Development

Jordan Hosts Level I Technical Course

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (May 10) – The Jordanian Olympic Committee with the support of Olympic Solidarity and in collaboration of the Jordan Wrestling Federation, hosted a Level I technical course for coaches  February 4-8 in Amman.

The course was conducted by UWW Educator Batbayar BUYANDELGER (MGL) and gathered 21 participants and was followed by an "Introduction to Refereeing" conducted by fellow UWW Educator Sherif HALAWA (EGY).

Jordan is among the first nations to benefit from the launch of the development initiative to assist developing nations in organizing national wrestling competitions. To ensure that lessons were well-received the participants at both courses took part in the organization and delivery of the competition, which included 20 cadet and junior level boys and 7 national referees.

The budget of $3000 was allocated for the event, with the Jordan Wrestling Federation offering positive feedback on their experience.  

In order to encourage grassroots development of smaller wrestling national federations, UWW is encouraging countries to organize at least one competition per year, and when possible that will be supported and assisted by UWW in conjunction of an Olympic Solidarity Technical Course for Coaches.

“The aim is to promote the sport of wrestling in Jordan and the region. Middle-East countries have a strong wrestling history with great potential for development, this is why we want to assist them in their development process.” said Ms. Deqa Niamkey, UWW Development Director. “ Following the first project in Burundi, we received many requests of technical courses for coaches and a high demand to host national competitions right after the educational courses. UWW expert educators, are contributing tremendously to this growth and I trust these events will contribute tremendously to the growth of wrestling.”

#WrestleTirana

Wednesday's U23 World Championship semifinals set

By Eric Olanowski

TIRANA, Albania (October 25) --- Welcome to the third day of wrestling at the 2023 U23 World Championships. Today, we'll welcome in five women's wrestling weights--50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg.

Top Stars in Action:
50kg - Nada MOHAMED (EGY) - U23 world bronze
53kg - Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) - U23 world gold 
53kg - Alisha Sue HOWK (USA) - U23 world bronze 
59kg - Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) - U23 world bronze 
68kg - Nesrin BAS (TUR) - U23 world gold 
68kg - Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) - U23 world bronze 
76kg - Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) - U23 world bronze 
76kg - Kennedy BLADES (USA) - U20 world gold

Semifinal matches (as they come in):

50kg
Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) vs. Audrey Rae JIMENEZ (USA)
Emma Solange Irène LUTTENAUER (FRA) vs. Umi ITO (JPN)

55kg
Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) vs. Umi IMAI (JPN)
Neha SHARMA (UWW) vs. Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN)

59kg
Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) vs. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN)
Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) vs. Michaela Amy RANKIN (CAN)

68kg
Vanessa Cheryl Elizabeth KEEFE (CAN) vs. Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN)

Nesrin BAS (TUR) vs. Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN)

76kg
Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) vs. Reetika REETIKA (UWW)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) vs. Kennedy Alexis BLADES (USA)

13:49: That's two matches up, and two matches down for Ito. She punched her ticket to tonight's semifinals with another tech fall. This time, it was a 13-2 win over Aida KERYMOVA (UKR).

13:07: I'm waiting for Tindra Linnea SJOEBERG (SWE) to come up on Mat B. She's someone who Sweden has invested heavily into, and their waiting to see the fruits of their efforts. They obviously see the potential or they wouldn't have sent her to six competitions--five of which were senior-level events--this season.

It would be a great one-two punch for Swesen if Sjoeberg can continue to improve over the next six months and somehow find a way to join this year's U23 European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) at the Paris Olympic Games.

With years ahead of them, it feels like Sjoeberg and Malmgren could be the second coming of Swedish greats Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) and Jenny FRANSSON (SWE).

Sjoeberg will wrestle Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) next on Mat B.

12:49: Ito took Szeker down four times and turned her once for a 10-0 first-period win. She'll compete next against the winner of Amanda TOMCZYK (POL) and Aida KERYMOVA (UKR).

12:22: As a massive Yui SUSAKI (JPN) fan, one think I always pay attention to is her fellow Japanese 50kg countrywomen. I'm trying to project who will be the successor to Susaki's 50kg throne after she goes up to 53kg following the Paris Olympic Games.

For that reason, I'm patiently waiting for Umi ITO (JPN) to take the mat. She's coming up on Mat C against in three matches, where she'll meet Szimonetta Timea SZEKER (HUN).

12:20: There wasn't much to say about the Vynnyk win. She came to the mat, scored ten quick points and left. She'll wrestle Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) in the quarterfinals.

12:09: '21 U23 world champion Andreea ANA (ROU) just picked up an easy 10-0 win on Mat A. That brings up reigning U23 world bronze medalist Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR).

Vynnyk has been one of the most consistent U23 wrestlers in the world over the last few years. She's only lost twice, winning the U23 European Championships earlier this season and finishing with bronze medals last season at the World and European Championships.

11:34: Although there are no returning U23 world medalists in Japan's lineup, they have the most dominant women's program in the world and are "guarenteed" to win at least five golds.

Since the first edition of the U23 World Championships in 2017--and with the exception of the 2021 U23 World Championships where Japan sat out due to COVID restrictions--the Japanese women have won at least five world titles at every U23 World Championships.

11:25: I've said this before, but it's worth noting the depth of the United States at 76kg. Adeline Gray has to be the front-runner to win the spot, but Blades, Kylie WELKER and Amit ELOR (USA) are all serious threats that Gray should be training for.

I know Elor has repeatedly stated that she's heading down to 68kg, and it would be best for the United States lineup, but she's never cut weight, so don't rule out the potential that she goes up to 76kg just yet.

11:11: Well, that was short-lived. Blades only needed a minute to score the tech fall over Patrycja Monika SLOMSKA (POL). I don't think she's going to have much trouble in the bracket, with her biggest test ultimately coming against U23 world bronze medalist Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR)

11:05: Kennedy BLADES (USA) is up now on Mat C. Earlier this year, Blades tech'ed six-time world Adeline GRAY (USA) and most thought she would represent the United States at the Senior World Championships. Gray had different thoughts, coming back to beat Blades in two straight matches to take the spot.

10:58: No matter how you spin it, a win is a win at this level. Bas didn't look her best in that opening round match, only scoring a referee-given point, but she ended up holding on to win 1-1 on criteria.

10:51: We just wrapped up our last freestyle repechage match and will now head directly into the women's wrestling qualification round matches. 

The first star up is defending champion Nasren BAS (TUR). She's up now on Mat C against Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR).