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Late Additions Mongolia and India Hope to Play Spoiler at World Cup

By Tim Foley

IOWA CITY, United States (April 3) – Men’s freestyle powers Mongolia and India have been added to the 2018 Men’s Freestyle World Cup. The nations will take the group positions of Iran and Russia, respectively.

The lineup change came this week after Russia suffered significant delays in the approval of their visas. The Wrestling Federation of Iran withdrew in March.

Group A will now be the United States, Georgia, Japan and India, while Group B will be Azerbaijan, Cuba, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Mongolia brings a talented team of high-ranking youngsters to Iowa City, with five holding top position in the World Rankings. Of special note to wrestling fans is world No.1 Turtogtokh LUVSANDORJ (92kg), who wrestled collegiately in the United States and is expected to receive a warm welcome by the Iowa fans.

Freestyle World Cup Schedule

Saturday, April 7 (All Times, CST)

10:00am: United States v. India (Mat A) // Mongolia v. Kazakhstan (Mat B)
11:15am: Japan v. Georgia (Mat A) // Azerbaijan v. Cuba (Mat B)

-- 2:00 pm: Opening Ceremonies --

2:30pm: United States v. Japan (Mat A) 
4:30 pm: Mongolia v. Cuba (Mat B)
5:45 pm: India v. Georgia (Mat A) // Azerbaijan v. Kazakhstan (Mat B)

Sunday, April 8 (All Times, CST)
10:00am: United States v. Georgia (Mat A) // Mongolia v. Azerbaijan (Mat B)
11:15am: India v. Japan (Mat A) // Kazakhstan v. Cuba (Mat B)

12:30pm: Fifth Place Match (Mat A) // Seventh Place Match (Mat B)
2:15pm: Bronze Medal Match (Mat A)
4:00pm: Gold Medal Match (Mat A)

 

UWW Partners With Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan

By United World Wrestling Press

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 2) -- The Asian Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from April 6-12 will bear the logo with a snow leopard. Being the national symbol of Kyrgyzstan, the animal holds significant reference in the culture of the country.

Like in wrestling, success isn't just about strength, it’s about the combination of power, precision, and an unbreakable mind. Snow leopard in the high-altitude "arenas" of 12 countries in Central and South Asia, including Kyrgyzstan, lives by these same rules.

United World Wrestling is partnering with the Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan to promote the preservation of the animal of which around 300 adult individuals remain around the country.

With the Asian Championships in Bishkek, the tournament was the ideal opportunity to raise the awareness around the national symbol of Kyrgyzstan.

Snow Leopard Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2012. It conducts research across snow leopard habitats, implements community-based conservation programs, builds awareness and education, and assists government agencies in the Kyrgyz Republic in addressing policy issues pertaining to snow leopard conservation.

SLFK is the country partner of the International Snow Leopard Trust which was established in 1981 and is based in Seattle, US with the goal to protect the endangered snow leopard and its mountain ecosystem through a combination of advanced scientific research and community-based conservation programs.