#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.

UWW and Iran sign MoU to bring Chouke under Associated Styles

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 20) — United World Wrestling and the Iran Wrestling Federation took a significant step to promote Choukhe, signing a four-year Memorandum of Understanding.

The MoU will enable both organizations to work together to promote and protect Chouke, a traditional form of wrestling, under the UWW Associated Styles.

Both UWW and the Iranian federation will also work to develop Chouke under their umbrella. This agreement's objective is to facilitate the protection, development, and promotion of Chouke. As per the agreement, both parties will hold regular meetings to exchange ideas and share knowledge.

Chouke is a traditional form of wrestling in Iran with wrestlers performing on mud in a marked circular ring. Each bout is of five minutes with more than one bout conducted at the same time. In case of a tie with a one-minute break, three minutes of extra time are added. Within three minutes, the wrestler who earns the first point will be the winner.

This style of wrestling does not allow the wrestler to touch his opponent's legs. The bout can only be fought with grips above the waist. There are different ways to score points in Chouke.

One point is awarded for a takedown, two points are awarded if a throw is completed outside the ring, and one if completed inside. Most other moves award only one point. A fall occurs when even one shoulder touches the ground.

Both wrestlers have to wear the official clothes to compete in Chouke. A t-shirt, a special jacket and a short are considered to be official outfit. The shirt must be long enough to go below the waist and the sleeves be long till the elbow. A strong cloth belt must be tied around the waist of the wrestlers and is fixed at the back and the wrestlers compete barefoot.

The old form of wrestling has a special place in Iranian history, and the agreement will help with its growth and development in Iran. UWW's commitment to work closely with the Iran federation for Chouke is in line with its vision to grow and promote all the traditional forms of the oldest form of the sport.