Development

Aline Silva Awarded United World Wrestling’s Women in Sport Award

By Tim Foley

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (April 2) -- Aline SILVA (BRA) has been awarded United World Wrestling’s 2018 Women in Sport Award.

Silva, a 2014 world silver medalist 2016 Olympian, has spent much of the past 12 months creating an outreach program in her home city of Cubatã, Brazil, which provides educational and wrestling opportunities for girls.

"We are very proud of Aline," said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. "She is the type of female leader we want in our sport. She has taken her victories on the mat and is making a big impact with younger girls. We are honored to present her this award."

Silva will receive $10,000 from United World Wrestling and is expected to hire a coach and English teacher to help instruct 60 public school girls in Cubatã. The outreach program will also include weekly empowerment teachings with themes like leadership, personal development, and sexual and reproduction rights. 

“I think it’s important to want something big for yourself and others,” said Silva. “And for these girls I want to show them what it means to have a goal and how to strive for it everyday. I know that striving to reach a goal every day means you will make your dreams come true!”

Aline SILVA (r) became Brazil's first-ever world finalist in wrestling, earning silver at the 2014 World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (Photo: Gabor Martin, United World Wrestling)

Silva kickstarted her to-be-named outreach program with a trip to the Global Sports Mentoring Program at the University of Tennessee's Peace, Sport and Society Program. During her six weeks on-site, Silva created a plan of action to empower Brazilian women through sports and sought advice on ways to improve her new program.

“I want to thank President Lalovic and everyone at United World Wrestling for all their great work in promoting women’s wrestling and gender equality.”

Though busy with outreach and instruction, Silva isn’t slowing down on the mats. She is still training full-time and expects to compete at this year’s world championships in Budapest. Her goal is to medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Other applicants included Power Club (ESP), Johanna KIKAS (EST), Elham HEIDARI (IRI/CAN), Yevheniia PAVLOVA (UKR) and Fédération Française de Lutte who each showed commitment to advancing the gender equality through wrestling.

Development

UWW Level 1 Coaching, Referee Courses in India Attract Over 70 Participants

By United World Wrestling Press

HARYANA, India (April 10) - The Wrestling Federation of India, in cooperation with United World Wrestling, held a Level 1 Coaching Course and Introduction to Refereeing Course at the Northern Regional Centre Sonipat in Haryana, India, March 13-17.


The 8-day courses attracted more than 70 potential referees and coaches from across India. The courses were delivered by UWW educators Georgi SREDKOV (BUL) and Davor PETANJEK (CRO).


Both courses taught participants the essential skills necessary to sharpen their skillset and provide tools for them to develop their wrestling programs efficiently within their clubs and regions.

The courses were interactive, giving attending referees and coaches the chance to practice sharpening classroom skills on the mats.

The Wrestling Federation of India expressed its ongoing support of United World Wrestling’s Grow Wrestling initiatives and desire to cooperate with other projects related to development of wrestling across India.