#development

Brazil hosts women’s coaching course

Friday, February 10, 2023 - 16:06 By United World Wrestling Press

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (9 February 2023) - The Brazilian Confederation of Wrestling (CBW) organized a Women’s Coaching Course from 25-28 January in Uberlandia, Brazil. This course brought women coaches from different regions to learn and develop as a wrestling coach.  Many of the coaches came from other backgrounds that included Ji Jitsu and Judo and all had athletes competing nationally. The course was designed to help improve their technical knowledge of wrestling.

The course was led by Jessica Medina (USA Wrestling National Developmental Coach). Jessica has been coaching at USA Wrestling since 2019 and was the coach for the 2021 U17 and U20 world championship teams. “It is great to see other federations provide opportunities for female coaches. President Flavio Neves and the group of coaches were welcoming and excited to bring wrestling to Uberlandia, Brazil," said Medina. "The participants traveled from different regions of the country to focus on their development on and off the mat. They had great enthusiasm, questions, and a hunger to learn. It made me enjoy the experience even more.” 

This course was organized by Flavio Neves (President of CBW) and Aline da Silva (Vice President of CBW). “We expect in a few years to have more female coaches in the national team, more female athletes competing, and therefore more women in leadership positions in Brazil in Wrestling,” said Aline da Silva. 

Aline was a 2014 world silver medalist and competed in the two Olympic Games. She is also a current participant in the WISH (Women in Sport High-Performance) programme. Jessica Medina was a graduate of the WISH (formally known as WSLA-HPC).  The WISH Programme is designed to equip women coaches to succeed in elite coaching and leadership roles within their sports. 

“I am grateful that UWW is a federation that is looking to empower more female athletes and coaches. Because UWW gave me an opportunity to be a part of the WISH program, formerly WSLA, I can apply my leadership skills in mentoring others," said Medina. It was great to travel to another country and collaborate with other female professionals of different cultures. I am confident these women can make an impact in their federation.” 

#WrestleBelgrade

Orta, Jafarov set showdown at World Championships

Saturday, September 23, 2023 - 17:50 By Vinay Siwach

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 23) -- Tokyo Olympic champion at 60kg Luis ORTA (CUB) will be back in Paris, although in a new weight class, made it to his first-ever World Championships final on Saturday.

Orta moved up to the 67kg weight class at the start of the year and delivered results instantly, winning the Pan-Am gold and bronze medals at the Ranking Series events.

In Belgrade, Orta was slated to face world champion Mate NEMES (SRB) in the quarterfinals and after securing a hard-fought win over the local wrestler. Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) tried stopping him in the semifinals but Orta scored three takedowns in his 9-1 win over the Kyrgyz wrestler.

By reaching the final, Orta confirmed a spot for Cuba at the Paris Olympics next year.

But to be a world champion, Orta will have to beat the returning bronze medalist and a young star of the sport Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE).

The 20-year-old former U20 and U23 world champion reached the final after beating three top wrestlers in three straight bouts. He first took out European silver medalist Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) before beating Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI), 10-0, in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Jafarov was made to work hard by Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) for his 5-3 win. Jafarov scored a turn from par terre to lead 3-0. Jafarov was awarded a second passivity in the second period to change the score to 4-0 but he failed to score any points.

Galstyan scored a takedown in the second period and cut Jafarov's lead to 4-2 and got a stepout in the final second to make it 4-3. Armenia's challenge for fleeing could not be confirmed on review, adding a point to Jafarov's score.

At 87kg, David LOSONCIZ (HUN) showed why he is the most dynamic wrestler of the weight class, mauling his opponents in the run to the final. After winning his first two bouts via technical superiority, he defeated Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) 6-1 in the final before a brutal rolling of Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) in the semifinals.

He will face European silver medalist and returning bronze Ali CENGIZ (TUR) for the gold who scored a come-from-behind victory over Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) in the other semifinal. 

Cengiz had earlier beaten Olympic champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) 3-1 in the 1/8 finals before winning 3-3 against Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) who was a silver medalist at 82kg last year.

In the non-Olympic weight class, two-time world silver medalist Leri ABULADZE (GEO) will try to win a gold medal as he reached the final for the third straight year. Abuladze defeated Stefan CLEMENT (FRA) 3-1 in the semifinals.

For the gold, Abuladze will have a rematch of the 2022 European Championships final as Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) reached the final after beating Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) from the other side of the bracket. Abuladze won the gold at Euros 3-1.