#UnitedWorldWrestling

Lalovic attends 100th anniversary of Bulgarian Olympic Committee

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 20) -- United World Wrestling President and International Olympic Committee Executive Board Member Nenad LALOVIC visited Sofia on May 17-18 on the occasion of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee.

Lalovic met IOC President Thomas BACH during the celebration which also saw the presence of European Olympic Committee President Spyros CAPRALOS and EOC Secretary General Raffaele PANGNOZZI.

Nenad LALOVICNenad LALOVIC, right, with IOC President Thomas BACH in Sofia.

"I want to congratulate the Bulgarian Olympic Committee on its 100th anniversary," Lalovic said. "Bulgaria has a rich tradition in the Olympic program. Tonight was a night to celebrate the success of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee, the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation and the 71 wrestlers who brought their nation pride by winning a medal at the Olympic Games.

"In 1956, Nikola STANTCHEV (BUL) became Bulgaria’s first-ever Olympic medalist with his gold at the Melbourne Olympic Games. Since that gold 67 years ago, and with the belief of the BOK, Bulgarian athletes have become a staple on the Olympic podium, winning 70 medals.

"Bulgaria should continue to express the highest confidence in their Olympic Committee and be proud of their Olympians and national heroes."

During his stay in Sofia, Lalovic had an official meeting with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rumen RADEV and attended the official ceremony to commemorate the NOC Centenary.

Nenad LALOVICNenad LALOVIC was presented the Commemorative medal of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee.

During the ceremony, he was presented with The Commemorative medal of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee by the NOC President Stefka KOSTADINOVA.

Lalovic, who is Doctor Honoris Causa of the National Sports Academy, Sofia visited the newly created Olympic Educational and Study Center at the academy and was awarded the Honorary Badge with Ribbon by the Rector of the Academy.

The UWW President attended the Opening of a Commemorative Photo Exhibition and the Ceremony of validation of a postage stamp to mark the celebration.

#BeachWrestling

Beach Wrestling: Ukraine, U.S. best at U17 World Championships

By United World Wrestling Press

KATERINI, Greece (September 21) -- Ukraine and the United States emerged as the best teams at the Beach Wrestling World Championships at the U17 level in the men's and women's categories respectively.

The U17 and U20 World Championships was held in Katerini over eight weight classes in men's and women's categories. Ukraine won the men's part while the U.S. claimed the team title in women's despite not winning a gold medal in four weight classes.

Romania won two gold medals in the men's U17 with Lucian SOMANDRU (ROU) beating Christos XENAKIS (GRE), 3-0, in the 50kg final and Magor LORINCZ (ROU), who had finished ninth last year, dominated Yurii PYHULSKYI (UKR) in the 80kg, winning the gold medal 5-0.

The two other gold medals were won by Mirzakhan GASHYMOV (UKR) and Anri GOGUADZE (GEO) at 60kg and 70kg respectively.

Gashymov was the gold medalist as Ukraine swept the podium, winning the silver and bronze medals as well. He defeated Nazar VELINSKYI (UKR), 4-1, in the final.

Goguadze also faced compatriot Koba GOGUADZE (GEO) in the 70kg final and won the final via superiority.

Ukraine finished with 72 points to finish first with Romania second with 56 points. Georgia was third with 49 points.

The team title race was closer in women's as the U.S. finished first with 60 points with three silver medals. France, with two gold medals, managed to finish with 50 points and at the second spot. Ukraine was third with 39 points.

The 40kg weight class saw only two participants with Alexandra COVACI (ROU) beating Alina MACI (ROU), 3-1, in the final. Romania only got 25 team ranking points for the gold medal.

France won the gold medals at 60kg and 70kg. Thea ROUSSEL (FRA) defeated Kennedie SNOW (USA), 4-0, in the 60kg final to deny the U.S. a gold medal. A few minutes later, Lise LANDOUZY (FRA) defeated Piper ZATECHKA (USA), 3-0, in the 70kg final to give France a second gold.

The U.S. also had a finalist at 50kg but Reisa KOJIMA (JPN) dominated the final to beat Jayden KELLER (USA), 4-1, to win a gold medal for Japan as well.

RESULTS

U17 Men's BW

50kg
GOLD: Lucian SOMANDRU (ROU) df. Christos XENAKIS (GRE), 3-0

BRONZE: Stanislav DIACONU (MDA) df. Oleksandr KARA (UKR), 3-1

60kg
GOLD: Mirzakhan GASHYMOV (UKR) df. Nazar VELINSKYI (UKR), 4-1

BRONZE: Stepan MINCHEV (UKR) df. Benjamin GRAHAM (USA), via fall

70kg
GOLD: Anri GOGUADZE (GEO) df. Koba GOGUADZE (GEO), 4-1

BRONZE: Dmytro KURSENKO (UKR) df. Dmytro YEMETS (UKR), 3-2

80kg
GOLD: Magor LORINCZ (ROU) df. Yurii PYHULSKYI (UKR), 5-0

BRONZE: Charilaos CHAITIDIS (GRE) df. Andrii PAVLIUK (UKR), 4-2

U17 Women's BW

40kg
GOLD: Alexandra COVACI (ROU) df. Alina MACI (ROU), 3-1

50kg
GOLD: Reisa KOJIMA (JPN) df. Jayden KELLER (USA), 4-1

BRONZE: Oleksandra KARBOVSKA (UKR) df. Sarina GUNN (USA), 3-0

60kg
GOLD: Thea ROUSSEL (FRA) df. Kennedie SNOW (USA), 4-0

BRONZE: Georgia CHASAMPALIOTI (GRE) df. Alina SVIRKO (UKR), 4-2

70kg
GOLD: Lise LANDOUZY (FRA) df. Piper ZATECHKA (USA), 3-0

BRONZE: Sadie EVANS (USA) df. Anna NITSEVYCH (UKR), 4-0