#development

Women in Sport: Coaches begin the WISH Programme

Sunday, September 4, 2022 - 06:32 By United World Wrestling Press

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London, England (August 22) – Women in Sport High-Performance Pathway (WISH) kicked off the first edition of the programme on 23 May.  WISH was designed to equip women coaches with the potential and ambition to gain roles at elite coaching levels within their sports. The programme is specifically designed to help coaches develop their sport-specific skills, leadership skills and behaviors and build confidence. United World Wrestling is participating along with seven other IF’s and is being supported by Olympic Solidarity, the University of Hertfordshire, and Females Achieving Brilliance (FAB).

United World Wrestling selected three coaches to participate in the first edition. Those coaches include Martine DUGRENIER (CAN), Aline DA SILVA (BRA) and Carissa HOLLAND (AUS). They recently had the opportunity to attend the Residential Session at the University of Hertfordshire (August 14-20).  “The WISH Programme was really well conducted," said Carissa Holland. "We not only learn about leadership qualities and skillsets, but I learned a lot about myself (especially coming out of the recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham).”  

The residential session was a weeklong event where the coaches attended working sessions and participated in learning activities with the 24 other coaches in attendance.  Some of the key learning points included leadership skills, creative problem-solving, creating connections, mindset, having uncomfortable conversations and visualizing the future, among many other topics.

WISH
Participants of the WISH programme gather for a photo. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

“The residential week was great. We had the opportunity to meet great people all around the world and learned from experienced well accomplished people," said Aline da Silva. "It was very inspiring. I have learned to embrace a leadership role, to empower others and enjoy the journey! I’m excited to see where the program will lead me over the next 20 months,” said Martine Dugrenier. “The week was more than I expected; I shared a lot with the coaches and improved my knowledge about my leadership. I came back home excited to improve all I learned there and keep the connections.”

The WISH Programme is a 21-month programme.  These coaches will continue meeting with the WISH Leadership Team and work with their leadership mentors and sport-specific mentors.  WISH was originally piloted as the WSLA High-Performance Coach Programme.

UWW participated in the original pilot program with four coaches. After a successful experience, the WISH Programme was developed and expanded to include participation by more International Federations.  UWW has renewed its participation in the outstanding programme.

#WrestleBudapest

Kamal strengthens World Championships bid, ranking with Budapest gold

Sunday, July 16, 2023 - 10:21 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 15) -- Kerem KAMAL (TUR) entered the Budapest Ranking Series for two major reasons.

The first was to improve his ranking to number three and the second was to face European champion Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) before the World Championships.

The latter did not happen as Nazaryan, despite reaching the semifinal against Kamal, pulled out due to an injury. However, Kamal won the gold medal at 60kg in Budapest and jumped to number three in the rankings.

“The tournament was very difficult but important for me,” Kamal said. “My goal was to overtake the opponent from China in the ranking, which I achieved with a gold medal.”

In April, Kamal suffered two heartbreaking losses at the European Championships and finished fifth. A gold medal in Budapest also helped him put that loss behind him.

“I had a bad day at the European Championships, so this is a good motivation for me,” he said.

Kamal opened his day against Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY) and did not take time to advance to the quarterfinals with a 9-0 victory. In the quarterfinals, he posted another technical superiority win as he defeated Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) 8-0.

From the other side of the bracket, Nazaryan pinned Dalton ROBERTS (USA) in his first bout and defeated Nikolai MOHAMMADI (DEN) 5-1 in the quarterfinals. However, he pulled out of the semifinal against Kamal due to injury.

Kamal, now into the final, wrestled Omid ARAMI (IRI) and won 8-1 to win gold and collect the all-important ranking points.

“I was looking forward to the fight against Nazaryan,” he said. “I wanted to avenge him but he decided not to wrestle. I am looking forward to the World Championships so we wrestle each other.”

Before the Ranking Series in Budapest, Kamal had 39200 points while Liguo CAO (CHN) was at 40600 points. But the gold should push Kamal over Cao who finished 13th. Kamal will have 52200 points while Cao will finish with 45675 points.

Nazaryan, who collected 9000 points, will be the top seed at the World Championships while world champion Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will be seeded second. Kamal will be third.

“The ranking is very important,” he said. “I was fourth but after the gold medal, I will probably be third and that's what I wanted.”

Even after winning the gold medal, Kamal paid an emotional tribute to one of his friends. In an emotional message, Kamal dedicated his gold medal to fellow wrestler Ahmet TAS (TUR) who lost his life in the deadly earthquake that hit Turkiye in February.

“We had an earthquake in Turkiye and we lost many people,” he said. “Today would have been the birthday of my friend and wrestler Ahmet Tas who lost his life in the earthquake. I dedicate my gold medal to him.”

In the other two Greco-Roman weight classes that were in action on Saturday, Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) the gold medal at 55kg and Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) became the champion at 63kg, both non-Olympic weight categories.

China rises at 76kg

The only Olympic weight class in action on Saturday in women's wrestling was 76kg with world and Olympic medalists. However, it was China that stole the show.

China entered three wrestlers in the weight class with Juan WANG (CHN), Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN) and QIANDEGENCHAGAN (CHN).

The first casualty at the hands of the Chinese wrestlers was world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) as Huang defeated her 4-0 in the pre-quarterfinals. However, she suffered a fall in the quarterfinals against  Justina DI STASIO (CAN) which ended Adar's campaign.

In other quarterfinals, Qiandegenchagan defeated Yelena MAKOYED (USA), 12-1, to hand the American her first international defeat by a non-US wrestler. World bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST) dominated world silver medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) 8-2 while Wang won 4-3 against Genesis REASCO (ECU).

That put Qiandegenchagan and Mae in the same semifinal and the latter began with a headlock for four and tried pinning her Chinese opponent. But Qiandegenchagan managed to slip out of the hold. She got one for reversal and a roll added two more points.

In the second period, Mae tried pushing Qiandegenchagan out of the zone while being in a front headlock but the latter managed to move away, circle around for a takedown and take a match-winning 5-4 lead.

Di Stasio would blame her luck as she was leading 3-0 with 2:35 remaining in the bout and was clearly in better wrestler in the semifinal against Wang. However, Wang got on a single leg and transitioned into a cradle, putting Di Stasio on her back.

A fall was confirmed and Wang booked her place against Qiandegenchagan in the final which was a slow affair for the first four minutes.

Qiandegenchagan led 1-0 after a passivity point but with time running out, Wang got into a bodylock and Qiandegenchagan used the opportunity to execute a throw for four and led 5-0.

Wang made it interesting again by scoring a takedown with less than 20 seconds remaining. She rolled Qiandegenchagan to make it 5-4 before the clock ran out, giving Qiandegenchagan the win.

In the non-Olympic weight classes, Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) won the gold medal at 55kg after beating Karla GODINEZ (CAN) 7-4 in the final.

At 59kg, Jennifer PAGE (USA) survived two back-to-back four-point throws from Magdalena GLODEK (POL) and scored a takedown on reversal to win the gold medal 13-11.

Irina RINGACI (MDA) was easily the best at 65kg as she won three bouts in a round-robin bracket to win the gold medal.

At 72kg, Asian champion Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) held off Dalma CANEVA (ITA) 3-1 to claim the gold medal.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) df. Denis MIHAI (ROU), 9-0

BRONZE: Ramaz SILAGAVA (GEO) df. Yersin ABYIR (KAZ), 5-2  

60kg
GOLD: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Omid ARAMI (IRI), 8-1

BRONZE: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) df. Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Virgil BICA (SWE), 10-0

63kg
GOLD: Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Jinwoong JUNG (KOR), 5-1

BRONZE: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Justas PETRAVICIUS (LTU), via fall
BRONZE: Mukhamedali MAMURBEK (KAZ) df. Aker SCHMID (AUT), via inj. def.

Women's wrestling

55kg
GOLD: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) df. Karla GODINEZ (CAN), 7-2

BRONZE: Erika BOGNAR (HUN) df. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), via fall
BRONZE: Li DENG (CHN) df. Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ), via inj. def.

59kg
GOLD: Jennifer PAGE (USA) df. Magdalena GLODEK (POL), 13-11

BRONZE: SANGEETA (IND) df. Viktoria BORSOS (HUN), 6-2

65kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA)
SILVER: Kadriye AKSOY (TUR)
BRONZE: Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN)

72kg
GOLD: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Dalma CANEVA (ITA), 3-1

BRONZE: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Kseniia BURAKOVA (AIN), 11-0

76kg
GOLD: QIANDEGENCHAGAN (CHN) df. Juan WANG (CHN), 5-4

BRONZE: Yelena MAKOYED (USA) df. Epp MAE (EST), 9-6
BRONZE: Genesis REASCO (ECU) df. Justina DI STASIO (CAN), 6-0