#WrestlePlovdiv

#WrestlePlovdiv Live Blog: U23 European Championships Day 3

By Vinay Siwach

PLOVDIV, Bulgaria (March 9) -- It's day three at the U23 European Championships and some of the biggest names of women's wrestling will be in action in Plovdiv. World champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) and her fellow teammate and defending champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) will be on the mat. Moldova's rising star and junior Worlds silver medalist Maria LEORDA (MDA) also wrestles today. Keep an eye on U23 world champion Andreea ANA (ROU).

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Olympic medalistsTen Olympic medalists are at #WrestlePlovdiv as Greco-Roman coaches. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan) 

1245: U23 world champion Andreea ANA (ROU) leads 5-0 against Nova BERGMAN (SWE) at the break at 55kg. A whizzer to get her four points to get going. Bergman did provide some challenge but Ana moves into the semifinal

1225: Anna SZEL (HUN) and Morena DE VITA (ITA) with a humdinger! The Hungarian was leading 6-4 with 20 seconds remaining and defended an attack with a split. But De Vita scored a takedown with 5 seconds remaining. Hungary challenged the call but lost.

1215: Earlier in the day, defending silver medalist Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) came up with a huge five-point throw before securing the pin over Laura STANELYTE (LTU) at 55kg

1210: Bernadett NAGY (HUN) with a first-period 11-0 win over Vanesa KALOYANOVA (BUL) at 76kg. She is looking for her first continental title.

1200: A series of gut and exposures from world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) and she moves on to the quarterfinals at 68kg

1155: Ersel almost has a takedown but Szeker defends by keeping her opponent's hand in grip. Both are in the danger zone but the referee scores a stepout for Szeker. Germany challenges the call asking for a takedown. It is confirmed that Ersel actually stepped out before getting the takedown. 6-3 win for Szeker

1150: A tight first-round battle going on Mat B! Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN) leads Lisa ERSEL (GER) by a point. She was called passive early but scored a takedown before giving up one. Now, she has scored another to lead 4-3

1140: Defending champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) warms up with a victory via fall over Fatme SHABAN (BUL). She is coming from a gold medal-winning performance in Istanbul.

1100: After some great action in Greco-Roman, it's time for women's wrestling at the U23 European Championships in Plovdiv. Some big names are entered for the five weight classes that are in action.

UWW's Event Organization Workshop heats up in Athens

By United World Wrestling Press

ATHENS, Greece (July 30) -- United World Wrestling held a new edition of its Event Organization Workshop in Athens, Greece, from July 24-29.

The activity was conducted by the UWW Sports Department and took place on the sidelines of the U17 World Championships, offering participants an immersive experience to learn directly within the context of a major international event.

A total of 25 participants from 16 countries attended the workshop -- with nearly 50 percent of the attendees being women -- representing national federations and upcoming event organizers.

The attendees took part in theoretical sessions and field-based learning covering critical areas such as accreditation, sport presentation, information technology tools, event operations, and venue logistics. They also had the chance to observe the live execution of the Championships, attend the Technical Conference, and tour key competition areas.

The Local Organizing Committee played an important role in supporting the delivery of the workshop, facilitating access to venues, providing logistical coordination, and sharing their experience in hosting a major international event. Their collaboration was key to ensuring a smooth and enriching experience for all participants.

To complement the technical content, the group also enjoyed a cultural visit to the Acropolis, one of the most iconic landmarks in Athens. This excursion helped foster exchange and camaraderie among participants, while providing a connection to the host city’s rich heritage.

UWW
Attendees walk through accreditation, sport presentation, information technology tools, event operations, and venue logistics at the Event Organization Workshop in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The workshop was facilitated by members of the UWW team, who shared their expertise and provided hands-on guidance throughout the sessions. The collaborative format encouraged knowledge exchange and open dialogue, creating a dynamic learning environment.

Participants expressed high satisfaction with the content and format of the workshop, noting its relevance and practicality. The mix of classroom instruction, real-event exposure, and networking opportunities made the experience both educational and inspiring.

This edition of the Event Organization Workshop reinforced UWW’s commitment to building local capacities and delivering high-standard wrestling events across the world. Athens 2025 once again proved the value of this initiative and the importance of continuing to invest in professional training for sport event delivery.

Ramil AHMADOV, UWW Senior Competition Manager, and Yuri MAIER, Sports & Development Officer, conducted the workshop. We were honored to have Theodoros HAMAKOS, Vice-President of UWW, award the certificates.