#OffTheMat

Match Breakdown: How did Akgul tech three-time world champ Petriashvili?

By Eric Olanowski

COSIER-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 3) --- Taha AKGUL (TUR) and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) have arguably the greatest freestyle rivalry of the last decade. Combined, they have three Olympic medals – including a Rio Olympic gold – five world titles and ten European gold medals.

While in Turkey, Akgul sat down with United World Wrestling to break down one of the most important matches of his career, which happened to be against his Georgian rival. He treated fans an in-depth look into his mental and physical approach against his arch-nemesis.

Akgul selected his quarterfinals match at the 2017 European Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia against Petriashvili to break down. The Turkish legend said this match was so significant in his career because it was the first major championship after winning his Olympic title and athletes tend to lose concentration after winning Olympic gold.

#WrestleTirana

UWW holds 2024 Congress, three women elected to Bureau

By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (October 27) -- United World Wrestling held its Congress in Tirana on Sunday, on the sidelines of the World Championships in Non-Olympic Weight Classes.

The Congress touched upon topics related to the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the budget, the calendar for 2025 and the prospect of launching a UWW Pro League.

Different commission of UWW presented their reports for 2024 and Amateur MMA and Pankration.

The elections for Bureau and Vice Presidents were also held with at least two new women Bureau members. In the elections held on Sunday in Tirana, five Bureau members were due for re-election, with four being re-elected.

UWWFrom left to right: Peter BASCA, Buyandelger PELJEE, Pedro SILVA, Cholpon SULTANBEKOVA, Natalia YARAGUINA and Zamel AL SHAHRANI. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women ruled the elections with one new Vice President and two new Bureau members were elected.

Pedro SILVA, Peter BASCA, Zamel AL SHAHRANI and Natalia YARAGUINA were re-elected in the Bureau. Bruce BAUMGARTNER was the newly elected member of the Bureau.

Since two new Bureau members could not be elected in the first round of elections, a second round was held, in which the two highest-placed candidates earned elections. Buyandelger PELJEE and Cholpon SULTANBEKOVA earned the most votes, collecting their Bureau spot.

UWW Bureau member and President of UWW Associated Styles Rodica YAKSI and Bureau member and President of African Council Fouad MESKOUT were elected as Vice Presidents in the first meeting of the newly elected Bureau.

Mikhail MAMIASHVILI, Natalia YARAGUINA, Theodoros HAMAKOS and Akhroldjan RUZIEV were re-elected as Vice Presidents.

UWW Vice President Stan DZIEDZIC was not eligible for re-election, as he reached his term limit according to the UWW Constitution. However, he was made the Honorary Vice President of UWW on Monday.