Francophonie

Wrestling Meets with Francophone Committee

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 22) -- A meeting was held earlier this month at the United World Wrestling headquarters with the Wrestling Francophonie Committee to discuss developments of the Francophonie countries and future developments in view of the next Francophone Games

Dr. Alioune Sarr- member and chairman of traditional wrestling also discussed that the new Wrestling Arena of Senegal will be an important venue to organize events, training camps, and other courses in helping to further expand the development of wrestling in Africa.

The main topics were the development of African countries in particular the French speakers and the use of the wrestling stadium of Dakar as a development tool to organize regularly development activities for the West-African region.

The committee also discussed how to reinforce the development activities for the participating nations prior to Francophone Games and to continue the collaboration between the organizations.

Those in attendance and featured in the photograph:

Mr. Nenad Lalovic
Mr. Michel Dusson
Mr. Didier Sauvaire – President of the Wrestling Francophonie Committee
Mr. Alain Bertholom - member
Dr. Alioune Sarr- member and chairman of traditional wrestling
Ms. Deqa Niamkey

 

 

Obituary

World Grappling Committee President Bochkev passes away

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 2) -- United World Wrestling's World Grappling Committee's President Rizvan BOCHKEV passed away Wednesday. The sudden passing of the 59-year-old has left the UWW and its family in shock.

Bochkev, vice president of the Russian Wrestling Federation and a coach, was involved with UWW and Grappling for a long time.

Before 2013, Bochkev was an active member of Grappling and promoted it under FILA. He worked tirelessly to reintroduce it as a recognized wrestling style under UWW after it was dropped in late 2013. This gave the right recognition to a wrestling style growing in several countries.

Bochkev was elected as the President of the World Grappling Committee in 2016 and was instrumental in reintroducing the UWW World Grappling Championships. In 2022, Bochkev was re-elected as the President of the World Grappling Committee and remained an active promoter of the sport.

United World Wrestling expresses its deepest condolences to the Bochkev family.