World Cup

Japan to Host Women’s World Cup in Run-Up to Tokyo 2020

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 20) – United World Wrestling has awarded the 2019 Women’s Wrestling World Cup to the Japanese Wrestling Federation. The event will be held November 16-17 at the Nakadai Sports & Recreation Park Gymnasium in Narita.

The Women’s Wrestling World Cup will feature the top eight nations from the 2019 Wrestling World Championships as determined by their final rankings. Pools for World Cup competitions are no longer drawn and instead are determined by the final placements at the World Championships.

The 2019 Women’s World Cup will also be an opportunity for national federations, wrestlers, referees and staff members to get acquainted with the eastern edge of Tokyo prior to the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The Women’s Wrestling World Cup will be held 40km from Makuhari Messe, wrestling’s venue for the 2020 Games.

#WrestleParis

Techniques, safety, focus: UWW referees ready for Paris 2024

By United World Wrestling Press

ATHENS, Greece (August 1) -- United World Wrestling referees for Paris 2024 completed a three-day seminar from June 21 to 23, hosted by the Greek Wrestling Federation in Athens. The seminar was held to prepare for the Olympics, where referees will be ITOs.

The program consisted of self and group analysis of previous performance, theoretical study, mental preparedness, medical and safety training as well as on-the-mat training with Women's Wrestling, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestlers and coaching experts.

Led by the President of the UWW Athletes Commission, Arsen JULFALAKYAN, as well as coaches Alfred TER-MKRTCHYAN, Patrick NUDING and Amiran KARDANOV and wrestlers Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) and Christos KOUTSOURIDIS (GRE), referees analyzed common wrestling techniques and tactics in all styles and the proper philosophy and mechanisms referees should utilize when evaluating these situations.

Referee seminar

During these sessions, Julfalakyan also emphasized concerns and questions he receives from wrestlers and how we can improve the communication between athletes and referees when discussing the application of the rules.

Mental strength training sessions were led by Holger KNOLL, a trained mental strength coach specializing in athlete training. His sessions focused on how referees can improve their concentration and focus before, during and after competitions.

Babak SHADGAN, President of the UWW Medical Commission, provided medical and safety training, with focus on the role a referee plays in injury prevention.

In addition to the referee's instruction, Tristan MORAD, UWW Sports Department Coordinator, provided a presentation on the logistics and schedule of the wrestling of Paris 2024.

United World Wrestling and the UWW Referee Commission graciously thank the Greek Wrestling Federation and its President, Stergios LEONKIS, and UWW Bureau Vice President, Theodore HAMAKOS and numerous volunteers for their organization and hospitality in hosting the seminar.