Asian Schoolboy

Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan Shine at First Asian Schoolboys C'ships

By Ali Feizasa

KARAJ, Iran (Aug. 4) -- Iran, Japan and Kazakhstan shined at the first Asian Schoolboys Championships, which took place in Karaj, Iran.

Talented Asian wrestlers -- ages 13-15 -- had the chance to compete in a continental event. It was the first international experience for most of the wrestlers.

The competitions were full of emotion and technique … and also laughs and tears.

United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC sent a message to the Asian schoolboy wrestlers who competed in Iran.

"Each wrestler has earned the opportunity and you see their talent and determination on the mats. These schoolboy wrestlers are the future stars of our sport and we are extremely proud of them and their spotlight will shine all the way through until they are wrestling at the very highest level." Lalovic said.

In freestyle, the host country Iran and Japan boys won nine of the 10 gold medals.

Ebrahim KHARI (38kg), Mohammadreza SHAKERI (41kg), Seyed Amirmehdi HOSSEINI (68kg), Seyed Reza HASHEMI JOUYBARI (75kg) and Mohammad Mobin AZIMI (85kg) were five gold medalists for Iran. 

Nishiuchi YUTO (44kg), Onishi TAIGA (48kg), Takahashi KOTA (57kg) and Ogino KAIJI (62kg) captured gold medals for Japan. AMAN from India grabbed 52kg gold medal.

"I had tough rival from Iran and I beat him in the first round," said Kota. "The competition was high level and we had a good team in this event. I have aimed to train hard and get prepared for bigger competitions. My goal is to win an Olympic gold medal." 

In Greco-Roman, gold medals were shared between Iran and Kazakhstan.

Milad VALIZADEH (38kg), Mohammad HAJIVAND FATHI (41kg) Ali HAJIVAND (44kg), Saeed ESMAEILI (52kg), Hojjat REZAYI (62kg), Ahmad SOLHDUST (75kg) and Abolfazl PAYDAR (85kg) were seven Iranian champions. 

Alikhan DALABAY (48kg), Aziz GASSYMOV (57kg) and Malik ZHALELOV (68kg) were three Kazakh wrestlers who captured gold medals.

"For developing wrestling in Asia and finding talented wrestlers, Iran federation proposed to host the first Asian Schoolboys Championships and by cooperation of UWW, we hosted boys competitions," said Iran wrestling president Rasoul KHADEM. "The girls event will be in Japan.

"Ten countries participated in the first edition of the Asian Schoolboys Championships and we saw fantastic competitions. Iran federation with the collaboration of United World Wrestling has aimed to provide the opportunity of getting experienced for talented wrestlers and we hope to see today's boys at the next Olympic Games." 

During the event, Iranian women have the chance to enter wrestling hall, watching and cheering for their children. Meanwhile, for the first time some Iranian women referees judged an international wrestling event inside Iran.

2018 Asian Schoolboys Championships results

Freestyle 

Team standings

1. Iran 205 
2. Japan 180 
3. India 169 
4. Kazakhstan 151 
5. Kyrgyzstan 100 
6. Iraq 86 
7. Turkmenistan 28 
8. Bangladesh 25 
9. Pakistan 18 
10. Singapore 6 

38kg
GOLD: Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) df. Daryn ASKERBEK (KAZ), 6-2
BRONZE: Anil YASHWANT (IND) df. Erbol MURTALIEV (KGZ) bt TF, 14-4

41kg
GOLD: Mohammadreza SHAKERI (IRI) df. Kosei TAKANO (JPN), 6-0
BRONZE: Yelaman AMANGELDY (KAZ) df. Bharti SAAR (IND), 3-3

44kg
GOLD: Nishiuchi YUTO (JPN) df. Erfan ANSARI (IRI), 4-1
BRONZE: CHIRA (IND) df. Amerkhan YANDIYEV (KAZ), 4-0

48kg
GOLD: Onishi TAIGA (JPN) df. Abdinur NURLANBEK (KAZ), 6-0
BRONZE: Amirhesam MOHEBBI (IRI) df. BHUVANESH (IND), 6-4

52kg
GOLD: AMAN (IND) df. Emil AMIRKHANOV (KAZ) by TF, 11-0
BRONZE: Ali KABUDTABAR (IRI) df. Emon MIAH (BAN) by TF 10-0
BRONZE: Ruslan UULU ALISHER (KGZ) df. Seifaldin FARES SALMAN (IRQ), 2-0

57kg
GOLD: Takahashi KOTA (JPN) df. Mahesh KUMAR (IND) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE: Ali SALIMI (IRI) df. Plzhas CHAKEYEV (KAZ), 12-7
BRONZE: MAHABUB ALAM (BAN) df. Inam KHALID (PAK), 5-3

62kg
GOLD: Ogino KAIJI (JPN) df. PARVINDER (IND), 3-1 
BRONZE: Shayan MIRBEYK (IRI) df. Muhommetmayrat ORAZOV (TKM), 15-7
BRONZE: Iliyas YERBOLATOV df. Bakytbek UULU MALIK (KGZ) by TF, 10-0

68kg
GOLD: Seyed Amirmehdi HOSSEINI (IRI) df. KARAN (IND) 8-2
BRONZE: Adil ZHAKSYBAYEV (KAZ) df. Hayashi KENSHIN (JPN), 10-4

75kg
GOLD: Seyed Reza HASHEMI JOUYBARI (IRI) df. Igarashi FUMIYA (JPN), 6-2
BRONZE: Vetal AUDUMBAR SHELKE (IND) df. Omar MEDOV (KAZ), 6-2

85kg
GOLD: Mohammad Mobin AZIMI (IRI) df. Kyo KITAWAKI (JPN), 3-0
BRONZE: Vikas KUMAR (IND) df. Nurdaulet BEKENOV (KAZ), 2-2

Greco-Roman

Team Standings

1. Iran 220 
2. Kazakhstan 194 
3. India 154 
4. Kyrgyzstan 130 
5. Iraq 111 
6. Turkmenistan 28 

38kg
GOLD: Milad VALIZADEH (IRI)
SILVER: Khamid NABIYEV (KAZ)
BRONZE: Malik YESHVEER (IND)

41kg
GOLD: Mohammad HAJIVAND FATHI (IRI)
SILCER: Kurmanbek ZHAPAROV (KGZ)
BRONZE: Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ)

44kg
GOLD: Ali HAJIVAND (IRI) df. Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ by TF, 9-0
BRONZE: Mehdi KALAF EISA (IRQ) df. Vikash VISHNOI (IND) by TF, 17-5

48kg
GOLD: Alikhan DALABAY (KAZ)
SILVER: RUPIN (IND)    
BRONZE: Mehrdad MAZHARI (IRI)

52kg
GOLD: Saeed ESMAEILI (IRI)
SILVER: Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ)
BRONZE: Loyangamba SINGH KHUNDONGBAM (IND)

57kg
GOLD: Aziz GASSYMOV (KAZ)
SILVER: Omkar Eknath PATEL (IND)
BRONZE: Danial SOHRABI (IRI)

62kg
GOLD: Hojjat REZAYI (IRI)
SILVER: Madi DANELOV (KAZ)
BRONZE: RAVI (IND)

68kg
GOLD: Malik ZHALELOV (KAZ)
SILVER: Omurzak SADYKOV (KGZ)
BRONZE: Alireza ZAHIR SHAHABADI (IRI)

75kg
GOLD: Ahmad SOLHDUST (IRI) df. Akhmed OMAROV (KGZ) 11-6
BRONZE: Deepak CHAHAL (IND) df. Ali Heitham ABDULSAHEB (IRQ), 9-2

85kg
GOLD: Abolfazl PAYDAR (IRI) df. Arshdeep SINGH (IND) by TF, 9-0
BRONZE: Abay SERIKKAZYULY (KAZ) df. Dastan IMANBERDIEV (KGZ), 8-2

#development

Turkey hosts first UWW women's referee course

By United World Wrestling Press

ANTALYA, Turkey (May 14) --- On May 11, 2022 in beautiful Antalya Turkey, a precedent was set for all UWW Women referees. For the 1st time in United World Wrestling history, HIS-story became HER-story.  Women from 16 different countries have come together with 1 goal in mind; the advancement and recognition of Women officials within this heralded organization.

The Women's Referee Course, which consisted of two courses and three competition days, was preparation for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, and the 2024 & 2028 Olympic Games. 28 women referees from around the world were selected to participate in this first-of-its-kind educational program. 

On the first day of the course, UWW Bureau member Lucio CANEVA attended the opening ceremony and spoke to attendance. He thanked the referees for their support. He also explained why women referees are important for wrestling and all bureau members support this program.

Instructors Antonio SILVESTRI, Ibrahim CICIOGLU and Edit DOZSA collectively contributed to ensuring a successful platform for each woman that took part. Their combined knowledge only helped to propel the confidence of all the participants whether it was about rules or team-building activities and exercises. 

Dozsa, a pioneer of women's refereeing, was fully aware and empathic of the unique struggles women face in a male-dominated sport. Having been selected for the 2008 Olympic Games, Dozsa was able to bring the women together and give them an open forum to voice their individual experiences and struggles, without contradiction or judgments. The idea was for the women to learn how to empower one another. She provided tools and support that have enabled the women to grow and learn with each other over the years.

TUR
Participants from Turkey's women's wrestling course join together for a photo. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The group at the course was experienced and talented. While some referees had wrestled, others were carrying the family torch. Regardless of experience, each member agreed that wrestling is in their blood and has forever changed their lives, for the better.

"Being a female official has many obstacles and nothing is easy about this job," Dozsa said. "We continue to sacrifice to be a part of this wrestling culture we all love so much. This course has given us renewed hope and an optimistic outlook for the future of women referees all over the world. We came in as 28 individuals and left as 1 empowered sisterhood."

The first two days of the course were dedicated to the theoretical aspect of refereeing and important rules were discussed and explained by instructors. A practice session was organized on the second day. All the questions of the attendees were answered by the instructors who also showed critical situations like referee mechanism, out of bounds situations, takedown and control, illegal wrestling and fouls.

During the last three days of the course, referees attended the International Champions tournament for the age group in all styles. They had a chance to officiate throughout the competition in both styles which was an experience for them as well.

The course was the first step for the women referees toward their Olympic hopes. The instructors thanked UWW president Nenad LALOVIC and all the bureau members for their support. They also expressed their gratitude toward the Sports and Development Departments for their collaboration and the Turkish Wrestling Federation for their attributions.