freestyle rankings, February, Snyder, Burroughs, Sadualev, Akgul, 2016

Gazimagomedov, Snyder Atop Freestyle Rankings Despite Losses in January

By William May

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (February 2) – World champions Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) fell to previously unranked wrestlers at the Yarygin Grand Prix in January but held onto their positions atop this month’s United World Wrestling freestyle rankings.

Gazimagomedov, the 70kg champion in Las Vegas, lost his opening bout at 74kg in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, to Kakhaber KHUBEZHTY (RUS) and was eliminated from the competition when the former world team member lost in the semifinals.

Snyder, meanwhile, advanced to the semifinals at 97kg before being stymied by Anzor BOLTUKAEV (RUS), who had been largely inactive internationally since winning the bronze medal at the 2013 world championships.

Gazimagomedov held onto his No.1 ranking at 70kg as he was wrestling up a category at 74kg while Snyder rebounded for a bronze medal at 97kg and was not challenged by any other world medalists, such as Abdusalam GADISOV (RUS), Khetag GAZUMOV (AZE) or Pavlo OLEYNIK (UKR).

Boltukaev, for his part, defeated London 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist Jakob VARNER (USA) in the Yarygin finale, and made one of the bigger leaps in the January rankings – going from unranked to No.10 at heavyweight.

The biggest move belongs to Nyurgun SKRYABIN (RUS), who went from unranked to No.7 at 61kg by pinning 2015 Ali Aliev champion Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) and prevailing over former junior European champion Imam ADZHIEV (RUS) in the Yarygin final.

Also at 61kg, Aleksander BOGOMOEV (RUS) and Vladimir DUBOV (BUL) both successfully tested the waters at 57kg – with Bogomoev winning in Krasnoyarsk and Dubov taking the Dan Kolov crown in Sofia.

At the other non-Olympic weight category of 70kg, Israil KASUMOV (RUS) moved down to 65kg for the Yarygin title, while Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) earned a silver medal at 74kg in Paris and Evgeniy NEDEALKO (MDA) bagged the welterweight gold medal in Sofia.

The top six wrestlers in each weight category at the world championships were awarded the top six positions in September, but these rankings are already changing in the face of more recent performances.

The bulk of the rankings from No.7 to No.20 were determined, in part, by a wrestler’s performance in Las Vegas along with results in competition throughout 2015.

Wrestlers in the rankings are listed by name, country code, most notable or most recent result over the last 12 months, and their position in the previous rankings.

57kg – 2013 junior world champion Younes SARMASTIDIZAJI (IRI) won the Takhti Cup for a second year in a row to go from unranked to No.10, while two-time junior world bronze medalist Gadshimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) put a scare into Yarygin Grand Prix winner Aleksander BOGOMOEV (RUS) for No.11.

1. Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) – World No.1 (1)
2. Hassan RAHIMI (IRI) – World No.2 (2)
3. Viktor LEBEDEV (RUS) – World No.3 (3)
4. Ismail MUSUKAEV (RUS) – GGP Final No.1 (4)
5. ERDENEBAT Bekhbayar (MGL) – GGP Final No.2 (5)
6. JONG Hak-Jin (PRK) – World No.5 (6)
7. Artas SANAA (KAZ) – World No.5 (7)
8. Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) – Pan American Games No.1 (8)
9. Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (12)
10. Younes SARMASTIDIZAJI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (not ranked)
11. Gadshimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
12. Rustam AMPAR (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
13. Asadulla LACHINOV (BLR) – World No.7 (11)
14. Artyom GEBEKOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
15. Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) – Ziolkowski No.1 (9)
16. Zoheir EL OUARRAQE (FRA) – Ziolkowski No.3 (10)
17. Reza ATRABAGHARCHI (IRI) – Paris GP No.1 (nr_
18. Adama DIATTA (SEN) – All-African Games No.1 (16)
19. Sezer AKGUL (TUR) – European Games No.3 (17)
20. John PINEDA (CAN) – Dan Kolov No.3 (19)

61kg – Asian championships silver medalist Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) won the Takhti Cup and edged up to No.6, while Yarygin Grand Prix finalists Nyurgun SKRYABIN (RUS) and Imam ADZHIEV (RUS) join the rankings at No.7 and No.8, respectively.
 
1. Haji ALIEV (AZE) – World No.1 (1)
2. BATBOLD Nomin (MGL) – World No.2 (2)
3. Vladimir DUBOV (BUL) – World No.3 (4)
4. Aleksander BOGOMOEV (RUS) – European Games No.1 (7)
5. Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR) – World No.3 (3)
6. Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (10)
7. Nyurgun SKRYABIN (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
8. Imam ADZHIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
9. Masakazu KAMOI (JPN) – World No.5 (6)
10. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) – European Games No.2 (8)
11. Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
12. Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) – World No.5 (7)
13. Dyamal OTARSULTANOV (RUS) – Yasar Dogu No.1 (13)
14. Iman SADEGHIKOUKANDEH (IRI) – Paris GP No.5 (15)
15. Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) – GGP Final No.3 (12)
16. Murshid MUTALIMOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.5 (16)
17. Volodya FRANGULYAN (ARM) – Medved Prizes No.1 (9)
18. Muenir Recep AKTAS (TUR) – Yasar Dogu No.2 (11)
19. Bekhan GOIGEREEV (RUS) – Medved Prizes No.2 (14)
20. Dimitar IVANOV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (nr)

65kg – Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) and Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) each won Dan Kolov titles, at 70kg and 65kg, respectively, as Gadzhiev edges up to No.9 and Gomez joins the rankings at No.10.
 
1. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) – World No.1 (1)
2. Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) – World No.2 (2)
3. Sayed Ahmad MOHAMMADI (IRI) – World No.3 (3)
4. Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) – European Games No.1 (4)
5. Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) – World No.3 (5)
6. Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) – GGP Final (8)
7. GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.3 (6)
8. Ilyas BEKBULATOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.5 (7)
9. Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) – Dan Kolov No.1 (12)
10. Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) – Dan Kolov No.1 (nr)
11. Alibeggadzhi EMEEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
12. Borislav NOVACHKOV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.2 (12)
13. Brent METCALF (USA) – Pan Am Games No.1 (10)
14. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) – Paris GP No.5 (11)
15. George BUCUR (ROU) – Ziolkowski No.2 (9)
16. Masoud ESMAILPOUR (IRI) – Asia No.1 (14)
17. Logan STIEBER (USA) – GGP Final No.2 (15)
18. Mustafa KAYA (TUR) – European Games No.3 (17)
19. Joshgun AZIMOV (AZE) – Ali Aliev No.1 (18)
20. Meysam NASIRI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (nr)

70kg – Israil KASUMOV (RUS) won the Yarygin Grand Prix title over a tough field at 65kg to climb to No.5 in the rankings, while Evgheni NEDEALCO (MDA) won at 74kg in Sofia and junior world champion Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) finished second at 74kg in Paris behind 2014 world bronze medalist Ali SHABANOV (BLR).

1. Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) – World No.1 (1)
2. Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) – World No.2 (2)
3. Yakup GOR (TUR) – World No.3 (3)
4. James GREEN (USA) – World No.3 (4)
5. Israil KASUMOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (7)
6. Bekzod ABDURAKHMANOV (UZB) – GGP Final No.1 (6)
7. Azamat NURIKOV (BLR) – Medved Prizes No.1 (5)
8. Evgheni NEDEALCO (MDA) – Dan Kolov No.1 (nr)
9. Miroslav KIROV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (8)
10. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
11. David TLASHADZE (GEO) – Kunaev Int’l No.1 (9)
12. Ruslan DIBIRGADZHIYEV (AZE) – European Games No.3 (10)
13. Khusey SUYUNCHEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
14. Rasul ARSANALIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
15. Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) – Ali Aliev No.1 (11)
16. Khalil AMINOV (RUS) – Intercontinental Cup No.1 (12)
17. Evgeni ZHERBAEV (RUS) – Dmitri Korkin No.1 (13)
18. Georgi ZLATOV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (15)
19. Elaman DOGDURBEK UULU (KGZ) – Asia No.2 (16)
20. Ayad IBRAHIM (EGY) – African Games No.1 (nr)

74kg – 2012 junior world champ Zaur MAKIEV (RUS) emerged the victor over a field that featured world champions Denis TSARGUSH (RUS), Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) and pre-tourney favorite Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) to win the Yarygin crown and a No.14 in the rankings.

1. Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) – World No.1 (1)
2. Aniuar GEDUEV (RUS) – World No.3 (2)
3. PUREVJAV Unurbat (MGL) – World No.2 (3)
4. Narasingh YADAV (IND) – World No.3 (4)
5. Alireza GHASEMI (IRI) – Ziolkowski No.1 (5)
6. Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) – World No.5 (6)
7. Livan LOPEZ AZCUY (CUB) – Pan Am Games No.3 (7)
8. Jumber KVELASHVILI (GEO) – European Games No.3 (8)
9. Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) – GGP Final No.3 (14)
10. Ali SHABANOV (BLR) – Paris GP No.1 (10)
11. Rashid KURBANOV (UZB) – Dan Kolov No.3 (11)
12. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) – European Games No.2 (10)
13. Yabrail HASANOV (AZE) – GGP Final No.1 (13)
14. Zaur MAKIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
15. Muslim DADAEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
16. Moustafa HOSSEINKHANI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (nr)
17. Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (14)
18. Kakhaber KHUBEZHTY (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
19. Krystian BRZOZOWSKI (POL) – Dan Kolov No.2 (16)
20. Peyman YARAHMADI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.3 (nr)

86kg – Shamil KUDIYAMAGOMEDOV (RUS), widely recognized in Russia as the top middleweight not named Abdulrashid, rolled to the Yarygin Grand Prix title to vault from No.11 to fifth in the rankings. London 2012 bronze medalist Ehsan LASHGARI (IRI) won the Takhti Cup to bound from 17th to No.9.

1. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) – World No.1 (1)
2. Selim YASAR (TUR) – World No.2 (2)
3. Sandro AMINASHVILI (GEO) – World No.3 (4)
4. Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) – World No.3 (3)
5. Shamil KUDIYAMAGOMEDOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (11)
6. Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) – Yarygin No.3 (10)
7. Magomedhadshi KHATIEV (AZE) – World No.5 (5)
8. Mikhail GANEV (BUL) – World No.5 (6)
9. Ehsan LASHGARI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (17)
10. Ibragim ALDATOV (UKR) – World No.7 (7)
11. Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN) – World No.10 (8)
12. Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) – Pan Am Games No.1 (9)
13. ORGODOL Uitumen (MGL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (12)
14. Aleksander GOSTIEV (AZE) – GGP Final No.1 (13)
15. Piotr IANULOV (MDA) – European Games No.2 (14)
16. Radoslaw MARCINKIEWICZ (POL) – European Games No.3 (15)
17. Arsenali MUSALALIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
18. Nurmagomed GADZHIEV (AZE) – GGP Final No.2 (16)
19. Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) – Dan Kolov No.2 (nr)
20. Istvan VEREB (HUN) – Paris GP No.2 (nr)

97kg – Radoslaw BARAN (POL), returning to competition after an early exit from the world championships in September, kicked off 2016 with a win at the Dan Kolov tourney for No.8 in the rankings.

1. Kyle SNYDER (USA) – World No.1 (1)
2. Abdusalam GADISOV (RUS) – World No.2 (2)
3. Khetag GAZUMOV (AZE) – World No.3 (3)
4. Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) – GGP Final No.1 (4)
5. Pavlo OLIYNIK (UKR) – World No.3 (5)
6. Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) – GGP Final No.2 (6)
7. Abbas TAHAN (IRI) – World No.5 (7)
8. Radoslaw BARAN (POL) – Dan Kolov No.1 (9)
9. Valeri ANDRIITSEV (UKR) – European Games No.3 (8)
10. Anzor BOLTUKAEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
11. Jakob VARNER (USA) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
12. Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) – Paris GP No.1 (14)
13. DORJKHAND Khuderbulga (MGL) – Paris GP No.2 (15)
14. Reza YAZDANI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (nr)
15. Magomed MUSAEV (KGZ) – Asia No.2 (10)
16. Khadshimourad GATSALOV (RUS) – World Military Games No.1 (11)
17. Adlan IBRAGIMOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
18. James BERGMAN (USA) – Schultz Memorial No.1 (nr)
19. Akhmed BATAEV (RUS) – Intercontinental Cup No.1 (18)
20. Mohamedhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) – Asia No.1 (17) 

125kg – Parviz HADI (IRI) won the Takhti Cup crown to edge up to No.6 in the rankings followed by 2014 world silver medalist Komeil GHASEMI (IRI), who took the title at the Paris Grand Prix. Vladislav BAITSAEV (RUS) took the Yarygin crown to go from unranked to No.13.

1. Taha AKGUL (TUR) – World No.1 (1)
2. Jamalladin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) – World No.2 (2)
3. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) – World No.3 (3)
4. Beylal MAKHOV (RUS) – World No.3 (4)
5. Levan BERIANIDZE (ARM) – World No.5 (5)
6. Parviz HADI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (7)
7. Komeil GHASEMI (IRI) – Paris GP No.1 (11)
8. JARGALSAIKHAN Chuluunbat (MGL) – Paris GP No.3 (6)
9. DENG Zhiwei (CHN) – Dan Kolov No.1 (16)
10. Aleksey SHEMAROV (BLR) – European Games No.2 (8)
11. Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) – Asia No.1 (9)
12. Muradin KUSHKHOV (RUS) – Ramzan Kadyrov No.1 (11)
13. Vladislav BAITSAEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
14. Anzor KHIRZIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
15. Luis VIVENES (VEN) – Paris GP No.2 (nr)
16. Tervel DLAGNEV (USA) – Paris GP No.3 (nr)
17. David MODZMANASHVILI (GEO) – Medved Prizes No.1 (12)
18. Alen ZASEEV (UKR) – Medved Prizes No.2 (13)
19. Zachery REY (USA) – Pan Am Games No.1 (14)
20. Daulet SHABANBAY (KAZ) – Yasar Dogu No.3 (15)

61 کیلوگرم

1- حاجی علی اف (آذربایجان)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- نومین باتبولد (مغولستان)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- ولادمیر دوبوف (بلغارستان)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

4- الکساندر بوگوموئف (روسیه)- قهرمان بازیهای اروپایی (7)

5- واسیل شوپتار (اوکراین)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

6- بهنام احسانپور (ایران)- قهرمان جام تختی (10)

7- نیورگون اسکریابین (روسیه)- قهرمان یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

8- امام آجیف (روسیه)- نفر دوم یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

9- ماساکازو کاموئی (ژاپن)- نفر پنجم جهان (6)

10- بکا لومتادزه (گرجستان)- نفر دوم بازیهای اروپایی (8)

11- احمد چاکایف (روسیه) – نفر سوم یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

12- بارجانگ بارجانگ (هند)- نفر پنجم جهان (7)

13- جمال اوتارسلطانوف (روسیه)- قهرمان یاشاردوغو (13)

14- ایمان صادقی (ایران)- نفر دوم جایزه بزرگ باکو (15)

15- دولت نیازبکوف (قزاقستان)- نفر سوم جایزه بزرگ باکو (12)

16- مرشید موتالیموف (روسیه)- نفر پنجم یاریگین (16)

17- ولودیا فرانگولیان (ارمنستان)- قهرمان جام مدوید (9)

18- منیر رجب آکتاش (ترکیه)- نفر دوم یاشاردوغو (11)

19- بخان گویگریف (روسیه)- نفر دوم جام مدوید (14)

20- دیمیتار ایوانوف بلغارستان)- نفر سوم دان کلوف (خارج از رنکینگ)

 

65 کیلوگرم

1- فرانک چامیزو (ایتالیا)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- اختیار نوروزاف (ازبکستان)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- سید احمد محمدی (ایران)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

4- طغرل عسگروف (آذربایجان)- قهرمان بازیهای اروپایی (5)

5- سوسلان رامونوف (روسیه)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

6- ماگومد قربان علی‌یف (روسیه)- قهرمان جایزه بزرگ باکو (8)

7- مانداخناران گانزوریگ (مغولستان)- نفر پنجم جهان (6)

8- الیاس بکبولاتوف (روسیه)- قهرمان جام یاریگین (7)

9- ماگومد مراد گاجیف (لهستان)- قهرمان یاشار دوغو (12)

10- فرانکلین گومز ماتوس (پورتوریکو)- قهرمان دان کلوف (خارج از رنکینگ)

11- آلیبگاجی امیف (روسیه)- نفر سوم یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

12- بوریسلاو نواچکوف (بلغارستان)- نایب قهرمان دان کلوف (13)

13- برنت متکالف (آمریکا)- قهرمان پان آمریکن (10)

14- آوتاندیل کنتچادزه (گرجستان)- نفر نهم جهان (11)

15- گئورگ بوکور (رومانی)- نفر دوم زیلکوفسکی (9)

16 - مسعود اسماعیل پور (ایران)- قهرمان آسیا (14)

17- لوگان اشتیبر (آمریکا)- نفر دوم جایزه بزرگ باکو (15)

18- مصطفی کایا (ترکیه)- نفر سوم بازیهای اروپایی (17)

19- یوشگون عظیموف (آذربایجان)- قهرمان جام علی اف (18)

20- میثم نصیری (ایران)- قهرمان جام تختی (خارج از رنکینگ)

 

70 کیلوگرم

1- ماگومد رسول گازی ماگومداف (روسیه)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- حسن یزدانی (ایران)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- یاکوب گور (ترکیه)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

4- جیمز گرین (آمریکا)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

5- اسرائیل کاسوموف (روسیه)- قهرمان جام کنایف (7)

6- بکزود عبدالرحمانوف (ازبکستان)- قهرمان جایزه بزرگ باکو (6)

7- عظمت نوریکوف (بلاروس)- قهرمان جام مدوید (5)

8- یوگنی ندیلکو (مولداوی)- قهرمان دان کلوف (خارج از رنکینگ)

9- میروسلاو کایروف (بلغارستان)- نفر سوم جام دان کلوف (6)

10- زائوربک سیداکوف (روسیه)- قهرمان یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

11- دیوید تلاشادزه (گرجستان)- نفر هفتم جهان (9)

12- روسلان دیبیرگاجیف (آذربایجان)- نفر سوم بازیهای اروپایی (10)

13- خوسی سویونچف (روسیه)- نفر دوم یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

14- رسول ارسان علی اف (نفر سوم یاریگین)- (خارج از رنکینگ)

15- ماگومد حبیب کادی ماگومداف (روسیه)- نفر اول جام علی اف (11)

16- خلیل امین اف (روسیه)- قهرمان جام بین قاره ای (12)

17- یوگنی ژربایف (روسیه)- قهرمان دمیتری کورکین (13)

18- گئورگی زلاتوف (بلغارستان) نفر سوم دان کلوف (15)

19- الامان دوگدوربک اولو (قرقیزستان)- نفر دوم آسیا (16)

20- آیاد ابراهیم (مصر)- قهرمان بازیهای آفریقا (خارج از رنکینگ)  

Development

Strengthening the Skills of Coaches, Referees, and Administrators for the Development of Wrestling in Africa

By United World Wrestling Press

El Jadida, UWW Africa Center – (April 4) --- United World Wrestling Africa, under the leadership of its President, Fouad Meskout, Vice President of United World Wrestling, is firmly committed to the development of wrestling on the continent. In collaboration with the Royal Moroccan Wrestling Federation, a certification training was organized from March 23-29, 2025.

As a prelude to the 2025 African Championships, which will be held in Morocco in early May 2025, the UWW Africa Center in El Jadida hosted an extensive training program designed for coaches, referees, and administrators across Africa. This seven-day intensive program aimed to enhance the technical and administrative skills of key stakeholders in the development of wrestling on the continent.

A Pan-African Participation
Representatives from several African nations participated in this training session, demonstrating the growing commitment to developing wrestling across the continent. The participating countries included Angola, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Tunisia, South Africa, Guinea, and Morocco.

List of Participants:

  • Angola: Nseke Tiago Ndonga
  • Burkina Faso: Zinzere Wendpoulougo Augustae Daniel, Debe Blaise, Kabre Ousseni (President of the Federation)
  • Côte d'Ivoire: Coulibaly Yire Mariam Solange, Assalé Adje Jean-Claude Pamphille
  • Cameroon: Tsam Megom Gervais, Ngono Eyia Epse Ngoumou Edwige
  • Tunisia: Aymen Lamloumi
  • South Africa: Davel Donawan
  • Morocco: Kabil Driss, Najih Abdelhak, Ouled Ben Taliaa Redouane, Hatimi Youssef
  • Guinea: Sow Mamadou Bodo (Secretary General of the Federation)

UWWAParticipants walk through a training session with UWW Development Officier, Vincent AKA. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

A Well-Structured and Comprehensive Program

During this training, participants followed an intensive curriculum focused on the three key domains of wrestling development:

Coaches: Technical and methodological skill development, training plan design, performance management, and athlete safety.
Referees: Advanced rule analysis, positioning on the mat, competition management, and communication.
Administrators: Official communication management, utilization of UWW digital tools (Athena Platform, UWW Academy, Development Programs).

Under the supervision of renowned experts, including Vincent AKA (Coach Trainer and UWW Development Officer), Kamel Bouaziz (Referee Trainer), and Youssef Bouaziz (Administrator Trainer), participants received high-level training, equipping them with new skills to effectively contribute to the growth of wrestling in their respective countries.

Testimonials from Participants
📌 Kabil Driss (Coach, Morocco):
"I am proud and very happy to have participated in this training. We have built an extraordinary friendship with my fellow referees, coaches, and administrators. Thank you for your competence and warm participation in this seminar in Morocco. A big thank you to Mr. AKA, an exceptional leader in the development of wrestling in Africa. Your training and collaboration, as well as your educational system, have allowed us to learn and improve our understanding of our respective roles."

📌 Donovan Davel (South Africa):
"First of all, I would like to thank the Moroccan Wrestling Federation for organizing this wonderful training week. I also want to express my gratitude to the entire center’s team for their kindness and warm welcome. To the trainers Mr. Vincent, Kamel, and Youssef, your teaching was exceptional. It was a great privilege to be part of this program. I am convinced that we will all share this experience and the valuable knowledge gained in our respective countries to continue developing our beloved sport."

📌 Assalé Adje Jean-Claude Pamphille (Côte d’Ivoire):
"We return to our homeland with a great impression and a mind full of valuable knowledge. I cannot continue without reiterating my gratitude to our three trainers: our compatriot Vincent Aka (Coach Training Module), Bouaziz Med Kamel (Referee Training Module), and Youssef Bouaziz from the IT department (Administrator Training Module). Their expertise was undeniable. We return home with the necessary skills to improve our federation’s operations, especially for the benefit of our athletes."

UWWA1
Participants learn about the extensive training program designed for coaches, referees, and administrators at the UWW Africa Center in El Jadida.


Closing and Future Prospects
The training concluded on March 29, 2025, with an assessment of the knowledge acquired and a certificate award ceremony hosted by members of the Royal Moroccan Wrestling Federation. This initiative aligns with United World Wrestling Africa’s mission to professionalize and structure wrestling across the continent.

Present at the closing ceremony, Kabre Ousseni, the newly elected President of the Burkinabé Wrestling Federation, expressed his gratitude:

"I would like to thank the members of the Royal Moroccan Wrestling Federation for their presence, which added prestige to this ceremony. I also take this opportunity to commend President Fouad Meskout for his continuous efforts in developing wrestling on the continent."

With these newly acquired skills, the trained coaches, referees, and administrators are now better equipped to train and develop wrestling in their respective countries, contributing to the growth of this sport across Africa.

President Fouad Meskout emphasized:
"We are on the right track to overcome challenges together, and we will continue to organize development activities ahead of the African Championships."