MOU, ISF, Lalovic, Signing, School Sport Federation

United World Wrestling Signs MOU with International School Sport Federation

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (September 11) -- United World Wrestling president Nenad LALOVIC and International School Sports Federation president Laurent PETRYNKA of France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU to ensure the growth and control of wrestling through the ISF’s international reach. The signing took place at the 2017 Senior Wrestling World Championships hosted in Paris by the French Wrestling Federation.

“Wrestling is fortunate to have the ISF on board,” said Lalovic. “Their commitment to grow and develop youth sports worldwide will mean that our sport will reach more youths and be taught at the highest level with professional coaches and teachers”

The agreement will see United World Wrestling provide professional assistance in referee education, coaching courses and event management. The ISF will work with their members to increase the availability and quality of wrestling in schools around the world.

The partnership will also aim to create programming that will meet the ISF’s mission to educate through sport, and create meaningful partnerships with a variety of international sport federations.

#TurkiyeWrestling

UWW mourns death of nine wrestlers 

By United World Wrestling Press

COSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 11) -- Five days after multiple earthquakes hit the Kahramanmaraş province in southwest Turkiye, nine wrestlers were confirmed dead on Friday.  

In the aftermath of the earthquake which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, people were stuck under the rubble and large-scale efforts are still continuing to save lives.

The following are the nine wrestlers that we have lost:

Mehmet ESKISARILI
Ahmet TAS
Ali GURSOY
Eray SIMSEK
Halil EDIRNE
Hasan SARITURK
Ozan TATLI
Ahmet DURMAN
Aslan EKIZ

United World Wrestling mourns their death.

"It is with a heavy heart to report we have lost nine wrestlers in the earthquakes that took place on February 6,” Nenad LALOVIC, UWW President, said “I ask that we remember these wrestlers, say their names aloud and pray for them and their families. The whole entire wrestling community is devastated by the loss of these young men who had a bright future ahead of them.”

More than 25,000 people have died so far as the earthquake hit Kahramanmaraş, affecting southwest Turkiye and northwest Syria.

A U20 wrestling tournament finished hours a night before the earthquake struck. Teams from France, Uzbekistan, Kosvo and Turkiye were participating in it. All the international wrestlers were sent home safely the next day. However, with the wrestling club demolished, a few Turkish wrestlers were stuck under the rubble.

On the first day, 21 wrestlers were saved immediately and others were subsequently rescued from under the rubble.

Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) was among the first ones to call for help and save the "30-40 wrestlers" stuck under the rubble. Four-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR), Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and many others have volunteered and reached the earthquake-affected areas. They have joined hands to help and rescue the victims. The wrestling community around the world has shown support and donated to help Turkiye.

President of the Turkish Wrestling Federation Seref EROGLU, who belongs to Kahramanmaras, has been present at the site from the first day and joined the rescue operations.