#development

Wrestling Academy Bern gets new training facility

Monday, December 5, 2022 - 10:36 By United World Wrestling Press

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BERN, Switzerland (December 5) -- Wrestling Academy Bern officially opened a new training facility in Bern last month with much celebration. With an aim to bring wrestling out of the shadows in Bern and Switzerland, WAB has been making consistent efforts and celebrated a successful year with the opening of the new club.

The United World Wrestling has also donated equipment to WAB and has overviewed the constant progress of the club.

Around 130 guests attended the opening and among them were companions and supporters of the WAB, who contributed in various ways to the successful year of the young club.

The club was founded in 2018 and set itself a goal of constructing and expanding the training premises which was completed on November 25.

“Sport unites! The guest list is a mixed bag of people who are seeing a wrestling mat for the first time today and others who have been in the sport their whole lives," Robin Pietschmann, Team Manager, said emphasizing how representative the event is of an important cornerstone of the WAB.

The club was sourced via a crowdfunding project, which was carried out in the spring of 2022 on the “I believe in you” platform.

"The occasion is therefore also an opportunity for us today to say a big merci to those who have diligently supported and donated," Nadine Pietschmann added at the opening.

The WAB has successfully achieved promotion to the National League B [Swiss Wrestling Challenge League which the active team achieved a few weeks ago.

The Swiss Wrestling Federation also sent a representative to this special occasion. The head of the league, Gabriel Christen, congratulated the Wrestling Academy Bern on the new club and training facility and also emphasized the exemplary youth work of the young club.

"Nothing is as old as yesterday's success," emphasized Robin Pietschmann at the end, which in no way diminished the joy and pride of what was achieved. He also pointed that the next steps will be much more difficult than the previous ones.

The official part ended with a demonstration by some members of the WAB active team. The interested audience got a spectacular insight into the training operations and also into the basics of wrestling.

#WrestleBratislava

Sidakov vs Valiev set for European gold at 74kg

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 - 15:03 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 8) -- Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) will wrestle for the European gold medal for the first time in his career.

The four-time world champion, who last and only time wrestled at the European Championships in 2016, entered the 74kg final in Bratislava, Slovakia on Tuesday. He will take on Paris Olympic bronze medalist Chermen VALIEV (ALB) for the gold medal.

Sidakov defeated Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 2-0, in the 74kg semifinal after he took out four-time European champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 4-2, in a close quarterfinal.

Valiev defeated Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) 6-0 in the other semifinal as he countered in style while keeping his attacks. He scored from leg-attack when Novruzov was on the activity clock and countered an attempted attack from Novruzov for another takedown.

A stepout made it 6-0 as Valiev booked his spot in the final against Sidakov, who won their last meeting 3-2 three years ago.

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) battles Zelimkhan HARUTYUNYAN (ALB) in the 61kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 61kg, Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) moved to the final after beating Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) 5-2 in a thrilling semifinal. Harutyunyan scored a takedown and lace to lead 4-0 in the first period and maintained the lead for a long time before Abakarov hit a arm-throw for two points. Harutyunyan kept the 4-2 lead despite Abakarov's desperate attempts to score.

The four-time European champion will face Zavur UGUEV (UWW) for the gold medal after the Tokyo Olympic champion rocked Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW) 10-0 in a one-sided semifinal. Mixing his attacks, Uguev hit a double-leg for four to finish the bout.

Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW)Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) hits a cradle throw on Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) in their 86kg semifinal during the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The 86kg final will between Olympic champion Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) and Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW), a rematch of the 2020 European final at 79kg which Kadzimahamedau won.

Kadzimahamedau had to pull out his iconic cradle for four to pull off a win over Artur NAIFONOV (GRE). He was trailing 3-2 when he hit the move and secured a 6-3 win.

Ramazanov entered the final after he had a field day in Bratislava. He secured a fall over over Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) in the semifinal. He was ahead 5-0 before a big double-leg attack for two points and figure-four turn made it 9-0. He held Jezierzanski on the back and secured the fall.

Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) returned to the European final, although in a new weight class. The Paris Olympic bronze medalist at 86kg was wrestling at 92kg and survived a scare against former European champion Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR), winning 3-3 on criteria.

Akturk fell behind 2-1 and scored a stepout with 10 seconds left on the clock to make it 2-2 but Kurugliev led on criteria for his takedown in the first period. Turkiye challenged the call asking for a takedown but lost the challenge to make 3-2 for Kurugliev.

Akturk scored another stepout but that was all he could do in the final 10 seconds and Kurugliev won 3-3.

He will take on Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) for the gold medal after the Azerbaijan wrestler defeated world silver medalist Mirani MAISURADZE (GEO) 5-2 in the other semifinal.

At 125kg, Paris Olympic bronze medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) will clash with Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) for the gold medal after the two had to dug deep in the semifinals.

Meshvildishvili hung on for a 8-5 win over Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) after the latter made it 6-5.

Manashvili scored a four-pointer to beat Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 8-3 and enter the gold medal bout.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Zavur UGUEV (UWW)

SF 1: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), 5-2
SF 2: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW), 10-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW)

SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE), 6-0
SF 2: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 2-0

86kg
GOLD: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) vs. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW)

SF 1: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), via fall (9-0)
SF 2: Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) df. Artur NAIFONOV (UWW), 6-3

92kg
GOLD: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE)

SF 1: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 5-2
SF 2: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) df. Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR), 3-3

125kg
GOLD: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) vs. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW), 8-5
SF 2: Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 8-3