Development

UWW Hosts First Regional Educational Development Tournament

By United World Wrestling Press

PRETORIA, South Africa (December 7) -- United World Wrestling's Development Department conducted the first-ever Regional Educational Development Tournament (REDT) in South Africa.

This event was hosted in collaboration with the South Africa Wrestling Federation. The REDT is a regional course and tournament centered around training and educating the coaches and referees. At the conclusion of the courses, there is a scheduled tournament to provide opportunities for countries in the region to compete in international competitions.

The INTUTHUKO Development Week in South Africa was conducted from November 26 to December 1. This event included participants from South Africa, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Angola.

“It was a great experience seeing many coaches and referees attending the Level 2 clinic," SAWF President Sakkie Bosse said. "The UWW instructors were very professional in the way they conducted the clinic and every assignment was presented with great expertise and professionalism. The coaches and referees received information which they could apply in their wrestling career."

UWW Development Director Deqa Niamkey added that despite the challenge of COVID-19, the team made sure it becomes a success.

“Despite the current world challenges with the rising of COVID-19 cases, the wrestling family stays strong and is striving to continue the development of the sport. We thank the South African Wrestling and all those who participated. We will renew the event once the situation is cleared as this program showed tremendous success for the developing wrestling nations," Niamkey said.

From November 26-30, a Level 2 Coaching Course was conducted by Vincent Aka and Zach Errett. This course included working with 17 coaches and focused on the development of practice plans.

“Thank you, it was very educational,” said Zumicka Geringer (RSA).

"We promise that we are going to use all that we learn here and show our capacity as a coach trained by the best educators Vincent Aka and Zach Errett,” said Celstino Chicago (ANG).

From November 28-30, Charles Villet and Stanislav Sernek piloted a non-certification referee course (Next Level). This course included 19 referees working to improve their skills and knowledge.

During the final day of both courses, the referees and coaches worked together. Both groups were able to learn from each other and see the value in working together. The referees and coaches also completed training on Athlete Safeguarding, regarding the role that both play in keeping athletes safe and free from abuse.

“The UWW instructors Zach Errett, Vincent Aka and Charles Villet, were very professional and highly skilled in the subjects they presented," Bosse said. "Thank you to the three of them. South African Wrestling Federation appreciates the effort they put into the Level 2 clinic. Thank you to the organizing committee of South African Wrestling Federation for hosting the event in a professional manner."

The INTUTHUKO was scheduled to end with a small regional competition. However, due to COVID-19, the competition had to be canceled at the last minute.

For more information on REDT events in the future, visit www.uww.org.

#BeachWrestling

African Beach Wrestling Championships 2024: All you need to know

By Vinay Siwach

DAKAR, Senegal (June 21) -- The second edition of the African Beach Wrestling Championships will be held in Dakar, Senegal. The tournament, to be played on June 22 and 23 at the Arène Nationale de Lutte, will see 103 wrestlers competing in four weight classes each in men's and women's categories.

The first African Championships in Beach Wrestling was held in Hammamet, which also hosted the African Beach Games, last year.

The two-day tournament will streamed live on the United World Wrestling Beach Wrestling Series YouTube channel. All the action can be accessed here. On Saturday, the group bouts in all weight classes will begin at 10:00 hours local time till 13:00 hours. After a two-hour break, the competition will resume with more group-stage bouts at 15:00 hours.

On Sunday, the morning session will see the remaining group-stage bouts in all weight classes in both categories beginning at 10:00 hours. The evening session will begin at 15:00 hours with all the elimination and medal bouts. A closing ceremony is scheduled at 19:30 hours.

For regular updates, log on to uww.org or the UWW App and follow United World Wrestling channels on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.

Here are the wrestlers competing in the weight classes in Dakar on Saturday and Sunday.

Siny SEMBENE (SEN)Siny SEMBENE (SEN) will look to defend his 90kg title in Dakar. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Men's Beach Wrestling

70kg
Chamseddine ABDEMEZIEM (ALG)
Reginaldo da SILVA (ANG)
Yves NISHIMWE (BDI)
Baki ISSIAKO (BEN)
Herve KI (BUR)
Guy LAGO (CIV)
Gibriel CHOW (GAM)
Wotna NDOC (GBS)
Rafael NZE OYANA (GEQ)
Thierno DIALLO (GUI)
Kenneth KOECH (KEN)
Faly RANDRIANANTOANDRO (MAD)
Gilbert EMILIE (MRI)
Djamilou BAKOYE BAJINI (NIG)
Adama THIOR (SEN)
Nkosinathi MAKHANYA (SWZ)
Rodgers MUKYEDA (UGA)
Kangwa DAKA (ZAM)

80kg
Chawki DOULACHE (ALG)
Kieto PACHECO (ANG)
Firmin TOSSE (BEN)
Jeffias KULUBE (BOT)
Koni DIALLO (BUR)
Nelson OBROU (CAF)
Dongui AHAMED ABASSE (CAF)
Michel DOLE BONDELE (CGO)
Samluel FALINA DOGOM (CHA)
Anthony WESLEY (CPV)
Modou JOBE (GAM)
Caetano SA (GBS)
Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN)
Mohammed BOUAZOUNI (MAR)
Jesse VAN BAALEN (RSA)
Mbaye DIOP (SEN)
Ya NDONG (SEN)
Foday KARGBO (SLE)
Ibrahim AHMED (SUD)
Joseph KAKIZIBA (TAN)
Khairiddine BEN TLILI (TUN)

90kg
Ayelodjou TCHEDE (BEN)
Karim BAZONGO (BUR)
Cedric ABOSSOLO (CMR)
Matteo MONTEIRO FURTADO TRESSE (CPV)
Ahmed MAHMOUD (EGY)
Adama SARR (GAM)
Emmanuel OSEI SARFO (GHA)
Mohamed CAMARA (GUI)
Mark ONGUYESI (KEN)
Harrison ONOVWIOMOGBOHWO (NGR)
Siny SEMBENE (SEN)

+90kg
Amine BENDJELLOUL (ALG)
Islam INOUSSA (BEN)
Alain GUERET (CAF)
Borcel BOUKAKA (CGO)
Babacarr MBOGE (GAM)
Issah FUSEINI (GHA)
Dan CHEPTAI (KEN)
Pieter UYS (NAM)
Mouhamed BAYO (SEN)
Alaza SAYIBIA (TOG)

Amy YOUIN (CIV)Amy YOUIN (CIV) is entered at +70kg for the African Beach Wrestling Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Women's Beach Wrestling

50kg
Cheima CHEBILA (ALG)
Gouleli BATIO (BUR)
Nde YAPI (CIV)
Rose KOMBE (CMR)
Debora TURE (GBS)
Emma WANGILA (KEN)
Nahamie SAMBOU (SEN)

60kg
Lassaleth ANTONIO (ANG)
Julienne UWIMANA (BDI)
Sofiath ADJAI (BEN)
Wendgounda NABI (BUR)
Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV)
Farah HUSSEIN (EGY)
Rohey CHAM (GAM)
Alberta TETTEH (GHA)
Emily WANYAMA (KEN)
Solo MIORANIRINA (MAD)
Zineb HASSOUNE (MAR)
Vihanshy KANAPETRADU (MRI)
Ester ABRAHAM (NAM)
Hanna IDI ADAM (NIG)
Mama SAMBOU (SEN)
Siphesihle DLAMINI (SWZ)
Harriet AKITE (UGA)

70kg
Kawiyatou ISSIFOU (BEN)
Kelebogile BASUPI (BOT)
Riyanata DIALLO (BUR)
Lec Hej ANDE (CAF)
Clavina ITSAMBO NGALA (CGO)
Aminata IMBALI (GBS)
Freedom MBIYA NGUEMA (GEQ)
Safietou GOUDIABY (SEN)
Vumilia KALINGA (TAN)
Bimamdeou AGNAN (TOG)
Nour JELJELI (TUN)
Abigail MULENGA (ZAM)

+70kg
Salmantou COULIBALY (BUR)
Godah GASSIDA (CHA)
Amy YOUIN (CIV)
Ebi BIOGOS (NGR)
Lillian MBENA (RSA)
Anta SAMBOU (SEN)
Augusta DEIGH (SLE)
Patricia ELNOUR (SUD)