Webinar

With Online Webinars Wrestling Finds Eager Audience

Thursday, July 30, 2020 - 13:31 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (July 30) -- A move from the mat to the home office was never planned, but for United World Wrestling the transition from mat-based training to online learning is showing positive results.

The hourlong webinars, launched in June, have a been a huge success with more than 40 being delivered by the development department across several languages and attracting viewership from all five continents. 

“Through the pandemic has proven to be challenging in a number of ways, the wrestling community has shown resilience,” said UWW Development Director Deqa Niamkey. “These are challenging times we have managed to engage coaches, referees and national federations on a weekly basis with highly renowned experts to keep our community motivated and learn best practices. We are grateful to be part of this growing wrestling family and we look forward to having everyone back on the field of play.”

In only a month the webinars are attracting an average of 160 total viewers, which is far more than the average in-person attendance seen for the majority of similar seminars. The Spanish-speaking webinar have been the most-watched averaging almost 200 viewers each webinar.

The Refereeing Commission has also launched a Webinar series with eight airing since June 22 and another four scheduled before the end of the summer. There will be translations of the videos in Russian, French, and Spanish posted to the UWW starting July 30. The new webinars will be posted every Thursday in Russian, French and Spanish. Russian will air at 14:00, French at 16:00 and Spanish at 18:00.

“UWW Education Webinars have offered the referee community all over the globe not only a convenient and modern way to learn and upskill on wrestling matters, but also an opportunity to stay again in touch during this difficult period of time, which has been much appreciated,” said UWW Refereeing Commission president Antonio Silvestri.
 
Current webinars have covered multiple aspects of refereeing, from basic skills to detailed analysis of actions and throws, which are intended to assist referees in their learning and better prepare for a return to the mat.
 

#Pankration

World Combat Games: Ukraine dominates Pankration with six golds

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 - 17:37 By United World Wrestling Press

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (October 25) -- Five months ago, they led Ukraine’s march at the Pankration World Championships. On Wednesday, they continued the European powerhouse’s fine run at the World Combat Games in Riyadh as Ukraine grabbed six out of the 10 possible gold medals across men's and women's categories.

Ukrainian athletes reigned supreme in four out of the five categories in the men’s event, with Oleksandr HULIAIEV (71kg), Kyrylo HOROBETS (84kg), Roman KIZIUK (92kg), Bohdan HNIDKO (100kg) winning gold medals.

Ali GULIYEV (AZE)Ali GULIYEV (AZE) was the only non-Ukrainian to win a gold medal on Wednesday. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

World champion Ihor ZHOVNIR (UKR) suffered a shock defeat in the semifinals to eventual silver medallist Sabit ZHUSSIP (KAZ), which dented Ukraine’s hopes of winning all six gold medals in the men’s section. Ali GULIYEV (AZE) won the gold medal in the 66kg weight class by beating Zhussip.

In the women’s event, Anna BEZHENAR (53kg) and Daria CHIBISOVA (65kg) finished on top of the podium on a memorable day for the country’s athletes at the World Combat Games.

Huliaiev hardly broke a sweat during his three bouts in which he did not concede a single point. He began with a submission win over Ali SHARIFOV (AZE) in the quarterfinals and followed it up with a 5-0 verdict against Zhassulan AKIMZHAN (KAZ) in the semifinals. In the final, Huliaiev defeated Marvin BELECCIU (ROU) via submission after a 10-1 lead to win the gold medal.

Kyrylo HOROBETS (UKR)Kyrylo HOROBETS (UKR) won the 80kg final 4-2 against Khasan NAFULLAEV (UZB). (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

It wasn’t as easy for Horobets, who began with a 14-5 win over Turkman MAMMADLI (AZE) before conjuring a 10-3 win against Samat SHAGYRAYEV (KAZ) – whom he had beaten in the World Championship final – in the last four. In the final, Horobets beat Khasan NAFULLAEV (UZB) 4-2.

Kiziuk, too, was dominant on his way to the top of the podium as he won all his bouts via superiority. He began by overcoming Daniel GOREA (MDA) 13-1 in the quarterfinals before beating Islom BALTAEV (UZB) 15-1 in the semis. In the final, Kiziuk defeated Duman BALMUKHANOV (KAZ) 13-1.

In another rematch of the World Championship title bout, Hnidko beat Diyar NURGOZHAY (KAZ) 13-1 technical superiority to complete a double over his opponent and win another gold medal.

Anna BEZHENAR (UKR)Anna BEZHENAR (UKR) won the 53kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Meanwhile, in the women’s bouts, Bezhenar was quick off the blocks as she downed Dimitra PAFRA (GRE) via submission in her opening match before defeating Danielle LENTINI (CAN) 11-2 in the semifinals. In the title round, the Ukrainian defeated world championship bronze medallist Mukhlisa NABIJONOVA (UZB) 10-3.

Ukraine’s final gold medal of the day came from Chibisova in the 65kg category. Chibisova defeated Alessia AMENDOLA (ITA) and Esmira MAMMADOVA (AZE) in the early rounds before beating Meruyert IBRAYEVA 9-3 to win the gold.

Khilola SOBIROVA (UZB)Khilola SOBIROVA (UZB) earned the 57kg gold medal at the World Combat Games. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Uzbekistan, the United States and Germany were other countries that won gold medals in the women’s events.

Khilola SOBIROVA (UZB) defeated Viktoriia SYNIAVINA (UKR) 6-3 to give Uzbekistan a memorable title in the 57kg category while Lorena CUBERO (GER) gave Germany their first gold medal, beating Vincenza AMENDOLA (ITA) 5-1 in the 70kg final.

Madeline SCHELLMAN (USA)The four medalists at 80kg with Madeline SCHELLMAN (USA) with the gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari) 

The long gold medal for the U.S. was won by Madeline SCHELLMAN (USA) as her opponent Mereke ZHUNUSSOVA (KAZ) was called unfit to continue and injured after Schellman had built a 10-1 lead in the final. Schellman won the gold in the 80kg category.

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