#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

#WrestleAlexandria, #WrestleParis

Samoa, Australia, South Africa end Olympic drought with Paris spots in Alexandria

Sunday, March 24, 2024 - 23:14 By Vinay Siwach

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ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (March 24) -- Seven nations shared the 12 Paris Olympics Freestyle quotas on the final day of the African & Oceania OG Qualifiers in Alexandria.

Hosts Egypt led the way with four quotas while Australia and Guinea Bissau won two each. Samoa, Algeria, South Africa and Nigeria won one each to complete the line-up.

Samoa qualified for the first time in Freestyle as Gaku AKAZAWA (SAM) dominated his bouts to win the quota. Paris will also mark the first Samoan wrestler at the Olympics since Sydney 2000. Akazawa, a former Japanese high school star who moved to Samoa in 2017, defeated Wotna NDOC (GBS) via fall in the first period of the 65kg semifinal.

Georgii OKOROKOV (AUS) also ended an eight-year wait for Australia as he qualified at 65kg after winning the other semifinal. He defeated Manaceu NGONDA (ANG) 10-0.

A little later, Jayden LAWRENCE (AUS) earned a Paris quota at 86kg with a thrilling 4-4 win over Harrison ONOVWIOMOGBOHWO (NGR) in the semifinals. 

Onovwiomogbowho scored a takedown, earned another point for Lawrence's passivity and added a stepout to build a 4-0 lead in the semifinal. Lawrence put all his energy into scoring a takedown in the second period but found it difficult. He ultimately hit a cut back which made Onovwiomogbohwo fall on his back, giving Lawrence four points.

Lawrence kept his 4-4 criteria lead for the final two minutes and earned a Paris 2024 quota.

Tokyo Olympian Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) joined him as the qualified wrestler for Paris as he defeated Cedric ABOSSOLO (CMR) 7-0 and won the ticket.

South Africa will also be back in the Olympics after 16 years Nicholas de LANGE (RSA) qualified the country at 97kg after he defeated Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN)via fall. The former U20 world medalist convincingly won both bouts.

Mostafa ELDERS (EGY) was surprised by Wali KEBIR (ALG) who scored three points on Elders but the Egyptian never lost his cool and posted an easy 15-3 victory.

Egypt qualified three more weight classes, 57kg, 74kg and 125kg, with Amr REDA (EGY) leading from the front. The ever-consistent Reda took just 33 seconds after the first period to win the quota after beating Rayanne ESSAIDI (MAR), 11-0. His previous two wins of the day were via falls.

At 125kg, Diaaeldin ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY) survived a scare to beat Modou FAYE (SEN), 3-3, in the semifinals and qualify for the Games. He got a 1-0 lead after Faye was called passive but no additional points were scored in the first period.

Faye was put on the activity clock again in the second period this time he hit a single-leg attack to takedown. Abdelmottaleb was put on the activity clock late in the bout and failed to score, giving one more point to Faye who now led 3-1 with just over a minute left.

Abdelmottaleb scored a takedown using a go-behind to take a 3-3 criteria lead and defended it for the last 28 seconds to qualify for the Olympics.

Gamal MOHAMED (EGY) did not face any troubles as he won the 57kg place with an easy 8-0 win over KHALIL BARKOUTI (TUN) in the semifinal.

Two of the remaining three spots were captured by Guinea Bissau as Tokyo Olympian Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS) won at 57kg, rolling to a 10-0 win over Suraj SINGH (NZL) while 74kg African champion Bacar NDUM (GBS) defeated Oyeinkeperemo BRAVEMAN (NGR), 10-2, in his semifinal.

The second 125kg quota was won by Ashton MUTUWA (NGR) who was involved in a high-scoring bout against Justin VAN ZYL (RSA) before winning via fall.

sdfgd

RESULTS

57kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS) df. Suraj SINGH (NZL), 10-0
SF 2: Gamal MOHAMED (EGY) df. KHALIL BARKOUTI (TUN), 8-0

65kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Georgii OKOROKOVV (AUS) df. Manaceu NGONDA (ANG), 10-0
SF 2: Gaku AKAZAWA (SAM) df. Wotna NDOC (GBS), via fall (4-2)

74kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Amr REDA (EGY) df. Rayanne ESSAIDI (MAR), 11-0
SF 2: Bacar NDUM (GBS) df. Oyeinkeperemo BRAVEMAN (NGR), 10-2

86kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) df. Cedric ABOSSOLO (CMR), 7-0
SF 2: Jayden LAWRENCE (AUS) df. Harrison ONOVWIOMOGBOHWO (NGR), 4-4

97kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Nicolaas DE LANGE (RSA) df. Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN), via fall (5-2)
SF 2: Mostafa ELDERS (EGY) df. Wali KEBIR (ALG), 15-3

125kg Paris Olympic Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Diaaeldin ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY) df. Modou FAYE (SEN), 3-3
SF 2: Ashton MUTUWA (NGR) df. Justin VAN ZYL (RSA), via fall (16-8)