#development

Singapore hosts Coaching Course ahead of Beach Wrestling World Series

Thursday, June 15, 2023 - 15:55 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

SINGAPORE, Singapore (June 15) – The Wrestling Federation of Singapore in partnership with United World Wrestling hosted a Level 2 Coaching Course prior to the Beach Wrestling World Series Event.  With hosting a major competition for the first time in Singapore, it provided them a unique opportunity to also partner with UWW to provide education and to help develop their coaches.  The Wrestling Federation of Singapore has been very active in the past year. They participated in the courses and camps at the SEA Championships last December and recently participated in the SEA Games.  They have been looking to grow and develop the sport and this event provided a way to further develop their coaches.

The Level 2 Course was conducted by Mr. Zach ERRETT (USA) – UWW Education Manager.  The course had 16 participants (14 men and 2 women).  “The coaches in the course did an outstanding job! They were eager to learn, worked hard to improve, and showed great growth over the 5 days,” said Mr. Errett. 

SINGParticipants of the course go through an introduction and use of the seven basic skills in wrestling. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The course was centered around many topics related to planning and delivering training sessions. The topics included improving coaching skills, introduction and use of the seven basic skills in wrestling, an introduction to performance analysis and how to use that in planning, theoretical framework to planning, practice plan activities, strength and conditioning within plans, and mental development of the wrestler. "Coaching is a transformative journey that unleashes the hidden potential within individuals, guiding them towards their own path of greatness. We express deep gratitude to Coach Educator Zach Errett and the UWW Development Department for their invaluable support in helping us achieve this remarkable growth. Zach's wealth of knowledge and impactful teaching style empowered our coaches with insights and experiences that resonated profoundly." Said Gabriel Huang, Director of Operations for Wrestling Federation of Singapore.

“It was extremely insightful and engaging. Thoroughly enjoyed the sharing sessions by the instructor as well as the other coaches so that we can learn from one another and improve on our individual coaching skills respectively,” said Caryl Li.

“Extremely informative and helpful for my journey as Coach. I now have tools and a greater network to fall back on if I ever face any challenges. This gives me the confidence and knowledge to tackle these hurdles,” said Christian Rodriques.

“Amazingly useful for everyone's future. I have learned way more than I expected coming in. I'm incredibly pleased with the course,” said Cassiano Laureano.

“Absolutely eye-opening! The course provided in-depth training on various techniques, strategies and coaching methodologies. On the other hand, the practical sessions allowed us to apply the concepts we learned. In short, I believe, the course was well organized and provided enriching experience,” said Ali Parvin

sinWrestling fans gather for the photo at the Beach Wrestling World Series event in Singapore. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

With hosting the Beach Wrestling World Series competition, it gave the Singapore Wrestling Federation an opportunity to promote wrestling to their community. During the competition and in between sessions, the coaches from the course delivered Wrestle4Fun activities. Wrestle4Fun is a programme to introduce wrestling through fun games and activities. In between sessions of the competition, the coaches were able to get kids out onto the sand in the field of play.  During that time, they played a number of Wrestle4Fun games and had an opportunity to learn about wrestling and beach wrestling.

“Overall, this was a great event!  It is always fun to work with many great coaches that are even better people. With the competition, it gave them a chance to really promote the sport to the community and children.  I am excited to see how they will continue to grow and raise the level of wrestling in their country," said Mr. Errett.

#WrestleAlexandria

Olympians gear up for African & Oceania qualifiers for Paris 2024

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - 09:58 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (March 19) -- Wrestlers from two continents will battle on the mat for 18 Paris Olympic spots at the African & Oceania OG Qualifiers in Alexandria on March 22-24.

All eyes will be on Tokyo Olympic medalists Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) at 68kg in Women's Wrestling and Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) at 67kg in Greco-Roman. The two failed to earn a Paris quota at the World Championships in September but will be the favorite to claim the spot in Alexandria.

The tournament will follow a bracket system and two winners of the semifinals will earn the Paris spot. There will be no gold medal bouts and repechage.

Oborududu won the African Championships on Monday in dominating fashion and has the best chance to qualify. Samah ABDELLATIF (EGY), Tayla FORD (NZL) and African medalist Khadija JLASSI (TUN) will try to stop her and earn a quota for themselves.

For Elsayed, Ishak GHAIOU (ALG) will be the biggest test as he will be randomly drawn in the 67kg bracket. Japan-born Gaku AKAZAWA (SAM) will be seeded number two and cannot face Elsayed.

In other Women's Wrestling weight classes, African champion Mercy GENESIS (NGR) will be primed to win the semifinal at 50kg. Traditional powerhouses in Africa Egypt and Tunisia will be represented by Nada MOHAMED (EGY) and Nourhene HEDHLI (TUN) respectively.

At 53kgm Nigeria will see Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) going for the Paris spot. She won the African Championships gold medal on Monday but the addition of Oceania wrestlers can make things interesting. 

Jessica LAVERS MCBAIN (AUS) will be at 53kg for Australia while Guam has Mia AQUINO (GUM). Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY) and Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN) will also look to win as well.

Nigeria already has won the quota at 57kg through world bronze medalist Odunayo ADEKOUROYE (NGR), leaving others to earn a Paris spot. Irene SYMEONIDIS (AUS), Natacha NABAINA (CMR), Louji YASSIN (EGY), Rckaela AQUINO (GUM) and Faten HAMMAMI (TUN) will have to fight it out for the two spots.

Marwa AMRI (TUN) usually locked the 62kg for Tunisia but the now-retired wrestler will be coaching Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) as she tries to fill the shoes. Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) will be a big test for everyone in this weight class as she won the African Championships.

Two-time world medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) will be looking for a second trip to the Olympics if she can win the 76kg spot in front of the home crowd. It could go three-way as African silver medalist Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) and now African champion Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) are also entered.

Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY)Tokyo bronze medalist Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) is the favorite at 67kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan) 

Greco-Roman

Tokyo Olympian Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG) will be tested by Moamen MOHAMED (EGY) and Mohamed HKIRI (TUN) as the three look to win the two spots available at 60kg in Greco-Roman.

Egypt and Algeria usually dominate Greco-Roman in Africa which will add pressure on Abd OUAKALI (ALG) and Mahmoud ABDELRAHMAN (EGY) who will be the favorite to win the Paris spot at 77kg. Sheng ZHANG (AUS) will be representing Australia.

Two Tokyo Olympians will have a chance to earn another trip to the Olympics as Bachir SID AZARA (ALG) and Mohamed METWALLY (EGY) gear up for a battle in 87kg. Both skipped the African Championships to prepare for the qualifiers.

At 97kg, Fadi ROUABAH (ALG), Mohamed GABR (EGY) and Mohamed MISSAOUI (TUN) have the best chance to win a spot while top seed Maulalo ALOFIPO (SAM) will look to get one through as only six wrestlers are entered in the weight category.

As Egypt already has a quota at 130kg, four wrestlers will battle for the two quotas in this weight class. Hemza HALOUI (ALG), Oussama ASSAD (MAR), Marcus CARNEY (NZL) and Tokyo Olympian Amine GUENNICHI (TUN) will face each other in a round-robin format to decide the two spots.

Amr REDA (EGY)Amr REDA (EGY) will look to repeat as an Olympian. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Freestyle

Egypt will hope to get all six Freestyle spots for Paris as it fields a strong team. Tokyo Olympian Amr REDA (EGY), backed by the home crowd in Alexandria, has his eyes set on the Paris spot in the 74kg weight class. Reda has proved on several occasions that he is a notch up the field in Africa. However, Bacar NDUM (GBS), a former African Championships silver medalist, will hope to get a spot even if he falls in the same bracket as Reda.

At 57kg, African champion Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS) will be the favorite to win the spot along with Tokyo Olympian Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG). Gamal MOHAMED (EGY), Thomas SANTIAGO (GUM) and Suraj SINGH (NZL) will also fancy their chance to win a Paris spot.

Oceania Championships silver medalist Ethan AGUIGUI (GUM) pulled out of the qualifiers at 65kg. But Oceania champion Georgii OKOROKOV (AUS) will be a huge favorite to earn a quota. Omar MOURAD (EGY), Gaku AKAZAWA (SAM), who is also competing in Greco-Roman, and Sylvio DIATTA (SEN) can prove to be dark horses.

Australia can have a second Olympian from Alexandria if Jayden LAWRENCE (AUS) can bring out his best performance and earn a spot at 86kg. He also needs Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) to fall on the other side of the bracket.

Tokyo Olympian and African champion Benferdjallah has dominated the weight class in Africa and will look to earn a Paris quota for himself. Other names include Ahmed MAHMOUD (EGY) and Imed KADDIDI (TUN).

Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN) was in Tokyo and has a chance to be in Paris if he can earn a quota at 97kg in Alexandria. It will be a similar case for South Africa as former African silver medalist Nicolaas DE LANGE (RSA) hopes to win a quota.

Wali KEBIR (ALG), Mostafa ELDERS (EGY) and Anas SAMIR (MAR) will also hope to finish in the top two to earn a ticket.

The two wrestlers who won the 125kg quotas for Tokyo from continental qualifiers are back at it. Diaaeldin ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY) and Hamza RAHMANI (TUN) will be the favorite to win the two spots again.