#BackToWrestling

With Eye on Safety, Lithuania Returns to Practice Mats

By United World Wrestling Press

VILNIUS, Lithuania (May 22) -- With few cases of COVID-19 nationwide, Lithuania's top wrestlers are returning to the mat, albeit with safety precautions in place. 

Lithuania has only seen 1600 total cases of COVID-19 and 60 deaths. Despite the lower numbers the wrestling federation and the athletes are taking every precaution they can to ensure the health and safety of the wrestlers on the mat. The new guidelines for practice includes increased cleaning protocols, temperature checks, hand sanitization and face masks (for anyone not actively wrestling).

Athletes’ Commission member Mindaugas EZERSKIS mentioned the practices during Monday's Athlete Webinar with the commission and UWW President Nenad Lalovic. Ezerskis said the team is training during the week and taking weekends off with a focus on preparing for the Olympics and Olympic Qualification events. 

You can watch the full video, here.

#WrestleAstana

WATCH: 10 freestyle finals from Asian Championships

By Vinay Siwach

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (May 9) -- Kazakhstan gave its best-ever performance at the Asian Championships in freestyle, winning the team title with ease. It won four gold medals out of 10. Six other nations -- Japan, Iran, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, India and Bahrain -- won a gold medal each at the competition.

Watch the 10 gold medal bouts from the Asian Championships.

GOLD: 57kg - AMAN (IND) vs. Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)