Beach wrestling

UWW Launches Beach Wrestling World Series; Will Award Prize Money

Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - 19:19 By Tim Foley

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (February 26) – United World Wrestling, the international federation for the sport of wrestling, has confirmed plans for an ambitious worldwide tour of Beach Wrestling, the organization’s fastest growing new discipline.

The 2019 Beach Wresting World Series will launch in late March and include four stops around the globe. In addition to sun-drenched beaches and high-flying competition, the series will feature equally attractive cash prizes totaling 15,000 CHF per event.



Each weight category will be awarded a total of 1750 CHF; 1000 CHF for gold, 500 CHF for silver, and 250 CHF for bronze. To incentivize crowd-pleasing techniques, fans in attendance will also be asked to vote on the “Big Move from the Beach,” – an award that comes with an additional 1000 CHF for the winner.

“Beach wrestling appeals to fans and wrestlers of all ages,” said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. “Our young wrestlers and older lions can compete together on the beach and showcase our sport in a new and exciting way. The World Series events will have a fun atmosphere with music, food, and high energy competition.”

The Beach Wrestling World Series kicks off in the historic town of Chaves, Portugal on March 29-30 before quickly moving to Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, May 11-12. Wrestlers at the first two Beach Wrestling World Series event will also earn points to qualify for the 1st ANOC World Beach Games, scheduled to take place this October in San Diego.

The third stop of the world series will head to Odessa on August 9-10, before wrapping up at the Beach Wrestling World Series Final in Zagreb, September 6-9.

The Beach Wrestling World Series will follow a pool format with each wrestler competing against every wrestler in the pool to determine who will compete for the gold and bronze.

Weight classes for the Beach Wrestling World Series are below. National federations are reminded that they are limited to three entries per weight category.

Women:          50kg | 60kg | 70kg | +70kg

Men:               70kg | 80kg | 90kg | +90kg


To read up on the full regulations for the Beach Wrestling World Series, visit:

www.unitedworldwrestling.org/governance/regulations-beach-wrestling

Uniform Guidelines

Follow our new Instagram account at www.instagram.com/uwwbeachwrestling and on Twitter @uwwbeach.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2025 Day 1 Semifinals Set

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 - 09:31 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 5) -- The first Ranking Series of 2025 is here. The Zagreb Open will see wrestling over four days with Freestyle starting things in 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg weight classes.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | 2025 SEASON PREVIEW

13:35: The final semifinals of the session at 86kg. Zahid VALENCIA (USA) gets the better of Nathan JACKSON (USA) 12-2 and advance to the final. He will face Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) who blanked Trent HIDLAY (USA) 5-0.

13:25: David CARR (USA) rolls to a 12-2 win over Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) 12-2 and will face Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) who got the better of Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO).

13:15: Sina KHALILI (IRI) into the Zagreb Open final at 70kg as James GREEN (USA) pulls out of the semifinals citing an injury. He will face Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) who defeated Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) 10-5.

13:05: Abbas EBRAHIM (IRI) gets his gut wrench going against Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) to win 14-4 at 65kg. He will face Joseph MC KENNA (USA) who defeated Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO)

13:00: We just published a tribute to Mariya STADNIK (AZE) who retired on Monday after 22 years! Legend. Read it here.

12:50: The 61kg final is set and it's all-Iranian. Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) and Ibrahim KHARI (IRI) won their respective semifinals to advance. The third Iranian in the weight class, Reza MOMENI (IRI) also has a chance to win a bronze medal as he lost the semifinals to Khari.

12:40: Spencer LEE (USA) with a 6-4 win over Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX). He led 6-0 before allowing Young to score a stepout and a takedown but that was all. He will wrestle Bazarganov in the 57kg final.

12:35: Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) gives a reality check of senior level wrestling to Ahora KHATERI (IRI). The Azerbaijan wrestlers rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority win over the Iranian to move to the 57kg final. 

12:30: Semifinals of the day begin now. We have 57kg wrestlers coming on the mat now.

12:22: European champion and world medalist Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) hangs on a for a 5-0 win over Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE). He will wrestle in the semifinals at 74kg. 

12:12: Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), who recently defeated Paris medalist Chermen VALIEV (ALB) in the Bundesliga, beats U20 world champion Ali REZAEI (IRI) 6-1 at 74kg. Kuramagomedov was on point in that bout.

12:00: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) gave up a couple of step outs against Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) but got the job done with a 5-2 win at 86kg to move into the semifinals.

11:45: Two solid bouts on Mat C. Joseph MC KENNA (USA) used a good four-pointer throw and completed a 7-4 win over Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE). In the next bout, Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI) was leading Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO) 7-0 in the first period but struggled with the pace in the second as Otinashvili came back and made the score 13-9. As Khorramdel tried a desperate four-pointer, Otinashvili pinned him

11:35: James GREEN (USA), who is back after a year and a half of retirement, wins a close one over compatriot Alec PANTELO (USA) 4-3 at 70kg. He marked his international return at the 2024 World Championships at 70kg and finished 11th.

11:25: Paris silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA) comes out and gets a 10-0 win over Luka GVINJILIA (GEO) in two minutes. He moves into the semifinals at 

11:10: Former U17 world champion and Iran's big bet at 57kg Ahora KHATERI (IRI) comes out off a hole! He was trailing 7-2 against Brandon COURTNEY (USA) with less than 30 seconds remaining but mounts a comeback and wins 7-7

11:05: Two-time Olympian and world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) with a little awkward start to the season. Up against Jarrett JACQUES (USA) in the opening round at 70kg, Muszukajev drops the bout 3-2. He lacked his speed and the conditioning is missing as well. Great win for Jacques.

10:55: Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) gave a tough fight to Paris Olympian Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) at 57kg but RBY, popularly known as in the USA circuit, wins 9-6. He is on a potential clash with Spencer LEE (USA) in the semifinals

10:45: Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) gets his typical defensive style out and hangs on for a controlled 4-0 win over Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) at 57kg.

10:30: Welcome to day one of the Zagreb Open! This is the first of the four Ranking Series events which will award points to the wrestlers and help in the seeding for the World Championships in September which incidentally will be held in the same Arena Zagreb.