Development

Burundi NOC and Wrestling Federation Organize Technical Course and First-Ever National Competition

By Tim Foley

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (January 12) – The Burundi Olympic Committee with the support of Olympic Solidarity and in collaboration of the Burundi Wrestling Federation hosted a Level I technical course for coaches January 7-12 in in Bujumbura.

The course was conducted by two-time Olympic silver medalist and United World Wrestling (UWW) expert Juan Luis MARÉN (CUB) and gathered 28 participants including 7 women. The course also welcomed three coaches, five athletes and seven sports teachers. 


The UWW Development Department recently prioritized a series of initiatives which support less developed wrestling nations. To ensure that lessons were well-received UWW also helped Burundi host a national competition directly following the course. The competition included 25 cadet and junior level girls and 38 cadet and junior level boys. 

A budget of $3,000 was allocated to organize the event, with positive feedback immediately offered by the Burundi Olympic Committee.  

In order to encourage grassroot development of smaller national federations, UWW is encouraging countries to organize at least one competition per year, and when possible that will be supported and assisted by an Olympic Solidarity Technical Course for Coaches. 

“The aim is to help them understand all the aspects linked to organizing a competition. In Burundi it allowed coaches to understand the needs and the process of the organization of an event,” said Ms. Deqa Niamkey, UWW Development Director. 

“These competitions will allow our federations to further develop wrestling and attract the future generations to the sport. Also, with the presence of a UWW expert educator I trust these events will contribute tremendously to the growth of wrestling.”

#WrestleSamokov

Japan defends U20 Worlds women's team title

By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 22) -- Japan defended its Women's Wrestling team title at the World U20 Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria with two more gold medals on Friday.

The Women's Wrestling competition came to a close in Bulgaria with three weight classes, 50kg, 53kg and 72kg, and Japan won the first two gold medals while India won 72kg. India finished second in the team race with 140 points, 25 less than Japan which had 165 points.

Rinka OGAWA (JPN) won the 50kg gold medal with 9-3 win over three-time age-group world medalist Audrey JIMINEZ (USA) in the final. Ogawa gave up the first takedown but she hit a single-leg and turn to lead 4-2 at the break.

The second period was more scrappy but Ogawa gave up just a reversal while four points to win 8-3. The United States challenged at the end of match but there was no points for Jiminez and one more point to Ogawa's score for the lost challenge.

This was Jiminez's third loss to a Japanese wrestler in finals of World Championships. She lost to Umi ITO (JPN) in the World U20 and U23 finals in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Her one other loss came to Yanrong LI (USA) in 2023 at the World U20 Championships. She will now look to change her fortunes at the senior World Championships in Zagreb next month.

Japan's second gold cane with Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) who defeated European U20 champion Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) in controlled 6-0 final. She scored three takedowns in six minutes for the win and earn herself the gold medal.

At 72kg, world U17 silver medalist last month, KAJAL (IND) managed to survive a fall attempt and a threating Yuqi LIU (CHN) in the final and win her first world U20 title to go with her world U17 gold from 2024.

Kajal used snapdowns to pressure Liu and score three takedowns and lead 6-0 but as the match progressed Liu hit a leg-attack and scored a takedown, and cradle Kajal who barely managed to get out off the lock and keep the 6-4 lead.

Both traded a takedown each in the remainder of the bout but Kajal held on for an 8-6 lead and win the gold medal.

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Rinka OGAWA (JPN) df. Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), 9-3

BRONZE: SHRUTI (IND) df. Josephine WRENSCH (GER), 6-0
BRONZE: Na HU (CHN) df. Diana RYSOVA (UKR), 7-5

53kg
GOLD: Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) df. Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR), 6-0

BRONZE: SAARIKA (IND) df. Ilona VALCHUK (POL), 11-0
BRONZE: Kseniya KOSTSENICH (UWW) df. Abigale COOPER (USA), 11-10

72kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) df. Yuqi LIU (CHN), 8-6

BRONZE: Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) df. Haticenur SARI (TUR), 17-12
BRONZE: Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ) vs. Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), via inj. def.