Arab C'Ships

United World Wrestling Supports Iraq as Nation Hosts First Wrestling Event in Decades

Thursday, April 26, 2018 - 14:56 By Tim Foley

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BAGHDAD (April 26) -- The nation of Iraq hosted the Cadet Arab Wrestling Championships last week in Baghdad -- the first event sanctioned in Iraq by United World Wrestling since the 1987 Arab Wrestling Championships.

In order to qualify to host the event, United World Wrestling required the Wrestling Federation of Iraq to meet exceptional safety standard for all athletes, delegations and fans.

Wrestlers from eight Arab nations competed the championships (Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen), with four (Iraq, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen) earning gold medal finishes in either Greco-Roman or freestyle wrestling.  The teams competed under championship conditions on two mats inside of a 2500-person arena.

The opening ceremony was attended by the head of the Iraqi National Olympic Committee Raad HAMOUDI, President of the Arab Union Zamel SHAHARANI, and United World Wrestling bureau member Fouad MESKOUT. In opening the competition, the pair outlined the importance of sport in creating good will among nations, and the vital role sports like wrestling play in helping countries promote peace and safety.

Meskout also gave special thanks to all the volunteers and workers responsible for delivering a safe and productive championship event.

Development

ISF Gymnasiade in Zlatibor adds coaching seminar for Serbian Coaches

Thursday, April 24, 2025 - 11:52 By United World Wrestling Press

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ZLATIBOR, Serbia (April 13)—United World Wrestling partnered with the International School Sports Federation (ISF) to provide a coaching education seminar for Serbian coaches at the ISF Gymnasiade, which was held in Zlatibor, Serbia, from April 4-12, with the wrestling competition being held from April 6-8.

Wrestling has been a part of each of the Gymnasiade events, and it was previously conducted in Bahrain last October.

As part of the Gymnasiade events, ISF focuses on providing education to coaches and PE teachers. UWW was fortunate to give a training session for Serbian coaches at this event. The training was led by UWW Educators Georgi Sredkov (BUL), Neven Zugaj (CRO), and Nenad Zugaj (CRO).  On April 6, the seminar was attended by 23 coaches over the two sessions. The morning session focused on sound strategies for coaching and better understanding wrestling rules. The afternoon session was a practical session on the mats that focused on sharing wrestling techniques and implementing interactive games. 

Mr. Sredkov also participated in the ISF Forum on Beyond the Events: How School Sports Shape Future Leaders, which was held on April 9. During the Forum, Mr. Sredkov discussed how wrestling helps athletes learn to find solutions to problems, how competing helps handle pressure and remain calm and focused, and the importance of collaboration for success. 

The wrestling competition was held in all three styles, and 303 athletes from 16 countries participated. The results can be found here.