Development

Wrestling Delivers Referee Courses in DPR-Korea and China

By Tim Foley

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (June 4) – United World Wrestling, under the expertise of Prof. Dr. Halil Ibrahim CICIOGLU - 1s-ranked referee and member of the Referee Commission - held a series of courses this month in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and China.

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

“I had an excellent educational opportunity in the DPRK and China,” said Mr. Cicioglu. “I was very happy to serve the people who wanted to improve the sport of wrestling in their countries and was impressed with their excitement to learn. We look forward to seeing more of these referees at future international competitions.”

The referee course in the DPRK was the first such event organized by the nation’s national federation and met or exceeded all requirements. Last year the federation hosted a Level One Coaches Course, which was received with equal praise. The small nation produced an impressive number of referees and coaches with 16 referee candidates and a coaching seminar with 78 attendees.
 

Among the refereeing candidates was Mrs. Choe Jong Bok, was former medalist at the Asian Championships who was eager to learn more about a career as a referee. Should Mrs. Choe continue her education and become a referee she would be the first female from the DPRK to fill that role.

The referee seminar in Beijing was also a major success with more than 100 referees from around the country in attendance. The Chinese Wrestling Federation, who hosted an Olympic Qualification tournament in 2012, held the event at the National Training Center in Beijing.

Later this month the Chinese Wrestling Federation will also be hosting the China Open, a United World Wrestling Ranking Series event, in Taiyung, China. The women’s wrestling event will be held on June 22 and June 23, with a short women’s wrestling development camp to precede it starting June 17.

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

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

#WrestleRome

U17 World Championships Day 4 semis set

By Vinay Siwach

ROME, Italy (July 28) -- The U17 World Championships enters day four with five women's wrestling five weight classes in action. After the finals were set for the other five weights, wrestlers in 40kg, 46kg, 53kg, 61kg and 69kg will take the mat at the Pala Pellicone in Rome, Italy.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 WRAP

11 different countries enter the semifinals with Japan sending all five. India has four in the semis while USA and Ukraine have two each. 7 others have a wrestler each in the last four.

13:45: What a semifinal we have a 61kg -- Suzu SASAKI (JPN) vs. Savita SAVITA (IND). Both have dominated the bouts and will wrestle in the first semifinal.

The other 61kg semifinal will have Valerie HAMILTON (USA) wrestle Sevinch SULTONOVA (UZB) who pinned Mariia MIZIURKO (UKR).

13:40: Two internationally unbeaten wrestlers in 53kg semifinals

Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) vs. Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Sakura ONISHI (JPN) vs. Ya Hsin CHEN (TPE)

13:30: The 46kg semifinals for tonight

Koko MATSUDA (JPN) vs. SHRUTI (IND)
Gabriella GOMEZ (USA) vs. Kornelia LASZLO (HUN) 

13:25: Who are you picking to win the semifinals at 69kg?

Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR)
Veronika VILK (CRO) vs. HARSHITA (IND) 

13:20: The 40kg semifinals are set

Yagmur KARABACAK (TUR) vs. Mona EZAKA (JPN) 
Muskan MUSKAN (IND) vs. Diana VOICULESCU (ROU) 

13:10: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR), a returning gold medalist, is on her way to a second straight gold medal. She reaches the 53kg semifinal with a fall over Maria SZKUDLAREK (POL) 

13:00: European champion at 46kg Kornelia LASZLO (HUN) hangs on for a close 2-0 win against Juliette LESCURE (FRA) in the quarterfinals. Lescure was a bronze medalist at the same competition

12:50: These 69kg quarterfinals are absolutely top bouts. Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) vs. Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN)Nikoleta BARMPA (GRE) vs. Harshita HARSHITA (IND)Paulina KUCHARCZYK (POL) vs. Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR)Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) vs. Veronika VILK (CRO) 

12:30: Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL), who was born and raised in Japan, begins her tournament with a 10-0 win over Milica SEKULOVIC (SRB)

12:20: A classic on Mat C! Sakura ONISHI (JPN) trailed Asian champion REENA (IND) 4-2 when she got a front chest wrap and scored two each. It looked like exposure for Onishi at the end but no score. Japan challenge the call. The exposure is confirmed and was in time. Onishi wins 6-6 at 53kg. 

12:10: Asian champion SHRUTI (IND) with a controlled 4-0 win over Busranur OZMEZ (TUR) at 46kg. Gabriella GOMEZ (USA) had early trouble but manages to move past Yelyzaveta KULAKIVSKA (UKR) via fall. 

11:45: Another bronze medalist from European Championships Leonie STEIGERT (GER) suffers a 3-1 loss to Yen LI (TPE) at 61kg. But silver medalist from Euros Ilayda CIN (TUR) pins Maram ALY (EGY). In other bout, Wilma HOFFMAN (SWE) beats Wiktoria KAMELA (POL) 5-0

11:30: We begin with the qualification bouts of 61kg as it has the most wrestlers. European champion Sabina PETRACHE (ROU) is made to work hard early in the competition. She wins 3-3 against bronze medalist Leah SAMSONSEN (NOR).

11:15: An all women's wrestling day. Qualification and repechage along with semifinals and the gold medals bouts later in the day. Get ready for some historic debuts and medals in Rome.