#WrestleBelgrade

UWW Holds Congress, Outlines Five-Year Strategic Plan

Sunday, October 31, 2021 - 13:47 By United World Wrestling Press

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BELGRADE, Serbia (October 31) -- After a 12-month delay, the United World Wrestling held its congress Sunday, on the eve of the U23 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

The congress was originally scheduled to be held in 2020 at the Junior World Championships in Tallin, Estonia but was postponed as the world battled the COVID-19 pandemic.

President of United World Wrestling Nenad LALOVIC addressed the gathering which had representation from 89 nations.

“We will continue to work together in key areas and a united effort will take us forward,” Lalovic said. “We have identified five areas where we will make a concerted and focused effort over the next five years.”

The congress discussed the improvement of the sport via youth engagement, women's wrestling, associated styles, the image of wrestling and digital transformation.

Vanjan UDOVICVICMinister of Youth and Sports of Serbia Vanja UDOVICVIC addressing the congress in Belgrade.

The Minister of Youth and Sports of Serbia Vanja UDOVICVIC was also present at the congress and said that it was an honor to be present at the congress.

“Wrestling is important and is far ahead in comparison to other sports,” Udovicvic said at the congress. “At the Olympics, wrestling showed that they can be an example in organizing, marketing and online media.

“Other federations are looking towards you how they can achieve such results."

The congress also held the election of the UWW president and the bureau members along with the strategic plan for the next five years.

Six bureau members were elected during the congress and the calendar for the year 2022 was also proposed.

Lalovic said that the sport has its origin back in history and we need to respect the origins of the sport and develop the associated styles.

Amendments to the constitution, approval of the affiliation of the two nations – Cape Verde and Kuwait – were approved. In addition, reports from the Referee's and Associated Styles Commission were also presented at the congress.

The congress emphasized that to continue on their goal to be self-reliant they need an overall growth with more sponsors, engagement and take wrestling to regional and local levels.

Details of the congress are available at uww.org.

#WrestleTirana

Kamal soars high with Tirana Ranking Series gold

Sunday, March 2, 2025 - 00:02 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (March 1) -- The last time Kerem KAMAL (TUR) was in action internationally, he did not have a favorable outcome. A bloody battle with Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) ended in a loss at the European Championships.

But Kamal, who impressed all with his performance at all the age-group World Championships and continentals, started the 2025 season with a scintillating victory at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series, capturing the 63kg gold medal.

The 2022 U23 world champion was in his elements as he defeated Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ), 10-0, in the final with two big throws for four points each. His first shoulder throw gave him a 4-0 lead, then he got the par terre position from which he performed a suplex for four points to win in just over a minute. Choibekov challenged for a leg-foul but Kamal's movements were clean.

In his earlier bouts, he defeated Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) 5-1 in the quarterfinals with some incredible defense from par terre in the first period. When Mohsen Nejad tried to turn Kamal, the Turkish wrestler moved forward on the mat to break Mohsen Nejad's grip.

Mohsen Nejad needed to score to break Kamal's 1-1 criteria lead and tried a big throw which Kamal blocked and pinned Mohsen Nejad on the mat for four points.

"At the Turkish Championships six weeks ago, I moved up to the new weight class of 63kg," Kamal said. "This time I competed against very strong opponents like Mohsen Nejad from Iran and [Razvan] Arnaut from Romania. I’m happy that I was able to win all my matches. It was a good start to the new year.

Kamal will now be busy for the preparation of European Championships to be held in second week of April in Bratislava, Slovakia.

"I’m not yet 100 percent fit," he said. "I focused a lot on endurance training during the training camp, and my preparations are fully aligned with the European Championships. I wanted to test my ground defense -- I did a good job [in Tirana] but I will work even harder to make sure I can reach my full potential at the European Championships."

Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ)Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) throws Valentin PETIC (MDA) for four points during the 67kg final in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Kyrgyzstan did win a gold medal as U23 world champion Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) brought out his best in the final against Valentin PETIC (MDA), beating the Moldovan 11-0 to capture the 67kg gold medal.

This was the second gold medal for Kyrgyzstan in Tirana after Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) won the 77kg gold medal on Friday.

Beishekeev, the U23 world champion last year in Tirana, needed only the first par terre position to complete the technical superiority win over Petic. He went for the reverse left and scored four points and as Petic landed on his back, Beishekeev went for the fall. However, Petic blocked Beishekeev with his hands on legs was docked two caution points.

With a 7-0 lead and restart in par terre, Beishkeev once again went for the reverse lift and scored a four-pointer to complete the 11-0 win.

RESULTS

63kg
GOLD: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ), 10-0

BRONZE: Baiaman APILOV (KGZ) df. Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) df. Razvan ARNAUT (ROU), 3-1

67kg
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Valentin PETIC (MDA), 11-0

BRONZE: Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) df. Madiyar MAULITKANOV (KAZ), 7-2
BRONZE: Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ) df. Lei LI (CHN), 9-1