#UWWAwards

Top Five Team Performances of '21

By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 14) -- What a year 2021 will go down as. A year of uncertainty turned out to be a year full of remarkable performances. After the conclusion of the anthems and the team trophies where hoisted, five memorable performances stood out as this year’s most impressive collective showings of the season.

5. Iran’s ?? #WrestleOslo GR Team:
Despite falling six points shy of winning the team title in Oslo, Iran’s Greco-Roman unit, headed by world and Olympic champ MohammadReza Geraei, captured six medals – including four podium-topping finishes.

4. Kyrgyzstan’s ?? #WrestleOslo WW Team:
Kyrgyzstan’s women’s wrestling team has been on a meteoric rise to the top of wrestling's world stage since Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA’s emergence in ’17. This year, their team continue to defy odds, having a trio of medalists at the World Championships – including two gold-medal winners.

3. Ukraine’s ?? #WrestleBelgrade WW Team:
Alina AKOBIIA led the Ukraine’s women’s squad to their first-ever team world title at the U23 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. They had five finalists and three champs.

2. The Russian ?? Olympic Committee’s #WrestleTokyo FS Team:​​​​​​​
Led by five-time world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Abdulrashid SADULAEV, The Russian Wrestling Federation went 5-5 in medal matches and had three wrestlers claim Olympic golds.

1. Japan’s ?? #WrestleTokyo WW Team:
The top team performance of ’21 goes to Japan’s women’s wrestling team at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Sisters Risako and Yukako KAWAI were two of the host nations quartet of Olympic champs.

Development

India Continues to Deepen Development of Coaches

By United World Wrestling Press

NEW DELHI, India (April 15) -- The Wrestling Federation of India organized a Level 1 Coaching Course late last year. The course was led by UWW Certified Educator Ahmed KHEDHRI (TUN).

During the four days of training, the 45 participants implemented an integrated framework combining theoretical instruction and practical application, with the aim of developing participants’ coaching competencies.

The theoretical component addressed a comprehensive range of topics, including risk assessment and safety management, discovery-based learning, communication and coaching methods, effective strategies for teaching new techniques, and the roles and responsibilities of the coach.

The practical component included performance assessments and field-based training sessions designed to reinforce the knowledge acquired and apply it within realistic training environments, ensuring effective integration between theoretical understanding and practical execution.

“The participants demonstrated a consistently high level of engagement and professional commitment throughout the course," said Khedhri. "Their active involvement, openness to correcting existing concepts and acquiring new knowledge, as well as constructive exchanges of experience, contributed significantly to enhancing the learning process."

IND
Coaches at the Level 1 Coaching Course go through on the mat training in Delhi. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Comments from the participants:

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to attend the UWW Level 1 Coaches Course,2025 at Najafgarh Stadium, Delhi. It was an enriching classroom and practical learning experience.”

  • Kamal Sehrawat

“The wrestling coaching course was informative and practical. It provided valuable knowledge about wrestling techniques, rules, training methods, fitness, and injury prevention. The Educator was highly knowledgeable, supportive, and motivating, and explained each technique clearly. The practical sessions improved skills and confidence. Overall, the course was very useful and inspiring for better performance in the future.”

  • Rajender Kumar

“This program has truly enhanced my coaching knowledge and confidence. The scientific approach, practical sessions and valuable guidance from our instructors made this journey incredible. I feel inspired to implement these learnings with my athletes. Thank you to the entire teaching team and organizers for this wonderful opportunity.+

  • Indu Choudhary