UWW Five-Year Strategic Plan: Enhance Women's Wrestling, Transform Digitally

Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - 08:38 By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (November 10) -- As United World Wrestling moves into another Olympic cycle after completing a successful Tokyo Olympics, it is keen on taking the next big step.

At the bi-annual Congress, held on the eve of the U23 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, UWW revealed its extensive five-year plan to enhance the sport. It has identified five key areas of focus over the next five years.

The areas identified following a comprehensive outreach program are women's wrestling, digital transformation, youth engagement, associated styles and the image of wrestling.

The five areas will be the priority at every competition through 2022-'26. The organization will implement a system to track the progress. United World Wrestling will provide national federations with roadmaps and resources that aim to help move forward together.

UWW Congress was held in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Enhance and Empower Women's Wrestling

In line with the International Olympic Committee's focus on gender equality, UWW aims to create an optimal inclusive environment to achieve gender equality. Women's wrestling and its growth are a significant part of that program.

With the objective to communicate the potential of women's wrestling and create inclusivity at the sporting and organizational level, UWW will analyze the areas that can boost women's wrestling growth.

UWW's top priority before Paris Olympics is to identify the blockers in the growth of women's wrestling and the potential drivers that can provide that boost. It also plans to share inspiring case studies and launch women's achievement awards.

On the sporting front, the technical committee will review and adapt training methods and techniques, develop more female coaches, analyze rules for WW and review event presentation and delivery for all women competitions.

UWW Tech UWW is keen on a digital-first approach. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Embrace and Foster Digital Transformation

With a digital-first approach, UWW has achieved a pathbreaking system aiming to transform the sport and organization using digital tools.

Moving forward, it will create a roadmap by analyzing the current landscape and identifying the challenges that may arise, given the complex nature of the sport.

The inclusion of all stakeholders is essential to achieve a digital transformation with national federations, commissions, and even wrestlers. Therefore, UWW will build a universal understanding of the digital-first approach.

An internal team will be formed, where they'll be responsible for setting goals and preparing the stakeholders. They will also be responsible for reinforcing the technology adaptation at all levels.

It will be a huge step in fostering a digital culture, and with the support of national federations, training will be provided. By monitoring the trends, UWW can analyze the areas in which more work is needed.

UWW is also in the works to create a digital transformation dashboard to measure the global status and progress it makes with these changes.

More than medals

Elevate and Inspire Youth Engagement

As the future of the sport lies in the hands of youth, UWW has made it a priority to reach out and engage youth for the future of our sport. The objectives outlined by UWW are to develop entry pathways for youth, connect and enhance youth competitions.

For that, UWW will encourage more schools to have wrestling programs, inspire more girls to wrestle, and even prepare programs between countries. It also aims to connect via demonstrating shared values, promoting youth wrestling stories and creating youth awards.

UWW will analyze industry best practices, test new event activation ideas at competitions of all styles and age categories, and evaluate the impact to enhance youth competitions.

Grappling is one of UWW's most important Associated Styles. (Photo: UWW / Max Rose-Fyne)

Support and Connect Associated Styles

Given the history of the sport, UWW embraces many different wrestling styles and aims to grow all styles under one umbrella.

For the best results in associated styles, UWW will clarify the objectives by capturing the current landscape of the different styles around the world and gathering input on the priorities and objectives.

It also aims to establish better connections by creating a global UWW Summit for all styles and fostering knowledge and best practices. Connecting all styles remains a priority for the organization, and it will keep testing new approaches for that.

UWW will review the competition system and increase cross-promotion by facilitating education about different styles to create synergy and a win-win situation for every style.

Revamp and Reinforce Image of Wrestling

UWW has done it before and now it is time to take it to the next level. In a need to be better at showcasing the strengths of both wrestling and UWW, it will showcase the unique and attractive image of wrestling to audiences worldwide.

At the first step, UWW will clarify the image gap and revamp it. The organization then plans to reinforce and multiply the message about the sport and how it's run.

It is undoubtedly a process, but to determine how it wants to be looked at, UWW will analyze how it is seen in the current scenario. Clarifying the image gap will also need to the gap internally and externally.

By identifying the intangible strength of wrestling, UWW aims to produce new and attractive material and have new activities to showcase its image.

A huge part in promotion is played by the national federations, and UWW will support them and seek to develop new partnerships to amplify the new image. It will also create awards to share positive stories.

While UWW will not lag in these initiatives, only a united effort will be needed to support and activate activities at the regional and national levels. It has invited all national federations to send regular feedback and even share ideas to make wrestling a better sport.

#WrestleHangzhou

In comeback, Mun makes Asian Games golden for DPR Korea

Friday, October 6, 2023 - 11:34 By Vinay Siwach

LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 6) -- After two heartbreaking losses to Japan in the finals of Women's Wrestling, DPR Korea finally got the better of arguably the best wrestlers in the world.

Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) stunned world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) with a comeback victory in the 62kg in the final at the Asian Games to make sure that her country finished Women's Wrestling with at least a gold medal.

A day before, wrestlers from the country suffered final-second losses to Japanese wrestlers. In the 50kg final, Son Hyang KIM (PRK) lost 5-4 to Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) while In Sun JONG (PRK) fell to world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) 7-6.

But Mun changed the script, giving DPR Korea something to cheer about on their comeback after four years. The country has not wrestled globally since the 2019 World Military Games.

In the 62kg final, Mun, down 6-0 at the break, came alive in the second period. She scored a counter exposure to make it 6-2 before an arm-lock throw in the final minute saw Ozaki, who wrestled like a world champion till then, fall on her back.

Though Ozaki kept her one shoulder from touching the mat, Mun was happy to hold her in danger for the remainder of the clock to win 6-6 as she had a four-point move over Ozaki's two-pointers.

A stunned Ozaki took her own time to get up from the mat while Mun jumped around in joy and finished her celebrations with a somersault.

Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) in action against Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) in the 62kg final. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

"I was in a situation where I didn't know anything about the DPR Korean wrestler," Ozaki said after the final. "In that context, the biggest thing is the mentality. I felt that I was prepared. After I beat Tynybekova, I knew that the job wasn't finished. I got my mind focused on the final. I wasn't feeling overconfident. I didn't think about being defensive. The problem was that I didn't get off to a good start that I wanted to."

This is not the first time Mun has troubled a Japanese wrestler. Back in 2019 at the Asian Championships in Xi'an, Mun led 4-3 against Yukako KAWAI (JPN) in the semifinal and with 12 seconds left, she tried a headlock throw which Kawai defended and scored a takedown. Mun would go on to lose that semifinal 5-4.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) defeated Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) 3-1 in the 62kg quarterfinals. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

While the 20-year-old Ozaki could not win her first Asian Games gold, she did have a mini-achievement in Hangzhou. Ozaki defeated Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) 3-1 in the quarterfinals, their fifth career meeting in two years. A takedown from Ozaki in the second remained the difference between the two wrestlers after passivity points. Ozaki now leads the head-to-head 3-2. The two exchanged titles in 2021 and 2022 and Asian titles in 2022 and 2023.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) scores a takedown against Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) in the 76kg final. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

While Tynybekova, the Asian Games champion from 2018, could not defend her title, bronze medalist from Jakarta Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) improved to gold after beating the Asian champion at 72kg Zhamila BAKBERGENOV (KAZ) in the 76kg final.

Medet Kyzy had injured her knee in the final of the World Championships in Belgrade two weeks ago but showed little signs of injury winning the final 7-4. Not only was her offense on point, but the Kyrzgy wrestler was up to the mark in defense as well.

"After the World Championships, my goal was this tournament," Medet Kyzy said. "After Belgrade, I thought that I would not wrestle in the Asian Games but we discussed with the coaches and they said you can win the Games with one leg and decided to wrestle."

Feng ZHOU (CHN) defended her Asian Games title at 68kg. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

The third gold medal in Women's Wrestling was captured by home favorite and defending champion Feng ZHOU (CHN) at 68kg. After Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling, Zhou was the only wrestler to defend the title from Jakarta.

Zhou was up against a surprise finalist in Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) who defeated world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in the semifinal. The former Asian champion launched a barrage of high gut wrenches to beat Nurtaeva 13-2.

"I feel quite emotional right now," Zhou said. "I did better in the second round. I was quite nervous in the first and was a big tight. But I was able to let things go from there. I took my chance and successfully extended the gap."

The gold medal is Zhou's third of the Asian Games as she won the title in 2014 as well at 75kg as only four weight classes were included in the Games back then.

"I never thought about the two previous Asian Games gold. I just took it one bout at a time," she said. "I overcame myself. I didn't do well at the World Championships just before the Asian Games. To b able to recover from that, pick myself up and regain confidence, wasn't that easy to do."

The 30-year-old two-time world medalist was wrestling at home for the first time in a while and expressed that the cheers from the crowd was the extra motivation she needed.

"It's definitely more motivation," she said. "It's so different competing at home. I hear everyone cheering for me and that helps drive me. It's so much nicer to compete at home."

Tynybekova wins bronze

World champion Tnynbekvoa returned to win the bronze medal at 62kg, beating Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) 2-1. The three-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist relied on her strong defense to see off Kuznetsova.

"I weighed around 60kg as I fell sick when I came here," Tynybekova said. "I have not eaten in three days. I am a little tired and I think I need a holiday."

The other bronze medal went to SONAM who defeated the world silver medalist from 2022 Jia LONG (CHN) 7-5 with a takedown in the last 30 seconds.

At 68kg, Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) completed a fall over KANHA CHEA (CAM) to win the medal while Enkhsaikhan pinned 2010 Asian Games champion Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) after an action-packed bout in which Enkhsaikhan led 10-6 before getting the fall.

The bronze medals at 76kg went to KIRAN who managed to beat Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL), 6-3, and Juan WANG (CHN) who won 6-0 against Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE).

RESULTS

62kg
GOLD: Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) df. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), 6-6

BRONZE: SONAM df. Jia LONG (CHN), 7-5
BRONZE: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ), 2-1

68kg
GOLD: Feng ZHOU (CHN) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), 13-2

BRONZE: Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. KANHA CHEA (CAM), via fall
BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ), via fall

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 7-4

BRONZE: KIRAN df. Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL), 6-3
BRONZE: Juan WANG (CHN) df. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE), 6-0

UWW Five-Year Strategic Plan: Enhance Women's Wrestling, Transform Digitally

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In comeback, Mun makes Asian Games golden for DPR Korea