#kaspeuro2018

PREVIEW: 2018 Euro C'Ships

Saturday, April 28, 2018 - 13:25 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article

KASPIISK, Russia (April 28) -  Steered by Olympic champions Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) and Roman VLASOV (RUS), the Greco-Roman field at the European Championships is littered with Olympic medalists and returning world champions. Five of the six defending world champions will take to the mat on the opening days at the Palace of Sport and Youth for the 2018 European Championships in Dagestan, Russia. 

Artur “The White Bear,” Aleksanyan will be seeking to repeat as champion with hopes of winning his fourth European title. Aleksanyan has suffered two defeats in the past five seasons, both coming at the European Championships. The Armenian last won a European title in 2014 but has won three world titles and an Olympic gold medal during his continental lull.

2017 world champion, Viktor NEMES (SRB). 

The four-time world and Olympic champion Roman Vlasov will compete at 77kg, joining 2017 world medalists Viktor NEMES (SRB), Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) and Elvin MURSALIYEV (AZE). 

Nemes has a world title on his resume but has yet to win a European gold medal. His best finish came in 2015 when he lost to Elvin Mursaliyev in the finals, 5-1. 

Other returning champions that’ll make the trek to Dagestan include Tarek MOHAMED (BUL), Riza KAYAALP (TUR), Balint KORPASI (HUN), Viktor LORINCZ (HUN), and Artem SURKOV (RUS).

2017 world champion, Metehan BASAR (TUR).

Of those returning champions looking to uphold their crown, Mohamed will have the toughest road. To defend, he’ll have to knock off reigning world champion Metehan BASAR (TUR) and Rio bronze medalist Denis KUDLA (GER). 

Riza KAYAALP (TUR) returns to action next week in Dagestan -- the Rio Olympic silver medalist and three-time world champion hasn’t lost a match at Europeans since 2011. He’ll be looking for his eighth European title, but will have to outdo last year’s runner-up Balint LAM (HUN) and 2018 Yarygin champion, Muradin KUSHKHOV (RUS).

2017 world champion, Yasmin ADAR (TUR).

Women's Wrestling 
Returning world and European champions, Yasemin ADAR (TUR) and Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) lead a strong women’s contingent into Kaspiysk, with seven of eight defending champions taking the mats. 

Defending champion Adar leads leads the way in the 75kg bracket, in what could be the most fascinating bracket. Depending on how the action wraps up on the first day of women’s wrestling, Adar could see Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR), which would be a rematch of the 2017 world finals that Adar took, 6-5.

Also expected to be in the mix at 75kg is two-time world medalist Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS), 2017 world silver medalist at 69kg, Aline FOCKEN (GER) and world bronze medalist, Epp MAE (EST).

Seven-time European champion, Mariya STADNIK (AZE).

Another highly anticipated weight class to pay attention to is 50kg, where Mariya STADNIK (AZE), the Olympic silver medalist will be looking for her eighth European championship. Stadnik has never suffered a defeat at a European Championship, but Emilia VUC (ROU), the world finalist from a year ago will be looking to change that stat. 

The other four reigning champions that’ll be in action are Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS), Grace BULLEN (NOR), Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) and Monika MICHALIK (POL).

Three-time world and Olympic champion, Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS).

Freestyle 
Headed by a quartet of Olympic gold medalists, Taha AKGUL (TUR), Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO), Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS), and Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE), freestyle returns seven of eight champions from 2017

Three-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist, Haji ALIYEV (AZE), defending champion, Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) and the two-time world and Olympic champion, Vladimer Khinchegashvili all take part in what is sure to be a dynamic, action-filled 65kg bracket.

Aliyev will be searching for his first European crown since 2014 while Khinchegashvili and Bekbulatov are on quests to capture back-to-back crowns. 

A victory for Khinchegashvili, who hasn’t lost at a European Championship since 2013, would give the Georgian his fourth title, while Bekbulatov is in pursuit of his second overall.

Four-time European champion, Taha AKGUL (TUR).

Taha AKGUL (TUR) has his sights on winning his fifth European title; but the 2016 Olympic champions will most likely have to upend longtime rival and 2017 world champion, Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO). Akgul and Petriashvili have accounted for every world or Olympic gold medal dating back to 2014, and every European title dating back to 2012. The pair’s 2017 world finals in Paris is considered the greatest freestyle heavyweight wrestling match in history.


2012 Olympic champion, Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE). Photo by Tony Rotundo.

At 92kg it’s Olympic champions in Abdulrashid Sadulaev and Sharif Sharifov vying for top honors. The last time these two met was in the semifinals of the 2016 Olympic Games where Sadualev came out on top with an 8-1 victory. 

Sharifov, the 2012 Olympic champion followed up his London performance with a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Games. 

A victory for Sadulaev, the two-time world champion, and Olympic gold medalist would give the hometown favorite his fourth European Championship.

Two-time world champion, Frank CHAMIZO (ITA).

Other wrestlers looking to defend their titles include Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) and Riza YILDIRIM (TUR).

At74kg, the safe medal selections have to be two-time world champion, Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), world and Olympic bronze medalist, Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), and Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS).

Both Chamizo and Demirtas have multiple European titles under their belts, with Italian having a trio of golds and the Turk with a pair of championships. Meanwhile, Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS), 2017 world runner-up has never competed in a European Championship.  

SCHEDULE: 
Sunday - April 29
5:30 PM - Qualification rounds for GR 55kg,63kg, 77kg,87kg, and 130kg

Monday - April 30
11:00 AM - Qualification rounds for GR 55kg,63kg, 77kg,87kg, and 130kg
3:30 PM - Qualification rounds for GR 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, and 97kg
6:00PM - Semifinals for GR 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, and 130kg

Tuesday - May 1
11:00 AM - Qualification rounds for GR 60kg,67kg,72kg, 82kg, and 97kg
3:30 PM - Qualification rounds for WW 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg
4:45 PM - Opening Ceremony
5:15 PM - Semifinals for GR 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, and 97kg 
6:00 PM - Finals for GR 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, and 130kg

Wednesday - May 2 
11:00 AM -  Qualification rounds for WW 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg
11:00 AM - Repechage for GR 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, and 97kg
2:00 PM - Qualification round for WW 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg 
5:15 PM - Semifinals for WW 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg 
6:00PM - Finals for GR 

Thursday - May 3 
11:00 AM - Qualification round for WW 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg 
11:00 AM - Repechage for WW 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg
2:00 PM - Qualifications for FS  57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg
5:15 PM - Semifinals for WW 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg 
6:00PM - Finals for WW 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg

Friday - May 4 
11:00 AM - Qualifications for FS 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg

11:00 AM - Repechage for WW 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg 
2:30 PM - Qualification for FS 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 125 kg
5:15 PM - Semifinals for FS 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg
6:00PM - Finals for WW  53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg 

Saturday - May 5 
11:00 AM - Qualification for FS 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 125 kg
11: 00 AM - Repechage for FS 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg
5:15 PM -  Semifinals for FS  61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 125 kg
6:00PM - Finals for for FS 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg

Sunday - May 6
4:00 PM - Repechage for FS 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 125 kg
6:00PM - Finals for FS 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 125 kg

#UnitedWorldWrestling

UWW World Conference: Lalovic stresses on AI, Amateur MMA and keeping wrestling at the top

Friday, September 26, 2025 - 17:25 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 24) -- Putting his faith in the ‘young generations’ to use Artificial Intelligence to their ‘benefit’, United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC said that proper use of the ‘modern tools may help coaching, analysis, planning events and being more efficient’. Lalovic called on the wrestling world to ‘adapt’ and embrace AI, ’which is already almost everywhere’.

The UWW President shared these thoughts at the first UWW World Conference 2025, which was held in Zagreb from September 17 to 19. The conference covered a wide array of topics and brought together the best minds in the sport and beyond under one roof on the sidelines of the World Championships.

Expert panelists from all over the world discussed subjects ranging from digital transformation and associated styles to injury prevention and weight management, growing women’s wrestling and career transitions for wrestlers, as well as the future of the sport during the three-day event at the Westin Hotel in Zagreb, Croatia.

The conference started with Lalovic and UWW Secretary General Carlos ROY welcoming the delegates.

Lalovic said in his address: “We had this idea maybe almost a decade ago. We were seeking a platform, how these good relations among wrestlers and the national federations can improve our sport.”

Carlos ROYUWW Secretary General Carlos ROY welcomes the delegates to the World Conference. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Roy added that the ‘rich program was designed to cover wrestling from every angle’. “This conference brings together leaders, coaches, athletes, medical and scientific experts, referees and partners from around the world to exchange knowledge, share experiences and shape the future of our sport,” he said.

Among those who attended the event were leaders from National Federations, members of UWW Commissions, the International Olympic Committee, International Testing Agency and UWW partners like TAISHAN, Rudis and N3XT. Legendary wrestlers including Mijain LOPEZ (CUB), Erica WIEBE (CAN), Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG), Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) and Marwa AMRI (TUN) also graced the symposium and shared their views during the lively discussions.

While Wiebe spoke about the wrestlers’ transition from actively competing to other jobs in wrestling, Julfalakyan shared insights on how collaboration between different bodies can power the clean sport drive, an important area where the UWW has continued its development work. Mattsson, who is now the head coach of the Swedish team, opened up on ways to support and train women’s wrestlers.

Nenad LALOVICNenad LALOVIC in a Q/A session with UWW Development Director Deqa NIAMKEY.

Lalovic and Deqa NIAMKEY, the UWW Development Director, got the sessions underway with an intriguing discussion on the future of wrestling.

This topic continued to be a recurring theme as the new disciplines and associated styles were passionately talked about during the panel discussions.

Onur SIMSEKUWW Associated Styles Manager of UWW Onur SIMSEK.

Onur SIMSEK, the Associated Styles Manager of UWW, spoke about Amateur MMA, which he said is the 'modern version of pankration, our ancient asset.'

"Technically MMA is wrestling, Pankration is wrestling, traditional styles are wrestling and grappling is wrestling itself," Simsek told the audience. "Pankration is the fundamental of MMA with its philosophy not only in sports but teaching that a wrestler understands the sport. It keeps the richness in wrestling."

Simsek said it was important to govern these styles because the 'aim is to unite towards wrestling.' "So, we will govern all these styles today and in future too."

Lalovic echoed these sentiments, saying that ‘we want to prepare athletes who will one day join professional MMA leagues and competitions.'

"This is why we established a new department almost a year ago. We call this amateur MMA with protections," he said.

Pedro SILVAUWW Beach Wrestling Committee President Pedro SILVA.

Pedro SILVA, the President of the Wrestling Federation of Portugal and a UWW Bureau Member, underlined the growth of beach wrestling. He looked back at President Lalovic’s commitment to develop the style through statements made in 2018.

Acting on Lalovic’s comments, Silva said that in 2019, they went from ‘a yearly one event World Championship to a series of events, a world tour that would at the end produce a new world champion, new heroes.'

"We overhauled the rules, making them easier to understand, not only for the wrestling fans, but specifically for the new fans, the people that know nothing about wrestling," Silva said.

Pedro SILVAPedro SILVA, left, and UWW Sports Director Jean-Daniel REY. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Silva was optimistic that the Beach Wrestling events at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, would drive high engagement.

"Dakar 2026 is the first Olympic Games in Africa, and Beach Wrestling is the UWW style at the Games," he said. "The national sport of Senegal is traditional wrestling, which is very close to Beach Wrestling. We anticipate a big fan engagement and also on TV, on social media due to the specific popularity of the sport within the host country."