#development

United World Wrestling unites Indian Ocean with first regional development tournament

Wednesday, April 27, 2022 - 17:32 By United World Wrestling Press

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PORT LUIS, Mauritius (May 2) --- The UWW Development Department conducted the first-ever Regional Educational Development Tournament (REDT) in the Indian Ocean. This event was hosted in collaboration with the Mauritius Wrestling Federation. The REDT is a regional course and tournament centered around training and educating the coaches and referees. At the conclusion of the courses, there was a scheduled tournament to provide opportunities for countries in the region to compete in an international competition.

The Development Week in Mauritius was conducted from April 16-25. This event included participants from Mauritius (Mauritius and Rodrigues), Madagascar and Comoros. 

From April 17-21, a Level 1 and 2 Coaching Course was conducted by Vincent Aka and Frederic Rubio.  This course worked with 19 coaches and focused on how to coach for Level 1 and on the development of practice plans according to level 2.  The coaching course ended with the topic “Wrestling and motors preference” introduced by Frederic Rubio.  This was the place to explain and demonstrate a series of tests to be done by the young wrestlers and coaches.

From April 21-23, Charles Villet piloted a non-certification referee course focused on the introduction to refereeing. The course start with both the referees and coaches working directly together. During this course, 19 coaches and referees took part in the coaching. The goal was to improve their skills and knowledge as a referee and to better understand each other and work together. Both groups built strong values together during the course and finally adopt the slogan "Indian Ocean unit."

MAR
Paricipants from Mauritius and Rodrigues, Madagascar and Comoros gather during the Development Week in Mauritius from April 16-25.

This program has contributed to upgrading the coach's and referee’s skills and methods of teaching to ensure that competitors are at the standard requirement and well prepared to compete on the international level to bring better results and to be familiar with the rules and regulations of UWW to avoid losing marks unnecessarily. This program has also been an advantage to create new coaches and referees to support the Federation to set up additional wrestling schools, particularly in remote areas where wrestling is not accessible to increase the number of wrestlers in our countries.

Concerning Mauritius, "This program was great support for the preparation of our athletes for Birmingham 2022 and the Indian Ocean Island Games in 2023 at Madagascar” said Mr. Richard PAPI, President of Mauritius Wrestling federation. The events were covered by the local newspapers, radios, national TV and social media. This has touched the public at large. It has had a positive effect on our discipline to obtain visibility since the end of the program people have started to contact the federation gathering information about wrestling and some are interested in joining the training team, awesome."

"This program has really proven to be very efficient as one of the first of its kind. It's a grassroots program that will contribute to providing opportunities to further develop wrestling based on the needs and realities of all our National Federations," said Mrs. Deqa Niamkey, United world wrestling Development Director. "It also allows the participants to play different roles and understand the aspects of delivering a wrestling competition and covering all the aspects required to make a successful sporting event."

To conclude, the Regional Educational Development Tournament ended with a regional competition with sportsmanship and goodwill. The emotional part of the event is that the participants have created a slogan that is " Unité Océan Indien" which was adopted unanimously.

Overall, this was a great step in hosting and developing the Regional Educational Development Tournaments in the Indian Ocean.  For more information on REDT events in the future, visit the UWW website.

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Women's Wrestling Preview: 53kg Wide Open

Friday, July 10, 2026 - 12:03 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 9) -- Preview for United World Wrestling Budapest Ranking Series 2026.

The 53kg weight class will crown a new world champion in Astana later this year after 2025 world champion Haruna MARUYAMA (JPN) failed to qualify through Japan's domestic trials and Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) moved up to 57kg.

The Budapest Ranking Series, scheduled for July 15-19, will offer an early look at the contenders as many of the world's top wrestlers at 53kg gather for the final Ranking Series event of the year.

WATCH LIVE | BUDAPEST RANKING SERIES ENTRIES

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Asian champion Jin ZHANG (CHN) headlines the field, which also includes world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND), 55kg European champion Andreea ANA (ROU), former European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) and United States world team member Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA).

While two leading contenders for the world title, Lucia GUZMAN (ECU) and Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), are not entered, the rest of the field is expected to play a significant role in the medal race in Astana in one of the year's most open weight classes.

Zhang put together a dominant performance at the Asian Championships, highlighted by a victory via fall over Kiyooka. Antim has previous wins over both Zhang and Malmgren and will face another stern test in Budapest while Ana brings considerable international experience. Rodriguez, a former U20 world champion, lost to Guzman at the Pan-American Championships, but her aggressive style continues to make her a difficult opponent.

Joining Zhang on China's team is Yuxuan LI (CHN), a two-time 55kg Asian silver medalist with the ability to upset the favorites. Veteran Roksana ZASINA (POL) is also entered, adding another experienced challenger to the field.

 

Tough 68kg Bracket

The 53kg weight class isn't the only one which is offering early insights. The 68kg competition is expected to be equally competitive despite the absence of world champion Ami ISHII (JPN) and bronze medalist Kennedy BLADES (USA).

The field includes Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), former world champion Jia LONG (CHN), 72kg world silver medalist Nesrin BAS (TUR), and former European champion Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR).

Zhumanazarova claimed the Asian title in April and enters Budapest as the favorite, with Long expected to be her biggest challenger. Bas and Shauchuk were set to meet in the European Championships final before the latter withdrew, handing Bas the title.

U23 world champion Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS) will look to win her second consecutive Ranking Series medal after taking silver at the Ulaanbaatar Open. Both European bronze medalists, Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) and Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE), also add depth to the field.

Bullen vs Tandelova II (WATCH: Bullen's Insane Comeback)

A rematch of this year's European Championships final could take place at 62kg after Grace BULLEN (NOR) produced one of the most remarkable comebacks of the season, rallying from a 9-1 deficit to pin Amina TANDELOVA (RUS).

They will be joined by a strong field that includes former world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN), world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), and European medalists Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) and Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR). The field also includes Pan-Am champion Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) and former U20 world champion Eniko ELEKES (HUN), who will have the backing of the home crowd.

Read More: Bullen's Move - Outside Trip

At 76kg, world silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) has had a mixed season with win at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series but finished with a silver medal at the Asian Championships. She will have a chance to win another gold in Budapest.

She, however, faces a difficult field led by Dymond GUILFORD (USA) who has a previous win over Medet Kyzy. Other challengers include Indian youngsters KAJAL (IND) and PRIYA (IND), former European champion Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) and big-throwing Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ), another wrestler who has beaten Medet Kyzy previously.

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) marks her return to the mat in Budapest. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Nichita Returns

Olympic silver medalist Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) will compete for the first time in nearly two years. Nichita, who became a mother after the Paris Olympics, returns at 59kg as she begins another Olympic cycle.

While she will be expected to win, making her return challenging will be Asian bronze medalist NEHA (IND), former world medalist Othelie HOEIE (NOR), European champion Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), veteran Jowita WRZESIEN (POL), among others in the field.

Wrestling Kexin HONG (CHN)Kexin HONG (CHN) is the Asian champion at 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

China's Depth

Two Chinese wrestlers, Kexin HONG (CHN) and Mengyu XIE (CHN), could dominate the 57kg bracket. Both Asian champions, at 57kg and 59kg respectively, Hong and Xie will be challenged by European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR), European bronze medalist Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), and Amanda MARTINEZ (USA).

India is sending age-group world medalist Neha SHARMA (IND) and U20 world champion TAPSYA (IND).

European champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR) enters as the favorite at 50kg but Olympic and Asian bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) is among the strongest wrestlers in the weight class and will be a marquee match-up if the two meet.

Other top wrestlers include Pan-American champion Katie GOMEZ (USA) and Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS), capable of upsetting the favorites. Canada has an interesting entry with former 53kg U17 world champion Kaura COLES (CAN), who is making her senior UWW debut at 50kg.

Four extremely talented wrestlers are entered at 72kg with former world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), European silver medalist Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), Zagreb Open silver medalist Diksha MALIK (IND) and U23 Asian champion Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ). With only three medals available, one of those four contenders will leave Budapest empty-handed.

Note: This preview was uploaded before Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) pulled out of the competition.