#kaspeuro2018

Stadnik Searches For Eighth European Crown

By

KASPIYSK, Russia (May 2) – Mariya STADNIK (AZE) stormed into her eighth European gold-medal bout after defeating her first three opponents by technical superiority. Even more impressive, she did so without surrendering an offensive point. 

She’ll wrestle 2017 world silver medalist, Emilia VUC (ROU) in the 50kg finals on Thursday night. Vuc was 2-0 on the day and handled U23 world champion Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 13-3. 

This 50kg final is a rematch from the 2018 Klippan Lady Open where Stadnik defeated Vuc, 10-0. 

2018 European finalist, Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR). 

The 55kg gold-medal bout features the pair of 2017 world bronze medalists in Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) and Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL). 

Both of these wrestlers are no stranger to the European finals, as they’ve each wrestled for the gold medal at least once. Zasina, the 2013 European champion is wrestling in the gold medal bout for the third time, while Kurachkina still seeking her first continental title.

2016 Olympian, Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL).

Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) and Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) will clash in a match-up of 2016 Olympians for the 59kg crown. 

A bloody and bruised Hristova made her way to the finals by beating Belarus’ Katsiaryna YANUSHKEVICH in the semifinals. The 2016 European bronze medalist trailed by three points with seconds remaining when she scored a takedown and immediately went into a gut wrench, picking up the 7-6 victory. 

Yesilirmak who commanded the other 59kg semifinal used two takedowns and a passivity point to beat Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS), 5-3. 

At 68kg, Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA), 2017 world bronze medalist advanced to the finals along with Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS). 

Yasemin ADAR's (TUR) crotch lift to defeat Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR), 3-2. (Photo Max Rose-Fyne) 

Superstars Yasemin ADAR (TUR) and Olympic bronze medalist, Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS) will battle for the gold medal at 76kg. 

Adar, the 2017 world champion clearly had the much tougher route to the finals. The Turk opened up the tournament by routing 2015 world bronze medalist, Epp MAE (EST), 10-0. She followed that win up by winning a rematch of the 2017 world finals with Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR), 3-2. 

Adar trailed the entire semifinal match when she took a desperation shot with under 30 seconds left. Marzaliuk tried to reattack when Adar locked in her crotch and tossed the Belarusian, scoring two exposure points. The match was tied when the final whistle blew, but Adar held the trump card and ultimatly won on criteria. 

RESULTS
50kg
GOLD - Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) vs. Mariya STADNIK (AZE) 

Semifinal - Mariya STADNIK (AZE) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR), 10-0 
Semifinal - Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 13-3 

55kg 
GOLD - Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL) vs. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR)

Semifinal - Roksana ZASINA (POL) df. Bediha GUN (TUR), 2-1
Semifinal - Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL), 6-0

59kg 
GOLD - Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR) vs. Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL)

Semifinal- Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL) df. Katsiaryna YANUSHKEVICH (BLR), 7-6
Semifinal - Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS), 5-3

68kg
GOLD - Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA) vs. Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS)

Semifinal - Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) df. Martina KUENZ (AUT), 8 - 1
Semifinal - Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA) df. Buse TOSUN (TUR), 4-3

76kg
GOLD - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) vs. Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS)

Semifinal - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR), 3-2 
Semifinal - Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS) df. Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE), 11-0 

Development

2025 UWW Pat Shaw Memorial concludes in Guatemala City

By United World Wrestling Press

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (June 2) -- The 2025 UWW Pat Shaw Memorial - Regional Education Development Tournament (REDT) successfully concluded once again in Guatemala City, continuing the tradition of excellence in wrestling development across the Americas.

From May 26 to June 1, athletes, coaches, referees, and officials gathered at the Center for High-Performance and Development of America (CARDA) and the Erick Barrondo Sports Complex for a week of intensive educational activities and training camps. The event offered a unique platform where participants could simultaneously improve their technical, pedagogical, and competitive skills.

The coaches’ course was conducted under the leadership of Iranian expert Professor Reza AZIMI, assisted by Ardeshir ASGARI (NCA), who also supported with translation. A total of 22 coaches from 11 countries took part in these sessions, which combined theoretical classes with practical on-mat application, allowing for immediate implementation of newly acquired knowledge.

In parallel, the referees’ course was led by Guatemalan international referee Hugo FIGUEROA, with the participation and support of UWW Referee Commission Member Rafael GALVA LEBRON (Puerto Rico). A total of 13 referees from 9 countries attended the seminar, actively engaging in discussions, case studies, and on-mat evaluations.

Throughout the entire week, participants demonstrated strong enthusiasm and commitment, sharing experiences and strengthening the regional wrestling community.

The educational portion of the event officially opened on May 26, with an inauguration ceremony attended by several dignitaries, including Ramón Francisco GONZÁLEZ PINEDA, President of the Guatemalan Wrestling Federation, and Francisco Eduardo LEE LÓPEZ, President of United World Wrestling Americas, who addressed all participants with words of encouragement.

The training camp allowed athletes from across the continent to train together, guided by both educators and coaches from the participating nations. Thanks to the excellent facilities at CARDA and the availability of five official mats, strength and conditioning areas, saunas, and recovery facilities, athletes were able to prepare under optimal conditions.

GUAWrestlers warm up and get ready to compete at the XXXIV "Pat Shaw" Memorial Cup. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The week culminated with the XXXIV "Pat Shaw" Memorial Cup, held on May 31 and June 1. This year’s competition featured 619 matches across three wrestling styles: Freestyle (FS), Greco-Roman (GR), and Women’s Wrestling (WW), in four age groups: Senior, U20, U17, and U15. Over 308 athletes from 16 countries competed, including delegations from Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and the United States.

The entire competition was managed using UWW’s official Arena system, with full implementation of the latest UWW standards in terms of competition management, medical protocols, anti-doping education, and technological support, with valuable collaboration from the UWW Americas T&R team.

The Pat Shaw Memorial - Regional Education Development Tournament continues to serve as a cornerstone for the development of wrestling in the Americas, providing athletes, coaches, and referees an invaluable opportunity for growth within a fully integrated educational and competitive framework.

United World Wrestling firmly believes that programs like these represent the ideal path for sustainable development, offering new generations of participants access to high-level international events while enhancing both their technical and personal growth within our sport.