#HungarianGP2019

Olympic Silver Medalist Ota Headlines Saturday Night's Hungarian Grand Prix Finals

Saturday, February 23, 2019 - 12:34 By Eric Olanowski

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GYOR, Hungary (February 23) -  Rio Olympic runner-up Shinobu OTA (JPN) headlines Saturday night's Hungarian Grand Prix finals, where he'll wrestle China's fifth-ranked TUO Erbatu for the 63kg gold medal.

Ota reached the finals handling Olympic bronze medalist Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR), 6-1 in the quarterfinals. Ota and Berg's Hungarian Grand Prix quarterfinals bout was their second meeting since 2016. Their first match came in the quarterfinal round match at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where Ota won 4-0. 

Japan's 2018 Asian Games champion defeated Iran's Meysam DALKHANI, 5-2 in the semifinals, reaching his first career Ranking Series gold-medal bout. 

Ota will wrestle China's fifth-ranked Tuo Erbatu in the 63kg gold-medal bout. Tuo upset the 2018 world bronze medalist WALIHAN Sailike (CHN), 7-3 in the quarterfinals. Walihan won his world bronze medal down at 60kg, where he's currently ranked No. 3 in the world. Tuo then rolled into the finals thumping America's Travis RICE (USA), 9-0 in the semifinals. 

Ota and Tuo's Saturday night matchup will be their first career meeting.

The Hungarian Grand Prix opening day finals begin at 18:00. 

SCHEDULE

Saturday (February 23) 
17:00 - Opening Ceremony 
18:00 - Finals for GR cat. 55, 63, 72, 82, 97kg Award ceremonies 

Sunday (February 24) 
8.30 - Medical examination & Weigh-in for GR cat. 60, 67, 77, 87, 130kg
10.00 - Qualification rounds and repechage for GR cat. 60, 67, 77, 87, 130kg
16.00 - Finals for GR cat. 60, 67, 77, 87, 130kg and Award ceremonies

Day One Finals 
63kg - Erbatu TUO (CHN) vs. Shinobu OTA (JPN) 
72kg - Sachino DAVITAIA (GEO) vs. Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) 
82kg -  Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) vs. Rajbek Alvievich BISULTANOV (DEN) 
97kg -  Tracy Gangelo HANCOCK (USA) vs. Fatih BASKOY (TUR) 

#UnitedWorldWrestling

Lalovic meets Saudi Olympic vice president Fahad bin Jalawi

Friday, April 25, 2025 - 09:56 By United World Wrestling Press

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (April 25) -- United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC met with Vice President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Fahad bin Jalawi Abdulaziz bin Musaed in Riyadh during his visit to Saudi Arabia.

Lalovic met with Fahad bin Jalawi at the Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Complex in Riyadh. President of the Saudi Wrestling Federation Fahad Al-Faraj was also present during the meeting.

Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the Saudi Wrestling Federation discussed enhancing cooperation with UWW in wrestling as the Saudi federation aspires to establish a strong group of male and female players capable of participating in the Olympic events in the coming years.

Lalovic also visited the training camp organized by the Saudi wrestling team. The session saw the participation of 14 male and female wrestlers [4 U17, 4 U20, 4 U23 and 2 senior wrestlers]. The training was under the supervision of the Juan LUIS (CUB).

Saudi wrestling has made progress in recent times with Munthir JANDU (KSA) winning a silver medal in the 63kg weight class at the U20 Asian Championships last year.