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Successful UWW Event Organization Workshop concludes in Istanbul

By Eric Olanowski

ISTANBUL, Turkey (August 5) — The third edition of the United World Wrestling's Event Organization Workshop was a great success in Istanbul, Turkey, from July 27-August 1. Last year's event in Rome was also a hit, making this year's workshop a continuation of that accomplishment. The Pullman Istanbul Hotel & Convention Centre hosted the workshop due to its modern amenities and comfortable accommodations.

Participants from 13 countries attended the workshop, creating a diverse and international gathering. In total, 21 individuals joined, bringing valuable knowledge and experience with them.

The workshop started with an opening ceremony attended by the key players responsible for its delivery. Rodica Maria YAKSI (TUR), the UWW Bureau Member and UWW Committee of Associated Styles President, played a crucial role in its success. Jean-Daniel REY (SUI), the project head, and Yuri MAIER (ARG), the UWW Sport & Development Officer, were also present. Their presence highlighted the importance of the workshop for the wrestling community.

The workshop focused on educating participants about event organizing, covering topics such as planning tools, event benefits, bidding process, functional areas, and more. It included four theoretical and practical sessions and some essential activities of the U17 World Championships, including technical meetings, draws, medical examinations, and weigh-ins. 

Participants also had informative talks with various commissions and toured the venue set up for the U17 World Championships.

This year's workshop saw increased participation from experts in various fields, enriching the discussions and making the event more impactful. Participants appreciated the opportunity to engage with different commissions, gaining valuable insights applicable in multiple domains.

RODRodica Maria YAKSI (TUR), UWW Bureau Member and UWW Committee of Associated Styles President, leads the discussion at the third annual UWW Event Organization Workshop. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The experts who facilitated the discussion included Yui Maier - UWW Sport and Development Officer; Kadir CALISKAN (GER) – Media/Photos; Deividas BARGAILA (LTU) - IT, Rodica Maria Yaksi - Protocol and Award Ceremonies, Ana STANKOVIC (SRB) – Accreditation and Athena System, Antonina BOSSER (SUI) - Sustainability, and Halil Ibrahim CICIOGLU (TUR) - Refereeing.

One of the highlights of the workshop was the introduction of The Event Preparation Guide, a comprehensive guide designed to help event organizers prepare for any UWW event. The guide covers all the necessary areas and requirements involved in organizing an event, including logistical planning, marketing and promotion, communication, and safety measures. It is a vital tool that ensures the success of any UWW event and helps to create a memorable experience for all participants.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL -> Event Preparation Guide,

Feedback from an anonymous survey after the workshop was overwhelmingly positive, showing participants' enthusiasm for future editions. The interactive sessions and diverse discussions provided valuable insights for event organization and execution. One participant said, "I liked the positive energy of everyone who participated in the seminar, the interest from us to learn as much as possible, and the willingness of the instructors to pass it on to us and help us."

Overall, the Event Organization Workshop provided an excellent learning platform for participants, empowering them to organize events more efficiently and effectively in the future.

2026 U23 European Championships

Sokolovska, Shauchuk Earn U23 European Golds

By Vinay Siwach

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 12) -- Senior European champion Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR), U20 world champion Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) and three former U20 European champs earned gold medals on Thursday at the U23 European Championships in Zrenjanin, Serbia.

Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) and Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) won close finals in 59kg and 50kg, respectively while Gerda TEREK (HUN) dominated her 55kg gold-medal bout.

Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR)Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR), right, celebrates after winning the 68kg final in Zrenjanin, Serbia. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Shauchuk, who won the 68kg gold medal at the European Championships last year, had a tough final against Alina SHEVCHENKO (RUS). She scored a stepout to open the scoring and then used a snap to score a takedown and lead 3-0. She used a trap-arm gut to turn Shevchenko twice and extend her lead to 7-0. Shevchenko scored a point for reversal.

In the second period, Shevchenko managed to score a takedown and turn to cut the lead to 7-5. She then got on another leg attack but Shauchuk pancaked her and scored two points to lead 9-5. A late stepout gave her the victory.

Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR)Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR), right, defeated Patrycja CUBER (POL) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 76kg, Sokolovska, who is trained in Greco-Roman, did not look in trouble at all as she defeated Patrycja CUBER (POL), 8-0, and win the gold medal. She now has the top medal at the U17, U20 and U23 continental levels.

Cuber could never get through the defense of Sokolovska who managed to score takedowns at regular intervals. With the silver medal, Cuber has now lost the finals at U17, U20 and U23 European Championships.

Kerymova gave Ukraine the second gold medal of the night as she won the final at 50kg. Wrestling Aleksandra KOPYLOVA (RUS) for the gold medal, Kerymova managed to scrape through a close 2-1 victory, thanks to an activity clock point and a stepout in the second period.

​Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE)​Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) scores the match-winning takedown during the 59kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Azerbaijan won the gold medal at 59kg when Hurbanova defended her tittle. She was called passive in the first period and gave up point to Marta HETMANAVA (BLR)Hetmanava but managed to score a takedown in the second period and led 2-1. She had to defend her lead for two minutes and 14 seconds to win the title.

Gerda TEREK (HUN)Gerda TEREK (HUN) turns Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE) using the leg-lace. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 55kg, Terek completed her dominant run with a 10-0 victory over Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE) in the final. This was her second victory via technical superiority while the other two via fall.

A stepout put Terek on board in the final before an activity clock point and another stepout made it 3-0. Terek soon sprung into action and scored a takedown before two turns via leg-lace to lead 9-0 at the break. She took only 12 seconds in the second period to score the one point needed for the technical superiority win

Carla JAUME (ESP)

Jaume, Vilk in Line for Historic Golds

Earlier in the day, Carla JAUME (ESP) and Veronika VILK (CRO), two bronze medalists from last year's U23 European Championships, created history for their respective countries by reaching the finals at 53kg and 76kg, respectively.

Jaume, Spain's first-ever world silver medalist for Spain in Women's Wrestling, became the first Spanish wrestler to reach the U23 European final. She defeated Ekaterina KARPUSHKINA (RUS), 8-5, at 53kg to achieve the feat.

Vilk reached the 76kg final for Croatia to become the country's first-ever U23 European finalist in Women's Wrestling. She pinned Daniela BRASNAROVA (BUL) to create history.

Vilk is the first Croatian wrestler to become a world champion in any level and style. She etched her name in history in 2022 when she won the U17 world title in Istanbul.

The two will now look to create further history on Friday when they wrestle in their respective finals. Jaume will take on Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) who pinned Nargiz SAMADOVA (AZE) in the other 53kg semifinal.

Vilk will face Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR) who survived late attacks from Greta TVERSKYTE (LTU) to win her 76kg semifinal 4-2.

In other weight classes, senior European bronze medalist and former U20 world champion Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) will take on defending champion and U23 world silver medalist Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (BLR) at 57kg.

Martynava and Filipovych dominated their semifinals, with the former pinning Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR). Filipovych blanked Amory ANDRICH (GER), 8-0, to enter the gold medal bout.

At 62kg, senior world bronze medalist Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) will look to win her first U23 Euro title after she reached the final. She defeated Naemi LEISTNER (GER), 11-0, to book her spot in the gold medal bout against Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) who needed a late stepout to beat Iris THIEBAUX (FRA), 3-3.

Ekaterina KOSHKINA (RUS) and Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR) both picked up falls in their semifinals and will face each other in a bid to win gold at 65kg. Koshkina pinned Maria PANTIRU (ROU) while Tsiarenia pinned Saga SVENSSON (SWE).

Photo

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) df. Aleksandra KOPYLOVA (RUS), 2-1

BRONZE: Svenja JUNGO (SUI) df. Ana ROTARU (ROU), 2-2
BRONZE: Sviatlana KATENKA (BLR) df. Zerda DEMIR (TUR), 7-2

55kg
GOLD: Gerda TEREK (HUN) df. Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE), 10-0

BRONZE: Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) df. Nesrin SYULEYMANOVA (BUL), 10-0
BRONZE: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. Valeryia MIKITSICH (BLR), 11-0

59kg
GOLD: Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) df. Marta HETMANAVA (BLR), 2-1

BRONZE: Olha PADOSHYK (POL) df. Sevim AKBAS (TUR), 5-3
BRONZE: Ana PUIU (ROU) df. Viktoria BOYNOVA (BUL), 13-3

68kg
GOLD: Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (RUS), 10-5

BRONZE: Karolina POK (HUN) df. Karolina DOMASZUK (POL), 4-1
BRONZE: Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) df. Ayse ERKAN (TUR), 4-2

76kg
GOLD: Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) df. Patrycja CUBER (POL), 8-0

BRONZE: Mariia SILINA (RUS) df. Vanesa GEORGIEVA (BUL), 2-0

Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) vs. Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR)

SF 1: Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) df. Nargiz SAMADOVA (AZE), via fall (4-2)
SF 2: Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) df. Ekaterina KARPUSHKINA (RUS), 8-5

57kg
GOLD: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) vs. Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (BLR)

SF 1: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) df. Amory ANDRICH (GER), 8-0
SF 2: Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (BLR) df. Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR), via fall

62kg
GOLD: Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) vs. Amina TANDELOVA (RUS)

SF 1:  Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Iris THIEBAUX (FRA), 3-3
SF 2: Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) df. Naemi LEISTNER (GER), 11-0

65kg
GOLD: Ekaterina KOSHKINA (RUS) vs. Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR)

SF 1: Ekaterina KOSHKINA (RUS) df. Maria PANTIRU (ROU), via fall (8-1)
SF 2: Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR) df. Saga SVENSSON (SWE), via fall (4-0)

72kg
GOLD: Veronika VILK (CRO) vs. Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR)

SF 1: Veronika VILK (CRO) df. Daniela BRASNAROVA (BUL), via fall (6-0)
SF 2: Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR) df. Greta TVERSKYTE (LTU), 4-2