#WrestleSamokov

Russia Leads Ukraine by Four-Points After Day Four

By United World Wrestling Press

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (June 16) --- Russia leads Ukraine by four points heading into the closing day of women’s wrestling action at the Cadet European Championships.

They both had four wrestlers win medals on Thursday, but Russian one-upped Ukraine after Millena VINOGRADOVA (RUS) and Mariia AKULINCHEVA (RUS) outnumbered Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) in the winner’s circle. Vinogradova pinned Martha Silvia FRANK (GER) in the 43kg finals, while Akulincheva scored a controlled 10-4 win over Patrycja Dorota CUBER (POL) in the 73kg finals.

Ukraine’s lone champion, Yefremova, tallied an eight-point win over Sevim AKBAS (TUR) and claimed the 49kg gold medal.

Romania and Hungary were the final two nations who crowned a champion on Thursday.

Romania’s Georgiana Carla LIRCA (ROU) stopped Russia from winning a third gold on the day after beating Angelina PERVUKHINA (RUS), 10-5, in the 57kg finals. Hungary’s Eniko ELEKES (HUN) was the fifth and final champion. She beat Daria KONSTANTYNOVA (UKR), 11-1, for the 73kg title.

Wrestling resumes tomorrow at 11:30 (local time) and can be followed on www.uww.org.

RESULTS
43kg
GOLD - Millena VINOGRADOVA (RUS) df. Martha Silvia FRANK (GER), via fall
BRONZE - Yelyzaveta KULAKIVSKA (UKR) df. Isabela Cristina MARIN (ROU), 10-0
BRONZE - Krasimira Plamenova DIMITROVA (BUL) df. Eda Nur ERSOY (TUR), 4-3

49kg
GOLD - Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df. Sevim AKBAS (TUR), 10-2
BRONZE - Nikola Monika WISNIEWSKA (POL) df. Darya KLIMOVICH (BLR), 10-7
BRONZE - Svenja JUNGO (SUI) df. Leonie Yvonne WOLF (GER), 6-1

57kg
GOLD - Georgiana Carla LIRCA (ROU) df. Angelina PERVUKHINA (RUS), 10-5
BRONZE - Yuliia PAKHNIUK (UKR) df. Lotta Amanda VETTENRANTA (FIN), 6–3
BRONZE - Uladzislava KUDZIN (BLR) df. Nazar KAYA (TUR), 10-6

65kg
GOLD - Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. Daria KONSTANTYNOVA (UKR), 11-1
BRONZE - Alisa CHERNYSHKOVA (RUS) df. Alicja NOWOSAD (POL), 10-2}
BRONZE - Aliaksandra ZHUK (BLR) df. Vanja GERSAK PEREZ (GER), 4-3

73kg
GOLD - Mariia AKULINCHEVA (RUS) df. Patrycja Dorota CUBER (POL), 10-4
BRONZE - Veronika NYIKOS (HUN) df. Kseniya PATAPOVICH (BLR), 8–2
BRONZE - Ambre Oriane CHEVREAU (FRA) df. Mariia ZENKINA (UKR), 5-2

#BeachWrestling, #BeachWrestlingWorldSeries

With Dakar 2026 Approaching, UWW Ramps Up Beach Wrestling in Africa

By Vinay Siwach

CASABLANCA, Morocco (July 25) -- With Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games less than 500 days away, United World Wrestling is committed to reinforcing wrestling's presence on the African continent.

As a result, for the first time an African city will host the Beach Wrestling World Series. Casablanca, Morocco will see the third leg of the Beach Wrestling World Series from September 6-7, 2025, at the picturesque Ain Diab beach.

There is more in store for Africa. The final of the Beach Wrestling World Series will be held in Alexandria, Egypt on October 18 and 19, 2025.

UWW is calling for participants. REGISTER HERE!

Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)

The World Series participants will be provided with top-class facilities including five-star hotel boarding, food in hotels and transportation to the competition venue. The conditions will therefore be exceptional for a Beach Wrestling event.

Prior to the World Series, the African Championships in U15, U17 and U20 age-groups will also be held in the same venue on September 4 and 5. All wrestlers who are 18 years or older from the African Championships can take part in the World Series as well.

This is not the first time UWW has stepped up its commitment to Beach Wrestling. Along with UWW Africa, UWW provided technical assistance to African wrestlers last year and has now decided to continue that for the U15 and U17 groups.

UWW reminds all countries that the participation in these tournaments is important as the same wrestlers can be considered with priority for the Youth Olympic Games while allotting the decided quotas for Dakar 2026.

UWW's vision is to develop the younger groups who will be part of the Youth Olympics in Dakar. And it was a step in that direction to start U15 competitions in Beach Wrestling from 2025.

Irina RINGACI (MDA)World champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) competes in Beach Wrestling in Porec, Croatia. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

One of the outcomes of its continued efforts was the participation numbers in the U17 Pan-Am Beach Wrestling Championships in Rio de Janeiro and the U17 Asian Beach Wrestling Championships in Vietnam this year.

The local organizing committee in Rio had to add one more ring to accommodate the participants during the event. At the Asian Championships, India, China, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam and other nations participated with full teams.

Similarly, the wrestlers are encouraged to participate in the U17 and U20 World Beach Wrestling Championships in Katerini-Pieria, Greece on September 25 and 26.

Check out beachwrestling.org for all Beach Wrestling News!

UWW's decisions underscore its deep commitment to uplifting and expanding the sport of wrestling across Africa, particularly with the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar on the horizon.

For any queries, wrestlers, NFs or organizers can contact -- sports@uww.org.