#WrestleTirana

UWW holds 2024 Congress, three women elected to Bureau

Monday, October 28, 2024 - 17:03 By United World Wrestling Press

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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.

#development

UWW hosts fifth Women in Wrestling Global Forum in Mongolia

Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - 11:59 By United World Wrestling Press

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (October 14) -- The fifth edition of the Women in Wrestling Global Forum 2025 took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from October 7 to 11, bringing together more than 34 women leaders, athletes, coaches, referees, and administrators from 21 countries.

Hosted by the Mongolian Wrestling Federation and the Mongolian National Olympic Committee, the Forum was opened by representatives of the Mongolian Wrestling Federation and the Mongolian National Olympic Committee, including the NOC Vice President Choijgavaa NARAMBAATAR.

The opening session reflected the support of United World Wrestling’s leadership, represented by UWW Vice Presidents Natalia YARIGUINA and Rodica YAKSI, Bureau Members, and the Development team. All the speakers highlighted UWW's commitment to gender equality and leadership education.

"It was a great Forum," Yaksi said. "We have participants from all continents and from around the world. Some were coaches, wrestlers, referees, and some in sports administration. We tried different activities to make every one comfortable."

Guided by UWW Development Director Deqa NIAMKEY and educators Rafael GALVA and Edit DOZSA, the Forum offered leadership sessions, practical workshops, and cultural experiences. The participants explored stakeholder engagement, communication styles, sustainability, coaching strategies, and athlete safety.

In a special segment, Mariana DIAZ MUNOZ (MEX) and Marina RUEDA FLORES (ESP) presented "Luchadoras de Iberoamérica," a joint project promoting female empowerment in sport. Olympic medalist and Kyrgyzstan's first world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) shared her journey from being a national pioneer and creating history for Kyrgyzstan. 

The Forum participants visited the Chinggis Khaan Museum and attended a traditional wrestling "Bokh" session in Ulaanbaatar and learned about the origins of wrestling the country.

"The whole program was an amazing experience," Yaksi said. "The biggest achievement of this Forum over the years is that it brings together people of different field who are ready to help each other grow in wrestling."