#WrestleNoviSad

Opening Day Semifinals Set at U23 European C'ships

Monday, March 4, 2019 - 14:28 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article

NOVI SAD, Serbia (March 4) – The Russian Federation only dropped one match in the opening session of the U23 European Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia, and inserted four of five wrestlers into Monday’s semifinals.

The four Russian wrestlers competing for a spot in the Tuesday night’s finals are Viktor VEDERNIKOV (RUS), Islam OPIEV (RUS), Gazi KHALILOV (RUS), and Oleg AGAKHANOV (RUS). 

At 55kg, Viktor Vedernikov will have the tall task of ending Nugzari TSURTSUMIA’s (GEO) twelve-month run where he’s won the U23 European and world gold medals. 

Returning 55kg U23 European bronze medalist Florin TITA (ROU) will wrestle Bence KOVACS (HUN) in the other 55kg semifinal. 


Russia's 2018 junior world champion Islam OPIEV (RUS) will wrestle Monday at 18:00 (local time) for a spot in the 77kg U23 European finals. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne) 

Defending junior world champion Islam Opiev is looking to make his first continental finals appearance since winning his 2015 European cadet title. He’ll wrestle Georgia’s 2015 European junior bronze medalist Beka MAMUKASHVILI (GEO) for a spot in the 77kg finals. 

Hungary’s returning U23 world bronze medalist Tamas LEVAI (HUN) will take on Turkey’s Serkan AKKOYUN (TUR) in the second 77kg semifinal. 

At 87kg, Russia’s third semifinalist Gazi Khalilov will look to end Ivan HUKLEK's (CRO) attempt at making back-to-back U23 European finals. Last year, Huklek finished with a silver medal. 

In the second 87kg semifinal, Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU) can become Lithuania’s second Greco-Roman U23 European finalist ever if he can defeat Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO). 

Oleg Agakhanov is the fourth Russian opening day semifinalist. He’ll lace up against Romania’s BEREI (ROU) in the first 130kg semifinal. 

On the bottom half of the bracket at 130kg, Georgian big-man and six-time age-group world champion Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) will wrestle Lenard BEREI’s (ROU) and attempt to make his second consecutive trip to the U23 European finals. Pataridze is the defending U23 European and world champion at this weight. 

The lone weight class not featuring a Russian semifinalist is 63kg. 

On the top half of the 63kg bracket, Erik TORBA (HUN) and Levani KAVJARADZE (GEO) will wrestle for a spot in the finals, while Armenia’s 2018 U23 European bronze medalist Slavik GALSTYAN will take on defending U23 world bronze medalist Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR) on the bottom half of the bracket. 

Monday’s semifinals begin at 18:00 (local time) and will be live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

SEMIFINALS 
55kg 
Bence KOVACS (HUN) vs. Florin TITA (ROU)
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) vs. Viktor VEDERNIKOV (RUS)

63kg
Erik TORBA (HUN) vs. Levani KAVJARADZE (GEO)
Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) vs. Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR)

77kg 
Serkan AKKOYUN (TUR) vs. Tamas LEVAI (HUN)
Beka MAMUKASHVILI (GEO) vs. Islam OPIEV (RUS)

87kg 
Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU) vs. Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO)
Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) vs. Gazi KHALILOV (RUS)

130kg 
Artur VITITIN (EST) vs. Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO)
Lenard Istvan BEREI (ROU) vs. Oleg AGAKHANOV (RUS)

#development

UWW conducts REDT program in Benin

Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:06 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

OUIDAH, Benin (December 20) -- United World Wrestling (UWW), in collaboration with the Benin Wrestling Federation, the Benin National Olympic Committee and the national sports authorities, successfully organized the Regional Education and Development Wrestling Tournament (REDT), which took place in Ouidah from November 23 to 30, 2025.

This event represents the first tournament ever organized in West Africa, marking a major milestone in UWW’s wrestling development strategy on the African continent.

Ten countries from the West African region took part in the tournament, contributing to a framework of technical and educational exchanges aimed at enhancing the competencies of wrestling stakeholders.

Deqa NIAMKEY, Director of Development at United World Wrestling, paid an official visit to Benin. She praised the progress achieved by the Benin Wrestling Federation and recalled the core objective of the REDT program.

"The REDT was initiated by United World Wrestling to support countries in the sustainable development of wrestling.”

Niamkey also conducted a sports administration education session with representatives of national federations, while Youssef BOUAZIZ delivered an online training session on ARENA.

Benin

Ahead of the competitions, a regional coaches’ education program was conducted from November 24 to 27, 2025, bringing together coaches, referees, athletes and technical staff from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Senegal.

This program was delivered by Vincent AKA, UWW Expert and Development Officer, and concluded with theoretical and practical evaluations leading to the award of UWW International Coaching Certifications Levels 1 and 2.

Celestin PAVELESCU, UWW Expert, led the refereeing education program in Olympic Wrestling and Beach Wrestling, contributing to the improvement of technical standards and the harmonization of officiating practices across the region.

The competitions were held on November 29, 2025 at the IRSP Gymnasium, while the Beach Wrestling events took place on November 30, 2025 at the Door of No Return Beach, an emblematic site of Ouidah’s historical and cultural heritage.

The host nation particularly distinguished itself during this edition, winning a total of 35 medals (11 gold, 15 silver and 9 bronze).

The development strategy focused on youth and the introduction of wrestling in the school environment, with a strong representation of U17 wrestlers, illustrates the long-term vision pursued by the Benin Wrestling Federation.

At the conclusion of the competition, the President of the Benin Wrestling Federation, Adihunkpéto YVES AZIFAN, congratulated all wrestlers and coaches, while reaffirming the federation’s commitment to position Benin sustainably among the leading nations of African and international wrestling.