#development

Mauritius introduces wrestling into national school program

Friday, August 4, 2023 - 12:36 By United World Wrestling Press

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The Mauritius Wrestling Federation inducted on the national schools program with 10 trained P.E. Teachers in various schools across the island and signature of a MOU is foreseen with the Ministry of Education to officialise the agreement next month.

Following the launch of the UWW Regional Education Development Program for the Indian Ocean 2022 and 2023, Deqa NIAMKEY and Vincent AKA, UWW Development Department, met with the local sporting authorities including Ministry of Sports, National Olympic Committee, national media, etc. to discuss and pursue the development of wrestling in MRI and the region. 

Two consecutive editions of the REDP program allowed for the federation to understand the popularity of wrestling and the requirements to introduce the discipline on the national sporting program. Starting at the grassroot level, particularly in schools and clubs while training the P.E. teachers, coaches and referees was an outstanding success that surprised all. 

The NF with its great leadership and administrators is the base of these developments. The President of the Mauritius Wrestling Federation, Mr. Richard Papie, who also the Vice President of the NOC, is highly dedicated to develop wrestling in Mauritius and strengthen the collaboration of NFs in the region. The MRI NF is implementing many initiatives, including the pursuit of their development plan through the Olympic Solidarity Development of the National Structure Program with a focus on increasing practitioners and popularity across Mauritius and Rodrigue Islands.  

Yusniel RAMIREZ (CUB) is currently coaching the national team in view of their preparation for the Road to Paris 2024 OG thanks to the support of the Ministry of Sports and NOC.

“The UWW Development Team provided tremendous support for these developments. The REDP project made us understand the importance to create an annual, realistic and up to our scale of development, with various/simultaneous activities for our wrestling community to participate and enjoy," said Richard Papie."Such initiatives create a sense of belonging and all participants felt that the wrestling community is one family. Most of all, I realised how popular wrestling is.”

Schedule of actions MRI NF:
August, 2023: Initiate Animators training to 9 physical educators
August, 2023: Signature of the MOU
September 2023: Opening of 3 wrestling schools with students of age 12 to 15
September-October 2023: One or two training sessions in the schools per week
November 2023: After exams three training sessions in the schools per week
December 2023: Xmas tournament for the new wrestlers, freestyle and beach wrestling 
January 2024: Refresher course for Animators
January-February 2024: Opening of 2 or 3 additional wrestling schools with students of age 16 to 19
January-February 2024: Monitoring and supporting training in schools 
March 2024: Organizing Seminar on athletes’ career path 
April 2024: Organizing coaches course level one for the physical educators
May 2024: National Championship All categories

#WrestleZagreb

Maroulis returns to Worlds final after three years

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 20:38 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 16) -- Helen MAROULIS (USA) wrestled three bout on Tuesday at the World Championships and secured three pins. She spent only 6 minutes and 28 seconds in those three pins to reach the 57kg final at the World Championships on Tuesday in Zagreb.

Maroulis, a two-time world champion, will now wrestle for gold against Il Sim SON (PRK), one of the two wrestlers from the DPR Korea to make it to the final on Tuesday.

In all three of her pins, Maroulis used the iconic foot-sweep to get the fall. The first victim was Emine CAKMAK (TUR) who was pinned in a minute. Japan's world U23 champion Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) held her fort for some time but Tokuhara missed a shot and Maroulis got the two-on-one before sweeping her for the fall in 2 minutes and 17 seconds.

In the semifinals, Maroulis wrestled European champion Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) and took a 1-0 lead for the latter's inactivity. But as soon as the second period began, Maroulis went straight to work and hit the sweep to get the fall and a place in the final.

She will face an unfamiliar challenge in the final as  Il Sim SON (PRK) who defeated Olympic bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN), 12-2, in the other semifinal. Son was one of the two finalist for the DPR Korea, a country which won its gold at 55kg on Tuesday.

The other wrestler from the DPR Korea to reach the final was Asian bronze medalist Myonggyong WON (PRK) who handed 2021 world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) her first international loss.

Yoshimoto, Asian champion in 2025, had it under control for the most the match before conceding a takedown with just 23 seconds left on the clock. Won was relentless in her attacks to break Yoshimoto in the final 20 seconds.

For the gold, she will face 2024 world U20 champion Yu ZHANG (CHN) who secured a fall over Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) after taking a 9-0 lead.

At 65kg, former world champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) defeated another world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) in the semifinal, 10-0. Morikawa impressed with her attacks and scored five different takedowns to finish the match via technical superiority.

World U23 silver medalist Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) will look to stop Morikawa from winning her second world title after a dream run to the final at 65kg. She defeated two-time world bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA) in the morning session and completed a 13-3 technical superiority Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) in the semifinals.

Asian champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) booked a final against Genesis REASCO (ECU) after she handed a 10-5 defeat to European champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) in the semifinals.

In an all South American semifinal, Reasco scored a takedown in the last minute to stun Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB), 5-3. Potrille was leading 3-3 on criteria with a minute left but Reasco scored the two-point takedown and held on to her lead for the win, becoming the first Ecuadorian wrestler to reach a World Championships final.

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Myonggyong WON (PRK) vs. Yu ZHANG (CHN)

SF 1: Yu ZHANG (CHN) df. Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL), via fall (9-0)
SF 2: Myonggyong WON (PRK) df. Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN), 3-2

57kg
GOLD: Helen MAROULIS (USA) vs. Il Sim SON (PRK)

SF 1: Il Sim SON (PRK) df. Kexin HONG (CHN), 12-2
SF 2: Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW), via fall (5-0)

65kg
GOLD: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) vs. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW)

SF 1: Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) df. Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL), 13-3
SF 2: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA), 10-0

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. Genesis REASCO (ECU)

SF 1: Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU) df. Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB), 5-3
SF 2: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR), 10-5