#UWWAwards2022

Akgul Named 2022 Freestyle Wrestler of the Year

By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 26) --United World Wrestling has announced Taha AKGUL (TUR) as the 2022 Freestyle Wrestler of the Year after his three title-winning performances in 2022.

Akgul, the three-time world champion, missed out on podium-topping finishing at the World Championships for the last seven years, with his last gold coming in 2015 in Las Vegas. But Akgul rejuvenated his winnings ways in 2022, as he defeated 2021 world champion Amirhossein ZARE (IRI) in the semifinals of the World Championships, before defeating Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL), 6-2, to win his third world title.

At the beginning of the season, Akgul won the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series gold with five dominant wins. The 32-year-old followed his promising Istanbul performance up with a sensational European Championships, closing out the competition with a three-point win over his arch-rival Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) to win his ninth European C’ship gold.

The three gold medals in 2022 also pushed Akgul to 68000 ranking points, enough for him to finish on the top of the pile at 125kg.

Akgul, who won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, was asked about the difference between his titles in 2015 and 2022.

"Nothing has changed. I have lost twice in the final in the past, that was very annoying. I would have been world champion five times if that had not happened. If I stay healthy and train well, I can beat everyone,” Akgul had said after winning gold in Belgrade.

Development

South Asia in search of Women Wrestling High Performance Coach

By United World Wrestling Press

Position Summary: High Performance Training center is seeking a highly motivated, successful coach to lead the Women’s Freestyle Programme. As the head coach, you will work in close collaboration with our multi-disciplinary staff. You will strategize, innovate and implement the technical and tactical training to increase the performance capacities of the female wrestlers. You must be driven, practical, open minded and forward thinking, you will tailor and drive the delivery of your coaching aligned to key responsibilities as outlined below;

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Leadership 

  1. Work as part of the Women Wrestling Programme Coaching Team in the delivery of the Performance strategy, aligned with the centers strategic goals.
  • Work as part of the Wrestling Coaching Team in the implementation of improving the female Wrestler’s probabilities of success to ensure athlete progression and medal performances in the Women’s Programme.
  • Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of athlete performance, using data insights to inform decisions and refine strategies.
  • Contribute to the Talent Identification, Talent Recruitment and Talent Confirmation strategies in the recruitment campaigns for talented Indian Wrestlers.  

Athlete and Team Development  

  • Work as part of the Wrestling Coaching Team in the design and overseeing of Individual Athlete Plans (IAPs) through a multi-disciplinary tailored to the technical, tactical, physical, and psychological needs of athletes to qualify for and perform at a future Olympic Games.
  • Foster a culture of Commitment, Ownership, Responsibility and Excellence in alignment with the institute CORE performance values. 
  • Ensure daily, weekly, monthly training session plans are designed within a performance plan which ensure clarity of session purpose and session intensities.
  • All sessions are required to be periodised in a way that manages the training load to achieve a balance of intensive progression but reduces the risk of athlete injury.
  • Ensure training camps, competitions, and other key events are planned and executed effectively, adhering to health & safety and safeguarding policies.
  • Ensure compliance with safeguarding, health & safety, anti-doping, and data protection policies across all IIS Judo activities. 

Key achievement targets

  • Achievement of athlete progression milestones and medal-winning performances at the Olympic Games, World Championship, Continental Games and Commonwealth Games.
  • Number of athletes transitioning from Junior to Senior performance standards meeting medal targets at Junior /Junior World Championships.
  • Advanced knowledge of Olympic-level Wrestling technical and tactical strategies.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain trust with athletes, coaches, and stakeholders.
  • Able to communicate in English (written and verbal) Current safeguarding certification and enhanced background clearance.

HIRING PAY RANGE: Salary dependent on experience 

Application Process: 
Interested candidates should send a cover letter,resume, and/or questions to:

  1. Rishabh.252001@icloud.com

Wishing you a successful application.