarterfinals. Chekhirkin faces Yunus BASAR (TUR) in the 77kg semifinals.

Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), a 2012 Olympic silver medalist and three-time world medalist, reached the semifinals at 77kg with a 10-2 technical superiority in his first match followed by a 3-1 quarterfinal win over Pavel LIAKH (BLR).

At 67kg, Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO), a U23 world champion and junior world champion, earned his spot in the semifinals with a 2-0 win in the quarterfinals over world No.7 Mate NEMES (SRB). He meets Karen ASLANYAN (ARM), a gold medalist at the Henri Deglane Challenge, in the semifinals. 

Zaur KABALOEV (RUS) edged Soslan DAUROV (BLR) on criteria to reach the semifinals at 67kg, where he will face Oleksii KALINICHENKO (UKR).

Russia has the most semifinalists on Friday with three. Ukraine, Hungary, Georgia and Armenia all have a pair of semifinalists, while Turkey has one. 

SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS

Greco-Roman

60kg
Zhora ABOVIAN (UKR) vs. Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS)
Erik TORBA (HUN) vs. Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO) 

67kg
Oleksii KALINICHENKO (UKR) vs. Zaur KABALOEV (RUS)
Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) vs. Karen ASLANYAN (ARM)

77kg
Yunus BASAR (TUR) vs. Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) 
Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) vs. Karapet CHALYAN (ARM)
 

#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.