#BudaWrestle2018

Russia Advances Pair to Finals, Stefanek Dominant

Friday, October 26, 2018 - 16:02 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 26) -- Sergey EMELIN and Artem SURKOV won their semifinal matches on Friday at the World Championships in Budapest to give Russia a pair of Greco-Roman finalists on Saturday. 

Emelin scored a first-period technical fall over surprise semifinalist Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) to reach the gold-medal match at 60kg. After scoring a point off a passivity, the 23-year-old Russian locked up a gut wrench and turned Sultangali four times for a 9-0 technical fall. 

He will meet Victor CIOBANU (MDA) in Saturday's gold-medal match at 60kg.

Ciobanu secured his first senior world medal by defeating Kristian FRIS (SRB) in the semifinals at 60kg. Fris jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Ciobanu turned the tables from the bottom position and put Fris in trouble, nearly getting fall. Trailing by two in the second period, Ciobanu used a body lock and drove Fris to his back for four points, which proved to be the difference in the match. 

Surkov, a returning world bronze medalist, will upgrade his world medal after stopping the run of Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) at 67kg. Surkov won 3-1 in the semifinals, scoring all of his points came in the first period, earning a point off a passivity and then getting a turn using a high gut wrench. Awaiting him in the gold-medal match at 67kg is Olympic champion Davor STEFANEK (SRB). 

Stefanek used a big throw in the second period to close out a technical fall over Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) at 67kg. Stefanek led 4-0 at the break and used a turn to go up 3-0. An uncessful challenge gave Stefanek a 4-0 lead at the break. He then a locked up a throw thirty seconds into the period and put the match away. 

Metehan BASAR (TUR) stands one match away from winning a second straight world title after defeating Bekkhan OZDOEV (RUS) 2-1 in the semifinals at 87kg. Ozdeoev led 1-0 at the break, but surrendered his lead early in the second, giving Basar two points after a caution, which closed out the scoring in the match. 

In the other semifinal match at 87kg, Olympic silver medalist Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) defeated Islam ABBASOV (AZE) 5-1. Beleniuk took a 3-0 lead into the break after scoring a passivity point, which he followed up with a gut wrench. He added a late two off a caution to win by four. 

60kg
Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Kristian FRIS (SRB) by VPO1, 6-3
Sergey EMELIN (RUS) df. Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) by VSU, 9-0

67kg
Artem SURKOV (RUS) df. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) by VPO1, 3-1
Davor STEFANEK (SRB) df. Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) by VSU, 8-0

87kg
Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) df. Islam ABBASOV (AZE) by VPO1, 5-1
Metehan BASAR (TUR) df. Bekkhan OZDOEV (RUS) by VPO1, 2-1
 

#development

South Africa completes phase one of UWW DNSS Program

Monday, November 17, 2025 - 08:24 By United World Wrestling Press

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PRETORIA, South Africa (November 17) --  The South African Wrestling Federation successfully completed the first phase of the United World Wrestling National Development and Support Strategy (DNSS) from October 17 to 26.

Under the supervision of Vincent AKA, UWW International Development Officer for Africa, and the coordination of Markus DEKKER, member of the SAWF Coaches Council, a nationwide development mission was undertaken. The UWW-SAWF team visited provincial associations, conducting technical assessments, talent identification sessions, and workshops for coaches.

South Africa

Using the UWW National Federation Assessment Tool (NFAT), the mission provided a detailed overview of the current state of wrestling in South Africa -- from grassroots participation to elite athlete preparation.

The tour covered major provinces including Western Cape, Eastern Province, Free State, Northern Cape, Gauteng North, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West, engaging hundreds of athletes, coaches, and local administrators.

The assessment revealed strong technical potential among the U15 and U17 categories, as well as a growing passion for wrestling across communities and schools.

The mission also identified the need for stronger governance structures and more consistent communication between SAWF, provinces, and clubs to unify efforts under a national development plan.

Both teams will continue to work towards second phase of the program which will include establishing two regional pilot centers [Pretoria and Western Cape] to act as training and coordination hubs, launch a "School Integration" program linking PE teachers, schools, and wrestling clubs, developing a national athlete database to monitor and support emerging talents.

It will also aim to organize governance and compliance workshops to reinforce management capacity, implementing UWW coaching courses nationwide, forming a National Technical Committee to coordinate DNSS implementation and introducing measurable evaluation indicators to ensure accountability and progress tracking.