#Pankration

Ukraine, Kazakhstan dominate Pankration World Championships

Thursday, May 11, 2023 - 10:31 By Vinay Siwach

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (May 10) -- Athletes from 10 countries descended upon Tashkent to perform at the Pankration World Championships on May 2-4 and the action did not disappoint. The competition was held in two styles -- Elite and Traditional -- for both men and women.

Pankration is an ancient combat sport with a combination of wrestling and striking techniques, fought on a mat with protective gear and gloves.

At the World Championships, held for the first time since 2021, Pankration powerhouse Ukraine won five gold medals in the men's Elite competition while Kazakhstan captured four. However, Kazakhstan finished top of the team rankings with 190 points to Ukraine's 180, thanks to its other medals.

On the women's side, Ukraine was better and pipped Kazakhstan to take the top spot. Ukraine won six out of nine gold medals with the remaining three going to Kazakhstan. Ukraine finished with 165 points while Kazakhstan managed 162 points.

In men's Traditional, Ukraine and Kazakhstan both finished with 184 points but the former had five gold medals compared to four for Kazakhstan, giving them the first place.

But the ranks were reversed in women's Traditional as Kazakhstan finished with 190 points while Ukraine had 170 points. Ukraine only fielded seven athletes in nine weights which cost them the top rank.

RESULTS

Men's Elite

57kg
GOLD: Perdekhan SHYNDALIYEV (KAZ)
SILVER: Vitalii YAKYMENKO (UKR) 
BRONZE: Umidjon TODJIDINOV (UZB)

62kg
GOLD: Meirbek TULEGENOV (KAZ) df. Almaz SARSEMBEKOV (KAZ), via submission

BRONZE: Abdukarim ANVAROV (UZB) df. Anvar ABDULLAEV (UZB), via submission

66kg
GOLD: Sabit ZHUSSIP (KAZ) df. Yerkanat OSPAN (KAZ), via submission

BRONZE: Ihor ZHOVNIR (UKR) df. Yurii CHERKALIUK (UKR), via knockout
BRONZE: Zafar RASHIDOV (UZB) df. Ali Allahverdi GULIYEV (AZE), 15-3

71kg
GOLD: Oleksandr HULIAIEV (UKR) df. Ivan KURELARU (UKR), 13-8

BRONZE: Ruslan SARIYEV (KAZ) df. Imran ABBASGULIYEV (AZE), via forfeit
BRONZE: Zhassulan AKIMZHAN (KAZ) df. Ali SHARIFOV (AZE), 14-0

77kg
GOLD: Aidyn TOLEPBAYEV (KAZ) df. Olzhas YESKARAYEV (KAZ), 12-6

BRONZE: Dostonbek BOZOROV (UZB) df. Asadbek SAIDOV (UZB), via submission

84kg
GOLD: Kyrylo HOROBETS (UKR) df. Samat SHAGYRAYEV (KAZ), 16-7

BRONZE: Andrei CIUBOTARU (MDA) df. Aditya BUKKI (IND), 12-2
BRONZE: Asroriddin MUKHRIDINOV (KAZ) df. Khasan NAFULLAEV (UZB), 8-7

92kg
GOLD: Roman KIZIUK (UKR) df. Islom BALTAEV (UZB), 18-6

BRONZE: Jonibek NAMOZOV (UZB) df. Duman BALMUKHANOV (KAZ), 11-10
BRONZE: Kairatbek ZHAREKEYEV (KAZ) df. Andrii ROMANIUK (UKR), via knockout

100kg
GOLD: Bohdan HNIDKO (UKR) df. Diyar NURGOZHAY (KAZ), 17-7

BRONZE: Konstantin LI (KGZ) df. Martin NUSSMANN (GER), via forfiet

+100kg
GOLD: Oleksandr PYSANKO (UKR)
SILVER: Shakhmaral JETPISSOV (KAZ)
BRONZE: Rustamhuja SAIDUMAROV (UZB)

Women's Elite

50kg
GOLD: Aidyn ABDIBAY (KAZ) df. Polina TUMAYEVA (KAZ), via forfeit

53kg
GOLD: Anna BEZHENAR (UKR)
SILVER: Ayan TURSYN (KAZ)
BRONZE: Mukhlisa NABIJONOVA (UZB)

57kg
GOLD: Viktoriia SYNIAVINA SERHIIENKO (UKR) df. Anastasiia HOLINKO (UKR), 10-8

BRONZE: Lorenza SONGTHIANG (IND) df. Shokhida RAKHIMOVA (UZB), via forfeit

61kg
GOLD: Khilola SOBIROVA (UZB)
SILVER: Gulmira AZATBEK (KAZ)
BRONZE: Diana HRYHORENKO (UKR)

65kg
GOLD: Daria CHIBISOVA (UKR) df. Florika LUCHYCH (UKR), 5-1

BRONZE: Esmira MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Dana YERMAGAMBETOVA (KAZ), 17-11

70kg
GOLD: Amina NAKOPIUK (UKR) 
SILVER: Aikorik KUANDYKOVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Yogita KHADE (IND)

75kg
GOLD: Kateryna STEPANOVA SHAKALOVA (UKR) df. Dinara ORALBAY (KAZ), 14-4

80kg
GOLD: Olena SUSHKO (UKR) df. Mereke ZHUNUSSOVA (KAZ), 14-8

+80kg
GOLD: Kundias SAGINDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Aru JANGUTINOVA (KAZ), via forfiet

Men's Traditional

57kg
GOLD: Vitalii YAKYMENKO (UKR)
SILVER: Yerbolat SHORA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Viacheslav VASEICHUK (UKR)

62kg
GOLD: Dmytro BARANOV (UKR)
SILVER: Alibi IDIRIS (KAZ)
BRONZE: Perdekhan SHYNDALIYEV (KAZ)

66kg
GOLD: Koshen AKANOV (KAZ) df. Ali Allahverdi GULIYEV (AZE), 12-0

BRONZE: Umedjon ESHMURODOV (UZB) df. Ruslan SARIYEV (KAZ), 8-8

71kg
GOLD: Daniyar KOISHYBEK (KAZ)
SILVER: Oleksandr HULIAIEV (UZB)
BRONZE: Iman AGHAPOUR (IRI)

77kg
GOLD: Adilbek KAIRGALI (KAZ)
SILVER: Olzhas YESKARAYEV (KAZ)
BRONZE: Illia SUKHODIEIEV (UKR)

84kg
GOLD: Kyrylo HOROBETS (UKR) df. Andrei CIUBOTARU (MDA), 7-1

BRONZE: Akramjon DUSIMBAYEV (UZB) df. Turkman MAMMADLI (AZE), 4-2
BRONZE: Vadym ZHUKOV (UKR) df. Batyrzhan SEITKHAL (KAZ), via forfeit

92kg
GOLD: Nurtas ZHUMAGAZYULY (KAZ) df. Yuriy TITORENKO (KAZ), via submission

BRONZE: Andrii ROMANIUK (UKR) df. Danial LARI (IRI), via defualt

100kg
GOLD: Yurii CHYZHEVSKYI (UKR)
SILVER: Konstantin LI (KGZ)
BRONZE: Nurlan NURSEITOV (KAZ)

+100kg
GOLD: Oleksandr PYSANKO (UKR)
SILVER: Manarbek SHAIKHENOV (KAZ)
BRONZE: Meirzhan KOZHANTAYEV (KAZ)

Women's Traditional

50kg
GOLD: Polina TUMAYEVA (KAZ) df. Aidyn ABDIBAY (KAZ), 11-5

53kg
GOLD: Anna BEZHENAR (UKR) df. Ayan TURSYN (KAZ), 12-0

57kg
GOLD: Anastasiia HOLINKO (UKR) df. Viktoriia SYNIAVINA SERHIIENKO (UKR), via cautions

BRONZE: Zhuldyzay IBRAYEVA (KAZ) df. Lorenza SONGTHIANG (IND), 8-2

61kg
GOLD: Diana HRYHORENKO (UKR)
SILVER: Gulmira AZATBEK (KAZ)
BRONZE: Akzhunis UTEGENOVA (KAZ)

65kg
GOLD: Meruyert IBRAYEVA (KAZ) df. Daria CHIBISOVA (UKR), 14-12

BRONZE: Florika LUCHYCH (UKR) df. Esmira MAMMADOVA (AZE), 13-7

70kg
GOLD: Amina NAKOPIUK (UKR)
SILVER: Aikorik KUANDYKOVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Moldir UAKHITKYZY (KAZ)

75kg
GOLD: Kateryna STEPANOVA SHAKALOVA (UKR)
SILVER: Shakhnoza FAIZULLAYEVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Aizhan ANARBAY (KAZ)

80kg
GOLD: Olena SUSHKO (UKR) df. Mereke ZHUNUSSOVA (KAZ), 13-1

+80kg
GOLD: Kundias SAGINDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Aisulu ARYSTANOVA (KAZ), 16-4

#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

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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."