Development

Wrestling Delivers Referee and Coaches Course in Chinese Taipei

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 25) – United World Wrestling, under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Halil Ibrahim CICIOGLU - 1s-ranked referee and member of the Referee Commission - held a referee and coaches’ course last week in Chinese Taipei.

The Level A referee course were part of the “Referee Education Pathway” a program started last year as an effort to educate and develop future generations of referees worldwide.

“His professional knowledge in wrestling sport has successful upgraded the proficiency of wrestling coaches and referees around the country,” said JANG Tsong Rong, President Chinese Taipei Wrestling Association.

“During the sessions, Prof. Ciciogiu demonstrated his excellent referee expertise through vivid speech, practical videos and excellent interaction with participants.”

The referee course in the Chinese Tapei was followed by a Level A coaching course with 20 coaches from around Chinese Taipei.

For more information on refereeing courses and opportunities please see below:

https://unitedworldwrestling.org/sites/default/files/wrestling_referee_brochure_eng.pdf

Akgul elected President of Turkish Wrestling Federation

By Eric Olanowski

ANKARA, Turkiye (December 18) --- Taha AKGUL (TUR) today was elected the President of the Turkish Wrestling Federation at the 6th Regular and Financial General Assembly of the Turkish Wrestling Federation held at the Anadolu Hotels Esenboğa Thermal in Ankara.

Akgul retired from his wrestling career four short months ago at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after successfully winning his third Olympic medal. The 34-year-old native of Sivas, Turkiye, won Olympic gold in Rio 2016 and then back-to-back bronze medals at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics. Akgul is also a three-time world gold medalist and 11-time European champion.

"I am very happy to have been elected president by the representatives. Together, with my team, I will do my best for the sport of wrestling with passion and hard work,” Akgul stated to United World Wrestling shortly after the elections.

According to the Turkish Wrestling Federation’s Instagram page, Akgul received 189 out of 288 votes. Former three-time world champion Celcuk CEBI (TUR) received 92 of the remaining 99 votes, while the remaining seven were nullified.

“The full members of the new board of directors of the federation under the presidency of Akgul are as follows: Mesut Ozarslan, Abdullah Şanli, Arslan Narin, Murat Şahin, Huseyin Kaya, Şems Sezal, İsmail Yagbat, İhsan Gurol Guey, İbrahim Demirturkoğgu and Ahmet Yildirim,” stated the TWF.

For more information regarding Akgul's election and other news from Turkiye, see the Turkish Wrestling Federation's Instagram page.