#WrestleBudapest19

Novikov Avenges European C’Ships Loss to Defend U23 World Title

Saturday, November 2, 2019 - 19:37 By Taylor Miller

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Photo of Semen Novikov by Sachiko Hotaka.

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) successfully defended his World title on Saturday, winning the 87 kg gold at the U23 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Novikov took on Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO) in a rematch from the 2019 U23 European Championships that Khetsuriani won earlier this year, 3-1.

This time, Novikov had a big first period with a takedown and gut wrench, creating a lead too big for the Georgian to overcome for an eventual 6-1 victory.

The win gave the Ukrainian his second-straight U23 World title.

Winning the gold medal at 55 kg was Shota OGAWA (JPN), who stormed back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat two-time Junior World bronze medalist Emin SEFERSHAEV (RUS).

The Russian led 3-0 at the break from a passivity and gut wrench, but Ogawa responded in similar fashion in the second period to hold the lead on criteria. With less than a minute left, Ogawa scored on a step out to win an eventual 4-3 decision.

Ogawa wraps up a successful 2019 season, where he earned a bronze medal at the Senior World Championships in Kazakhstan and a U23 World title this weekend.

Photo of Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) by Kadir Caliskan.

Also recording a giant come-from-behind win was 2016 Junior World bronze medalist Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) at 63 kg.

Facing 2013 Cadet World bronze medalist Levani KAVJARADZE (GEO), Dalkhani fell to a 6-2 deficit in the second period, but with less than 30 seconds left, the Iranian put the Georgian to his back with a hip toss for four points and a 6-6 lead on criteria. Kavjaradze’s corner challenged the call, but it failed, resulting in a point for Dalkhani and securing a 7-6 win.

2018 Junior World champion Islam OPIEV (RUS) added another gold medal to his collection, winning the 77 kg title over Kodai SAKURABA (JPN), 3-1.

Opiev’s points came when he drew a passivity from Sakuraba and capitalized in par terre with a correct throw for the eventual victory.

At 130 kg, 2019 Junior World champion Aliakbar Hossein YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI) picked up his second World gold medal of the year, winning by injury default over five-time World champion Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO).

The final day of the U23 World Championships begins Sunday at 3:30 p.m. local time live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Finals results
55 kg
GOLD - Shota OGAWA (JPN) df. Emin SEFERSHAEV (RUS), 4-3
BRONZE - Zaur ALIYEV (AZE) df. Norayr HAKHOYAN (ARM), 7-2
BRONZE - Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) df. Maksym VYSOTSKYI (ISR), 9-0

63 kg
GOLD - Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) df. Levani KAVJARADZE (GEO), 7-6
BRONZE - Maksim NEHODA (BLR) df. Mehmet CEKER (TUR), 9-0
BRONZE - Fadis VALITOV (RUS) df. Erik TORBA (HUN), 6-3

77 kg
GOLD - Islam OPIEV (RUS) df. Kodai SAKURABA (JPN), 3-1
BRONZE - Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV (KAZ) df. Beka MAMUKASHVILI (GEO), 9-0
BRONZE - Serkan AKKOYUN (TUR) df. Sajan SAJAN (IND), 10-1

87 kg
GOLD - Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) df. Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO), 6-1
BRONZE - Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) df. Vaag MARGARIAN (RUS), 5-5
BRONZE - Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR) df. Ivan HUKLEK (CRO), 5-4

130 kg
GOLD - Aliakbar Hossein YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI) df. Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO), injury default
BRONZE - David OVASAPYAN (ARM) df. Mansur SHADUKAYEV (KAZ), 5-5
BRONZE - Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) df. Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN), 4-0

#development

South Africa Advances National Wrestling System with DNSS Phase 2

Thursday, April 9, 2026 - 07:25 By United World Wrestling Press

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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.