#WrestleElJadida

Meskout re-elected as UWW-Africa President

By United World Wrestling Press

El JADIDA, Morocco (May 17) -- President of Royal Moroccan Wrestling Federation Fouad MESKOUT was Monday re-elected as the President of UWW-Africa.

A UWW Bureau member, Meskout was given his second term during the General Assembly of the council that was held on the sidelines of the African Championship in El-Jadida.

"I congratulate Mr Meskout for his re-election as UWW-Africa President and I trust he will take up all challenges in the development and strengthening of our great sport on the continent," Nenad LALOVIC, President of United World Wrestling, said.

Elections were held for the entire UWW-Africa Council and Sissa ELISE (CMR), Hamza DOGHDOGH (ALG), Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY), Raveloson MAMITIANA (MAD), Allou KADJO (CIV) and Allah OWLO (SUD) were elected for the fresh term.

The delegates of thirty member federations of the continent gathered for this assembly where activity and financial reports of the council were presented and approved.

#TurkiyeWrestling

UWW mourns death of nine wrestlers 

By United World Wrestling Press

COSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 11) -- Five days after multiple earthquakes hit the Kahramanmaraş province in southwest Turkiye, nine wrestlers were confirmed dead on Friday.  

In the aftermath of the earthquake which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, people were stuck under the rubble and large-scale efforts are still continuing to save lives.

The following are the nine wrestlers that we have lost:

Mehmet ESKISARILI
Ahmet TAS
Ali GURSOY
Eray SIMSEK
Halil EDIRNE
Hasan SARITURK
Ozan TATLI
Ahmet DURMAN
Aslan EKIZ

United World Wrestling mourns their death.

"It is with a heavy heart to report we have lost nine wrestlers in the earthquakes that took place on February 6,” Nenad LALOVIC, UWW President, said “I ask that we remember these wrestlers, say their names aloud and pray for them and their families. The whole entire wrestling community is devastated by the loss of these young men who had a bright future ahead of them.”

More than 25,000 people have died so far as the earthquake hit Kahramanmaraş, affecting southwest Turkiye and northwest Syria.

A U20 wrestling tournament finished hours a night before the earthquake struck. Teams from France, Uzbekistan, Kosvo and Turkiye were participating in it. All the international wrestlers were sent home safely the next day. However, with the wrestling club demolished, a few Turkish wrestlers were stuck under the rubble.

On the first day, 21 wrestlers were saved immediately and others were subsequently rescued from under the rubble.

Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) was among the first ones to call for help and save the "30-40 wrestlers" stuck under the rubble. Four-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR), Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and many others have volunteered and reached the earthquake-affected areas. They have joined hands to help and rescue the victims. The wrestling community around the world has shown support and donated to help Turkiye.

President of the Turkish Wrestling Federation Seref EROGLU, who belongs to Kahramanmaras, has been present at the site from the first day and joined the rescue operations.