#development

Poreč hosts 2023 Wrestling Festival

Sunday, June 11, 2023 - 14:24 By United World Wrestling Press

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POREC, Croatia (June 11) --- In a world where sport events have transcended their traditional boundaries, the Porec Wrestling Festival 2023 is set to revolutionize the wrestling scene. Supported by United World Wrestling (UWW) and set in a beautifu coastal resort in the Istria region in Croatia, this festival is much more than just a wrestling competition. 

Olympic Solidarity Technical Course for Coaches and Referees

The Olympic Solidarity Technical Course for Coaches and Referees was successfully conducted with the support of the Croatian National Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling. The courses took place May 24-28 at the Valamar Diamant Hotel in Poreč. It consisted of a Level 1 Coaching Course, led by the UWW-certified educator Gary MAYAAB (USA). The main focus of this course was to introduce coaching techniques and emphasize safety measures for young Croatian coaches.

Additionally, a five-day 'Introduction to Refereeing' course was conducted simultaneously. This course was led by Davor PETANJEK, a UWW-certified referee educator and UWW IS category referee from Croatia.

"The coaches were very knowledgeable and technically balanced in their skills," said Gary Mayabb.  Their experience level is high for being relatively young on average, the future of Croatian wrestling is bright/ They are smart, passionate and can articulate about "WHY" they coach."

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Wrestlers were going big at the Wrestling Festival Tournament in Porec. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Adriatic Trophy & Wrestling Festival Tournament

The Adriatic Trophy (U20) and Wrestling Festival Tournament (U15 & U17) took place on May 27-28, providing a platform for over 300 Greco-Roman and women's wrestlers (U15, U17, and U20) to demonstrate their skills on a grand stage.

With the endorsement of United World Wrestling, this tournament ensured the highest level of competition, attracting top talent from various countries. It served as an inclusive platform for all wrestlers to showcase their abilities and shine. On tap to watch the action was Cuba's esteemed four-time Olympic Champion, Mijain LOPEZ NUNES.

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Olympic champions Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) and Mijain Lopez drill together at the Greco-Roman training camp in Croatia. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The International Training Camps (GR, WW)

One of the standout features of the 2023 Porec Wrestling Festival is UWW's incorporation of the women’s training camps to help athletes refine their techniques and tactical insights.

Traditionally, Croatia is known for its high-level Greco-Roman camps, regularly organized in Porec. From May 29th-June 2, Olympic bronze medalist Clarissa CHUN (USA) led a women’s training camp with 13 nations and over 100 women’s wrestling athletes 

‘Thanks to the support of UWW, this is the biggest women’s wrestling training camp Croatia has ever hosted, and we are determined to continuously grow women’s wrestling in the region,’ said Secretary General of the Croatian Wrestling Federation Tin BREGOVIC. "Majority of our women’s wrestlers are young, and this camp offered a great opportunity for them to learn from esteemed coaches and practice with other women athletes at their age to promote skill development. The combination of world-class coaches and international participants will undoubtedly lead to a significant boost in the overall wrestling landscape."

Edit DOZSA (ITA) also provided a session on women’s wrestling rules on May 30. Additionally, a Women's Wrestling Rules Game Night was organized in the evening to help reinforce the knowledge learned in a fun and competitive environment. The winners received Nike wrestling shoes.

A ‘Safeguarding Athletes’ session was also conducted for all participating athletes and coaches on June 1.

Seminars in Women’s Wrestling Development

Dr. Ms. Kuniko TANIOKA (JPN), Vice President of Japan Wrestling Federation, Chairperson and President of Shigakkan University, and Dr. Hideyuki GOTO (JPN), Professor, Club manager and Team Doctor of the Wrestling Club of Shigakkan University, along with Prof. Dr. SC. Mario Baić (CRO), Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb led the educational seminars for the coaches and athletes, cantered on the areas of women’s wrestling injury prevention, nutrition and physical fitness preparation for elite wrestlers.   

The Porec Wrestling Festival was a great success, combing training sessions with educational seminars and allowing coaches and athletes from different nations to have an expert exchange platform. Combined with social events and excursions, the festival was truly a celebration of wrestling, helping to bring together top experts and athletes from the sport.  

#WrestleNoviSad

Fujinami wins U23 world gold with perfect debut at 57kg

Saturday, October 25, 2025 - 00:37 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 24) -- Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) said she was 'a little nervous' before coming to Novi Sad for her first international tournament at 57kg.

On the mat, however, the Paris Olympic champion showed no signs of nerves.

Fujinami won her first U23 world title, extended her win streak to 145 matches dating back to 2017 and made a golden debut at the new weight class. Even more remarkable was the manner in which she won her all bouts, via technical superiority.

"It was my first match in a long time," Fujinami said. "I think it was a tournament where I was able to show my skills I had practiced, feeling relieved and have fun playing in the competition."

In the 57kg final, it took Fujinami only five second to hit that outside single against Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (UWW) and score the first takedown. Another similar attack and she was up 4-0. A go-behind made it 6-0 and a transitioned double-leg attack gave her four points as she won 10-0.

"I could feel the power of my opponents in the new weight class," Fujinami said. "I still had to reduce weight but I feel that I moved very well on the mat.

"As for the final, when it comes to handling when (my) head is outside, foreign players are strong [in dealing with that], so I have honed my skills a lot. It's a move that doesn't let the opponent get together, or to tackle."

Fujinami, who won the Japan's Queens Cup in April to qualify for the U23 World Championships, decided to skip the Meiji Cup and in turn the World Championships in Zagreb, as she would not be ready physically for the challenge.

The U23 Worlds, however, laid a perfect platform for her to test herself as she gears up for the all-important Emperor's Cup in December. In Novi Sad, she spent a total of 8:22 on the mat in four bouts with little trouble.

"I wasn't aware of it at all," she said about winning every bout via technical superiority. "I thought I was just doing what I had been doing. This time, I was practicing not only tackles but also snaps. It's a move like Masanosuke ONO, who dropped his opponent down. I want to practice more and more and make it a technique that can score."

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) won the gold medal at 57kg at the U23 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The competition at Emperor's Cup, which Fujinami wants to win in order to compete at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in 2026, will be much tougher. Apart from the regulars at 57kg including Sara NATAMI (JPN), Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) and Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), a possible return of fellow Paris Olympic champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), may spice up the competition.

Fujinami also has eyes on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and in particular wrestling one wrestler -- Helen MAROULIS (USA).

"I respect Helen Maroulis a lot," she said. "But now I am at 57kg and I must beat her."

In other women's wrestling finals on Friday, Kazakhstan got its first-ever U23 world champion in women's wrestling after Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) held on to a thrilling win against Tuba DEMIR (TUR) at 55kg.

Omirbek got a takedown to start the final as Demir was put on the activity clock. She then turned Demir three times using an underhook from behind and stretching the other arm of Demir for exposure. As the sequence finished, Omirbek was up 9-0.

Demir made a match out of it when she hit a slick ankle pick and landed Omirbek in danger for four points which she got after a challenge. A double-leg attack gave her two more points to make it 9-6.

The dramatic part of the final began now as Demir added another takedown to cut the lead to one point, 9-8, before exposing Omirbek for danger but the referees scored it as neutral as the Kazakhstan wrestler may not been have in danger position.

Not disheartened by the decision, Demir launched another attacked and almost got the stepout with 15 seconds left. However, the referees called it par terre position for both wrestlers and no points were given. Turkiye decided to challenge this time only to lose it and give a 10-8 lead to Omirbek.

After Demir missed her desperate shot, Omirbek circled and got behind to get two more points before bursting into a celebration with her coaches.

Turkiye's gloomy mood changed a little when Nesrin BAS (TUR) won her third U23 world title at 68kg in a dominant fashion. Bas now has three golds and one silver U23 Worlds.

The European and world silver medalist was facing Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW) in the final and at no point she seemed in any danger of losing her title. She began with a single leg for takedown before a fireman's carry added two more point to her score.

It was way to simple from there on as Bas used a low single, go-behind and elevated leg takedown to finish the match 10-0. She joins Haruna OKUNO (JPN) and Alenxadrin GUTU (MDA) as three-time U23 world champions.

At 65kg, Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (UWW) pinned Yuqi RAO (CHN) in the final using a fireman's carry and finishing the bout in just a minute and four seconds to win the gold medal.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) df. Tuba DEMIR (TUR), 12-8

BRONZE: NISHU (IND) df. Albina RILLIA (UKR), 3-1
BRONZE: Amory ANDRICH (GER) df. Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA), 10-5

57kg
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (UWW), 10-0

BRONZE: Neha SHARMA (IND) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 5-0
BRONZE: Yaynelis SANZ VERDECIA (CUB) df. Emine CAKMAK (TUR), 6-4

65kg
GOLD: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (UWW) df. Yuqi RAO (CHN), via fall (4-0)

BRONZE: PULKIT (IND) df. Eniko ELEKES (HUN), 8-4 
BRONZE: Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR) df. Mukhayyo NARZILLOEVA (UZB), 10-0

68kg
GOLD: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW), 10-0

BRONZE: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Gerda BARTH (GER), 4-2
BRONZE: SRISHTI (IND) df. Karolina POK (HUN), 6-1

Women's Wrestling Semifinal

53kg
GOLD: Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN) vs. Hansika LAMBA (IND)

SF 1: Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR), 5-2
SF 2: Hansika LAMBA (IND) df. Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP), 11-0

59kg
GOLD: Ruka NATAMI (JPN) vs. SARIKA (IND)

SF 1: Ruka NATAMI (JPN) df. Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE), 3-1
SF 2: SARIKA (IND) df. Olha PADOSHYK (POL), 12-6

62kg
GOLD: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) vs. Iryna BONDAR (UKR)

SF 1: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) df. Immacolata DANISE (ITA), via fall
SF 2: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Astrid MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN), 8-5

Freestyle Semifinal

74kg
GOLD: Halit OZMUS (TUR) vs. Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA)

SF 1: Halit OZMUS (TUR) df. Magomed KHANIEV (AZE), 7-3
SF 2: Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) df. Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), 7-4

92kg
GOLD: Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) vs. Mobin AZIMI (IRI)

SF 1: Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) df. Ion DEMIAN (MDA), 12-1
SF 2: Mobin AZIMI (IRI) df. Ivan CHORNOHUZ (UKR), 12-1