#Grappling

Kazakhstan dominates Asian Grappling Championships

By Vinay Siwach

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (June 23) -- Host country Kazakhstan dominated the Asian Grappling Championships, securing the majority of the gold medals in the U15 and U17 age categories.

Kazakhstan is currently hosting the Asian Grappling Championships at the Beeline Arena in Astana, which commenced on April 21 and will conclude on April 24.

In the U15 category, the competition featured ten men's Grappling weight classes, with Kazakhstan claiming eight gold medals. Neighboring Kyrgyzstan secured the remaining two gold medals in the 35kg and 53kg divisions. This outstanding performance granted Kazakhstan the team title with 240 points, while Kyrgyzstan finished second with 82 points. India secured the third position with 65 points.

In the same U15 age category, but in Grappling Gi, Kazakhstan exhibited even greater dominance, winning nine gold medals, leaving Kyrgyzstan with only one. Kazakhstan's remarkable performance earned them 245 points, while Kyrgyzstan secured second place with 72 points. India claimed the third position with 60 points.

Moving on to the U17 Grappling competition, Kazakhstan achieved a clean sweep, securing all nine gold medals across all weight classes. Among the five participating countries, Kazakhstan claimed the top spot, with Kyrgyzstan in second place and India in third. The pattern remained consistent in the U17 men's Grappling Gi, with Kazakhstan once again securing all nine gold medals, and the team rankings reflecting the same order as in the Grappling category.

GrapplingGrappling was held in U15, U17 and Veteran categories on the first two days. (Photo: UWW / Assem Shalgumbayeva)

In the women's Grappling Gi competition at the U17 level, bouts were held in six weight classes, with Kazakhstan winning five gold medals. The remaining gold medal went to India.

Similarly, in the women's Grappling competition, India prevented Kazakhstan from achieving a complete sweep by securing one of the six gold medals on offer.

A Veteran's competition also took place and it saw a change in the gold medalists.

In Veteran A men's Grappling Gi category, Kyrgyzstan and Iran won gold medals in three weight classes. While two gold medals went to Kyrgyzstan, Iran won the gold medal at 84kg.

GrapplingGrappling in women's category saw participants from four countries. (Photo: UWW / Assem Shalgumbayeva)

In Veteran A men's Grappling category, Kyrgyzstan won two more gold medals while the third was won by Kazakhstan. In both Grappling and Grappling Gi, Kazakhstan managed only one gold, two silver and a bronze medal.

All the individual bout results and videos of the tournament can be found exclusively on UWW's Asian Grappling Championships page. 

#development

Mauritius introduces wrestling into national school program

By United World Wrestling Press

The Mauritius Wrestling Federation inducted on the national schools program with 10 trained P.E. Teachers in various schools across the island and signature of a MOU is foreseen with the Ministry of Education to officialise the agreement next month.

Following the launch of the UWW Regional Education Development Program for the Indian Ocean 2022 and 2023, Deqa NIAMKEY and Vincent AKA, UWW Development Department, met with the local sporting authorities including Ministry of Sports, National Olympic Committee, national media, etc. to discuss and pursue the development of wrestling in MRI and the region. 

Two consecutive editions of the REDP program allowed for the federation to understand the popularity of wrestling and the requirements to introduce the discipline on the national sporting program. Starting at the grassroot level, particularly in schools and clubs while training the P.E. teachers, coaches and referees was an outstanding success that surprised all. 

The NF with its great leadership and administrators is the base of these developments. The President of the Mauritius Wrestling Federation, Mr. Richard Papie, who also the Vice President of the NOC, is highly dedicated to develop wrestling in Mauritius and strengthen the collaboration of NFs in the region. The MRI NF is implementing many initiatives, including the pursuit of their development plan through the Olympic Solidarity Development of the National Structure Program with a focus on increasing practitioners and popularity across Mauritius and Rodrigue Islands.  

Yusniel RAMIREZ (CUB) is currently coaching the national team in view of their preparation for the Road to Paris 2024 OG thanks to the support of the Ministry of Sports and NOC.

“The UWW Development Team provided tremendous support for these developments. The REDP project made us understand the importance to create an annual, realistic and up to our scale of development, with various/simultaneous activities for our wrestling community to participate and enjoy," said Richard Papie."Such initiatives create a sense of belonging and all participants felt that the wrestling community is one family. Most of all, I realised how popular wrestling is.”

Schedule of actions MRI NF:
August, 2023: Initiate Animators training to 9 physical educators
August, 2023: Signature of the MOU
September 2023: Opening of 3 wrestling schools with students of age 12 to 15
September-October 2023: One or two training sessions in the schools per week
November 2023: After exams three training sessions in the schools per week
December 2023: Xmas tournament for the new wrestlers, freestyle and beach wrestling 
January 2024: Refresher course for Animators
January-February 2024: Opening of 2 or 3 additional wrestling schools with students of age 16 to 19
January-February 2024: Monitoring and supporting training in schools 
March 2024: Organizing Seminar on athletes’ career path 
April 2024: Organizing coaches course level one for the physical educators
May 2024: National Championship All categories