#WrestleTirana

UWW holds 2024 Congress, three women elected to Bureau

By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (October 27) -- United World Wrestling held its Congress in Tirana on Sunday, on the sidelines of the World Championships in Non-Olympic Weight Classes.

The Congress touched upon topics related to the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the budget, the calendar for 2025 and the prospect of launching a UWW Pro League.

Different commission of UWW presented their reports for 2024 and Amateur MMA and Pankration.

The elections for Bureau and Vice Presidents were also held with at least two new women Bureau members. In the elections held on Sunday in Tirana, five Bureau members were due for re-election, with four being re-elected.

UWWFrom left to right: Peter BASCA, Buyandelger PELJEE, Pedro SILVA, Cholpon SULTANBEKOVA, Natalia YARAGUINA and Zamel AL SHAHRANI. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women ruled the elections with one new Vice President and two new Bureau members were elected.

Pedro SILVA, Peter BASCA, Zamel AL SHAHRANI and Natalia YARAGUINA were re-elected in the Bureau. Bruce BAUMGARTNER was the newly elected member of the Bureau.

Since two new Bureau members could not be elected in the first round of elections, a second round was held, in which the two highest-placed candidates earned elections. Buyandelger PELJEE and Cholpon SULTANBEKOVA earned the most votes, collecting their Bureau spot.

UWW Bureau member and President of UWW Associated Styles Rodica YAKSI and Bureau member and President of African Council Fouad MESKOUT were elected as Vice Presidents in the first meeting of the newly elected Bureau.

Mikhail MAMIASHVILI, Natalia YARAGUINA, Theodoros HAMAKOS and Akhroldjan RUZIEV were re-elected as Vice Presidents.

UWW Vice President Stan DZIEDZIC was not eligible for re-election, as he reached his term limit according to the UWW Constitution. However, he was made the Honorary Vice President of UWW on Monday.

#WrestleSamokov

U20 World Championships 2025 Day 7 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 23) -- With four Greco-Roman weight classes, the U20 World Championships come towards the end. 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg wrestlers will be in action in Samokov, Bulgaria.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 6 RESULTS

13:55: In the final match of the morning session, former world U17 champion Yusuf BAKIR (TUR) needed a stepout with 40 seconds remaining to beat Mazaim MARDANOV (AZE), 4-3 at 130kg. Bakir with a 3-0 lead after he scored a turn from par terre, Mardanov takes criteria lead with a exposure from par terre and he tries to defend his criteria lead. However, Bakir manages a pushout to win 4-3.

13:45: Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI), the returning silver medalist, is not troubled by a Hungarian wrestler as he beats Koppany LASZLO (HUN) in the 130kg semifinal. Fathitazangi scored three stepouts while Laszlo had two as the Iranian wins 4-2.

13:25: Elias LYYSKI (FIN) stops world U17 champion Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) in the 87kg quarterfinal with a 6-4 win. After he led 6-0 in the first period, Lyyski holds on to it and only gives four points in the second period.

13:15: Senior Asian champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) lets out a huge scream as he down European U20 champion Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) in the 63kg quarterfinal. Khalmakhanov got his defense in the second period and defended his lead to win 6-4.  

13:05: Damir IBRASHOV (KAZ) needed a challenge to beat Tural AHMADOV (AZE), 1-1, at 63kg. Ibrashov had the criteria from first par terre but was cautioned for fleeing but Kazakhstan challenged the call and won it to win 1-1.

12:50: Returning world champion from 72kg Zaur BESLEKOEV (UWW), who is now at 77kg, has no trouble in seeing off Petro SHAFRANSKYI (UKR), 8-0. Beslekoev is looking to win his second straight title.

12:40: Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (UWW), the European silver medalist at U20s, pins Orkhan HAJIYEV (AZE) and advance at 87kg.

12:32: Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO), European U20 champion and former world U17 champion, enters the 77kg quarterfinals with a 5-3 win over Asian U23 champion Akzhan YKYLASSOV (KAZ)

12:30: Martin LJOSAAK (NOR) will be ruing the chances he missed as he drops his 87kg bout 11-9 against world U17 champion Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI). was down 10-7 but Mohammadi was cautioned for blocking but Ljosaak can't finish the match

12:20: Ilias LAAOUINA (NED) is on a hot run here in Samokov. He now beats European U20 bronze medalist Bende OLASZ (HUN) at 63kg and into the quarterfinals.

12:17: Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) with a technical superiority 9-0 victory over Al Bara CHOPALAEV (EST) and reach the 63kg quarterfinals. Punchenko looking to complete the world and continental double.

12:15: Tural AHMADOV (AZE) with a first par terre advantage and he keeps it until the end of the bout to win 1-1 against GAURAV (IND) at 63kg and advance to the quarterfinals.

12:10: Senior Asian champion AYTJAN KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) with a first-period fall over Manato NAKAMURA (JPN) at 63kg and wins his opening bout. Khalmakhanov is a 2022 world U17 champion

11:45: No problems for returning silver medalist at 130kg Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI) as he pins Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO), a former world U17 champion.

11:35: Big match between European U20 silver medalist Davud MAMMADOV (AZE) and bronze medalist Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM) at 77kg. Both wrestlers can't turn from par terre but Terteryan got the first point and he holds on to his criteria lead to win win 1-1.

11:20: Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO), European U20 champion at 87kg, with a close 2-1 victory over Branko DUKIC (SRB).

11:12: Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI), who was recently crowned world U17 champion in Greece, is tested by Antonio LUKAC (CRO) in his first 87kg bout but Mohammadi wins 3-1. Perhaps he is feeling the difference in strength in the upper age-group.

10:55: Returning world U20 bronze medalist at 87kg Temirlan TURDAKYN (KAZ) looked a little rusty but manages to see off Wojciech IWANOWSKI (POL), 3-2.

10:40: Ilias LAAOUINA (NED) with an upset win over Asian U20 champion Emirlan DUISHENALIEV (KGZ). He manages to score 8 points from par terre and win 9-0 at 63kg.

10:30: European U20 champion Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) faces William EKEROT (SWE), a European U20 bronze medalist. After a slow start Punchenko finishes the match in the second period with a fall and advance at 63kg.