#development

Mexico Hosts Level 1 Coaches Course

By United World Wrestling Press

MEXICO CITY, Mexico  (March 23) – UWW's Education Program and the Mexican Olympic Sports Center (CDOM) welcomed 40 participants from all over Mexico for a Level I Coaches Course from March 5-9. The course was made possible through the support of the Mexican Olympic Committee, Olympic Solidarity, and the Mexican Wrestling National Federation.

The purpose of the four-day course was to provide coaches with tools to strengthen their professional work. The course consisted of several theoretical and practical sessions that were structured to be transferrable from the classroom to the mat.

The opening ceremony was held at the Presidency Auditorium of the Mexican Olympic Committee and was attended by distinguished personalities such as Maria José ALCALÁ IZGUERRA, President of the NOC, Guillermo DÍAZ GUTIÉRREZ, President of the Mexican Wrestling Federation and Daniel ACEVES VILLAGRÁN, Vice-President of NOC. The Olympic Wrestling Gymnasium was inaugurated as part of the event, a space designed to house the national teams and the Olympic Wrestling initiation school.

In April, wrestlers from all over the continent will train at these new facilities for the Pre-Pan-American Championship Training Camp.

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The Olympic Wrestling Gymnasium in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

This course was conducted by two renowned Cuban coaches Filiberto DELGADO (FS & WW) and Raul TRUJILLO DIAZ (GR), in collaboration with UWW Educator Arturo CAMACHO IBARRA (MEX).

"The course was very important; I was flattered with the youth, the desire, and unity that exists today among wrestling; I saw a great preparation in most young people, very into what they want to achieve, who should not conform and have bigger goals," said Filiberto DELGADO.

Also, during the course, an Anti-doping workshop was given by Dr. Viridiana SILVA, Mexican Olympic Committee Medical Director.

All the participants agreed that they would like to have part two of this course. "Thank you very much for doing these types of courses because they are necessary and valuable. It is important to continue to carry them out constantly to improve the knowledge and level of the wrestling, " said Gloria Wendoline MORENO SOTELO.

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Over 40 participants from all over Mexico attended the Level I Coaches Course from March 5-9. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Yuri MAIER, United World Wrestling Sports & Development Officer, was very pleased with the outcome of the course. "In general terms, everything went very well. The Mexican National Federation is undoubtedly one of the most proactive NFs in the continent. We hope to continue working with them in this way and accompanying them in their growth and institutional strengthening."

2026 U23 European Championships

Perfect Russia Puts Five Wrestlers in Finals at U23 Euros

By Vinay Siwach

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 9) -- Five wrestlers took the mat for Russia on day one of the U23 European Championships in Zrenjanin, Serbia on Monday and all five reached the final.

The first continental championships of 2026 began with Freestyle competition in 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg at the Kristalna Dvorana Arena and Russia emerged as the best team.

Led by Takhir KHANIEV (RUS), fresh off his win against world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) in Tirana, Russian wrestlers dominated on their way to the finals, to be played Tuesday.

Khaniev, a U23 world silver medalist at 92kg, wrestled former U17 world champion Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals and won 14-4, his second victory via technical superiority of the day.

Petriashvili scored the first point when he blocked a throw from Khaniev and got two points. He then scored exposure points during an exchange to lead 4-2. But Khaniev managed to push Petriashvili and eventually broke the Georgian to complete the victory.

He will face former U20 European champion Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) for the gold medal after the Ukrainian defeated Zafar ALIYEV (AZE), 6-2. Prymachenko never seemed in danger of losing the bout against Aliyev.

Ismail KHANIEV (RUS)Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) will wrestle for the 79kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Khaniev's brother Ismail also made it to the final at 79kg after he outscored his opponents 30-0 in three bouts. He led 9-0 in his semifinal against Mateusz PEDZICKI (POL) before the Poland wrestler complained of a shoulder injury that forced him to abandon the semifinal.

For the gold medal, Khaniev will face Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE) who secured a close 4-1 victory over Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO) in the other semifinal.

Defending champion at 70kg Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) booked a final against U20 world silver medalist Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) after the two dominated their way to the final.

Eltermirov scored a 11-0 victory over Marcel WAGIN (GER) while Gaidarli managed to beat Mykyta SARIIEV (UKR), 10-0, in the semifinals. Both are yet to give up a point in the tournament so far.

Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR)Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) squares off against Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM) in the 65kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In a battle of U20 world bronze medalists at 65kg, Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) defeated Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM), 9-6, and enter the final against Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS).

Magamedkhanov fell behind 2-0 early in the bout before he closed the gap to 4-3 at the break. In the second period, he scored from a front chest-wrap twice to lead 7-4. When he attempted it for the third time, Musikyan blocked it and scored two points to cut the lead to 7-6.

The Armenian was close to scoring a takedown which would have given him the lead but Magamedkhanov scrambled out of the hold and countered Musikyan for a takedown in the final 10 seconds to win 9-6.

Kizinov was in more control of his semifinal against Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), blanking the Ukrainian 6-0. He scored a point when Borohan was put on the activity clock before a stepout made his lead 2-0. A takedown and turn made it 6-0 before the break. No points were scored in the second period as the Russian entered the final.

Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE)Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) will wrestle for the 57kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 57kg, former U17 world champion Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) will face Aiandai ONDAR (RUS) for the gold medal.

Baghirov, with his stealthy defense, kept Nikoloz BOTCHRISHVILI (GEO) at a distance and led 3-1 with 15 seconds to go. But the Georgian managed to hit a single-leg takedown and dump him outside the zone. However, it was scored only one point for Botchrishvili.

Georgia challenged the call but lost it to add one more point to Baghirov's score. A late takedown sealed his 6-2 victory.

Ondar took 56 seconds to beat Artsiom PAULIUCHENKA (BLR), 10-0, using a trap-arm gut.

Photo

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) vs. Aiandai ONDAR (RUS)

SF 1: Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) df. Nikoloz BOTCHORISHVILI (GEO), 6-2
SF 2: Aiandai ONDAR (RUS) df. Artsiom PAULIUCHENKA (BLR), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) vs. Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS)

SF 1: Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) df. Arman MUSIKYAN (ARM), 9-6
SF 2: Dzhambulat KIZINOV (RUS) df. Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), 6-0

70kg
GOLD: Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) vs. Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA)

SF 1: Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS) df. Marcel WAGIN (GER), 11-0
SF 2: Alexandr GAIDARLI (MDA) df. Mykyta SARIIEV (UKR), 10-0

79kg
GOLD: Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) vs. Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE)

SF 1: Ismail KHANIEV (RUS) df. Mateusz PEDZICKI (POL), via inj. def. (9-0)
SF 2: Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE) df. Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO), 4-1

97kg
GOLD: Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) vs. Takhir KHANIEV (RUS)

SF 1: Ivan PRYMACHENKO (UKR) df. Zafar ALIYEV (AZE), 6-2
SF 2: Takhir KHANIEV (RUS) df. Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 14-4