#development

UWW hosts pre-Belgrade Worlds training camp

By United World Wrestling Press

DIVCIBARE, Serbia (October 2) --- United World Wrestling, together with the support of the Olympic Solidarity Sports Development Unit - Athletes and Sport Development Division via the Youth Athletes Development – International Federation Training Opportunity, organized a ten-day acclimatization camp before the first of six qualification events for the Paris Olympic Games from September 5-15, in Divcibare, Serbia.

Over 130 athletes and coaches from 50 nations participated in this year’s training camp and the UWW Technical Assistance for Competitions program.

SRBWrestlers who attended the training camp warm up for practice with a friendly game of basketball. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

‘We understand the importance of this competition and the financial difficulties our federations are facing with the worldwide inflation. At United World Wrestling, we always have our athletes at heart and try to support them as much as we can, to be fair to everyone to have an equal chance to take part in the 1st Paris Olympic Games Qualifier for wrestling, to help them on their first step towards achieving their Olympic dreams,' said Deqa NIAMKEY, UWW Development Director. ‘We had a record-high number of athletes and coaches this year in our supporting program.’

#development

UWW, Olympic Solidarity Scholarship Wrestlers Shine at African Championships

By United World Wrestling Press

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (May 7) -- The African Championships in Alexandria, Egypt was another milestone in the United World Wrestling and Olympic Solidarity partnership.

U17, U20 and Senior African Championships were held from April 28 to May 2 and wrestlers with Olympic Solidarity scholarship shining on the mat. The tournament also saw participation of 143 wrestlers in the U17 age-group, making it one of the most highly participated U17 African Championships.

Recipients of the Olympic Solidarity scholarship won eight medals at the continental championships including two in Beach Wrestling.

The most successful wrestler was Kavelishimwe ABRAHAM (NAM) who won silver medal in the 59kg weight class of Women's Wrestling and then the same medal at 60kg in Beach Wrestling. Abraham also created history, becoming first-ever wrestler from Namibia to win silver in Women's Wrestling. She was also the first woman wrestler from Namibia to ever medal internationally when she won the silver medal at the U20 African Championships in 2023. She repeated in 2024 and last week she made history at the senior level.

Lec ANDE (CAF) also won a bronze medal in Women's Wrestling at 65kg. She later returned to Beach Wrestling in the same weight class.

Two more wrestlers won medals in Women's Wrestling. At the U20 level, Lynca NIYONKURU (BDI) won a bronze medal at 59kg while Foula KABA (GUI) managed to claim a silver medal at 57kg at the U17 level.

In Freestyle, Wotna NDOC (GBS) won a silver medal at 70kg while Raby BAPELEKIA (CGO) won a bronze medal at 65kg.