Development

Hungary Announces Significant New Investment, Expansion of Wrestling Opportunities

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (October 1) -- The National Wrestling Federation of Hungary recently announced a significant financial investment in their national program aimed at increasing nationwide participation, optimizing top talent, and expanding their coaching pool.

The focus of the new initiative is the nine mat, two floor Kozma Istvan Hungarian Wrestling Academy, which will provide year-round training for wrestlers between the ages of 14-18. Selected cadet and junior wrestlers will live in a dormitory combined with the wrestling center with additional junior and U23 wrestlers visiting for national and international training camps.
 


The wrestling hall opened earlier this month, with the dormitory scheduled to open in 2022.

"This is a huge milestone. We are focused on providing a great opportunity for young wrestlers to prepare in the best conditions and continue to improve on the strong traditions and results of our nation," said UWW Bureau Member and Hungarian National Federation vice-president Peter Bacsa.

"The facility also helps us during the pandemic as we are able to train under stringent safety regulations."


The academy will also serve as an international wrestling center for Olympic Solidarity programs and regional training center aligned with the goals of United World Wrestling the International Olympic Committee.

To meet the ambitious goals of the center, the national federations has recruited three highly qualified coaches to serve. Diletta GIAMPICCOLO will serve as Hungary's first-ever full-time women's national team coach. A 2004 Olympian, Giampiccolo will oversee all age groups and work at the wrestling center. Giampiccolo is being supported by UWW and IOC Olympic Solidarity scholarship for coaches beneficiary at the WSLA programme.

Pakistan Wrestling Federation Hosts National Referees, Coaches Course

By United World Wrestling Press

LAHORE, Pakistan (March 27) -- The Pakistan Wrestling Federation, with the support of Olympic Solidarity and the National Olympic Committee of Pakistan, hosted a national course for referees and coaches Feb. 29 to March 1 in Lahore. 

This was the second national course by high performance coach Farid GHULAM and referee Riaz MUHAMMAD who served as instructors for the course, with the support of OS and NOC under the expertise of UWW Educators Carlos Garcia (ESP) and Trevor Hoskins (GBR).

Ghulam and Muhammed served as instructors for this course, too, which included over 30 participants, both male and female. The course combined both practical and theoretical sessions and highlighted elements such as nutrition, periodization, fitness and athlete preparation.
 


The Pakistan Wrestling Federation hosted a coaches and referees course in December as well.

"It is a good example of how UWW can trigger a movement of the development of wrestling in countries and even better, generate the flame of motivation and teamwork necessary to accomplish the long-term goal," said UWW educator Carlos GARCIA.


The Pakistan Wrestling Federation has put great efforts toward the development of wrestling in recent years and achieved strong results at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

The plan is to create a national system to grow wrestling and identify future talents with a solid coaching and refereeing structure.