#development

INSEP organizes three international camps

By United World Wrestling Press

PARIS, France (June 28) -- United World Wrestling partnered with the French wrestling federation (FFL) and the country's National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance, known as INSEP, last year. The objective was to promote wrestling in France, support Francophone athletes, and provide top-notch training facilities to wrestlers worldwide.

In line with their ambitious action program, INSEP hosted three training camps in freestyle, women's wrestling, and Greco-Roman during the first half of 2023. African wrestlers on scholarships were welcomed by INSEP for winter preparation between the Henri Deglane and UWW Rankings Series tournaments earlier this year.

With Paris hosting the 2024 Olympic Games, wrestlers have the opportunity to acclimate by training at INSEP. Since the beginning of the year, over 66 wrestlers and 17 coaches from 16 countries have trained in Paris. These athletes benefit from optimal conditions and engage in sparring sessions with various teams participating in the different camps.

Additional international camps for the three Olympic styles are scheduled at INSEP for October, November, and December. A significant number of wrestlers, including those who qualified for the 2024 Olympics, are expected to attend these camps. It will also be an opportunity to organize international training sessions for coaches in each of the Olympic styles.

"These camps provide everyone with the chance to benefit from exceptional training quality within a unique campus, increase sparring opportunities for our wrestlers, and welcome the wrestling community to the Olympic city with athletes and coaches who are eager to shine during the 2024 Olympic Games," said Pierre VAZEILLES, FFLDA deputy DTN, who is responsible for coordinating the camps. "The interactions between athletes and coaches are always incredibly valuable and highlight the unity of the wrestling community. We are thrilled with the trust that UWW has placed in INSEP and the federation."

INSEP and FFL remain dedicated to their goal of enhancing the value of the training center's structure, which serves as the home for the French Olympic wrestling teams. They aim to facilitate the implementation of international UWW training camps, pooling resources and manpower to ensure the best possible preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open: Leydecker Makes Senior Debut with 53kg Gold

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 7) -- If Japan swept the gold medals in Women's Wrestling on day three of the Zagreb Open on Friday, day four on Saturday was a different story. Japan failed to win any gold medal as four different countries crowned champions.

U20 world champion Everest LEYDECKER (USA) threw her name in the mix at 53kg by winning gold in her first senior event. MANISHA (IND), Asian champion at 62kg, moved down to 57kg and managed to win gold in Zagreb.

At 72kg, Buse TOSUN (TUR) had a tough path but she managed find a way and win gold after beating Diksha MALIK (IND), 5-2, i the finals. The final gold of women's went to Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) who pinned Tristan KELLY (USA), via fall (9-1)..

Leydecker, just 18 years old, secured a one-sided victory over Roksana ZASINA (POL) in the final. She managed to score three takedowns and one point for activity clock against Zasina.

This was the American's first-ever senior event internationally but she showed no signs of being overawed by the situation.

In the semifinals, Leydecker faced two-time world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) and rallied on her one takedown to win the match 2-2 on criteria.

While the norm is to move up weight classes as wrestlers try and adjust into the Olympic weight, Manisha decided to move down from 62kg to 57kg. The decision could backfire but on Saturday, Manisha showed no mercy to her opponents and winning the gold medal at 57kg.

Facing Himeka TOKUHARA in the final, Manisha gave no chance to the Japanese in the final and two points in the first period and one in the second to close out a 3-0 blanking.

Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) brought the best for the last as she pinned Tristan KELLY (USA) in the 76kg final and capture a gold medal for Romania. Two huge throws resulted in four-points and after the second throw, Anghel held Kelly on the mat to secure the fall and the gold medal.

Paris bronze medalist Buse TOSUN (TUR), wrestling at 72kg, captured the season-opening Ranking Series gold after comfortably beating Diksha MALIK (IND), 5-2, in the final.

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD:  Everest LEYDECKER (USA) df. Roksana ZASINA (POL), 7-0

BRONZE: Umi IMAI (JPN) df. Annika WENDLE (GER), via forfeit
BRONZE: ANTIM (IND) df. Anjali KACHHAWA (IND), 10-0

57kg
GOLD: MANISHA (IND) df. Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN), 3-0

BRONZE: Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) df. Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR), 11-0
BRONZE: Amory ANDRICH (GER) df. Tindra DALMYR (SWE), 4-2

72kg
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Diksha MALIK (IND), 5-2

BRONZE: Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE) df. Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), 4-1
BRONZE: Veronika VILK (CRO) df. Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW), via inj. def.

76kg
GOLD: Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) df. Tristan KELLY (USA), via fall (9-1)

BRONZE: Kendra DACHER (FRA) df. PRIYA (IND), via fall (6-0)
BRONZE: Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. Shauna KUEBECK (CAN), 10-0

Greco-Roman

77kg
GOLD: Ali OSKOU (IRI) df. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), 9-1

BRONZE: Robert FRITSCH (HUN) df. Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO), 4-0
BRONZE: Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) df. Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL), 1-1

87kg
GOLD: Istvan TAKACS (HUN) df. Tamas LEVAI (HUN), 3-1

BRONZE: Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) df. Payton JACOBSON (USA), 2-1
BRONZE: Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) df. Matej MANDIC (CRO), 6-1