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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.  

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Day 1 Results & Highlights

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - 08:23 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 15) -- The last stop for the Ranking Series in Budapest will kick off with Freestyle. Wrestlers in  57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg will take the mat and aim to win the medals.

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86kg semifinals: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) moves into the 86kg final after a 10-0 win over Nan CAO (CHN) using leg lace to score his points. He seemed injured at the end and needed medical assistance. He will, if healthy, wrestle Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) for the gold medal after the Georgian defeated compatriot Tornike SAMKHARADZE (GEO), 12-4.

74kg semifinals: Feng LU (CHN) with a stepout in the final second of the 74kg semifinals against Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) to complete a stunning, 2-2, criteria win and advance to the final. He will now face former 70kg world champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) who got the better of Muhammed BESIR (TUR). Besir led 2-2 on criteria but Kaipanov got on the legs and scored exposure for two points, a counter from Besir made it 4-4 criteria lead for Besir. However, Kaipanov did not let go off his hold and exposed Besir again to win 6-4. Besir challenged the scoring but lost it to add one more point to Kaipanov's score.

70kg semifinals: Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) stuns world silver medalist Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), 3-2, in the semifinals. He will face Ridge LOVETT (USA) for the gold medal after the American pinned U23 world champion Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE).

65kg semifinals: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) reaches his second straight Ranking Series final after a 10-0 win over Mohit KUMAR (IND). He used a strong gut-wrench and leg lace to complete a 10-0 win over Kumar. He will now try to claim the gold medal when he faces Abbas EBRAHIMZADEH (IRI) who got the better of Vishal KALIRAMANA (IND), 5-5 on criteria. Up 2-1, Ebrahimzadeh gave up a takedown and turn but countered the next attempt and scored two points. He also scored a turn to take the criteria lead and the win.

61kg semifinals: Tolga OZBEK (TUR) gives Turkiye a finalist in Budapest after beating Adilet ALMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ), 15-7, in a high-scoring semifinal. Ozbek with constant takedowns that rattled Almukhanmedov. Ozbek will now try to beat another Kazakhstan wrestler for the gold medal when he takes on Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) in the final. Aitakyn reached the final after beating DEEPAK (IND), 2-1, in the other semifinal. Deepak, who won gold at the Ulaanbaatar Open, failed to find any opening in the second period in which Aitakyn scored a takedown for two points.

57kg semifinals: An 11-0 victory for AMAN (IND) over European champion Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) in the 57kg semifinals. Aman works stepouts in the first period and Bazaganov is called passive as well. A takedown and turn make it 7-0 for Aman at the break. He comes back to score a takedown and one turn using Figure 4 to win

For the gold medal, Aman will take on Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) who blanks Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ), 4-0, in the others semifinal. He scored two points in each period for the win.

Semifinals will start soon after the last quarterfinals.

13:30: Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) scores eight points in the second period and beats Sagar JAGLAN (IND), 8-1, at 74kg. He scored a stepout before getting a point for Jaglan's passivity to add to the takedown he scored. He then comes out with big throw for four points to make it 8-1 and secure the win.

13:15: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) blanks Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ), 10-0, at 65kg. No trouble for Mamedov as he scored five different takedowns for an easy win advance to the semifinals

12:52: Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) scored the opening takedown on AMAN (IND) in their 57kg bout he could not sustain the pressure and counter Aman's relentless attacks. Aman eventually wins 10-3 

12:43: At 70kg, Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) and Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) traded four pointers but it was Tumur Ochir who did it in the last minute and pinned Muszukajev. Tumur Ochir led 2-0 after two activity clock points but Muszukajev hit a four-pointer soon after to make it 4-2. He challenged asking for more points but there were none in that sequence, losing the challenge. Tumur Ochir, lead 4-3 now, scored a stepout but Muszukajev still had a 4-4 criteria lead. Then both went in a bear hug position and Tumur Ochir hit the throw for four and the fall.

12:38: A huge win for Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) as he takes out European champion Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 5-0, at 74kg. Kuramagomedov blocked out Salkazanov who failed to find any scoring moves.

12:30: European champion Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) with scores off two counters to beat RAHUL (IND), 5-3, at 57kg. Both were called passive but it was Bazarganov who scored a stepout and takedown to maintain a lead.

12:25: Sagar JAGLAN (IND), who won gold medal at the Ulaanbaatar Open, produces the leg lace and rolls to a 10-0 win over Sangho HAN (KOR) at 74kg.

12:22: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) and his conditioning gave up against Tornike SAMKHARADZE (GEO). Leading 5-0 in the 86kg bout, Savadkouhi dropped the match 15-5 and 15 seconds remaining.

12:15: Peiman BIABANI (CAN) got two points for Quentin STICKER (FRA) passivity and then stuck to that lead despite giving up a point. Sticker, down 2-1, tried a few moves late in the bout but Biabani managed to counter it and score four points and win 6-1 at 65kg.

12:10: Farhad NOURI (UWW), a refugee wrestlers and European bronze medalist, starts his 74kg campaign with a technical superiority 10-1 win over Jorge GATICA (CHI). Here's Nouri's story.

12:05: Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ) manages to secure a fall over U23 European champion Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (BLR) using a cradle and advance at 65kg.

12:00: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) moves into the next round at 86kg after Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) abandons the bout due to injury. It seemed that Sakayev hit head first on the mat that caused the bleeding. Magamdov was leading 4-0 when the stoppage occured.

11:50: Stunning result for Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO) as he pins Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) at 61kg. Abakarov had a comfortable 6-0 lead but Goniashvili used a head pinch for four points and then pinned Abakarov who tried find a foul in the move but there was none.

11:30: Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) stuns Asian champion ABHIMANYOU (IND) at 70kg. Elahi scores a takedown and then rolls Abhimanyou four times for a technical superiority win.

10:45: Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) begins with a technical superiority win over Adil OSPANOV (KAZ) at 65kg. Mamedov competed at the Ulaanbaatar Open and reached the final. He was on the verge of upsetting Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in the final as he led 8-0. But Amouzad mounted a comeback and won 17-10.

10:45: Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ) controls the first match against Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI) throughout and wins 13-2 at 65kg. Khorramdel opened a few attacks but Kuular never looked in trouble. He even had a solid cardio