#GC2018

Commonwealth Games Participants Announced

Tuesday, April 10, 2018 - 20:55 By Eric Olanowski

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GOLD COAST, Australia (April 10) - Over 100 wrestlers from 19 nations are set to compete in the Commonwealth Games, a multi-sport event that takes place every four years between athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. Freestyle and women's wrestling action at the 21st Commonwealth Games kicks off at Carrara Sports Arena 1 on April 12-14 in Gold Coast, Australia.

At the 20th Commonwealth Games, Canada won four freestyle gold medals and India secured the remaining three. Canada, Nigeria, and India dominated the women's wrestling field in Glasgow, Scotland. It was Canada who won a trio of golds, Nigeria nabbed a pair and India bagged the final gold medal. 

Freestyle
57kg (12 Entries) 
Thomas Louis CICCHINI (AUS)
Steven Masao TAKAHASHI (CAN)
George Anthony RAMM (ENG)
Ross Taylor CONNELLY (SCO)
Viorel ETKO (SCO)
Rahul Balasaheb AWARE (IND)
Gary GIORDMAINA (MLT)
Ebikewenimo WELSON (NGR)
Lowe BINGHAM (NRU)
Muhammad BILAL (PAK)
Jan Louwrens COMBRINCK (RSA)
Divoshan CHARLES FERNANDO (SRI)

65kg (12 Entries) 
Mehrdad TARASH (AUS)
Vincent DE MARINIS (CAN)
Charlie James BOWLING (ENG)
Kane Daniel CHARIG (WAL)
Bajrang BAJRANG (IND)
Adam VELLA (MLT)
Jean Guyliane Joris BANDOU (MRI)
Amas DANIEL (NGR)
Maverick KUN (NRU)
Brahm RICHARDS (NZL)
Abdul WAHAB (PAK)
Terry Killy Jr VAN RENSBURG (RSA)

74kg (15 Entries) 
Connor James EVANS (AUS)
Sean Patrick Kelly WRINKLE (BAH)
Mohammad ALI AMZAD (BAN)
Jevon BALFOUR (CAN)
Oleg  GLADKOV (SCO)
Curtis Elliot DODGE (WAL)
Kumar SUSHIL (IND)
Ioabo TEETU (KIR)
Jean Frederic MARIANNE (MRI)
Ebimienfaghe Amos ASSIZECOURT (NGR)
Akash KHULLAR (NZL)
Muhammad Asad BUTT (PAK)
Johannes Petrus BOTHA (RSA)
Abdulai SALAM (SLE)
Suresh Chanaka WARNAKULASURIYA FERNANDO (SRI)

86kg (12 Entries) 
Jayden Alexander LAWRENCE (AUS)
Rashji Leonardo MACKEY (BAH)
Alexander Robert MOORE (CAN)
Syerus ESLAMI (ENG)
Somveer SOMVEER (IND)
Kevin Dave WALLEN (JAM)
Mark Omumasaba INGUYESI (KEN)
Taebontangaroa KOOKOO (KIR)
Melvin BIBO (NGR)
Toby Robert FITZPATRICK (NZL)
Muhammad INAM (PAK)
Michael Eugene GAITSKILL (RSA)

97kg (11 Entries) 
Nicolaas Christiaan VERREYNNE (AUS)
Jordan STEEN (CAN) 
Cedric Yvan NYAMSI TCHOUGA (CMR)
Alexios KAOUSLIDIS (CYP)
Leon Gregory RATTIGAN (ENG)
Joe Samuel HENDRY (SCO)
Mausam KHATRI (IND)
Soso TAMARAU (NGR)
Samuel Stephen BELKIN (NZL)
Umair AHMAD (PAK)
Martin ERASMUS (RSA)

125kg (5 Entries) 
Korey JARVIS (CAN)
Claude KOUAMEN MBIANGA (CMR)
Sumit SUMIT (IND)
Sinivie BOLTIC (NGR)
Tayab RAZA (PAK)

Women's Wrestling 
50kg (4 Entries) 
Rupinder KAUR (AUS)
Jessica Anne Marie MACDONALD (CAN)
Vinesh VINESH (IND)
Miesinnei Mercy GENESIS (NGR)

53kg (5 Entries) 
Carissa Jane HOLLAND (AUS)
Diana Mary Helen WEICKER (CAN)
Kumari BABITA (IND)
Bose SAMUEL (NGR)
Deepika Dilhani Kumari Weerabahu WEERABAHU MUDIYANSELAGE (SRI)

57kg (7 Entries) 
Emily Suzanne SCHAEFER (CAN)
Joseph Emilienne ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR)
Sarah Louise MCDAID MCCLOSKEY (NIR)
Pooja DHANDA (IND)
Noellancia GENAVE (MRI)
Odunayo Folasade ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
Ana Buiqumu Pauline MOCEYAWA (NZL)

62kg (5 Entries) 
Michelle Christina FAZZARI (CAN)
Berthe Emilienne ETANE NGOLLE (CMR)
Sakshi MALIK (IND)
Aminat Oluwafunmilayo ADENIYI (NGR)
Tayla Tuahine FORD (NZL)

68kg (6 Entries) 
Sherin SULTANA (BAN)
Danielle Suzanne LAPPAGE (CAN)
Gaelle Noelle ALAKAME ANZONG (CMR)
Divya KAKRAN (IND)
Lilian Kiende NTHIGA (KEN)
Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)

76kg (7 Entries) 
Naomi Rachel DE BRUINE (AUS)
Erica Elizabeth WIEBE (CAN)
Georgina Olwen NELTHORPE (ENG)
Kiran KIRAN (IND)
Katouskia PARIADHAVEN (MRI)
Blessing Joy ONYEBUCHI (NGR)
Hajaratu Mariama KAMARA (SLE)

SCHEDULE
April 12 (10:30 LOCAL TIME) 
Freestyle - 57kg and 74kg 
Women's Wrestling - 53kg and 76kg 

April 13 (10:30 LOCAL TIME) 
Freestyle - 65kg and 97kg 
Women's Wrestling - 57kg and 68kg 

April 14 (10:30 LOCAL TIME) 
Freestyle - 86kg and 125kg 
Women's Wrestling - 50kg and 62kg

#development

Road to Dakar 2026 Continues with Successful Central Africa Programme in Brazzaville

Monday, June 22, 2026 - 08:50 By United World Wrestling Press

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BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (June 21) -- The second stop of the United World Wrestling (UWW) Africa Regional Educational Development Programme, Road to Dakar 2026, concluded successfully in Brazzaville after a week combining athlete preparation, education, technical development and competition in Olympic and Beach Wrestling.

Held from June 8 to 14 in the Republic of Congo, the Central Africa phase brought together National Olympic Committees and National Federations from across the region under a unified objective: strengthening wrestling ecosystems and creating more accessible pathways toward the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.

As the second of four regional tournaments scheduled within the continental Road to Dakar programme, the event represented another important milestone on the road to the first Olympic event to be hosted on African soil.

Africa REDT

The UWW Africa Regional Educational Development Programme was designed as a comprehensive and sustainable model that extends beyond competition. The initiative combines athlete development camps, coach and referee education, and practical competition opportunities.

By decentralising activities across regions and consolidating training and competition into one structure, the programme aims to reduce financial barriers for national federations and increase opportunities for athletes and technical officials.

Throughout the week, athletes participated in intensive daily training sessions, as coaches attended the UWW Technical Course - Level 2, focused on improving technical knowledge, athlete development methodologies and long-term performance planning.

Africa REDT

Simultaneously, referees took part in dedicated education sessions covering Beach Wrestling and introductory officiating pathways, preparing them for selection to undertake the International Category III referee examination in the future.

The programme concluded with the Regional Tournament, followed by the Beach Wrestling Regional Tournament, giving participants the opportunity to apply lessons learned during the educational phase directly into competition conditions.

The programme specifically prioritised youth development, with participating athletes largely drawn from the U17 age group and encouraging the involvement of emerging coaches across Central Africa. Support mechanisms jointly delivered by UWW and Olympic Solidarity helped facilitate participation through travel, accommodation, training access and tournament organisation.

Africa REDT

More than just a standalone event, Brazzaville demonstrated the long-term vision behind Road to Dakar 2026 by building stronger national structures, expanding participation and creating sustainable development opportunities well before the final qualification stages for the Youth Olympic Games.