#WomenInWrestlingForum

UWW to Virtually Host Women in Wrestling Forum

Friday, October 29, 2021 - 13:32 By Eric Olanowski

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VEVEY, Switzerland (October 25) --- United World Wrestling will virtually host the ’21 Women in Wrestling forum November 29th and December 6. They've partnered again with the Switzerland based leading institution Women Lead Sports (https://www.womenleadsports.com) and the renowned expert Gabriela Mueller to bring you the Women Lead Sports Master Program. 

The admitted participants will be divided in two groups to best suit their time zones:
For Europe/Africa/Asia and Oceania  
• Session One 29.11.2021 from 9-11 hrs. CET.
• Session Two 6.12.2021 from 9-11 hrs. CET.
• Session Three Q&A and Graduation/Certificates 17.01.2022 from 9-10:30 hrs. CET. 

For Europe/Africa/Americas: 
• Session One 29.11.2021 from 14-16 hrs. CET.
• Session Two 6.12.2021 from 14-16 hrs. CET 
• Session Three Q&A and Graduation/Certificates 17.01.2022 14-15:30 hrs. CET.

WWF
Deqa, NIAMKEY, UWW Development Director, presents at the '19 Women in Wrestling forum. There were 50 female participants from 40 nations in attendance at the four-day forum in Istanbul. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

The core aim of the program is: to help women and supportive men in sports to lead, to get better results in their organizations, and to increase influence. The program is backed up by a successful track record (over a decade, updated to today's reality) – taught by experts and it includes strategies that really work.

The objectives of the Women Lead Sports Master Program are:
• To learn effective leadership strategies, techniques, and applicable tactics that work today. 
• To empower participants to shape the future of Wrestling as a global sport.
• To coach women to get elected, promoted, or nominated as leaders.
• To increase a diverse talent pool in leadership within UWW at all levels.
• The program has been adapted to the new normality in Post-Covid reality.
• To add concrete value in a unique training online experience and empower women leaders in every latitude who want to step up and lead.    

We are enthusiastic and convinced that the online experience will be empowering and create real change in gender-balanced leadership teams of the future. This program will be conducted in English. Participants are required to obtain the adequate language proficiency to participate in discussions and group works. Both women and men are encouraged to apply through their national federations. 

Each federation could propose a maximum of two (2) candidates. If you're interested in attending the '21 Women in Wrestling forum, please apply by contacting your national federation. Applications sent by individuals will not be accepted.

We remain at your disposal should you have any questions. You may also contact the UWW Development representative who is responsable for your continent 

For Africa, please contact Vincent Aka: vincent.aka@unitedworldwrestling.org
For Americas, please contact Yuri Maier : yuri.maier@unitedworldwrestling.org
For Asia, please contact farnaz.panahizadeh@unitedworldwrestling.org
For Europe and Oceania, please contact development@unitedworldwrestling.org 

United World Wrestling looks forward to receiving your candidate proposals. Thank you for your support and commitment to advance gender parity in wrestling.

#WrestleAthens

Fernandez earns shot at second world U17 title in Athens

Thursday, July 31, 2025 - 14:51 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (July 31) -- Returning world champion Tania FERNANDEZ (USA) earned herself a shot to win second title in a row after making the 61kg final in Athens, Greece.

Fernandez was one of the two United States wrestlers who reached the Women's Wrestling finals on Thursday in the Greek capital.

The two semifinal wins were after two semifinal losses but Fernandez and Epenesa ELISON (USA) kept the U.S. in the race for team title, making the final at 53kg and 61kg respectively.

Elison, who dominated her way to semifinals, was no different there as well. She caught Farida ABDRAKHMANOVA (KAZ) in a lace and led 6-0. She then scored two takedowns and won 10-0.

Jiaqing JIANG (CHN) scored a late takedown to beat Rion OGAWA (JPN), 4-4, and book a place in the final against Elison.

Fernandez went one step better and pinned Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) using an arm-bar and returned to the finals. She will take on YASHITA (IND) in the final after the Indian blanked Barbara BAGER (HUN), 5-0.

Uzbekistan had its second Women's Wrestling finalist in Athens as Asian U17 champion Shokhista SHONAZAROVA (UZB) blanked Maisei ELLIOTT (USA), 9-0 in the semifinals.

She will face An NAKANISHI (JPN) for the gold medal after the Japanese defeated Asema ASANGARYEVA (KGZ) 11-0 in the other semifinal, in typical Japanese style using a leg lace.

Japan got one more finalist, at 46kg, after Hanano OYA (JPN) denied returning bronze medalist Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA), 6-4, in the semifinals. Bouzakis was not able to cover the 6-0 lead Oya had built in the first period.

Oya will now face Janka SILLEI (HUN) in the gold-medal bout on Friday. Sillei dashed hopes of the hosts Greece by beating silver medalist Maria GKIKA (GRE), 10-4 which was eventually called a pin.

European U17 champion Ayla SAHIN (GER) held off Linda MARTINEZ (MEX), 6-0, in the semifinals at 69kg to earn a shot at the world title against Min ZHAO (CHN) who came from behind to beat MANISHA (IND) 6-4.

RESULTS

40kg
GOLD: Shokhista SHONAZAROVA (UZB) vs. An NAKANISHI (JPN)

SF 1: Shokhista SHONAZAROVA (UZB) df. Maisie ELLIOTT (USA), 9-0
SF 2: An NAKANISHI (JPN) df. Asema ASANGARYEVA (KGZ), 11-0

46kg
GOLD: Janka SILLEI (HUN) vs. Hanano OYA (JPN)

SF 1: Janka SILLEI (HUN) df. Maria GKIKA (GRE), via fall (10-4)
SF 2: Hanano OYA (JPN) df. Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA), 6-4

53kg
GOLD: Epenesa ELISON (USA) vs. Jiaqing JIANG (CHN)

SF 1: Epenesa ELISON (USA) df. Farida ABDRAKHMANOVA (KAZ), 10-0
SF 2: Jiaqing JIANG (CHN) df. Rion OGAWA (JPN), 4-4

61kg
GOLD: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) vs. YASHITA (IND)

SF 1: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) df. Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO), via fall
SF 2: YASHITA (IND) df. Barbara BAGER (HUN), 5-0

69kg
GOLD: Ayla SAHIN (GER) vs. Min ZHAO (CHN)

SF 1: Ayla SAHIN (GER) df. Linda MARTINEZ (MEX), 6-0
SF 2: Min ZHAO (CHN) df. MANISHA (IND), 6-4