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International Women's Day: Women ITOs, coaches, members rise at UWW

Sunday, March 9, 2025 - 13:53 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (March 8) -- United World Wrestling has made significant towards encouraging women's participating in spheres of wrestling, whether on or off the mat.

  • In 2024, United World Wrestling sent its highest number of female International Technical Officers (ITOs) to 2024 Paris Olympic Games, marking 22 percent of the total wrestling ITOs.

Referee

  • It also amended its constitution to reserve two more seats for women in the Bureau, thereby bringing the minimum number of women Bureau members to five. The number of vice presidents was also increased from the current number of five to six, including a minimum of two women vice presidents.

Read Full Report: Good governance at UWW - most women ITOs at Paris 2024, reserved seats in Bureau

Marwa AMRI (TUN)

United World Wrestling has been one of the most active international federation in the Women in Sport High-Performance Pathway (WISH) program.

  •  Out of the 124 coaches that benefited from the program, 12 are from wrestling. The coaches are from 60 nations representing the five continents and across the 33 Olympic sports.
     
  • Three WISH alumni -- Happiness BURUTU (NGR), Marwa AMRI (TUN) and Jessica MEDINA (USA) -- made it to the Paris Games as coaches.

Read More: WISH Program in London

UWW

At the Bureau level, a historic milestone was achieved in women wrestling leadership in 2024. There were seven female candidates for the UWW Bureau, the supreme body of wrestling, marking the highest-ever participation by women in the process.

Kuniko Tanioka (JPN), Annette Kure (NOR), Lise Legrand (FRA), Cholpon Sultanbekova (KGZ), Buyana Peljee (MGL), Nadine Pietschmann (SUI) and UWW Vice-President, Natalia Yariguina (RUS) took part in the race for the Bureau role.

This was the first time that Women Lead Sports alumni being elected to NF president positions and the highest registered female candidates for the Bureau in the history. Rodica YAKSI (TUR) was promoted to Vice-President and Ye ZHANG (CHN) has two years left in her term.

Read Full Report: Big step in women’s wrestling leadership with new members in UWW Bureau

In different countries, women have take the leadership roles. The most significant among others is the appointment of Nadine PITSCHMANN (SUI) and Lise LE GRAND (FRA) as the presidents of Swiss and French federations, respectively.

Among other achievements, a women's wrestling camp was organized in India with Olympic champion Erica WIEBE (CAN) offering a masterclass. Young wrestlers from Jordan, Estonia, South Africa, Mauritius, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and hosts India attended the camp.

Read about the IIS-UWW camp: Wiebe inspires next gen at UWW-IIS camp in India

#development

Moldova Hosts UWW Coaching Course

Monday, October 30, 2023 - 12:38 By United World Wrestling Press

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KISHINEV, Moldova (October 30) --- Moldova boasts a rich wrestling history and a strong tradition of excellent performance in the sport. In their ongoing efforts to foster the development and growth of wrestling, a Technical Course for Coaches (Level 2) and an Introduction to Refereeing Course were organized. These courses were conducted in partnership with the Moldova Olympic Committee, Olympic Solidarity and United World Wrestling.

"As the President of the Wrestling Federation of Moldova, I feel satisfaction in seeing how our shared passion for wrestling unites us," said Ivan GHEORGHIU. "The seminar has brought a wealth of interesting information and knowledge, as well as a valuable opportunity to discuss and exchange experiences. We must use this experience and knowledge to uphold high standards in our sport in Moldova."

Yusup ABDUSALAMOV, UWW Educator, and Arsen JULFALAKYAN, President of UWW Athlete Commission, led the Level 2 Coaching Course, which took place October 16-20. 

MDAParticipants walk through how to develop a practice plan during the Level 2 Coaching Course in Moldova. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Throughout the course, Abdusalamov and Julfalakyan led 59 participants in sessions focused on practice-plan development, long-term athlete development model, risk management, discipline in sport, anti-doping, mental development and athlete safeguarding.

"Overall, the course went well, and I am satisfied with the participants' engagement and progress throughout the training. I anticipate their enhanced coaching skills will have a positive impact on their athletes in the future," said Abdusalamov.

"Since my cadet ages, I had the opportunity to compete with Moldavian wrestlers, be acquainted with their wrestling style and build friendly relations. Until now, I haven't managed to visit their beautiful country to witness their conditions for wrestling and how they run our beloved sport," said Julfalakyan, the world champion and Olympic silver medalist. "We met most of the Moldavian coaches and referees, held very fruitful seminars (theory and practical part), and discussed some important wrestling topics with the NF President and other members. They are very motivated to develop all wrestling styles in their country."

MDA
Participants of the Technical Course for Coaches (Level 2) and the Introduction to Refereeing Course pose for a group photo. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

"As both an athlete and a coach, the information I received at the Technical Course for Coaches Level II was incredibly beneficial, particularly concerning the long-term athlete development model. I also appreciated your personal experiences and the practical applicability of all the information," said Mikhail SAVA.

In addition to the coaching course, Moldova hosted an Introduction to Refereeing course. Igor LIGAY, an IS Referee and UWW Educator, led the course, which 29 participants attended. During the course, the participants focused on the tools needed to excel as a high-level referee. These areas included referee team duties, referee mechanics, controlling the bout, referee position, and scoring situations. 

"Thank you very much for the knowledge, skills, abilities and information you shared with us," said Mihail.

"All seminar participants actively participated in the process, asked questions and participated in discussions. They were often surprised how much the rules had changed. After the seminar, many expressed gratitude for the knowledge they received and expressed a desire to hold similar seminars in Moldova every year," Ligay.