#development

UWW and Inspire Institute of Sport sign MoU to advance wrestling development in India

By United World Wrestling Press

PARIS (August 27) -- United World Wrestling (UWW) and the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The MoU was signed at the Wrestling House, UWW's hospitality venue, located on a boat next to the iconic Eiffel Tower.

This strategic partnership is designed to foster collaboration and enhance the development of wrestling in India by establishing a framework for mutually beneficial programs, projects, and activities. The MoU reflects the commitment of both UWW and IIS to support elite and pre-elite wrestling athletes, as well as suitably qualified coaches in India.

IIS, a charitable trust dedicated to social development through sports, education, and health, operates a state-of-the-art high-performance training center in Vijayanagar, Karnataka. The facility meets international standards and is focused on promoting Olympic sports in India, providing young talents with the resources and training necessary to succeed.

The institute is prominent in developing wrestling, among other sports, in India. Olympic bronze medalists Bajrang PUNIA (IND) and Sakshi MALIK (IND) have been associated with it in past. Recently, IIS trainees World Championships bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) and Nisha DAHIYA (IND) wrestled at the Paris Olympics.

Nikhil PILANAGOILA (IND)Nikhil PILANAGOILA (IND), left, will compete at the U20 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At the age-group level, IIS has supported U20 Asian Championships gold medalists Dhanshri FAND (IND) and NITIKA (IND). Former U20 World Championships medalist HARSHITA (IND), U17 world medalist Jaskaran SINGH (IND), U23 Asian champion RADHIKA (IND) and Nikhil YADAV (IND), who will participate in the upcoming U20 World Championships in Spain are all out of the IIS stable.

UWW's involvement in this partnership is part of its broader strategic global development plan, which aims to elevate the sport of wrestling worldwide, with a particular focus on supporting the growth of wrestling in India.

Both UWW and IIS are eager to begin this collaborative journey, confident that their joint efforts will contribute significantly to the success and international recognition of Indian wrestling. Their joint efforts will contribute significantly to the success and international recognition of Indian wrestling.

#AmateurMMA, #Pankration

U15, U17, U20 Pankration & Amateur MMA World C'ships 2025 Guide

By United World Wrestling Press

LOUTRAKI, Greece (October 30) -- The Pankration World Championships in U15 and U17 age-group and Amateur MMA World Championships in U20 will be held in Loutraki, Greece from November 5 to 9.

In Amateur MMA for U20 men's and women's, the weight classes will be:

U20 Men's: 57kg, 62kg, 66kg, 71kg, 77kg, 84kg, 93kg, 100kg, 130kg
U20 Women's: 50kg, 53kg, 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg, 90kg

Amateur MMA

Pankration, to be held in U15 and U17, will see the following weight classes:

U17 Men's: 57kg, 62kg, 66kg, 71kg, 77kg, 84kg, 93kg, 100kg, 120kg, +120kg
U17 Women's: 50kg, 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 66kg, 71kg, 77kg, +77kg

U15 Men's: 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 66kg, 71kg, 77kg, 84kg, +84kg
U15 Women's: 50kg, 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 66kg, 71kg, +71 kg

The schedule for the Pankration and Amateur MMA Championships is available here: CLICK HERE